The 2011 Philadelphia Independence season was the team's second and final season in the Women's Professional Soccer league, and its final season as a team.
Review
The Independence traded Karina LeBlanc to the Chicago Red Stars to move up to the second overall pick in the 2011 WPS Draft and midfielder Caroline Seger to the expansion Western New York Flash for their first pick in the draft's second round. The Independence selected University of Virginia midfielder Sinead Farrelly with the acquired first-round pick. The Independence would select seven players in the draft, more than any other team in the 6-team league. It also signed goalkeeper Nicole Barnhart on February 24, 2011, after the dissolution of FC Gold Pride.
The team also changed home venues, moving from West Chester University to Widener University.
The Independence finished second in league play, won the WPS Super Semifinal 2–0 over magicJack, then drew the Western New York Flash in the 2011 WPS championship after extra time, losing in penalties 5–4. Head coach Paul Riley was named WPS Coach of the Year for the second consecutive season, and Verónica Boquete was named Player of the Year.
This was the team's final season, as it dissolved in 2012 along with the Women's Professional Soccer league itself. Many of its players and staff would go on to other teams that moved to different leagues, while others appeared in the next fully professional women's soccer league, the National Women's Soccer League, after it launched in 2013.
Squad
Roster
As of September 26, 2011
Team management
Competitions
Women's Professional Soccer
Regular season
Results by round
Home/away results
League table
WPS Playoffs
Squad statistics Source: WPS
Squad statistics are of the regular season only.
0FTasha Kai17161234910492857.14%919104MJen Buczkowski181816200007342.86%189106MLori Lindsey912540005360.00%21007DLeigh Ann Robinson17171530020500.00%44008FAmy Rodriguez10664120019842.11%590010FLianne Sanderson178670331191263.16%591013FLaura del Rio153471230291965.52%240014MSinead Farrelly1413110112013861.54%751015MNikki Krzysik1818162000000—1431016DKia McNeill171714531007685.71%1261117DJoanna Lohman9649502011436.36%6111019MDanesha Adams138703310201365.00%6121021FVerónica Boquete1110902540292172.41%5120024DEstelle Johnson151311941105240.00%440025MTina DiMartino1818142921018844.44%490026FHolmfridur Magnusdottir12658611010330.00%11120Team Total 230178159033021124613856.10%114118101
23GKNicole Barnhart99810101.1112493731GKVal Henderson9981080.891128204Team Total 18181620182.002377577
Transfers
2011 WPS Draft
PlayerPosPrevious clubNotesRef Sinead Farrelly MF University of Virginia Round 1, Pick #2 Lauren Fowlkes DF University of Notre Dame Round 5, Pick #5 Jennifer Stoltenberg FW University of Oregon Round 2, Pick #9 Caitlin Farrell DF Wake Forest University Round 2, Pick #11 Lauren Barnes DF University of California, Los Angeles Round 3, Pick #15 Bianca D'Agostino MF Wake Forest University Round 3, Pick #18 Teresa Rynier MF James Madison University Round 4, Pick #23
In
DatePlayerPositionPrevious clubFee/notesDecember 22, 2010 Tasha Kai FW Sky Blue FC SignedDecember 27, 2010 Megan Rapinoe MF Chicago Red Stars Signed as free agentJanuary 31, 2011 Verónica Boquete FW RCD Espanyol Signed, joined at conclusion of 2010–11 Superliga Femenina Laura del Rio FW Boston Breakers TradeFebruary 22, 2011 Nicole Barnhart GK FC Gold Pride Signed as free agentMarch 24, 2011 Sinead Farrelly MF University of Virginia Signed draft pick Gina DiMartino FW Boston College Signed to main rosterApril 1, 2011 Lauren Barnes DF UCLA Signed draft pickApril 4, 2011 Lauren Fowlkes DF Notre Dame Signed draft pickApril 6, 2011 Robyn Jones GK New Jersey Wildcats Signed to main roster Leigh Ann Robinson DF Atlanta Beat Signed
Out
DatePlayerPositionDestination clubFee/notesOctober 12, 2010 Karina LeBlanc GK Chicago Red Stars Traded for 1st- and 3rd-round picks in 2011 WPS Draft.November 8, 2010 Lyndsey Patterson MF/FW Atlanta Beat Waived Sarah Senty DF WaivedDecember 22, 2010 Caroline Seger FW Western New York Flash Traded for 2nd-round picks in 2011 and 2012 WPS Drafts.January 15, 2011 Heather Mitts DF Atlanta Beat Traded for 3rd-round pick in 2012 WPS Draft.June 21, 2011 Megan Rapinoe MF magicJack Traded in exchange for cash considerations.July 25, 2011 Hólmfríður Magnúsdóttir MF/FW Valur Mutually terminated rights
Awards
Player of the Week WeekPlayer of the WeekWeek's StatlineWeek 11 Verónica Boquete3 A, 1 GWeek 13 Natasha Kai3 G1 GWeek 14 Verónica Boquete1 GWeek 16 Verónica Boquete1 G, GWG1 G, GWG
WPS year-end awards AwardPlayerNotesMichelle Akers Player of the Year Verónica BoqueteAlso earned league's top honor as MVPWPS Coach of the Year Paul RileyLed his team to a seven-game unbeaten streak and playoff finalCiti Sportswoman of the Year Nikki KrzysikTeam captain selected by her peers for exemplary leadership Source: 2011 WPS Year End Awards
2011 WPS Best XI PlayerPosition Kia McNeill Defense Nikki Krzysik Defense Verónica Boquete * Midfield Jen Buczkowski Midfield * – unanimous selection Source: WPS Announces Best XI of 2011
See also
2011 Women's Professional Soccer season 2011 Women's Professional Soccer Playoffs
References