Erie Illusion
Encyclopedia
The Erie Illusion is a women's football team playing in the Women's Football Alliance
and they are based in Erie, Pennsylvania
. Their team colors are orange and purple; the team plays at Veterans Stadium. Mary Butler is the owner of the franchise. James Vogt is the head coach. Dorothy Krupa is the General Manager.
, finishing the season with an 0-8 record. After bringing in a new coaching staff with significant collegiate playing experience, the team improved in 2004 and finished with a 1-7 overall record.
The 2005 season, under head coach Robert Beres, had been (prior to 2007) the Illusion's best season to date. The team finished with a respectable 3-5 record. In addition all five loses in 2005 were to teams that qualified for the NWFA playoffs.
In 2006 the Illusion struggled to a 1-8 finish as they faced home and away contests against league powerhouses Pittsburgh Passion, Cleveland Fusion and the Columbus Comets.
In 2007, the Illusion schedule featured eight teams with comparable populations and market size to Erie, Pa. The Illusion rolled to a 7-1 record, including a 7 game winning streak to end the season and a defense that only allowed more than 8 points once the whole season (a 14-13 win over the Maine Freeze). The Illusion qualified for the playoffs but faced the eventual league champion Pittsburgh Passion in the opening round.
In 2008, the Illusion finished with a 4-4 season. The team easily defeated each team it played that shared a similar market and roster size, but lost four games to teams with more sizable rosters and greater populations(populations of 1 to 2.5 million - compared to Erie's 150,000).
In 2009, the Illusion was granted membership to the Independent Women's Football League
, aruguably the most successful women's full-tackle league in the country. Based on team and market size, the Illusion was designated a Tier II team, competing against similar teams. To mark the transition, the Illusion adopted a new, modern logo.
In seven seasons, the Illusion has played at two stadiums - Erie Veteran's Memorial Stadium (2003 & 2004) and Mercyhurst College ( 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008 & 2009). This season, the team played all but one of their games at Mercyhurst College. The Illusion's final home game in 2009 was played a Veteran's Stadium. Mercyhurst's Tullio Field was not available due to a schedule replacement of the stadium turf.
In addition, the Illusion has completed its indoor practice schedule at the St. Benedict's Community Center during six of those seven seasons, and plans to return to the facility in 2010.
Despite may obstacles, the Illusion has survived and thrived in Erie. In fact, the Illusion is Erie's second-longest surviving professional indoor, or outdoor semi- or professional football franchise, men or women's, in nearly 50 years (the only team with a longer existence was Erie Veterans, an independent men's outdoor team that played for over 30 years from the 1920s to the 1950s).
The Illusion concluded its 2009 season with a 3-5 record, despite playing against five teams that earned Tier II playoff spots, including the 2008 Tier II Champion - Montreal Blitz. The team's 2009 schedule also included a game against the former NWFA champion and powerhouse Detroit Demolition.
Following the 2009 regular season, Illusion coach James Reavis and four Illusion players were selected to participate in the IWFL's All-Star Game in Round Rock, Texas. Veterans Michelle Kephart, Corinne Schaeffer, Martha Swick, Brandy Polinick and Tracy Leet were named to the team. This marks the first time in seven seasons that any Illusion players were selected for league, post-season honors.
After the 2010 season, the Illusion announced they were joining the Women's Football Alliance
.
| colspan="6" align="center" | Erie Illusion (NWFA)
|-
|2003 || 0 || 8 || 0 || 5th Mid-Atlantic Division || --
|-
|2004 || 1 || 7 || 0 || 5th North Mid-Atlantic || --
|-
|2005 || 3 || 5 || 0 || 14th North Division || --
|-
|2006 || 1 || 7 || 0 || 4th North Central || --
|-
|2007 || 7 || 1 || 0 || 2nd North Central || Lost Northern Conference Quarterfinals (Pittsburgh
)
|-
|2008 || 4 || 4 || 0 || 3rd North Central || --
|-
| colspan="6" align="center" | Erie Illusion (IWFL)
|-
|2009 || 3 || 5 || 0 || 12th Tier II || --
|-
|2010 || 3 || 5 || 0 || 4th Tier II East Northeast || --
|-
| colspan="6" align="center" | Erie Illusion (WFA)
|-
|2011 || 3 || 6 || 0 || 4th National Mid-Atlantic || --
|-
!Totals || 25 || 49 || 0
|colspan="2"| (including playoffs)
** = Won by forfeit
** = Forfeited
Women's Football Alliance
The Women's Football Alliance is a full-contact Women's American football league which began play in the spring of 2009. They have now completed three full seasons and grew to over 60 teams slated for the 2011 season. The women play 11 person tackle football games with rules that basically mirror...
and they are based in Erie, Pennsylvania
Erie, Pennsylvania
Erie is a city located in northwestern Pennsylvania in the United States. Named for the lake and the Native American tribe that resided along its southern shore, Erie is the state's fourth-largest city , with a population of 102,000...
. Their team colors are orange and purple; the team plays at Veterans Stadium. Mary Butler is the owner of the franchise. James Vogt is the head coach. Dorothy Krupa is the General Manager.
History
They began playing in 2003 as a member of the National Women's Football AssociationNational Women's Football Association
The National Women's Football Association was a full-contact American football league for women headquartered in Nashville, Tennessee. The league was founded by Catherine Masters in 2000, as the two benchmark teams, the Alabama Renegades and the Nashville Dream played each other six times in...
, finishing the season with an 0-8 record. After bringing in a new coaching staff with significant collegiate playing experience, the team improved in 2004 and finished with a 1-7 overall record.
The 2005 season, under head coach Robert Beres, had been (prior to 2007) the Illusion's best season to date. The team finished with a respectable 3-5 record. In addition all five loses in 2005 were to teams that qualified for the NWFA playoffs.
In 2006 the Illusion struggled to a 1-8 finish as they faced home and away contests against league powerhouses Pittsburgh Passion, Cleveland Fusion and the Columbus Comets.
In 2007, the Illusion schedule featured eight teams with comparable populations and market size to Erie, Pa. The Illusion rolled to a 7-1 record, including a 7 game winning streak to end the season and a defense that only allowed more than 8 points once the whole season (a 14-13 win over the Maine Freeze). The Illusion qualified for the playoffs but faced the eventual league champion Pittsburgh Passion in the opening round.
In 2008, the Illusion finished with a 4-4 season. The team easily defeated each team it played that shared a similar market and roster size, but lost four games to teams with more sizable rosters and greater populations(populations of 1 to 2.5 million - compared to Erie's 150,000).
In 2009, the Illusion was granted membership to the Independent Women's Football League
Independent Women's Football League
The Independent Women's Football League was founded in 2000, and began play in 2001.IWFL founders began with the goal to establish a quality women's football league that would be respected as the top level of women's tackle football in the world....
, aruguably the most successful women's full-tackle league in the country. Based on team and market size, the Illusion was designated a Tier II team, competing against similar teams. To mark the transition, the Illusion adopted a new, modern logo.
In seven seasons, the Illusion has played at two stadiums - Erie Veteran's Memorial Stadium (2003 & 2004) and Mercyhurst College ( 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008 & 2009). This season, the team played all but one of their games at Mercyhurst College. The Illusion's final home game in 2009 was played a Veteran's Stadium. Mercyhurst's Tullio Field was not available due to a schedule replacement of the stadium turf.
In addition, the Illusion has completed its indoor practice schedule at the St. Benedict's Community Center during six of those seven seasons, and plans to return to the facility in 2010.
Despite may obstacles, the Illusion has survived and thrived in Erie. In fact, the Illusion is Erie's second-longest surviving professional indoor, or outdoor semi- or professional football franchise, men or women's, in nearly 50 years (the only team with a longer existence was Erie Veterans, an independent men's outdoor team that played for over 30 years from the 1920s to the 1950s).
The Illusion concluded its 2009 season with a 3-5 record, despite playing against five teams that earned Tier II playoff spots, including the 2008 Tier II Champion - Montreal Blitz. The team's 2009 schedule also included a game against the former NWFA champion and powerhouse Detroit Demolition.
Following the 2009 regular season, Illusion coach James Reavis and four Illusion players were selected to participate in the IWFL's All-Star Game in Round Rock, Texas. Veterans Michelle Kephart, Corinne Schaeffer, Martha Swick, Brandy Polinick and Tracy Leet were named to the team. This marks the first time in seven seasons that any Illusion players were selected for league, post-season honors.
After the 2010 season, the Illusion announced they were joining the Women's Football Alliance
Women's Football Alliance
The Women's Football Alliance is a full-contact Women's American football league which began play in the spring of 2009. They have now completed three full seasons and grew to over 60 teams slated for the 2011 season. The women play 11 person tackle football games with rules that basically mirror...
.
Season-By-Season
|-| colspan="6" align="center" | Erie Illusion (NWFA)
|-
|2003 || 0 || 8 || 0 || 5th Mid-Atlantic Division || --
|-
|2004 || 1 || 7 || 0 || 5th North Mid-Atlantic || --
|-
|2005 || 3 || 5 || 0 || 14th North Division || --
|-
|2006 || 1 || 7 || 0 || 4th North Central || --
|-
|2007 || 7 || 1 || 0 || 2nd North Central || Lost Northern Conference Quarterfinals (Pittsburgh
Pittsburgh Passion
The Pittsburgh Passion is a women's American football team based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The franchise began play in 2003 and is currently owned by Teresa Conn and Franco Harris. It is a licensed team in the Women's Football Alliance....
)
|-
|2008 || 4 || 4 || 0 || 3rd North Central || --
|-
| colspan="6" align="center" | Erie Illusion (IWFL)
|-
|2009 || 3 || 5 || 0 || 12th Tier II || --
|-
|2010 || 3 || 5 || 0 || 4th Tier II East Northeast || --
|-
| colspan="6" align="center" | Erie Illusion (WFA)
|-
|2011 || 3 || 6 || 0 || 4th National Mid-Atlantic || --
|-
!Totals || 25 || 49 || 0
|colspan="2"| (including playoffs)
Season schedule
| Date | Opponent | Home Home team In team sports, the term home advantage describes the advantage–usually a psychological advantage–that the home team is said to have over the visiting team as a result of playing in familiar facilities and in front of supportive fans... /Away Home team In team sports, the term home advantage describes the advantage–usually a psychological advantage–that the home team is said to have over the visiting team as a result of playing in familiar facilities and in front of supportive fans... |
Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| April 11 | Jersey Justice Jersey Justice The Jersey Justice are an Independent Women's Tackle Football Team based in Carteret, New Jersey. The team was formed in 2008 with many former players and staff from the New Jersey Titans. Home games in 2011 are to be played on the campus of St. John Vianney High School in Holmdel, NJ. Prior to... |
Home | Lost 6-8 |
| April 18 | Carolina Phoenix Carolina Phoenix The Carolina Phoenix is a football team in the Independent Women's Football League based in the Triad and the Triangle of North Carolina. Home games are played at Western Guilford High School in Greensboro.... |
Away | Lost 0-6 |
| May 2 | Central PA Vipers Central PA Vipers The Central PA Vipers are a team of the Independent Women's Football League. Based in the Steelton suburb of Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, the Vipers play their home games at Steelton-Highspire School District's War Veterans Memorial Field, also known as Cottage Hill.Prior to playing in the IWFL, the... |
Home | Won 61-8 |
| May 23 | Montreal Blitz Montreal Blitz The Montreal Blitz is a team in the Independent Women's Football League. Based in Montreal, Quebec, the Blitz play their home games at Dalbé-Viau High School in the borough of Lachine... |
Away | Lost 10-41 |
| May 30 | Manchester Freedom | Away | Won 20-13 |
| June 6 | Detroit Demolition Detroit Demolition The Detroit Demolition is a women's semi-professional American football team of the Women's Spring Football League based in the Detroit, Michigan area. During their most recent season, home games were played at Franklin High School in Livonia. They joined the National Women's Football Association... |
Home | Lost 7-33 |
| June 13 | Jersey Justice | Away | Lost 16-36 |
| June 20 | Holyoke Hurricanes Holyoke Hurricanes The Holyoke Hurricanes are a now defunct team of the Independent Women's Football League. Based out of Holyoke, Massachusetts, the Hurricanes played their home games at Ware High School in nearby Ware.... |
Home | Won 2-0** |
Season schedule
| Date | Opponent | Home Home team In team sports, the term home advantage describes the advantage–usually a psychological advantage–that the home team is said to have over the visiting team as a result of playing in familiar facilities and in front of supportive fans... /Away Home team In team sports, the term home advantage describes the advantage–usually a psychological advantage–that the home team is said to have over the visiting team as a result of playing in familiar facilities and in front of supportive fans... |
Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| April 3 | Pittsburgh Passion Pittsburgh Passion The Pittsburgh Passion is a women's American football team based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The franchise began play in 2003 and is currently owned by Teresa Conn and Franco Harris. It is a licensed team in the Women's Football Alliance.... |
Home | Lost 0-32 |
| April 10 | Binghamton Tiger Cats Binghamton Tiger Cats The Binghamton Tiger Cats are an Independent Women's Tackle Football team based in Binghamton, New York which began play for its inaugural 2009 season as a member of the Women's Football Alliance and for the 2010 season as a member of the Independent Women's Football League.The Tiger Cats are the... |
Home | Won 57-0 |
| April 17 | Binghamton Tiger Cats | Away | Won 55-0 |
| April 24 | Wisconsin Warriors Wisconsin Warriors The Wisconsin Warriors are a football team in the Independent Women's Football League. Based in Kenosha, the Warriors play their home games on the campus of Indian Trail Academy... |
Away | Lost 0-19 |
| May 1 | Pittsburgh Passion | Away | Lost 2-40 |
| May 8 | Louisville Nightmare Louisville Nightmare The Louisville Belles are a team of the Women's Spring Football League based in Louisville, Kentucky. Home games are played at the campuses of Seneca High School and Ballard High School.... |
Home | Won 47-8 |
| May 22 | New England Intensity New England Intensity The New England Intensity is a football team in the Independent Women's Football League based in Norfolk County, Massachusetts. Home games are played at Joseph P. Hanlon Field on the campus of Medway High School in Medway.... |
Home | Lost 8-28 |
| June 5 | New England Intensity | Away | Lost 20-27 |
Season schedule
| Date | Opponent | Home Home team In team sports, the term home advantage describes the advantage–usually a psychological advantage–that the home team is said to have over the visiting team as a result of playing in familiar facilities and in front of supportive fans... /Away Home team In team sports, the term home advantage describes the advantage–usually a psychological advantage–that the home team is said to have over the visiting team as a result of playing in familiar facilities and in front of supportive fans... |
Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| April 9 | Pittsburgh Passion Pittsburgh Passion The Pittsburgh Passion is a women's American football team based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The franchise began play in 2003 and is currently owned by Teresa Conn and Franco Harris. It is a licensed team in the Women's Football Alliance.... |
Home | Lost 14-56 |
| April 16 | Pittsburgh Force Pittsburgh Force The Pittsburgh Force is a women's American Football team based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. They are currently a member of the Mid-Atlantic Division of the Women's Football Alliance. Home games will be played at Moe Rubenstein Stadium in nearby Ambridge... |
Away | Won 20-8 |
| April 30 | Cleveland Fusion Cleveland Fusion The Cleveland Fusion is a women's professional American football team based in Cleveland, Ohio, United States. They play in the Women's Football Alliance. The Fusion played in the National Women's Football Association from their inception in 2002 until 2008... |
Away | Lost 0-50 |
| May 7 | Columbus Comets Columbus Comets The Columbus Comets are a women's professional American football team based in Columbus, Ohio. They play in the Women's Football Alliance. The Comets played in the National Women's Football Association from their inception in 2003 until 2008... |
Home | Lost 7-36 |
| May 14 | Binghamton Tiger Cats Binghamton Tiger Cats The Binghamton Tiger Cats are an Independent Women's Tackle Football team based in Binghamton, New York which began play for its inaugural 2009 season as a member of the Women's Football Alliance and for the 2010 season as a member of the Independent Women's Football League.The Tiger Cats are the... |
Home | Won 38-0 |
| May 21 | Cleveland Fusion | Home | Lost 0-50 |
| June 4 | Columbus Comets | Away | Lost 0-6** |
| June 11 | Pittsburgh Force | Home | Won 20-0 |
| June 18 | Pittsburgh Passion | Away | Lost 7-47 |