Written by Joe Curley of the Ventura County Star:

The Ventura County Fusion women’s soccer team has acquired its first full international.

England goalkeeper Kay Hawke will join the second-year W-League club on May 9, a week before the Fusion’s season opener against Real Colorado.

“We’ve been having dialogue for the last couple months and finally everything is falling into place,” said Fusion general manager Ranbir Shergill.

“It going to be very exciting to have a member of the England squad representing the Ventura County Fusion this summer.”

After playing for England at the U-21 and U-23 level, Hawke, 26, made her full England debut in a friendly against Norway on Feb. 14, 2008.

Hawke backstopped the Blackburn Rovers’ promotion to the English women’s national division in 2007 and currently has Lincoln City atop the Northern Premier League, again vying for promotion to the top division.

“I’m really looking forward to the challenge of playing in the States,” Hawke told Lincoln City’s Web site, LadyImps.com.

“It’s just going to be a great experience for me to be playing football in the U.S. and I’m thoroughly looking forward to joining Ventura next month.”

Lincoln chairman Geoff Adams told the Web site, “I’m absolutely delighted for Kay! I can think of no better way for our keeper to prepare herself for next season than to go over to America and play for Ventura.

“In my opinion, she’s the best keeper in this country, and deserves nothing less than opportunities such as this. We’re delighted to see her go, but we’ll be even more delighted to see her come back.”

Article taken from http://www.bbc.co.uk/football

Lincoln Ladies and England goalkeeper Kay Hawke is to play for Ventura County Fusion in the US for three months.

Hawke, 26, will fly out on 9 May, but will return in time for the new season.

“I asked Lincoln if it would be alright for me to go and they agreed, I’ve assured them I’m coming back in time for our first match,” Hawke said.

And Lady Imps chairman Geoff Adams said: “I can think of no better way for our goalkeeper to prepare herself for next season.”

Lincoln Ladies are still waiting to see if they will be promoted to the National League next season. Their main rivals Sunderland are five points behind them, but still have two games in hand.