With WPS gone, Ottawa set to host top women’s club soccer event in North America

If revenge is indeed a dish that is best served cold, expect some unseasonably cool temperatures in Ottawa on the weekend of July 27-29.

Ottawa has been named the host city for the 2012 W-League championships to be held that weekend. Now that the WPS is out of the picture, the finals will bring together the four top women’s club soccer programs in North America.

And, as hosts, the Ottawa Fury is guaranteed a spot in the semifinals.

Last season, the Fury was stunned 6-1 by the Atlanta Silverbacks in the W-League championship. The Fury had gone through the W-League season without losing or drawing. In two conference championship matches, the Fury outscored the opposition 10-0. And Ottawa beat the host Seattle Sounders in the W-League semifinals. The Fury’s sensational run made it clear that it has supplanted the Vancouver Whitecaps as Canada’s top women’s soccer club program.

As well, the Fury had W-League MVP Mallory Outerbridge, who scored 22 goals in 16 games last season — but still has yet to get the call from Canadian national women’s team coach John Herdman.

The loss to Atlanta was a stunner.

Now, Ottawa can prepare all season long for the final four.

“We couldn’t be more thrilled with the Ottawa Fury hosting the 2012 W-League Championship,” W-League Senior Director Amanda Duffy said in a release. “As they have demonstrated in hosting all rounds of playoff tournaments during the past decade, the Fury will undoubtedly provide all the necessary components of a successful championship. With the support of the Ottawa community and mass of soccer fans in Canada who continue to be great supporters of the women’s game, we look forward to an exciting and extremely competitive final four.”

All games will be held at the Algonquin College Soccer Complex.

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