Washington Freedom advance to W-League semifinal at MD SoccerPlex

After a 2-1 victory over Charlotte in the Eastern Conference Final on Sunday night, the Washington Freedom advances to the W-League Championship Semfinal on Saturday, August 1 at the Maryland SoccerPlex at 6pm. The Freedom will host the visiting Ottawa Fury, who is coming off a 2-1 victory over FC Indiana in the Central Conference Final.

Meanwhile, the reigning W-League Champion Pali Blues will travel to New York on Friday evening to take on Regular Season Champion Hudson Valley Quickstrike Lady Blues in the other W-League Championship Semi-final match-up.

In the Freedom’s first year competing in the W-League in 2007, the Club compiled a regular season record of 12-1-1 and defeated Atlanta in the W-League Championship. In 2008, the Freedom lost to the Pali Blues in the W-League Semifinal and overcame that loss to beat Seattle in the third place match.

Ottawa is no stranger to the W-League Championship Final either, having advanced twice in Club history (2005 and 2006). The Fury hold an all-time record of 2-2 in semi-final games, falling in 2003 and 2004, but advancing to the finals in 2006 and 2007.

The Freedom defeated Ottawa 1-0 in the 2007 postseason, eliminating the Club in the Conference Final.

The Washington Freedom ended the 2009 regular season with a record of 12-1-1, and is 2-0-0 in the playoffs. Ottawa has compiled a regular season record of 11-1-2, going 2-0-0 in their postseason matches.

Ottawa is led by midfielders Amber Hearn (13 goals, 2 assists) and Sari Raber (5 goals, 3 assists), as well as forward Michelle Evans (6 goals, 5 assists).

Leading the Freedom is midfielder Jennifer Parsons (12 goals and 30 points) and strikers Meghan Lenczyk (9 goals) and Brittany Tegeler (8 goals). Nine additional Freedom players have contributed goals this season.