April 30, 2012
VIRGINIA BEACH, VA – With the start of the 2012 United Soccer Leagues (USL) season only days away, the three Virginia franchises confirmed today the continuance of the regional competition to determine the top men’s and women’s amateur teams in the state. The Virginia Beach, Fredericksburg and Northern Virginia W-League and Premier Development League teams will once again vie for the annual Commonwealth Cup title during the 2012 season.
In its inaugural season, the Virginia Beach Piranhas claimed a decisive state title by virtue of a 4-0-0 record in the W-League cup. The Northern Virginia Royals earned the PDL bragging rights, finishing 3-1 in the competition during their first playoff season in a decade.
Always a contender at all USL levels, the Virginia Beach Piranhas historically produce great teams from the Hampton Roads area and will certainly factor into an exciting state cup competition once again. Division champions in 2003 and 2004, head coach Wendy Waddell enters her fourth year with a determined and talented team looking to bring the the championship banner back to the beach in 2012.
The Northern Virginia Majestics (W-League) begin their 2012 campaign following numerous struggling seasons since making the playoffs in 2006. The Majestics will rely on a new coaching staff to re-key and energize the team into a state contender. The Royals (PDL) again take the field this summer under second-year head coach Richie Burke to improve upon their 10-5-1 mark in 2011.
The Fredericksburg Hotspur PDL side has been busy in the off-season, signing several high profile recruits to aid in their 2012 bid. Equally active on the women’s side, the Impact roster includes several signees from the Richmond collegiate area.
The cup champion from the PDL will be determined by results in both the six game home and away series between the three clubs. Due to an odd number of match-ups scheduled in the Atlantic Division, the W-League state title will utilize the scores from the first home and away series between each team. The USL tiebreaker ranked system would be implemented if a winner cannot be decided strictly from match result points.
The USL Premier Development League features 73 teams within four conferences across the United States and Canada. The PDL provides elite collegiate players the opportunity to taste a higher level of competition while maintaining their eligibility. In addition to league play, PDL teams compete in the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup as well as various exhibitions. The USL Premier Development League has proven to be an important stepping stone for top professionals now playing throughout the world.
The first and longest-standing women’s league in North America, the W-League is USL’s highest level of women’s soccer in the United States and Canada. In addition to featuring international and professional stars, elite amateur players have the opportunity to compete on amateur teams in the league while maintaining their collegiate eligibility. The league is recognized throughout the world for providing superior competition for female players, while offering affordable family entertainment for fans across North America.
