Maryland Pride Explained

Clubname:Maryland Pride
Fullname:Thunder Soccer Club Maryland Pride
Founded:1994
Stadium:Cedar Lane Park, Howard County
League:Women's Premier Soccer League

The Maryland Pride was an WPSL club based in Howard County, Maryland.

History

The team changed ownership in mid-season 2007 when the Thunder Soccer Club in Columbia, Maryland took over the team.[1]

The club was originally named the Lady Bays and began play in 1994 when the United Soccer Leagues (USL) organized a pilot season to test the demand for a national women's soccer league. The Lady Bays advanced to the first unofficial national tournament, where they were eliminated by Sacramento, California, the eventual 1994 champion. In 1996, playing as the Pride, the team set a goal of winning the national title. After compiling an 8–1 regular-season record, the Pride rolled to the national title by defeating three opponents by a combined score of 9–0 at the 1996 national championship tournament. Maryland finished an undefeated season in 2001 and won the regular season championship. The Pride have advanced to national playoffs seven times in their 16 years of operation. On January 18, 2011, the team announced that they would not play in 2011 and has been discontinued.

Year-by-year

YearLeagueConf/ DivReg SeasonPlayoffs
1995W-LeagueEastern4–5, 6th place
1996W-LeagueEastern Conference9–1, 1st placeW-League Champions[2]
1997W-LeagueMid-Atlantic8–1, 1st placeWon 3rd place game
1998W-League1, Northern Conference10–4, 2nd placeLost 3rd place game
1999W-League1, Northern Conference10–4, 1st placeWon 3rd place game
2000W-League1, Northeastern Conference9–4–1, 3rd place
2001W-League1, Eastern Conference13–0–1, 1st placeLost in semifinal
2002W-LeagueEastern/Northeast7–5–2, 3rd place
2003WPSLEast7–2, 2nd place[3]
2004WPSLEast2–5, 5th place[4]
2005WPSLEast8th place
2006WPSLEast/ South5th place
2007WPSLEast/ Mid-Atlantic6th placeDid not qualify
2008on hiatus
2009WPSLEast10th placeDid not qualify
2010WPSLEast/ Mid-Atlantic4th placeDid not qualify
2011on hiatus

Notes and References

  1. Web site: WPSL Article. 2008-05-15. https://web.archive.org/web/20080512092948/http://www.wpsl.info//mpride/. 2008-05-12. dead.
  2. Web site: Archived copy . 2014-07-14 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20130902111110/http://www.uslsoccer.com/docs/2013%20W-League%20Media%20Guide.pdf . 2013-09-02 .
  3. Web site: Women's Premier Soccer League Standings . www.wpsl.info . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20040427065932/http://www.wpsl.info/standings/2003.html . 2004-04-27.
  4. Web site: Women's Premier Soccer League Standings . www.wpsl.info . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20060825184228/http://www.wpsl.info/standings/2004.html . 2006-08-25.