O’Reilly Joins Breakers

The Boston Breakers have signed veteran U.S. National Team midfielder Heather O’Reilly, the club announced today. Terms of the deal were not released.

O’Reilly, 26, is a three-year WPS veteran who’s played with Sky Blue FC since the league’s inaugural season. She typically features on the flank and has contributed four goals and nine assists in her domestic career.

With the U.S. National Team, O’Reilly has scored 30 goals in 151 appearences. She ranks fourth in apperances among active players on the U.S. roster. She played in both the 2007 and 2011 FIFA Women’ s World Cups, helping the U.S. to a 3rd place finish and a 2nd place finish, respectively. At the 2011 World Cup, she scored and assisted in a 3-0 group play victory over Colombia.

“This is our biggest offseason signing and a statement to our commitment to bring a WPS championship to Boston,” associate general manager Lee Billiard said in a statement.

Breakers head coach Lisa Cole also expressed optimism about the signing of O’Reilly, who played with Sky Blue FC from 2009-11 and helped them win the 2009 WPS Championship.

“We are very excited about adding Heather to the Breakers team,” Cole said in a statement. “She’s a world class player, has an incredible engine, and just is an all around winner. Her experience and worth ethic will immediately improve our team. We look forward to her being a part of many goals and wins this season.”

The Breakers are expected to add at least one more potential starter at the college draft in January. Rachel Buehler, Stephanie Cox, Amy LePeilbet and Lauren Cheney – all of whom played with O’Reilly in the 2011 World Cup – are still in the process of re-signing with Boston for the upcoming season.