USL News Release
Tuesday, July 26, 2011
TAMPA, Fla. – The United Soccer Leagues W-League has announced its 2011 All-League Team, featuring five players headed to this weekend’s W-League Championship Presented by Umbro in Seattle. The 2011 W-League All-League Team was selected through a vote of team management.
The Vancouver Whitecaps, who punched their ticket to the final four with a thrilling 4-3 victory against Santa Clarita in the Western Conference Championship, are represented on the team by midfielder Tiffany Weimer. Weimer tallied seven goals and four assists as the Whitecaps finished second in the Western Conference. (...)
Rounding out the squad are a pair of W-League Rookie of the Year candidates in Santa Clarita goalkeeper Cynthia Jacobo and 17-year-old Colorado Rush forward Lindsey Horan, along with MVP candidate Edite Fernandes of Santa Clarita and defenders Sasha Andrews of Pali and Christine Exeter from Toronto.
2011 W-League All-League Team
GK – Cynthia Jacobo, Santa Clarita Blue Heat
D – Sue Weber, Long Island Rough Riders
D – Sasha Andrews, Pali Blues
D – Amanda Fancher, Ottawa Fury
D – Christine Exeter, Toronto Lady Lynx
MF – Tiffany Weimer, Vancouver Whitecaps FC
MF – Megan Tomlinson, Atlanta Silverbacks
MF – Jessica Shufelt, Ottawa Fury
F – Mallory Outerbridge, Ottawa Fury
F – Edite Fernandes, Santa Clarita Blue Heat
F – Lindsey Horan, Colorado Rush
USL News Release
Monday, July 25, 2011
TAMPA, Fla. – The United Soccer Leagues W-League announced its 2011 All-Conference Teams today, honoring the standout players who led one of the most competitive regular seasons in league history. The W-League All-Conference Teams, selected through a vote of team management, feature some of the top young women’s soccer talent in the world.
The W-League All-League Team will be announced on Tuesday, July 26. The finalists for Coach of the Year, Defender of the Year, Rookie of the Year and Most Valuable Player will be announced on Wednesday, July 27, with the awards presented at the W-League Championship banquet in Seattle on Thursday, July 28. Goalkeeper of the Year will also be presented at the banquet.
Conference Teams:
Western Conference
GK – Cynthia Jacobo, Santa Clarita Blue Heat
D – Christie Shaner, Pali Blues
D – Sasha Andrews, Pali Blues
D – Kendall VanDine, Santa Clarita Blue Heat
D – Kelsey Hood, Vancouver Whitecaps FC
MF – Tiffany Weimer, Vancouver Whitecaps FC
MF – Rebekah Patrick, Colorado Force
MF – Sophie Reiser, Seattle Sounders
F – Edite Fernandes, Santa Clarita Blue Heat
F – Lindsey Horan, Colorado Rush
F – Sydney Leroux, Vancouver Whitecaps FC
Na pacata cidade de Santa Clarita é considerada um ídolo para os adeptos. Quem o diz é o presidente do clube, o mexicano Carlos Marroquin. “É uma jogadora fantástica. Foi a melhor coisa que aconteceu nesta cidade nos últimos tempos. Tenho de agradecer à selecionadora portuguesa, Mónica Jorge, pela ajuda que nos deu na sua contratação. Já sabíamos que ela tinha muito valor, mas ficámos surpreendidos por perceber que é ainda melhor. É uma delícia vê-la jogar”, confessa o dirigente, ao balcão da sua loja de artigos desportivos.
Leia este artigo na íntegra na edição impressa de Record deste domingo.
USL New Release
Wednesday, July 13, 2011
TAMPA, Fla. – United Soccer Leagues announced the W-League Team of the Week today, with Edite Fernandes of the Santa Clarita Blue Heat taking home Player of the Week honors. Fernandes has paced the Blue Heat to first place in the Western Conference and is looking to help cement the team’s first playoff birth with a win tonight against the L.A. Strikers.
Fernandes’ inspiration was on full display last week as she scored against Victoria and then netted the game-tying goal and assisted on the game-winner against Vancouver.
There were other clutch performances with Melissa Roy (Quebec City) scoring a game-tying goal in the 89th minute, Chelsea Kuss (Rochester) getting two late goals for a draw, and Jessica Shufelt (Ottawa) grabbing three goals and an assist in three matches.
W-League Team of the Week | ||||
Pos | Name | Team | Highlights | |
GK | Elizabeth Ruiz | Seattle | Clean sheet win, 4 saves against Santa Clarita | |
D | Sade Ayinde | Long Island | G, A, clean sheet versus Wildcats | |
D | Danielle Hubka | Pali | GWG, clean sheet against LA | |
D | Melissa Roy | Quebec City | GTG in the 89th minute versus Ravens | |
M | Hayley Siegal | D.C. | G vs. Valkyries and G and A on GWG vs. Rangers | |
M | Edite Fernandes | Santa Clarita | G vs. Victoria, GTG and A on GWG vs. Vancouver | |
M | Alicia Tirelli | North Jersey | 2G (GTG) against New York | |
M | Jessica Shufelt | Ottawa | G, A vs. Laval, GWG vs. Toronto, G vs. Hamilton | |
F | Megan Tomlinson | Atlanta | 3G in win against Fredericksburg | |
F | Chelsea Kuss | Rochester | 2G (GTG) versus Quebec City | |
F | Jordan Clark | Dayton | GWG against Northern Virginia | |
Vancouver Whitecaps FC
35.Jaclyn Dunnett; 14.Keshia Wallin, 4.Lexi Marton, 3.Shannon Woeller (6.Amy Vermeulen 72'), 15.Krista Kruse; 7.Tina Romagnuolo, 22.Kelsey Hood, 8.Tiffany Weimer; 20.Jen Stoltenberg, 17.Carrie Patterson (21.Jenna Richardson 58'), 9.Sydney Leroux
Suplentes não utilizadas:29.Kristen Funk, 10.Tseng Shu-O, 11.Alysha Bonnick, 24.Jaclyn Sawicki, 25.Ciara McCormack
Santa Clarita Blue Heat
1.Cynthia Jacobo; 14.Madison VanDine, 5.Katie Russ, 2.Kayla Kret, 12.Brielle Slepicoff; 16.Shasta Fisher (7.Stacey Rodwell 45'), 21.Holly Hein, 18.Edite Fernandes (11.Nadia Pearl 90'+), 31.Laura Dodd; 20.Liz Franco (25.Francesca Williams 69'), 9.Melissa Fernandez (24.Hannah Beard 45')
Suplentes não utilizadas: 32.Haley Hawes, 17.Sydney Vermillion, 23.Tori McDevitt
As "Caps" começaram de forma brilhante. Aos oito minutos, Sydney Leroux disparou um bom remate e a guarda redes de Blue Heat Cynthia Jacobo fez um boa defesa desviando a bola contra o poste, e depois ainda defendeu a recarga feita à figura. Cinco minutos depois, Leroux abriu a contagem do placar com o seu nono golo da temporada. A média Tina Romagnuolo fez a maior parte do trabalho, ultrapassando duas defesas, "furando" pelo corredor direito, antes de realizar mais um cruzamento perfeito para a cabeça em Leroux de frente para a baliza.
SC Blue Heat reagiu momentos mais tarde, com a estrela Edite Fernandes a colocar à prova a guarda redes, Jaclyn Dunnettwith com dois remates em dois minutos, mas Dunnett defendeu ambos com excelentes defesas e salvou as "CAPS".
Santa Clarita empatou aos 36 minutos. A estrela internacional portuguesa, Fernandes reparou que a guarda redes Dunnett estava adiantada, e num lance de génio fez um fabuloso "chapéu" a Dunnett a uma distância de 40 metros. Um golo de sonho. Foi o primeiro golo sofrido ao longo de toda em época em casa pelas canadianas.
No minuto final da 1ªparte, Leroux derrubada na grande área pela defesa Madison VanDine, e conquistou. A própria Leroux marcou a grande penalidade mas rematou ao lado da baliza e perdeu assim uma grande oportunidade de empate para as Whitecaps FC.
Ao intervalo o resultado estava empatado com 1-1.
Aos 50 minutos, Stoltenberg aparaceu pelo meio das quatro defensas, mas o seu remate foi bloqueado. Tiffany Weimer disparou a bola perdida próxima da balliza, mas rematou ao lado.
Santa Clarita marcou o golo da vitória aos 54 minutos. Fernandes fez mais uma assintência para Holly Hein, que disparou uma bomba a 2º metros da baliza com a bola a entrar mesmo junto ao poste. Estava feito o 1-2 para Blue Heat.
Vancouver teve grandes oportunidades para empatar o jogo, mas falhou o alvo nos 14 remates que fez. Os remates ou iam ao lado ou eram defendidos pela guarda redes Jacobo, que fez 10 defesas neste jogo.
Aos 68 minutos, Richardson liberta-se da sua opositora pela direita, a bola acabou por encontrar Stoltenberg, mas o seu remate foi bem defendido por Jacobo.
Aos 76 minutos, os visitantes ficaram reduzidos a 10 jogadoras, Laura Dodd levou o eu segundo cartão amarelo da partida e foi expulsa. A pressão do Vancouver intensificou-se durante o resto do jogo, e Richardson, Vermeulen Amy, e Weimer tentaram marcar fazendo vários remates por cima da barra com a multidão a sofrer.
O treinador ,Fabian Sandoval da equipa de Santa Clarita ainda foi expulso nos minutos finais por reclamar com a a equipa de arbitragem.
O Treinador da candiana, Hubert Buby Jr. deu os parabéns pela importante vitória de Santa Clarita num jogo decisivo. "Elas conseguiram contrariar as nossas oportunidades e isso fez a diferença no jogo desta noite."
O recorde de Vancouver foi batido, agora a equipa tem 8V-3E-2D, enquanto Santa Clarita permanece invicto com 8V-3E-0D. Blue Heat agora só precisa de três pontos nos seus últimos três jogos, para conquistar o primeiro lugar no Ocidente e o direito de vencer a Conferência Oeste Final.
When the Santa Clarita Blue Heat professional women’s soccer team takes the field, one player stands out.
Wearing No. 18 and positioned at striker, she’s a threat to score or set up a goal from almost anywhere on the field.That’s what the team wanted when it brought her to the United Soccer League’s W-League, the second-highest level of women’s professional soccer in the country.“Remember something,” says Blue Heat president and owner Carlos Marroquin. “Women’s Professional Soccer has (Brazilian star) Marta. The USL has Edite Fernandes.”The 31-year-old Portuguese international has led the Blue Heat to the second-most points in the W-League so far this season, and her contributions have the Blue Heat eyeing a league championship in only their second year of existence.Fernandes is among the W-League’s top five in points (22), goals (nine) and assists (four) as Santa Clarita is still unbeaten at 7-0-3 with four games remaining in the regular season.Contending for a championship is just what Fernandes wanted to do when she decided to play in America.“I’m more than happy here,” she says. “I’ve been here for three months almost. Sometimes I get homesick, but I’m professional. I always try to show a good attitude.”After the Blue Heat finished 2-6-2 and missed the playoffs in their inaugural season, Marroquin wanted to significantly upgrade the talent on the team. So he contacted Monica Jorge, head coach of the Portuguese women’s national team, and spoke to her about bringing Fernandes to the United States.Fernandes is Portugal’s captain, and she scored five goals during Union of European Football Associations (UEFA) qualifying for the 2011 Women’s World Cup. Her best performance came in a 7-0 win over Armenia on March 31, 2010, when she had a hat trick.Portugal, however, didn’t qualify for the UEFA play-off rounds after finishing third in Group 7 behind Finland and group champion Italy. But Marroquin had seen enough. He first met with Fernandes nine months ago about playing for the Blue Heat, and Fernandes said she’d think about it.Six months ago, Marroquin called her again. This time, she had a different answer.“I said, I need your help,” he says. “People here want something (of) quality. I want to bring something professional. She says, ‘OK, let’s do it.’”Fernandes, who is only signed for this season, was also clear about her terms. Having played professionally since she was 17 years old – including stints for the women’s teams affiliated with
Atletico Madrid and Arsenal – she wanted to make sure the team would compete for a title.The Blue Heat signed a couple other international players for this season, and they also signed local products like Saugus High graduates Shasta Fisher and Brielle Slepicoff, Hart High graduate Kayla Kret and Canyon High graduate Katie Russ, all of whom play NCAA Division I soccer.
“I thought it would be kind of tough in America,” says Fernandes, who had never been to the United States before this spring and doesn’t speak much English. “But I’m very happy with the girls. Although I’m the oldest, I have the most experience. Everybody says I’m the best player on the team.”That opinion becomes clear once the team takes the field. Still, Fernandes says the American game is different than the European game.“In America, you play harder and with more strength, but in Europe, it’s more technical,” she says. “The girls can wait for the ball and anticipate the ball. Here, they play at 200 miles an hour.”The Blue Heat are about to play their biggest game of the regular season, a road showdown with the Western Conference-leading Vancouver Whitecaps at 7:30 p.m. today.Santa Clarita finishes its road trip with a game in Seattle on Sunday before returning home to face the Los Angeles Strikers on Wednesday and the Pali Blues on July 17. Both games are at 7 p.m. at Canyon High School.Fernandes hopes the Blue Heat uses the remaining games as the start of a championship run.“Hopefully, the last two games in town, people will come to the stadium to see Edite Fernandes, because who knows? It could be the last two games in town for her,” Marroquin says.
"The biggest match of the season for the Vancouver Whitecaps FC women’s squad is this Friday night in Penticton, BC, as the 'Caps battle for top spot in the United Soccer Leagues W-League Western Conference against Santa Clarita Blue Heat. The match kicks off at 7 p.m. PT at Penticton's Kings Park."
(O jogo mais importante da temporada para a equipa de Vancouver Whitecaps FC que joga esta sexta-feira em Penticton, BC, as "Caps" (como são denominadas) vão travar uma batalha para o obter o primeiro lugar da Liga de Futebol W-League da Conferência Oeste contra Santa Clarita Calor Azul. A partida tem início às 07:00 PT no Kings Park Penticton.)
BLUE HEAT analisado pelo adversário.
"Santa Clarita come into the match after a 2-2 draw against Highlanders FC women in Victoria on Wednesday night. Victoria took the lead in the last minute of regulation, but Liz Franco scored for the Blue Heat in stoppage time to salvage a point against the last-place Highlanders. The result leaves Santa Clarita three points back of Whitecaps FC for top spot, but with two games at hand."
"The Blue Heat have emerged as an unexpected force in the W-League this season after finishing with a disappointing record of 2W-6L-2D in their inaugural campaign last year. Under new head coach Fabian Sandoval, the team has been almost completely rebuilt for 2011, and have obviously found a winning formula. That formula includes plenty of goals, as Santa Clarita boast one of the most potent attacks in the league."
Edite Fernandes impõe respeito e é elogiada pelo rival:
"Leading the Blue Heat in attack is midfielder and Portuguese international captain Edite Fernandes, who combines clinical finishing with astute playmaking. (O ataque de SC Blue Heat é liderado pela média internacional Portuguesa e capitã EDITE, que combina uma finalização clínica com uma inteligência tactica) The most eye-catching player on the squad (a jogadora mais perigosa da equipa)."
The Blue Heat are also strong defensively, allowing the fewest goals in the Western Conference. Goalkeeper Cynthia Jacobo has been very steady, while the defensive core includes the young VanDine sisters, Madison and Kendall.
HEAD-TO-HEAD - últimos confrontos entre estas equipas.
Whitecaps FC got a first-hand taste of Santa Clarita's scoring prowess back on June 5, suffering their only defeat this season in a 5-2 loss to the Southern California-based outfit. It was Vancouver's first regular season loss since 2009, and was only the second time ever that the Blue and White have been burned for five goals.
The 'Caps have an all-time record against Santa Clarita of 2W-1L-0D, including a 2-0 home win last season. Santa Clarita are a very different team this year, though, and anything could happen in Penticton.
