2008 USL W-League season

USL W-League
Season	2008
Champions	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. 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 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

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

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^{[lower-alpha 1]}
8	West Michigan Firewomen	13	1	11	1	11	52	−41	4^{[lower-alpha 1]}

Source: ^{[citation needed]}
Notes:

↑ ^1.0 ^1.1 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

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

Source: ^{[citation needed]}

Eastern Conference

Atlantic Division

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

Source: ^{[citation needed]}

Northeast Division

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

Source: ^{[citation needed]}

Western Conference

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

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

July 23, 2008
7:00 ET

Massachusetts Boston Renegades	0 – 1	New York (state) Long Island Rough Riders
	(Report)	DeRosa File:Soccerball shade.svg

St. Anthony's High School
South Huntington, New York

Attendance: 387

Referee: Samir Souidi (USA)

July 23, 2008
7:30 ET

Quebec Laval Comets	2 – 0	Ontario Toronto Lady Lynx
Gagné File:Soccerball shade.svg 8' File:Soccerball shade.svg 40' Walsh Red card 89'	(Report)	Chapman Yellow card 40' Red card 89' Afonso Yellow card 66'

Centennial Park Stadium
Toronto, Ontario

Attendance: 344

Referee: Michael Izzo (CAN)

Conference semifinals

July 25, 2008
4:00 ET

Illinois Chicago Gaels	2 – 3	Ontario Ottawa Fury Women
Mutters Yellow card 12' Spacht File:Soccerball shade.svg 26' Trevillian Yellow card 74' Maynard File:Soccerball shade.svg 89' (PK)	(Report)	Taylor File:Soccerball shade.svg 12' File:Soccerball shade.svg 62' (PK) Powell File:Soccerball shade.svg 15'

Varsity Soccer Complex
West Lafayette, Indiana

Attendance: 50

Referee: Tony Deldis (USA)

July 25, 2008
5:00 ET

North Carolina Charlotte Lady Eagles	5 – 6 (AET)	Washington, D.C. Washington Freedom
Rife File:Soccerball shade.svg 11' Schmedes File:Soccerball shade.svg 29' Murphy File:Soccerball shade.svg 59' File:Soccerball shade.svg 107' Lyons File:Soccerball shade.svg 66'	(Report)	Welsh File:Soccerball shade.svg 2' File:Soccerball shade.svg 16' File:Soccerball shade.svg 103' Keller File:Soccerball shade.svg 22' Moros File:Soccerball shade.svg 70' (PK) Janss File:Soccerball shade.svg 97'

RE/MAX Greater Atlanta Stadium
Atlanta, Georgia

Attendance: 152

Referee: William Deland (USA)

July 25, 2008
6:30 ET

Quebec Laval Comets	1 – 5	Indiana FC Indiana
Gagné File:Soccerball shade.svg 55' (PK)	(Report)	Hamel File:Soccerball shade.svg 14' Sesselmann File:Soccerball shade.svg 16' File:Soccerball shade.svg 25' Yellow card 27' Parker File:Soccerball shade.svg 63' Phewa File:Soccerball shade.svg 72'

Varsity Soccer Complex
West Lafayette, Indiana

Attendance: 128

Referee: Andrew Scott (USA)

July 25, 2008
8:00 ET

New York (state) Long Island Rough Riders	0 – 1	Georgia (U.S. state) Atlanta Silverbacks Women
Fitzgerald (coach) Red card 82' Speck Yellow card 90'	(Report)	Latham File:Soccerball shade.svg 51' Buff Yellow card 70' Harbrueger Yellow card 90'

RE/MAX Greater Atlanta Stadium
Atlanta, Georgia

Attendance: 485

Referee: Patrick Baker (USA)

Conference finals

July 26, 2008
7:00 ET

Washington (state) Seattle Sounders Women	1 – 0	British Columbia Vancouver Whitecaps Women
Baysa File:Soccerball shade.svg 67' Yellow card 84'	(Report)

Swangard Stadium
Burnaby, British Columbia

Attendance: 4,991

Referee: Darci Kurse (USA)

July 26, 2008
8:00 ET

Washington, D.C. Washington Freedom	2 – 1 (AET)	Georgia (U.S. state) Atlanta Silverbacks Women
Golebiowski Yellow card 48' Welsh File:Soccerball shade.svg 77' Yellow card 90' Andrzejewski File:Soccerball shade.svg 118'	(Report)	Bobo Yellow card 16' Latham File:Soccerball shade.svg 23' Phillips Yellow card 73'

RE/MAX Greater Atlanta Stadium
Atlanta, Georgia

Attendance: 428

Referee: Tony Russo (USA)

July 27, 2008
6:30 ET

Ontario Ottawa Fury Women	3 – 4 (AET)	Indiana FC Indiana
Kennedy Yellow card 27' Milyak File:Soccerball shade.svg 53' (OG) Hance File:Soccerball shade.svg 65' Avner Yellow card 85' Taylor File:Soccerball shade.svg 116' (PK) Raber Yellow card 120'	(Report)	Sesselmann File:Soccerball shade.svg 15' Nault Yellow card 63' Del Rio File:Soccerball shade.svg 90+2' File:Soccerball shade.svg 96' Phewa File:Soccerball shade.svg 101'

Varsity Soccer Complex
West Lafayette, Indiana

Referee: (USA)

W-League Semifinals

July 31, 2008
5:00 PM ET

Washington (state) Seattle Sounders Women	0 – 1	Indiana FC Indiana
		Phewa Yellow card 16' Leyva File:Soccerball shade.svg 87'

Foster Field
Virginia Beach, Virginia

Referee: Debbie Coleman (USA)

July 31, 2008
8:00 PM ET

Washington, D.C. Washington Freedom	0 – 2	California Pali Blues
Welsh Yellow card 76'	Report	Adams File:Soccerball shade.svg 26' File:Soccerball shade.svg 82'

Foster Field
Virginia Beach, Virginia

Attendance: 427

Referee: Meredith Hackett (USA)

W-League Third-Place Game

August 2, 2008
4:30 PM ET

Washington (state) Seattle Sounders Women	0 – 2	Washington, D.C. Washington Freedom
		Welsh File:Soccerball shade.svg 11' Yellow card 40' Huffman Yellow card 76' Andrzejewski File:Soccerball shade.svg 86'

Foster Field
Virginia Beach, Virginia

Referee: Shawn Fitch (USA)

W-League Finals

August 2, 2008
7:30 PM ET

Indiana FC Indiana	1 – 2	California Pali Blues
O'Rourke File:Soccerball shade.svg 47'		Wilson Yellow card 49' LePeilbet File:Soccerball shade.svg 83' Pasqui File:Soccerball shade.svg 88'

Foster Field
Virginia Beach, Virginia

Attendance: 558

Referee: Sandra Serafini (USA)

References

External links

USL historical stats

[table_hth_FWF0.91741480022548-1] 1.0 ^1.1 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.

[lower-alpha 1]

2008 USL W-League season

Contents

Changes from 2007 season

Standings

Central Conference

Midwest Division

Northern Division

Eastern Conference

Atlantic Division

Northeast Division

Western Conference

Playoffs

Format

Conference Brackets

W-League Championship Bracket

Divisional Rounds

Conference semifinals

Conference finals

W-League Semifinals

W-League Third-Place Game

W-League Finals

References

External links

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