2008 USL W-League season

Football league season From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

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

Season2008
ChampionsPali Blues (1st Title)
Regular Season titlePali Blues (1st Title)
Top goalscorerSarah Steinmann Atlanta Silverbacks Women (19 Goals)
Quick facts Season, Champions ...
USL W-League
Season2008
ChampionsPali Blues (1st Title)
Regular Season titlePali Blues (1st Title)
Top goalscorerSarah Steinmann Atlanta Silverbacks Women (19 Goals)
Best goalkeeperValerie Henderson Pali Blues
← 2007
2009 →
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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:

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

More information Pos, Team ...
Pos Team Pld W L T GF GA GD Pts
1 FC Indiana 14 13 0 1 67 3 +64 40
2 Chicago Gaels 14 11 3 0 39 9 +30 33
3 Minnesota Lightning 14 9 3 2 32 19 +13 29
4 Cleveland Internationals Women 14 8 4 2 31 23 +8 26
5 Michigan Hawks 14 4 9 1 12 33 −21 13
6 Kalamazoo Outrage 14 2 10 2 6 36 −30 8
7 Fort Wayne Fever 13 2 10 1 16 39 −23 7[a]
8 West Michigan Firewomen 13 1 11 1 11 52 −41 4[a]
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Source: [citation needed]
Notes:
  1. [a]
    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

More information Pos, Team ...
Pos Team Pld W L T GF GA GD Pts
1 Ottawa Fury Women 14 13 1 0 51 7 +44 39
2 Toronto Lady Lynx 14 11 2 1 40 14 +26 34
3 Laval Comets 14 9 4 1 39 17 +22 28
4 Rochester Rhinos Women 14 6 6 2 18 33 −15 20
5 Hamilton Avalanche 14 5 6 3 19 21 −2 18
6 Western Mass Lady Pioneers 14 3 9 2 18 34 −16 11
7 London Gryphons 14 3 9 2 15 35 −20 11
8 Vermont Lady Voltage 14 0 13 1 5 44 −39 1
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Source: [citation needed]

Eastern Conference

Atlantic Division

More information Pos, Team ...
Pos Team Pld W L T GF GA GD Pts
1 Atlanta Silverbacks Women 14 13 0 1 50 6 +44 40
2 Charlotte Lady Eagles 14 11 2 1 44 13 +31 34
3 Tampa Bay Hellenic 14 8 4 2 27 16 +11 26
4 Hampton Roads Piranhas 14 7 6 1 29 19 +10 22
5 Carolina RailHawks 14 7 6 1 22 17 +5 22
6 Richmond Kickers Destiny 14 6 8 0 18 28 −10 18
7 Carolina Dynamo 14 4 8 2 23 30 −7 14
8 Bradenton Athletics 14 2 12 0 11 52 −41 6
9 West Virginia Illusion 14 1 13 0 6 46 −40 3
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Source: [citation needed]

Northeast Division

More information Pos, Team ...
Pos Team Pld W L T GF GA GD Pts
1 Washington Freedom 14 11 1 2 32 7 +25 35
2 Long Island Rough Riders 14 9 3 2 28 13 +15 29
3 Boston Renegades 14 9 3 2 32 12 +20 29
4 Jersey Sky Blue 14 8 4 2 14 10 +4 26
5 Connecticut Passion 14 7 5 2 24 23 +1 23
6 Northern Virginia Majestics 14 3 6 5 17 23 −6 14
7 New York Magic 14 3 7 4 14 23 −9 13
8 New Jersey Wildcats 14 2 10 2 17 35 −18 8
9 Fredericksburg Lady Gunners 14 0 13 1 5 37 −32 1
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Source: [citation needed]

Western Conference

More information Pos, Team ...
Pos Team Pld W L T GF GA GD Pts
1 Pali Blues 12 12 0 0 39 4 +35 36
2 Vancouver Whitecaps Women 12 7 2 3 21 18 +3 24
3 Seattle Sounders Women 12 5 3 4 19 11 +8 19
4 Real Colorado Cougars 12 5 4 3 15 19 −4 18
5 Fort Collins Force 12 3 6 3 15 19 −4 12
6 Los Angeles Legends 12 1 9 2 11 26 −15 5
7 Ventura County Fusion 12 1 10 1 9 32 −23 4
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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 Indiana FC Indiana 5
NO3 Quebec Laval Comets 1
NO2 Ontario Toronto Lady Lynx 0
NO3 Quebec Laval Comets 2
MW1 Indiana FC Indiana (AET) 4
NO1 Ontario Ottawa Fury Women 3
NO1 Ontario Ottawa Fury Women 3
MW2 Illinois Chicago Gaels 2

Eastern Conference

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

Western Conference

Western Finals
   
W1 British Columbia Vancouver Whitecaps Women 0
W2 Washington (state) 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 California Pali Blues 2
NE1 Washington, D.C. Washington Freedom 0
WL California Pali Blues 2
MW1 Indiana FC Indiana 1
MW1 Indiana FC Indiana 1
W2 Washington (state) Seattle Sounders Women 0 Consolation
NE1 Washington, D.C. Washington Freedom 2
W1 Washington (state) Seattle Sounders Women 0

Divisional Rounds

More information Long Island Rough Riders, 1 – 0 ...
New York (state) Long Island Rough Riders1 – 0Massachusetts Boston Renegades
DeRosa (Report)
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Attendance: 387
Referee: Samir Souidi (USA)
More information Toronto Lady Lynx, 0 – 2 ...
Ontario Toronto Lady Lynx0 – 2Quebec Laval Comets
Chapman Yellow card 40' Red card 89'
Afonso Yellow card 66'		 (Report) Gagné 8' 40'
Walsh Red card 89'
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Attendance: 344
Referee: Michael Izzo (CAN)

Conference semifinals

More information Ottawa Fury Women, 3 – 2 ...
Ontario Ottawa Fury Women3 – 2Illinois Chicago Gaels
Taylor 12' 62' (PK)
Powell 15'		 (Report) Mutters Yellow card 12'
Spacht 26'
Trevillian Yellow card 74'
Maynard 89' (PK)
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Attendance: 50
Referee: Tony Deldis (USA)
More information Washington Freedom, 6 – 5 (AET) ...
Washington, D.C. Washington Freedom6 – 5
(AET)		North Carolina Charlotte Lady Eagles
Welsh 2' 16' 103'
Keller 22'
Moros 70' (PK)
Janss 97'		 (Report) Rife 11'
Schmedes 29'
Murphy 59' 107'
Lyons 66'
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Attendance: 152
Referee: William Deland (USA)
More information FC Indiana, 5 – 1 ...
Indiana FC Indiana5 – 1Quebec Laval Comets
Hamel 14'
Sesselmann 16' 25' Yellow card 27'
Parker 63'
Phewa 72'		 (Report) Gagné 55' (PK)
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Attendance: 128
Referee: Andrew Scott (USA)
More information Atlanta Silverbacks Women, 1 – 0 ...
Georgia (U.S. state) Atlanta Silverbacks Women1 – 0New York (state) Long Island Rough Riders
Latham 51'
Buff Yellow card 70'
Harbrueger Yellow card 90'		 (Report) Fitzgerald (coach) Red card 82'
Speck Yellow card 90'
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Attendance: 485
Referee: Patrick Baker (USA)

Conference finals

More information Vancouver Whitecaps Women, 0 – 1 ...
British Columbia Vancouver Whitecaps Women0 – 1Washington (state) Seattle Sounders Women
(Report) Baysa 67' Yellow card 84'
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Attendance: 4,991
Referee: Darci Kurse (USA)
More information Atlanta Silverbacks Women, 1 – 2 (AET) ...
Georgia (U.S. state) Atlanta Silverbacks Women1 – 2
(AET)		Washington, D.C. Washington Freedom
Bobo Yellow card 16'
Latham 23'
Phillips Yellow card 73'		 (Report) Golebiowski Yellow card 48'
Welsh 77' Yellow card 90'
Andrzejewski 118'
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Attendance: 428
Referee: Tony Russo (USA)
More information FC Indiana, 4 – 3 (AET) ...
Indiana FC Indiana4 – 3
(AET)		Ontario Ottawa Fury Women
Sesselmann 15'
Nault Yellow card 63'
Del Rio 90+2' 96'
Phewa 101'		 (Report) Kennedy Yellow card 27'
Milyak 53' (OG)
Hance 65'
Avner Yellow card 85'
Taylor 116' (PK)
Raber Yellow card 120'
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Referee: (USA)

W-League Semifinals

More information FC Indiana, 1 – 0 ...
Indiana FC Indiana1 – 0Washington (state) Seattle Sounders Women
Phewa Yellow card 16'
Leyva 87'
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Referee: Debbie Coleman (USA)
More information Pali Blues, 2 – 0 ...
California Pali Blues2 – 0Washington, D.C. Washington Freedom
Adams 26' 82' Report Welsh Yellow card 76'
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Attendance: 427
Referee: Meredith Hackett (USA)

W-League Third-Place Game

More information Washington Freedom, 2 – 0 ...
Washington, D.C. Washington Freedom2 – 0Washington (state) Seattle Sounders Women
Welsh 11' Yellow card 40'
Huffman Yellow card 76'
Andrzejewski 86'
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Referee: Shawn Fitch (USA)

W-League Finals

More information Pali Blues, 2 – 1 ...
California Pali Blues2 – 1Indiana FC Indiana
Wilson Yellow card 49'
LePeilbet 83'
Pasqui 88'		 O'Rourke 47'
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Attendance: 558
Referee: Sandra Serafini (USA)

References

External links

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