Portland Thorns FC Acquire Defender Casey Ramirez from Fortuna Hjørring

The Portland Thorns FC acquired yet another player today, shortly after waiving defender Jazmyne Avant, from the Danish leagues in Casey Ramirez. The Pennsylvania native helped her Danish side to a second place finish within the regular season and made a couple of appearances during the UEFA Women's Champions League tournament.

"Casey is a very good attacking outside back or midfielder," head coach Cindy Parlow Cone said. "She is very difficult to beat one-on-one and is great at helping to build the attack out of the back."

The 23 year old is surely being brought on to help bolster the Thorns' defense as they make ready for the final play off push. Of the Thorns' few faults this season, the defense has certainly been one of the most worrisome, especially when playing without Rachel Buehler who is often away on international duty.

No word yet on whether Ramirez will start tomorrow or not.

What do you think of the Thorn's continued building of the squad?

Full press release:

PORTLAND, Ore. - Portland Thorns FC announced today that the club has signed defender Casey Ramirez for the remainder of the inaugural 2013 National Women's Soccer League season. Per league and club policy, terms of the deal were not disclosed.

Ramirez, 23, joins Thorns FC after spending the 2012/13 Danish Elitedivisionen season with Fortuna Hjørring where she helped the club to a second place finish in the league standings and made two appearances in the Round of 16 at the 2012/13 UEFA Women's Champions League tournament against Swedish side Göteborg FC.

"Casey is a very good attacking outside back or midfielder," head coach Cindy Parlow Cone said. "She is very difficult to beat one-on-one and is great at helping to build the attack out of the back."

A Pennsylvania native, Ramirez's stint in Denmark was her first year as a professional after completing a four-year collegiate career at Syracuse University in 2011. While at Syracuse, Ramirez made 75 appearances (66 starts) for the Orange from 2008-11, recording three goals and four assists after making the switch from midfield to defense following her freshman season.

A right back for the Ottawa Fury of United Soccer Leagues W-League for three seasons from 2010-12, Ramirez made 33 appearances while helping Ottawa collect three division titles, a conference title and the 2012 W-League championship.

Casey Ramirez
Pronunciation: rah-MIER-ez
Position: Defender/midfielder
Height: 5-2
Born: Dec. 8, 1989, in Yardley, Pa.
Hometown: Yardley, Pa.
Last Club: Fortuna Hjørring (Denmark)
College: Syracuse
Citizenship: United States
Acquired: Signed, June 21, 2013