W-League Preview: Eastern Conference

 

D.C. United Women stole the headlines with the signing of U.S. Women's National Team member Becky Sauerbrunn this offseason, but they aren’t the only team with new faces. Nothern Virginia Majestics have a new coach, Mike Jorden, who will look to get the club back to its winning ways while several high profile collegiate players have been added, which will provide parity in the division.

 

D.C. United Women: United finished its first season in club history in 2011 with a 5-3-2 record and was six points shy of a playoff spot. The team will look to take it a step further in ’12 with the addition of U.S. Women’s National Team star Becky Sauerbrunn, as well as Joannah Lohman and Lianne Sanderson from RCD Espanyol. United allowed only nine goals in 10 games in 2011 yet scored only 15 of its own... a stat Sauerbrunn & Co. will aim to turn around.

 

Dayton Dutch Lions: The Dutch Lions are also coming off their first season in club history in 2011 and, like D.C. United Women, posted a 5-3-2 record. After winning their last two games in ’11 by a combined score of 8-1 the Dutch Lions now have a year’s experience and must get off to a quick start.

 

Fredericksburg Impact: A year ago the Impact struggled to string wins together in the franchise’s first year of existence going 2-7-1. The return of Jen Woodie as head coach along with a nice mix of new signings and returning veterans has the Impact looking like a dangerous team. One stat that will need immediate attention: goals-against average. The Impact let in 29 while netting only 10. Woodie expects to compete for the division title and has good reason to believe this season will be much different than last.

 

Northern Virginia Majestics: One of the longest-standing W-League clubs, the Northern Virginia Majestics are looking to get back on track in 2011. After making the conference semifinals in 2006 and 2007 the club has struggled to find its form. General Manager Tim Schweitzer has brought in W-League veteran Jill Porto, who will provide stability and leadership on and off the field. Last season the Majestics struggled in the offensive end and will look to University of Maryland forward Alex Reed to lead the attack. The Virginia native will have her work cut out but with the support of Porto behind her in the midfield, 2012 should be much different for the Majestics.

 

Virginia Beach Piranhas: Head coach Wendy Waddell’s squad finished five points off the playoff pace going 5-5-0 in 2011. The Piranhas must get off to a quick start playing two road games before returning home in late May. They’ve brought in the Nigerian trio of Linda Chukwuji, Esther Anyanwu, and Marbel Egwuenu from Georgia Perimeter College during the offseason as well as a number of new faces. The mix of returning players such as Alyssa Wombwell and LaQuinta Garrett and new talent have the Piranhas poised for solid play on the pitch in 2012.

 

The Long Island Rough Riders were the class of the Northeast Division in 2011, with the New Jersey Wildcats just off the pace. Long Island is expected to be strong once again in 2012, but the Wildcats, featuring U.S. National Team midfielder Yael Averbuch, will make a strong challenge. 

 

Long Island Rough Riders: Coach Steve Cadet, a two-time PDL champions as a player with the Rough Riders, knows what it takes to build a championship team. He lost some offensive production from 2011, but kept the defense together and should field a formidable side once again. Krista Thorn and Danielle Ippolito will share the goalkeeping duties, and in front of them is Molly Bruh, who ranked second on the team in minutes played.  If forward Brooke DeRosa, the team’s top goal scorer from 2011, doesn’t return, more pressure will fall on Kaila Sciascia, who had eight goals and 17 points. Most impressively, she delivered those numbers from midfield, and her offensive thrust will be key to a division title repeat.

 

New Jersey Rangers FC: Only three players return from the 2011 Rangers squad which struggled to find success, and coach Andy Rotsides has brought in many new faces to try to turn their fortunes around. Midfielder Stephanie Andolino and forwards Emily Gleason and Alyson Urniasz return and will be relied on to lead the young squad. They’ll be looking for help from attacker Alexandra Dezenzo of the Unversity of Vermont and goalkeeper Lauren Mains, a former Lehigh standout.

 

New Jersey Wildcats: A new affiliation with Sky Blue FC brought experienced manager Jim Gabarra on board, and the Wildcats look like a contender in 2012. Gabarra is a former national teamer, iconic indoor star, and legendary coach who won two championships with the Washington Freedom during his 10 years there. Joining the team is American international midfielder Yael Averbuch, a former UNC star whose 105 consecutive starts and set-piece prowess led the Tar Heels to retire her No. 17 jersey. Another college star on the Wildcats is forward Esmeralda Negron, who graduated as Princeton’s all-time scoring leader.  Kristen Edmonds returns to the W-League after winning the league and cup double with Stjarnan in Iceland. 

 

New York Magic: Six of New York’s top seven minute-played leaders from 2011 are back, but former W-League Rookie of the Year Rashida Sherman will be greatly missed. Starting goalkeeper Caitlin Hoffer will hope to not be busy, and Japanese midfielder Aya Noguchi, who played 900 minutes in 2011, will be a key part of any success. Noguchi’s compatriots Ayaki Shinada and Yuiko Inoue are also expected to be major contributors for Coach Nino DiPasquali’s squad.

 

North Jersey Valkyries: With both the starting and backup goalkeeper from 2011 gone, the Valkyries signed local product Erika Keil of Virginia Wesleyan to guard the goal. UConn defender Gabriella Cuevas is another homegrown talent, but most important is the return of forward Danielle Schulmann. Named to the 2011 W-League All-Conference Team, Schulmann scored one of the goals of the season against the Long Island Rough Riders, and her powerful right foot will keep defenses wary of pushing up. The Valkyries will feature international talent as well, including Welsh midfielder Emma White, who played in a UEFA championship qualifier while in high school.

 

The new Southeast Division features last year’s W-League champion, Atlanta Silverbacks, and the consistent Charlotte Lady Eagles. Much of the focus will be on the three new teams, which immediately bring in new rivalries and qualities. 

 

Atlanta Silverbacks: Atlanta surprised many by getting past Vancouver and Ottawa to win its first W-League title in 2011, and has kept the pieces in place to repeat. Eight players return from the starting lineup of the 6-1 mauling of Ottawa in the final. One of the key returnees is goalkeeper Ashley Baker, who had a league-leading six shutouts and was named to the All-Conference Team along with teammate Tiffini Turpin. The Silverbacks are no strangers to division titles, having won five consecutive while in the Atlantic Division, and will be grateful for the lessened travel time that comes with the move to the Southeast. 

 

Central SC Cobras: Based in Columbia, South Carolina, the Cobras will be especially interested in overhauling the Charlotte Lady Eagles, and took a step in the right direction with the signing of Ashley Swinehart. Third on Charlotte’s all-time games played list, Swinehart is a proven goal scorer in the league. Coach Sandy Burris has also built a strong defense that will be led by Trinidad and Tobago international Ayana Russell, who was recruited by Burris in college. Russell will try to ensure former Boston University standout Christina Reuter has little to do in net.

 

Charlotte Lady Eagles: Charlotte’s past two seasons have ended with a second place finish behind the Atlanta Silverbacks in the division, and then a 1-0 conference final loss to the same team. Charlotte will look to pounce on any signs of complacency from the Silverbacks this season although most of their top point getters are gone. Forward Ashley Braam will likely be a threat when fed passes by playmaker Kelsey Fenix. At the back, leadership will definitely not be in short supply, as defender Rachel Baer is head coach at North Greenville University. 

 

FC Jax Destroyers: As a new club, it will be difficult to go head-to-head with the Silverbacks, but they have the experience in their head coach. Marc Osterberger has certainly been around the block since his playing career. He started with the Jacksonville Youth Soccer Club before leading the Maryland ODP program to a national title. His ability to develop players (more than 200 of his players have played in college) and choose the right ones will be vital for Jacksonville’s chances of a strong first season.

 

VSI Tampa Flames:  The Flames are heading into their debut season loaded with some of the best talent the Tampa Bay area has to offer. Near the top of the list are Stanford standouts and twin sisters Sydney and Shelby Payne of Bradenton, Fla., who both bring plenty of U.S. Youth National Team experience. USF midfielder Kayla Bala could have a breakout year while UCF defender Bianca Joswiak and USF grad Noelle Pineiro will also be factors.