Posted on February 2, 2012
TAMPA, Fla. – The Ottawa Fury was selected as hosts of the United Soccer League’s W-League championship, it was announced on Thursday.
Ottawa will welcome the three W-League conference champions to the Algonquin College Soccer Complex for the semifinals and final on July 27-29.
“We couldn’t be more thrilled with the Ottawa Fury hosting the 2012 W-League Championship,” W-League senior director Amanda Duffy said. “As they have demonstrated in hosting all rounds of playoff tournaments during the past decade, the Fury will undoubtedly provide all the necessary components of a successful championship. With the support of the Ottawa community and mass of soccer fans in Canada who continue to be great supporters of the women’s game, we look forward to an exciting and extremely competitive final four.”
As hosts of the W-League Championship, the Fury receive a bye into the semifinals. The 18th W-League season will feature 30 teams in three regional conferences that will see 11 teams advance to the postseason with one champion advancing from each conference. The three conference champions will join the Fury in Ottawa in a Final Four format championship. The semifinals will be played on Friday, July 27 with the winners meeting for the 2012 W-League Championship on Sunday, July 29.
The 2011 W-League championship had the second-highest viewership for all USL FOX Soccer broadcasts last year with more than 27,000 fans tuned in. The 2012 W-League Championship Final will also be televised across North America on FOX Soccer.
Ottawa hosted the W-League championship in 2004, with the Vancouver Whitecaps taking the crown. Since joining the W-League in 2000, the Fury has amassed a record of 116-23-16 collecting eight division titles, five conference championships, six final four appearances and three appearances in the championship final. Having not lost at home in more than three years (23-0-2), the Fury are hopeful that home-field advantage will help lead them to their first W-League title.
Categories: Canada, North America
Tags: Amanda Duffy, Ottawa Fury, uin College Soccer Complex, United Soccer League, W-League
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