Erie Illusion

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The Erie Illusion is a women's football team playing in the National Women's Football Association (in the Northeast Conference, Central Division) and they are based in Erie, Pennsylvania. Their team colors are orange and purple; the team plays at Tullio Field on the campus of Mercyhurst College. Mary Butler is the owner and general manager of the franchise. James Reavis is the head coach.

[edit] History

They began playing in 2003 finishing the season with an 0-8 record. After bringing in a new coaching staff with significant collegiate playing experience, the team improved in 2004 and finished with a 1-7 overall record.

The 2005 season, under head coach Robert Beres, had been (prior to 2007) the Illusion's best season to date. The team finished with a respectable 3-5 record. In addition all five loses in 2005 were to teams that qualified for the N.W.F.A. playoffs.

In 2006 the Illusion struggled to a 1-8 finish as they faced home and away contests against league powerhouses Pittsburgh Passion, Cleveland Fusion and the Columbus Comets.

Unlike other teams in the NWFA, the Illusion more closely resembles an amateur team composed of local talent, as opposed to more professional organizations that actively recruit players nationwide. This is part of the reason why the franchise has not won many games in the NWFA. However, that all changed in the 2007 season.

For the 2007 season, the Illusion shocked the NWFA with a 7-1 record, including a 7 game winning streak to end the season and a defense that only allowed more than 8 points once the whole season (a 14-13 win over the Maine Freeze).

Capitalizing on the success of the 2007 team, the Illusion have prepared for the 2008 season with a new assistant coach, Ellen Leader, and an eight game schedule that begins in April 2008.