The City of Santa Clarita is proud to announce the creation of the Santa Clarita Blue Heat, set to begin play the summer of 2010. A United Soccer Leagues W-League team, the Blue Heat will serve as Santa Clarita’s first ever elite women’s soccer team.

“It is a privilege and an honor for the City of Santa Clarita to be home to the Santa Clarita Blue Heat,” said City of Santa Clarita Mayor Laurene Weste. “Sports tourism is an important focus for the City of Santa Clarita, and being home to an elite women’s soccer team is a tremendous opportunity for the local community.”

The Santa Clarita Blue Heat is also locally owned by community member and Planet Soccer owner Carlos Marroquin, who expressed his enthusiasm toward launching the team.

“I am very excited about joining United Soccer Leagues and I look forward to bringing elite women’s soccer to Santa Clarita,” said Marroquin. “It has been a dream of mine for as long as I can remember to help bring the highest level of soccer to Santa Clarita families and soccer fans.”

The Santa Clarita Blue Heat will be coached by Eduardo Zatarain, a former striker for the Los Angeles Aztecs and coach for the Santa Clarita United Soccer Club. Zatarain will be assisted by former Arsenal FC coach Russell “Finchy” Finch, and Santa Clarita Valley Magic Soccer Club director of coaching Sergio Salvadori, who will serve as the team’s Technical Director.

For more information about the Santa Clarita Blue Heat elite women’s soccer team, please contact Russell Sypowicz of the City’s Economic Development division at (661) 286-4079, or visit uslsoccer.com.