D.C. United Women
Full nameD.C. United Women
Nickname(s)The Black-and-Red
Founded2011
StadiumMaryland SoccerPlex
Capacity4,000
ChairmanWilliam E. Lynch
ManagerMichael Jorden
LeagueUSL W-League
2012Division: 1st
Conference: 1st
Overall: 2nd
Playoffs: 3rd

D.C. United Women was an American soccer club based in Washington, D.C. that competed in the USL W-League, the second tier of women's soccer in the United States. The team was an affiliate of Major League Soccer club, D.C. United but operated independently by Washington Soccer Properties, LLC. To participate in the new professional National Women's Soccer League for the 2013 season, the team reformed as Washington Spirit in December 2012.

History

Founding

D.C. United Women were announced on March 29, 2011, as part of a partnership with some of the owners of the Northern Virginia Majestics, through a newly founded group named Washington Soccer Properties.[1][2] As a part of the agreement in for the 2011 season, D.C. United Women competed in the Northeast Division of the W-League Eastern Conference, while the Majestics competed in the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference. While Washington Soccer Properties does control most aspects of the team, D.C. United does provide oversight, assistance, and support. Washington Soccer Properties purchased the W-League franchise vacated by Washington Freedom Futures when the team was disbanded following the sale of its senior team Washington Freedom who moved to Boca Raton, Florida and became magicJack. During the off-season between 2011 and 2012, Washington Soccer Properties ownership group severed ties with like owners involved with Northern Virginia Majestics, and operate entirely independently from that team as a result.

2011 season

In their first season, D.C. United Women played 10 league games, winning five, drawing three and losing two. They ended the season with four straight victories and finished in third place in the Northeast Division. Defender and co-captain Marisa Abegg was named to the W-League All-Conference Team for the Eastern Conference.[3] For their inaugural season, D.C. United Women's average home attendance for the 2011 season was over 800 fans, with D.C. United Women having five home games at the Maryland SoccerPlex.[4] They won the W-League Rookie Club of the Year award for their performance during the 2011 season.[5]

2012 season

For 2012, the W-League's Eastern Conference expanded to a 12-game schedule, and D.C. United Women moved to the Atlantic Division where they played Dayton Dutch Lions, Fredericksburg Impact, Northern Virginia Majestics, and Virginia Beach Piranhas three times each during the regular season. They finished the regular season with eleven wins, no losses, and one draw, good enough for first place in the Atlantic Division and the Eastern Conference and for a tie as W-League regular-season champions with the Pali Blues.[6]

That status gave them hosting rights for the Eastern Conference playoffs,[7] where they defeated the Virginia Beach Piranhas, 3–0, in the semifinals,[8] and the Charlotte Lady Eagles, 3–0, in the final.[9] They went on to the W-League Final Four, where they lost to the host Ottawa Fury, 1–0,[10] then finished third by downing the Quebec City Amiral on penalty kicks, 1–1 (7–6).[11]

The team received the W-League's 2012 Fair Play and Media Awards.[12] Marisa Abegg, Hayley Siegel, and Mikaela Howell made the All-Eastern Conference team.[13] Additionally, Howell made W-League history by being the first player ever to be named to the Team of the Week five weeks in a row, culminating in being named Player of the Week in Week 6 of the season.[14]

Players and staff

2012 roster

As of July 27, 2012[15]

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

No. Pos. Nation Player
1 GK United States USA DiDi Haracic
2 DF United States USA Sarah Sample
3 DF United States USA Taylor Brown
4 DF United States USA Madison Brown
5 DF United States USA Marisa Abegg
6 MF United States USA Katie Menzie
6 MF United States USA Jennifer Skogerboe
8 FW England ENG Mikaela Howell
9 FW United States USA Tiffany Brown
10 FW England ENG Lianne Sanderson
11 DF United States USA Becky Sauerbrunn
12 MF United States USA Hayley Siegel
13 MF United States USA Katy Colas
14 DF United States USA Molly Menchel
No. Pos. Nation Player
15 MF United States USA Diana Weigel
16 MF United States USA Holly King
17 MF United States USA Joanna Lohman
18 MF United States USA Sam Baker
19 FW United States USA Ashley Herndon
20 DF United States USA Jerica DeWolfe
22 FW United States USA Kristen Schmidbauer
23 FW United States USA Ashley Manning
24 MF United States USA Andi Sullivan
27 MF United States USA Danielle Malagari
28 GK United States USA Danielle DeLisle
31 MF United States USA Carolyn Blank
51 MF United States USA Katie Yensen

Coaches

  • United States Michael Jorden 2011–present
  • United States Cindi Harkes 2011–present

Season results

Season Regular Season Playoffs National
Women's Cup		 CONCACAF Top goalscorer(s)
League GP W L T GF GA Pts Pos Name Goals
2011 W-League 1053215919 Eastern Conference
Northeast Division
Runners-up		 Christine Nairn
Christine Welsh		3
2012 W-League 12110137834 Eastern Conference
Atlantic Division
Winners		 Third place

Key

Champions Runners-up Third place Wooden spoon

References

  1. ↑ "D.C. United Women join USL W-League". D.C. United. Archived from the original on April 3, 2011. Retrieved November 29, 2011.
  2. ↑ Boehm, Charles. "D.C. United Women officially approved for 2011 W-League play". Potomac Soccer Wire. Archived from the original on November 10, 2011. Retrieved November 29, 2011.
  3. ↑ "D.C. United Women's defender Marisa Abegg named to W-League All-Conference Team". D.C. United Women. Archived from the original on June 8, 2012. Retrieved November 29, 2011.
  4. ↑ "D.C. United Women nominated for five post season awards by United Soccer Leagues". D.C. United Women. Archived from the original on January 27, 2012. Retrieved January 12, 2012.
  5. ↑ "DCU Women win W-League Rookie Club of the Year". D.C. United Women. Archived from the original on January 27, 2012. Retrieved January 12, 2012.
  6. ↑ "W-League 2012 Schedule". USL W-League. Archived from the original on March 2, 2013. Retrieved January 2, 2013.
  7. ↑ Goff, Steven (July 16, 2012). "D.C. United Women complete undefeated regular season, will host conference tournament". Washington Post. Retrieved January 2, 2013.
  8. ↑ "Charlotte, D.C. United Women Advance". USL W-League. Archived from the original on July 28, 2012. Retrieved January 2, 2013.
  9. ↑ "D.C. United Headed To Ottawa". USL W-League. Archived from the original on February 5, 2013. Retrieved January 2, 2013.
  10. ↑ "Fury Advance To W-League Final". USL W-League. Archived from the original on August 8, 2012. Retrieved January 2, 2013.
  11. ↑ "Ottawa Captures First W-League Title". USL W-League. Archived from the original on August 6, 2012. Retrieved January 2, 2013.
  12. ↑ "Teams, Executives Honored at USL AGM". USL W-League. Archived from the original on August 24, 2013. Retrieved January 2, 2013.
  13. ↑ "W-League All-Conference Teams Named". USL W-League. Archived from the original on November 12, 2012. Retrieved January 2, 2013.
  14. ↑ "United Women's Howell Named POW". USL W-League. Archived from the original on February 5, 2013. Retrieved January 2, 2013.
  15. ↑ "2012 D.C. United Women – Official Roster". USL W-League. Archived from the original on July 8, 2012. Retrieved June 1, 2012.
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