# 2001 Philadelphia Charge season

The 2001 season was the Philadelphia Charge's first season competing in the Women's United Soccer Association league, the top division of women's soccer in the United States, and first competitive season. The team was coached by Mark Krikorian.

## Review
### Team formation

After establishing the team in November 2000, the inaugural roster for the Philadelphia Charge began to form through a series of drafts organized by WUSA. All eight teams first participated in the WUSA player allocation intended to distribute top players, notably from the American team that won the 1999 FIFA Women's World Cup the previous year. The Charge were first allocated US international midfielder Lorrie Fair, being the team's first official player. Goalkeeper, Saskia Webber, and forward, Mandy Clemens finished out the initial allocation for the 2001 season.
After distribution of domestic talent, WUSA hosted the WUSA foreign player allocation, assigning rights of foreign players amongst the eight teams. The Charge drafted German international defender Doris Fitschen and English midfielder Kelly Smith, both signed before the start of the season.
With domestic and international talent allocated, the Charge announced in November 2000 that University of Hartford women's soccer coach, Mark Krikorian, would be appointed the first head coach of the team. Prior to the start of the season, Krikorian would bring on former Swedish international Pia Sundhage and John Natale as assistant coaches. Rosters were filled out in December 2000, where the league hosted the first WUSA Draft Notable acquisitions for the Charge included Chinese international midfielder, Liu Ailing, US international defender, Heather Mitts, and US international midfielder Laurie Schwoy.

### First season

The Charge played their first match in team history away at San Diego Spirit earning their first win. The team's first goal was a penalty kick scored by Doris Fitschen, followed up by a 62nd minute goal from Kelly Smith. The Charge would finish their first season 4th in the standings, securing the final spot in the first WUSA Playoffs. On August 18, the Charge played their post season match at Atlanta Beat, losing in extra time 3-2, Philadelphia goals scored by Kelly Smith and Mandy Clemens.
Liu Ailing emerged as the primary scoring threat for the Charge, scoring 10 goals in the regular season from 19 starts and registering the team's first hattrick against Carolina Courage.

## Club
### Roster

The first-team roster of Philadelphia Charge.
Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
| No. | Pos. | Nation | Player |
| — | MF | CHN | Liu Ailing |
| — | DF | USA | Jenny Benson |
| — | FW | USA | Mandy Clemens |
| — | MF | USA | Michelle Demko |
| — | FW | USA | Deidre Enos |
| — | MF | USA | Lorrie Fair |
| — | DF | GER | Doris Fitschen |
| — | DF | USA | Erica Iverson |
| — | MF | USA | Kalli Kamholz |
| — | FW | ISL | Rakel Karvelsson |
| — | FW | USA | Erin Martin |
| — | MF | USA | Rebekah McDowell |
| No. | Pos. | Nation | Player |
| — | DF | USA | Heather Mitts |
| — | GK | USA | Melissa Moore |
| — | MF | ISL | Margret Olafsdottir |
| — | GK | USA | Laurie Pells |
| — | DF | USA | Vanessa Rubio |
| — | FW | USA | Courtney Saunders |
| — | MF | USA | Laurie Schwoy |
| — | MF | ENG | Kelly Smith |
| — | MF | USA | Jennifer Soileau |
| — | DF | USA | Jennifer Tietjen-Prozzo |
| — | GK | USA | Saskia Webber |

### Team management

| Position | Staff Member |
| Head coach | Mark Krikorian |
| Assistant coach | Pia Sundhage |
| Assistant coach | John Natale |
Last updated: April 3, 2020 Source:

## Competition
### Regular season
#### Results by round

| Round | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 |
| Stadium | A | A | H | A | H | A | A | H | H | A | A | H | A | H | H | A | H | A | H | H | A |
| Result | W | D | W | D | L | W | W | L | W | L | L | D | L | W | L | W | W | L | W | D | L |

#### Home/away results

| Overall | Overall | Overall | Overall | Overall | Overall | Overall | Overall | Home | Home | Home | Home | Home | Home | Away | Away | Away | Away | Away | Away |
Last updated: complete. Source: WUSA

#### Regular-season standings

| Pos | Teamvte | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification |
| 2 | Bay Area CyberRays | 21 | 11 | 4 | 6 | 27 | 23 | +4 | 37 | Qualification to play-offs |
| 3 | New York Power | 21 | 9 | 5 | 7 | 30 | 25 | +5 | 32 | Qualification to play-offs |
| 4 | Philadelphia Charge | 21 | 9 | 4 | 8 | 35 | 28 | +7 | 31 | Qualification to play-offs |
| 5 | San Diego Spirit | 21 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 29 | 28 | +1 | 28 | |
| 6 | Boston Breakers | 21 | 8 | 3 | 10 | 29 | 35 | −6 | 27 | |

### Playoffs
## Statistics

    As of April 2, 2020
    Players without any appearance are not included.
| No. | Pos | Nat | Player | Total | Total | WUSA | WUSA | WUSA Playoffs | WUSA Playoffs |
| No. | Pos | Nat | Player | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals |
| Goalkeepers: ||||||||||
| | GK | USA | Melissa Moore | 11 | 0 | 10 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| | GK | USA | Saskia Webber | 12 | 0 | 12 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Defenders: ||||||||||
| | DF | USA | Jenny Benson | 21 | 0 | 20 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| | DF | GER | Doris Fitschen | 13 | 3 | 13 | 3 | 0 | 0 |
| | DF | USA | Erica Iverson | 5 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| | DF | USA | Heather Mitts | 21 | 0 | 20 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| | MF | USA | Jennifer Tietjen-Prozzo | 19 | 0 | 18 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| Midfielders: ||||||||||
| | MF | CHN | Liu Ailing | 20 | 10 | 19 | 10 | 1 | 0 |
| | MF | USA | Michelle Demko | 17 | 2 | 10+6 | 2 | 1 | 0 |
| | MF | USA | Lorrie Fair | 17 | 1 | 14+2 | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| | MF | USA | Kalli Kamholz | 12 | 0 | 7+5 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| | MF | USA | Rebekah McDowell | 20 | 1 | 15+4 | 1 | 0+1 | 0 |
| | MF | ISL | Margret Olafsdottir | 18 | 2 | 10+8 | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| | MF | USA | Laurie Schwoy | 18 | 4 | 9+8 | 4 | 0+1 | 0 |
| | MF | ENG | Kelly Smith | 14 | 5 | 12+1 | 4 | 1 | 1 |
| | MF | USA | Jennifer Soileau | 6 | 0 | 1+5 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Forwards: ||||||||||
| | FW | USA | Mandy Clemens | 21 | 6 | 13+7 | 5 | 1 | 1 |
| | FW | USA | Deidre Enos | 20 | 1 | 4+15 | 1 | 0+1 | 0 |
| | FW | ISL | Rakel Karvelsson | 18 | 1 | 13+4 | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| | FW | USA | Erin Martin | 10 | 1 | 8+2 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
* Source: https://www.statscrew.com/womenssoccer/stats/t-WPHC/y-2001

### Goalkeepers

    As of April 4, 2020
| Nat. | No. | Player | Apps | Starts | Record | GA | GAA | SO | | |
| | | Melissa Moore | 10 | 10 | 5–3–1 | 10 | 1.00 | 3 | 0 | 0 |
| | | Saskia Webber | 12 | 12 | 4–5–3 | 18 | 1.50 | 3 | 0 | 0 |
| Total | Total | Total | Total | Total | 9-8-4 | 28 | 1.33 | 6 | 0 | 0 |
    Record = W-L-D

## Transfers
### In

| Date | Player | Position | Previous club | Fee/notes |
| May 24, 2000 | Lorrie Fair | MF | North Carolina Tar Heels | WUSA player allocation |
| May 24, 2000 | Saskia Webber | GK | OKI F.C. Winds | WUSA player allocation |
| May 24, 2000 | Mandy Clemens | FW | Silicon Valley Red Devils | WUSA player allocation |
| October 30, 2000 | Doris Fitschen | DF | 1. FFC Frankfurt | WUSA foreign player allocation |
| October 30, 2000 | Kelly Smith | FW | New Jersey Lady Stallions | WUSA foreign player allocation |
| December 10, 2000 | Liu Ailing | MF | China National Team | 2000 WUSA Draft, Round 1, Pick 2, 2nd Overall |
| December 10, 2000 | Heather Mitts | DF | Tampa Bay Extreme | 2000 WUSA Draft, Round 2, Pick 7, 15th Overall |
| December 10, 2000 | Jenny Benson | MF | Nebraska Cornhuskers | 2000 WUSA Draft, Round 3, Pick 2, 18th Overall |
| December 10, 2000 | Ruth Van't Land | FW | Cal Poly Pomona Broncos | 2000 WUSA Draft, Round 4, Pick 6, 31st Overall |
| December 10, 2000 | Sarah Yohe | FW | Florida Gators | 2000 WUSA Draft, Round 5, Pick 2, 34th Overall |
| December 10, 2000 | Raven McDonald | MF | North Carolina Tar Heels | 2000 WUSA Draft, Round 6, Pick 7, 47th Overall |
| December 10, 2000 | Rebekah McDowell | MF | North Carolina Tar Heels | 2000 WUSA Draft, Round 7, Pick 1, 49th Overall |
| December 10, 2000 | Michelle Demko | MF | Tampa Bay Extreme | 2000 WUSA Draft, Round 8, Pick 7, 63rd Overall |
| December 11, 2000 | Kalli Kamholz | MF | Tampa Bay Extreme | 2000 WUSA Draft, Round 9, Pick 2, 66th Overall |
| December 11, 2000 | Carly Smolak | GK | | 2000 WUSA Draft, Round 10, Pick 2, 79th Overall |
| December 11, 2000 | Jennifer Tietjen-Prozzo | DF | Lond Island Lady Riders | 2000 WUSA Draft, Round 11, Pick 2, 82nd Overall |
| December 11, 2000 | Erin Martin | FW | Three Kings United | 2000 WUSA Draft, Round 12, Pick 7, 95th Overall |
| December 11, 2000 | Beth Keller | FW | Chicago Cobras | 2000 WUSA Draft, Round 13, Pick 2, 98th Overall |
| December 11, 2000 | Laurie Schwoy | MF | | 2000 WUSA Draft, Round 14, Pick 7, 111th Overall |
| December 11, 2000 | Laurie Hill | MF | California Storm | 2000 WUSA Draft, Round 15, Pick 2, 114th Overall |
| March 30, 2001 | Jennifer Soileau | MF | Ole Miss Rebels | Signed |
| April 3, 2001 | Deidre Enos | FW | Boston University Terriers | Signed |
| April 13, 2001 | Margret Olafsdottir | MF | Breiðablik | Signed |
| | Erica Iverson | DF | | Signed |
| | Rakel Karvelsson | FW | | Signed |
| | Melissa Moore | GK | | Signed |

### Out

| Date | Player | Position | Destination club | Fee/notes |
| March 21, 2000 | Laurie Pells | GK | | Waived |
| March 21, 2000 | Angela Harrison | | | Waived |
| March 21, 2000 | Tracey Spinelli | | | Waived |
| March 21, 2000 | Beth Keller | MF | Carolina Courage | Waived |
| March 21, 2000 | Courtney Saunders | | | Waived |
| March 21, 2000 | Laurie Hill | MF | | Released |

## Honors

2001 WUSA Defensive Player of the Year: Doris Fitschen