Whitecaps Announce W-League Schedule
Published on January 27, 2009 under USL First Division (USL-1)
Vancouver Whitecaps News Release
VANCOUVER, BC - Vancouver Whitecaps FC, in conjunction with the United Soccer Leagues (USL), announced today the 2009 USL W-League regular season schedule.
The Whitecaps will kick off their ninth season at Swangard Stadium against I-5 rivals Seattle Sounders Women on Saturday, May 16. The tilt will be the first of three Whitecaps men's and women's doubleheader matches at Swangard this season. Other doubleheaders include matches against defending W-League champions Pali Blues on Sunday, June 7, and Los Angeles Legends on Friday, June 12.
The other three 'Caps home matches include a special Canada Day (July 1) tilt against Ventura County Fusion at Swangard, as well as two matches at a still-to-be-confirmed stadium in the Lower Mainland. The women wrap up their regular season away to Real Colorado Cougars on Sunday, July 19. Whitecaps W-League Schedule (PDF) Complete USL W-League Schedule (PDF) In 2009, the W-League will consist of 37 clubs playing in five divisions that comprise the three conferences. The Whitecaps play in the seven-team Western Conference and will face each team twice for a total of 12 regular season matches.
Eleven W-League teams will qualify for the postseason tournament in 2009, with the league's regular season champions (based on point percentage) receiving a bye to the semifinals. The top two teams in the Western Conference, unless one is the regular season champions, will meet in a conference championship match during the weekend of July 24 - 26 for a place in the semifinals. If the regular season champions come out the Western Conference, then the next two teams will play in the conference final.
The league semifinals will be played during the weekend of July 31 - August 1 at two locations. The regular season champions will face the lowest remaining overall seed, unless they have played during the season, which would then result in a pairing with the next lowest seed. The championship game will be played on either August 7 or 8, and will air on Fox Sports World Canada (Fox Soccer Channel in the United States).
Whitecaps 2009 season tickets are now on sale. Season tickets include all men's and women's team regular season and playoff home matches at Swangard Stadium, Nutrilite Canadian Championship home matches against Toronto FC and Montreal Impact, as well as priority listing for BC Place and the proposed Whitecaps Waterfront Stadium. For more information on the 2009 season ticket packages, call 604.669.WAVE (9283) or visit whitecapsfc.com.
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