Pali Blues was an American women's soccer team, which played from 2008 to 2014. The team was a member of the United Soccer Leagues USL W-League, the second tier of women's soccer in the United States and Canada. The team played in the Western Conference against Colorado Force, Colorado Rush, LA Strikers, Santa Clarita Blue Heat, Seattle Sounders Women, Vancouver Whitecaps FC and Victoria Highlanders Women.
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| Full name | Pali Blues Soccer Club | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Nickname(s) | The Blues, Pali | ||
| Founded | 2008 | ||
| Stadium | Stadium-by-the-Sea | ||
| Capacity | 4,000 | ||
| Chairman | Maryam Mansouri | ||
| Head coach | Charlie Naimo | ||
| League | USL W-League | ||
| 2014 | 1st, Western Conference Playoffs: Champions | ||
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The team played its home games in the "Stadium-by-the-Sea" at Palisades High School (nicknamed “Pali”) in the Pacific Palisades area of Los Angeles, California. The club's colors were pale blue, orange and white and was a sister club to the Los Angeles Blues of the USL Pro league.
The club enjoyed robust fan support from the Tony Danza Army, their official supporters group. The "Stadium By The Sea" was widely considered one of the toughest places to play in the W-League, confirmed by Blues coach Charlie Naimo, who called the Tony Danza Army's support the best he has seen in the United Soccer Leagues.
The Blues won their first W-League title in their debut season, beating FC Indiana 2–1 in the W-League Championship game in Virginia Beach, Virginia on August 2, 2008. They would repeat as champions by defeating the Washington Freedom Reserves 2–1 in Germantown, Maryland on August 7, 2009.
Before winning their first W-League title in August, the Pali Blues won the Las Vegas Silver Mug Tournament over Ajax America Women with one goal on February 10, 2008. Their first official game as a team was the first game of the Silver Mug tournament against Ajax America Women on February 9, 2008. The Blues scored a winning goal and moved on to defeat the Athleticos 8-0, the Legacy 9-0 and the Denver Diamonds 4-2. In the semifinal round the Blues defeated the West Coast Soccer Club with one goal. [1]
In November 2014, the Blues announced that they would no longer compete in the W-League so the owners could focus their efforts on their USL franchise.[2]
Players edit
Final 2014 roster edit
Current at end of 2014.[3] Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
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Coaching staff edit
- Head Coach: Charlie Naimo
- Assistant Coach: Tracey Kevins
- Goalkeeper Coach: Brett Borm
Notable former players edit
The following former Blues have played at the professional and/or international level:
Danesha Adams
Sasha Andrews
Karen Bardsley- Liz Bogus
Janice Cayman- Leanne Champ
- Lauren Cheney
- Carrie Dew
- Whitney Engen
- Kendall Fletcher
- Lauren Fowlkes
- Mele French
Sara Gama- Ashlyn Harris
- Tobin Heath
- Valerie Henderson
Tuija Hyyrynen- Brittany Klein
- Kara Lang
- Amy LePeilbet
- Camille Levin
- Manya Makoski
Collette McCallum
Iris Mora- Alex Morgan
- Kate Munoz
- Jill Oakes
- Kelley O'Hara
Cathrine Paaske-Sørensen- Ilaria Pasqui
- Erika Prado
- Christen Press
Ali Riley- Julie Rydahl Bukh
Chanté Sandiford- Rosie Tantillo
- Jodie Taylor
- India Trotter
- Aricca Vitanza
- Sarah Walsh
- Nikki Washington
- Michelle Wenino
- Kandace Wilson
- Kirsty Yallop
2008 roster,[4] 2009 roster,[5] 2010 roster,[6] 2011 roster,[7] 2012 roster[8] 2013 roster,[9] 2014 roster[10]
Year-by-year edit
| Year | Division | League | Reg. Season | Playoffs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 1 | USL W-League | 1st, Western | Champions |
| 2009 | 2 | USL W-League | 1st, Western | Champions |
| 2010 | 2 | USL W-League | 2nd, Western | Western Finals |
| 2011 | 2 | USL W-League | 3rd, Western | Did not qualify |
| 2012 | 2 | USL W-League | 1st, Western | Finals |
| 2013 | 2 | USL W-League | 1st, Western | Champions |
| 2014 | 2 | USL W-League | 1st, Western | Champions |
Honors edit
- USL W-League Champions 2008, 2009, 2013, 2014
- USL W-League Regular Season Champions 2008, 2012, 2014
- USL W-League Western Conference Champions 2008, 2009, 2012, 2013, 2014
- Las Vegas Silver Mug Tournament Champions 2008[11]
References edit
- ^ "Vegas Mug Tournament Overview]". PaliBlues.blogspot.com. February 12, 2008.
- ^ Johal, Harjeet (November 25, 2014). "Four-time USL W-League champs LA Blues fold]". EqualizerSoccer.com. The Equalizer.
- ^ Blues soccer roster Archived 2011-07-08 at the Wayback Machine.
- ^ "Pali Blues 2008 roster". Archived from the original on May 6, 2008. Retrieved May 7, 2009.
- ^ "Pali Blues 2009 roster". Archived from the original on July 9, 2009. Retrieved January 19, 2020.
- ^ [1]Pali Blues roster 2010 at the Wayback Machine (archived March 7, 2012)
- ^ [2]Pali Blues 2011 roster at the Wayback Machine (archived July 8, 2011)
- ^ "2012 Pali Blues roster". Archived from the original on July 12, 2012. Retrieved January 19, 2020.
- ^ [3]Pali Blues 2013 roster at the Wayback Machine (archived August 1, 2013)
- ^ [4]LA Blues 2014 roster at the Wayback Machine (archived February 17, 2015)
- ^ [5]"Pali Blues Vegas Tournament Overview". PaliBlues.blogspot.com. February 12, 2008.