Arizona Strikers FC was a women's soccer team based in Yuma, Arizona. They played in the Western Conference of the USL W-League, the second highest tier of women's soccer in the United States and Canada.

Arizona Strikers FC
Full nameArizona Strikers Football Club
Founded2013
Dissolved2015
GroundDesert Sun Stadium
Yuma, Arizona
Capacity10,000
OwnerAGM Soccer Management, LLC
General ManagerRicardo Hinds
Head CoachManny Arias
LeagueUSL W-League

History edit

The team began as the Sedona FC Strikers, based in Sedona, Arizona. [1][2][3] The team moved to Yuma, Arizona and became Arizona Strikers FC on January 3, 2015.[4]

Controversy edit

The team chose to sponsor The Desert Sun Clasico for July 14, 2015. It would have featured Club Tijuana against Monarcas Morelia. However, poor ticket sales lead to the events cancellation. President Manny Arias remarked that "Yuma has a lot of selfish people". That statement ignited the community as few knew of the match due to poor promotion and it is noted the team spent more time in San Luis going unnoticed by much of Yuma. [5] Following the comments their website was taken down and the teams Facebook page was not being updated. A second season in Yuma was now a definite no. [6]

Year-by-year edit

Year League Record Regular Season Playoffs
2014 USL W-League 0–12–0 8th, Western Conference Did not qualify
2015 USL W-League 1–11–0 6th, Western Conference Did not qualify

Players edit

Final roster edit

As of July 11, 2015 [7]
Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

No. Pos. Nation Player
4 DF   USA Brenda Barniga
1 GK   MEX Esthefanny Barreras
14 DF   CAN Jessica Barton
6 MF   USA Andrea Bedoya
21 MF   USA Kitzel Cota
12 FW   USA Celeste Diaz
9 FW   MEX Luz Duarte
7 FW   MEX Elisa Espino
0 GK   USA Erika Garcia
15 FW   USA Patricia Gomez
18 MF   USA Maria Ibarra
13 MF   MEX Olivia Jiménez
17 DF   USA Sarena Lapham
No. Pos. Nation Player
14 MF   USA Brielle Leon
17 DF   USA Jennifer Larsen
8 MF   USA Monica Lubin
3 FW   MEX Edith Navarro
11 DF   USA Mariela Ortega
0 GK   USA Yazmin Osorio
5 DF   USA Abigail Rosales
15 MF   USA Marina Schachowskoj
4 FW   USA Leilani Skinner
18 FW   USA Sheridan Smith
10 MF   USA Franchesca Vasquez
2 DF   USA Taylor Wheeler

Stadia edit

References edit

  1. ^ "Sedona FC Strikers Join W-League". United Soccer Leagues (USL). November 26, 2013. Archived from the original on January 10, 2014. Retrieved January 9, 2014.
  2. ^ "Sedona FC Strikers begin play in May". Jeff Bear. Sedona Red Rock News. December 13, 2013. Archived from the original on January 10, 2014. Retrieved January 9, 2014.
  3. ^ "Arizona based Sedona FC Strikers set to join W League in 2014". Garrett Cleverly. azkicksit.com. November 26, 2013. Archived from the original on February 22, 2014. Retrieved January 9, 2014.
  4. ^ "W-League woman's soccer team moving to Yuma from Sedona". Chris McDaniel. Yuma Sun. January 3, 2015. Retrieved January 27, 2015.
  5. ^ "Desert Sun Clasico canceled due to low ticket sales". Warner Strausbaugh. Yuma Sun. July 12, 2015.
  6. ^ "Club president: No second season for Ariz. Strikers". Cesar Neyoy. Yuma Sun. July 17, 2015.
  7. ^ "Arizona Strikers FC Roster". July 11, 2015. Archived from the original on July 14, 2015. Retrieved July 11, 2015.