W-League
The first and longest-standing women’s league in North America, the W-League is USL’s highest level of women’s soccer in the United States and Canada. The 2011 USL W-League campaign will feature 27 teams in three regional conferences playing 10-14 regular season matches. In addition to featuring international and professional stars, elite amateur players have the opportunity to compete on amateur teams in the league while maintaining their collegiate eligibility. The league is recognized throughout the world for providing superior competition for female players, while offering affordable family entertainment for fans across North America.
August 1, 2011
Atlanta Silverbacks win 2011 W-League National Championship
By Kaeley McEvoy
The most beautiful aspect of soccer is hard to pinpoint. Some say it is the freedom to dance creatively over a rolling sphere that makes the game uniquely brilliant. Others believe that it is the intense physical aspect that makes bodies work until the brink of exhaustion that ignites the international passion for the sport. It could be the incredible way 11 players fuse together in triumph and strife for a larger being, the team, or the way that one 50-yard sprint, one back heel flick, or one breakaway shot can alter the entire course of the game in seconds. It is almost impossible to describe in words why for centuries soccer has been the only sport that has consistently been described as beautiful. This weekend, in the W-League National Championship, the beautiful game, was played in its most natural and full form.
When the Atlanta Silverbacks and the Ottawa Fury met to determine who would be the national champion of the W-League, every beautiful aspect of the game was illustrated through the physical, mental, and emotional work rate of the of both teams. After leaving the 2010 W-League Championship empty-handed, the Silverbacks knew from the first day of preseason that a national title was their goal. On Sunday, July 31, the Silverbacks achieved and surpassed their goal by beating the Fury, 6-1, in the national final.
The Silverbacks were not daunted by the impressive statistical status of the Fury. Their 15-game unbeaten streak, eighth consecutive division title, and 43 regular season goals did not instill fear in the Silverbacks. They were mentally prepared and ready to dominate from the first whistle. The Fury was shell-shocked when Silverback forward Megan Tominson headed in a corner to score in the first nine minutes of play. As the Fury attempted to recover, a beautiful strike from Susannah Dennis pushed the Silverbacks ahead by two. The Fury ran in to another roadblock when a red card was awarded to Courtney Wetzel, forcing them to play a man down for the remainder of the game. A second blow was given to the Fury when Alexa Newfield converted a penalty kick to leave the score 3-0 at the half.
The 2011 W-League MVP, Mallory Outerbridge, was determined to revive her teams’ hope of a perfect season in the second half. Within four minutes of the second-half whistle, Outerbridge put her team on the board with her league leading 22nd goal of the season. The comeback was short-lived, however, as Dennis scored her second goal of the game to give the Silverbacks a three-goal cushion heading in to the last half of play. W-League Championship game MVP, Tomlinson, also got her second goal of the game with 19 minutes left on the clock. Silverback forward Sarah Bennett sealed the nail on the coffin in the last minute of play scoring the Silverback’s sixth and final goal by finishing a cross at close range.
When the final whistle blew at the Starfire Sports Complex on Sunday, remnants of the beautiful game were left on the field. The Fury’s hopes of achieving the perfect season were now buried underneath drops of Silverback sweat. More importantly however, the unparalleled pride of winning a championship, one of the most rewarding aspects of the beautiful game, was now in the hearts of the Atlanta Silverbacks, the 2011 W-League National Champions.
The replay of the 2011 W-League Championship can be seen on Monday, Aug. 1 at 7:30 p.m. ET and on Wednesday, Aug. 3, at 1 p.m. ET on Fox Soccer Channel.
Atlanta Silverbacks win 2011 W-League National Championship
By Kaeley McEvoy
The most beautiful aspect of soccer is hard to pinpoint. Some say it is the freedom to dance creatively over a rolling sphere that makes the game uniquely brilliant. Others believe that it is the intense physical aspect that makes bodies work until the brink of exhaustion that ignites the international passion for the sport. It could be the incredible way 11 players fuse together in triumph and strife for a larger being, the team, or the way that one 50-yard sprint, one back heel flick, or one breakaway shot can alter the entire course of the game in seconds. It is almost impossible to describe in words why for centuries soccer has been the only sport that has consistently been described as beautiful. This weekend, in the W-League National Championship, the beautiful game, was played in its most natural and full form.
When the Atlanta Silverbacks and the Ottawa Fury met to determine who would be the national champion of the W-League, every beautiful aspect of the game was illustrated through the physical, mental, and emotional work rate of the of both teams. After leaving the 2010 W-League Championship empty-handed, the Silverbacks knew from the first day of preseason that a national title was their goal. On Sunday, July 31, the Silverbacks achieved and surpassed their goal by beating the Fury, 6-1, in the national final.
The Silverbacks were not daunted by the impressive statistical status of the Fury. Their 15-game unbeaten streak, eighth consecutive division title, and 43 regular season goals did not instill fear in the Silverbacks. They were mentally prepared and ready to dominate from the first whistle. The Fury was shell-shocked when Silverback forward Megan Tominson headed in a corner to score in the first nine minutes of play. As the Fury attempted to recover, a beautiful strike from Susannah Dennis pushed the Silverbacks ahead by two. The Fury ran in to another roadblock when a red card was awarded to Courtney Wetzel, forcing them to play a man down for the remainder of the game. A second blow was given to the Fury when Alexa Newfield converted a penalty kick to leave the score 3-0 at the half.
The 2011 W-League MVP, Mallory Outerbridge, was determined to revive her teams’ hope of a perfect season in the second half. Within four minutes of the second-half whistle, Outerbridge put her team on the board with her league leading 22nd goal of the season. The comeback was short-lived, however, as Dennis scored her second goal of the game to give the Silverbacks a three-goal cushion heading in to the last half of play. W-League Championship game MVP, Tomlinson, also got her second goal of the game with 19 minutes left on the clock. Silverback forward Sarah Bennett sealed the nail on the coffin in the last minute of play scoring the Silverback’s sixth and final goal by finishing a cross at close range.
When the final whistle blew at the Starfire Sports Complex on Sunday, remnants of the beautiful game were left on the field. The Fury’s hopes of achieving the perfect season were now buried underneath drops of Silverback sweat. More importantly however, the unparalleled pride of winning a championship, one of the most rewarding aspects of the beautiful game, was now in the hearts of the Atlanta Silverbacks, the 2011 W-League National Champions.
The replay of the 2011 W-League Championship can be seen on Monday, Aug. 1 at 7:30 p.m. ET and on Wednesday, Aug. 3, at 1 p.m. ET on Fox Soccer Channel.
July 29, 2011
W-League announces 2011 award-winners
United Soccer Leagues held its W-League awards banquet Thursday night in Seattle, handing out honors for rookie of the year, keeper of the year, defender of the year, coach of the year, and most valuable player, which went to Ottawa Fury forward Mallory Outerbridge. The Western Kentucky University senior scored a league-best 17 goals and had a league-high 37 points. The Fury picked up two additional awards as Amanda Fancher was named defender of the year and Dominic Oliveri was named coach of the year. Fancher (University of Virginia) led a backline that allowed only five goals in 12 games this year. Oliveri led the Fury to a 12-0-0 record and the Great Lakes Division title. Vancouver Whitecaps forward Sydney Leroux (UCLA) earned rookie of the year honors after scoring 11 goals and adding two assists in 11 games for the Western Conference champions. Cynthia Jacobo was named W-League goalkeeper of the year. The Cal State Northridge junior led the W-League with 85 saves and ended the season as seconds in the league in both wins (eight) and shutouts (five).
W-League announces 2011 award-winners
United Soccer Leagues held its W-League awards banquet Thursday night in Seattle, handing out honors for rookie of the year, keeper of the year, defender of the year, coach of the year, and most valuable player, which went to Ottawa Fury forward Mallory Outerbridge. The Western Kentucky University senior scored a league-best 17 goals and had a league-high 37 points. The Fury picked up two additional awards as Amanda Fancher was named defender of the year and Dominic Oliveri was named coach of the year. Fancher (University of Virginia) led a backline that allowed only five goals in 12 games this year. Oliveri led the Fury to a 12-0-0 record and the Great Lakes Division title. Vancouver Whitecaps forward Sydney Leroux (UCLA) earned rookie of the year honors after scoring 11 goals and adding two assists in 11 games for the Western Conference champions. Cynthia Jacobo was named W-League goalkeeper of the year. The Cal State Northridge junior led the W-League with 85 saves and ended the season as seconds in the league in both wins (eight) and shutouts (five).
July 25, 2011
It's now down to the Final Four
By Kaeley McEvoy
After three long months of heated rivalries, surprising upsets and competitive soccer the W-League Championship has finally arrived. The Atlanta Silverbacks, Vancouver Whitecaps and Ottawa Fury are now set to join the Seattle Sounders in Tukwila, Washington for W-League Final Four. Each team played in regional playoffs this weekend to earn their ticket to Washington.
The Atlanta Silverbacks beat their longtime rivals, the Charlotte Lady Eagles, in the Eastern Conference Championship on Friday, July 22. The Lady Eagles fought a hard match against the Long Island Rough Riders in the semifinal game to earn the chance to compete against the Silverbacks. Although a 97-degree day kept the play sluggish and worn, the Lady Eagles beat the Rough Riders, 2-1, with two goals from Sam Huecker. The Silverbacks beat the New Jersey Wildcats, 3-2, in their semifinal.
On Friday, the Silverbacks and Lady Eagles met to determine the Eastern Conference Championship. The match was a repeat of the 2010 Eastern Conference title game, where the Silverbacks walked away with a 1-0 victory. The Lady Eagles had great hope that they could rewrite history on Friday, but the Silverbacks held on to their defending champion title. Silverback forward, Alexa Newfield scored in the 10th minute to give the Silverbacks the lead. The Lady Eagles had an opportunity to tie their opponents when Laura Novikoff hit a beautiful free kick at the end of the first half, but instead the ball grazed over Atlanta’s net. The Lady Eagles had another chance late in the second half when Christy Rife recovered a great ball from Ashley Braam. However, Atlanta’s keeper, Michaela Crowley, was able to deflect the shot with ease. The Silverbacks took control in the second half as the Lady Eagles continued to struggle in the midfield. The Silverbacks were able to hold the lead for 80 minutes to capture the Eastern Conference Championship. The Silverbacks will now face the Vancouver Whitecaps in Seattle on Friday, July 29.
The Whitecaps not only captured the Western Conference title this weekend, they also were able to get revenge on the Santa Clarita Blue Heat. After losing to the Blue Heat, 2-1, on Friday, July 8, the Whitecaps just missed the top spot in the Western Conference. Ironically, the Whitecaps were given a chance to compete in the playoffs by the Blue Heat. Last weekend, when the Heat tied the Pali Blues, 0-0, the Whitecaps were numerically granted a playoff berth. The Whitecaps were able to properly thank the Blue Heat this weekend when they handed them a 4-3 loss in a wildly thrilling match.
Whitecaps rookie forward Jenna Richardson scored the game-winning goal in the 87th minute. After end-to-end play the entire game, the score was tied 3-3 heading into the final minutes of play. During the 81st minute, Whitecaps defender Lexi Marton was handed two consecutive yellow cards and was then sent off with a red card, forcing the Whitecaps to play a man down. The Whitecaps were able to rebound and find a thrilling game-winner when Tiffany Weimer rocketed a corner kick towards goal in the 87th minute. Captain Kelsey Hood headed Weimer’s corner towards the Blue Heat keeper but a fumble in the six-yard box allowed Richardson to net her fifth goal in seven matches for the win. The Whitecaps fought hard for a well-earned bit of revenge over the Blue Heat and a chance to return to the W-League Championship in Seattle.
Joining the Whitecaps and the Silverbacks in Seattle will be the still undefeated Ottawa Fury. The Fury won the Central Conference Championship match against the Quebec City Amiral with a very impressive score of 6-0. A hat-trick from Jessica Shufelt led the Fury to their second Conference title in three years. The Fury are now only two games away from a perfect season and a W-League Championship. The Fury will play the Seattle Sounders on Friday, July 29th at the Starfire Complex in Tukwila, Washington in the W-League Final Four. The Whitecaps and Silverbacks will also compete on Friday for their own shot at a W-League title. The Championship final will be held on Sunday, July 31, and will be televised on Fox Soccer.
It's now down to the Final Four
By Kaeley McEvoy
After three long months of heated rivalries, surprising upsets and competitive soccer the W-League Championship has finally arrived. The Atlanta Silverbacks, Vancouver Whitecaps and Ottawa Fury are now set to join the Seattle Sounders in Tukwila, Washington for W-League Final Four. Each team played in regional playoffs this weekend to earn their ticket to Washington.
The Atlanta Silverbacks beat their longtime rivals, the Charlotte Lady Eagles, in the Eastern Conference Championship on Friday, July 22. The Lady Eagles fought a hard match against the Long Island Rough Riders in the semifinal game to earn the chance to compete against the Silverbacks. Although a 97-degree day kept the play sluggish and worn, the Lady Eagles beat the Rough Riders, 2-1, with two goals from Sam Huecker. The Silverbacks beat the New Jersey Wildcats, 3-2, in their semifinal.
On Friday, the Silverbacks and Lady Eagles met to determine the Eastern Conference Championship. The match was a repeat of the 2010 Eastern Conference title game, where the Silverbacks walked away with a 1-0 victory. The Lady Eagles had great hope that they could rewrite history on Friday, but the Silverbacks held on to their defending champion title. Silverback forward, Alexa Newfield scored in the 10th minute to give the Silverbacks the lead. The Lady Eagles had an opportunity to tie their opponents when Laura Novikoff hit a beautiful free kick at the end of the first half, but instead the ball grazed over Atlanta’s net. The Lady Eagles had another chance late in the second half when Christy Rife recovered a great ball from Ashley Braam. However, Atlanta’s keeper, Michaela Crowley, was able to deflect the shot with ease. The Silverbacks took control in the second half as the Lady Eagles continued to struggle in the midfield. The Silverbacks were able to hold the lead for 80 minutes to capture the Eastern Conference Championship. The Silverbacks will now face the Vancouver Whitecaps in Seattle on Friday, July 29.
The Whitecaps not only captured the Western Conference title this weekend, they also were able to get revenge on the Santa Clarita Blue Heat. After losing to the Blue Heat, 2-1, on Friday, July 8, the Whitecaps just missed the top spot in the Western Conference. Ironically, the Whitecaps were given a chance to compete in the playoffs by the Blue Heat. Last weekend, when the Heat tied the Pali Blues, 0-0, the Whitecaps were numerically granted a playoff berth. The Whitecaps were able to properly thank the Blue Heat this weekend when they handed them a 4-3 loss in a wildly thrilling match.
Whitecaps rookie forward Jenna Richardson scored the game-winning goal in the 87th minute. After end-to-end play the entire game, the score was tied 3-3 heading into the final minutes of play. During the 81st minute, Whitecaps defender Lexi Marton was handed two consecutive yellow cards and was then sent off with a red card, forcing the Whitecaps to play a man down. The Whitecaps were able to rebound and find a thrilling game-winner when Tiffany Weimer rocketed a corner kick towards goal in the 87th minute. Captain Kelsey Hood headed Weimer’s corner towards the Blue Heat keeper but a fumble in the six-yard box allowed Richardson to net her fifth goal in seven matches for the win. The Whitecaps fought hard for a well-earned bit of revenge over the Blue Heat and a chance to return to the W-League Championship in Seattle.
Joining the Whitecaps and the Silverbacks in Seattle will be the still undefeated Ottawa Fury. The Fury won the Central Conference Championship match against the Quebec City Amiral with a very impressive score of 6-0. A hat-trick from Jessica Shufelt led the Fury to their second Conference title in three years. The Fury are now only two games away from a perfect season and a W-League Championship. The Fury will play the Seattle Sounders on Friday, July 29th at the Starfire Complex in Tukwila, Washington in the W-League Final Four. The Whitecaps and Silverbacks will also compete on Friday for their own shot at a W-League title. The Championship final will be held on Sunday, July 31, and will be televised on Fox Soccer.
July 20, 2011
Road to the Championship starts this week
By Kaeley McEvoy
The W-League Playoffs are set to take place this weekend and will undoubtedly be an exciting display of world class soccer. The most exciting regular season finish occurred in the Western Conference this weekend. With only one point between the the first and second-place teams, the race for a playoff berth came down to the very last game of the W-League regular season.
The Sunday night matchup between the Pali Blues and the Santa Clarita Blue Heat determined the fate of the Western Conference. The Blue Heat needed a tie or win to clinch the Western Conference title, and the Blues needed a win to knock the Vancouver Whitecaps out of the playoff race and control their own destiny. Although the Blues outshot the Blue Heat by a shocking 25-7 margin, the teams battled for 90 minutes to a scoreless tie. The draw gave the Blue Heat and the Whitecaps a chance to compete in the Western Conference playoffs. The two will meet on Sunday, July 24, to determine which West Coast team will travel to the championship in Seattle, Washington.
In the Central Conference, the Ottawa Fury finished their regular season with a perfect 12-0 record on Saturday, July 16. The Fury beat the Toronto Lady Lynx, 5-0, to wrap up their first-ever undefeated season. The Fury is only the sixth W-League team to achieve this feat. League-leading scorer, Mallory Outerbridge scored a hat-trick against the Lynx to conclude her regular season scoring record with 17 goals. The team has scored 43 goals in 12 games this season and have only conceded five goals. The Lynx will have another shot to take down the Fury on Saturday, July 23, when they meet again in the Central Conference semifinal. The winner of that match will play the winner of the Laval Comets and the Quebec City Amiral on Sunday, July 24, for a chance to compete in the W-League final four.
The champion of the Eastern Division will take the third slot in the W-League final four. The Atlantic Division Champions, the Atlanta Silverbacks, are looking for their second W-League Championship appearance. The Silverbacks beat the Virginia Beach Piranhas, 4-1, in their final match of regular season play. They will play the Northeast Division runners-up, the New Jersey Wildcats on Thursday, July 21. The Northeast Division Champions, the Long Island Rough Riders, will play the Atlantic Division runners-up the Charlotte Lady Eagles on Thursday as well. The Lady Eagles gained a must-needed three points against the Virginia Beach Piranhas on Friday, July 15, to receive their chance to play in the Eastern Division playoffs. The Lady Eagles will now travel to Long Island on Thursday, July 21, to compete for a chance to become Eastern Division Champions.
The final spot in the W-League final four is given to the Seattle Sounders, who received an automatic bid to the championship as tournament hosts. The Sounders have a 5-5-4 record this season, but remain unbeaten in their last six matches. The W-League Championship will take place in Seattle, Washington on July 29-31.
Road to the Championship starts this week
By Kaeley McEvoy
The W-League Playoffs are set to take place this weekend and will undoubtedly be an exciting display of world class soccer. The most exciting regular season finish occurred in the Western Conference this weekend. With only one point between the the first and second-place teams, the race for a playoff berth came down to the very last game of the W-League regular season.
The Sunday night matchup between the Pali Blues and the Santa Clarita Blue Heat determined the fate of the Western Conference. The Blue Heat needed a tie or win to clinch the Western Conference title, and the Blues needed a win to knock the Vancouver Whitecaps out of the playoff race and control their own destiny. Although the Blues outshot the Blue Heat by a shocking 25-7 margin, the teams battled for 90 minutes to a scoreless tie. The draw gave the Blue Heat and the Whitecaps a chance to compete in the Western Conference playoffs. The two will meet on Sunday, July 24, to determine which West Coast team will travel to the championship in Seattle, Washington.
In the Central Conference, the Ottawa Fury finished their regular season with a perfect 12-0 record on Saturday, July 16. The Fury beat the Toronto Lady Lynx, 5-0, to wrap up their first-ever undefeated season. The Fury is only the sixth W-League team to achieve this feat. League-leading scorer, Mallory Outerbridge scored a hat-trick against the Lynx to conclude her regular season scoring record with 17 goals. The team has scored 43 goals in 12 games this season and have only conceded five goals. The Lynx will have another shot to take down the Fury on Saturday, July 23, when they meet again in the Central Conference semifinal. The winner of that match will play the winner of the Laval Comets and the Quebec City Amiral on Sunday, July 24, for a chance to compete in the W-League final four.
The champion of the Eastern Division will take the third slot in the W-League final four. The Atlantic Division Champions, the Atlanta Silverbacks, are looking for their second W-League Championship appearance. The Silverbacks beat the Virginia Beach Piranhas, 4-1, in their final match of regular season play. They will play the Northeast Division runners-up, the New Jersey Wildcats on Thursday, July 21. The Northeast Division Champions, the Long Island Rough Riders, will play the Atlantic Division runners-up the Charlotte Lady Eagles on Thursday as well. The Lady Eagles gained a must-needed three points against the Virginia Beach Piranhas on Friday, July 15, to receive their chance to play in the Eastern Division playoffs. The Lady Eagles will now travel to Long Island on Thursday, July 21, to compete for a chance to become Eastern Division Champions.
The final spot in the W-League final four is given to the Seattle Sounders, who received an automatic bid to the championship as tournament hosts. The Sounders have a 5-5-4 record this season, but remain unbeaten in their last six matches. The W-League Championship will take place in Seattle, Washington on July 29-31.
July 12, 2011
Four teams reach playoffs, more spots still open
By Kaeley McEvoy
In recent action in the W-League, four teams secured playoff spots, inching their way closer to a trip to the W-League Championship in Seattle, Washington. The Ottawa Fury, Atlanta Silverbacks, Long Island Rough Riders, and New Jersey Wildcats all clinched playoff berths after their performances over the weekend. However, with one weekend of play remaining, it is do-or-die time for the rest of the league.
The Ottawa Fury won three games this weekend to clinch the Central Conference title. The Fury beat the Toronto Lady Lynx, 1-0, on Wednesday, Hamilton F.C. Rage, 3-1, on Saturday, and the Laval Comets, 3-0, on Sunday. Their record now stands at a perfect 11-0-0 going into the playoffs. Fury star and W-League player of the Week, Mallory Outerbridge, continued to be an offensive threat this weekend. She scored her league-leading 14th goal against the Comets on Sunday and seems to be peaking at the perfect time for the Fury. The Fury will host their final game of the regular season at home on Saturday, July 16th against the Toronto Lady Lynx.
Also securing a trip to the W-League Championship this weekend were the Atlanta Silverbacks. The Silverbacks beat the Fredericksburg Impact, 7-0, to clinch the Eastern Conference Mid-Atlantic title. A goal in the 14th minute by forward Susannah Dennis and a second-half hat trick from forward Megan Tomlinson showed that the Silverbacks are more than ready to play a full 90 minutes of competitive soccer in the postseason. Like the Fury, the Silverbacks will wrap up their regular season on Saturday, July 16th. They will play the Virginia Beach Piranhas.
The Piranhas won a tough match against the Northern Virginia Majestics by a 3-1 score on Wednesday, July 6th to give them the chance to advance to the playoffs. Piranha forward Stephanie Goddard scored two goals give her team the lead, with another goal added by teammate Alyssa Wombwell. Although the Piranha defense allowed a goal in the 90th minute of play, this win places them only one point behind the Charlotte Lady Eagles. The Piranhas now face their two toughest opponents this weekend, the Lady Eagles and the Silverbacks, in their final matches of the season.
On the Northeast side of the Eastern Conference, the Long Island Roughriders and the New Jersey Wildcats are now able to book their plane tickets to Seattle after this weekend. On Sunday, the Rough Riders beat the Wildcats, 3-0, yet both teams have qualified for postseason play. However, in the Northeast Division, the D.C. United Women grabbed headlines this weekend by concluding their regular season on a winning streak. Although Long Island’s game on Sunday mathematically omitted United from the playoffs, wins against the New Jersey Rangers and the North Jersey Valkyries this weekend gave the D.C. United Women a 4-0 record for their final contests. For the first time in club history, United was able to come back from a score deficit to earn a victory against the New Jersey Rangers on Saturday. United scored a very impressive three goals in four minutes to beat the visiting Rangers, 3-1. The Women also made history on Sunday as their 2-0 win against the Valkyries kept them undefeated at home this season. General Manager Tim Schweitzer looks forward to future seasons with United, “I am extremely happy with the fortitude and drive these ladies showed late in the season,” Schweitzer said. “Finishing on a winning streak at home showed the Washington metro area fans what this team is capable of and what we promise for next season.”
In the Western Conference, playoff berths are not set in stone for any team heading into the last weekend of play. The Santa Clarita Blue Heat had a chance to secure their spot this weekend, but a surprising upset by the Seattle Sounders keep the Blue Heat waiting until Wednesday to secure a postseason berth. The Sounders were awarded a penalty kick in the 9th minute of play, giving Sophie Reiser the opportunity to score her team-leading seventh goal of the season. The PK that was given to the Sounders occurred because of a handball by Madison VanDine. Vandine was then presented with a red card, and Santa Clarita was forced to play the remaining 80 minutes with only 10 players. The Blue Heat now must beat the L.A Strikers on Wednesday, July 13th to keep a division title in their grasp. The L.A Strikers will be looking to rebound on Wednesday after a tough loss to the Pali Blues on Saturday, July 9th. The Strikers had opportunities to beat the two-time W-League champions, taking nine shots to Pali’s 10, but Strikers defender Kaitlyn MacIsaac blamed her team’s loss on experience. “I just really think that we had moments in the game where our communication to get organized let us down,” MacIsaac said. “That comes with more familiarity with each other. It’s not a lack of talent on our team, it’s about the time it’s taken for us to become comfortable and trust one another on the field.” The Blues will end their regular season with a match against the Santa Clarita Blue Heat on Sunday, July 17th. This matchup will be one of their toughest matches yet.
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W-League playoff format
Ten teams will qualify for the postseason. The top teams from each conference/division will play in either a conference final four or conference single-game match. The three Conference winners will advance to W-League Championship presented by UMBRO held in one location determined prior to the start of the season. The W-League Championship host will be granted the fourth spot in the W-League Championship Final Four.
Central Conference Playoffs: The top four seeds from the Central Conference will advance to the Central Conference Championship.
Eastern Conference Playoffs: The top two seeds from the Atlantic Division and the top two seeds from the Northeast Division will advance to the Eastern Conference Championship.
Western Conference Playoffs: The top two teams meet in a conference championship match.
Single playoff matches
During postseason play, single games tied after regulation will be followed by two 15-minute overtime periods played in their entirety. If still tied, FIFA kicks from the penalty mark are used to determine the winner.
Four teams reach playoffs, more spots still open
By Kaeley McEvoy
In recent action in the W-League, four teams secured playoff spots, inching their way closer to a trip to the W-League Championship in Seattle, Washington. The Ottawa Fury, Atlanta Silverbacks, Long Island Rough Riders, and New Jersey Wildcats all clinched playoff berths after their performances over the weekend. However, with one weekend of play remaining, it is do-or-die time for the rest of the league.
The Ottawa Fury won three games this weekend to clinch the Central Conference title. The Fury beat the Toronto Lady Lynx, 1-0, on Wednesday, Hamilton F.C. Rage, 3-1, on Saturday, and the Laval Comets, 3-0, on Sunday. Their record now stands at a perfect 11-0-0 going into the playoffs. Fury star and W-League player of the Week, Mallory Outerbridge, continued to be an offensive threat this weekend. She scored her league-leading 14th goal against the Comets on Sunday and seems to be peaking at the perfect time for the Fury. The Fury will host their final game of the regular season at home on Saturday, July 16th against the Toronto Lady Lynx.
Also securing a trip to the W-League Championship this weekend were the Atlanta Silverbacks. The Silverbacks beat the Fredericksburg Impact, 7-0, to clinch the Eastern Conference Mid-Atlantic title. A goal in the 14th minute by forward Susannah Dennis and a second-half hat trick from forward Megan Tomlinson showed that the Silverbacks are more than ready to play a full 90 minutes of competitive soccer in the postseason. Like the Fury, the Silverbacks will wrap up their regular season on Saturday, July 16th. They will play the Virginia Beach Piranhas.
The Piranhas won a tough match against the Northern Virginia Majestics by a 3-1 score on Wednesday, July 6th to give them the chance to advance to the playoffs. Piranha forward Stephanie Goddard scored two goals give her team the lead, with another goal added by teammate Alyssa Wombwell. Although the Piranha defense allowed a goal in the 90th minute of play, this win places them only one point behind the Charlotte Lady Eagles. The Piranhas now face their two toughest opponents this weekend, the Lady Eagles and the Silverbacks, in their final matches of the season.
On the Northeast side of the Eastern Conference, the Long Island Roughriders and the New Jersey Wildcats are now able to book their plane tickets to Seattle after this weekend. On Sunday, the Rough Riders beat the Wildcats, 3-0, yet both teams have qualified for postseason play. However, in the Northeast Division, the D.C. United Women grabbed headlines this weekend by concluding their regular season on a winning streak. Although Long Island’s game on Sunday mathematically omitted United from the playoffs, wins against the New Jersey Rangers and the North Jersey Valkyries this weekend gave the D.C. United Women a 4-0 record for their final contests. For the first time in club history, United was able to come back from a score deficit to earn a victory against the New Jersey Rangers on Saturday. United scored a very impressive three goals in four minutes to beat the visiting Rangers, 3-1. The Women also made history on Sunday as their 2-0 win against the Valkyries kept them undefeated at home this season. General Manager Tim Schweitzer looks forward to future seasons with United, “I am extremely happy with the fortitude and drive these ladies showed late in the season,” Schweitzer said. “Finishing on a winning streak at home showed the Washington metro area fans what this team is capable of and what we promise for next season.”
In the Western Conference, playoff berths are not set in stone for any team heading into the last weekend of play. The Santa Clarita Blue Heat had a chance to secure their spot this weekend, but a surprising upset by the Seattle Sounders keep the Blue Heat waiting until Wednesday to secure a postseason berth. The Sounders were awarded a penalty kick in the 9th minute of play, giving Sophie Reiser the opportunity to score her team-leading seventh goal of the season. The PK that was given to the Sounders occurred because of a handball by Madison VanDine. Vandine was then presented with a red card, and Santa Clarita was forced to play the remaining 80 minutes with only 10 players. The Blue Heat now must beat the L.A Strikers on Wednesday, July 13th to keep a division title in their grasp. The L.A Strikers will be looking to rebound on Wednesday after a tough loss to the Pali Blues on Saturday, July 9th. The Strikers had opportunities to beat the two-time W-League champions, taking nine shots to Pali’s 10, but Strikers defender Kaitlyn MacIsaac blamed her team’s loss on experience. “I just really think that we had moments in the game where our communication to get organized let us down,” MacIsaac said. “That comes with more familiarity with each other. It’s not a lack of talent on our team, it’s about the time it’s taken for us to become comfortable and trust one another on the field.” The Blues will end their regular season with a match against the Santa Clarita Blue Heat on Sunday, July 17th. This matchup will be one of their toughest matches yet.
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W-League playoff format
Ten teams will qualify for the postseason. The top teams from each conference/division will play in either a conference final four or conference single-game match. The three Conference winners will advance to W-League Championship presented by UMBRO held in one location determined prior to the start of the season. The W-League Championship host will be granted the fourth spot in the W-League Championship Final Four.
Central Conference Playoffs: The top four seeds from the Central Conference will advance to the Central Conference Championship.
Eastern Conference Playoffs: The top two seeds from the Atlantic Division and the top two seeds from the Northeast Division will advance to the Eastern Conference Championship.
Western Conference Playoffs: The top two teams meet in a conference championship match.
Single playoff matches
During postseason play, single games tied after regulation will be followed by two 15-minute overtime periods played in their entirety. If still tied, FIFA kicks from the penalty mark are used to determine the winner.
July 5, 2011
Must-win matches as end of season draws near
By Kaeley McEvoy
With only two weekends left in W-League regular season competition, the women of the W-League were not concerned with fireworks and barbecues this weekend. Many of the games this weekend were must-win matches for teams to a have a run in the postseason. As the end of the season nears however, it seems that the top ranked teams are only beginning to peak. Four games this weekend had a score differential of more than five goals. Divisionally, a first place team won three of these four high scoring games.
The Ottawa Fury was not surprisingly one of these high-scoring teams. The Fury continued their perfect record this weekend with a 7-0 win over the London Gryphons. Ottawa increased its very impressive offensive stats with 31 goals in eight games. Ottawa forward Mallory Outerbridge continued to dominate as the W-League’s leading scorer this weekend by scoring a hat trick against London. Also in Great Lakes Division play this weekend, the Laval Comets, who are currently in second place behind the Fury with 17 points, defeated Hamilton F.C. Rage, 3-2, on Friday, July 1st. Hamilton also lost to the Quebec City Amiral, 1-0, on Sunday, July 3rd.
The leaders of the Northeast Division of the Eastern Conference, the Long Island Rough Riders, also recorded a 7-0 victory over the New Jersey Rangers this weekend. The Rangers have had a tough W-League season with only one tie and seven loses on their record. Although this victory should be celebrated, the true test for the Rough Riders will have to wait until Sunday, July 10th when they take on the still-undefeated New Jersey Wildcats. The Wildcats continued their unbeaten streak this weekend when the defeated the New York Magic with a 2-1 victory. Although this game was not a high-scoring match, this hard-fought victory certainly helps to secure a playoff spot for the Wildcats heading in to their final two games of the regular season.
The Vancouver Whitecaps, the leaders of the Western Conference, joined the high-scoring leaderboards this weekend when they defeated the Victoria Highlanders, 5-0, on Friday, July 1st. The Whitecaps are certainly on the road towards the W-League championship this season with 27 points recorded, the highest of any conference. Vancouver will face one of their toughest competitors in the coming weekend when they face the undefeated Santa Clarita Blue Heat on Friday, July 8th. In other Western Conference competition this weekend, the Colorado Rush recorded a 1-1 draw with the Pali Blues and the Colorado Force defeated the L.A. Strikers, 3-1.
A final high-scoring game took place in the Eastern Conference Atlantic Division this weekend when the Virginia Beach Piranhas defeated the Northern Virginia Majestics. The Piranhas were able to keep their playoff hopes alive after seven goals were scored on Majestic keeper Victoria Johnson. After the first 45 minutes, the Piranhas were only up one goal, but a formation adjustment by head coach Wendy Waddell motivated Virginia Beach to turn on the offensive threats in the second half. Six goals were scored in the last 27 minutes of play. Waddell said in a Virginia Beach press release that a bid to the playoffs motivated her team, “In the second half, we came out and capitalized on every chance we had. The girls know what’s on the line and that’s the playoffs. It’s a big motivation for us. We need to win out.” The teams will have a rematch of this eventful game on Wednesday, July 6th to start the Piranhas final stretch of regular season games.
Must-win matches as end of season draws near
By Kaeley McEvoy
With only two weekends left in W-League regular season competition, the women of the W-League were not concerned with fireworks and barbecues this weekend. Many of the games this weekend were must-win matches for teams to a have a run in the postseason. As the end of the season nears however, it seems that the top ranked teams are only beginning to peak. Four games this weekend had a score differential of more than five goals. Divisionally, a first place team won three of these four high scoring games.
The Ottawa Fury was not surprisingly one of these high-scoring teams. The Fury continued their perfect record this weekend with a 7-0 win over the London Gryphons. Ottawa increased its very impressive offensive stats with 31 goals in eight games. Ottawa forward Mallory Outerbridge continued to dominate as the W-League’s leading scorer this weekend by scoring a hat trick against London. Also in Great Lakes Division play this weekend, the Laval Comets, who are currently in second place behind the Fury with 17 points, defeated Hamilton F.C. Rage, 3-2, on Friday, July 1st. Hamilton also lost to the Quebec City Amiral, 1-0, on Sunday, July 3rd.
The leaders of the Northeast Division of the Eastern Conference, the Long Island Rough Riders, also recorded a 7-0 victory over the New Jersey Rangers this weekend. The Rangers have had a tough W-League season with only one tie and seven loses on their record. Although this victory should be celebrated, the true test for the Rough Riders will have to wait until Sunday, July 10th when they take on the still-undefeated New Jersey Wildcats. The Wildcats continued their unbeaten streak this weekend when the defeated the New York Magic with a 2-1 victory. Although this game was not a high-scoring match, this hard-fought victory certainly helps to secure a playoff spot for the Wildcats heading in to their final two games of the regular season.
The Vancouver Whitecaps, the leaders of the Western Conference, joined the high-scoring leaderboards this weekend when they defeated the Victoria Highlanders, 5-0, on Friday, July 1st. The Whitecaps are certainly on the road towards the W-League championship this season with 27 points recorded, the highest of any conference. Vancouver will face one of their toughest competitors in the coming weekend when they face the undefeated Santa Clarita Blue Heat on Friday, July 8th. In other Western Conference competition this weekend, the Colorado Rush recorded a 1-1 draw with the Pali Blues and the Colorado Force defeated the L.A. Strikers, 3-1.
A final high-scoring game took place in the Eastern Conference Atlantic Division this weekend when the Virginia Beach Piranhas defeated the Northern Virginia Majestics. The Piranhas were able to keep their playoff hopes alive after seven goals were scored on Majestic keeper Victoria Johnson. After the first 45 minutes, the Piranhas were only up one goal, but a formation adjustment by head coach Wendy Waddell motivated Virginia Beach to turn on the offensive threats in the second half. Six goals were scored in the last 27 minutes of play. Waddell said in a Virginia Beach press release that a bid to the playoffs motivated her team, “In the second half, we came out and capitalized on every chance we had. The girls know what’s on the line and that’s the playoffs. It’s a big motivation for us. We need to win out.” The teams will have a rematch of this eventful game on Wednesday, July 6th to start the Piranhas final stretch of regular season games.
June 28, 2011
W-League Week in Review: W-League is breeding ground for World Cup stars
By Kaeley McEvoy
For anyone that has been under a rock the past month, the 2011 Women's World Cup kicked off this weekend in Germany. With anticipation mounting internationally and extremely high hopes for the U.S. National Team, this year's ultimate soccer competition is believed to be one of the most entertaining yet. It is important to remember, however, that before earning international caps, and filming Nike commercials, the women of the World Cup were, and are, players pursuing their passion. In fact, more than 60 of these women have competed in the USL W-League. Players such as Heather O'Reilly, Lauren Cheney, Alex Morgan, Karina LeBlanc, and Kelly Smith have all played in W-League competition. Smith’s former W-League squad, the New Jersey Wildcats, have remained one of the most competitive teams in the Northeast Division and illustrated that very fact this weekend.
On Thursday, June 23, the Wildcats faced their inter-division rivals, the Long Island Rough Riders. This Northeast Division matchup certainly foreshadowed the ultra competitive atmosphere of the Northeast Division. Both teams competed at an intense level to walk away with only one point each. The 1-1 draw leaves both the Wildcats and the Rough Riders tied at the top of the division with 14 points, however the Wildcats are one game behind their rivals. The Wildcats will face the New York Magic on Saturday, July 2 in order to level the playing field with their competition. Also in the Northeast Division, the women of D.C. United were able to keep their playoff hopes alive when they defeated the visiting New York Magic, 2-0, in Germantown, Md., at the Maryland Soccerplex. This win marked the first victory in nearly three weeks for D.C. United. The team must win all of their remaining matches to have a chance for the postseason.
A team that almost definitely has a ticket into postseason play is the Great Lake Conference’s Ottawa Fury. The Fury continued their unbeaten streak this weekend when they defeated Quebec City Amiral on Saturday by a 4-1 score. Ottawa’s impressive offense and depth off the bench continues to dominate the conference by outscoring opponents 21-2 this season. In the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference this weekend, talk of playoffs were also in the mind of many teams. The fourth-ranked Virginia Beach Piranhas needed to defeat the fifth-place Fredericksburg Impact to keep their playoff hopes alive. The Piranhas fought back to beat the Impact, 2-1, with a late goal. Although Impact forward Rebecca Fisher scored a breakaway after 20 minutes for Fredericksburg, the fighting spirit of the Piranhas showed resilience in the second half. An own goal from the Impact in the last 10 minutes of the first half left the teams level at 1-1 after the first 45 minutes, but Virginia Beach's leading scorer Steffi Goddard scored her third game-winning goal with 15 minutes left on the clock. Coach Wendy Wadell was very impressed by her team's performance. "My team showed great character again after being down 1-0,” Waddell said. “Every win is another boost for us and brings us closer to the playoffs. We are on a good path and have to continue what we are doing.” Another team that is on a “good path” towards playoffs in the Atlantic Division is the Charlotte Lady Eagles. The Eagles beat the Northern Virginia Majestics, 3-0, on Saturday while their division rivals the Atlanta Silverbacks only scored one goal on the Majestics on Friday. The Silverbacks scored 17 minutes into the game when last week's W-League Player of the Week, Susannah Dennis, gave an assist to midfielder Rebecca Nolin, who blasted a shot from 20 yards out. The Silverbacks face one of their toughest opponents, the Dayton Dutch Lions on July 2, while the Lady Eagles face Fredericksburg Impact on July 9.
Another World Cup star, Lauren Cheney’s former club, the Pali Blues did not have as much success as Kelly Smith’s Wildcats this weekend. The Blues only walked away from this weekend with one point, recording a loss to the Vancouver Whitecaps and a tie with the Seattle Sounders. The Vancouver Whitecaps continued their reign of the Western Conference this weekend as they handed the Pali Blues their first loss of the season. The Whitecaps opened the game strong with a goal from one of its youngest members in the 19th minute. Sydney Leroux flicked a beautiful ball to 18-year old Jenna Richardson right inside the box. The rookie was able to record her first goal at home by knocking the ball past Pali keeper Anna Maria Picarelli from eight yards out. Pali had numerous opportunities on net in the second half, but Vancouver keeper Jaclyn Dunnett continued her three-match shutout streak. The Blues also faced a tough match against the Seattle Sounders this weekend. Although the former W-League Champions were up, 3-1, at halftime, Seattle played a great second half to force the Blues to a draw. With 15 minutes remaining, Sounders substitute Justina MacDowell gave her team a glimmer of hope when she beat a Pali defender and slotted the ball in to the back of the net. The Sounders new found energy allowed them to press the Blues for the remainder of the half until they were rewarded with a golden opportunity in the final minutes of the match. A penalty was awarded to Seattle in the 86th minute of play. Former WPS player Sophie Reisser stepped up to the line and drove a high and fast ball right down the middle to tie the match 3-3. The Blues will look to rebound against the Colorado Rush on July 2 at home.
In conclusion, while you’re enjoying the beautiful game on its biggest international stage it is important to remember where some of these amazing players developed, the USL W-League.
W-League Week in Review: W-League is breeding ground for World Cup stars
By Kaeley McEvoy
For anyone that has been under a rock the past month, the 2011 Women's World Cup kicked off this weekend in Germany. With anticipation mounting internationally and extremely high hopes for the U.S. National Team, this year's ultimate soccer competition is believed to be one of the most entertaining yet. It is important to remember, however, that before earning international caps, and filming Nike commercials, the women of the World Cup were, and are, players pursuing their passion. In fact, more than 60 of these women have competed in the USL W-League. Players such as Heather O'Reilly, Lauren Cheney, Alex Morgan, Karina LeBlanc, and Kelly Smith have all played in W-League competition. Smith’s former W-League squad, the New Jersey Wildcats, have remained one of the most competitive teams in the Northeast Division and illustrated that very fact this weekend.
On Thursday, June 23, the Wildcats faced their inter-division rivals, the Long Island Rough Riders. This Northeast Division matchup certainly foreshadowed the ultra competitive atmosphere of the Northeast Division. Both teams competed at an intense level to walk away with only one point each. The 1-1 draw leaves both the Wildcats and the Rough Riders tied at the top of the division with 14 points, however the Wildcats are one game behind their rivals. The Wildcats will face the New York Magic on Saturday, July 2 in order to level the playing field with their competition. Also in the Northeast Division, the women of D.C. United were able to keep their playoff hopes alive when they defeated the visiting New York Magic, 2-0, in Germantown, Md., at the Maryland Soccerplex. This win marked the first victory in nearly three weeks for D.C. United. The team must win all of their remaining matches to have a chance for the postseason.
A team that almost definitely has a ticket into postseason play is the Great Lake Conference’s Ottawa Fury. The Fury continued their unbeaten streak this weekend when they defeated Quebec City Amiral on Saturday by a 4-1 score. Ottawa’s impressive offense and depth off the bench continues to dominate the conference by outscoring opponents 21-2 this season. In the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference this weekend, talk of playoffs were also in the mind of many teams. The fourth-ranked Virginia Beach Piranhas needed to defeat the fifth-place Fredericksburg Impact to keep their playoff hopes alive. The Piranhas fought back to beat the Impact, 2-1, with a late goal. Although Impact forward Rebecca Fisher scored a breakaway after 20 minutes for Fredericksburg, the fighting spirit of the Piranhas showed resilience in the second half. An own goal from the Impact in the last 10 minutes of the first half left the teams level at 1-1 after the first 45 minutes, but Virginia Beach's leading scorer Steffi Goddard scored her third game-winning goal with 15 minutes left on the clock. Coach Wendy Wadell was very impressed by her team's performance. "My team showed great character again after being down 1-0,” Waddell said. “Every win is another boost for us and brings us closer to the playoffs. We are on a good path and have to continue what we are doing.” Another team that is on a “good path” towards playoffs in the Atlantic Division is the Charlotte Lady Eagles. The Eagles beat the Northern Virginia Majestics, 3-0, on Saturday while their division rivals the Atlanta Silverbacks only scored one goal on the Majestics on Friday. The Silverbacks scored 17 minutes into the game when last week's W-League Player of the Week, Susannah Dennis, gave an assist to midfielder Rebecca Nolin, who blasted a shot from 20 yards out. The Silverbacks face one of their toughest opponents, the Dayton Dutch Lions on July 2, while the Lady Eagles face Fredericksburg Impact on July 9.
Another World Cup star, Lauren Cheney’s former club, the Pali Blues did not have as much success as Kelly Smith’s Wildcats this weekend. The Blues only walked away from this weekend with one point, recording a loss to the Vancouver Whitecaps and a tie with the Seattle Sounders. The Vancouver Whitecaps continued their reign of the Western Conference this weekend as they handed the Pali Blues their first loss of the season. The Whitecaps opened the game strong with a goal from one of its youngest members in the 19th minute. Sydney Leroux flicked a beautiful ball to 18-year old Jenna Richardson right inside the box. The rookie was able to record her first goal at home by knocking the ball past Pali keeper Anna Maria Picarelli from eight yards out. Pali had numerous opportunities on net in the second half, but Vancouver keeper Jaclyn Dunnett continued her three-match shutout streak. The Blues also faced a tough match against the Seattle Sounders this weekend. Although the former W-League Champions were up, 3-1, at halftime, Seattle played a great second half to force the Blues to a draw. With 15 minutes remaining, Sounders substitute Justina MacDowell gave her team a glimmer of hope when she beat a Pali defender and slotted the ball in to the back of the net. The Sounders new found energy allowed them to press the Blues for the remainder of the half until they were rewarded with a golden opportunity in the final minutes of the match. A penalty was awarded to Seattle in the 86th minute of play. Former WPS player Sophie Reisser stepped up to the line and drove a high and fast ball right down the middle to tie the match 3-3. The Blues will look to rebound against the Colorado Rush on July 2 at home.
In conclusion, while you’re enjoying the beautiful game on its biggest international stage it is important to remember where some of these amazing players developed, the USL W-League.
June 21, 2011
W-League Week in Review: Roadtrips successful for Whitecaps and Silverbacks
By Kaeley McEvoy
In the Western Conference this weekend, the Vancouver Whitecaps and Seattle Sounders traveled to Colorado to compete against top teams amidst the peaks and valleys of the Rocky Mountains. The Whitecaps captured the top spot in the division after going undefeated in their road trip, beating the Colorado Force 2-0 on Friday and recording a draw against Colorado Rush 0-0 on Sunday. Jenna Richardson scored both goals for Vancouver in her season debut for the team, raising the Whitecaps to a 6-1-2 record, just one point above the Santa Clarita Blue Heat in the division standings. The Sounders suffered a loss to the Rush on Friday 1-0 but defeated the Colorado Force 2-1 on Sunday to leave the Rocky Mountains with a 1-1 record. The Sounders will travel home to face the undefeated Pali Blues on Sunday June 26th and the Vancouver Whitecaps on Wednesday June 29th.
In Eastern Conference actions, the Atlanta Silverbacks proved why they are consistently one of the top teams in the nation this weekend after a three game sweep of the Eastern Division Atlantic Conference. The Silverbacks remain at the top of the division with 14 points this weekend after defeating the Virginia Beach Piranhas 1-0, the Northern Virginia Majestics 2-0 and the Fredericksburg Impact 2-1. With only 15 players able to make the road trip to Virginia and the absence of midfielders Alexa Newfield, Kay Hardbrueger and Megan Tomlinson, the Silverbacks needed to work as a team to get the nine points this weekend. Head Coach Chris Adams remarked in a Silverback press release that, “We really needed every single player to step up and contribute on this trip,” said Silverbacks Head Coach Chris Adams. “I couldn’t have asked for a better effort from each and every one of our players.”
The Silverbacks’ biggest competition, the Charlotte Lady Eagles and Dayton Dutch Lions, went head-to-head this weekend to end up with a 2-2 draw on Saturday. A half hour rain delay did not stop Lions forward Ashley Botts from finding the back of the net 23 minutes in to give Dayton the lead going into the half. The second half became a heated battle in mid-field after shots from both sides were just over and wide of the posts. In the 82nd minute, Eagle’s Lulu Merrill took a beautiful free kick from 20 yards out that served as the equalizer for the Lady Eagles. Both teams battled the last ten minutes of play to walk away with a 2-2 draw after a Lady Eagle’s goal from Laura Novikoff was answered by a second goal from Ashley Botts in the 90th minute.
On the Northeast side of the Eastern Conference, the Long Island Rough Riders and New Jersey Wildcats continue to dominate play by remaining two of the five undefeated teams in the W-League. The Rough Riders defeated the women of DC United on Saturday with a 2-0 victory, while the Wildcats recorded a draw against the North Jersey Valkyries on Thursday. The two teams, still tied for first place with ten points each, will face-off in a much-anticipated game on Thursday the 23rd at the Cy Connelly Stadium.
Finally, in the Central Conference, the Ottawa Fury once again joined the Long Island Rough Riders and New Jersey Wildcats in the land of the unbeaten. The Fury crushed the London Gryphons 5-1 on Saturday. Although the Fury remains in first place, Head Coach Dom Oliveri commented that he was not completely content with his team’s performance: "we did not perform to our best today, but we are happy that we fought hard and were able to get the result." The Fury will have a week to train before they face the Quebec City Amiral next Saturday.
W-League Week in Review: Roadtrips successful for Whitecaps and Silverbacks
By Kaeley McEvoy
In the Western Conference this weekend, the Vancouver Whitecaps and Seattle Sounders traveled to Colorado to compete against top teams amidst the peaks and valleys of the Rocky Mountains. The Whitecaps captured the top spot in the division after going undefeated in their road trip, beating the Colorado Force 2-0 on Friday and recording a draw against Colorado Rush 0-0 on Sunday. Jenna Richardson scored both goals for Vancouver in her season debut for the team, raising the Whitecaps to a 6-1-2 record, just one point above the Santa Clarita Blue Heat in the division standings. The Sounders suffered a loss to the Rush on Friday 1-0 but defeated the Colorado Force 2-1 on Sunday to leave the Rocky Mountains with a 1-1 record. The Sounders will travel home to face the undefeated Pali Blues on Sunday June 26th and the Vancouver Whitecaps on Wednesday June 29th.
In Eastern Conference actions, the Atlanta Silverbacks proved why they are consistently one of the top teams in the nation this weekend after a three game sweep of the Eastern Division Atlantic Conference. The Silverbacks remain at the top of the division with 14 points this weekend after defeating the Virginia Beach Piranhas 1-0, the Northern Virginia Majestics 2-0 and the Fredericksburg Impact 2-1. With only 15 players able to make the road trip to Virginia and the absence of midfielders Alexa Newfield, Kay Hardbrueger and Megan Tomlinson, the Silverbacks needed to work as a team to get the nine points this weekend. Head Coach Chris Adams remarked in a Silverback press release that, “We really needed every single player to step up and contribute on this trip,” said Silverbacks Head Coach Chris Adams. “I couldn’t have asked for a better effort from each and every one of our players.”
The Silverbacks’ biggest competition, the Charlotte Lady Eagles and Dayton Dutch Lions, went head-to-head this weekend to end up with a 2-2 draw on Saturday. A half hour rain delay did not stop Lions forward Ashley Botts from finding the back of the net 23 minutes in to give Dayton the lead going into the half. The second half became a heated battle in mid-field after shots from both sides were just over and wide of the posts. In the 82nd minute, Eagle’s Lulu Merrill took a beautiful free kick from 20 yards out that served as the equalizer for the Lady Eagles. Both teams battled the last ten minutes of play to walk away with a 2-2 draw after a Lady Eagle’s goal from Laura Novikoff was answered by a second goal from Ashley Botts in the 90th minute.
On the Northeast side of the Eastern Conference, the Long Island Rough Riders and New Jersey Wildcats continue to dominate play by remaining two of the five undefeated teams in the W-League. The Rough Riders defeated the women of DC United on Saturday with a 2-0 victory, while the Wildcats recorded a draw against the North Jersey Valkyries on Thursday. The two teams, still tied for first place with ten points each, will face-off in a much-anticipated game on Thursday the 23rd at the Cy Connelly Stadium.
Finally, in the Central Conference, the Ottawa Fury once again joined the Long Island Rough Riders and New Jersey Wildcats in the land of the unbeaten. The Fury crushed the London Gryphons 5-1 on Saturday. Although the Fury remains in first place, Head Coach Dom Oliveri commented that he was not completely content with his team’s performance: "we did not perform to our best today, but we are happy that we fought hard and were able to get the result." The Fury will have a week to train before they face the Quebec City Amiral next Saturday.
June 14, 2011
W-League Week in Review: Inter-division play heats up
By Kaeley McEvoy
In the W-League, teams from across the country continued to battle in inter-division play. This weekend, underdogs such as the LA Strikers and Colorado Force gave veteran teams a wake-up call that statistical standings and club history means little this year in the W-League. As teams enter their fifth weekend of play, the competition for even a small victory is beginning to become fierce.
Just north of the U.S. border, the Bois-de-Boulogne Sports Center hosted multiple games in Central League play this weekend. The Laval Comets are beginning to chase their archrivals, the undefeated Ottawa Fury, after recording two wins this weekend. Scoring three goals in each match, the Comets defeated the Toronto Lady Lynx and the London Gryphons. After their loss to the Comets, the Gryphons had a difficult weekend as they were not able to score on Quebec City Amiral on Saturday. The Amiral netted two goals on the Gryphons, continuing their successful road towards third place in the conference. The Comets were not the only team to win back-to-back games this weekend, however.
In the Eastern Conference, the Charlotte Lady Eagles recorded two victories after a 3-0 win against Fredericksburg on Friday and a 1-0 victory against the Northern Virginia Majestics. While the Atlanta Silverbacks took the weekend off from conference play, the Lady Eagles took the lead in the conference, and the Virginia Beach Piranhas also embarked on a quest towards the top of the conference.
The Piranhas grabbed a wild victory this weekend when they beat the Dayton Dutch Lions, 4-3. Although the entire Piranha team was said to have played outstanding, Virginia Beach forward Steffi Goddard deserves a remark of recognition for her impressive stats this weekend. Goddard now six goals and 12 points this season. This weekend, Goddard scored three of her team’s four goals in the match against the Lions, recording a hat trick for the second game in a row. The Piranhas have now claimed the third spot in the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference. In the Northeast Division of the Eastern Conference, the New Jersey Wildcats remain a game behind but still sit atop the league. The Wildcats tied the DC United women, 1-1, this weekend in a tough game at the Maryland SoccerPlex. Also in Northeast play, the New York Magic tallied a very impressive five goals on the New Jersey Rangers to walk away with three points and a shutout on Sunday.
On the West Coast, the ultra competitive Western Conference continues to remain heated as newly established teams such as the LA Strikers are beginning to give the veteran teams such as the Vancouver Whitecaps some trouble. The Strikers held the Vancouver Whitecaps to only one goal in their match on Friday night. The Whitecaps came out with vengeance after a tough 5-2 loss to Santa Clarita last week, but the LA Strikers were able to hold their competition to a 0-0 draw at half time. It was not until the 65th minute when Tiffany Weimer of the Whitecaps was able to sneak a goal in to the Strikers net. It was her league-leading seventh goal of the season. The 1-0 victory leaves the Whitecaps in second place in the division behind the Blue Heat. The still-undefeated Blue Heat defeated the Colorado Rush this weekend with ease with a 3-0 victory on Thursday. Santa Clarita’s Ann Marie Tangorra netted a goal only eight minutes into the game, and the Heat continued a stellar offensive the entire game. The Pali Blues also traveled to Colorado this weekend to face the Colorado Force. Although the Blues remain undefeated in the league, their record fell to 3-0-3 this weekend after a 0-0 draw with the Force. This result is extremely impressive for the Force, who only recorded two wins in the 2010 season. The new coach of the Force, former player Tracy Chao, remarked that this tie was a milestone for the club. “It was a very good test for us, and what’s going to define our season, as far as the level our players can play at. I was very proud of our team and all the individual efforts out there.” Although the Force sit in the second-to-last position in the conference, this highly competitive game with a team that is in the race for first place certainly underscores the high level of competition in the Western Conference.
W-League Week in Review: Inter-division play heats up
By Kaeley McEvoy
In the W-League, teams from across the country continued to battle in inter-division play. This weekend, underdogs such as the LA Strikers and Colorado Force gave veteran teams a wake-up call that statistical standings and club history means little this year in the W-League. As teams enter their fifth weekend of play, the competition for even a small victory is beginning to become fierce.
Just north of the U.S. border, the Bois-de-Boulogne Sports Center hosted multiple games in Central League play this weekend. The Laval Comets are beginning to chase their archrivals, the undefeated Ottawa Fury, after recording two wins this weekend. Scoring three goals in each match, the Comets defeated the Toronto Lady Lynx and the London Gryphons. After their loss to the Comets, the Gryphons had a difficult weekend as they were not able to score on Quebec City Amiral on Saturday. The Amiral netted two goals on the Gryphons, continuing their successful road towards third place in the conference. The Comets were not the only team to win back-to-back games this weekend, however.
In the Eastern Conference, the Charlotte Lady Eagles recorded two victories after a 3-0 win against Fredericksburg on Friday and a 1-0 victory against the Northern Virginia Majestics. While the Atlanta Silverbacks took the weekend off from conference play, the Lady Eagles took the lead in the conference, and the Virginia Beach Piranhas also embarked on a quest towards the top of the conference.
The Piranhas grabbed a wild victory this weekend when they beat the Dayton Dutch Lions, 4-3. Although the entire Piranha team was said to have played outstanding, Virginia Beach forward Steffi Goddard deserves a remark of recognition for her impressive stats this weekend. Goddard now six goals and 12 points this season. This weekend, Goddard scored three of her team’s four goals in the match against the Lions, recording a hat trick for the second game in a row. The Piranhas have now claimed the third spot in the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference. In the Northeast Division of the Eastern Conference, the New Jersey Wildcats remain a game behind but still sit atop the league. The Wildcats tied the DC United women, 1-1, this weekend in a tough game at the Maryland SoccerPlex. Also in Northeast play, the New York Magic tallied a very impressive five goals on the New Jersey Rangers to walk away with three points and a shutout on Sunday.
On the West Coast, the ultra competitive Western Conference continues to remain heated as newly established teams such as the LA Strikers are beginning to give the veteran teams such as the Vancouver Whitecaps some trouble. The Strikers held the Vancouver Whitecaps to only one goal in their match on Friday night. The Whitecaps came out with vengeance after a tough 5-2 loss to Santa Clarita last week, but the LA Strikers were able to hold their competition to a 0-0 draw at half time. It was not until the 65th minute when Tiffany Weimer of the Whitecaps was able to sneak a goal in to the Strikers net. It was her league-leading seventh goal of the season. The 1-0 victory leaves the Whitecaps in second place in the division behind the Blue Heat. The still-undefeated Blue Heat defeated the Colorado Rush this weekend with ease with a 3-0 victory on Thursday. Santa Clarita’s Ann Marie Tangorra netted a goal only eight minutes into the game, and the Heat continued a stellar offensive the entire game. The Pali Blues also traveled to Colorado this weekend to face the Colorado Force. Although the Blues remain undefeated in the league, their record fell to 3-0-3 this weekend after a 0-0 draw with the Force. This result is extremely impressive for the Force, who only recorded two wins in the 2010 season. The new coach of the Force, former player Tracy Chao, remarked that this tie was a milestone for the club. “It was a very good test for us, and what’s going to define our season, as far as the level our players can play at. I was very proud of our team and all the individual efforts out there.” Although the Force sit in the second-to-last position in the conference, this highly competitive game with a team that is in the race for first place certainly underscores the high level of competition in the Western Conference.
June 6, 2011
W-League Week in Review: June off to historic start
By Kaeley McEvoy
The first weekend of June brought a large amount of new firsts for the W-League. For the first time since July 2010, the Charlotte Lady Eagles defeated the two-time Atlantic Division Champions the Atlanta Silverbacks. The women of the recently formed DC United recorded their first-ever victory in the W-League, and for the first time in 15 W-League games the Vancouver Whitecaps were defeated by the Santa Clarita Blue Heat.
In the Central Conference this weekend, however, a story of “firsts” and new beginnings certainly does not fit the bill as the seven-time and reigning W-League Atlantic Division Champs the Ottawa Fury continue to dominate the conference. The Fury remain a full six points ahead of their closest competitor, the Quebec Admiral, as they ended the weekend with 12 points. The Fury recorded a 4-0 victory against Rochester on Friday and a 5-0 win over the Laval Comets on Sunday. Although Laval had chances on net, Alyssa Lagonia slotted her first goal of the season to give the Fury an early lead. Three more goals left the Fury up 4-0 at halftime, allowing Fury coach Dom Oliveri to use his entire bench in the second half. Ottawa finished the game 5-0 by recording their fourth consecutive shutout. Currently in second place in the Atlantic Division, the Admiral had a very impressive opening weekend in the W-League by defeating the London Gryphons 3-0 on Saturday and Hamilton FC Rage 4-1 on Sunday. With a new coach, a solid group of veterans joined by some impressive rookies and two Haitian internationals the Quebec Admiral certainly is a team to watch in the Central Conference.
In the Eastern Conference, the team to watch is slightly more difficult to determine. This weekend, the Dayton Dutch Lions were able to secure the top slot in the Atlantic division after a dramatic 3-3 draw with the Northern Virginia Majestics and a 4-0 shutout against the Fredericksburg Impact. However, the Charlotte Lady Eagles reminded W-League fans that they are a team to watch this weekend when they defeated conference foes the Atlanta Silverbacks, 3-1. After losing to the Silverbacks in back-to-back years in the division final and recording a loss Saturday May 28th against their archrivals, the Lady Eagles entered the game with a statement to prove. General Manager Jeremy Auyer said before the game that, “We have been playing well. We just need to continue working hard and the results will follow." Auyer could not have been more correct as the Lady Eagles scored two second half goals to defeat the Silverbacks, 3-1. After being tied 1-1 at the 45 minute mark, Eagles players Blakely Mattern and Christine Rife scored a goal each to claim victory for their side in the second half of play. Charlotte will not face Atlanta again until playoff action but looks forward to their next game on Friday, June 10th against the Fredericksburg Impact.
In the Eastern Division of Eastern Conference, the New Jersey Wildcats top the division with nine points after a 2-1 victory over the NJ Rangers. More importantly however, the women of DC United tallied their first victory this weekend in the Eastern Conference with a 3-0 win over the New York Magic. A goal in the first five minutes of play allowed United to maintain a vision of composure and confidence for the rest of the match. The Penn State duo of Christine Nairn and Bri Hovington combined for all three goals on Sunday to gain the first W in club history.
A team that recorded their first club victory only two years ago in 2009, the Santa Clarita Blue Heat had an outstanding weekend in the Western Conference. The Blue Heat blanked the Seattle Sounders 3-0 on Friday and upset the previously undefeated Vancouver Whitecaps 5-2 on Sunday. General Manager Carlos Marroquin remarked that, “Words cannot express how proud we are of this team,” after the stunning victory. The Heat not only ended Vancouver’s 15-game undefeated streak, but they also gained the top spot in their division this weekend for the first time this season. Not far behind the Heat, are the still-unbeaten Pali Blues. Vancouver tied the Blues, 1-1, on Wednesday June 1st. The Blues unfortunately let a 1-0 lead slip away when Tina Romagnuolo converted a PK for Vancouver in the 75th minute of play, forcing a 1-1 draw. Pali players Anisa Guajardo and Tiffany McCarty did not a let the lead fall out of reach on Sunday, however, when each player scored one goal to lead their team to defeat the Seattle Sounders 2-0, keeping Pali with an undefeated record. The final “first” from the Western Conference came from the Colorado Force who scored three goals in the second half of play on Sunday to record their first W-League victory of the season against the Victoria highlanders.
May 30, 2011
W-League Week in Review: Teams settling in and competition heats up
By Kaeley McEvoy
Memorial Day weekend certainly brought out the best in W-League competition as teams from every conference competed fiercely to conclude the first month of competition in the 2011 season. Now entering its third week of play, the W-League is becoming extremely competitive as teams are beginning to find their legs and learn to work cohesively to enhance the level of play on every coast.
On the West Coast, the Pacific Conference recorded a weekend of high scoring and highly competitive games leaving the Vancouver Whitecaps and Colorado Rush at the top of the conference with nine points each. Vancouver, however, was able to overtake their recent conference rivals with a 3-0 defeat on Friday. The Whitecaps recorded their third consecutive victory with the shutout win. Tiffany Weimer, the Caps now team-leading scorer, scored two goals in front of a large crowd at Exhibition Stadium. Newcomer Alysha Bonnick also netted a goal for Vancouver when Jennifer Stoltenberg placed a beautiful ball five yards out from the Rush net. However, the Colorado Rush were able to rebound very quick from their Friday loss when they gained a late victory over the Seattle Sounders on Sunday afternoon. The Rush were luckily rewarded a pair of penalties, both converted by Danielle Foxhoven, that allowed them to steal the lead from the Seattle Sounders.
Vancouver and Colorado now sit atop the Pacific Conference with nine points each. Not very far behind, however, are the Santa Clarita Blue Heat with seven points. The Blue Heat made it very clear this weekend that they deserve to be competing for playoff spot when they defeated the L.A. Strikers with an astonishing 7-2 victory. After playing to a draw on Thursday against the Pali Blues, the Blue Heat were ready for action this weekend. Coach Fabian Sandoval remarked that he was very pleased with the team’s overall performance. The Blue Heat are now tied with the Pali Blues with seven points in the top of the conference.
The Great Lake conference also experienced an entertaining weekend of Memorial Day competition. The Ottawa Fury had a very impressive weekend of play recording two victories and gaining the top spot in the Great Lakes conference. After the Women’s World Cup removed five reserves from the 2010 Fury roster, Fury coaching staff was able to create a roster with more than 20 players that have NCAA experience. This weekend, the Fury defeated the Rochester Ravens with a 2-0 victory and overcame the Hamilton FC Rage, 1-0. Also in Great Lake Conference play, the Laval Comets had a great weekend recording a victory and a draw in conference play. The Comets defeated the London Gryphons, 2-1, on Saturday and played the Toronto Lynx to a nil-nil draw on Sunday.
Notable games this weekend were also played in the Atlantic and Northeast Divisions of the Eastern Conference. The Charlotte Lady Eagles suffered a loss to the Dayton Dutch Lions as the Lions took their second consecutive win W-League action. Lions forward Mandi Back scored a goal in the 81st minute of play when a shot deflected into the top corner of the net. In the Northeast Division, the Long Island Rough Riders stole three points from the New York Magic with a 4-0 victory.
As the month of May comes to an end and the fresh cut grass of summer soccer in June lies just around the corner, the W-League only promises more excitement as the competition has only begun to get competitive.
W-League Week in Review: Teams already racing toward playoffs
By Kaeley McEvoy
After the second weekend of W-League competition, each division of the league has begun its own competitive race towards the playoffs. After a sampling of games in its opening the weekend, the league finished the weekend of May 22 and
23 with more than 20 teams taking a progressive step towards or a small leap away from W-League glory.
One of the teams to advance towards their goal of W-League glory was the Rochester Ravens. On Sunday, May 22, the Ravens made history by winning their first game of the season for the first time in the franchise’s short history. Rochester forward Chelsea Kuss scored two goals for the Ravens to defeat their Canadian opponent the Toronto Lady Lynx, 2-1, at the Ontario Soccer Center. As the first game in Central Conference play, the Ravens lead the division with three points after their first win.
Also leading their division is Eastern Conference Atlantic Division favorite, the Atlanta Silverbacks. After last year’s 1-0 loss in the division final, the Charlotte Lady Eagles were very excited to get another shot at the dominating Silverbacks. On Friday, May 20, however, the Silverbacks wasted no time reminding the Lady Eagles why they constantly take on the role of bridesmaid to the four-time division champions. Ten minutes into play Atlanta star Alexa Newfield scored a penalty kick to get the ball rolling. A short 14 minutes later, Megan Tomlinson added a second goal for Atlanta off a cross from Newfield. Charlotte did have clear chances to equalize but a ball cleared off the goal line and a crossbar kept the Silverbacks in control for the remainder of the game.
On the other side of the Atlantic Division, another early goal allowed the Dayton Lady Lions to walk away victorious against the Virginia Beach Piranhas. After Dayton created several scoring opportunities only minutes into the match, early pressure broke down the Piranhas defense, forcing a loss of possession during the 10th minute of play. This dispossession on the left side allowed Lions midfielder Mandi Back to slot a through ball to forward Brittany Persaud to score in the top right corner of the goal. Piranha midfielder Samantha Hare was able to tie the game in the 22nd minutes off a beautiful header from Alyssa Wombwell’s corner. Dayton forward Ashley Botts notched the game-winner in the second half allowing the Lions to walk away with a win. Head Coach Mark Batman noted that he was proud of his teams’ victory. “Overall, it was great for the girls to get their first win in the W League. Even though we didn’t play to our potential for the entire match, I was proud of them for diggin in in the second half.”
Another proud coach in the Atlantic Division is Jen Woodle of the Fredericksburg Impact. An early goal and a solid defensive effort earned the first win in franchise history for the Impact with a 1-0 victory of the Northern Virginia Majestics in their debut game in the W-League this weekend.
In Western Conference play, this weekend served to underscore the high level of competition in the Western Conference as three teams, Vancouver Whitecaps, Pali Blues, and LA Strikers finished the weekend with six points. Hometown hero Sydney Leroux allowed the Vancouver Whitecaps to remain undefeated when she scored a goal late in the first half. After Tiffany Weimer sent Carrie Patterson into the right side of the 18, Leroux was able to slot a first-time finish five yards from the net. Leroux first played for the Whitecaps as a 15-year-old in 2005, this game-winning shot was her first-ever goal for the club.
The Pali Blues fought the Victoria Highlanders to a 2-1 victory on Saturday. Highlanders leading scorer from 2010, Liz Hansen, netted the first W-League goal in team history for Victoria, but it was not enough to keep the Blues at bay. A goal each from Tiffany McCarty and Anisa Guajardo gave the Blues the chance for Western Conference glory.
The LA Strikers are attempting to march forward towards Western Conference glory as well with the addition of a new head coach Demian Brown. After experiencing a 4-1 loss to Colorado Rush during and out of division contest this weekend, the Strikers management acted quickly to preserve their shot at the title. Under Brown, LA will face its next match on Sunday May 29 against the Santa Clarita Blue Heat, who earned a 2-1 victory against Victoria on Sunday.
Memorial Day weekend looks to be an ultra competitive weekend in W-League play. As women of D.C United prepare to make their W-League debut tonight against the New Jersey Wildcats and the Central Conference reigning champions Ottawa Fury make their league debut this weekend, it seems the long journey towards gaining glory in the W-League has just begun.
W-League kicks off 17th season
By Kaeley McEvoy
This past weekend, the W-League, the pinnacle of the USL soccer pyramid, kicked off its 17th season of play. With the addition of six new teams, including the Virginia Beach Piranhas, Dayton Dutch Lyons, Fredericksburg Impact, D.C United, Victoria Highlanders, and L.A. Strikers, the league is looking more competitive than ever. The W-League offers fans a unique sense of the globalization of soccer because its players stem from almost every level of elite soccer across the globe.
This 2011 W-league season includes international all-stars, national team impact players, and collegiate standouts. The question as always, however, will be which team can create the chemistry needed to clinch a W-League championship. Veteran teams such as the Ottawa Fury, Atlanta Silverbacks and Vancouver Whitecaps will attempt to enhance the chemistry of their already established dynasties. Not far behind, however, are a few rookie and second-year teams out to prove that the chemistry of excitement and youth can sometimes overcome experience. 2010 W-league Rookie of the Year, Rashidah Sherman attempted, and succeeded, to prove this point in the New York Magic’s first game of the season on Saturday, May 14. Sherman, who averaged an astonishing one goal per game in her debut season, wasted no time taking charge of the Magic’s direction this summer. Recording a hat trick in the first game of the season, Sherman set the bar high for every team in the Northeast Division of the Eastern Conference.
The opposing New Jersey Rangers, who retired their rookie status in the 2011 season, will look to rebound from their first upset of the season on Saturday, May 21 against a tough Long Island Rough Riders, who are on the quest for yet another playoff berth. On the Atlantic side of the Eastern Conference, playoffs are also already in the mind of the four timing defending Atlantic Conference champions the Atlanta Silverbacks. The Silverbacks started their season off not only on the right foot but in an accelerated sprint towards their goal of another W-League conference title. Their 3-0 victory over newcomers Dayton Dutch Lions illustrates how hard rookie teams must work to compete with the quote on quote “big dogs” of the W-league. Silverback’s forward Tiffani Turpin sent a wakeup call to the Dutch Lions six minutes into play by rocketing a shot past Dayton keeper Kristin McFadden that unluckily hit the post. Eleven minutes later however, Atlanta Midfielder Alexa Newfield slotted a precise ball to Turpin who easily netted her first goal of the season past the Lions defense.
The Silverback’s rival in the Atlantic Division, the Charlotte Lady Eagles, also posted three points this weekend with a win over the newly established Virginia Beach Piranhas. Piranhas coach Wendy Waddell was not disappointed by their debut zero-two loss, “I don’t want my players to hang their heads,” Coach Waddell told press after the game. “In some parts we looked very promising and that showed me the high level at which we could play. But we have to show this level more consistently. We will work on our fitness and work on the way we play together in order to be ready for our next game.” The Piranhas next test will come on Saturday, May 21, against the Dayton Dutch Lions, who will also be looking for their own W-league redemption.
Redemption will also be the name of the game next weekend for newcomers Victoria Highlanders, as they walked away from two matches this weekend with only one point to record. After a scoreless game on Saturday, May 14 against the Seattle Sounders, the Highlanders faced Western Conference powerhouse Vancouver Whitecaps on Sunday, May 15, with disappointing results. Whitecaps newcomer Tiffany Weimer netted two goals against the Highlanders in her first game of the season. While Vancouver outshot the Highlanders 19-7, the Highlanders were not without opportunity. During stoppage time, Victoria substitute Jackie Harrison rocketed a low shot from 18 yards out however Vancouver keeper Kristen Funk got down well to preserve the Whitecaps shutout. A shutout was also posted by Pali Blues goalkeeper Anna Maria Picarelli this weekend, when the Blues gained a win against newcomers L.A. Strikers.
The newly established L.A. Strikers competed stride for stride with the once back-to-back Western Conference champions. It was not until the 87th minute of play that Blues forward Tiffany McCarty broke the scoreless draw to record a 1-0 victory. Although their season began with a loss, the L.A. Strikers certainly illustrated that the newcomers of the W-League will be a force to be reckoned with in the 2011 season.
This coming weekend will also leave room for newcomers to make an “impact” on the W-League as newly established Fredericksburg Impact will compete in their debut match versus the Northern Virginia Majestics. The chemistry of each W-League team will be tested within the next week as 12 games will occur setting the tone for yet another extremely competitive summer of globalized Women’s soccer in the W-League.
By Kaeley McEvoy
This past weekend, the W-League, the pinnacle of the USL soccer pyramid, kicked off its 17th season of play. With the addition of six new teams, including the Virginia Beach Piranhas, Dayton Dutch Lyons, Fredericksburg Impact, D.C United, Victoria Highlanders, and L.A. Strikers, the league is looking more competitive than ever. The W-League offers fans a unique sense of the globalization of soccer because its players stem from almost every level of elite soccer across the globe.
This 2011 W-league season includes international all-stars, national team impact players, and collegiate standouts. The question as always, however, will be which team can create the chemistry needed to clinch a W-League championship. Veteran teams such as the Ottawa Fury, Atlanta Silverbacks and Vancouver Whitecaps will attempt to enhance the chemistry of their already established dynasties. Not far behind, however, are a few rookie and second-year teams out to prove that the chemistry of excitement and youth can sometimes overcome experience. 2010 W-league Rookie of the Year, Rashidah Sherman attempted, and succeeded, to prove this point in the New York Magic’s first game of the season on Saturday, May 14. Sherman, who averaged an astonishing one goal per game in her debut season, wasted no time taking charge of the Magic’s direction this summer. Recording a hat trick in the first game of the season, Sherman set the bar high for every team in the Northeast Division of the Eastern Conference.
The opposing New Jersey Rangers, who retired their rookie status in the 2011 season, will look to rebound from their first upset of the season on Saturday, May 21 against a tough Long Island Rough Riders, who are on the quest for yet another playoff berth. On the Atlantic side of the Eastern Conference, playoffs are also already in the mind of the four timing defending Atlantic Conference champions the Atlanta Silverbacks. The Silverbacks started their season off not only on the right foot but in an accelerated sprint towards their goal of another W-League conference title. Their 3-0 victory over newcomers Dayton Dutch Lions illustrates how hard rookie teams must work to compete with the quote on quote “big dogs” of the W-league. Silverback’s forward Tiffani Turpin sent a wakeup call to the Dutch Lions six minutes into play by rocketing a shot past Dayton keeper Kristin McFadden that unluckily hit the post. Eleven minutes later however, Atlanta Midfielder Alexa Newfield slotted a precise ball to Turpin who easily netted her first goal of the season past the Lions defense.
The Silverback’s rival in the Atlantic Division, the Charlotte Lady Eagles, also posted three points this weekend with a win over the newly established Virginia Beach Piranhas. Piranhas coach Wendy Waddell was not disappointed by their debut zero-two loss, “I don’t want my players to hang their heads,” Coach Waddell told press after the game. “In some parts we looked very promising and that showed me the high level at which we could play. But we have to show this level more consistently. We will work on our fitness and work on the way we play together in order to be ready for our next game.” The Piranhas next test will come on Saturday, May 21, against the Dayton Dutch Lions, who will also be looking for their own W-league redemption.
Redemption will also be the name of the game next weekend for newcomers Victoria Highlanders, as they walked away from two matches this weekend with only one point to record. After a scoreless game on Saturday, May 14 against the Seattle Sounders, the Highlanders faced Western Conference powerhouse Vancouver Whitecaps on Sunday, May 15, with disappointing results. Whitecaps newcomer Tiffany Weimer netted two goals against the Highlanders in her first game of the season. While Vancouver outshot the Highlanders 19-7, the Highlanders were not without opportunity. During stoppage time, Victoria substitute Jackie Harrison rocketed a low shot from 18 yards out however Vancouver keeper Kristen Funk got down well to preserve the Whitecaps shutout. A shutout was also posted by Pali Blues goalkeeper Anna Maria Picarelli this weekend, when the Blues gained a win against newcomers L.A. Strikers.
The newly established L.A. Strikers competed stride for stride with the once back-to-back Western Conference champions. It was not until the 87th minute of play that Blues forward Tiffany McCarty broke the scoreless draw to record a 1-0 victory. Although their season began with a loss, the L.A. Strikers certainly illustrated that the newcomers of the W-League will be a force to be reckoned with in the 2011 season.
This coming weekend will also leave room for newcomers to make an “impact” on the W-League as newly established Fredericksburg Impact will compete in their debut match versus the Northern Virginia Majestics. The chemistry of each W-League team will be tested within the next week as 12 games will occur setting the tone for yet another extremely competitive summer of globalized Women’s soccer in the W-League.
