Gotham FC Players Victoria Pickett and Yazmeen Ryan Also Serving as Red Carpet Hosts
New Jersey Youth Soccer will host its 2023 NJYS Annual Awards Dinner Presented by RWJBarnabas Health this Friday, February 3rd, with a very special guest on hand to deliver the keynote address in current NJ/NY Gotham FC defender and New Jersey native Kristen Edmonds.
“I am honored to be the keynote speaker for this year's Annual Awards Dinner,” said Edmonds. “Growing up in New Jersey playing soccer against some of the best youth talent and competition in the country helped shape me as a competitor and a person."
Recently signed as a free agent by Gotham FC in December 2022, Edmonds started 44 games over the last two seasons for the Kansas City Current, including all three playoff matches in the Current’s run to the NWSL Final in 2022. In the 2021 season, Edmonds led the team in starts (21) and minutes played (1,721), also serving as captain for six matches.
Prior to Kansas City, Edmonds played five seasons for the Orlando Pride, scoring 10 goals in 72 appearances. In her first season with the club, she led Orlando in scoring and assists. Edmonds started her NWSL career with the Western New York Flash, making 29 starts in 31 appearances over two seasons.
Edmonds starred at Rutgers University from 2005 to 2008, where she became the first rookie to lead the Scarlet Knights in scoring since NJYS Hall of Famer and two-time FIFA Player of the Year Carli Lloyd. As a senior, she started all 22 games, scoring five goals and adding six assists.
Edmonds began her professional career in Iceland, leading Stjarnan to the league title and the Icelandic Women’s Cup Championship in 2011. She then played for WFC Rossiyanka of the Russian Premier League, gaining invaluable experience competing with the club in the UEFA Women’s Champions League.
Speaking to the excitement of delivering the keynote, Edmonds noted, “To be able to inspire young athletes to achieve higher aspirations keeps me motivated to compete at a high level, and I am also humbled to be able to share my experiences with the players whose shoes I was once in.”
Undoubtedly, her excitement is also shared by the entire NJYS staff ahead of Friday night’s event.
"We are thrilled to have Kristen continue the recent tradition of world class New Jersey Soccer Alumni delivering the keynote address," said Jess Yeager, NJYS President. "In recent years, we have been lucky to have and honor the top tier talent that New Jersey Youth Soccer has ever seen, Kristen is no different. We are certain that she will help leave an imprint on all players, coaches, volunteers and awards winners that will motivate their future endeavors.”
In addition to Edmonds delivering the keynote address, her Gotham FC teammates Victoria Pickett and Yazmeen Ryan will serve as the hosts for the Red Carpet interviews at the 33rd Annual Awards Dinner Presented by RWJ Barnabas Health.
Victoria Pickett is a midfielder/forward for Gotham FC who grew up in Newmarket, Ontario, Canada. She attended the University of Wisconsin and made the women's semifinalist list for the 2018 Hermann Trophy, an annual award presented to the top college soccer player. She suffered a serious knee injury in 2019, tearing five ligaments and keeping her out of action until 2021. Despite the injury, Pickett appeared in 57 games across her college career, scoring five goals and providing 11 assists. Her resilience and elite soccer prowess garnered the attention of Gotham FC, and she was acquired by the club via a trade with the Kansas City Current in 2022.
Yazmeen Ryan is a midfielder for Gotham FC who grew up in Norman, Oklahoma. She attended Texas Christian University, where she debuted in 2017 as an attacking midfielder. Ryan later captained TCU to their first-ever Big 12 Conference Championship in 2022. Her elite playmaking abilities caught the attention of Gotham FC, and she was acquired via a three-team trade with Portland Thorns FC and Angel City FC earlier this month.
Each year, New Jersey Youth Soccer hosts approximately 800 guests at its Annual Awards Dinner, honoring New Jersey players, teams, coaches, referees and volunteers for outstanding performances and contributions during the preceding year. The evening also acknowledges many of the state's boys and girls U.S. Youth Soccer National Championship Series, Presidents Cup and Challenge Cup team champions, as well as players selected for the U.S. Youth Soccer East Region ODP pool team.
To find out more information about New Jersey Youth Soccer or to contact us directly, please email [email protected]. Also make sure to follow us on social media: @NJYouthSoccer