Claremont, CA (AHN) - The Women's Premier Soccer League has added another team for the 2007 season. The Claremont Stars will join the West Conference bringing the team total to eight in the west to go along with the Ajax American Women, California Storm, FC Sacramento Pride, Lamorinda East Bay Power, San Diego WFC SeaLions, San Francisco Nighthawks and Sonoma County FC Sol.

Carlos Juarez, formerly the coach of the Women's United Soccer Association's San Diego Spirit, has been chosen as the head coach of the Stars.

Juarez has had extensive experience as a coach at several different levels of the game including: U.S. National Teams, professional teams, Olympic Developmental Program teams, NCAA Men's and Women's Teams and boys and girl's youth teams.

Northern Ireland's midfielder Kim Turner has become the team's first major signing. The product of the University of Southern Mississippi recently completed her collegiate career and is ready to tackle the professional game.

The 22-year-old has been a member of Northern Ireland's National Team since she was 14. Last fall, she helped the national team qualify for the 2009 UEFA Women's Championship. Northern Ireland finished atop their group which contained Turkey, Georgia and Croatia.

Turner was one of the Southern Miss's top offensive performers, tallying two goals and three assists in her senior season to be the third-leading scorer on the team. In her four years at the University, she scored nine goals and totaled 10 assists.

The Claremont Stars are celebrating their 35th year of existence as a youth club team. The club team was established in 1972 and although it has usually been composed of men's youth teams, this will be the first women's team not only for the club, but in the inland area.

"This is a logical progression for the club," said Juarez. "We are the only club offering a high level of training and competition for girls and women through their whole soccer career - from U9 to the senior level."

"This is very exciting for a small town like Claremont," said Club President John Hall. "This is the highest level women's soccer offered in the country, and the games will be played in Claremont featuring local players. There aren't any other women's spectator sports available for fans locally. Players will be offering coaching clinics for local youth teams, and autograph sessions will be staged after each game. It will be terrific for local players to have role models like this."

The WPSL is composed of 40 teams spread out across the nation divided into several divisions, East-North, East-Mid-Atlantic, Midwest, South, Southwest and West.

Formed in 1998, the WPSL is an independent national league. Their season runs from May 1 to August 1 and there's a championship tournament during the last week of July. Teams play between 14-18 per season.