Archive for Ottawa Fury
USL-1 Soccer For Fury
OTTAWA, ON — Ottawa Sports and Entertainment Group (OSEG), in partnership with Ottawa Fury owner and CEO John Pugh, announced they have applied for a United Soccer Leagues First Division (USL-1) franchise. The team would play and be based at a proposed new stadium at Lansdowne Park, which would be built as part of the Lansdowne project, subject to Ottawa City Council’s approval.
“Our application for a USL franchise, at this point in time, ensures that soccer specific elements will be incorporated into the stadium design to optimize the experience for soccer fans and players,” said Jeff Hunt, an OSEG partner. “And I can tell you, the fan experience for USL-1 soccer is top-notch-the caliber of play, the quality of the stadia and the involvement of the players in community activities is second to none. It’s a tremendous environment for soccer purists, casual fans and families seeking an affordable, fun outing.”
The USL First Division is the league’s highest level of professional soccer in the US, Canada, and the Caribbean. The 2009 campaign featured an 11-team format playing 30 regular season matches, 15 home and 15 away. The league schedule is augmented by participation in the Nutrilite Canadian Championship, CONCACAF Champions League, and various domestic and international exhibitions. In 2009, the Tampa Bay Rowdies and FC New York were respectively named the 12th and 13th teams of the USL First Division. The USL’s lower-level divisions for elite player development include the Premier Development League (U23 men’s North American amateur) and the W-League (women’s North American amateur), which are already established in Ottawa as part of the Ottawa Fury organization.
“For the thousands of local soccer fans, the dream of top class professional soccer in Ottawa is a step closer to reality today,” said John Pugh, owner and CEO of the Ottawa Fury. “Ottawa has clearly demonstrated its appetite for the ‘beautiful game’ as a participation sport. Now, everyone who enjoyed the passion and excitement of the 2007 FIFA U20 World Cup games at Lansdowne will have their own team, Ottawa’s team, to cheer for. The club will foster the growth of the game in our region, provide opportunities for players who aspire to play at an elite level and be a significant community asset”
Tomorrow (September 2), Ottawa’s City Council will review the Lansdowne proposal, which has been negotiated between City Staff and OSEG over the last four-months. Included in the proposal is a plan to renovate and rebuild Frank Clair stadium to host professional soccer and professional (CFL) football. OSEG has already secured a conditional CFL franchise, subject to a stadium agreement with the City.
“From a business standpoint, professional soccer is a tremendous asset for the stadium,” said Hunt. “We’ll have as many as 20 dates for soccer, 10 for CFL football and, potentially, dates for Carleton Ravens and Ottawa U Gee Gee’s football, along with outdoor stadium concerts. It’ll be a busy place and a tremendous environment in which our community can gather.”
W-League Picks Its 2009 All-League Team
W-League All-League Teams unveiled
United Soccer Leagues announced the second set of honors for the 2009 W-League season, unveiling the All-League Team and Goalkeeper of the Year honors as well as the finalists for the U-19 Player of the Year, Defender of the Year, Coach of the Year and MVP awards as voted on by the league’s coaches and general managers.
W-League 2009 All-League Team
Goalkeeper of the Year – Michelle Betos (Atlanta Silverbacks)
In her first season in the league, Betos helped lead the Silverbacks to the regular season division title with a 10-1-1 record, posting a mark of 9-1-1 herself. She finished second in the league in goals against average at 0.188 and in shutouts with nine. She also was tied for second in wins.
Defender – Ashleigh Gunning (Hudson Valley Quickstrike Lady Blues)
Having previously played for Cocoa and Charlotte, Gunning provided a veteran presence for the upstart squad as they went on to post an unbeaten 12-0-2 regular season record and capture the league’s regular season title. Hudson Valley allowed just nine goals in 14 games with Gunning seeing action in 13. She also provided two goals and two assists in the attack.
Defender – Ria Percival (Ottawa Fury)
After a brief taste of W-League action with FC Indiana last year, Percival moved north of the border to join the Fury and help guide the club to an 11-1-2 record with only nine goals allowed. She appeared in all 14 games, playing every minute and providing five assists on the year.
Defender – Brittany Taylor (Hudson Valley Quickstrike Lady Blues)
In her debut season in the league, she helped guide the team to an unbeaten 12-0-2 season and capture the league’s regular season title. In the nine games she played, Taylor was a threat in the attack, coming forward for three goals on the season.
Midfielder – Gemma Davidson (Chicago Red Eleven)
After spending 2008 with New York, Davidson helped lead the Red Eleven to a 10-1-1 record on the season, finishing just one point back of unbeaten FC Indiana in the division race. She played in eight games on the year, tallying six goals and two assists.
Midfielder – Michelle French (Seattle Sounders)
A five-time All-Conference selection, French is still one of the top players in the west and had the Sounders on the verge of the postseason before their final winless three-game trip to California. She played in all 12 games and provided four goals and an assist.
Midfielder – Rosa Tantillo (Buffalo Flash)
Playing in a tough division, the expansion Flash finished second with a record of 9-2-3 on the year. Helping lead the way was Tantillo, a member of last year’s champion Pali Blues. She saw action in all 14 games and provided eight goals and two assists in the campaign.
Midfielder – Nikki Washington (Pali Blues)
With many of its top players gone from the 2008 championship side for Women’s Professional Soccer, Washington stepped in and helped lead the Blues to another unbeaten season at 9-0-3 and a second straight conference title. She tallied five goals and two assists in nine games on the campaign.
Forward – Laura Del Rio (FC Indiana Lionesses)
The 2008 league assist leader captured the scoring titles she narrowly missed out on last year by finishing the campaign with 18 goals and four assists. She helped lead the side to the league’s best offensive output of 63 goals and a 10-0-2 record, coming up just shy of the regular season title.
Forward – Amber Hearn (Ottawa Fury)
With 13 goals and two assists on the year, Hearn helped lead the Fury to an 11-1-2 record and the division title. She was tied for fourth in the league in goals and sixth in points.
Forward – Angelika Johansson (Hudson Valley Quickstrike Lady Blues)
Johansson was a key component in the club’s attack en route to winning the regular season title with a record of 12-0-2 and 40 goals. The striker found the back of net 14 times and provided eight assists, finishing second in the league in points, tied for second in goals and tied for third in assists.
W-League 2009 Individual Honors
In addition to the previously announced statistical award winners and the Goalkeeper of the Year, four other top individual honors are still to be announced. The winners of the awards will be announced Wednesday, August 5 from the following finalists in each category:
Defender of the Year Finalists
The three All-League selections Gunning, Percival and Taylor are the finalists for the honor.
U19 Player of the Year Finalists
The finalists for the award are Sarah Chapman (Tampa Bay), Chante Sandiford (Washington) and Fortuna Velaj (Connecticut).
Coach of the Year Finalists
The finalists for the award are Tony Anglin (Chicago), Fabien Cottin (Quebec City), George Fotopoulos (Tampa Bay) and Jesse Kolmel (Hudson Valley).
Most Valuable Player Finalists
The finalists for the award are Laura Del Rio (FC Indiana), Amber Hearn (Ottawa) and Angelika Johansson (Hudson Valley).
Fury Out, A Pali-Washington Final
BOYDS, MD — The Ottawa Fury’s run at their third chance at the W-League Championship came to an end after falling 3-1 on penalty kicks to the Washington Freedom. After a scoreless ninety minutes the two sides played to two scoreless fifteen minute halves of extra time leading to the penalty shootout.
Sandiford sent the Freedom onto the final (Shane Canfield)
A goal post and a Chante Sandiford save denied the Fury a third trip to the W-League Championship game. The 2007 champion Freedom will move on to the Championship final, where they will face the reigning W-League Champions Pali Blues on Friday, August 7 in Boyds, Maryland.
Ottawa started the game off with great pace and tremendous control. Hearn, Romagnuolo and Moorwood all had chances inside the first fifteen minutes, but were unable to convert.
Jasmine Phillips, who was stellar in the Fury goal, robbed Brittany Tegeler on a breakaway and stymied here again moments later after the Freedom jumped on a Fury turnover. H
ayley Moorwood and Michelle Evans both had chances on goal, but were unable to give the Fury that much sought after first goal. The first half ended scoreless with the Fury owning most of the possession and chances.
Washington started off the second half with several chances and strong pressure, but Jasmine Phillips was there to steady the ship.
Emma Kete broke through in the 55th minute on a breakaway, but was denied by Freedom keeper Sandiford.
Both teams exchanged chances for a period of ten minutes, but both keeper stood tall. Courtney Wetzel made a great individual effort and Sandiford collapsed on the rebound ahead of an out-reached Emma Kete in the 80th minute.
Danielle Johnson recorded the last dangerous chance before the end of time that saw her header deflect just wide off the Michelle Evans corner.
As the two teams headed into extra time it was the Fury who had the best of the chances in the first stanza of extra time as both Evans and Pacheco threatened.
In the second extra time Phillips had to be sharp once again denying Germain in close and stopping a Freedom free kick with less than five minutes remaining.
Amber Hearn fired over the bar from the top of the 18-yard box with time winding down and penalty kicks on the horizon.
The Fury would shoot first in the penalty shootout with Hayley Moorwood rifling home a shot into the top right corner putting the Fury ahead. Sandra Matute pulled the Freedom even giving way to Ria Percival, the Fury’s second shooter. Percival beat Sandiford low to the left, but was denied by the post.
Kika Toulouse put the Freedom ahead 2-1 with a shot into the top corner. Courtney looked to pull the Fury even, but was robbed by Sandiford with a diving save.
Caitlin Miskel put the Freedom in the drivers seat scoring to make it 3-1 with the Fury needing to score. Chante Sandiford onced again proved to be the difference denying Michelle Evans, sending the Freedom back to the W-League Finals since they won it all in 2007 after, oddly enough, defeating the Fury.
The Fury Women’s 10th Anniversary season draws to a close with another successful year that saw them win a sixth consecutive division title and the Central Conference title, but the elusive W-League title will have to be won another day.
The Washington will look to win their second W-League title since winning in 2007, but will have to defeat the defending W-League Champions Pali Blues who have yet to lose in the W-League since joining last season.
NEWBURGH, NY — The Pali Blues Soccer Club showed why they are the defending USL W-League champions tonight at Newburgh Free Academy, defeating the Hudson Valley Quickstrike Lady Blues by a tally of 4-0.
With a well-balanced effort in every phase of the game, the Blues now advance to their second straight league championship game next weekend.
Mora tallied and set up two others in semifinal
“It took us a while to get going at the beginning of the year, but all that matters is how you end the season. It’s humbling to be around this group of girls, and I’m just happy to see them achieving this kind of success,” Blues head coach Charlie Naimo commented after the victory, sending him to his fourth W-League championship game as a coach and second straight since moving to the West Coast.
Rain poured down on the Hudson Valley for much of the day, but calm weather conditions fought their way into Newburgh to greet these two clubs with a perfect environment for playoff soccer by the time of kickoff.
Blues goalkeeper Ashlyn Harris was tested early when the Quickstrike attack was able to create some opportunities in the opening minutes of this contest, but she and her defense did well to weather that early storm.
The Blues regrouped after that early push by Hudson Valley, and they very quickly engaged a shift in the offensive momentum. They began to get off some quality shots toward their target, and their aggressive play paid dividends in the 14th minute of the match. It was then that midfielder Christen Press collected the ball on the right flank and sent a hard strike over to Jodie Taylor in the center of the field. Taylor then weaved her way through traffic until seeing her opening from more than 30 yards out, and she then launched a bomb past the outstretched arms of Quickstrike netminder Ashley Thompson to give the defending W-League champions a 1-0 advantage.
The Blues continued to display their high level of class throughout the remainder of the opening half, and Mexican National Team forward Iris Mora was able to stretch the gap to 2-0 in the 45th minute of the game. The All-Western Conference selection received a feed from Press on the right wing and capitalized on the room she was afforded by the Hudson Valley defense. From 25 yards out, she struck a powerful volley into the back of the net to give her team a two goal lead going into intermission.
The Blues kept their foot on the throttle when the second half of action got started, and Mora made the most of being given too much space once again in the 50th minute. Making a run on the right wing, she one-touched a cross to the middle of the field, and midfielder Kelley O’Hara fought off a pair of Quickstrike defenders to punch in the third Blues goal of the evening.
Hudson Valley continued to battle, and forward Angelika Johansson nearly got Quickstrike on the board when she created a one-vs-one chance for herself in the 59th minute. As soon as she saw Johansson break free, Harris came out from her post to make a spectacular diving save to stop the run and keep the slate clean.
Rewarding their goalkeeper for her efforts, the Blues made it 4-0 in the 65th minute when Mora set up a Lauren Cheney tally. From that point forward, the Blues defense buckled down to complete the shutout.
“We saw when they came out that they were motivated,” Mora said after the game. “We knew we had to stay composed and defend on both ends of the field. We played like a team and a unit out there, and I’m just so proud of all my teammates.”
The win extends the Blues unbeaten streak to 28 games and advances them to their second title appearance in as many years of existence. The Blues now await the winner of a Saturday night pairing between the Ottawa Fury and Washington Freedom.
