Pittsburgh Passion

The Pittsburgh Passion is a women's American football team based in the Pittsburgh metropolitan area. The franchise was formed in March 2002 and is currently owned by Teresa Conn, Anthony Misitano, and Franco Harris. The team is a part of the Women's Football Alliance, with home games played at West Allegheny High School in Imperial, Pennsylvania.

Pittsburgh Passion
Founded2002
LeagueNWFA (2003-2007)
IWFL (2008-2010)
WFA (2011-2013)
IWFL (2014-2015) WFA (2016-present)
Team historyPittsburgh Passion (2003-present)
Based inPittsburgh, Pennsylvania
StadiumWest Allegheny High School
Imperial, Pennsylvania
ColorsBlack & Gold, White
OwnerTeresa Conn & Franco Harris
Head coachTeresa Conn
Championships3 (2007 NWFA) (2014, 2015 IWFL)
Division titles2 (2007 NWFA, 2008 IWFL, 2011 WFA)

History

In 2003, the Passion played its home games at Belle Vernon Area High School. The team finished its inaugural season with a 2-6 record. The average attendance at each of their four home games that season was between 2,500 and 3,000 fans.

In 2004 season, the Passion changed its home stadium to Ambridge High School's Moe Rubenstein Stadium. The team improved its regular season record to 6-2, just missing the playoffs as a Northern Conference wildcard team. The Passion led the league in attendance for 2004 with crowds approaching 4,000 fans per game.

In 2005, the Passion carried an active roster of 55 players along with a practice squad.

Starting in 2006, the Passion have played its home games at George K. Cupples Stadium (formerly "South Stadium") in the South Side of Pittsburgh.

In 2007, the Passion recorded an undefeated regular season going 8-0. After winning all three of their home playoff games, the team improved to 11-0 after victories over Erie, the West Michigan Mayhem, and Cleveland. The team then won the National Championship Game on July 21, 2007 against the Columbus Comets by a score of 32-0.

In 2008, the Passion recorded their second consecutive perfect regular season, finishing 8-0, winning the North Atlantic Division title, and defeating the Orlando Mayhem in the Eastern Conference Semifinal. However, they lost the Eastern Conference Championship to the Chicago Force by a score of 8-7, ending their 23-game winning streak that dated back to 2006.

In 2009, the Passion finished 7-1, good for the Eastern Conference wild card spot. However, they lost the Eastern Conference Semifinal to eventual conference champion D.C. Divas 27-17.

In 2010, the Passion finished 4-4, missing the playoffs for the first time since 2006.

For 2011, the Passion joined the Women's Football Alliance. They finished their inaugural regular season with a perfect 8-0 and won the Mid-Atlantic Division title before losing to the Chicago Force in the National Conference quarterfinal game.

In 2014 and 2015 they won the IWFL Championship in Rock Hill, SC

May 21, 2016 The Passion won the NFC Central North Division with this victory and it is their 6th Division title in team history.

Notable achievements

  • First women's football franchise in history to broadcast games on a major television network (Fox Sports Net)
  • First franchise to be featured in Sports Illustrated
  • First franchise to be featured on ESPN
  • Awarded a permanent fixture in the Heinz History Center's Western Pennsylvania Sports Museum in association with the Smithsonian Institution.
  • Won the Dapper Dan Charities Sportswoman of the Year Award for 2011-12.
  • Franchise was selected to host the WFA National Championship Game slated for August 4 in Pittsburgh.
  • The W Bowl National Championship weekend, hosted by the Women’s Professional Sports Services, on July 21–23, 2016 in Pittsburgh, PA.

Season-By-Season

Season records
SeasonWLTFinishPlayoff results
Pittsburgh Passion (NWFA)
20032604th Mid-Atlantic Division--
20046202nd North Mid-Atlantic--
20055309th North Division--
20065303rd North Central--
20078001st North CentralWon Northern Conference Quarterfinal (Erie)
Won Northern Conference Semifinal (West Michigan)
Won Northern Conference Championship (Cleveland)
Won NWFA Championship (Columbus)
Pittsburgh Passion (IWFL)
20088001st East North AtlanticWon Eastern Conference Semifinal (Orlando)
Lost Eastern Conference Championship (Chicago)
20097102nd East Mid AtlanticLost Eastern Conference Semifinal (D.C.)
20104403rd East Northeast--
Pittsburgh Passion (WFA)
20118001st National Mid-AtlanticLost National Conference Quarterfinal (Chicago)
20127102nd National Division 3Won National Conference First Round (Detroit)
Lost National Conference Quarterfinal (D.C.)
Totals66240 (including playoffs)

* = current standing

Roster

Pittsburgh Passion Roster 2016
Quarterbacks
  • 14 Lisa Horton
  • 16 Kara Prentice
  • 3 Janice Masters
FS
  • 6 Remy Olinzock
  • 41 Kim Beaver
FB
  • 26 Melinda Henderson
  • 48 Moni Sciullo
TE
  • 89 Lorraine Stanek
LS
  • 16 Kara Prentice
Running Backs
  • 5 Sonya Osselborn *Bit*
  • 6 Remy Olinzock
  • 13 Tara Sease
  • 25 Tara Catone
  • 31 Qualin Pitts
  • 34 Kia Foster
  • 54 Sarah Niedermeyer
  • 87 Hope Fletcher
Wide Receivers
  • 4 Kristea Smith
  • 7 Alyanna Marin
  • 8 Sharon Vasquez
  • 12 Cassie Hauser
  • 17 Rachel Wojdowski
  • 18 Santana Ramsey
  • 37 Ashley DiCicco
  • 80 Jessica Melodia
  • 81 Laura Baden
  • 82 Angela Baker
  • 84 Nikki Goisse
Offensive Line
  • 35 Kim Dreischalick
  • 46 Kate "Sully" Sullivan
  • 64 Shelby Horak
  • 71 Kweilin Wofford
  • 73 Lauren "Goose" Ferragonio
  • 74 Paige Bowman
  • 75 Kristen Holzer
  • 76 Samantha "Sam" Simeone
  • 79 Aliesha Pollino
  • 89 Lorraine Stanek
  • 96 Kaitlyn Mackay
OLB
  • 47 Johana Collins
  • 58 Amanda Wensel
  • 61 Diane Anderson
ILB
  • 19 Katie Kacinko
  • 36 Hannah Daman
  • 53 Jaharia Filmore
  • 55 Hope Crawford
  • 94 Danielle Ripper
Defensive Line
  • 20 Chelsea Zahn
  • 24 Denise Taylor
  • 52 Melanie "Hammer" Hammond
  • 63 Brittany McKinstry
  • 68 Necla Ragins
  • 75 Kristen Holzer
  • 76 Samantha "Sam" Simeone
  • 77 Kaitlain Niedermeyer
  • 98 Kim Zubovic
DE
  • 23 Kasey Hatfield
  • 50 Shannon Ribblett
  • 57 Jessica "Jessy" Nelko
  • 92 Kiara Keys
  • 97 Deitra Cooper
Linebackers
  • 20 Chelsea Zahn
  • 28 Rosie Christian
  • 49 Miashanti Smith
Defensive Backs
  • 72 Toni Jones
  • 51 Jamie Rimel
  • 41 Kim Beaver
  • 33 Kelli Clark
  • 8 Sharon Vasquez
  • 32 Allison Bashe
  • 30 Madison Baxter
  • 18 Santana Ramsey
  • 10 Ashley Strawn
  • 9 Rebecca Ehrgood
  • 2 Jess Cimino
K
  • 1 Amy Fallon
C
  • 64 Shelby Horak
Multiple Positions
  • 16 Kara Prentice (QB/LS)
  • 20 Chelsea Zahn (LB/DL)
  • 18 Santana Ramsey (WR/DB)
  • 6 Remy Olinzock (RB/FS)
  • 41 Kim Beaver (FS/DB)
  • 64 Shelby Horak (OL/C)
  • 75 Kristen Holzer (OL/DL)
  • 76 Samantha Simeone (OL/DL)
  • 89 Lorraine Stanek (TE/OL)

2009

Season Schedule

Date Opponent Home/Away Result
April 18 Detroit Demolition Home Won 29-6
April 25 Baltimore Nighthawks Home Won 49-0
May 2 D.C. Divas Away Lost 7-27
May 16 New York Nemesis Home Won 41-0
May 23 Detroit Demolition Away Won 34-12
May 30 Connecticut Crushers Home Won 76-0
June 6 Philadelphia Firebirds Away Won 53-0
June 13 New York Sharks Away Won 34-33
June 27 D.C. Divas (Eastern Conference Semifinal) Away Lost 17-27

2010

Season Schedule

Date Opponent Home/Away Result
April 3 Erie Illusion Away Won 32-0
April 17 Philadelphia Firebirds Home Won 49-0
April 24 Boston Militia Away Lost 0-27
May 1 Erie Illusion Home Won 40-2
May 8 New York Sharks Away Lost 8-12
May 15 Baltimore Nighthawks Home Won 34-6
May 22 Chicago Force Away Lost 0-7
May 29 New York Sharks Home Lost 10-27

2011

Standings

2011 Mid Atlantic Division
W L T PCT PF PA DIV GB STK
y-Pittsburgh Passion8001.000270358-0---W8
Cleveland Fusion5300.625267905-33.0L1
Columbus Comets5300.625191605-33.0W2
Pittsburgh Force2600.00083642-66.0L1
Erie Illusion0800.250682550-88.0L8

Season Schedule

Date Opponent Home/Away Result
April 2 Pittsburgh Force Away Won 30-0
April 9 Erie Illusion Away Won 56-14
April 16 Cleveland Fusion Away Won 26-8
April 30 Columbus Comets Home Won 17-0
May 14 Pittsburgh Force Home Won 45-0
May 21 Columbus Comets Away Won 7-6
June 11 Cleveland Fusion Home Won 42-0
June 18 Erie Illusion Home Won 47-7
June 25 Chicago Force (National Conference Quarterfinal) Away Lost 31-41

2012

Standings

2012 Division 3
W L T PCT PF PA DIV GB STK
Pittsburgh Passion7100.875407903-1---W3
D.C. Divas5300.6252891574-11L1
Columbus Comets2600.250781390-24W1

Season Schedule

Date Opponent Home/Away Result
April 14 D.C. Divas Away Won 35-34
April 28 Columbus Comets Away Won 37-14
May 5 Cleveland Fusion Home Won 49-0
May 12 Toledo Reign Home Won 71-14
May 19 Pittsburgh Force Away Won 66-0
June 2 D.C. Divas Home Loss 43-28
June 9 Columbus Comets Home Win 22-0
June 16 Philadelphia Firebirds Away Win 50-0
June 23 Detroit Dark Angels (1st round) Home Win 34-0
DateOpponentLocationScoreResult
April 2Toledo ReignToledo, OH28-0WIN
April 9Columbus CometsColumbus, OH48-3WIN
April 23Cleveland FusionSlippery Rock, PA43-0WIN
April 30Detroit Dark AngelsDetroit, MI55-6WIN
May 7Keystone AssaultCalifornia, PA56-6WIN
May 14Boston RenegadesPittsburgh, PA32-51LOSS
May 21Detroit Dark AngelsPittsburgh, PA63-8Win
June 4Chicago ForceChicago, IL33-48LOSS
June 11Atlanta PhoenixImperial, PA35-24WIN
June 25D.C. DivasLandover, MD29-41LOSS

Passion Defeat Atlanta 35-24 In 1st Round Of Playoffs

10 Pittsburgh Passion Players Named To WFA All American Teams

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