Korrio, developer of the leading integrated sports automation platform for youth soccer, announced today the signing of Kristine Lilly, one of the most successful and decorated athletes in U.S. history.

The charismatic U.S. Women’s Soccer star, who retired last year after five World Cups and a world record-breaking 352 appearances, has headed the Kristine Lilly Soccer Academy since 1995, which will use Korrio for all of its administrative, operational and communications functions. The renowned summer academy trains youth in Massachusetts and Connecticut.

Korrio integrates web, mobile and social networking to provide club administrators and coaches with a comprehensive, user-friendly online sports automation system, managing all aspects of club and team operations – from registration, payment processing and rostering to practice and game scheduling and communications. Each user has a personal dashboard, providing families and players with the tools to organize and share their sports lives.

“We could not be more excited to sign Kristine Lilly to our team,” Korrio founder and CEO Steve Goldman said. “Her soccer career is legendary – she’s an immensely talented athlete of great character and vision. Yet she’s also incredibly down-to-earth. As a coach, player and mother, she’s someone young players and parents can relate to. And like most busy parents and coaches, she’s looking to simplify and enhance her sports life; Korrio’s streamlined technology will give her those tools.”

“As our Soccer Ambassador, we know she’ll inspire families,” Goldman said. “Kristine really embodies the Korrio spirit; she’s passionate, competitive, innovative and focused on performance, but also very personable. We think she’ll set an excellent example for youth on how hard work, sportsmanship and a great spirit can bring the highest levels of success – on and off the field.”

In her role as Korrio’s Soccer Ambassador, Lilly will act as a company spokesperson and promote the cutting-edge platform to the wider soccer community. She’ll share her considerable knowledge and insights as a professional athlete and coach in a variety of forums, including Korrio’s online and social media communities. Her experience, humor and spirit will undoubtedly benefit Korrio coaches, administrators and families, as well as the larger soccer community.

For Lilly, the Korrio partnership is an opportunity to join an exciting new team and add new technological skills to her game. “I was first introduced to Korrio by former Seattle Sounders Captain and Korrio Director of Sales Danny Jackson at the NSCAA (National Soccer Coaches Association of America) 2011 convention,” Lilly said. “The product was launching and his enthusiasm was infectious; I started tracking the company. I’m so excited to join Steve, Danny and the rest of the Korrio team. I truly believe in their vision and passion for transforming youth sports. As a player, coach and parent, Korrio’s benefits are clear – this platform is full of features I wish I had during my playing career! It’s a game-changer, applying modern technology to sports, and it will simplify all of our lives. That means more time on the field, enjoying the game.”

“Getting up and running with Korrio was a breeze,” she continued. “I now run my academy programs seamlessly and have already enjoyed the platform’s flexibility and community features.”

The Kristine Lilly Soccer Academy runs summer camps in July and August. Sessions are open to boys and girls, aged 7 to 18 years old, at sites in Massachusetts and Connecticut. Lilly and her team of expert coaches focus on technical skill-building, teamwork, sportsmanship, leadership and player development.

Goldman said he expects Lilly to experience the same benefit from applying contemporary technology to sports as he’s found, as a coach and parent. “Kristine will be a tremendous asset in our mission to help players, parents and coaches organize and share their sports lives. In addition to her status as a world-class soccer star, she’s completely representative of our customers. We know her knowledge and passion for the sport will ignite Korrio users, as she combines new media practices with core sports fundamentals.”

About Kristine Lilly/Kristine Lilly Soccer Academy
Kristine Lilly’s extraordinary career spanned 23 years. The celebrated midfielder retired in January of 2011 at the age of 39, holding world and Women’s National Team records for most caps (appearances): 352. She has scored 130 goals (third highest in U.S. history), completed 105 assists and played in five FIFA Women’s World Cups and on three U.S. Olympics teams (helping the U.S. win two World Championships and two gold medals). She is currently an assistant coach with her former club team, the Boston Breakers, and the founder of Kristine Lilly Soccer Academy in Massachusetts and Connecticut. To learn more about Kristine Lilly, go to kristinelilly13.com; follow her on Twitter; or like her on Facebook.

About Korrio
Korrio, founded in January 2009, is a 21st-century youth sports automation platform. Korrio has a singular focus on kids and sports. The company’s mission is to transform the sports experience and elevate the level at which sports are played by automating the things that get in the way — like registration/payment, team formation, rosters, scheduling, communication, and web hosting. Korrio is easy, safe, integrated, and mobile. To learn more about Korrio, go to korrio.com; follow us on Twitter; like us on Facebook; or watch our Korrio video to learn how to elevate your game.

About three years ago I visited Children’s Hospital Boston and met Nora, a young girl whose strength and smile overshadowed any pain brought on by her bout with cancer.  And while I hope my visit inspired Nora, I know without question that she inspired me.  I visit Children’s Hospital as often as I can, and I always leave wishing I could do more.  And now I am, with a terrific support system that I hope will include you!

I am running the marathon with one of my closest friends, Jodi Sorrells.  Together we are raising money to help the kids and their families at Children’s Hospital Boston.  My fundraising goal for the marathon was $13,000 (as lucky #13 was my jersey number).  And as luck would have it, I’ve exceeded that number with raised funds totaling $18,000!  I know I won’t finish first in the marathon but I would love to be the top fundraiser!  With your donation, we can help all those young kids and their families.

Nora has been a big part of my life since the day we met.  Every so often we get together for lunch, and on special holiday visits we get our families together to make cookies.  Nora, and her mom and brother have been a true blessing in my life, and a real inspiration.  With all they have going on with school and medical treatments they have been a big part of my fundraising effort.  Nora and her friend Annika, together with their moms, put on an event called “Crafting for a Cause” in which moms and daughters get together for an evening of food, making bracelets and fun.  I stopped by their last event to thank them for supporting my run for Children’s Hospital.  It was a very emotional experience for me.  There was Nora, a 13-year-old girl fighting cancer, doing nice things for me.  What an amazing girl!  Nora, Annika, their moms and friends helped me raise over $2400!  They made me want to help them as much as I can.  And the best way to do that is to raise more money for their care.  Will you donate today and help me make a difference in their lives?

Click the following link and donate today!

http://howtohelp.childrenshospital.org/bostonmarathon/page/Kristine-Lilly.htm

Your donation will make a big difference in the lives of so many children and their families!

Thank you in advance for supporting me, and Children’s Hospital Boston!

Always Believe,

Kristine Lilly

 By Becca Manning

The Needham resident and former member of the U.S. women’s national soccer team recently attended an event marking the release of Samuel Adams new ’26.2 Brew’ in honor of the 2012 race.  Just six months after giving birth to her second child, two-time Olympic gold medalist Kristine Lilly is ready for a new challenge: Running the Boston Marathon.

The Needham resident will be participating in her first-ever marathon on April 16, running the 26.2-mile route from Hopkinton to Boston to raise money for Children’s Hospital Boston, one of several charities she supports.

And just as she has in soccer—winning the gold medal with the women’s national soccer team in the 1996 and 2004 Olympics (not to mention the silver in 2000)—Lilly is headed for the top with her fundraising efforts on the Miles for Miracles team.

“My [soccer] number’s 13, so I picked $13,000 as my fundraising goal,” Lilly said. “I hit it last week, so now my new goal—I’m ranked third in fundraising—is to be first in fundraising. I’m just going to keep raising money.”

As an Olympic athlete and first-time marathoner, Lilly was invited to a special event held Thursday, March 22 at the Boston Athletic Association office in Boston—the official first tasting of Samuel Adams’ new “26.2 Brew,” created exclusively to mark the 2012 Boston Marathon.

At the event, Lilly, along with Boston Athletic Association president Joann Flaminio and BAA Executive Director Tom Grilk, were given a first taste of the new brew, which was described as having a “slightly lower alcohol level and lighter body” than many of Samuel Adams’ products. The “26.2 Brew” will be available at race events and at select pubs and restaurants along the marathon route and around Boston.

Meeting Lilly for the first time at the event, Samuel Adams founder Jim Koch told her she was an “inspiration” and a hero to his own daughter, a soccer player. Koch smiled broadly when Lilly handed him two autographed T-shirts bearing her soccer number.

Before the festivities, Lilly chatted with Needham Patch about Miles for Miracles, her marathon training regimen and what’s next for her.

—

Have you run a marathon before? No it’s my first Boston Marathon and first marathon. I told myself when I retired from playing soccer that I wanted to run a marathon, and then I got pregnant so I’m like, OK, after I give birth, I’m going to get back into shape to run a marathon.

One of my best friends, she’s going to run with me, and we’re running for Children’s Hospital Boston. It was a win-win for me. Running for Children’s is really great for me, because I visited the hospital so much while playing for the [Boston] Breakers and then just living in the Boston area.

How long have you been training? I gave birth in September. I started training probably in December.

Was it different training for a marathon than training for soccer? It’s totally different. I’m used to going sideways, forward, backwards, sprinting, walking. This is just running. I’ve had ups and downs. I had a little bit of heel pain, so I took some time off, and now I’m getting back into the swing. But it’s been great. It’s time-consuming, that’s really what it is, so I’m excited for the day to come.

As a first-time marathoner, do you have any tips for someone who may be thinking about running? Take baby steps. Go slow. And get some good feedback. [Lilly got advice from a professional triathlete.] Also, everyone says to take care of your body, to make sure that you’re healthy. So if something’s coming up, take your time to heal. My heel was a little painful, so I rested a bit and did some other things, and now I’m going to be healthy on race day.

My thing is to just enjoy it. I know I’ll have some nerves. I’m not going to win this thing. I’d love to break four hours if I can; if I can’t, it’s all good. I want to run for all the people that have helped me support Children’s Hospital. And I want to see Dick Hoyt out there, because I watch him go by every year, and every year I cry.

How can someone donate to your fundraising efforts? They can go to my website,kristinelilly13.com, and go under Appearances to the bottom, under Boston Marathon, and click on the link.

—

In addition to training for the marathon, Lilly is one of 18 individual Olympians nominated for induction this year into the U.S. Olympic Hall of Fame, which celebrates the achievements of America’s top athletes in the modern Olympic Games. If selected, Lilly would join Olympic greats such as Cassius Clay, Jesse Owens, Mary Lou Retton and Bonnie Blair in the Hall of Fame.

Fans can vote for her online now through April 9 during the public voting round. The U.S. Olympic Committee will announce the winner in May, with inductions in July.

“It’s an honor to be an Olympic athlete, and then to be recognized and put in with the other excellent athletes that are up for it is really cool,” Lilly said of her nomination.

For 15 years now, Lilly has also been running youth soccer camps, first in Connecticut and more recently in Massachusetts. This summer, she is offering two sessions for girls ages 9-18 nearby at the Dana Hall School in Wellesley, Aug. 13-16. Learn more about the Kristine Lilly Soccer Academyon her website.

http://needham.patch.com/

CHICAGO (Feb. 27, 2012) – Women’s National Team legend Kristine Lilly has been named as a finalist for the U.S. Olympic Hall of Fame. The U.S. Olympic Committee and Allstate Insurance Company announced the list of 28 nominee finalists on Monday, Feb. 27, with Lilly the only nominee representing soccer.

She is one of 18 Olympic athletes eligible for induction into the Class of 2012, which also includes five Paralympic athletes and five Olympic teams.

Lilly’s extraordinary career spanned 21 years and set mulitple records. She holds the record for most caps all-time in the world and WNT history with an incredible 352 during a 21-year career. She scored 130 goals, the third highest all-time, and her 105 assists are good for second highest in WNT history.

Lilly represented the U.S. in 16 matches during three Olympic Games (1996, 2000, 2004). She scored four goals en route to earning two gold medals and one silver medal in the first three Olympics in which women’s soccer was included.

The veteran midfielder retired in November 2010 after playing her last U.S. game against Mexico in a World Cup Qualifying match.

The public is invited to vote for candidates and teams by visiting a dedicated voting portal at teamusa.org/halloffame. Voters will be allowed to vote once per day, per category, through April 9.

Once voting closes, the public vote totals will be added to the vote totals of Olympians, Paralympians and U.S. Olympic Family members to determine the six Olympians, one Paralympian and one team that will make up the 2012 class.

The U.S. Olympic Hall of Fame presented by Allstate Class of 2012 will be announced in May and inducted on July 12 during an induction ceremony at the Harris Theater in Chicago.

Win or go home. It¹s playoff time and it¹s that simple. And don¹t you just love the simple things in life? Leave it all on the field; play like there¹s no tomorrow; it all comes down to this ­ if you play sports you hear these clichés often but when it¹s playoff time you have to take them to heart. If you lose, your season is over and if you¹re like me, you¹ll bury the loss somewhere in the ³Woulda, Coulda, Shoulda² section of your memory bank; however, if you win you¹re one step closer to championship glory and a cherished memory that you¹ll recall over and over again. I¹ve been on both ends of the spectrum and I can attest that the winning end is a lot more fun.

I was fortunate to have played in four Connecticut State Championship games for Wilton High School. And I was unbelievably fortunate to have won three of the four games. Yes, there was onethatgotaway. It was my junior sea- son and I remember sitting on the bench after the game with my head down, feeling awful. I was heckled by opposing fans throughout the game, which didn¹t bother me until the final whistle blew. So there I was on the bench, downright inconsolable, when the hecklers came by and said ³good game.² That made me love playoff competition even more. Onthefield, along the sidelines and in the stands, everyone was invest- ed in the game. And my hecklers turned out to be good sports, which brings me to my next point: Playoff competition reveals character. Good sportsmanship between fans and players is important but when it comes to the action on the field, how players handle pressure often determines their team¹s post- season success.

My coach at the University of North Carolina was great at handling post-season pressure. His mannerisms and tone never changed. If he was nervous I never knew it – he made me and my teammates feel like we just needed to go out there and execute to win the game. Under his composed de- meanor and guidance, my teammates and I won four NCAA Championships.

Therefore, my advice to playoff-bound coaches it to keep composed, stay positive, and make sure your team enjoys the experience. Your players¹ nerves will be in overdrive so the composure of you and your coaching staff will be very important. Let your players know that as long as they give their best they needn¹t worry about the game’s outcome.

My advice to playoff-bound players

­doing my best to avoid the aforementioned clichés ­ is to believe in your preparation, work together and (sorry, it¹s unavoidable), leave it all out on the field. When it¹s all said and done, you¹ll either have the story of a hard fought loss or the glory of a well-earned win. Your best effort may very well turn hecklers into supporters.

Boston, Ma.

I am sad to hear the news about the WPS suspending operations.  I am sad for many reasons.  I am sad for all the players that won’t be able to play, I am sad for all the young players that dream of playing professional soccer, I am sad for all the employees of the teams and league that don’t have jobs, I am sad that our society is lacking once again in seeing the importance of female professional soccer and I am sad that my daughter Sidney and other families and fans won’t have the opportunity to go to Breakers games this summer!

I was part of the WUSA when it folded and that hurt.  I am not playing in the WPS anymore but this still hurts.  Yes I know its business and there are probably somethings that I don’t understand about the business side but it is such a good product, the game itself, so why can’t it sustain?  I wish I had the answers and I wish someone had the answers.  We had a lot of great investors and people in the league trying to make it happen so I thank them.  I thank all the fans that helped support the league and the volunteers that put their time in.  Unfortunately we need more, more from everyone.  More from the fans, more from the investors and more from the players.  Soccer is a great sport I know that and many of you know that but the majority of our country doesn’t see that yet!  It is our jobs as players, fans, coaches, and investors to continue to sell the game somehow.

Anson Dorrance my coach at the University of North Carolina and for the U.S.  Women’s National Team use to always say to us, “sell the game.”  At the time he was saying that to me, I was clueless and like whatever.  Little did I know that every time I stepped out on the field or talked to people about soccer,  I was selling the game.  It didn’t take much to do it, play my best, and tell people about soccer, the sport I love!

So now we are here again, with women’s professional soccer on hold.  What to do now?  Well go back to what Anson once told me, “Sell the game.”  Find a way to educate people about soccer, play it with your heart and reach people and show them why this is such a great sport.  Give more than you have and make a difference bigger than your self.  Keep soccer in peoples minds, make them see what they are missing, make them love what you love.  Sign an autograph for a young girl and make her smile!

This year we are celebrating Title IX, 40 years since the legislation was past.  Title IX states: “No person in the United States shall, on the basis of sex, be excluded from participation in, be denied the benefits of , or be subjected to discrimination under any education program or activity receiving federal financial assistance.”

Yes we have come along way but we still have to continue to exercise our rights!  I believe there is a place for women’s professional soccer in our society and I think we need more women’s professional leagues out there.  Young girls need to see women doing what they want to do.  If they don’t see it, how can they want to achieve it.  We have to keep moving forward with our fight to have the opportunities.

One thing we can do as fans is support women’s teams wherever you are.  Go out and buy tickets and bring your daughter and your daughters friends with you so they can see women doing things that they love.  This is a set back but we shouldn’t give up.  I love the game of soccer, I will continue to teach and promote the game the best I can.  Please do a small part to continue to promote soccer and other female sports, not for me but for the young girls out there that need to see their dreams in action!

Always Believe,

Kristine Lilly

Hi everybody,

I am part of a new team, Children’s Hospital Boston!  Yes I have turned in my cleats and now I am lacing up the running shoes to run the Boston Marathon!
You have supported me throughout my career playing soccer and now I need your support on a new venture.

Three years ago I went to Children’s Hospital Boston to visit a young girl by the name of Nora!  She continues to live a teenagers life while fighting cancer.  Her strength and smile out shined any pain or procedures that she endured while I visited with her.  I hopefully have put a smile on hers and others kids faces but I always leave the hospital wishing I could do more.  Well now I can and so can YOU!  I am running the marathon with one of my closest friends Jodi Sorrells.  Together we are raising money to help the kids and their families at Children’s Hospital Boston. We can’t do it alone!  I need your help!  Donate today and help make a difference.  My goal is to finish the marathon and raise $13,000!

I have spent my life playing soccer and impacting young people’s lives, now I want to run for Children’s and keep impacting young people’s lives!
Thank you in advance for giving and helping me reach my goal!

Click on link to donate today!  http://howtohelp.childrenshospital.org/bostonmarathon/page/Kristine-Lilly.htm

Always Believe,

Kristine Lilly

Win or go home.  It’s playoff time and it’s that simple.  And don’t you just love the simple things in life?  Leave it all on the field; play like there’s no tomorrow; it all comes down to this – if you play sports you hear these clichés often but when it’s playoff time you have to take them to heart.  If you lose, your season is over and if you’re like me, you’ll bury the loss somewhere in the “Woulda, Coulda, Shoulda” section of your memory bank; however, if you win you’re one step closer to championship glory and a cherished memory that you’ll recall over and over again.  I’ve been on both ends of the spectrum I can attest that the winning end is a lot more fun.

I was fortunate to have played in four Connecticut State Championship games for Wilton High School.   And I was unbelievably fortunate to have won three of the four games.  Yes, there was one that got away.  It was my junior season and I remember sitting on the bench after the game with my head down, feeling awful.  I was heckled by opposing fans throughout the game, which didn’t bother me until the final whistle blew.  So there I was on the bench, downright inconsolable, when the hecklers came by and said “good game.”  That made me love playoff competition even more.   On the field, along the sidelines and in the stands, everyone was invested in the game.  And my hecklers turned out to be good sports, which brings me to my next point:  Playoff competition reveals character.  Good sportsmanship between fans and players is important but when it comes to the action on the field, how players handle pressure often determines their team’s post-season success.

My coach at the University of North Carolina was great at handling post-season pressure.  His mannerisms and tone never changed.  If he was nervous I never knew it – he made me and my teammates feel like we just needed to go out there and execute to win the game.  Under his composed demeanor and guidance, my teammates and I won four NCAA Championships.

Therefore, my advice to playoff-bound coaches is to keep composed, stay positive, and make sure your team enjoys the experience.   Your players’ nerves will be in overdrive so the composure of you and your coaching staff will be very important.  Let your players know that as long as they give their best they needn’t worry about the game’s outcome.

My advice to playoff-bound players – doing my best to avoid the aforementioned clichés – is to believe in your preparation, work together and (sorry, it’s unavoidable), leave it all out on the field.  When it’s all said and done, you’ll either have the story of a hard fought loss or the glory of a well-earned win.  Your best effort may very well turn hecklers into supporters.