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| Full name | Pali Blues Soccer Club | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Nickname(s) | The Blues, Pali | ||
| Founded | 2008 | ||
| Stadium | Stadium-by-the-Sea | ||
| Capacity | 4,000 | ||
| Chairman | Maryam Mansouri | ||
| Head coach | Charlie Naimo | ||
| League | USL W-League | ||
| 2014 | 1st, Western Conference Playoffs: Champions | ||
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Pali Blues was an American women's soccer team, which played from 2008 to 2014. The team was a member of the United Soccer Leagues USL W-League, the second tier of women's soccer in the United States and Canada. The team played in the Western Conference against Colorado Force, Colorado Rush, LA Strikers, Santa Clarita Blue Heat, Seattle Sounders Women, Vancouver Whitecaps FC and Victoria Highlanders Women.
The team played its home games in the "Stadium-by-the-Sea" at Palisades High School (nicknamed “Pali”) in the Pacific Palisades area of Los Angeles, California. The club's colors were pale blue, orange and white and was a sister club to the Los Angeles Blues of the USL Pro league.
The club enjoyed robust fan support from the Tony Danza Army, their official supporters group. The "Stadium By The Sea" was widely considered one of the toughest places to play in the W-League, confirmed by Blues coach Charlie Naimo, who called the Tony Danza Army's support the best he has seen in the United Soccer Leagues.
The Blues won their first W-League title in their debut season, beating FC Indiana 2–1 in the W-League Championship game in Virginia Beach, Virginia on August 2, 2008. They would repeat as champions by defeating the Washington Freedom Reserves 2–1 in Germantown, Maryland on August 7, 2009.
Before winning their first W-League title in August, the Pali Blues won the Las Vegas Silver Mug Tournament over Ajax America Women with one goal on February 10, 2008. Their first official game as a team was the first game of the Silver Mug tournament against Ajax America Women on February 9, 2008. The Blues scored a winning goal and moved on to defeat the Athleticos 8-0, the Legacy 9-0 and the Denver Diamonds 4-2. In the semifinal round the Blues defeated the West Coast Soccer Club with one goal. [1]
In November 2014, the Blues announced that they would no longer compete in the W-League so the owners could focus their efforts on their USL franchise.[2]
- ^ "Vegas Mug Tournament Overview]". PaliBlues.blogspot.com. February 12, 2008.
- ^ Johal, Harjeet (November 25, 2014). "Four-time USL W-League champs LA Blues fold]". EqualizerSoccer.com. The Equalizer.