2008 W-League Season

The 2008 W-League Season was the league's 14th. The regular season began on May 10, 2008, and ended on July 20.

Pali Blues finished the season as national champions, beating FC Indiana 2-1 in the W-League Championship game in Virginia Beach, Virginia on 2 August 2008.

FC Indiana finished with the best regular season record in the league, winning 13 out of their 14 games, suffering no losses, and finishing with a +64 goal difference.

Atlanta Silverbacks Women's striker Sarah Steinmann was the league's top scorer, with 19 goals. FC Indiana's Laura Del Rio led the league with 13 assists, while Pali Blues goalkeeper Valerie Henderson enjoyed the best goalkeeping statistics, with a goals-against average of 0.142 per game, and posting 6 shutouts.

Changes from 2007 season

Nine teams were added for the season:

Eastern Conference

Atlantic Division

Playoff Format

Five teams each from the Central and Eastern Conferences, and two from the Western Conference, qualify for the playoffs.

In the Central Conference, the second and third place teams from the Northern Division play a one-leg playoff with the winner advancing to the Conference Semifinals, where they will play the Midwest Division champion. The other semifinal will have the second place team from the Midwest Division playing the Northern Division champion.

In the Eastern Conference, the second and third place teams from the Northeast Division play a one-leg playoff with the winner andvancing to play the Atlantic Division champion. The other semifinal will have the second place team from the Atlantic Division playing the Northeast Division champion.

The two teams in the Western Conference will play each other to advance to the W-League Semifinals.

The Regular Season champion, Pali Blues, receive a bye into the W-League semifinals, with the second and third place teams from the Western Conference receiving playoff berths.

Playoffs

Conference Brackets

Central Conference

5TeamBracket
RD1=Central Divisional Round
RD2=Central Semifinals
RD3=Central Championship
RD1-seed1=NO2
RD1-team1=
RD1-score1=0
RD1-seed2=NO3
RD1-team2=
RD1-score2=2
RD2-seed1=MW1
RD2-team1=
RD2-score1=5
RD2-seed2=NO3
RD2-team2=
RD2-score2=1
RD2-seed3=NO1
RD2-team3=
RD2-score3=3
RD2-seed4=MW2
RD2-team4=
RD2-score4=2
RD3-seed1=MW1
RD3-team1="')
RD3-score1=4
RD3-seed2=NO1
RD3-team2=
RD3-score2=3

Eastern Conference5TeamBracket
RD1=Eastern Divisional Round
RD2=Eastern Semifinals
RD3=Eastern Championship
RD1-seed1=NE2
RD1-team1=
RD1-score1=1
RD1-seed2=NE3
RD1-team2=
RD1-score2=0
RD2-seed1=AT1
RD2-team1=
RD2-score1=1
RD2-seed2=NE2
RD2-team2=
RD2-score2=0
RD2-seed3=NE1
RD2-team3="')
RD2-score3=6
RD2-seed4=AT2
RD2-team4=
RD2-score4=5
RD3-seed1=AT1
RD3-team1=
RD3-score1=1
RD3-seed2=NE1
RD3-team2="')
RD3-score2=2

Western Conference2TeamBracket | RD1=Western Finals
RD1-seed1=W1
RD1-team1=
RD1-score1=0
RD1-seed2=W2
RD1-team2=
RD1-score2=1

"Pali captured the W-League regular season title and bye into W-League semifinals, enabling Vancouver to take their spot in the Conference Playoffs, and allowing Seattle to clinch a playoff berth."

W-League Championship Bracket

4TeamBracket-Consolation | RD1=Semifinal
RD2=Consolation | RD3=Championship
RD1-seed1=WL
RD1-team1=
RD1-score1=2
RD1-seed2=NE1
RD1-team2=
RD1-score2=0
RD1-seed3=MW1
RD1-team3=
RD1-score3=1
RD1-seed4=W2
RD1-team4=
RD1-score4=0
RD2-seed1=NE1
RD2-team1=
RD2-score1=2
RD2-seed2=W1
RD2-team2=
RD2-score2=0
RD3-seed1=WL
RD3-team1=
RD3-score1=2
RD3-seed2=MW1
RD3-team2=
RD3-score2=1

Divisional Rounds

footballbox|date = July 23, 2008
7:00 ET
team1 =
score = 0 – 1
report= [http://wleague.uslsoccer.com/home/264906.html (Report)]
team2 =
goals1 =
goals2 = DeRosa goal
stadium = St. Anthony's High School
South Huntington, New York
attendance = 387
referee = Samir Souidi (USA)----footballbox|date = July 23, 2008
7:30 ET
team1 =
score = 2 – 0
report= [http://wleague.uslsoccer.com/home/264751.html (Report)]
team2 =
goals1 = Gagné goal|8 goal|40
Walsh sent off|0|89
goals2 = Chapman yel|40 sent off|0|89
Afonso yel|66
stadium = Centennial Park Stadium
Toronto, Ontario
attendance = 344
referee = Michael Izzo (USA)

Conference Semifinals

footballbox|date = July 25, 2008
4:00 ET
team1 =
score = 2 – 3
report= [http://wleague.uslsoccer.com/matchreports/265298.html (Report)]
team2 =
goals1 = Mutters yel|12
Spacht goal|26
Trevillian yel|74
Maynard goal|89 (PK)
goals2 = Taylor goal|12 goal|62 (PK)
Powell goal|15
stadium = Varsity Soccer Complex
West Lafayette, Indiana
attendance = 50
referee = Tony Deldis (USA)----footballbox|date = July 25, 2008
5:00 ET
team1 =
score = 5 – 6
(AET)
report= [http://wleague.uslsoccer.com/home/265234.html (Report)]
team2 =
goals1 = Rife goal|11
Schmedes goal|29
Murphy goal|59 goal|107
Lyons goal|66
goals2 = Welsh goal|2 goal|16 goal|103
Keller goal|22
Moros goal|70 (PK)
Janss goal|97
stadium = RE/MAX Greater Atlanta Stadium
Atlanta, Georgia
attendance = 152
referee = William Deland (USA)----footballbox|date = July 25, 2008
6:30 ET
team1 =
score = 1 – 5
report= [http://www.uslsoccer.com/stats/2008/841088.html (Report)]
team2 =
goals1 = Gagné goal|55 (PK)
goals2 = Hamel goal|14
Sesselmann goal|16 goal|25 yel|27
Parker goal|63
Phewa goal|72
stadium = Varsity Soccer Complex
West Lafayette, Indiana
attendance = 128
referee = Andrew Scott (USA)----footballbox|date = July 25, 2008
8:00 ET
team1 =
score = 0 – 1
report= [http://wleague.uslsoccer.com/home/265287.html (Report)]
team2 =
goals1 = Fitzgerald (coach) sent off|0|82
Speck yel|90
goals2 = Latham goal|51
Buff yel|70
Harbrueger yel|90
stadium = RE/MAX Greater Atlanta Stadium
Atlanta, Georgia
attendance = 485
referee = Patrick Baker (USA)

Conference Finals

footballbox|date = July 26, 2008
7:00 ET
team1 =
score = 1 – 0
report= [http://www.whitecapsfc.com/schedule/match07260802.aspx (Report)]
team2 =
goals1 = Baysa goal|67 yel|84
goals2 =
stadium = Swangard Stadium
Burnaby, British Columbia
attendance = 4,991
referee = Darci Kurse (USA)----footballbox|date = July 26, 2008
8:00 ET
team1 =
score = 2 – 1
(AET)
report= [http://www.uslsoccer.com/stats/2008/841091.html (Report)]
team2 =
goals1 = Golebiowski yel|48
Welsh goal|77 yel|90
Andrzejewski goal|118
goals2 = Bobo yel|16
Latham goal|23
Phillips yel|73
stadium = RE/MAX Greater Atlanta Stadium
Atlanta, Georgia
attendance = 428
referee = Tony Russo (USA)----footballbox|date = July 27, 2008
6:30 ET
team1 =
score = 3 – 4
(AET)
report= [http://www.ottawafury.com/fullstory.php?id=911 (Report)]
team2 =
goals1 = Kennedy yel|27
Milyak goal|53 (OG)
Hance goal|65
Avner yel|85
Taylor goal|116 (PK)
Raber yel|120
goals2 = Sesselmann goal|15
Nault yel|63
Del Rio goal|90+2 goal|96
Phewa goal|101
stadium = Varsity Soccer Complex
West Lafayette, Indiana
attendance =
referee = (USA)

W-League Semifinals

footballbox|date = July 31, 2008
5:00 PM ET
team1 =
score = 0 – 1
report=
team2 =
goals1 = Phewa yel|16
Leyva goal|87
goals2 =
stadium = Foster Field
Virginia Beach, Virginia
attendance =
referee = Debbie Coleman (USA)----footballbox|date = July 31, 2008
8:00 PM ET
team1 =
score = 0 – 2
report=
team2 =
goals1 = Welsh yel|76
goals2 = Adams goal|26 goal|82
stadium = Foster Field
Virginia Beach, Virginia
attendance = 427
referee = Meredith Hackett (USA)

W-League Third-Place Game

footballbox|date = August 2, 2008
4:30 PM ET
team1 =
score = 0 – 2
report=
team2 =
goals1 =
goals2 = Welsh goal|11 yel|40
Huffman yel|76
Andrzejewski goal|86
stadium = Foster Field
Virginia Beach, Virginia
attendance =
referee = Shawn Fitch (USA)

W-League Finals

footballbox|date = August 2, 2008
7:30 PM ET
team1 =
score = 1 – 2
report=
team2 =
goals1 = O'Rourke goal|47
goals2 = Wilson yel|49
LePeilbet goal|83
Pasqui goal|88
stadium = Foster Field
Virginia Beach, Virginia
attendance = 558
referee = Sandra Serafini (USA)