Fénix 89 Red: News: About Our Team

The team was started in spring 2000 as Phoenix Red playing for Woodland Soccer Club in tournaments and District 1 Gold Division. The team was put together by Benedict Dugger and Pete Rasch, and was competitive from the start with a constant focus on skill building, speed and athleticism, and advanced to the quarterfinals of State Cup in their first season. Mike Carnovale served as the Team Manager and has been organizing us all from the very beginning.

In 2001 the team finished second in their league, and in 2002 won their U13 WSYL Green Division and advanced to the State Cup quarterfinals. In 2003 the team qualified for WSYL Division 2, won their league and again advanced to the quarterfinals of the 2004 State Cup. During their first four years, the team also had great success in local tournaments winning eight and placing in the top two or four in many others. In 2003, Eugene Poublon joined the team as trainer, increasing the girl's skills significantly. Eugene also served with great success as head coach from summer of 2005 to summer of 2007, and remains a close member of the Fénix Family.

In December 2004, the team qualified for the top league in the state by taking first place in WSYL GU15 Division 2 under the brief direction of coach Leighton O'Brien who was in town between professional playing assignments. In March 2005 the team went on to win the State Championship, outscoring their opponents by a total of 14 goals for versus 0 goals against over six games. Part of the reason for this success was the addition of Ashley Engel in goal, solidifying an already good defense. In fall of 2005, the team's name was changed to Fénix, and we took 2nd place in a fierce, any-Sunday U16 Division 1 league, yielding first place by two points to a strong Spokane Shadow team. The highlight of the fall for Fénix was going to Surf Girls Thanksgiving Cup in San Diego, beating quality teams from California and Michigan, and making it to the semifinals of the Super Group where they gave the eventual tournament and two-time National Champion Eagles a 2-1 run for their money.

In 2006, Fénix made it to the State Cup finals again, this time losing to Shadow 1-0 in overtime. Fénix qualified for the 2006 Far West Regionals in Boise, Idaho as a wild card team and beat a strong MVLA Mercury from Northern California and the Montana and Hawaii state champs to win their group. Fénix lost a tough quarterfinals match to their old nemesis Spokane Shadow, again by a score of 1-0. In 2006 Fénix also played in the Las Vegas and Disney Showcases, both Surf and Surf Girls Cups, and finished fourth in another roller coaster P1 fall league where only four points separated the first and fifth place U17 teams.

2007 was another successful year and the third year in a row Fénix made it to the finals of the State Championship Cup. Fénix welcomed an excellent new player this year, Lauren Thompson ("LT"), and Leighton O'Brien back into the fold as head coach. The team continued to play in tournaments around the country, including the Texas Shootout, US Club Regionals in Boise, ID (played in finals), and their third summer Surf Cup (no.1 in bracket and semifinalist). Fénix also played in local tournaments including the Tacoma Showcase, Starfire Labor Day Tournament and the FieldTurf Cup held over Thanksgiving where the team consisted of half Fénix and half Santos players (calling themselves "Féntos") and of course, they won.

In 2008, Fénix welcomed two more excellent players: Lily Granston and Maddy Mercier who helped us field the strongest team ever, when all players were healthy and accounted for. The team participated in the Portland Cup and drew even with cross-league rivals Santos and WPFC (Da Royals) and beat Les Bois from Idaho. With only about 11 to 13 players at most games due to injuries, college visits and other commitments, the team had a rough time early on in the Division 1 WSYSL spring 2008 season, but finished strong with two wins and a tie.

Finally back at near full strength for the 2008 Washington State Championship Cup, Fénix won their bracket and made it into the quarters. Their quarterfinals game was an epic battle between Fénix and a very pumped up Eastside Red team featuring old friends and frequent guest players Kate and Kassandra. The game had five lead changes and two overtimes and wasn't decided until Fénix made their fifth and final penalty kick after Ashely Engel saved one of Eastside's shots. The semifinals game this year featured Fénix and their sisters from Santos, the same two teams on the same Starfire field as in the 2007 semifinals. This year it was Santos who had enough skill and luck to move on, ending the Fénix run for a fourth straight finals appearance. Santos went on to defeat Spokane Shadow the next day and become the GU18 State Champions.

Qualifying for Division 1 and becoming State Champs were always goals of the Fénix team, but accomplishing both goals within a four month period at U15 was truly astonishing. To make it that far, the team battled through bad luck and heartbreaking near misses at league placement tournaments at U14 and U15, sticking together against adversity to claim their place among a powerful group of elite Washington Youth Teams. Twelve girls who played for Fénix at U14 finished playing with the team, and together with the other great players who have joined since and their coaches Eugene, Pete and Leighton, they have displayed the kind of dedication and commitment to each other and their team that made playing for Fénix very special.

Any team is defined and tested by their competition as much as by their own actions. Fénix has been fortunate to have many great rivalries over the years. Early on it was Snohomish United, Emerald City, Dosveedanya, and NW Nationals. Later on the Royals, Crossfire, Eastside, and then Spokane and Santos joined the fray. In our travels out of state, we often drew the Portland Royals, MVLA Mercury and San Diego Surf, and these matches always proved close and exciting. We want to thank the players, coaches and supporters from all these teams who helped Fénix by pushing us to be better and to become the players and people we are today.

After over 300 games played, 200 motel rooms stayed, 5,000 meals shared, 250 airplane tickets bought, 25,000 miles traveled, almost 800 goals scored, a few tears shed and countless smiles smiled, we have many fond memories and absolutely no regrets. Good luck to all and may the ball always bend your way!

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Cumulative Team Record 2000-2008

GP___W___L___T___PTS___GF___GA___SO

329-- 227 -- 67 --- 44 -- 725 --- 788 -- 286 --- 133