RICHMOND, Va. (June 28, 2008)--The Richmond Kickers Destiny (2-7-0) scored twice in each half, led by two goals from Dunia Susi, to dispose of the West Virginia Illusion, 4-0, at Sports Backers Stadium. Megan Mischler had three shots in a losing effort for the Illusion (1-9-0).

FAIRMONT, W.Va. (June 23, 2008)--Goals from Kaitlin Parsons and Jamie Kocher powered the West Virginia Illusion Super-20 team (1-3-0) to their first-ever win Monday afternoon as they defeated the Northern Virginia Majestics (1-3-0) by a final score of 2-1 at East-West Field.

VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. (June 21, 2008)--Second-half goals from Chi Chi Nweke and Kim McMullen erased a 1-0 halftime lead and gave the Hampton Roads Piranhas a 2-1 win over the West Virginia Illusion at Virginia Wesleyan College Saturday night. Megan Mischler had a goal for the Illusion.

Melissa Bigg had five shots, Mischler four, and Marisa Kanela four to lead the Illusion (1-8-0); Kim Francis and Wendy Kotwas Waddell had four to lead the Piranhas (3-4-0).

GREENSBORO, N.C. (June 20, 2008)--Goals from three different scorers carried the Carolina Dynamo to a 3-1 victory over the West Virginia Illusion Friday night at Macpherson Stadium. Greer Barnes volleyed home a Sydney Metheny corner in the 71^st minute for the Illusion goal.

Katie Andreski opened scoring in the 13^th minute, burying a Allie Sadow shot that rebounded off the crossbar.

The Illusion nearly equalized five minutes later when Megan Mischler’s shot off of an errant backpass sailed high and again in the 31^st minute when a rocket from Marisa Kanela was denied by a fine diving save from Dynamo goalkeeper Lauren Brown.

BRADENTON, Fla. (June 14, 2008)--It took 42 hours from kickoff to final whistle, but the West Virginia Illusion have their first-ever win, defeating the Bradenton Athletics, 2-1.

In a game halted late in the first half Thursday due to thunderstorms and finished Satruday morning, goals from Ashley Rees and Marisa Kanela erased an early 1-0 hole. A big save from Ashley Magruda in the waning stages made it stick.

BRADENTON, Fla. (June 12, 2008)--Due to inclement weather, tonight’s match between the West Virginia Illusion and Bradenton Athletics was halted in the 37^th minute with the Illusion leading 2-1 on goals by Ashley Rees and Marisa Kanela. The match will be continued at 10 a.m. Saturday morning from the point it was stopped.

FAIRMONT, W.Va. (June 7, 2008)--Three goals in the first half-hour carried the Carolina Dynamo (2-3-1) to an easy 3-0 victory over the West Virginia Illusion (0-5-0).

Katie Andreski paced the Dynamo with one goal and an assist on three shots, while Megan Mischler and Sydney Metheny each had a shot for the Illusion.

MORGANTOWN, W.Va. (June 6, 2008)--One week after scoring the first goal in franchise history, the West Virginia Illusion look for another first Saturday against the Carolina Dynamo: a win. Kick-off from Duvall-Rosier Field in Fairmont is 7:30 p.m.

The Illusion (0-4-0) came up just short last time out against the Carolina RailHawks, falling 2-1. Kendra Graber scored West Virginia’s lone goal; Sydney Metheny hit the crossbar in the final minutes.

The team will be without the services of several starters this weekend due to prior obligations, leaving head coach Joe Dorini with a short bench.

“Especially with the hot weather coming, just making sure the girls will last the full 90 minutes will be a challenge. Other girls will have to step up,” said Dorini.

FAIRMONT, W.Va. (May 31, 2008)--The West Virginia Illusion tallied their first goal in franchise history en route to losing to the Carolina RailHawks, 2-1, Saturday night at Duvall-Rosier Field.

Casey Nogueira led the charge for the RailHawks (3-1-1), scoring a goal and taking six shots. Kendra Graber had a goal and two shots, Megan Mischler an assist and two shots, and Marisa Kanela had four shots for the Illusion (0-4-0). Megan Jessee registered seven saves.

The RailHawks got the first chance of the match early when Lindsay Vera’s shot was tipped off the crossbar by Illusion goalkeeper Megan Jessee.

They made their second look count; Nogueira took a feed from left back Kelly Hathron, raced in, and beat Jessee one-on-one just seven minutes in for her second goal of the season in as many appearances.

Back came the Illusion; Megan Mischler shook a defender on the right edge of the 18-yard box and crossed to Morgantown High School product Kendra Graber for a tap-in and the first goal in franchise history in the 25^th minute.

GAME NOTES

MORGANTOWN, W.Va. (May 29, 2008)--The West Virginia Illusion will continue their search for their first win in franchise history when they host the Carolina RailHawks, fellow W-League débutantes, at Duvall-Rosier Field in Fairmont. Kick-off is at 7:30 p.m. Saturday.

West Virginia held first-place Atlanta scoreless for the first 34 minutes before falling, 5-0. Marisa Kanela had two shots and Megan Jessee seven saves for the Illusion (0-3-0), who are in eighth place in the nine-team Atlantic Division.

Head coach Joe Dorini also announced the addition of forward Sydney Metheny to the Illusion roster. Metheny, who just completed her freshman year at West Virginia University, will temporarily take the roster spot of fellow Mountaineer Nicole Mailloux, who is on duty with the Canadian Under-20 national team.

“We needed another attacking threat to help us offensively,” said head coach Joe Dorini.

FAIRMONT, W.Va. (May 24,2008)--Two goals in the final ten minutes of the first half put the West Virginia Illusion in a 2-0 halftime hole. Three goals in the final twenty minutes of the match made sure they’d stay there.

The Atlanta Silverbacks (4-0), who outshot the Illusion (0-3) 21 to 4, scored five goals for the second straight game to remain perfect in league play and got three goals from their bench.

Atlanta almost tallied in the first minute when Sarah Steinmann’s chip shot off of a rebound was denied by a kick save from West Virginia goalkeeper Megan Jessee.

Another blow was dealt the Illusion’s way when co-captain Christen Seaman was forced to exit only five minutes in due to injury.

Megan Mischler (pictured) got the first Illusion chance of the match in the 16^th minute, taking a feed from Greer Barnes in a two-against-two breakaway and shooting far post, only to be denied by a fingertip save from Silverbacks goalkeeper Ashley Phillips.

Three goals in the first fifty-plus minutes of play doomed the West Virginia Illusion Sunday as they fell to the Tampa Bay Hellenic, 3-0, at Duvall-Rosier Field in Fairmont.

The Hellenic opened scoring in the 12^th minute when Stacy Bishop bent a free kick over the head of Illusion goalkeeper Megan Jessee from eight yards out from the left side.

They extended their lead when Rhonda Jones buried a through ball in the 24^th minute.

The Illusion almost got one back around the half-hour mark when Ashley Rees played Megan Mischler in for a one-on-one breakaway down the left side. Mischler’s low effort beat Hellenic goalkeeper Mallori Lofton-Malachi but went inches wide of the far post.

FAIRMONT, W.Va. (May 10, 2008)--The West Virginia Illusion opened the 2008 W-League season with a 3-0 loss to the Charlotte Lady Eagles at Duvall-Rosier Field on Saturday afternoon.in front of a crowd of about 200 fans.

GAME NOTES

MORGANTOWN, W.Va.--The West Virginia Illusion will open their first season in the USL W-League this Saturday, May 10, when they host the Charlotte Lady Eagles at 5 p.m. at Duvall-Rosier Field in Fairmont. It will be the first game to kick off around the league in the 2008 season.

MORGANTOWN, W.Va. (May 7, 2008)--The West Virginia Illusion, a first-year member of the USL W-League, the highest level of women's soccer in North America, have announced nine player signings for the 2008 season, pending league approval.

Former West Virginia University standout Natalie Cocchi, who tied a school record with 87 appearances, highlights the class.

“Natalie is a great late addition to the team, a very surprising addition. I am very happy that she decided to stick around the area to be part of the team. She has a lot of obligations this summer and will be with us as much as possible. She's definitely going to be a starter when she's here...great size, great mental ability to bring to the game,” said head coach Joe Dorini.

By MICHAEL MINNICH
WestVirginiaIllusion.com

MORGANTOWN, W.Va.--Marisa Kanela has been a fixture in the soccer community of north central West Virginia, first as an all-conference player at West Virginia University from 2001-2004 and then as a successful youth coach. Now she gets to combine the two as a player-coach for the first-year West Virginia Illusion.

“I’m extremely excited about it. I’ve been wanting to play for many summers now, and with my schedule and the amount of coaching that I do in my spare time, it made it very difficult,” said Kanela.

“With the W-League able to be here in Morgantown, it’s given me an opportunity to still coach my teams, do camps, and still get to play,” she said.

The first ever Illusion day camp has been announced in cooperation with ProPerformanceRX in Morgantown WV. The camp will be help at Properformance RX facility during July 7th to the 11th ( M-F). Camp hours will be 10am to 12noon / Break / 1pm to 3pm. The campers will receive a free ticket to the Friday night game versus The Richmond Kickers at 7:30 pm. Please click on our camps and clinics tab to download the registration form.

GM/Head Coach Joe Dorini has announced a partnership with MassSport as the official uniform sponsor of the the Illusion teams. We are extremely pleased and excited that such a great, new company has allowed us to jump on board with them. Massport is also the official supplier of the Phildelphia Kixx ( Major Indoor Soccer League )  We are hoping to help promote their brand throughout the region and nationally. Massport has also started the process to become the offical uniform supplier of the West Virginia United Soccer Club.

www.massportusa.com

 

 

2008 W-League Schedule set

14^th official season opens May 10

   TAMPA, FL – United Soccer Leagues announced today the regular season schedule for the 2008 W-League season, which will kick off with the Opening Night on Saturday, May 10 with eight games and conclude on Sunday, July 20.

 

    North America’s top women’s league will open its 14^th official season of competition Saturday with eight games marking the start of the 280-game May 10. Opening Night will feature the debut of six expansion sides as the West Virginia Illusion host the Charlotte Lady Eagles, the Carolina RailHawks visit the Carolina Dynamo, the Tampa Bay Hellenic host the Bradenton Athletics and Connecticut visits the New York Magic. The Ventura County Fusion will play host to fellow newcomer Pali Blues in the debut of W-League soccer in Los Angeles. Opening Night is rounded out with the Hampton Roads Piranhas, one of the inaugural W-League teams in 1995, visiting the 2007 finalist Atlanta Silverbacks, the Long Island Rough Riders playing host to the defending champion Washington Freedom and the Boston Renegades hosting Jersey Sky Blue.

 

The West Virginia Illusion announced Monday morning the formation of a USL W-League women’s soccer team for the 2008 season.  The W-League franchise will be based in Morgantown and will be the first elite women's soccer franchise in the history of the state of West Virginia.

The West Virginia Illusion will be members of the Eastern Conference’s Atlantic Division in 2008. The team will be coached by Joe Dorini, Director of Coaching for West Virginia United Soccer Club and Director of Soccer Operations at PROPerformanceRx, and will consist of past WVU stars as well as the best talent in the surrounding areas.