The University of Mississippi Athletics
Rebels Help W-League's Ottawa Fury Rise In Playoffs
7/29/2009 | Soccer
JEFFERSON, Ind. - With an 11-1-2 record, the Ottawa Fury boasts one of the best teams in the USL W-League this summer, thanks in large part to the help of two Rebel soccer stars - rising senior Danielle Johnson and recently graduated Jennifer Hance.
On Sunday, the Fury claimed a 2-1 playoff victory over previously unbeaten FC Indiana to advance to the W-League semifinals and earn the Central Conference title. The Fury will travel to Maryland to face the Washington Freedom in the final four this Saturday.
The W-League is the United Soccer Leagues' highest level of women's soccer in the U.S. and Canada and one of the top leagues for women in the world. Ottawa is one of the league's 37 teams, which feature international and former professional stars, as well as elite college players who can maintain their collegiate eligibility.
With its fifth trip to the W-League Final Four in the last eight years, Ottawa has firmly established itself among the league's elite teams. In fact, the Fury has been ranked as high as seventh in the Women's World Football Top Teams list in recent years.
This is the second year that Johnson and Hance have competed in Canada's capital city. The Rebel duo helped the 2008 Fury squad to a 13-1 regular-season record and an Eastern Conference finals appearance.
"The W-League is second only to the WPS (Women's Professional Soccer) in terms of level of play for women in North America," Ole Miss head coach Steve Holeman said. "Danielle anchors the back line of one of the W-League's top teams and one of the league's best defenses. She is training at a high level and facing some of the top forwards in the country, which will only help her as she leads our team this fall."
Johnson, a three-time All-SEC selection with the Rebels, has been a constant along the back line for Ottawa as she ranks second on the team in minutes played. The Fury defense gave up just nine goals in 14 regular-season games, the best mark in its division. The Baton Rouge, La., native is gaining valuable experience in preparation for the 2009 Ole Miss season in which she will serve as one of three senior team captains, along with Hannah Weatherly and Mallory Coleman.
Hance finished her Rebel career as one of the most decorated players in school history, earning All-SEC distinction three times, as well as being named the 2005 SEC Freshman of the Year. She has scored four goals with the Fury this summer, and although she did not score in the quarterfinal match against FC Indiana, she was targeted as the recipient of a free kick that led to the game-winning own goal in the 2-1 victory.
