RICHMOND, VA – (Wednesday, May 20, 2009) – The Richmond Kickers Destiny open their sixth season in the USL W-League this weekend with a back-to-back series slated for Friday and Saturday. First, the Destiny travel to Cary to take on the expansion Lady Clarets on Friday, May 22nd before kicking off the home season on Saturday, May 23rd when they host the Charlotte Lady Eagles at 2:00pm. Saturday’s match doubles as the first leg of a doubleheader with the Richmond Kickers pro team who kicks off at 7:00 p.m. against Crystal Palace Baltimore.
Looking to improve upon an overall record of 36-31-4, the Destiny take the field this weekend under the guidance of new head coach, Jen Woodie. After opening the 2008 season 1-7-0, the Destiny posted a 5-1-0 comeback to conclude the season mid-table in the Atlantic Division standings. Despite the late-season comeback, the Destiny narrowly missed postseason qualification for the first time in three seasons.
The Cary Lady Clarets and Charlotte Lady Eagles met last weekend, when the Lady Clarets came away with a 3-1 home opening victory over the perennial powerhouse Lady Eagles. NC State’s Lindsey Vera and University of North Carolina’s Casey Nogueira combined for all three goals. Vera led the attack with a pair of goals and an assist. Meanwhile, Charlotte is 0-2-0 to start the season, dropping a 2-1 decision to the Hampton Roads Piranhas to open the season.
Following Saturday’s match-up at the University of Richmond Stadium, the Destiny head to Atlanta to face the Silverbacks on Saturday, May 30th. The Destiny return to Richmond one week later to host the Hampton Roads Piranhas on Saturday, June 6th.
The W-League features 37 teams, playing in five divisions that comprise the Central, Eastern and Western conferences. The Destiny will once again compete in the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference alongside the Atlanta Silverbacks, Cary Lady Clarets, Charlotte Lady Eagles, Hampton Roads Piranhas, Northern Virginia Majestics and Tampa Bay Hellenic. The twelve-game, balanced schedule will pit the Destiny against each of the Atlantic Division opponents home and away once during the regular season.
Playoffs
The W-League postseason will be extended to three weeks with the league semifinals and Championship being split into two separate weekends. Eleven W-League teams will qualify for the postseason tournament in 2009 with the league’s Regular Season Champion (based on point percentage) receiving a bye to the league semifinals.
The remaining teams will compete in three conference tournaments in playoff week one July 24-26 to determine the other three league semifinalists for the weekend of July 31-August 1 at two locations. The top two teams each from the Atlantic and Northeast Divisions will meet at the Eastern Conference tournament. The top seed will have the first right to host or the host will be determined by bid. The divisional top seeds face the lower seed from the opposite division in the conference semifinals.
The regular season champion will face the lowest remaining overall seed unless they have played during the season, which would result in a pairing with the next lowest seed. The championship game will be August 7-8, and will air on Fox Soccer Channel.
About Head Coach Jen Woodie
The Richmond Kickers Destiny recently appointed veteran defender Jen Woodie as new player/head coach for the 2009 season. A 2006 graduate of the Virginia Commonwealth University, Woodie currently acts as the Assistant Coach for the University of Richmond women’s soccer team.
Anchoring the Destiny’s back line since the franchise’s inception, Woodie has amassed 4,489 minutes in 51 appearances in a Kickers uniform. Last season, she notched her first offensive point with an assist on the game-winning goal during a 2-1 win over the Hampton Roads Piranhas on June 5th.
A four-year starter at VCU, Woodie was touted as one of the Rams’ most valuable defensive players, earning All-CAA First Team honors her senior year. A CAA Scholar Athlete as a Freshman, the native of Woodbridge, Virginia was also named VCU/Eurosport Invitational MVP and selected to the Oregon State/Nike Invitational All-Tournament Team in 2005. Starting 83 of 84 matches played, Woodie added offensive pressure with a goal and an assist during her senior year.
About the W-League
A Pro-Am league comprised of 37 teams, the W-League provides the most complete women’s player pool in the world and is recognized as North America’s best women’s developmental organization. The W-League offers the best local college and club players the opportunity to play alongside established international players while maintaining their collegiate eligibility.
