Editing Philadelphia Charge

{{Use mdy dates|date=March 2022}}
{{Use American English|date=March 2022}}
{{Infobox football club
|clubname   = Philadelphia Charge
|image      = Philly Charge.PNG
|image_size = 190px
|fullname   = 
|nickname   = 
|motto      = 
|shortname  = 
|founded    = April 10, 2000<ref name=founded>{{cite news|url=http://cnnfn.cnn.com/2000/04/10/deals/soccer/|title=Women's soccer in deals|publisher=[[CNNfn]]|date=April 10, 2000|access-date=October 26, 2013}}</ref><br />Name established on<br />November 2, 2000<ref name="founded2000">{{cite news|url=https://www.courant.com/2000/11/03/wusa-from-heat-to-rays/|title=Wusa: From Heat To Rays|publisher=[[Hartford Courant]]|date=November 3, 2000|access-date=October 26, 2013|first=Jerry|last=Trecker}}</ref>
|dissolved  = September 15, 2003
|stadium    = [[Villanova Stadium]]<br />[[Bryn Mawr, Pennsylvania|Bryn Mawr]], [[Pennsylvania|PA]] [[19010]]
|capacity   = 12,500
|chrtitle   = General Manager
|chairman   = Tim Murphy
|owner      = [[Comcast]]
|mgrtitle   = Head Coach
|manager    = [[Mark Krikorian (soccer)|Mark Krikorian]]
|league     = [[Women's United Soccer Association]]
|season   =  Final season<br />2003
|position =  <br />8th
|firstgame = 
|largestwin = 
|worstdefeat = 
|topscorer = 
|fansgroup = 
|honours = 
|American = true
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|pattern_la2=|pattern_b2=|pattern_so2=_band_red|pattern_ra2=|leftarm2=FFFFFF|body2=FFFFFF|rightarm2=FFFFFF|shorts2=FFFFFF|socks2=FFFFFF
}}

The '''Philadelphia Charge''' was an American women's professional [[soccer]] team that played in the [[Women's United Soccer Association]]. The team played at [[Villanova Stadium]] on the campus of [[Villanova University]] near [[Philadelphia, Pennsylvania]].

==History==
In spring of 2000, the newly formed [[Women's United Soccer Association]] (WUSA) announced eight cities were granted franchises to start the league, including [[Philadelphia]].<ref name=founded/> Most of the inaugural teams were owned by major media companies, with the new Philadelphia club operated by locally headquartered [[Comcast Corporation]] who invested an initial $5 million into WUSA.<ref name=founded/><ref name=Comcast>{{cite web |url=https://www.bizjournals.com/philadelphia/stories/2001/04/09/story8.html |title=Women's soccer team ready to Charge |author=John George |website=bizjournals.com |date=April 9, 2002 |access-date=April 3, 2020}}</ref> In November 2000, the club's name and logo was officially announced as the '''Philadelphia Charge''' and would play home matches at [[Villanova Stadium]].<ref name=Announce>{{cite web |url=https://reuters.screenocean.com/record/167354 |title=USA: SOCCER - INAUGURAL WOMEN'S PROFESSIONAL SOCCER LEAGUE ANNOUNCES TEAM NAMES, LOGOS |publisher=Reuters |date=November 2, 2000 |access-date=April 3, 2020}}</ref> The logo for the Charge incorporated the Comcast Corp. "C" as part of its marketing efforts.<ref name=Comcast/> The Charge began preparations for the first team with a 15-person front office and was supported by the Comcast-Spector organization for stadium operations, marketing, promotions, tickets, and merchandise.<ref name=Comcast/>

By late 2000, the Charge had announced that [[University of Hartford]] women's soccer coach, [[Mark Krikorian (soccer)|Mark Krikorian]], would be appointed the first head coach of the team.<ref name=HirKrikorian>{{cite web |url=https://www.courant.com/news/connecticut/hc-xpm-2000-11-20-0011201736-story.html |title=KRIKORIAN TO TAKE CHARGE OF PHILADELPHIA FRANCHISE |author=Mark Pukalo |publisher=The Hartford Courant |date=November 20, 2000 |access-date=April 3, 2020}}</ref> Prior to the start of the season, Krikorian would bring on former Swedish international [[Pia Sundhage]] and [[John Natale]] as assistant coaches.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.socceramerica.com/publications/article/8769/wusa-notes-assistant-coach-and-front-office-hirin.html |title=WUSA Notes: Assistant coach and front-office hirings |publisher=SoccerAmerica |date=February 1, 2001 |access-date=April 3, 2020}}</ref>

The Philadelphia Charge conducting sports performance training at Aspiring Champions in King of Prussia, PA with certified sports trainers, Antonio Davis and Maine Prince. Both attending Penn State University and studied Exercise and Sports Science. Eventually after the team dissolved, Antonio Davis opened The Premiere Sports Academy in King of Prussia, PA.  Sports Performance Trainer.  Maine Prince, opened Philadelphia Sports Training Center in 2005, with his wife Justina Prince, a 2-time Academic All-American Soccer Player from Moravian University in Bethlehem, PA. The 85,000 square foot sports training facility located in Aston, PA was the premiere sports performance training facility for professional athletes, college athletes, high school athletes, and weekend warriors.<ref>{{Cite web |title=phillysportstc.com - Smart casual and sporty style |url=http://phillysportstc.com/ |access-date=2023-02-16 |website=phillysportstc.com |language=en-US}}</ref> Until sold in 2011 for over one billion dollars and is now the largest movie studio in Pennsylvania called Sun Center Studios. <ref>{{Cite web |title=SunCenter Studios |url=https://www.suncenterstudios.com/}}</ref> Following the sale of the building for Philadelphia Sports Training Center, Maine Prince opened a fulltime sports agency called Prince Management Group.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://princemanagementgroup.net/PMGW/ |title=Prince Management Group |access-date=2023-02-16 |website=princemanagementgroup.net}}</ref> The Philadelphia Charge was the city of Philadelphia's most recognizable sports venture conceived by the late, Ed Snider, owner of Comcast (as well as owner of the Philadelphia Flyers and Philadelphia Sixers - at that time).

===2001 season===
{{see also|2001 WUSA season}}
{{see also|2001 Philadelphia Charge season}}
The Charge would begin their first campaign led by American forward [[Lorrie Fair]], German defender [[Doris Fitschen]], and English forward [[Kelly Smith]].<ref name=Announce/> Finishing the inaugural season in fourth, the Charge advanced to the WUSA semi-final playoff match, losing to [[Atlanta Beat (WUSA)|Atlanta Beat]] 3–2.

===2002 season===
{{see also|2002 WUSA season}}
{{see also|2002 Philadelphia Charge season}}
Building on their first season, the Charge finished second in the standings for the regular season and lead the league in defense with fewest goals conceded (22). This season also featured the signing of [[Marinette Pichon]], who lead the team in scoring and earning Most Valuable Player and Offensive Player of the Year awards.<ref name=awards>{{cite web|url=https://usatoday30.usatoday.com/sports/soccer/wusa/2002-08-22-awards_x.htm |title=Philadelphia's Pichon takes top honor in WUSA awards |website=usatoday.com |date=August 22, 2002 |access-date=April 4, 2020}}</ref> Similar to the first season, the Charge lost in the semi-finals, this time to [[Washington Freedom (soccer)|Washington Freedom]]. [[Mark Krikorian (soccer)|Mark Krikorian]] also won WUSA Coach of the Year honors from the successful regular season.

===2003 season===
{{see also|2003 WUSA season}}
{{see also|2003 Philadelphia Charge season}}
The Charge's final season featured the team's worst record, finishing last (eighth) in the WUSA regular season standings. This season also began the career of future [[United States women's national soccer team|national team]] goalkeeper, [[Hope Solo]], who made her professional debut in the Charge's first win of the season at [[New York Power]].

==Stadium==
The Charged played all their home matches at [[Villanova Stadium]], located in [[Villanova, Pennsylvania]]. The 12,500 capacity stadium was the only WUSA stadium utilizing artificial turf.<ref name=Announce/><ref>{{cite web|url=https://villanova.com/sports/2018/6/18/facilities-nova-stadium-11-html.aspx |title=Villanova Stadium |website=villanova.com |access-date=17 October 2020}}</ref> The Charge players, coaches and front office representatives took part in upgraded turf unveiling ahead of the 2002 season.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.oursportscentral.com/services/releases/charge-take-part-in-villanova-turf-unveiling/n-1964684 |title=Charge Take Part in Villanova Turf Unveiling |website=oursportscentral.com |date=April 3, 2002 |access-date=October 17, 2020}}</ref>

==Players==
Several notable U.S. Women's National Team stars made their pro debuts with the Charge, including defender [[Heather Mitts]] (2001-2003) and goalkeeper [[Hope Solo]], who appeared in 8 matches as a rookie backup goalkeeper in 2003.  Other notables included French international [[Marinette Pichon]], who won the 2002 WUSA Most Valuable Player award for the Charge, and English star [[Kelly Smith]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.funwhileitlasted.net/2012/07/06/june-8-2002-philadelphia-charge-vs-washington-freedom/ |title=June 8, 2002 – Philadelphia Charge vs. Washington Freedom at Fun While It Lasted |access-date=July 6, 2012|url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130602170941/http://www.funwhileitlasted.net/2012/07/06/june-8-2002-philadelphia-charge-vs-washington-freedom/ |archive-date=June 2, 2013}}</ref>

'''2003 Roster'''<ref>{{cite news|title=2003 Philadelphia Charge Roster|url=http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/soccer/wusa/news/2003/philadelphros/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20031018122133/http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/soccer/wusa/news/2003/philadelphros/|url-status=dead|archive-date=October 18, 2003|publisher=Sports Illustrated|access-date=October 21, 2012}}</ref>

{{Fs start}}
{{Fs player|no=1|nat=USA|pos=GK|name=[[Melissa Moore (soccer)|Melissa Moore]]}}
{{Fs player|no=2|nat=USA|pos=MF|name=[[Lorrie Fair]]}}
{{Fs player|no=3|nat=USA|pos=FW|name=[[Emily Burt]]}}
{{Fs player|no=5|nat=USA|pos=DF|name=[[Karyn Hall]]}}
{{Fs player|no=6|nat=USA|pos=DF|name=[[Jenny Benson]]}}
{{Fs player|no=7|nat=FIN|pos=MF|name=[[Anne Makinen]]}}
{{Fs player|no=8|nat=ENG|pos=FW|name=[[Kelly Smith]]}}
{{Fs player|no=9|nat=CZE|pos=MF|name=[[Pavlína Ščasná]]}}
{{Fs player|no=10|nat=USA|pos=FW|name=[[Deliah Arrington]]}}
{{Fs player|no=11|nat=FRA|pos=FW|name=[[Marinette Pichon]]}}
{{Fs mid}}
{{Fs player|no=12|nat=USA|pos=MF|name=[[Erin Misaki]]}}
{{Fs player|no=13|nat=USA|pos=DF|name=[[Heather Mitts]]}}
{{Fs player|no=14|nat=USA|pos=MF|name=[[Rachel Kruze]]}}
{{Fs player|no=15|nat=USA|pos=MF|name=[[Stacey Tullock]]}}
{{Fs player|no=16|nat=DEU|pos=MF|name=[[Melanie Hoffmann]]}}
{{Fs player|no=18|nat=USA|pos=GK|name=[[Hope Solo]]}}
{{Fs player|no=19|nat=USA|pos=DF|name=Alexa Borisjuk}}
{{Fs player|no=21|nat=USA|pos=FW|name=[[Trina Maso de Moya]]}}
{{Fs player|no=22|nat=USA|pos=MF|name=[[Mary McVeigh]]}}
{{Fs player|no=25|nat=USA|pos=MF|name=[[Jennifer Tietjen-Prozzo]]}}
{{Fs end}}

Coach: [[Mark Krikorian (soccer)|Mark Krikorian]]

==Year-by-year==
{| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align: center"
!  style="background:#da2736; color:#FFFFFF; border:2px solid #041C2C; width:50px;"|Year
!  style="background:#da2736; color:#FFFFFF; border:2px solid #041C2C; width:50px;"|League
!  style="background:#da2736; color:#FFFFFF; border:2px solid #041C2C; width:125px;"|Regular season
!  style="background:#da2736; color:#FFFFFF; border:2px solid #041C2C;"|P
!  style="background:#da2736; color:#FFFFFF; border:2px solid #041C2C;"|W
!  style="background:#da2736; color:#FFFFFF; border:2px solid #041C2C;"|D
!  style="background:#da2736; color:#FFFFFF; border:2px solid #041C2C;"|L
!  style="background:#da2736; color:#FFFFFF; border:2px solid #041C2C;"|Pts
!  style="background:#da2736; color:#FFFFFF; border:2px solid #041C2C; width:100px;"|Playoffs
!  style="background:#da2736; color:#FFFFFF; border:2px solid #041C2C; width:200px;"|Top scorer
!  style="background:#da2736; color:#FFFFFF; border:2px solid #041C2C; width:125px;"|Avg. attendance
|-
|[[2001 Philadelphia Charge season|2001]]
|[[Women's United Soccer Association|WUSA]]
|4th Place || 21 || 9 || 4 || 8 || 31
|Semi-Finals
|{{flagicon|CHN}} [[Liu Ailing]] (10)
|7,153
|-
|[[2002 Philadelphia Charge season|2002]]
|[[Women's United Soccer Association|WUSA]]
|2nd Place || 21 || 11 || 6 || 4 || 39
|Semi-Finals
|{{flagicon|FRA}} [[Marinette Pichon]] (14)
|6,880
|-
|[[2003 Philadelphia Charge season|2003]]
|[[Women's United Soccer Association|WUSA]]
|8th Place || 21 || 5 || 5 || 11 || 20
|''Did not qualify''
|{{flagicon|FRA}} [[Marinette Pichon]] (14)
|6,764
|}
<small>Source:[https://www.statscrew.com/womenssoccer/t-WPHC]</small>

==Awards==
In 2001, Philadelphia Charge player, [[Doris Fitschen]] was named WUSA Defender of the Year.<ref>{{cite news|title=Power forward selected as first WUSA MVP|url=http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/soccer/wusa/2001/championship/news/2001/08/23/wusa_awards/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20010827165813/http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/soccer/wusa/2001/championship/news/2001/08/23/wusa_awards/|url-status=dead|archive-date=August 27, 2001|publisher=Sports Illustrated|access-date=21 October 2012}}</ref>

In 2002, Philadelphia Charge player, [[Marinette Pichon]] was named WUSA's Most Valuable Player and Offensive Player of the Year and was the co-recipient with [[Mia Hamm]] for Goal of the Year for a scissor kick volley against the [[San Diego Spirit]]. Goalkeeper [[Melissa Moore (soccer)|Melissa Moore]] was awarded Goalkeeper of the Year and [[Stacey Tullock]] was named Rookie of the Year. Coach [[Mark Krikorian (soccer)|Mark Krikorian]] took the honor of WUSA Coach of the Year the same year.<ref>{{cite news|title=Philadelphia's Pichon takes top honor in WUSA awards|url=http://usatoday30.usatoday.com/sports/soccer/wusa/2002-08-22-awards_x.htm|publisher=USA Today|access-date=21 October 2012|date=22 August 2002}}</ref>

In 2003, the Charge was awarded the WUSA Team Fair Play Award and defender, [[Jenny Benson]], was named WUSA Humanitarian of the Year.<ref>{{cite news|title=Meinert wins most valuable player|url=http://usatoday30.usatoday.com/sports/soccer/wusa/2003-08-21-wusa-awards_x.htm|publisher=USA Today|access-date=21 October 2012|date=21 August 2003}}</ref>

==League Suspension==
The [[Women's United Soccer Association]] announced on September 15, 2003 that it was suspending operations.<ref>{{cite news|title=WUSA ceases operations after three years|url=http://usatoday30.usatoday.com/sports/soccer/wusa/2003-09-15-wusa-folds_x.htm|publisher=USA Today|access-date=21 October 2012|first1=Vicki|last1=Michaelis|date=16 September 2003}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=U.S. WNT Responds to Women's United Soccer Association Suspending Operations|url=http://www.ussoccer.com/news/womens-national-team/2003/09/u-s-wnt-responds-to-womens-united-soccer-association-suspending-operations.aspx|publisher=US Soccer|access-date=21 October 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120727183649/http://www.ussoccer.com/News/Womens-National-Team/2003/09/U-S-WNT-Responds-To-Womens-United-Soccer-Association-Suspending-Operations.aspx|archive-date=27 July 2012|url-status=dead}}</ref>

==See also==
{{Portal|Women's association football|Philadelphia|Sports|Association football}}
* [[Philadelphia Independence]]
* [[Women's Professional Soccer]]
* [[National Women's Soccer League]]
* [[Women's professional sports]]
* [[Women's association football]]
* [[List of soccer clubs in the United States]]
{{clear}}

==References==
{{Reflist|30em}}

==External links==
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20011217093641/http://www.wusa.com/charge/ Philadelphia Charge website (archive.org)]

{{Women's United Soccer Association}}

[[Category:Philadelphia Charge| ]]
[[Category:Defunct soccer clubs in Pennsylvania]]
[[Category:Women's soccer clubs in the United States]]
[[Category:Defunct sports clubs and teams in Philadelphia|Charge]]
[[Category:Soccer clubs in Philadelphia|C]]
[[Category:Soccer clubs in Pennsylvania]]
[[Category:Women's United Soccer Association teams]]
[[Category:2000 establishments in Pennsylvania]]
[[Category:2003 disestablishments in Pennsylvania]]
[[Category:Association football clubs disestablished in 2003]]
[[Category:Association football clubs established in 2000]]