 | |||
| Full name | Pali Blues Soccer Club | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Nicknames | 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 | ||
Pali Blues was an American women'ssoccer team, which played from 2008 to 2014. The team was a member of theUnited Soccer LeaguesUSL W-League, the second tier of women's soccer in the United States and Canada. The team played in the Western Conference againstColorado Force,Colorado Rush,LA Strikers,Santa Clarita Blue Heat,Seattle Sounders Women,Vancouver Whitecaps FC andVictoria Highlanders Women.
The team played its home games in the "Stadium-by-the-Sea" atPalisades High School (nicknamed “Pali”) in thePacific Palisades area ofLos Angeles, California. The club's colors were pale blue, orange and white and was a sister club to theLos Angeles Blues of theUSL Pro league.
The club enjoyed robust fan support from theTony 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, beatingFC Indiana 2–1 in the W-League Championship game inVirginia Beach, Virginia on August 2, 2008. They would repeat as champions by defeating theWashington Freedom Reserves 2–1 inGermantown, Maryland on August 7, 2009.
Before winning their first W-League title in August, the Pali Blues won the Las Vegas Silver Mug Tournament overAjax 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 againstAjax 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 theDenver 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]
Current at end of 2014.[3]Note: Flags indicate national team as defined underFIFA eligibility rules; some limited exceptions apply. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
The following former Blues have played at the professional and/or international level:
Danesha Adams
Sasha Andrews
Karen BardsleyLiz Bogus
Janice CaymanLeanne ChampLauren CheneyCarrie DewWhitney EngenKendall FletcherLauren FowlkesMele French
Sara GamaAshlyn HarrisTobin HeathValerie Henderson
Tuija HyyrynenBrittany KleinKara LangAmy LePeilbetCamille LevinManya Makoski
Collette McCallum
Iris MoraAlex MorganKate MunozJill OakesKelley O'Hara
Cathrine Paaske-SørensenIlaria PasquiErika PradoChristen Press
Ali RileyJulie Rydahl Bukh
Chanté SandifordRosie TantilloJodie TaylorIndia TrotterAricca VitanzaSarah WalshNikki WashingtonMichelle WeninoKandace WilsonKirsty Yallop2008 roster,[5] 2009 roster,[6] 2010 roster,[7] 2011 roster,[8] 2012 roster[9] 2013 roster,[10] 2014 roster[11]
| 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 |
