2009 Washington Freedom season

The 2009 season is Washington Freedom's first season competing in the Women's Professional Soccer league, the top division of women's soccer in the United States, and seventh competitive season. The team was coached by Jim Gabarra who has led the team since its founding in 2001.[1]

Washington Freedom
2009 season
General managerChris Hummer
Head coachJim Gabarra
StadiumMaryland SoccerPlex
WSP3rd
Top goalscorerAbby Wambach (6)
← 2008
2010 →

Review

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In January 2008, Washington was selected as one of the seven cities to launch Women’s Professional Soccer in spring 2009. The WPS would be the next iteration of a women’s professional league since the WUSA folded in 2003.[2]

The Washington Freedom had been competing in the W-League since 2006, would begin the Washington franchise to field a WSP team.[clarification needed] Still led by head coach Jim Gabarra, the coaching staff stayed intact transitioning to the new league. The initial player allocation aimed to keep players in preferred locations and best marketing potential, with the Freedom getting Abby Wambach, Cat Whitehill, and Ali Krieger (on loan from FFC Frankfurt).[3][4][5]

The Freedom played in the league’s inaugural match on March 29, 2009, against Los Angeles Sol before a crowd of 14,382.[6] They lost the match, 2–0, and struggled for the first three weeks. The Freedom picked up their first win of the WPS era back in California, beating FC Gold Pride, 3–4, thanks to a 90th-minute goal from Abby Wambach.[7]

The season continued to be an up and down one with a strong run through June (going undefeated through 8 matches) followed by three consecutive losses. Winning four of their last five, the Freedom finished their first WPS regular season in 3rd place, earning their first playoff appearance.

The first round playoff match was a rematch of the last week of the season, where the Freedom defeated Sky Blue FC at home 3–1.[8] Sky Blue would get revenge winning 2–1 at the Maryland SoccerPlex, thanks to an 85th-minute goal from Francielle.[9]

Club

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Roster

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The first-team roster of Washington Freedom.[10]

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

No. Pos. Nation Player
1 GK   USA Briana Scurry
3 MF   USA Jill Gilbeau
4 DF   USA Cat Whitehill
5 MF   USA Joanna Lohman
6 MF   USA Lori Lindsey
7 MF   USA Parrissa Eyorokon
8 MF   FRA Sonia Bompastor
9 MF   USA Allie Long
10 MF   JPN Homare Sawa
11 DF   USA Emily Janss
14 MF   USA Sarah Huffman
No. Pos. Nation Player
15 MF   USA Kristin DeDycker
17 FW   AUS Lisa De Vanna
18 GK   CAN Erin McLeod
19 MF   USA Rebecca Moros
20 FW   USA Abby Wambach
21 DF   USA Alex Singer
22 DF   USA Becky Sauerbrunn
24 DF   USA Christen Karniski
25 FW   USA Claire Zimmeck
26 MF   USA Madison Keller
61 GK   USA Kati Jo Spisak

Team management

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2009 coaching staff[10]
Position Name Nationality
Head coach Jim Gabarra   American
Assistant coach Clyde Watson   Guyanese
Goalkeeper coach Nicci Wright   Canadian

Competition

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Regular season

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March 29 1 Los Angeles Sol 2–0 Washington Freedom Carson, California
15:30 EDT (UTC-04) Falk   6'
Abily   87'
Box Score Stadium: StubHub Center
April 11 2 Washington Freedom 1–1 Chicago Red Stars Germantown, Maryland
15:30 EDT (UTC-04) Sauerbrunn   54' Box Score Tarpley   29'
Östberg   54'   63'
Stadium: Maryland SoccerPlex
April 18 3 Washington Freedom 1–3 Boston Breakers Germantown, Maryland
15:30 EDT (UTC-04) Lindsey   60' Box Score Smith   56'   70'
Latham   76'
Hucles   81'
Stadium: Maryland SoccerPlex
April 26 4 FC Gold Pride 3–4 Washington Freedom Hayward, California
15:30 EDT (UTC-04) Milbrett   30'
Weimer   75'
Sinclair   83'
Box Score Wambach   18', 90'
Lindsey   51'
Long   70'
Stadium: Pioneer Stadium
May 3 5 Washington Freedom 3–3 Saint Louis Athletica Germantown, Maryland
15:30 EDT (UTC-04) Bompastor   30', 90'
De Vanna   79'
Wambach   81'
Box Score Daniela   7', 41'
McNeill   39'
Aluko   69'
Weber   90'
Stadium: Maryland SoccerPlex
May 17 6 Boston Breakers 1–1 Washington Freedom Boston, Massachusetts
15:30 EDT (UTC-04) Weber   15'
Scott   49'
Latham   52'
Box Score Gilbeau   18'
Moros   33'
Singer   74'
Stadium: Harvard Stadium
May 23 7 Washington Freedom 2–1 Sky Blue FC Washington, DC
15:30 EDT (UTC-04) Whitehill   35'
De Vanna   39'
DeDycker   77'
Box Score Dowling   48'
Rosana   65'
Asante   84'
Keselica   89'
Stadium: RFK Stadium[11]
May 31 8 Washington Freedom 3–1 FC Gold Pride Germantown, Maryland
15:30 EDT (UTC-04) Graczyk   16' (o.g.)
De Vanna   22'
Whitehill   32'
Box Score Forminga   45'
Sinclair   57'
Dew   83'   83'
Stadium: Maryland SoccerPlex
June 7 9 Los Angeles Sol 3–1 Washington Freedom Carson, California
15:30 EDT (UTC-04) Abily   14', 60' (pen.)
Bock   66'
Boxx   71'
Box Score Lohman   8'
Bompastor   58'
Stadium: Home Depot Center
June 13 10 Washington Freedom 0–0 Chicago Red Stars Washington, DC
15:30 EDT (UTC-04) Wambach   82'
Bompastor   84'
Box Score Klein   37'
Rapinoe   45'
Carney   60'
Stadium: RFK Stadium[12]
June 20 11 Saint Louis Athletica 0–1 Washington Freedom Fenton, Missouri
15:30 EDT (UTC-04) Addis   23'
Cinalli   35'
Box Score Moros   83' Stadium: Anheuser-Busch Soccer Park
June 24 12 Boston Breakers 1–0 Washington Freedom Boston, Massachusetts
15:30 EDT (UTC-04) Latham   38'
Tomecka   71'
Box Score Moros   68' Stadium: Harvard Stadium
July 1 13 Chicago Red Stars 2–1 Washington Freedom Bridgeview, Illinois
15:30 EDT (UTC-04) Spilger   36'
Cristiane   48'
Tarpley   61'
Box Score Wambach   34' Stadium: Toyota Park
July 5 14 Washington Freedom 0–1 Los Angeles Sol Germantown, Maryland
15:30 EDT (UTC-04) Box Score Larkin   37'
Boxx   88'
Marta   90'
Stadium: Maryland SoccerPlex
July 15 15 Sky Blue FC 4–4 Washington Freedom Piscataway Township, New Jersey
15:30 EDT (UTC-04) Kai   6', 86'
Dowling   45'
White   27', 46'
Box Score Bompastor   4'
De Vanna   47', 54'
Cat Whitehill   90'
Stadium: Yurcak Field
July 18 16 Washington Freedom 1–0 Saint Louis Athletica Washington, DC
15:30 EDT (UTC-04) Sawa   74' Box Score Larsson   68' Stadium: [[RFK Stadium[13]]]
July 26 17 Chicago Red Stars 2–3 Washington Freedom Bridgeview, Illinois
16:00 EDT (UTC-04) Rapinoe   15'   32'
Carney   69'
Box Score Wambach   35', 56'
Long   89'
Bompastor   90'
Stadium: Toyota Park
July 29 18 Washington Freedom 1–0 Boston Breakers Germantown, Maryland
20:00 EDT (UTC-04) Wambach   73'
Whitehill   64'
Box Score Scott   6'
Mitts   37'
Stadium: Maryland SoccerPlex
August 1 19 FC Gold Pride 3–2 Washington Freedom Hayward, California
15:30 EDT (UTC-04) Yokers   9'
Milbrett   83'
Dew   61'
Adriane   83'
Box Score Sawa   17', 38' Stadium: Pioneer Stadium
August 8 20 Washington Freedom 3–1 Sky Blue FC Germantown, Maryland
19:00 EDT (UTC-04) Wambach   19', 48'
De Vanna   57'
Box Score Rosana   53' Stadium: Maryland SoccerPlex

Regular-season standings

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Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification
1 Los Angeles Sol 20 12 5 3 27 10 +17 41 Advance to Championship
2 Saint Louis Athletica 20 10 4 6 19 15 +4 34 Advance to Super Semifinal
3 Washington Freedom 20 8 5 7 32 32 0 29 Advance to First Round
4 Sky Blue FC 20 7 5 8 19 20 −1 26
5 Boston Breakers 20 7 4 9 18 20 −2 25
Source: Soccerway
Rules for classification: Tiebreakers

WPS playoffs

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The Freedom finished 3rd in the table earning a place in the WPS Playoffs in a First Round match up versus 4th place Sky Blue FC. Despite having defeated Sky Blue on the final day of the regular season, the Freedom dropped the First Round match at home after conceding a late goal to Francielle.

August 15, 2009 First Round Washington Freedom 1–2 Sky Blue FC Germantown, Maryland
4:00 pm EDT De Vanna   79' Report Kai   56'
Francielle   85'
Stadium: Maryland SoccerPlex
Attendance: 4,217
Referee: Daniel Fitzgerald

Statistics

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As of January 6, 2019[14]
No. Pos Nat Player Total WPS Playoffs
Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Defenders:
2 DF   USA Sarah Senty 8 0 5+2 0 1 0
4 DF   USA Cat Whitehill 20 3 19 3 1 0
11 DF   USA Emily Janss 5 0 3+2 0 0 0
21 DF   USA Alex Singer 17 0 13+3 0 0+1 0
22 DF   USA Becky Sauerbrunn 21 1 20 1 1 0
24 DF   USA Christen Karniski 0 0 0 0 0 0
27 DF   USA Ali Krieger 11 0 9+1 0 1 0
Midfielders:
3 MF   USA Jill Gilbeau 20 0 12+7 0 1 0
5 MF   USA Joanna Lohman 7 0 2+5 0 0 0
6 MF   USA Lori Lindsey 20 2 18+1 2 1 0
7 MF   USA Parrissa Eyorokon 4 0 0+4 0 0 0
8 MF   FRA Sonia Bompastor 19 4 19 4 0 0
9 MF   USA Allie Long 19 2 11+7 2 0+1 0
10 MF   JPN Homare Sawa 21 3 20 3 1 0
14 MF   USA Sarah Huffman 1 0 0 0 0+1 0
15 MF   USA Kristin DeDycker 7 0 3+4 0 0 0
19 MF   USA Rebecca Moros 20 2 13+6 2 1 0
26 MF   USA Madison Keller 0 0 0 0 0 0
Forwards:
17 FW   AUS Lisa De Vanna 21 7 16+4 6 1 1
20 FW   USA Abby Wambach 18 8 16+1 8 1 0
25 FW   USA Clair Zimmeck 0 0 0 0 0 0

Goalkeepers

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No. Nat Player Women's Professional Soccer
GP GS MIN W L D GA GAA CS
1   Briana Scurry 3 3 270 0 2 1 6 1.97 0
18   Erin McLeod 14 14 1260 6 5 3 20 1.41 3
23   Nicci Wright 1 0 26 1 0 0 0 0.00 1
61   Kati Jo Spisak 3 3 244 1 0 1 6 2.18 1

Honors and awards

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Player of the Week

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Week Player of the Week Week's Statline
Week 5   Abby Wambach 2 G (18', 90') GWG, 1 A (51')
Week 6   Sonia Bompastor 2 G (29', 90')
Week 13   Erin McLeod 7 SVS, SHO
Week 18   Abby Wambach 2 G (35', 56')
Week 20[permanent dead link]   Abby Wambach 1 A (58'), 2 G (20', 49')

Player of the Month

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Month Player of the Month Month's Statline
May   Sonia Bompastor 2 G, 3 A in 4 games; Freedom 2–0–2 in May
July   Abby Wambach 4 G, 1 A in 5 games; Freedom 3–2–1 in July

Transfers

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As part of the inaugural season, each of the league’s seven teams went through several mechanisms for player acquisitions to fill out their rosters. These included:

  • WPS Player Allocation – allocation of existing US national team players across the league
  • International Draft – draft of international players across the league
  • General Draft – draft of existing professional players not active with their respective national teams
  • Draft – inaugural college draft
Date Player Number Position Previous club Fee/notes
September 16, 2008   Cat Whitehill 4 DF   New Jersey Wildcats WPS Player Allocation[15]
  Abby Wambach 20 FW   Washington Freedom (W-League) WPS Player Allocation[15]
  Ali Krieger DF   1. FFC Frankfurt WPS Player Allocation; loan from June[15][16]
September 24, 2008   Sonia Bompastor 8 MF   Lyon WPS International Draft[17]
  Homare Sawa 10 MF   Nippon TV Beleza WPS International Draft[17]
  Lisa De Vanna 17 FW   AIK WPS International Draft[17]
  Louisa Necib MF   Lyon WPS International Draft[17]
October 6, 2008   Lori Lindsey 6 MF   Washington Freedom (W-League) WPS General Draft[18]
  Emily Janss 11 DF   Fortuna Hjørring WPS General Draft[18]
  Sarah Huffman 14 MF   Røa IL WPS General Draft[18]
  Becky Sauerbrunn 22 DF   Washington Freedom (W-League) WPS General Draft[18]
January 16, 2009   Briana Scurry 1 GK   Atlanta Beat WPS Draft[19]
  Jill Gilbeau 3 MF   Washington Freedom (W-League) WPS Draft[19]
  Parrissa Eyorokon 7 MF   Purdue University WPS Draft[19]
  Allie Long 9 MF   University of North Carolina WPS Draft[19]
  Rebecca Moros 19 MF   Washington Freedom (W-League) WPS Draft[19]
  Alex Singer 21 DF   Washington Freedom (W-League) WPS Draft[19]
  Christen Karniski 24 DF   Bälinge IF WPS Draft[19]
  Clair Zimmeck 25 FW   Richmond Strikers WPS Draft[19]
  Kati Jo Spisak 61 GK   Washington Freedom (W-League) WPS Draft[19]
  Sarah Senty DF   Washington Freedom (W-League) WPS Draft[19]
March 26, 2009   Madison Keller 26 MF   Washington Freedom (W-League) Free Agent[20]
April 16, 2009   Erin McLeod 18 GK   Vancouver Whitecaps Post International Draft[21]
  Kristin DeDycker 15 MF   Atlanta Beat Free Agent[22]

References

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  1. ^ Drew Crossley (November 25, 2018). "2001-2010 Washington Freedom". Fun While It Lasted. Retrieved December 8, 2018.
  2. ^ "Hamm's imprint made on new women's soccer league". USA TODAY. January 18, 2008. Retrieved January 19, 2019.
  3. ^ Steve Goff (September 16, 2008). "WPS Allocation List". The Washington Post. Archived from the original on May 19, 2011. Retrieved January 19, 2019.
  4. ^ "Ali Kreiger | Biography". alikrieger.com. Retrieved January 19, 2019.
  5. ^ "US soccer players allocated to women's pro league". prettytough.com. September 16, 2008. Retrieved January 19, 2019.
  6. ^ Drew Crossley (November 25, 2018). "2001-2010 Washington Freedom". funwhileitlasted.net. Retrieved January 19, 2019.
  7. ^ Paul Tenorio (June 1, 2009). "Freedom Extends Unbeaten Streak to Five Games". The Washington Post. Retrieved January 19, 2019.
  8. ^ "WPS Weekly August 11, 2009: It's What's Happening In The WPS". Bleacher Report. August 13, 2009. Retrieved January 19, 2019.
  9. ^ "WCounterattack Special: WPS Playoffs". goal.com. August 19, 2009. Retrieved January 19, 2019.
  10. ^ a b "Washington Freedom Media Guide". Washington Freedom. Retrieved December 8, 2018.
  11. ^ "The Washington Freedom's Jill Gilbeau and Sky Blue FC's Collette". April 22, 2011. Retrieved August 18, 2019.
  12. ^ "Chicago's Caroline Jonsson . The Washington Freedom and the Chicago". July 17, 2016. Retrieved August 18, 2019.
  13. ^ Timmermann, B Tom (July 19, 2009). "Late goal hurts Athletica Freedom 1, Athletica 0 • Washington wins it in 74th minute. SOCCER". St. Louis Post-Dispatch. Retrieved August 18, 2019.
  14. ^ "2009 Washington Freedom Stats". Stats Crew. Retrieved January 6, 2019.
  15. ^ a b c Beau Dure (September 16, 2008). "Wambach goes full circle as women's league stocks rosters". USA TODAY. Retrieved January 5, 2019.
  16. ^ "Ali Krieger | Biography". alikrieger.com. Retrieved January 5, 2019.
  17. ^ a b c d "Brazilian stars selected in women's draft". USA TODAY. September 24, 2008. Retrieved January 5, 2019.
  18. ^ a b c d "WPS General Draft Results". Women's Professional Soccer. October 6, 2008. Archived from the original on October 9, 2008. Retrieved January 5, 2019.
  19. ^ a b c d e f g h i j "2009 WPS Draft Results". Women's Professional Soccer. January 16, 2009. Archived from the original on February 5, 2009. Retrieved January 5, 2019.
  20. ^ "Keller Signs With Washington Freedom". East Carolina University Pirates. March 26, 2009. Retrieved January 5, 2019.
  21. ^ "Goalkeeper McLeod signs with Freedom". Women's Soccer Show. April 16, 2009. Retrieved January 5, 2019.
  22. ^ "Kristin DeDycker | Player Profile". Archived from the original on April 22, 2009. Retrieved January 5, 2019.