2008 USL W-League season

Last updated

USL W-League
Season2008
Champions Pali Blues (1st Title)
Regular Season title Pali Blues (1st Title)
Top goalscorer Sarah Steinmann Atlanta Silverbacks Women (19 Goals)
Best goalkeeper Valerie Henderson Pali Blues
← 2007
2009 →

The 2008 W-League Season was the league's 14th. The regular season began on May 10, 2008, and ended on July 20.

Contents

Pali Blues finished the season as national champions, beating FC Indiana 2–1 in the W-League Championship game in Virginia Beach, Virginia on 2 August 2008.

The Pali Blues also finished with the best regular season record in the league, winning all 12 of their matches, and finishing with a +35 goal difference.

Atlanta Silverbacks Women's striker Sarah Steinmann was the league's top scorer, with 19 goals. FC Indiana's Laura Del Rio led the league with 13 assists, while Pali Blues goalkeeper Valerie Henderson enjoyed the best goalkeeping statistics, with a goals-against average of 0.142 per game, and posting 6 shutouts.

Changes from 2007 season

Nine teams were added for the season:

Team NameMetro AreaLocationPrevious Affiliation
Flag of North Carolina.svg Carolina Dynamo Greensboro area Greensboro, NC expansion
Flag of North Carolina.svg Carolina RailHawks Research Triangle area Cary, NC expansion
Flag of Connecticut.svg Connecticut Passion Hartford and New Haven areas Berlin, CT expansion
Flag of Indiana.svg FC Indiana Indianapolis area Indianapolis, IN previously in WPSL
Flag of Michigan.svg Kalamazoo Outrage Kalamazoo area Kalamazoo, MI expansion
Flag of California.svg Los Angeles Legends suburban Los Angeles area Azusa, CA expansion
Flag of California.svg Pali Blues Los Angeles area Los Angeles, CA expansion
Flag of Florida.svg Tampa Bay Hellenic Tampa Bay area Tampa, FL expansion
Flag of West Virginia.svg West Virginia Illusion Morgantown/North-Central West Virginia areas Fairmont, WV expansion

Three teams folded after the 2007 season: Mile High Edge, and San Diego Sunwaves. Cocoa Expos Women left the league for the WPSL.

Standings

Orange indicates W-League title and bye into W-League semifinals.
Blue indicates division title clinched
Green indicates playoff berth clinched

Central Conference

Midwest Division

PosTeamPldWLTGFGAGDPts
1 FC Indiana 141301673+6440
2 Chicago Gaels 141130399+3033
3 Minnesota Lightning 149323219+1329
4 Cleveland Internationals Women 148423123+826
5 Michigan Hawks 144911233−2113
6 Kalamazoo Outrage 142102636−308
7 Fort Wayne Fever 1321011639−237 [a]
8 West Michigan Firewomen 1311111152−414 [a]
Source: [ citation needed ]
Notes:
  1. 1 2 Fort Wayne and West Michigan did not play each other a second time, as the game could not be rescheduled before July 20 and would not affect the playoffs.

Northern Division

PosTeamPldWLTGFGAGDPts
1 Ottawa Fury Women 141310517+4439
2 Toronto Lady Lynx 1411214014+2634
3 Laval Comets 149413917+2228
4 Rochester Rhinos Women 146621833−1520
5 Hamilton Avalanche 145631921−218
6 Western Mass Lady Pioneers 143921834−1611
7 London Gryphons 143921535−2011
8 Vermont Lady Voltage 140131544−391
Source: [ citation needed ]

Eastern Conference

Atlantic Division

PosTeamPldWLTGFGAGDPts
1 Atlanta Silverbacks Women 141301506+4440
2 Charlotte Lady Eagles 1411214413+3134
3 Tampa Bay Hellenic 148422716+1126
4 Hampton Roads Piranhas 147612919+1022
5 Carolina RailHawks 147612217+522
6 Richmond Kickers Destiny 146801828−1018
7 Carolina Dynamo 144822330−714
8 Bradenton Athletics 1421201152−416
9 West Virginia Illusion 141130646−403
Source: [ citation needed ]

Northeast Division

PosTeamPldWLTGFGAGDPts
1 Washington Freedom 141112327+2535
2 Long Island Rough Riders 149322813+1529
3 Boston Renegades 149323212+2029
4 Jersey Sky Blue 148421410+426
5 Connecticut Passion 147522423+123
6 Northern Virginia Majestics 143651723−614
7 New York Magic 143741423−913
8 New Jersey Wildcats 1421021735−188
9 Fredericksburg Lady Gunners 140131537−321
Source: [ citation needed ]

Western Conference

PosTeamPldWLTGFGAGDPts
1 Pali Blues 121200394+3536
2 Vancouver Whitecaps Women 127232118+324
3 Seattle Sounders Women 125341911+819
4 Real Colorado Cougars 125431519−418
5 Fort Collins Force 123631519−412
6 Los Angeles Legends 121921126−155
7 Ventura County Fusion 121101932−234
Source: [ citation needed ]

Playoffs

Format

Five teams each from the Central and Eastern Conferences, and two from the Western Conference, qualify for the playoffs.

In the Central Conference, the second and third place teams from the Northern Division play a one-leg playoff with the winner advancing to the Conference Semifinals, where they will play the Midwest Division champion. The other semifinal will have the second place team from the Midwest Division playing the Northern Division champion.

In the Eastern Conference, the second and third place teams from the Northeast Division play a one-leg playoff with the winner advancing to play the Atlantic Division champion. The other semifinal will have the second place team from the Atlantic Division playing the Northeast Division champion.

The two teams in the Western Conference will play each other to advance to the W-League Semifinals.

The Regular Season champion, Pali Blues, receive a bye into the W-League semifinals, with the second and third place teams from the Western Conference receiving playoff berths.

Conference Brackets

Central Conference

Central Divisional Round Central Semifinals Central Championship
         
MW1 Flag of Indiana.svg FC Indiana 5
NO3 Flag of Quebec.svg Laval Comets 1
NO2 Flag of Ontario.svg Toronto Lady Lynx 0
NO3 Flag of Quebec.svg Laval Comets 2
MW1 Flag of Indiana.svg FC Indiana (AET) 4
NO1 Flag of Ontario.svg Ottawa Fury Women 3
NO1 Flag of Ontario.svg Ottawa Fury Women 3
MW2 Flag of Illinois.svg Chicago Gaels 2

Eastern Conference

Eastern Divisional Round Eastern Semifinals Eastern Championship
         
AT1 Flag of Georgia (U.S. state).svg Atlanta Silverbacks Women 1
NE2 Flag of New York.svg Long Island Rough Riders 0
NE2 Flag of New York.svg Long Island Rough Riders 1
NE3 Flag of Massachusetts.svg Boston Renegades 0
AT1 Flag of Georgia (U.S. state).svg Atlanta Silverbacks Women 1
NE1 Flag of Washington, D.C.svg Washington Freedom (AET) 2
NE1 Flag of Washington, D.C.svg Washington Freedom (AET) 6
AT2 Flag of North Carolina.svg Charlotte Lady Eagles 5

Western Conference

Western Finals
   
W1 Flag of British Columbia.svg Vancouver Whitecaps Women 0
W2 Flag of Washington.svg Seattle Sounders Women 1

Pali captured the W-League regular season title and bye into W-League semifinals, enabling Vancouver to take their spot in the Conference Playoffs, and allowing Seattle to clinch a playoff berth.

W-League Championship Bracket

Semifinals Championship
      
WL Flag of California.svg Pali Blues 2
NE1 Flag of Washington, D.C.svg Washington Freedom 0
WL Flag of California.svg Pali Blues 2
MW1 Flag of Indiana.svg FC Indiana 1
MW1 Flag of Indiana.svg FC Indiana 1
W2 Flag of Washington.svg Seattle Sounders Women 0 Consolation
NE1 Flag of Washington, D.C.svg Washington Freedom 2
W1 Flag of Washington.svg Seattle Sounders Women 0

Divisional Rounds

Flag of New York.svg Long Island Rough Riders 1 – 0 Flag of Massachusetts.svg Boston Renegades
DeRosa Soccerball shade.svg (Report)
St. Anthony's High School
South Huntington, New York
Attendance: 387
Referee: Samir Souidi (USA)
Flag of Ontario.svg Toronto Lady Lynx 0 – 2 Flag of Quebec.svg Laval Comets
Chapman Yellow card.svg 40'Red card.svg 89'
Afonso Yellow card.svg 66'		 (Report) Gagné Soccerball shade.svg8'Soccerball shade.svg40'
Walsh Red card.svg 89'
Centennial Park Stadium
Toronto, Ontario
Attendance: 344
Referee: Michael Izzo (CAN)

Conference semifinals

Flag of Ontario.svg Ottawa Fury Women 3 – 2 Flag of Illinois.svg Chicago Gaels
Taylor Soccerball shade.svg12'Soccerball shade.svg62' (PK)
Powell Soccerball shade.svg15'		 (Report) Mutters Yellow card.svg 12'
Spacht Soccerball shade.svg26'
Trevillian Yellow card.svg 74'
Maynard Soccerball shade.svg89' (PK)
Varsity Soccer Complex
West Lafayette, Indiana
Attendance: 50
Referee: Tony Deldis (USA)
Flag of Washington, D.C.svg Washington Freedom 6 – 5
(AET)		 Flag of North Carolina.svg Charlotte Lady Eagles
Welsh Soccerball shade.svg2'Soccerball shade.svg16'Soccerball shade.svg103'
Keller Soccerball shade.svg22'
Moros Soccerball shade.svg70' (PK)
Janss Soccerball shade.svg97'		 (Report) Rife Soccerball shade.svg11'
Schmedes Soccerball shade.svg29'
Murphy Soccerball shade.svg59'Soccerball shade.svg107'
Lyons Soccerball shade.svg66'
RE/MAX Greater Atlanta Stadium
Atlanta, Georgia
Attendance: 152
Referee: William Deland (USA)
Flag of Indiana.svg FC Indiana 5 – 1 Flag of Quebec.svg Laval Comets
Hamel Soccerball shade.svg14'
Sesselmann Soccerball shade.svg16'Soccerball shade.svg25'Yellow card.svg 27'
Parker Soccerball shade.svg63'
Phewa Soccerball shade.svg72'		 (Report) Gagné Soccerball shade.svg55' (PK)
Varsity Soccer Complex
West Lafayette, Indiana
Attendance: 128
Referee: Andrew Scott (USA)
Flag of Georgia (U.S. state).svg Atlanta Silverbacks Women 1 – 0 Flag of New York.svg Long Island Rough Riders
Latham Soccerball shade.svg51'
Buff Yellow card.svg 70'
Harbrueger Yellow card.svg 90'		 (Report) Fitzgerald (coach) Red card.svg 82'
Speck Yellow card.svg 90'
RE/MAX Greater Atlanta Stadium
Atlanta, Georgia
Attendance: 485
Referee: Patrick Baker (USA)

Conference finals

Flag of British Columbia.svg Vancouver Whitecaps Women 0 – 1 Flag of Washington.svg Seattle Sounders Women
(Report) Baysa Soccerball shade.svg67'Yellow card.svg 84'
Swangard Stadium
Burnaby, British Columbia
Attendance: 4,991
Referee: Darci Kurse (USA)
Flag of Georgia (U.S. state).svg Atlanta Silverbacks Women 1 – 2
(AET)		 Flag of Washington, D.C.svg Washington Freedom
Bobo Yellow card.svg 16'
Latham Soccerball shade.svg23'
Phillips Yellow card.svg 73'		 (Report) Golebiowski Yellow card.svg 48'
Welsh Soccerball shade.svg77'Yellow card.svg 90'
Andrzejewski Soccerball shade.svg118'
RE/MAX Greater Atlanta Stadium
Atlanta, Georgia
Attendance: 428
Referee: Tony Russo (USA)
Flag of Indiana.svg FC Indiana 4 – 3
(AET)		 Flag of Ontario.svg Ottawa Fury Women
Sesselmann Soccerball shade.svg15'
Nault Yellow card.svg 63'
Del Rio Soccerball shade.svg90+2'Soccerball shade.svg96'
Phewa Soccerball shade.svg101'		 (Report) Kennedy Yellow card.svg 27'
Milyak Soccerball shade.svg53' (OG)
Hance Soccerball shade.svg65'
Avner Yellow card.svg 85'
Taylor Soccerball shade.svg116' (PK)
Raber Yellow card.svg 120'
Varsity Soccer Complex
West Lafayette, Indiana
Referee: (USA)

W-League Semifinals

Flag of Indiana.svg FC Indiana 1 – 0 Flag of Washington.svg Seattle Sounders Women
Phewa Yellow card.svg 16'
Leyva Soccerball shade.svg87'
Foster Field
Virginia Beach, Virginia
Referee: Debbie Coleman (USA)
Flag of California.svg Pali Blues 2 – 0 Flag of Washington, D.C.svg Washington Freedom
Adams Soccerball shade.svg26'Soccerball shade.svg82' Report Welsh Yellow card.svg 76'
Foster Field
Virginia Beach, Virginia
Attendance: 427
Referee: Meredith Hackett (USA)

W-League Third-Place Game

Flag of Washington, D.C.svg Washington Freedom 2 – 0 Flag of Washington.svg Seattle Sounders Women
Welsh Soccerball shade.svg11'Yellow card.svg 40'
Huffman Yellow card.svg 76'
Andrzejewski Soccerball shade.svg86'
Foster Field
Virginia Beach, Virginia
Referee: Shawn Fitch (USA)

W-League Finals

Flag of California.svg Pali Blues 2 – 1 Flag of Indiana.svg FC Indiana
Wilson Yellow card.svg 49'
LePeilbet Soccerball shade.svg83'
Pasqui Soccerball shade.svg88'		 O'Rourke Soccerball shade.svg47'
Foster Field
Virginia Beach, Virginia
Attendance: 558
Referee: Sandra Serafini (USA)

References

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