Arizona Strikers FC

Arizona Strikers FC was a women's soccer team based in Yuma, Arizona. They played in the Western Conference of the USL W-League, the second highest tier of women's soccer in the United States and Canada.

Arizona Strikers FC
Full nameArizona Strikers Football Club
Founded2013
Dissolved2015
GroundDesert Sun Stadium
Yuma, Arizona
Capacity10,000
OwnerAGM Soccer Management, LLC
General ManagerRicardo Hinds
Head CoachManny Arias
LeagueUSL W-League

History

edit

The team began as the Sedona FC Strikers, based in Sedona, Arizona. [1][2][3] The team moved to Yuma, Arizona and became Arizona Strikers FC on January 3, 2015.[4]

Controversy

edit

The team chose to sponsor The Desert Sun Clasico for July 14, 2015. It would have featured Club Tijuana against Monarcas Morelia. However, poor ticket sales lead to the events cancellation. President Manny Arias remarked that "Yuma has a lot of selfish people". That statement ignited the community as few knew of the match due to poor promotion and it is noted the team spent more time in San Luis going unnoticed by much of Yuma. [5] Following the comments their website was taken down and the teams Facebook page was not being updated. A second season in Yuma was now a definite no. [6]

Year-by-year

edit
YearLeagueRecordRegular SeasonPlayoffs
2014USL W-League0–12–08th, Western ConferenceDid not qualify
2015USL W-League1–11–06th, Western ConferenceDid not qualify

Players

edit

Final roster

edit

As of July 11, 2015 [7]
Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

No.Pos. NationPlayer
4DF  USABrenda Barniga
1GK  MEXEsthefanny Barreras
14DF  CANJessica Barton
6MF  USAAndrea Bedoya
21MF  USAKitzel Cota
12FW  USACeleste Diaz
9FW  MEXLuz Duarte
7FW  MEXElisa Espino
0GK  USAErika Garcia
15FW  USAPatricia Gomez
18MF  USAMaria Ibarra
13MF  MEXOlivia Jiménez
17DF  USASarena Lapham
No.Pos. NationPlayer
14MF  USABrielle Leon
17DF  USAJennifer Larsen
8MF  USAMonica Lubin
3FW  MEXEdith Navarro
11DF  USAMariela Ortega
0GK  USAYazmin Osorio
5DF  USAAbigail Rosales
15MF  USAMarina Schachowskoj
4FW  USALeilani Skinner
18FW  USASheridan Smith
10MF  USAFranchesca Vasquez
2DF  USATaylor Wheeler

Stadia

edit

References

edit
  1. ^ "Sedona FC Strikers Join W-League". United Soccer Leagues (USL). November 26, 2013. Archived from the original on January 10, 2014. Retrieved January 9, 2014.
  2. ^ "Sedona FC Strikers begin play in May". Jeff Bear. Sedona Red Rock News. December 13, 2013. Archived from the original on January 10, 2014. Retrieved January 9, 2014.
  3. ^ "Arizona based Sedona FC Strikers set to join W League in 2014". Garrett Cleverly. azkicksit.com. November 26, 2013. Archived from the original on February 22, 2014. Retrieved January 9, 2014.
  4. ^ "W-League woman's soccer team moving to Yuma from Sedona". Chris McDaniel. Yuma Sun. January 3, 2015. Retrieved January 27, 2015.
  5. ^ "Desert Sun Clasico canceled due to low ticket sales". Warner Strausbaugh. Yuma Sun. July 12, 2015.
  6. ^ "Club president: No second season for Ariz. Strikers". Cesar Neyoy. Yuma Sun. July 17, 2015.
  7. ^ "Arizona Strikers FC Roster". July 11, 2015. Archived from the original on July 14, 2015. Retrieved July 11, 2015.