Two weeks after playing host to Major League Soccer’s New England Revolution, the Bryan Park venue will showcase Sky Blue FC, a New Jersey/New York-based member of Women’s Professional Soccer. The fledgling franchise will play 2008 NCAA champion North Carolina in an exhibition match tonight.

WPS is a start-up league that aims to fill the void in women’s professional soccer left since WUSA folded in 2003. Sky Blue’s roster is composed of national team players from the United States, England, Australia and Brazil.

“The expectations are to be the best league in the world,” said Joe Dorini, Sky Blue’s soccer school director. “We’re starting out small with just seven teams this year, but the business plan that’s in place is very promising and it’s something that we jumped on board just because of that.

“A lot of the Sky Blue coaching staff came from different regions because of the prospect of it, and from what the WPS tells us it’s a very promising way to start out.”

If Dorini’s name rings a bell, it may be because he played for the Carolina Dynamo in 2003. His familiarity with the area and its facilities led to the decision to train in here.

“Joe contacted us,” said Scott Zapko, the Dynamo’s general manager. “He knew the facilities and it was a no-brainer for them with the weather they have this time of year in New Jersey.”

Sky Blue has been in Greensboro since Feb. 28., training at Macpherson Stadium and UNCG when weather permitted. Players have also spent time indoors at the new Ricky Proehl Proehlific Park and on the artificial-turf fields at Smith High.

“The facilities are great,” Dorini said. “That’s one of the main reasons for coming down here, because I knew that all the facilities were well-maintained. I’m really happy with Ricky’s indoor place. I didn’t even know that existed because it’s brand new, so overall very happy with everything.”

While the facilities are a major plus, so is the chance to play UNC. It will be a homecoming for Sky Blue’s Yael Averbuch, Jenni Branam, Heather O’Reilly and Kacey White, who played for the Tar Heels.

Averbuch was a member of the 2008 team that won the championship and was the fourth overall pick in the inaugural WPS draft. Each of the former UNC players won at least one championship with the Tar Heels, and the program’s success was a key factor for Sky Blue.

“It was something that was set up as something that could help us as a tuneup and also to promote soccer down in this area as well,” Dorini said. “Everyone knows about UNC down here. We’re using it as a tuneup because UNC is the best team in the country, so there’s no other team better to play.”

Dynamo and Sky Blue officials hope this is the beginning of an extended relationship, one that also includes Greensboro Youth Soccer.

“Everybody there has been absolutely amazing to us and that’s something we appreciate,” Dorini said of GYS.

“They jumped on board and helped us out in all aspects. It’s another relationship we plan to grow and really get in touch with everyone here.”