Portland Rain end season

From the San Diego Sea Lions to the Chesapeake Charge, there are 10 divisions comprising 55 teams in the Women’s Premiere Soccer League. Did you know that fact?

Most people don’t know that Portland has a WPSL team, a U-23, and U-18/U-19 youth sides under their umbrella organization.

The effort of youth organizations nurturing post-club avenues for soccer has either sunk or swum in recent years, but the Portland Women’s Rain team seems to be stable on high ground.

The organization formed their team from the Bridlemile youth club over a year ago aiming to field a team of college and ODP players who had graduated from the youth club system by the ages of 18 and 19 years. The formation of the Portland Rain team gives female college players a place to play and develop after their club participation. They can play at a competitive level against other college players over the summer months.

John Madding, Director of Soccer Operations for the Rain, took over the team this May and coordinated with his staff to prepare for the summer season. Not much time to organize, but with a knowledgeable coaching staff, it helped the transition.

His staff, mostly a carry over from the 2009 season, helped recruit players from all over the US post-secondary school systems comprised of NCAA and NAIA and Community Colleges. Mike Smith, formerly of Santa Clara University and currently Technical Director with Oregon ODP, is one of the head coaches for the team. He knows the club players well, the ODP players and the college stars still in the game.

This year, the team was fortified with more NCAA Division I players, strong Division III players and local talents from Community Colleges. Well known names being Natalie Budge (U of Portland), and this year’s top scorer Nicole Wilcox (8 goals) from Washington State University.

Since the team was well-known for fielding a good squad, the Rain faced a readied opponent this year and finished the season 1 point shy of third for the playoffs. The Rain lost at the end of the season to North Bay FC Wave 2-1 and didn’t advance.

Supporters have been “filling the terraces” and crowds of 300 and 450 have been entertained by the high level of play and tenacity at the Rain’s matches. Oregon Episcopal School has hosted many of the league matches, as have Lincoln HS and Strassler fields.

Since the players graduate mostly from the Oregon club teams, the younger club players and parents come out to support their Rain team. But John Madding also purports a “word of mouth” buzz on the team and they are seeing results this season in attendance.

The Oregon ODP 2010 Friendship Cup at Tualatin Hills Recreation Center this past May saw the Rain play the Oregon ODP girls team to the delight of a large crowd.

You can now see these local amateur players with their college sides and return to participating as “student-athletes”. Go out and see these players for their college teams.

See the roster below for colleges.

At 6 (wins) and 6 (losses), it was another good season with a young team. As the Soccer City of Portland looks to next May we can all say “Bring on the Rain”!

Be Champions, Portland, and go out and support women’s soccer!

1. Anisa Babar - Whitworth University
2. Melissa Beal - University of Washington
3. Christina Blackburn
4. Molly Brabahm
5. Natalie Budge - University of Portland
6. Georgie Christensen - Concordia University
7. Amanda Dutra - Portland State University
8. Megan Foy - California Development Academy
9. Morgan Garcia - California Development Academy
10. Darcie Gardner - University of Oregon
11. Katherine Gleffe - Oregon State University
12. Gloria Hernandez - California Development Academy
13. Meaghan Hilson
14. Amanda Howie - Portland State University
15. Jesslyn Jamison
16. Caroline Kreuz - St. Mary's College of California
17. Shauna Kruger - University of North Florida
18. Cris Lewis - Portland State University
19. Melinda Madden - Lake Oswego Soccer Club
20. Rachel Madding - Middlebury College
21. Rianna Mansfield - University of Oregon
22. Lia Margolis- Oregon State University
23. Shelly Martindale - Pacific University
24. Lindsay Meiggs - Oregon State University
25. Natalie Meiggs - Lake Oswego Soccer Club
26. Alix Michael - Tufts University
27. Adriana Montes - University of Oregon
28. Molly Moore - Whitworth University
29. Jennifer Novak - Pacific University
30. Courtney Opie
31. Jacqueline Pitchford - University of Akron
32. Kahyra Ramirez - Clackamas Community College
33. Emily Rohde - Portland State University
34. Leeah Schilling - St. Mary's College of California
35. Madeleine Thompson - Stanford University
36. Monica Tingley- California Development Academy
37. Nicole Wilcox - Washington State University