Ottawa Fury Women was a Canadian women's soccer team based in Ottawa, Ontario. Founded in 2000, 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 competed in the W-League's Central Conference with the rest of the league's Canadian clubs.[1]
Full name | Ottawa Fury Women | ||
---|---|---|---|
Nickname(s) | The Fury | ||
Founded | 2000 | ||
Dissolved | 2014 | ||
Stadium | Algonquin College Soccer Complex | ||
Capacity | 2,000 | ||
Owner | John Pugh | ||
Coach | Dominic Oliveri | ||
League | USL W-League | ||
2014 | 1st, Central Conference National Semifinals | ||
|
The team was part of the Ottawa Fury FC organization, which included the Ottawa Fury FC men's professional team, the Academy and the former semi-professional team Ottawa Fury SC. The women's team was disbanded following the 2014 season.
History
editThe Ottawa Fury was founded as a women's team in 2000 by Andy Nera, who served as owner and coach, to compete in the USL W-League.[2] The team failed to make the playoffs in each of their first two seasons.[2]
In 2002, the team was purchased by John Pugh.[3] In 2004, the Fury captured their first division title in 2004 (the first of nine consecutive) and their first conference title in 2005.[2] In 2005, the Fury added a men's team, Ottawa Fury SC in the semi-professional Premier Development League.[4]
They advanced to the League Championship final in 2005 and 2006, losing both years to the New Jersey Wildcats and Vancouver Whitecaps, respectively.[2][5] In 2007, they posted their first undefeated season, with a record of 11 wins and 1 draw.[2]
After clinching their ninth consecutive Central Division title,[6] the Fury women captured the 2012 League title, defeating the Pali Blues in the championship final on penalty kicks, which was hosted in Ottawa.[7][8]
Following the formation of the professional men's team, Ottawa Fury FC, the women's team adopted the Fury FC branding and logo for the 2014 season.[2] After the 2014 season, in which the team finished the regular season undefeated and coming in third-place in the league championship tournament,[9][10] the team folded in "a business decision to cease operation", with the organization focusing on it the men's professional team.[11] Despite folding the women's team, the club remained committed to its girls development program through the Elite Girls Academy and other grassroots and community initiatives.[12] The disbanding of the team occurred just days ahead of the 2015 FIFA Women's World Cup official draw in Ottawa.[13] The Fury women had amassed the second-most wins in W-League history.[13]
Head coaches
editCoach | Tenure |
---|---|
Andy Nera | 2000–2002 |
Frank Lofranco | 2003–2007 |
Craig Smith | 2008–2010 |
Dominic Oliveri | 2011–2014 |
Year-by-year
editYear | League | Record | Rank | League Championship | Voyageurs Cup | Ref |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
2000 | USL W-League | 6–3–5 | 3rd, Northern Division | did not qualify | Not held | [14] |
2001 | 5–3–6 | 5th, Northern Division | did not qualify | |||
2002 | 5–2–5 | 4th, Northern Division | did not qualify | |||
2003 | 11–1–2 | 2nd, Northern Division | Semi-finals | |||
2004 | 13–0–1 | 1st, North Central Division | Semi-Finals | East Champions | ||
2005 | 13–0–1 | 1st, Northern Division | Finalists | East Champions | ||
2006 | 10–1–1 | 1st, Northern Division | Finalists | East Champions Super Cup runner-up
|
[15] | |
2007 | 11–1–0 | 1st, Northern Division | Quarter-finals | Not held | ||
2008 | 13–0–1 | 1st, Northern Division | Quarter-finals | |||
2009 | 11–2–1 | 1st, Great Lakes Division | Semi-finals | |||
2010 | 8–3–1 | 1st, Great Lakes Division | Quarter-finals | |||
2011 | 12–0–0 | 1st, Great Lakes Division | Finalists | |||
2012 | 10–0–2 | 1st, Central Division | Champions | |||
2013 | 7–2–3 | 2nd, Central Conference | Quarter-finals | |||
2014 | 11–1–0 | 1st, Central Conference | Semi-finals |
Awards and honours
editOttawa Fury Women have won the following USL W-League awards:[16]
- Champions: 1 (2012)
- Conference Champions: 3 (2005, 2006, 2014)
- Division Champions: 10 (2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2014)
- Voyageurs Cup
- East titles: 2004, 2005, 2006
Stadium
edit- Algonquin College Soccer Complex; Ottawa, Ontario (2008–2014)
- Keith Harris Stadium;[17] Ottawa, Ontario (2003–2007)
Notable former players
editThe following Fury players have played at the senior international level:[2]
- Leisha Alcia
- Rachelle Beanlands
- Melanie Booth
- Kadeisha Buchanan
- Melissa Busque
- Linda Consolante
- Tanya Dennis
- Robyn Gayle
- Christina Julien
- Kristina Kiss
- Alyssa Lagonia
- Ashley Lawrence
- Véronique Maranda
- Diana Matheson
- Bryanna McCarthy
- Kinley McNicoll
- Isabelle Morneau
- Carmelina Moscato
- Alyscha Mottershead
- Marie-Ève Nault
- Christabel Oduro
- Gina Pacheco
- Kelly Parker
- Sari Raber
- Leah Robinson
- Tina Romagnuolo
- Tania Singfield
- Kylla Sjoman
- Taryn Swiatek
- Noel Trépanier
- Danielle Vella
- Amy Vermeulen
- Rhian Wilkinson
- Danica Wu
- Shelina Zadorsky
- Tiffany Cameron
- Briana DeSouza
- Katie Bethke
- Kelly Conheeney
- Britt Eckerstrom
- Arin Gilliland
- Courtney Wetzel
- Kat Williamson
- Tameka Butt
- Emily Gielnik
- Katrina Gorry
- Aivi Luik
- Gema Simon
- Servet Uzunlar
- Hayley Bowden
- Amber Hearn
- Emma Kete
- Liz Milne
- Ria Percival
- Rachael Axon
- Kristy Moore
- Jodie Taylor
- Faye White
- Leni Larsen Kaurin
- Lisa-Marie Woods
- Ciara McCormack
- Kellie Leyland
References
edit- ^ Woods, Lisa-Marie (May 28, 2014). "W-league, Ottawa Fury FC and the Fury Family". Womens Soccer United.
- ^ a b c d e f g "W-League History". Ottawa Fury FC. Archived from the original on November 9, 2014.
- ^ "USL Announces Addition of Ottawa Fury FC". United Soccer League. October 26, 2015.
- ^ Hellen, Jessica (April 15, 2005). "Ottawa Fury fired up for new men's soccer team". Capital Current.
- ^ Timko, Brandon (July 29, 2011). "A recap of past W-League Final Four appearances for Whitecaps FC". Vancouver Whitecaps FC.
- ^ "Ottawa Fury set their sights on W-League championship". Nepean Barrhaven News. July 26, 2012.
- ^ Helmer, Aedan (July 29, 2012). "Fury wins W-League final". Ottawa Sun.
- ^ "Ottawa Fury to host 2012 USL W-League championship weekend". Ottawa East News. February 9, 2012.
- ^ Holder, Gord (December 2, 2014). "Fury women's team shut down". Ottawa Citizen.
- ^ Shykora, Brendan (April 24, 2021). "What the embers of the Fury's glory days show about women's pro sports prospects in Ottawa". Ottawa Sportspages.
- ^ Kassouf, Jeff (December 3, 2014). "Ottawa Fury FC's USL W-League team folds". The Equalizer.
- ^ "Ottawa Fury women's soccer team shut down in 'business decision'". CBC. December 2, 2014.
- ^ a b Taekema, Dan (December 2, 2014). "Ottawa Fury FC cuts women's team". Capital Current.
- ^ Litterer, Dave. "The W-League (USL) (1995-2005)". Soccer History USA.
- ^ Litterer, Dave. "The W-League (USL) (2006-present)". Soccer History USA.
- ^ Fury W-League History on "Ottawa FURY Women". Archived from the original on 2011-07-15. Retrieved 2012-05-06.
- ^ Canada Soccer,Ottawa to host 2004 W-League Championship, http://www.canadasoccer.com/news/viewArtical.asp?Press_ID=1577&lang=en