Wednesday, July 23, 2003

 

TAMPA, FL - United Soccer Leagues announced today the dates for the five matches of the first round of the W-League playoffs to be held July 30 to August 2. Hosting matches after clinching the top seed in their respective division or conference are the Boston Renegades, Charlotte Lady Eagles, Chicago Cobras, New Jersey Lady Stallions and Vancouver Whitecaps Women.

The W-League postseason will open Wednesday, July 30 at 7:30 pm ET at De Paul Catholic High School with the Northeast Division regular season champion New Jersey Lady Stallions playing host to either the New York Magic or Long Island Lady Riders, who are vying for the second berth from the division. The two clubs will meet in their regular season finale Saturday at Long Island.

Three matches are slated for the following night.

In the other Eastern Conference match, the defending two-time W-League champion Boston Renegades play host to the Ottawa Fury in the Northern Division championship match. The regular season division champion Renegades won the season series with a 1-0 win in Ottawa and a 1-1 draw at home. The match will be played at Thursday, July 31 at 7:30 pm ET at Bowditch Stadium.

In the Central Conference's Atlantic Division, the Charlotte Lady Eagles clinched the right to host by locking up second in the division. The regular season division champion Hampton Roads Piranhas received an automatic bye to the league semifinals as the championship tournament host. Charlotte will play host to the division's third place club Thursday, July 31 at 7:30 pm ET. All three of the other members in the division are still alive for the berth.

Later that night, the Chicago Cobras will play host to the Central Conference's Midwest Division championship. The Cobras will face either the Northern Kentucky TC Stars or the Columbus Lady Shooting Stars. Columbus trails by four points with two matches against Chicago remaining while Northern Kentucky has completed its season. The division final is set for 8 pm ET at Mooseheart Memorial Stadium.

The Western Conference final will pit Northwest rivals Vancouver and Seattle against one another as the regular season conference champion Whitecaps play host to the Sounders Saturday, August 2 at 10 pm ET at Swangard Stadium. Vancouver has not lost since its season opening defeat at home to the Sounders, whom they went on to defeat in the season series 3-1 with all three wins coming by just one goal.

The winner of the Central and Eastern divisional championships will advance to the conference finals to be held by the higher-seeded club August 2-3. The three conference champions move on to join the Hampton Roads Piranhas in Virginia Beach, Virginia for the W-League Championship August 8-10. The semifinals will be played Friday, August 8 with the league championship being played LIVE on Fox Sports World Sunday, August 10 at 5 pm ET.