Victoria Highlanders Women

Victoria Highlanders Women
Full name Victoria Highlanders Football Club
Nickname(s) Women Highlanders
Peninsula CO-OP Highlanders
Founded 2001
Ground Tyndall Park Turf and Royal Athletic Park Victoria, BC
Capacity Unknown
Chairman Drew Finerty
Manager Dave Dew
League PCSL Premier Women

Victoria Highlanders Women is a Canadian women's soccer team founded in 2001. In 2010 the team was re-branded from the existing PCSL premier women's team, the Victoria Stars FC, and adopted by the Victoria Highlanders FC.[1] The Victoria Stars were operated by the Victoria Women's Soccer Society, had red and white team colors, and competed in the PCSL premier women division from 2001 to 2009. The Highlanders Women competed in the PCSL premier women division in 2010. The women Highlanders joined the USL W-League in 2011,[2][3] the second tier of women’s soccer in the United States and Canada. The team played in the Western Conference against the Colorado Force, Colorado Rush, LA Strikers, Pali Blues, Santa Clarita Blue Heat, Seattle Sounders Women and Vancouver Whitecaps. In 2013 due to the travel costs and Vancouver Whitecaps women dropping out of the league, the Highlanders Women returned to the PCSL.[4]

From 2011-2012, the Victoria Highlanders Women played its W-League home games at Bear Mountain Stadium [5] at City Centre Park in nearby Langford, British Columbia. The team's 2010-2011 colours were white, black and gold. In 2013 the team colours have returned to red and white with a Highlanders triskele crest and the team plays primarily at Tyndall Turf.

The team is a sister organization of the men's Victoria Highlanders team, which plays in the USL Premier Development League. There is a PCSL reserve division or U21 team fielded by the Highlanders affiliate Mid Isle Soccer Club named the Mid Isle Highlanders.

Stadiums or Home Field

For seven of the fourteen years of the Highlanders/Stars existence Royal Athletic Park has hosted the team.

Year-By-Year

Year League Conference/Division GP W D L GF GA Pts Att Pos Playoffs Name Goals
2001 PCSL Premier Women 14 5 2 7 34 38 17 6th /8 DNQ Lisa Sharp
Tera Kasabuchi [6] 		7
2002 PCSL Premier Women 14 7 2 5 29 26 23 4th /8 4th Tera Kasabuchi [7] 9
2003 PCSL Premier Women 15 6 4 5 21 18 22 5th /9 DNQ Kate Hambleton [8] 6
2004 PCSL Premier Women 10 1 6 3 10 12 9 5th /6 Runners Up Kate Hambleton
Jeanette Haas [9] 		3
2005 PCSL Premier Women 10 8 1 1 41 11 31 1st /8 Runners Up Amelie Mercier [10] 8
2006 PCSL Premier Women 14 9 1 4 25 18 28 3rd /8 Semi-finals Moira Hood [11] 5
2007 PCSL Premier Women 14 5 3 6 24 27 18 5th /8 DNQ Kate Hambleton [12] 6
2008 PCSL Premier Women 16 12 3 1 54 16 39 1st /9 Champion Liz Hansen [13] 20
2009 PCSL Premier Women 16 10 3 3 40 17 32 3rd /9 Semi-finals Nahiomy Ortiz [14] 10
2010 PCSL Premier Women 16 12 1 3 53 9 37 2nd /9 Semi-finals Liz Hansen [15] 19
2011 W-League Western 14 1 3 10 13 32 6 267 8th /8 DNQ Liz Hansen [16] 6
2012 W-League Western 14 1 1 12 7 45 4 333 8th /8 DNQ Liz Hansen
Lindsay Hoetzel [17] 		2
2013 PCSL Premier Women 16 13 2 1 61 15 41 2nd /9 Semi-finals Liz Hansen [18] 13
  • Note: Goals scored where possible in meaningful games, i.e. Cups, regular season, and playoffs, not preseason or friendlies.

Pos. = Position; GP = Match played; W = Win; D = Draw; L = Lost; GF = Goal For; GA = Goal Against; Pts = Points; Att = Average Attendance; DNQ = Did Not Qualify
Colors: Gold = winner; Silver = runner-up; Cyan = ongoing

Note: Prior to 2010 the team was named the Victoria Stars[19][20]

The Victoria Stars of the Women's PCSL earned their first victory in their home opener with a come from behind 4-1 win in front of 200 fans at SMUS on Sunday May 27, 2001 over the Kelowna Predators.[21]

In preparation for the 2002 playoffs in Kelowna, the Stars had a friendly against the visiting U-19 women's team from Chinese Taipei, who were in Victoria for the FIFA U-19 World Cup. The game was played at St Michael's University School in front of a crowd of approximately 200 people; Chinese Taipei won a competitive game 2-0.[22] In the playoffs the Stars lost a hard fought semifinal contest to Surrey United 2-0 and then the consolation final to a Seattle Saints aglomeration 3-2.[23]

The last two weeks of the 2004 season was when training and perseverance showed through with the Victoria Stars earning a trip to the Challenge Cup final with only 13 players over a two-day tournament and then returning the following weekend to host and win the McAdam Cup Final in front of an attendance of about 400.[24]

In 2005 the Victoria Stars were league champions and lost 3-0 to the Hibernian and Caledonian Saints Women in the playoff final.[25]

In 2008 Moira Hood led Victoria Stars goal scorers with five. The team finished 9-4-1, three points off of first place in the league. As the third seed, the Victoria Stars faced the host and second place Tri-Cities Xtreme in the semifinals at Burnaby Lakes Sports Complex. Other stand out players were goalkeeper Jill Carruthers, UVic Vikes defender Jackie Snell, as well as midfielders Mariel Solsberg and Cheryl Bjorgan of the Vikes and UBC's Jocelyn Smith.[26]

In 2009 Nahiomy Ortiz led the Victoria Stars with 10 goals. The playoffs were hosted by Kelowna’s Okanagan Challenge and after a weather delay due to a thunderstorm the Victoria Stars kicked off against the Whitecaps Prospects. The Whitecaps went ahead in the 27th minute. Midfielder Sarah Rhodes and striker Kate Hamilton threatened the Whitecaps, but weren’t able to equalize. Goalkeeper Stephanie Parker and the Victoria Stars’ defence kept the game level within reach until the 72nd minute when the Whitecaps scored their second. Two more goals in quick succession in the 76th and 81st minutes put the game out of reach.[27]

In 2012 the Highlanders Women took on a title sponsor, renaming themselves Peninsula CO-OP Highlanders as well as changing colors back to red and white. The generous sponsorship allowed them to compete in the W-League with its significant travel costs again.[28] As WPS folded in the winter of 2012, they played against top level competition - some of the best players in the world on the Mexican and US National Women's Teams. The season opened with an exclamation point as they upset the Whitecaps Women with 2011 Women's World Cup players Mele French and Chelsea Buckland by a 3-2 score in front of a women's attendance record of 730.[29][30]

In the 2013 Victoria Highlanders season the women's first team gained momentum as the season went on closing out the league with a twelve-game winning streak including a 3-2 win over the Vancouver Whitecaps Girls Elite team. The Highlanders and Whitecaps would finish some 16 points clear of the third place team. The Whitecaps would win the treble (league, playoffs, and tournament between top BC, Washington, and Oregon amateur teams) while the Highlanders would be upset by the Kamloops Heat in a wild game finishing regular time at 2-2 but would eventually go to penalty kicks (6-6 after overtime, 3-4 on PKs).

Players

The Women Highlanders are largely a mix of Canadian and NCAA Division I University and College players, Canadian Under 20 National Team Players and local Vancouver Island players.

Squad 2012

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

No. Position Player
1 Canada GK Stephanie Parker
2 Canada DF Kelsey Tikka
3 Canada MF Janelle Smith
4 Canada FW Lindsay Hoetzel
5 Canada FW Amanda Lawrence
6 Canada DF Catherine Cullen
7 Canada MF Sarah Rhodes
8 Canada DF Nikki Turner
9 Canada FW Liz Hansen
10 Canada MF Sarah Douglas
12 Canada MF Jacqueline Harrison
13 Canada MF Mariel Solsberg
No. Position Player
14 Canada FW Shannon Elder
15 Canada MF Katie Kraeutner
16 Canada DF Carsen Machin
17 Canada FW Nathalie Scharf
18 Canada DF Heather Christie
19 Canada MF Molly Stone
21 Canada DF Mallory Hackett
22 Canada GK Olivia de Goede
23 United States DF Nina Anderson
24 Canada MF Bronte Fitzsimmons
26 Canada DF Rebecca Swan
32 Canada GK Tanya Jones

[31]

Victoria Stars 2007

Victoria Stars 2006

Notable former players

This list of notable former players comprises players who went on to play professional or international soccer after playing for the team in the Premier Development League, or those who previously played professionally before joining the team.

Coaching staff

George Stewart was manager of the team from 2001-2009 as well as a president and member of the Victoria Women's Soccer Society board. Upon taking over the Victoria Stars, the Highlanders lauded the work done over 10 years in providing a high quality program.[41]

2011 staff listing on USL website,[42]

References

  1. ↑ http://www.victoriahighlandersfc.com/news.php?newsid=351
  2. ↑ USL Website, Highlanders Women Join USL W-League, http://wleague.uslsoccer.com/home/484110.html
  3. ↑ Historical Kickoff for Highlanders Women, http://www.victoriahighlandersfc.com./news.php?newsid=243
  4. ↑ http://www.victoriahighlandersfc.com/news.php?newsid=468
  5. ↑ The stadium is localized at 1089 Langford Parkway, Langford. Read Home of the Victoria Highlanders FC, http://www.victoriahighlandersfc.com/stadium.php
  6. ↑ "STANDINGS - Premier Women - 1999 to 2009". pcsl.org. Retrieved February 14, 2014.
  7. ↑ "STANDINGS - Premier Women - 1999 to 2009". pcsl.org. Retrieved February 14, 2014.
  8. ↑ "STANDINGS - Premier Women - 1999 to 2009". pcsl.org. Retrieved February 14, 2014.
  9. ↑ "STANDINGS - Premier Women - 1999 to 2009". pcsl.org. Retrieved February 14, 2014.
  10. ↑ "STANDINGS - Premier Women - 1999 to 2009". pcsl.org. Retrieved February 14, 2014.
  11. ↑ "STANDINGS - Premier Women - 1999 to 2009". pcsl.org. Retrieved February 14, 2014.
  12. ↑ "STANDINGS - Premier Women - 1999 to 2009". pcsl.org. Retrieved February 14, 2014.
  13. ↑ "STANDINGS - Premier Women - 1999 to 2009". pcsl.org. Retrieved February 14, 2014.
  14. ↑ "STANDINGS - Premier Women - 1999 to 2009". pcsl.org. Retrieved February 14, 2014.
  15. ↑ "STANDINGS - Premier Women - 2010-2013". pcsl.org. Retrieved February 14, 2014.
  16. ↑ "Victoria Highlanders". Demosphere. Retrieved February 14, 2014.
  17. ↑ "2012 Statistics". Demosphere. Retrieved February 14, 2014.
  18. ↑ "STANDINGS - Premier Women - 2010-2013". pcsl.org. Retrieved February 14, 2014.
  19. ↑ http://pcsl.org/standings/standings-archive/standings-women-premier-1999-2009.htm
  20. ↑ Krieger, Dan (8 November 2010). "THE PCSL - Weekly Sports League and Franchise Report". Our Sports Central. Retrieved 19 April 2013.
  21. ↑ http://web.archive.org/web/20050104071244/http://www.victoriastars.com/httpdocs2001/gamerecaps/recapgame1.htm
  22. ↑ http://web.archive.org/web/20021010004950/http://www.victoriastars.com/httpdocs2002/recaps/taipei-aug8.htm
  23. ↑ http://web.archive.org/web/20030417125442/http://victoriastars.com/httpdocs2002/recaps/02recap.htm
  24. ↑ http://web.archive.org/web/20060623201024/http://www.victoriastars.com/SBottomley.htm
  25. ↑ http://web.archive.org/web/20060203080440/http://saintssoccer.com/news/fryattcup-jul-31.htm
  26. ↑ Douglas, Alan (25 July 2009). /?id=4113173 "THE PCSL - Weekly Sports League and Franchise Report". Whitecaps FC Prospects. Retrieved 19 April 2013.
  27. ↑ Name, No (28 July 2006). /?id=4113173 "Stars aim to shine". Times Colonist. Retrieved 19 April 2013.
  28. ↑ http://www.vicnews.com/sports/140641973.html
  29. ↑ http://www.peninsulaco-op.com/upload/docs/Soccer/PenCo_TC_May%2015.pdf
  30. ↑ http://www.uslsoccer.com/stats/2012/2880918.html
  31. ↑ http://victoriahighlandersfc.com/teampage.php?squad=3
  32. ↑ Epp, S (April 14, 2008). "Stars shooting for the top". Victoria Times Colonist Newspaper. Retrieved March 21, 2014.
  33. ↑ http://web.archive.org/web/20050104071244/http://www.victoriastars.com/httpdocs2001/gamerecaps/recapgame1.htm
  34. ↑ http://web.archive.org/web/20051218184519/http://www.victoriastars.com/httpdocs2002/roster2002.htm
  35. ↑ http://web.archive.org/web/20030618101515/http://www.victoriastars.com/index.htm
  36. ↑ http://www.islandnet.com/~vicutd/seniors_coaching.php?season=2011
  37. ↑ http://www.canada.com/story.html?id=5e4e19d8-3e95-4d2b-bdef-85628f0e062f
  38. ↑ http://www.canada.com/story.html?id=5e4e19d8-3e95-4d2b-bdef-85628f0e062f
  39. ↑ http://web.archive.org/liveweb/http://www.pcsl.org/articles-2009/vicstars-apr-05.htm
  40. ↑ http://www.canada.com/story_print.html?id=ebf7af7c-74d6-4deb-950f-13378eb9df22&sponsor=
  41. ↑ Tura, Armando (4 February 2010). "Highlanders launch Women's FC Team". Victoria Highlanders FC News Archives. Retrieved 21 April 2013.
  42. ↑ http://www.uslsoccer.com/scripts/runisa.dll?M2:gp::72011+Elements/Display+E+47116+USL/Staff/+33865881+33769457
  43. ↑ Ron Rauch, Locals look to lead Highlanders women,http://www.timescolonist.com/sports/Locals+look+lead+Highlanders+women/4679508/story.html
  44. ↑ Staff Profile, http://victoriahighlandersfc.com/staff_profile.php?sid=15

External links