W-League and WPSL 2013

Discussion in 'US Women's Lower Divisions' started by StarCityFan, Jan 17, 2013.

  1. StarCityFan

    StarCityFan BigSoccer Supporter

    Aug 2, 2001
    Greenbelt, MD
    Club:
    Washington Freedom
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
  2. msilverstein47

    msilverstein47 Member+

    Jan 11, 1999
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    Mutiny Host Syracuse This Saturday, July 13 In The 1st Round Of The WPSL East Playoffs

    SPRINGFIELD, MA (07/10/13) -
    The New England Mutiny (5-0-5 WPSL New England) have changed the kick-off time for this Saturday's 1st Round WPSL East Conference playoff match at East Longmeadow High School vs. the Syracuse Lady Knights (6-2-2 WPSL Mid-Atlantic) to 4:05 PM.

    The Mutiny won the 2013 N.E. division crown with a 2-2 draw against the CFC Passion this past Sunday & the right to host the 2nd-place side from the Mid-Atlantic Division.

    Tickets are now on sale for the New England-Syracuse match on the "Tickets" page at our official website at MutinySoccer.com.
    If the Mutiny are victorious vs. Syracuse, they will either travel to Buffalo, NY to face Empire Rev WNY (8-2-0 WPSL Mid-Atlantic) or host Boston Breakers Academy (6-2-2 WPSL New England) on Sunday, July 14.
     
  3. SiberianThunderT

    Sep 21, 2008
    DC
    Club:
    Saint Louis Athletica
    Nat'l Team:
    Spain
    So, if I've understood WPSL correctly....
    --The "west" region has the regular season champions of PacN, PacS, Big Sky N, and winner of the NorthWest playoffs (4 teams) play for one spot; ultimately this slot represents 23 teams.
    --The "mid" region has the winner of the MidWest playoffs (4 teams) play the regular season champion of Big Sky S for one spot; this slot represents 14 teams (15 if you count the non-existent STL team).
    --The "east" region has the winner of the Northeast playoffs (8 teams) play of one spot; this represents 24 teams.
    --The "south" region has the winners of the Southeast and Sunshine playoffs (5 and 4 teams respectively) play for the last slot; this represents 9 teams (all teams qualify for the playoffs, the regular season is just for seeding).

    Is it just me, or should qualifying from the "south" region be harder? Like, maybe the winner should play the runner-up from the "east" region for the fourth slot in the national finals?
     
  4. Cville K C

    Cville K C Member

    Nov 3, 2008
    Collinsville, IL
    Club:
    Saint Louis Athletica
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    If twitter is correct, the midwest semifinal scores:
    Fire & Ice SC 4, Kansas City Shock 2
    Des Moines Menace 4, Ohio Galaxies 1

    Fire & Ice got at least two goals from Jessie Crabtree and one from Rachel Tejada. Didn't see who scored their first goal.

    So the host team and regular season champions, Ohio, didn't even make the divisional playoff finals.

    Looking at the scores, I don't give the midwest champion much of a chance against the Big Sky South champion. Houston was unbeaten, outscoring their divisional opponents 23-1 or something like that. Houston played KC in two interdivisional games and won both handily, 4-1 and 3-0.

    Good luck to Fire & Ice in their game tomorrow.
     
  5. SiberianThunderT

    Sep 21, 2008
    DC
    Club:
    Saint Louis Athletica
    Nat'l Team:
    Spain
    Not to mention the Aces already beat both Des Moines and the Shock in US Open Cup play. Honestly I've got them penned to win the whole thing. Maybe the ASA Charge can beat them, but I'd be surprised if anyone else does. Maybe the Storm or the SeaLions. (I don't think it's a coincidence that those were four of the teams reportedly slated to play in WPSLE'13.)
     
  6. Cville K C

    Cville K C Member

    Nov 3, 2008
    Collinsville, IL
    Club:
    Saint Louis Athletica
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    One thing about the WPSL, it almost seems to be too massive and unwieldy even for itself.

    On the results for Saturday in the schedule portion of their website, they are showing Ohio as a 4-1 winner over Des Moines. And on Sunday's schedule, they show Fire & Ice playing Ohio for the championship (at least as of 8am Sunday morning). Yet they tweeted a story that clearly shows Des Moines won that match.

    If anything, this league needs is a little bit better structure and organization. For example, balanced schedules, provisions for changing schedules if teams are lost, playoffs that are more uniform from one division/conference to the next. It always seemed to me like the W-League had an edge in that area.
     
  7. msilverstein47

    msilverstein47 Member+

    Jan 11, 1999
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    AMHERST, NY (07/14/13) - The New England Mutiny (7-0-5) have reached the East Conference Final for the first time since the 2008 season via a 2-0 win over Mid-Atlantic Division champion Empire Revs WNY (9-3-0) at University at Buffalo North Campus field.

    Andrea Plucenik scored the eventual game-winning goal in the 2nd minute of the match off an assist from Nicole Rodriguez, while Mutiny goalkeeper Niki Deiter notched her eighth shutout of the season.

    The New England Division champions completed a successful weekend vs. Mid-Atlantic Division competition as they followed up their 1-0 win over Syracuse (6-3-2) at home on Saturday with an impressive road victory on Sunday.

    The Mutiny will need to hit the road again to reach the 2013 WPSL National Championship (July 27-28), as they will face the ASA Chesapeake Charge (10-0-2) at 7:00 PM at Arundel High School this Saturday, July 20th in the East Final.
     
  8. StarCityFan

    StarCityFan BigSoccer Supporter

    Aug 2, 2001
    Greenbelt, MD
    Club:
    Washington Freedom
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    gricio61 repped this.
  9. msilverstein47

    msilverstein47 Member+

    Jan 11, 1999
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    SPRINGFIELD, MA (07/17/13) - The New England Mutiny (7-0-5) are in the midst of preparations for this Saturday's East Conference Final vs. the ASA Chesapeake Charge (10-0-2) with the winner qualifying for the WPSL National Championship (July 27-28). The Charge will host the match at Arundel High School in Gambrills, MD for a 7:00 PM kickoff.

    The Mutiny had to sail an arduous journey last weekend to qualify for the East Final. On Saturday afternoon vs. the Syracuse Lady Knights in the quarterfinals, heat, humidity and an organized Mid-Atlantic Division opponent were a trio of travails New England had to navigate which they accomplished successfully in a 1-0 win. Nicole Rodriguez scored the game-winner in the 6th minute of action.

    After their WPSL East Quarterfinal victory, New England had to make the 6-hour-plus road trip to face Mid-Atlantic Division champion Empire Revs WNY in western New York for a Sunday afternoon kickoff. Already without the services of standout midfielder Alyssa Martino to injury, the team also lost stalwart central defender Sarah Brochu during first half action.

    Yet, Mutiny Head Coach Roy Gurnon dialed the right combinations and got two first-half goals from Andrea Plucenik and Jewel Robinson to power his team to a 2-0 victory and a ticket to the WPSL East Final. Goalkeeper Niki Deiter notched her eighth shutout - while missing only 10 minutes of action in total - of the 2013 season.
     
  10. Cville K C

    Cville K C Member

    Nov 3, 2008
    Collinsville, IL
    Club:
    Saint Louis Athletica
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    After going up 1-0 in the 1st half, Fire and Ice fell to Houston 2-1. Great season for Fire and Ice in spite of tonight's loss. Judging from the tweets, they gave Houston everything they could handle and then some. According to twitter, Fire and Ice goal was by Tejada, assisted by Kat Roe. No mention who scored Houston's pair.
     
  11. SiberianThunderT

    Sep 21, 2008
    DC
    Club:
    Saint Louis Athletica
    Nat'l Team:
    Spain
    From the Aces' Twitter, their goals were by Acevedo and Calipay.

    SeaLions are currently beating Tuscon 2-0 in the second half, and the Mutiny are up 3-2 over the Charge after the first OT.
     
  12. SJJ

    SJJ Member

    Sep 20, 1999
    Royal Oak, MI, USA
    Club:
    Michigan Bucks
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    You have a point up to... well... a point, but you really don't get credit for numeric quantity only. And it's hard to judge region-vs-region strength(s). If the final site ever goes up to eight teams, then you could possibly give one region more bids.
     
  13. SJJ

    SJJ Member

    Sep 20, 1999
    Royal Oak, MI, USA
    Club:
    Michigan Bucks
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    Does seem to be ran a big hap-hazzardly. (But there is no WPSL nor W-Lg team in Michigan, so I don't have first-hand knowledge.) Wonder if the factions between the two leagues can be mended, and have them merge.
     
  14. StarCityFan

    StarCityFan BigSoccer Supporter

    Aug 2, 2001
    Greenbelt, MD
    Club:
    Washington Freedom
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    Still better than last year, when some of the more remote divisions didn't even participate in the playoffs.
     
  15. msilverstein47

    msilverstein47 Member+

    Jan 11, 1999
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    ASA CHESAPEAKE CHARGE 2, NEW ENGLAND MUTINY 3
    In a WPSL classic, the Mutiny rebound from two one-goal deficits to win 2013 East title in overtime
    GAMBRILLS, MD (07/20/13)- In what was popularly considered a surprise result to the 2013 WPSL East Conference Final was actually a trademark performance for the New England Mutiny (8-0-5) this season. The teamwork & camaraderie the Mutiny has showcased in 2013 was on full display against the host ASA Chesapeake Charge (10-1-2). The visitors battled the heat, humidity, a lightning delay and a quality opponent while coming back from two one-goal deficits to win the East crown by a 3-2 score.
    New England will now compete for the WPSL National Championship (July 27-28) for the sixth time in 11 years this upcoming weekend in Sacramento, CA. The Mutiny have reached the National Final on two occasions (2004 & 2007). They were joined in the championship tournament by Big Sky-South champion Houston Aces (11-0-0) on Saturday, who defeated the Midwest champion Fire & Ice Soccer Club (8-3-0) by a 2-1 score.
    The 2013 WPSL East Final was an instant classic - as after the second-half lightning delay in the 78th minute - New England battled to send the game into overtime. Lauren Reilly headed in a Morgan Andrewsfree kick with three seconds remaining in the match to tie it at 2-2. Than in the 100th minute, Andrews punished a defensive lapse by the Charge by stealing the ball and converting past ASA goalkeeper Erin Quinn for the eventual game-winning goal.
    The Mutiny ended the match in spectacular fashion, while they opened it in not-as-grand a manner. In the 7th minute, ASA's Alexis Prior-Brown almost made New England pay for their own defensive lapse but keeper Niki Deitersnuffed out her opportunity. Five minutes later, though, Prior-Brown would create the scoring chance for Cheyenne Skidmore who converted on her cross for the 1-0 lead.
    The Mutiny would respond admirably in the 22nd minute, as Jenna Fisher used her work-rate to beat her defender and cross the ball to Shauna Edwards. The former Quinnipiac star banked her shot off the post and in the goal past Quinn to tie the game at 1-1. The teams would wage war in the midfield for the rest of the half with the score remaining the same.
    With two undefeated teams battling it out for a berth into the national championship to start the second half, the game would certainly come down to who made the fewest errors. New England would be punished for one in the 52nd minute, as

    Skidmore sent in a low, dangerous cross from the right flank. The Mutiny defense couldn't handle the service properly and the Charge went up 2-1 on an own goal.
    ASA looked to put the match away after that goal, pressuring New England but the resolute defending from Alie Fitzsimmons and Jewel Robinsonheld their attack at bay. In the 78th minute, lightning in the area forced the game to be put on hold and it was delayed for an hour. Once the teams came back on the pitch, the Charge again tried to score the insurance goal but the Mutiny would also find their rhythm.
    The visitors would get a free kick deep in ASA territory on the right flank with under a minute left in regulation. Andrews fired the free kick to the back post and caromed off it to Reilly, who headed in the ball to tie the match at 2-2 with only three seconds remaining on the referee's watch. The teams would go on to two, 15-minute overtime periods to decide the WPSL East champion.
    Three minutes in, Fisher almost scored for New England but her long-range effort after colliding with the ASA keeper rolled just wide of the Charge goal. In the 100th minute, a defensive mistake by the ASA defense gifted the ball to Andrews who finished past Quinn for the 3-2 lead. The Charge would put pressure on in the second overtime but not seriously threaten the Mutiny goal and the visitors earned the hard-fought 3-2 victory.
     
  16. SiberianThunderT

    Sep 21, 2008
    DC
    Club:
    Saint Louis Athletica
    Nat'l Team:
    Spain
    I thought that was less "remoteness" and more "scheduling" - losing players to college commitments, etc.
    But yes, definitely better than last year - and still could use lots of room for improvement. I like WPSL's flexibility, but sometimes it just gets too flexible and a little lopsided.
     
  17. SiberianThunderT

    Sep 21, 2008
    DC
    Club:
    Saint Louis Athletica
    Nat'l Team:
    Spain
    Well, of course you don't get credit for numeric quantity only. But it does play a part - more competition usually gets better teams to rise to the top. Your comment about conference strength is definitely valid in a general sense, but consider this: aside from the 2012 national champions the Gulf Coast Texans, no team from the southeast has ever won a national semifinal match. In fact, when qualification does not guarantee a team from the southeast to make the national semis, they've missed as often as made it. A team from the southeast has also never won one of the two national cups. California, Texas, the Midwest, and the Northeast are all MUCH stronger regions.

    Another big problem with the current South region is that the regular season really doesn't matter. In all of the other conferences/divisions, you actually have to qualify for the playoffs - so the teams you play will actually have already proven themselves to be good. All nine teams from the South qualify for the playoffs, so 1) the "good" South teams don't have to beat other good teams to make nationals, and 2) "good" or not, a team just has to win three (or four) games to make nationals, while teams from all other divisions have to win much more. It's just unfairly easy for South teams in the current setup. The Central region is also softer than the East or West, but nowhere near as soft as the South.

    Looking at it another way by treating each regional final as a national quarterfinal, we can look at each division/conference.
    Code:
    Conf/Div #Teams #QF #Finals #Elite
    NW-WA- - 4 - - 0.25- - 0 - - 0
    NW-OR- - 4 - - 0.25- - 0 - - 0
    PacN - - 6 - - 0.5 - - 0 - - 1
    PacS - - 4 - - 0.5 - - 6 - - 1
    BS-N - - 5 - - 0.5 - - 3 - - 0
    BS-S - - 6 - - 1.0 - - 3 - - 2
    M.W. - - 8 - - 1.0 - - 9 - - 3
    E-SA - - 6 - - 0.5*- - 1 - - 3
    E-TS - - 6 - - 0.5*- - 5 - - 2
    E-MA - - 6 - - 0.5*- - 0 - - 1
    E-NE - - 6 - - 0.5*- - 3 - - 2
    S-SE - - 5 - - 1.0 - - 1 - - 0
    S-Sh - - 4 - - 1.0 - - 0 - - 0
    Columns are "teams in the div/conf this year", "guaranteed/effective QF berths this year", "number of finals appearances in WPSL, Open Cup, and Amateur Cup 2007-12". Also included are "where they would have been" for the WPSLE teams - the eight from 2012 and the seven original slated for 2013 - with the idea that these teams put extra effort into being competitive and have the results to prove it (for example: all five slots in this year's "quarterfinals" that were available to these "elite" teams were filled by elite teams - Storm, SeaLions, Aces, Charge, Mutiny - with the Fury being eliminated by the Charge, leaving the Fever as the only existing "elite" team to miss the playoffs altogether) thus giving proxies for the strength of their region. It's also worth noting that the South region's lone appearance in a national final was when the "elite" teams were away in their own league (though I do think that, on their own, the GCTexans are a strong team).

    Any way you cut it, the South region does not deserve the representation they get.
     
  18. SiberianThunderT

    Sep 21, 2008
    DC
    Club:
    Saint Louis Athletica
    Nat'l Team:
    Spain
    Random aside:
    I know WPSL axed the WPSLE webpages a while ago, so I thought it would be worthwhile posting this for potential archiving purposes:
    Apparently WPSL tried starting a U-23 league with these four teams in the West. I know they had advertised a U-20 league last year, but I don't know if that ever really happened; I can't find any evidence of it now. As such, I wanted to make sure the above was posted somewhere aside from within the WPSL site, even though this U-23 is supposedly finished with its playoffs by now...
     
  19. Cville K C

    Cville K C Member

    Nov 3, 2008
    Collinsville, IL
    Club:
    Saint Louis Athletica
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    It's really hard to gauge regional strength, because there are so few games between regions. That's not likely to change, because these teams usually have limited financial resources to work with, so travel becomes a problem. As far as the number of the teams in any region, it depends on having an owner, financial resources, and player interest, none of which is indicative of how strong a region is (although more player interest usually makes for a more competitive region at a higher level). So a region that is lacking ownerships might have fewer teams, but still could be a strong region. Really, the only thing you can go on is history, which while not the best predictor of the future, is better than about anything else they could come up with at this point.

    It doesn't seem quite fair that the midwest playoff teams had to play two playoff games one weekend in a fairly competitive division and then travel down to Houston the next weekend to play the Big Sky South winner, who basically waltzed through their regular season schedule and didn't have to worry about a playoff game before the regional final. It's like Houston got two rounds of byes before they had to play and then they get to play one game at home and it's on to the semis. Meanwhile, Fire and Ice had to travel about 400 miles to play two games on the road and then travel about 800 miles to play the regional final. Not saying that Houston isn't a very good team, they certainly are, but they had a much easier road to get there in many ways.

    I guess one thing that could be said is that Fire and Ice could have played those first two matches at home had they won their division, but still...

    Since each division seems to make up its own rules for playoffs, WPSL is more like a confederation of several small leagues, with a somewhat organized (if not balanced) playoff system.

    Still, with all my complaints, I must say that I enjoyed the games I attended and saw a surprisingly high level of soccer, considering these teams probably had little time to practice together and are made up of mostly college players and even a few recent high school grads. I was pretty impressed overall. At least WPSL gives these players that opportunity and I must give them a lot of credit for that.
     
  20. SJJ

    SJJ Member

    Sep 20, 1999
    Royal Oak, MI, USA
    Club:
    Michigan Bucks
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    http://www.wpsl.info/u23/

    The WPSL home page has on its top menu "U23 WEST LEAGUE"

    ...but would be nice to know what happened in the playoffs...

    And, yes, I also what happened to their U-20 from last season. They trumpeted it a bit, including statements like "if you have a player on the U-20 side, and then sign them to the senior team, you don't have to pay another registration fee to US-Soccer."
     
  21. Cville K C

    Cville K C Member

    Nov 3, 2008
    Collinsville, IL
    Club:
    Saint Louis Athletica
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    I was following the WPSL semis on twitter. Houston won fairly easily 4-1 over New England. But the other game went I think 11 rounds of penalty kicks with the final two kicks being one goalkeeper against the other. If I followed it correctly, regulation ended 0-0, with both teams scoring in overtime (Gulf Coast first), followed by the SD SeaLions winning 10-9 in penalties. That might have been fun to watch. So it's SD vs. Houston in the finals.
     
    SiberianThunderT repped this.

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