| 2001 season | |
|---|---|
| General manager | Tim Murphy | 
| Head coach | Mark Krikorian | 
| Stadium | Villanova Stadium | 
| WUSA | 4th | 
| WUSA PLayoffs | Semi-finals | 
| Top goalscorer | Liu Ailing (10) | 
| Highest home attendance | 11,800 (June 3 vs. Washington) | 
| Lowest home attendance | 4,756 (July 19 vs. Boston) | 
| Average home league attendance | 7,153 | 
| Biggest win | 5–1 (Aug 6 vs. Carolina) | 
| Biggest defeat | 0–3 (June 20 vs. Bay Area) | 
The 2001 season was the Philadelphia Charge's first season competing in the Women's United Soccer Association league, the top division of women's soccer in the United States, and first competitive season. The team was coached by Mark Krikorian.[1]
Review
Team formation
After establishing the team in November 2000, the inaugural roster for the Philadelphia Charge began to form through a series of drafts organized by WUSA. All eight teams first participated in the WUSA Player Allocation intended to distribute top players, notably from the American team that won the 1999 FIFA Women's World Cup the previous year.[2] The Charge were first allocated US international midfielder Lorrie Fair, being the team's first official player. Goalkeeper, Saskia Webber, and forward, Mandy Clemens finished out the initial allocation for the 2001 season.[3]
After distribution of domestic talent, WUSA hosted the WUSA Foreign Player Allocation, assigning rights of foreign players amongst the eight teams. The Charge drafted German international defender Doris Fitschen and English midfielder Kelly Smith, both signed before the start of the season.[4]
With domestic and international talent allocated, the Charge announced in November 2000 that University of Hartford women's soccer coach, Mark Krikorian, would be appointed the first head coach of the team.[5] Prior to the start of the season, Krikorian would bring on former Swedish international Pia Sundhage and John Natale as assistant coaches.[6] Rosters were filled out in December 2000, where the league hosted the first WUSA Draft[7] Notable acquisitions for the Charge included Chinese international midfielder, Liu Ailing, US international defender, Heather Mitts, and US international midfielder Laurie Schwoy.
First season
The Charge played their first match in team history away at San Diego Spirit earning their first win. The team's first goal was a penalty kick scored by Doris Fitschen, followed up by a 62nd minute goal from Kelly Smith.[8] The Charge would finish their first season 4th in the standings, securing the final spot in the first WUSA Playoffs. On August 18, the Charge played their post season match at Atlanta Beat, losing in extra time 3-2, Philadelphia goals scored by Kelly Smith and Mandy Clemens.[9]
Liu Ailing emerged as the primary scoring threat for the Charge, scoring 10 goals in the regular season from 19 starts and registering the team's first hattrick against Carolina Courage.[10][11]
Club
Roster
The first-team roster of Philadelphia Charge.[12]
Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
| 
 | 
 | 
Team management
| Position | Staff Member | 
|---|---|
| Head coach |  Mark Krikorian | 
| Assistant coach |  Pia Sundhage | 
| Assistant coach |  John Natale | 
Competition
Regular season
| April 22 1 | San Diego Spirit | 0–2 | Philadelphia Charge | San Diego, CA | 
| Box Score | Fitschen  30' (pen.) Smith  62' | Stadium: Torero Stadium Attendance: 6,155 Referee: Kari Seitz | 
| April 28 2 | Atlanta Beat | 0–0 | Philadelphia Charge | Atlanta, GA | 
| Box Score | Stadium: Bobby Dodd Stadium Attendance: 11,228 Referee: Nancy Lay | 
| May 6 3 | Philadelphia Charge | 3–2 | Bay Area CyberRays | Villanova, PA | 
| Martin  32' Olafsdottir  66' Demko  79' | Box Score | Murray  33' Sissi  66' | Stadium: Villanova Stadium Attendance: 11,092 Referee: Todd Perry | 
| May 13 4 | New York Power | 2–2 | Philadelphia Charge | Uniondale, NY | 
| Milbrett  54' Connors  58' | Box Score | McDowell  62' Karvelsson  80' | Stadium: Mitchel Athletic Complex Attendance: 2,348 Referee: Jennifer Bennett | 
| May 24 5 | Philadelphia Charge | 0–2 | Atlanta Beat | Villanova, PA | 
| Box Score | Parlow  2' Miller  40' | Stadium: Villanova Stadium Attendance: 6,432 Referee: Sandra Hunt | 
| May 27 6 | Boston Breakers | 2–3 | Philadelphia Charge | Boston, MA | 
| Mellgren  2' Meinert  81' | Report | Ailing  36', 77' Schwoy  83' | Stadium: Nickerson Field | 
| May 31 7 | Washington Freedom | 0–2 | Philadelphia Charge | Washington, D.C. | 
| Box Score | Clemens  20' Ailing  51' | Stadium: RFK Stadium Attendance: 6,396 Referee: Rachel Woo | 
| June 3 8 | Philadelphia Charge | 1–2 | Washington Freedom | Villanova, PA | 
| Ailing  2' | Box Score | Grubb  32' Pretinha  49' | Stadium: Villanova Stadium Attendance: 11,800 Referee: Peter Kokolski | 
| June 10 9 | Philadelphia Charge | 3–0 | Carolina Courage | Villanova, PA | 
| Smith  16' Clemens  67' Schwoy  74' (pen.) | Box Score | Stadium: Villanova Stadium Attendance: 5,862 Referee: Faith Rossi | 
| June 17 10 | New York Power | 2–1 | Philadelphia Charge | Uniondale, NY | 
| Milbrett  15', 25' | Box Score | Ailing  60' | Stadium: Mitchel Athletic Complex Attendance: 3,104 Referee: Irwin Medina | 
| June 20 11 | Bay Area CyberRays | 3–0 | Philadelphia Charge | San Jose, CA | 
| Kátia  48' Murray  50', 77' | Box Score | Stadium: Spartan Stadium Attendance: 4,687 Referee: Kari Seitz | 
| July 1 12 | Philadelphia Charge | 1–1 | Atlanta Beat | Villanova, PA | 
| Ailing  90+' | Box Score | Sawa  86' | Stadium: Villanova Stadium Attendance: 6,185 Referee: Kari Seitz | 
| July 7 13 | Carolina Courage | 2–0 | Philadelphia Charge | Chapel Hill, NC | 
| Fotopoulos  4' Riise  84' | Box Score | Stadium: Fetzer Field Attendance: 5,758 Referee: Nancy Lay | 
| July 13 14 | Philadelphia Charge | 3–0 | San Diego Spirit | Villanova, PA | 
| Fitschen  21', 57' Ailing  78' | Box Score | Stadium: Villanova Stadium Attendance: 5,683 Referee: Terry Vaughn | 
| July 19 15 | Philadelphia Charge | 1–2 | Boston Breakers | Villanova, PA | 
| Smith  77' | Box Score | Mellgren  52', 85' | Stadium: Villanova Stadium Attendance: 4,756 Referee: Faith Rossi | 
| July 26 16 | Washington Freedom | 0–2 | Philadelphia Charge | Washington, D.C. | 
| Box Score | Demko  44' Enos  78' | Stadium: RFK Stadium Attendance: 6,794 Referee: Todd Perry | 
| July 30 17 | Philadelphia Charge | 2–1 | New York Power | Villanova, PA | 
| Clemens  56' Schwoy  90+' | Box Score | Millbrett  34' | Stadium: Villanova Stadium Attendance: 6,588 Referee: Jennifer Bennett | 
| August 2 18 | Bay Area CyberRays | 3–2 | Philadelphia Charge | San Jose, CA | 
| Murray  51', 55' Kátia  62' | Box Score | Olafsdottir  52' Fair  90+' | Stadium: Spartan Stadium Attendance: 7,670 Referee: Ricardo Salazar | 
| August 6 19 | Philadelphia Charge | 5–1 | Carolina Courage | Villanova, PA | 
| Ailing  14', 37', 43' Clemens  48', 59' | Box Score | Riise  53' | Stadium: Villanova Stadium Attendance: 6,078 Referee: Sandra Hunt | 
| August 9 20 | Philadelphia Charge | 1–1 | San Diego Spirit | Villanova, PA | 
| Smith  75' | Box Score | Koleski  47' | Stadium: Villanova Stadium Attendance: 7,065 Referee: Rachel Woo | 
| August 12 21 | Boston Breakers | 2–1 | Philadelphia Charge | Boston, MA | 
| Mellgren  54' Raygor  59' | Box Score | Schwoy  69' | Stadium: Nickerson Field Attendance: 6,075 Referee: Jennifer Bennett | 
Results by round
Home/away results
| Overall | Home | Away | |||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | 
| 21 | 9 | 4 | 8 | 35 | 28 | +7 | 31 | 5 | 2 | 3 | 20 | 13 | +7 | 4 | 2 | 5 | 15 | 15 | 0 | 
Last updated: complete.
Source: WUSA
Regular-season standings
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification | 
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 | Bay Area CyberRays | 21 | 11 | 4 | 6 | 27 | 23 | +4 | 37 | Qualification to play-offs | 
| 3 | New York Power | 21 | 9 | 5 | 7 | 30 | 25 | +5 | 32 | |
| 4 | Philadelphia Charge | 21 | 9 | 4 | 8 | 35 | 28 | +7 | 31 | |
| 5 | San Diego Spirit | 21 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 29 | 28 | +1 | 28 | |
| 6 | Boston Breakers | 21 | 8 | 3 | 10 | 29 | 35 | −6 | 27 | 
Playoffs
| August 18 Semi-Finals | Atlanta Beat | 3–2 | Philadelphia Charge | Atlanta, GA | 
| Smith  33' Clemens  36' | Box Score | Sun Wen  67' (pen.) Parlow  79', 101' | Stadium: Bobby Dodd Stadium Attendance: 12,138 Referee: Ricardo Salazar | 
Statistics
- As of April 2, 2020
- Players without any appearance are not included.
| No. | Pos | Nat | Player | Total | WUSA | WUSA Playoffs | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||||||||
| Goalkeepers: | |||||||||||||
| GK |  USA | Melissa Moore | 11 | 0 | 10 | 0 | 1 | 0 | |||||
| GK |  USA | Saskia Webber | 12 | 0 | 12 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |||||
| Defenders: | |||||||||||||
| DF |  USA | Jenny Benson | 21 | 0 | 20 | 0 | 1 | 0 | |||||
| DF |  GER | Doris Fitschen | 13 | 3 | 13 | 3 | 0 | 0 | |||||
| DF |  USA | Erica Iverson | 5 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 0 | |||||
| DF |  USA | Heather Mitts | 21 | 0 | 20 | 0 | 1 | 0 | |||||
| MF |  USA | Jennifer Tietjen-Prozzo | 19 | 0 | 18 | 0 | 1 | 0 | |||||
| Midfielders: | |||||||||||||
| MF |  CHN | Liu Ailing | 20 | 10 | 19 | 10 | 1 | 0 | |||||
| MF |  USA | Michelle Demko | 17 | 2 | 10+6 | 2 | 1 | 0 | |||||
| MF |  USA | Lorrie Fair | 17 | 1 | 14+2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | |||||
| MF |  USA | Kalli Kamholz | 12 | 0 | 7+5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |||||
| MF |  USA | Rebekah McDowell | 20 | 1 | 15+4 | 1 | 0+1 | 0 | |||||
| MF |  ISL | Margret Olafsdottir | 18 | 2 | 10+8 | 2 | 0 | 0 | |||||
| MF |  USA | Laurie Schwoy | 18 | 4 | 9+8 | 4 | 0+1 | 0 | |||||
| MF |  ENG | Kelly Smith | 14 | 5 | 12+1 | 4 | 1 | 1 | |||||
| MF |  USA | Jennifer Soileau | 6 | 0 | 1+5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |||||
| Forwards: | |||||||||||||
| FW |  USA | Mandy Clemens | 21 | 6 | 13+7 | 5 | 1 | 1 | |||||
| FW |  USA | Deidre Enos | 20 | 1 | 4+15 | 1 | 0+1 | 0 | |||||
| FW |  ISL | Rakel Karvelsson | 18 | 1 | 13+4 | 1 | 1 | 0 | |||||
| FW |  USA | Erin Martin | 10 | 1 | 8+2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | |||||
Goalkeepers
- As of April 4, 2020
| Nat. | No. | Player | Apps | Starts | Record | GA | GAA | SO |  |  | 
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|  | Melissa Moore | 10 | 10 | 5–3–1 | 10 | 1.00 | 3 | 0 | 0 | |
|  | Saskia Webber | 12 | 12 | 4–5–3 | 18 | 1.50 | 3 | 0 | 0 | |
| Total | 9-8-4 | 28 | 1.33 | 6 | 0 | 0 | ||||
- Record = W-L-D
Transfers
In
| Date | Player | Position | Previous club | Fee/notes | 
|---|---|---|---|---|
| May 24, 2000 |  Lorrie Fair | MF |  North Carolina Tar Heels | WUSA Player Allocation[13] | 
|  Saskia Webber | GK |  OKI F.C. Winds | ||
|  Mandy Clemens | FW |  Silicon Valley Red Devils | ||
| October 30, 2000 |  Doris Fitschen | DF |  1. FFC Frankfurt | WUSA Foreign Player Allocation[4] | 
|  Kelly Smith | FW |  New Jersey Lady Stallions | ||
| December 10, 2000 |  Liu Ailing | MF |  China National Team | 2000 WUSA Draft, Round 1, Pick 2, 2nd Overall[7] | 
|  Heather Mitts | DF |  Tampa Bay Extreme | 2000 WUSA Draft, Round 2, Pick 7, 15th Overall[7] | |
|  Jenny Benson | MF |  Nebraska Cornhuskers | 2000 WUSA Draft, Round 3, Pick 2, 18th Overall[7] | |
|  Ruth Van't Land | FW |  Cal Poly Pomona Broncos | 2000 WUSA Draft, Round 4, Pick 6, 31st Overall[7] | |
|  Sarah Yohe | FW |  Florida Gators | 2000 WUSA Draft, Round 5, Pick 2, 34th Overall[7] | |
|  Raven McDonald | MF |  North Carolina Tar Heels | 2000 WUSA Draft, Round 6, Pick 7, 47th Overall[7] | |
|  Rebekah McDowell | MF |  North Carolina Tar Heels | 2000 WUSA Draft, Round 7, Pick 1, 49th Overall[7] | |
|  Michelle Demko | MF |  Tampa Bay Extreme | 2000 WUSA Draft, Round 8, Pick 7, 63rd Overall[7] | |
| December 11, 2000 |  Kalli Kamholz | MF |  Tampa Bay Extreme | 2000 WUSA Draft, Round 9, Pick 2, 66th Overall[7] | 
|  Carly Smolak | GK | 2000 WUSA Draft, Round 10, Pick 2, 79th Overall[7] | ||
|  Jennifer Tietjen-Prozzo | DF |  Lond Island Lady Riders | 2000 WUSA Draft, Round 11, Pick 2, 82nd Overall[7] | |
|  Erin Martin | FW |  Three Kings United | 2000 WUSA Draft, Round 12, Pick 7, 95th Overall[7] | |
|  Beth Keller | FW |  Chicago Cobras | 2000 WUSA Draft, Round 13, Pick 2, 98th Overall[7] | |
|  Laurie Schwoy | MF | 2000 WUSA Draft, Round 14, Pick 7, 111th Overall[7] | ||
|  Laurie Hill | MF |  California Storm | 2000 WUSA Draft, Round 15, Pick 2, 114th Overall[7] | |
| March 30, 2001 |  Jennifer Soileau | MF |  Ole Miss Rebels | Signed[14] | 
| April 3, 2001 |  Deidre Enos | FW |  Boston University Terriers | Signed[15] | 
| April 13, 2001 |  Margret Olafsdottir | MF |  Breiðablik | Signed[16] | 
|  Erica Iverson | DF | Signed | ||
|  Rakel Karvelsson | FW | Signed | ||
|  Melissa Moore | GK | Signed | 
Out
| Date | Player | Position | Destination club | Fee/notes | 
|---|---|---|---|---|
| March 21, 2000 |  Laurie Pells | GK | Waived[17] | |
|  Angela Harrison | Waived[17] | |||
|  Tracey Spinelli | Waived[17] | |||
|  Beth Keller | MF |  Carolina Courage | Waived[17][18] | |
|  Courtney Saunders | Waived[17] | |||
|  Laurie Hill | MF | Released[17] | 
Honors
2001 WUSA Defensive Player of the Year:  Doris Fitschen[19]
 Doris Fitschen[19]
References
- ↑ Drew Crossley (May 24, 2016). "2001-2003 Philadelphia Charge". Fun While It Lasted. Retrieved March 29, 2020.
- ↑ "WUSA kick-started". Sports Illustrated. May 24, 2000. Retrieved April 4, 2020.
- ↑ Robert Wagman (May 24, 2000). "Hamm is assigned to play in Washington as first 24 allocations are announced". SoccerTimes. Archived from the original on May 10, 2013. Retrieved April 3, 2020.
- 1 2 "WUSA conducts inaugural foreign player allocation draft". SoccerTimes. October 30, 2000. Archived from the original on May 10, 2013. Retrieved April 3, 2020.
- ↑ Mark Pukalo (November 20, 2000). "KRIKORIAN TO TAKE CHARGE OF PHILADELPHIA FRANCHISE". The Hartford Courant. Retrieved April 3, 2020.
- ↑ "WUSA Notes: Assistant coach and front-office hirings". SoccerAmerica. February 1, 2001. Retrieved April 3, 2020.
- 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 "WUSA: Complete Draft Results". SoccerAmerica. December 10, 2000. Retrieved April 3, 2020.
- ↑ "WUSA | PHILADELPHIA CHARGE (1-0-0) VS SAN DIEGO SPIRIT (0-1-0)". WUSA. April 22, 2000. Archived from the original on October 7, 2001. Retrieved April 4, 2020.
- ↑ "WUSA | PHILADELPHIA CHARGE (0-1-0) VS ATLANTA BEAT (1-0-0)". WUSA. August 18, 2000. Archived from the original on August 21, 2001. Retrieved April 4, 2020.
- ↑ "2001 Women's United Soccer Association Leaders". statscrew.com. Retrieved April 4, 2020.
- ↑ "WUSA: Liu Ailing hat trick spurs Philly rout". SoccerAmerica. August 7, 2000. Retrieved April 4, 2020.
- ↑ "2001 Philadelphia Charge Roster". statscrew.com. Retrieved April 4, 2020.
- ↑ Robert Wagman (May 24, 2000). "Hamm is assigned to play in Washington as first 24 allocations are announced". SoccerTimes. Archived from the original on May 10, 2013. Retrieved April 3, 2020.
- ↑ "Soileau Makes Final Roster for Philadelphia Charge". Ole Miss Sports. March 30, 2000. Retrieved April 3, 2020.
- ↑ "Enos Makes Charge's Roster; Only AE Player In WUSA". goterriers.com. April 3, 2000. Retrieved April 3, 2020.
- ↑ "WUSA: Charge fills foreign spot with Olafsdottir". SoccerAmerica.com. April 13, 2000. Retrieved April 3, 2020.
- 1 2 3 4 5 6 "WUSA Preseason: All eight teams announce cuts". SoccerAmerica. March 19, 2000. Retrieved April 4, 2020.
- ↑ "TRANSACTIONS". The New York Times. June 21, 2001. Retrieved April 4, 2020.
- ↑ "2001 Women's United Soccer Association". statscrew.com. Retrieved April 2, 2020.