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2009 Washington Freedom season

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

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 United States USA Briana Scurry
3 MF United States USA Jill Gilbeau
4 DF United States USA Cat Whitehill
5 MF United States USA Joanna Lohman
6 MF United States USA Lori Lindsey
7 MF United States USA Parrissa Eyorokon
8 MF France FRA Sonia Bompastor
9 MF United States USA Allie Long
10 MF Japan JPN Homare Sawa
11 DF United States USA Emily Janss
14 MF United States USA Sarah Huffman
No. Pos. Nation Player
15 MF United States USA Kristin DeDycker
17 FW Australia AUS Lisa De Vanna
18 GK Canada CAN Erin McLeod
19 MF United States USA Rebecca Moros
20 FW United States USA Abby Wambach
21 DF United States USA Alex Singer
22 DF United States USA Becky Sauerbrunn
24 DF United States USA Christen Karniski
25 FW United States USA Claire Zimmeck
26 MF United States USA Madison Keller
61 GK United States 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 Yellow card 54' Yellow-red card 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' Yellow card 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 Yellow card 81'
Box Score Daniela 7', 41'
McNeill Yellow card 39'
Aluko 69'
Weber Yellow card 90'
Stadium: Maryland SoccerPlex
May 17 6 Boston Breakers 1–1 Washington Freedom Boston, Massachusetts
15:30 EDT (UTC-04) Weber Yellow card 15'
Scott 49'
Latham Yellow card 52'
Box Score Gilbeau Yellow card 18'
Moros 33'
Singer Yellow card 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 Yellow card 77'
Box Score Dowling Yellow card 48'
Rosana 65'
Asante Yellow card 84'
Keselica Yellow card 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 Yellow card 45'
Sinclair 57'
Dew Yellow card 83' Yellow-red card 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 Yellow card 71'
Box Score Lohman Yellow card 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 Yellow card 82'
Bompastor Yellow card 84'
Box Score Klein Yellow card 37'
Rapinoe Yellow card 45'
Carney Red card 60'
Stadium: RFK Stadium[12]
June 20 11 Saint Louis Athletica 0–1 Washington Freedom Fenton, Missouri
15:30 EDT (UTC-04) Addis Yellow card 23'
Cinalli Yellow card 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 Yellow card 71'
Box Score Moros Yellow card 68' Stadium: Harvard Stadium
July 1 13 Chicago Red Stars 2–1 Washington Freedom Bridgeview, Illinois
15:30 EDT (UTC-04) Spilger Yellow card 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 Yellow card 37'
Boxx Yellow card 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 Yellow card 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 Yellow card 68' Stadium: [[RFK Stadium[13]]]
July 26 17 Chicago Red Stars 2–3 Washington Freedom Bridgeview, Illinois
16:00 EDT (UTC-04) Rapinoe 15' Yellow card 32'
Carney 69'
Box Score Wambach 35', 56'
Long 89'
Bompastor Yellow card 90'
Stadium: Toyota Park
July 29 18 Washington Freedom 1–0 Boston Breakers Germantown, Maryland
20:00 EDT (UTC-04) Wambach 73'
Whitehill Yellow card 64'
Box Score Scott Red card 6'
Mitts Yellow card 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 Yellow card 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 United States USA Sarah Senty 8 0 5+2 0 1 0
4 DF United States USA Cat Whitehill 20 3 19 3 1 0
11 DF United States USA Emily Janss 5 0 3+2 0 0 0
21 DF United States USA Alex Singer 17 0 13+3 0 0+1 0
22 DF United States USA Becky Sauerbrunn 21 1 20 1 1 0
24 DF United States USA Christen Karniski 0 0 0 0 0 0
27 DF United States USA Ali Krieger 11 0 9+1 0 1 0
Midfielders:
3 MF United States USA Jill Gilbeau 20 0 12+7 0 1 0
5 MF United States USA Joanna Lohman 7 0 2+5 0 0 0
6 MF United States USA Lori Lindsey 20 2 18+1 2 1 0
7 MF United States USA Parrissa Eyorokon 4 0 0+4 0 0 0
8 MF France FRA Sonia Bompastor 19 4 19 4 0 0
9 MF United States USA Allie Long 19 2 11+7 2 0+1 0
10 MF Japan JPN Homare Sawa 21 3 20 3 1 0
14 MF United States USA Sarah Huffman 1 0 0 0 0+1 0
15 MF United States USA Kristin DeDycker 7 0 3+4 0 0 0
19 MF United States USA Rebecca Moros 20 2 13+6 2 1 0
26 MF United States USA Madison Keller 0 0 0 0 0 0
Forwards:
17 FW Australia AUS Lisa De Vanna 21 7 16+4 6 1 1
20 FW United States USA Abby Wambach 18 8 16+1 8 1 0
25 FW United States 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 United States Briana Scurry 3 3 270 0 2 1 6 1.97 0
18 Canada Erin McLeod 14 14 1260 6 5 3 20 1.41 3
23 United States Nicci Wright 1 0 26 1 0 0 0 0.00 1
61 United States 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 United States Abby Wambach 2 G (18', 90') GWG, 1 A (51')
Week 6 France Sonia Bompastor 2 G (29', 90')
Week 13 Canada Erin McLeod 7 SVS, SHO
Week 18 United States Abby Wambach 2 G (35', 56')
Week 20[permanent dead link] United States 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 France Sonia Bompastor 2 G, 3 A in 4 games; Freedom 2–0–2 in May
July United States 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

In

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Date Player Number Position Previous club Fee/notes
September 16, 2008 United States Cat Whitehill 4 DF United States New Jersey Wildcats WPS Player Allocation[15]
United States Abby Wambach 20 FW United States Washington Freedom (W-League) WPS Player Allocation[15]
United States Ali Krieger DF Germany 1. FFC Frankfurt WPS Player Allocation; loan from June[15][16]
September 24, 2008 France Sonia Bompastor 8 MF France Lyon WPS International Draft[17]
Japan Homare Sawa 10 MF Japan Nippon TV Beleza WPS International Draft[17]
Australia Lisa De Vanna 17 FW Sweden AIK WPS International Draft[17]
France Louisa Necib MF France Lyon WPS International Draft[17]
October 6, 2008 United States Lori Lindsey 6 MF United States Washington Freedom (W-League) WPS General Draft[18]
United States Emily Janss 11 DF Sweden Fortuna Hjørring WPS General Draft[18]
United States Sarah Huffman 14 MF Norway Røa IL WPS General Draft[18]
United States Becky Sauerbrunn 22 DF United States Washington Freedom (W-League) WPS General Draft[18]
January 16, 2009 United States Briana Scurry 1 GK United States Atlanta Beat WPS Draft[19]
United States Jill Gilbeau 3 MF United States Washington Freedom (W-League) WPS Draft[19]
United States Parrissa Eyorokon 7 MF United States Purdue University WPS Draft[19]
United States Allie Long 9 MF United States University of North Carolina WPS Draft[19]
United States Rebecca Moros 19 MF United States Washington Freedom (W-League) WPS Draft[19]
United States Alex Singer 21 DF United States Washington Freedom (W-League) WPS Draft[19]
United States Christen Karniski 24 DF Sweden Bälinge IF WPS Draft[19]
United States Clair Zimmeck 25 FW United States Richmond Strikers WPS Draft[19]
United States Kati Jo Spisak 61 GK United States Washington Freedom (W-League) WPS Draft[19]
United States Sarah Senty DF United States Washington Freedom (W-League) WPS Draft[19]
March 26, 2009 United States Madison Keller 26 MF United States Washington Freedom (W-League) Free Agent[20]
April 16, 2009 Canada Erin McLeod 18 GK Canada Vancouver Whitecaps Post International Draft[21]
United States Kristin DeDycker 15 MF United States Atlanta Beat Free Agent[22]

Out

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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.