Los Angeles Legends left defender, Amelia Mathis, was selected to the W-league team of the week for her efforts in the Legends first game of the season. "Amelia was not only doing a great job defending but also provided a lot in our attack. She was a recognizable player for us on a field loaded with talent. " stated Josh Hodges. "We would like to congratulate her for being the Legends first player selected and acknowleged by the W-League this season."
The Los Angeles Legends W-League team will have their first home game of the season this Tuesday, May 19, 2009. The game will kick off at 7:00 p.m. @ Ayala Stadium. The LA Legends will host the Real Colorado Cougars.
PACIFIC PALISADES, CA – The Los Angeles Legends opened the 2009 season with a 2-1 loss to the defending league champions Pali Blues. Although the Legends outshot the Blues 11-10, the champs proved to be too much in the end. “We are pleased with the direction we are heading in as an organization, but we are not pleased with the result of the match.” Stated GM Ramon Reid.
“Our goal is to help build healthy young women in a Christian atmosphere, but also to win soccer games.” This was the first game together since announcing their new staff and plans to be a Christian based team. Stated Ramon.
The Blues gained an early advantage on a goal from Jodie Taylor. The speed, physicality, and crowd all seemed to get revved up after the first goal. The Legends battled back to even the match for a brief moment when Jenea Gibbons found the back of the net. The Blues immediately responded with a great goal from forward Emily Wynn to make it 2-1. The game remained intense and finished with a 2-1 outcome for the Blues.
The Los Angeles Legends W-League team is pleased to announce the first two official player signings for the upcoming 2009 season. "Charney & Kylie exemplify the direction we are headed with Legends FC." said LA Legends General Manager Ramon Reid. Charney Burk is currently a member of the U-20 National Team and plays collegiately at Portland University. Kylie Doniak has been a member of the national team from 2006 - 2008 and plays collegiately at University of Texas.
The Los Angeles Legends are pleased to announce Twila Kaufman as the Head Coach of the LA Legends W-League Team.“We believe Twila’s coaching and recruiting ability, as well as her playing experience to be a great compliment to our young team,” says General Manager, Josh Hodges.
Kaufman has spent the past 5 years as a member of the Pepperdine University Wave’s coaching staff where she is involved in all phases of the program: conditioning, practice planning, academic affairs and game management. Kaufman is also the recruiting coordinator and has brought in nationally ranked freshmen classes from 2005-08 according to Soccer Buzz, including a program-best #15 ranking in 2007.
Kaufman was a four-year starter at the University of Arizona , where she served as team captain and finished her career ranked in the top 10 in eight different statistical categories, including #1 in matches played. She reached the pinnacle of her playing career while competing for two seasons with the Arizona Heatwave of the W-1 League, which was affiliated with WUSA.
Kaufman will be assisted by coaching staff: Ali Malaekeh, Ramon Reid, and goalkeeper coach - Chris Swift.
Kaufman’s Quotes:
"I look forward to working closely with Ali Malaekeh. His strength of character is evident to all who meet him and we are lucky to have him on our side. He brings great tactical awareness, superb training habits and an awesome ability to incorporate biblical principles in to the daily training routine."
"Ramon Reid and I have really enjoyed time spent thus far putting the beginnings of this new team together. Players relate to his genuine heart for God and for them. They trust him and so do I."
"I am excited to add Chris Swift to the staff. I will be relying on him to keep our goalkeepers sharp. I know that the entire team will benefit from his presence at training," says Kaufman.
W-League 2009 season details set
Alignment and competition structure announced for next season
USL News Release
Thursday, December 11, 2008
TAMPA, FL -- United Soccer Leagues announced the details for the 2009 USL W-League season. Among the details finalized recently at the 2008 Annual General Meeting at the Hyatt Regency in Tampa, FL were the alignment, schedule structure and playoff details for the 2009 competition.
The W-League will consist of 37 teams in 2009, playing in five divisions that comprise the three conferences. One minor change to the alignment format is the name change of the Northern Division to Great Lakes.
Expansion teams that have been formally announced to date are the Buffalo Flash and Quebec City Arsenal with an additional team yet to be formally unveiled. Teams undergoing name changes are the Western New York Pride (formerly Rochester Rhinos), Chicago Red Eleven (Chicago Gaels), Hudson Valley Quickstrike Lady Blues (Jersey Sky Blue) and the Colorado Force (Fort Collins Force).
Teams will play a 12 or 14 game season depending on their division with the season opening May 8 and concluding July 19.
The W-League postseason will be extended to three weeks with the league semifinals and championship being split into two separate weekends. Eleven W-League teams will qualify for the postseason tournament in 2009 with the league’s Regular Season Champion (based on point percentage) receiving a bye to the league semifinals. The remaining teams will compete in three conference tournaments in playoff week one July 24-26 to determine the other three league semifinalists for the weekend of July 31-August 1 at two locations. The regular season champion will face the lowest remaining overall seed unless they have played during the season, which would result in a pairing with the next lowest seed. The championship game will be August 7, and will air on Fox Soccer Channel.
Western Conference Colorado Force, Los Angeles Legends, Pali Blues, Real Colorado Cougars, Seattle Sounders, Vancouver Whitecaps, Ventura County Fusion
Western Conference Playoff Format: The top two teams meet in a conference championship match.
LA Legends Announce Head Coach - Twila Kaufman
The W-League will consist of 37 teams in 2009, playing in five divisions that comprise the three conferences. One minor change to the alignment format is the name change of the Northern Division to Great Lakes. 
