Wednesday, December 22, 2004 - USL News Release

 

TAMPA, FL -- The New Jersey Wildcats, who are heading into their 10th season in the W-League, have been selected by United Soccer Leagues to host the 2005 W-League Championship. The event, which will follow a final four format, will be held on the weekend of August 5-7 at Wildcats’ home stadium at Mercer County Community College in West Windsor, NJ.

“We are excited to award the 2005 W-League Championship to the Wildcats,” said W-League Director of Operations Tammy Crawford. “Last year was a historic season for the organization with their outstanding turnaround. Selecting the Wildcats was a difficult choice with several other outstanding bids before us, but are confident they will put on a great event.”

“I want to thank the staff of the USL for giving us this great opportunity to host the W-League Championship,” said New Jersey Wildcats owner & President Vince Baldino. “We are very honored and excited to host the most important event in women’s soccer in North America. I have great confidence in my staff that we will do a great job as hosts. This will be a great success not just for the Wildcats but for the sport of soccer.”

The W-League is the highest level of women’s soccer in North America with 34 teams spread out across the United States and Canada. The championship weekend will feature semifinal matches on Friday, August 5th followed by consolation and championship matches on Sunday, August 7th. The championship game will be broadcast by Fox Sports World. By hosting the W-League Championship, the Wildcats earn an automatic berth into the league semifinals with the other three spots filled by playoff winners from the Eastern, Central, and Western Conferences.

“This event will be a celebration not just for women’s soccer in the United States but for women all over the world,” said Wildcats Vice President Jim Gooley. “The future of women’s soccer must be met with a spirit for success and we feel that this event will be extremely successful. The Wildcats look forward to welcoming fans not just from New Jersey, but from all over the soccer world.”

The opportunity to host the 2005 W-League Championship is a direct result of New Jersey’s breakthrough 2004 season. Under first-year head coach Charlie Naimo, the Wildcats recorded one of the best regular seasons in W-League history by racking up a 14-0 mark while outscoring the opposition by a 76-5 margin. The Wildcats were the fifth team in league history to go unbeaten and untied while the 76 goals set a record for most goals scored in a season by a W-League team. With three victories in the playoffs, the Wildcats advanced to the final of the 2004 W-League Championship in Ottawa before bowing to the Vancouver Whitecaps Women in a penalty kick tiebreaker after a 120-minute double overtime scoreless stalemate.

The Wildcats were also presented with the USL’s Progress Award for the 2004 season at this year's Annual Operations Meetings in Clearwater, FL in November. The Wildcats showed tremendous gains not only on the field but off the field as well. The team’s attendance improved significantly with an average of 704 fans per game – an improvement of over 1400% from the previous season.

“Hosting the W-League Championship is not only a great honor but also a great challenge as well,” said Wildcats General Manager Patric Santo Pietro. “We look forward to bringing the best women’s soccer teams from North America to New Jersey and we also look forward to working together with the soccer community to make this weekend a success.”

In order to successfully stage the W-League Championship, the Wildcats will be seeking volunteers and sponsors from the surrounding community. For more information on the Wildcats or for information on becoming a volunteer or a sponsor, visit the Wildcats on the internet at www.njwildcats.com or call (609) 921-1105.