As teammates return from Women's World Cup, Tasha Kai looks to continue scoring ways with Independence

With her arms and neck covered in tattoos, Tasha Kai garners a lot of attention for her appearance. But this season the Independence forward has also drawn plenty of notice for her play.

With eight goals in 13 games, Kai sparked the Independence offense during Amy Rodriguez's absence for a stint with the U.S. national team at the Women's World Cup. Earlier this month, against her former team, Sky Blue FC, Kai netted three goals on way to being named Women's Professional Soccer player of the week.

"Coach [Paul Riley] said to me, 'Be more deadly around the box,' " Kai said. "Just being confident and have no fear. It's worked to my advantage."

Along with Rodriguez, who started each game of the World Cup tournament except the final, the Independence will also regain the services of two other national team players: goalkeeper Nicole Barnhart and midfielder Lori Lindsey. Barnhart played backup to Hope Solo, and Lindsey saw action in one game.

Three summers ago, Kai won a gold medal with the U.S. women's team at the Beijing Olympics. Last Sunday, the Hawaii native was limited to watching the World Cup final from a leather couch surrounded by her Independence teammates at the team's training center in Downingtown.

Kai said that winning a gold medal was amazing, as it was something she dreamed of since she was five years old. But after heading in a game-winning goal in the quarterfinals of the 2008 Olympics, the 28-year-old has failed to record a cap since 2009.

"I still have a lot of friends on that team," Kai said. "I wish them well, I wish them luck. But it is what it is, you know."

Kai said she became addicted to tattoos as a 19-year-old, and her arms show how far that addiction has grown. The tattoos feature mostly Polynesian art, and Kai said they represent her family members.

Heading into the season's final five games, the Independence lead the second-place Western New York Flash by just one point, and the teams are even in the win column with eight apiece. On Thursday, the Flash downed Boston and welcomed back the world's premier player, Marta, as she tallied an assist in her first action since her Brazil squad was eliminated from the World Cup.

The Independence will travel to Piscataway, N.J., on Saturday to face Sky Blue FC. Their next home game is not until July 31 against the Atlanta Beat at Widener University.