W-LEAGUE: A look at the four semifinalists
July, 28, 2010
7/28/10
10:57
PM PT
By Scott French | ESPNLosAngeles.com
The W-League final four comes to Canyon High School in Canyon Country for semifinals Thursday and championship and third-place games Saturday.
The W-League, which is part of the United Soccer Leagues' empire, is one of two national amateur/semipro women's leagues.
Here's this week's schedule:
Semifinals (Thursday)
Buffalo Flash (12-0-2) vs. Atlanta SIlverbacks (9-2-1), 5 p.m.
Hudson Valley Quickstrike Lady Blues (11-1-0) vs. Vancouver Whitecaps (7-0-4), 8 p.m.
Third-place game (Saturday)
Semifinal losers, 3:30 p.m.
Championship (Saturday)
Semifinal winners, 5 p.m.
Let's look at the four competing clubs:
ATLANTA SILVERBACKS
Hometown: Atlanta
This year: 9-2-1, Atlantic Division and Eastern Conference champion
History: Sixth season, all-time record 59-20-6, second final four
Best finish: 2007 runner-up
Head coach: Chris Adams
Top players: D Ronda Brooks, F Kyri-Ann Harbrueger, D Tara Minnax, F Alexa Newfield, M Megan Tomlinson
In brief: The Silverbacks have a balanced attack led by all-league midfielder Tomlinson (6 goals-4 assists) and forwards Newfield (4-7) and Harbrueger (5-0). Tomlinson was a Southeastern Conference Defensive Player of the Year at Georgia, and Newfield is heading into her freshman year at Georgia. Veteran defenders Minnax (ex-Tennessee, played in the Women's United Soccer Association) and Brooks (ex-Auburn) are keys to a defense that has surrendered just eight goals and posted six shutouts in 12 games.
BUFFALO FLASH
Hometown: Elma, N.Y.
This year: 12-0-2, Midwest Division and Central Conference champion
History: Second season, all-time record 22-3-5, first final four
Best finish: 2009 Central Conference semifinalist
Head coach: Aaron Lines
Top players: F Veronica Boquete, D Kimberly Brandao, F Mele French, M Ann-Marie Heatherson, M Kelly Parker, D Eartha Pond, G Pamela Tajonar-Alonso
In brief: Parker, a UTEP product who has played for Canada's national team, is a W-League superstar: She was MVP in 2004 and made her fourth all-league team this season with 13 goals and six assists in nine games. Spanish forward Boquete has seven goals and a league-best eight assists, and veteran French (ex-Sky Blue FC, played for local sides Pali Blues and Ajax America) also has seven goals. Mexican Olympian Tajonar-Alonso and New Jersey-born Portuguese national-teamer Brandao are big in the back for a team that has won 12 in a row, posted 11 shutouts and surrendered just five goals.
HUDSON VALLEY QUICKSTRIKE LADY BLUES
Hometown: Newburgh, N.Y.
This year: 11-1-1, Northeast Division and W-League regular-season champion
History: Fourth season, all-time record 44-9-4, second final four
Best finish: 2009 semifinalist
Head coach: Jesse Kolmel
Top players: F Jackie Acevedo, D Hannah Cerrone, M Gabriela Demoner, G Erin McNulty, M Alicia Tirelli
In brief: Part of the Sky Blue FC family headed by the Women's Professional Soccer club, HVQ, which was known as Jersey Sky Blue in 2007-08, has posted the best regular-season record the past two years, receiving a bye into the final four. Last year's appearance ended quickly with a 4-0 semifinal loss to the Pali Blues; the Lady Blues head into this year's semifinals with a six-game winning streak. Brazilian-born Demoner (8 goals-2 assists), a former Franklin Pierce standout, was an all-league pick, and Acevedo (6-2) and all-conference selection Tirelli (1-5) provide support. McNulty is a Canadian national team backup.
VANCOUVER WHITECAPS
Hometown: Vancouver, British Columbia
This year: 7-0-4, Western Division and Western Conference champion
History: 10th season, all-time record 87-16-18, sixth final four
Best finish: 2004 and 2006 champions
Head coach: Hubert Busby Jr.
Top players: D Melanie Booth, D Martina Franko, D Robyn Gayle, M Kara Lang, F Jodi-Ann Robinson, M/D Sophie Schmidt, F Melissa Tancredi, F Amy Vermeulen
In brief: The Whitecaps, looking to become the first three-time W-League champion, return to the final four after three subpar seasons followed five appearances in their first six seasons. The heart of the team comes from Canada's national team, but their attack may suffer with MVP candidate Tancredi (6 goals-2 assists) and all-conference pick Robinson (3-2) away for other commitments. (Tancredi may play Thursday, but she won't be available Saturday). Former UCLA star Lang is out because of injury. Vancouver is solid at the back with veterans Franko (ex-L.A. Sol) and Gayle, both all-conference selections, and University of Portland star Schmidt -- a certain first-rounder in next year's WPS draft -- can be employed almost anywhere. Busby was an assistant coach for the L.A. Sol last season.
The W-League, which is part of the United Soccer Leagues' empire, is one of two national amateur/semipro women's leagues.
Here's this week's schedule:
Semifinals (Thursday)
Buffalo Flash (12-0-2) vs. Atlanta SIlverbacks (9-2-1), 5 p.m.
Hudson Valley Quickstrike Lady Blues (11-1-0) vs. Vancouver Whitecaps (7-0-4), 8 p.m.
Third-place game (Saturday)
Semifinal losers, 3:30 p.m.
Championship (Saturday)
Semifinal winners, 5 p.m.
Let's look at the four competing clubs:
ATLANTA SILVERBACKS
Hometown: Atlanta
This year: 9-2-1, Atlantic Division and Eastern Conference champion
History: Sixth season, all-time record 59-20-6, second final four
Best finish: 2007 runner-up
Head coach: Chris Adams
Top players: D Ronda Brooks, F Kyri-Ann Harbrueger, D Tara Minnax, F Alexa Newfield, M Megan Tomlinson
In brief: The Silverbacks have a balanced attack led by all-league midfielder Tomlinson (6 goals-4 assists) and forwards Newfield (4-7) and Harbrueger (5-0). Tomlinson was a Southeastern Conference Defensive Player of the Year at Georgia, and Newfield is heading into her freshman year at Georgia. Veteran defenders Minnax (ex-Tennessee, played in the Women's United Soccer Association) and Brooks (ex-Auburn) are keys to a defense that has surrendered just eight goals and posted six shutouts in 12 games.
BUFFALO FLASH
Hometown: Elma, N.Y.
This year: 12-0-2, Midwest Division and Central Conference champion
History: Second season, all-time record 22-3-5, first final four
Best finish: 2009 Central Conference semifinalist
Head coach: Aaron Lines
Top players: F Veronica Boquete, D Kimberly Brandao, F Mele French, M Ann-Marie Heatherson, M Kelly Parker, D Eartha Pond, G Pamela Tajonar-Alonso
In brief: Parker, a UTEP product who has played for Canada's national team, is a W-League superstar: She was MVP in 2004 and made her fourth all-league team this season with 13 goals and six assists in nine games. Spanish forward Boquete has seven goals and a league-best eight assists, and veteran French (ex-Sky Blue FC, played for local sides Pali Blues and Ajax America) also has seven goals. Mexican Olympian Tajonar-Alonso and New Jersey-born Portuguese national-teamer Brandao are big in the back for a team that has won 12 in a row, posted 11 shutouts and surrendered just five goals.
HUDSON VALLEY QUICKSTRIKE LADY BLUES
Hometown: Newburgh, N.Y.
This year: 11-1-1, Northeast Division and W-League regular-season champion
History: Fourth season, all-time record 44-9-4, second final four
Best finish: 2009 semifinalist
Head coach: Jesse Kolmel
Top players: F Jackie Acevedo, D Hannah Cerrone, M Gabriela Demoner, G Erin McNulty, M Alicia Tirelli
In brief: Part of the Sky Blue FC family headed by the Women's Professional Soccer club, HVQ, which was known as Jersey Sky Blue in 2007-08, has posted the best regular-season record the past two years, receiving a bye into the final four. Last year's appearance ended quickly with a 4-0 semifinal loss to the Pali Blues; the Lady Blues head into this year's semifinals with a six-game winning streak. Brazilian-born Demoner (8 goals-2 assists), a former Franklin Pierce standout, was an all-league pick, and Acevedo (6-2) and all-conference selection Tirelli (1-5) provide support. McNulty is a Canadian national team backup.
VANCOUVER WHITECAPS
Hometown: Vancouver, British Columbia
This year: 7-0-4, Western Division and Western Conference champion
History: 10th season, all-time record 87-16-18, sixth final four
Best finish: 2004 and 2006 champions
Head coach: Hubert Busby Jr.
Top players: D Melanie Booth, D Martina Franko, D Robyn Gayle, M Kara Lang, F Jodi-Ann Robinson, M/D Sophie Schmidt, F Melissa Tancredi, F Amy Vermeulen
In brief: The Whitecaps, looking to become the first three-time W-League champion, return to the final four after three subpar seasons followed five appearances in their first six seasons. The heart of the team comes from Canada's national team, but their attack may suffer with MVP candidate Tancredi (6 goals-2 assists) and all-conference pick Robinson (3-2) away for other commitments. (Tancredi may play Thursday, but she won't be available Saturday). Former UCLA star Lang is out because of injury. Vancouver is solid at the back with veterans Franko (ex-L.A. Sol) and Gayle, both all-conference selections, and University of Portland star Schmidt -- a certain first-rounder in next year's WPS draft -- can be employed almost anywhere. Busby was an assistant coach for the L.A. Sol last season.
ABOUT THIS BLOG
Scott French
Orange County native Scott French has been writing about soccer for more than 30 years for dozens of publications and Web sites. He was senior editor at Soccer America and was managing editor of MajorLeagueSoccer Magazine from April 2007 until summer 2009. He has covered three World Cups for the Long Beach Press-Telegram and Los Angeles Daily News, two Women's World Cups for Soccer America, the Olympic Games, European Championship, nine MLS Cups and all five professional women's championships.
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