2009 Washington Freedom season

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]

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

Review

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. 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

Roster

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  USA Briana Scurry
3 MF  USA Jill Gilbeau
4 DF  USA Cat Whitehill
5 MF  USA Joanna Lohman
6 MF  USA Lori Lindsey
7 MF  USA Parrissa Eyorokon
8 MF  FRA Sonia Bompastor
9 MF  USA Allie Long
10 MF  JPN Homare Sawa
11 DF  USA Emily Janss
14 MF  USA Sarah Huffman
No. Pos. Nation Player
15 MF  USA Kristin DeDycker
17 FW  AUS Lisa De Vanna
18 GK  CAN Erin McLeod
19 MF  USA Rebecca Moros
20 FW  USA Abby Wambach
21 DF  USA Alex Singer
22 DF  USA Becky Sauerbrunn
24 DF  USA Christen Karniski
25 FW  USA Claire Zimmeck
26 MF  USA Madison Keller
61 GK  USA Kati Jo Spisak

Team management
2009 coaching staff[10]
Position Name Nationality
Head coach Jim Gabarra  American
Assistant coach Clyde Watson  Guyanese
Goalkeeper coach Nicci Wright  Canadian

Competition

Regular season
March 29, Sun 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, Sat 2 Washington Freedom 1–1 Chicago Red Stars Germantown, Maryland
15:30 EDT (UTC-04) Sauerbrunn  54' Box Score Tarpley  29'
Östberg  54'  63'		 Stadium: Maryland SoccerPlex
April 18, Sat 3 Washington Freedom 1–3 Boston Breakers Germantown, Maryland
15:30 EDT (UTC-04) Lindsey  60' Box Score Smith  56'  70'
Latham  76'
Hucles  81'		 Stadium: Maryland SoccerPlex
April 26, Sun 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, Sun 5 Washington Freedom 3–3 {{{team2}}}
15:30 EDT (UTC-04) Bompastor  30', 90'
De Vanna  79'
Wambach  81'		 Box Score Daniela  7', 41'
McNeill  39'
Aluko  69'
Weber 90

|team2 = Saint Louis Athletica |location = Germantown, Maryland |stadium = Maryland SoccerPlex |attendance = |referee = |result = D |note = }}

May 17, Sun 6 Boston Breakers 1–1 Washington Freedom Boston, Massachusetts
15:30 EDT (UTC-04) Weber  15'
Scott  49'
Latham  52'		 Box Score Gilbeau  18'
Moros  33'
Singer  74'		 Stadium: Harvard Stadium
May 23, Sat 7 Washington Freedom 2–1 Sky Blue FC Washington, DC
15:30 EDT (UTC-04) Whitehill  35'
De Vanna  39'
DeDycker  77'		 Box Score Dowling  48'
Rosana  65'
Asante  84'
Keselica  89'		 Stadium: RFK Stadium[11]
May 31, Sun 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  45'
Sinclair  57'
Dew  83'  83'		 Stadium: Maryland SoccerPlex
June 7, Sun 9 Los Angeles Sol 3–1 Washington Freedom Carson, California
15:30 EDT (UTC-04) Abily  14', 60' (pen.)
Bock  66'
Boxx  71'		 Box Score Lohman  8'
Bompastor  58'		 Stadium: Home Depot Center
June 13, Sat 10 Washington Freedom 0–0 Chicago Red Stars Washington, DC
15:30 EDT (UTC-04) Wambach  82'
Bompastor  84'		 Box Score Klein  37'
Rapinoe  45'
Carney  60'		 Stadium: RFK Stadium[12]
June 20, Sat 11 Saint Louis Athletica 0–1 Washington Freedom Fenton, Missouri
15:30 EDT (UTC-04) Addis  23'
Cinalli  35'		 Box Score Moros  83' Stadium: Anheuser-Busch Soccer Park
June 24, Wed 12 Boston Breakers 1–0 Washington Freedom Boston, Massachusetts
15:30 EDT (UTC-04) Latham  38'
Tomecka  71'		 Box Score Moros  68' Stadium: Harvard Stadium
July 1, Wed 13 Chicago Red Stars 2–1 Washington Freedom Bridgeview, Illinois
15:30 EDT (UTC-04) Spilger  36'
Cristiane  48'
Tarpley  61'		 Box Score Wambach  34' Stadium: Toyota Park
July 5, Sun 14 Washington Freedom 0–1 Los Angeles Sol Germantown, Maryland
15:30 EDT (UTC-04) Box Score Larkin  37'
Boxx  88'
Marta  90'		 Stadium: Maryland SoccerPlex
July 15, Wed 15 Sky Blue FC 4–4 Washington Freedom Piscataway Township, New Jersey
15:30 EDT (UTC-04) Kai  6', 86'
Dowling  45'
White  27', 46'		 Box Score Bompastor  4'
De Vanna  47', 54'
Cat Whitehill  90'		 Stadium: Yurcak Field
July 18, Sat 16 Washington Freedom 1–0 Saint Louis Athletica Washington, DC
15:30 EDT (UTC-04) Sawa  74' Box Score Larsson  68' Stadium: [[RFK Stadium[13]]]
July 26, Sun 17 Chicago Red Stars 2–3 Washington Freedom Bridgeview, Illinois
16:00 EDT (UTC-04) Rapinoe  15'  32'
Carney  69'		 Box Score Wambach  35', 56'
Long  89'
Bompastor  90'		 Stadium: Toyota Park
July 29, Wed 18 Washington Freedom 1–0 Boston Breakers Germantown, Maryland
20:00 EDT (UTC-04) Wambach  73'
Whitehill  64'		 Box Score Scott  6'
Mitts  37'		 Stadium: Maryland SoccerPlex
August 1, Sat 19 FC Gold Pride 3–2 Washington Freedom Hayward, California
15:30 EDT (UTC-04) Yokers  9'
Milbrett  83'
Dew  61'
Adriane  83'		 Box Score Sawa  17', 38' Stadium: Pioneer Stadium
August 8, Sat 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
Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification
1 Los Angeles Sol 20 12 5 3 27 10 +17 41 Regular Season Champion
2 Saint Louis Athletica 20 10 4 6 19 15 +4 34 WPS Playoffs
3 Washington Freedom 20 8 5 7 32 32 0 29
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

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
As of January 6, 2019[14]
No. Pos Nat Player TotalWPSPlayoffs
AppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Defenders:
2 DF Sarah Senty 805+2010
4 DF Cat Whitehill 20319310
11 DF Emily Janss 503+2000
21 DF Alex Singer 17013+300+10
22 DF Becky Sauerbrunn 21120110
24 DF Christen Karniski 000000
27 DF Ali Krieger 1109+1010
Midfielders:
3 MF Jill Gilbeau 20012+7010
5 MF Joanna Lohman 702+5000
6 MF Lori Lindsey 20218+1210
7 MF Parrissa Eyorokon 400+4000
8 MF Sonia Bompastor 19419400
9 MF Allie Long 19211+720+10
10 MF Homare Sawa 21320310
14 MF Sarah Huffman 10000+10
15 MF Kristin DeDycker 703+4000
19 MF Rebecca Moros 20213+6210
26 MF Madison Keller 000000
Forwards:
17 FW Lisa De Vanna 21716+4611
20 FW Abby Wambach 18816+1810
25 FW Clair Zimmeck 000000

Goalkeepers
No. Nat Player Women's Professional Soccer
GP GS MIN W L D GA GAA CS
1 Briana Scurry 3327002161.970
18 Erin McLeod 14141260653201.413
23 Nicci Wright 102610000.001
61 Kati Jo Spisak 3324410162.181

Honors and awards

Player of the Week
Week Player of the Week Week's Statline
Week 5 Abby Wambach 2 G (18', 90') GWG, 1 A (51')
Week 6 Sonia Bompastor 2 G (29', 90')
Week 13 Erin McLeod 7 SVS, SHO
Week 18 Abby Wambach 2 G (35', 56')
Week 20 Abby Wambach 1 A (58'), 2 G (20', 49')

Player of the Month
Month Player of the Month Month's Statline
May Sonia Bompastor 2 G, 3 A in 4 games; Freedom 2–0–2 in May
July Abby Wambach 4 G, 1 A in 5 games; Freedom 3–2–1 in July

Transfers

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
Date Player Number Position Previous club Fee/Notes
September 16, 2008 Cat Whitehill4DF New Jersey WildcatsWPS Player Allocation[15]
Abby Wambach20FW Washington Freedom (W-League)WPS Player Allocation[15]
Ali KriegerDF 1. FFC FrankfurtWPS Player Allocation; loan from June[15][16]
September 24, 2008 Sonia Bompastor8MF LyonWPS International Draft[17]
Homare Sawa10MF Nippon TV BelezaWPS International Draft[17]
Lisa De Vanna17FW AIKWPS International Draft[17]
Louisa NecibMF LyonWPS International Draft[17]
October 6, 2008 Lori Lindsey6MF Washington Freedom (W-League)WPS General Draft[18]
Emily Janss11DF Fortuna HjørringWPS General Draft[18]
Sarah Huffman14MF Røa ILWPS General Draft[18]
Becky Sauerbrunn22DF Washington Freedom (W-League)WPS General Draft[18]
January 16, 2009 Briana Scurry1GK Atlanta BeatWPS Draft[19]
Jill Gilbeau3MF Washington Freedom (W-League)WPS Draft[19]
Parrissa Eyorokon7MF Purdue UniversityWPS Draft[19]
Allie Long9MF University of North CarolinaWPS Draft[19]
Rebecca Moros19MF Washington Freedom (W-League)WPS Draft[19]
Alex Singer21DF Washington Freedom (W-League)WPS Draft[19]
Christen Karniski24DF Bälinge IFWPS Draft[19]
Clair Zimmeck25FW Richmond StrikersWPS Draft[19]
Kati Jo Spisak61GK Washington Freedom (W-League)WPS Draft[19]
Sarah SentyDF Washington Freedom (W-League)WPS Draft[19]
March 26, 2009 Madison Keller26MF Washington Freedom (W-League)Free Agent[20]
April 16, 2009 Erin McLeod18GK Vancouver WhitecapsPost International Draft[21]
Kristin DeDycker15MF Atlanta BeatFree Agent[22]

References
  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. 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. "Washington Freedom Media Guide". Washington Freedom. Retrieved December 8, 2018.
  11. "The Washington Freedom's Jill Gilbeau and Sky Blue FC's Collette". Retrieved August 18, 2019.
  12. "Chicago's Caroline Jonsson . The Washington Freedom and the Chicago". Retrieved August 18, 2019.
  13. Timmermann, B Tom. "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. 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. "Brazilian stars selected in women's draft". USA TODAY. September 24, 2008. Retrieved January 5, 2019.
  18. "WPS General Draft Results". Women's Professional Soccer. October 6, 2008. Archived from the original on October 9, 2008. Retrieved January 5, 2019.
  19. "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.
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