San Francisco Nighthawks
Encyclopedia
San Francisco Nighthawks is an American women’s soccer team, founded in 1995. The team is a member of the Women's Premier Soccer League
, the third tier of women’s soccer in the United States and Canada. The team plays in the North Division of the Pacific Conference.
The team plays its home games at Kezar Stadium
in San Francisco, California
. The club's colors are red and white.
, a division of the United System of Inter-regional Soccer Leagues (USISL). In 1998, the Nighthawks became a founding member team of the [Women's Premier Soccer League], a national amateur league for women soccer players with over 40 teams and 6 divisions.
The Hawks also play in the Golden Gate Women's Soccer League (GGWSL), a 50+ team, 8 division regional league based in San Francisco with relegation and promotion. The Premier Division includes many women who have played Division I NCAA soccer and want to continue competing at a premier level. The Hawks are four-time champions of GGWSL's Premier Division, having won the title in the fall 2006, spring 2006, fall 2005 and spring 2005.
The Nighthawks, in addition to providing a soccer program for San Francisco Bay Area
women players, provide playing and training opportunities, coaching, instruction and learning opportunities for females of all ages in and around San Francisco. The Hawks organization also conducts low or no cost community soccer camps and clinics, staffed by experienced players and coaches, to teach playing and coaching skills to the community.
The Nighthawks, commonly referred to as the 'Hawks, play at Kezar Stadium
during the WPSL season and at Boxer Stadium
among others during the GGWSL seasons.
The Hawks provide soccer coaching and education to players of all ages and skills. They provide to the community, a stable of knowledgeable, skilled and motivated female coaches, teachers, administrators and others who will share those attributes at little or no cost to the community.
Women's Premier Soccer League
The Women's Premier Soccer League is a national women's soccer league in the United States and Puerto Rico, and is on the 2nd level of women's soccer in the United States soccer pyramid, alongside the W-League and below Women's Professional Soccer....
, the third tier of women’s soccer in the United States and Canada. The team plays in the North Division of the Pacific Conference.
The team plays its home games at Kezar Stadium
Kezar Stadium
Kezar Stadium is a stadium located adjacent to Kezar Pavilion in the southeastern corner of Golden Gate Park in San Francisco, California. It is the former home of the Oakland Raiders and the San Francisco 49ers of the NFL, and of the San Francisco Dragons of MLL. It also served as the home of the...
in San Francisco, California
San Francisco, California
San Francisco , officially the City and County of San Francisco, is the financial, cultural, and transportation center of the San Francisco Bay Area, a region of 7.15 million people which includes San Jose and Oakland...
. The club's colors are red and white.
Current roster
Year-by-year
| Year | Division | League | Reg. Season | Playoffs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2005 | 2 | WPSL | 7th, West | |
| 2006 | 2 | WPSL | 6th, West | |
| 2007 | 2 | WPSL | 6th, West | Did not qualify |
| 2008 | 2 | WPSL | 3rd, Pacific North | Did not qualify |
Competition history
The Nighthawks, formed in 1995 as a charter member of the W-LeagueW-League
The USL W-League is a national women's soccer league in the United States on the 2nd level of women's soccer in the United States soccer pyramid, alongside the Women's Premier Soccer League and below Women's Professional Soccer....
, a division of the United System of Inter-regional Soccer Leagues (USISL). In 1998, the Nighthawks became a founding member team of the [Women's Premier Soccer League], a national amateur league for women soccer players with over 40 teams and 6 divisions.
The Hawks also play in the Golden Gate Women's Soccer League (GGWSL), a 50+ team, 8 division regional league based in San Francisco with relegation and promotion. The Premier Division includes many women who have played Division I NCAA soccer and want to continue competing at a premier level. The Hawks are four-time champions of GGWSL's Premier Division, having won the title in the fall 2006, spring 2006, fall 2005 and spring 2005.
The Nighthawks, in addition to providing a soccer program for San Francisco Bay Area
San Francisco Bay Area
The San Francisco Bay Area, commonly known as the Bay Area, is a populated region that surrounds the San Francisco and San Pablo estuaries in Northern California. The region encompasses metropolitan areas of San Francisco, Oakland, and San Jose, along with smaller urban and rural areas...
women players, provide playing and training opportunities, coaching, instruction and learning opportunities for females of all ages in and around San Francisco. The Hawks organization also conducts low or no cost community soccer camps and clinics, staffed by experienced players and coaches, to teach playing and coaching skills to the community.
The Nighthawks, commonly referred to as the 'Hawks, play at Kezar Stadium
Kezar Stadium
Kezar Stadium is a stadium located adjacent to Kezar Pavilion in the southeastern corner of Golden Gate Park in San Francisco, California. It is the former home of the Oakland Raiders and the San Francisco 49ers of the NFL, and of the San Francisco Dragons of MLL. It also served as the home of the...
during the WPSL season and at Boxer Stadium
Boxer Stadium
Boxer Stadium is a soccer and rugby stadium in San Francisco, California. Located within the confines of Balboa Park, the stadium has a capacity of 6,000...
among others during the GGWSL seasons.
Team highlights
- Competed and won 2008 Las Vegas Silver Mug.
- Invited to and competed in the 2007 USASAUSASAThe United States Adult Soccer Association is a national organization and sanctioning body for amateur soccer in the United States...
National Cup Amateur Division Cup at the Starfire Sports ComplexStarfire Sports ComplexStarfire Sports Complex is a sporting facility in Tukwila, Washington, on the banks of the Green River, near Seattle. It is operated by the non-profit corporation Starfire Sports. At the time of its opening, CEO Chris Slatt believed it to be "the largest synthetic-turf soccer complex in the...
in Seattle, WA. The USASAUSASAThe United States Adult Soccer Association is a national organization and sanctioning body for amateur soccer in the United States...
National Cup Finals program is the oldest and most prestigious competition offered to all affiliated teams of the United States Adult Soccer Association. - Played an exhibition game against the GhanaGhanaGhana , officially the Republic of Ghana, is a country located in West Africa. It is bordered by Côte d'Ivoire to the west, Burkina Faso to the north, Togo to the east, and the Gulf of Guinea to the south...
WNT Black Queens before a crowd of 2,000 in preparation for their 2007 African Women's Championship, a 2007 FIFA Women's World CupFIFA Women's World CupThe FIFA Women's World Cup is an international association football competition contested by the senior women's national teams of the members of Fédération Internationale de Football Association , the sport's global governing body. The championship has been awarded every four years since the...
qualifier. Before the game, nearly 500 boys and girls ranging in age from 6 to 18, received instruction in all aspects of soccer in a free clinic led by the Black Queens and the Nighthawks. - Several Nighthawk players participated in a WPSL All-Star game versus the GhanaGhanaGhana , officially the Republic of Ghana, is a country located in West Africa. It is bordered by Côte d'Ivoire to the west, Burkina Faso to the north, Togo to the east, and the Gulf of Guinea to the south...
WNT Black Queens as a preliminary to the 2003 FIFA Women's World CupFIFA Women's World CupThe FIFA Women's World Cup is an international association football competition contested by the senior women's national teams of the members of Fédération Internationale de Football Association , the sport's global governing body. The championship has been awarded every four years since the...
. - Fielded a team for scrimmages against the San Jose CyberRaysSan Jose CyberRaysSan Jose CyberRays was a professional soccer team that played in the Women's United Soccer Association. The team played at Spartan Stadium on the South Campus of San José State University in San Jose, California. Stars included U.S. National Team star Brandi Chastain, WUSA Goalkeeper of the Year...
, a member of the WUSAWomen's United Soccer AssociationThe Women's United Soccer Association, often abbreviated to the WUSA, was the world's first women's soccer league in which all the players were paid as professionals. Founded in February 2000, the league began its first season in April 2001 with eight teams in the United States...
franchise. - 1998 trip to Shanghai, China where the Nighthawks scored a 2-1 victory vs. China. The roster included WUSAWomen's United Soccer AssociationThe Women's United Soccer Association, often abbreviated to the WUSA, was the world's first women's soccer league in which all the players were paid as professionals. Founded in February 2000, the league began its first season in April 2001 with eight teams in the United States...
draft picks Emmy Barr, Tiffany Hadfield, Keri Sanchez and Jen Tissue.
Nighthawks in the community
The Nighthawks provide free annual soccer clinics for low income youth players, conduct fundraising events for inner city youth soccer teams and leagues (providing teams with uniforms, balls, nets and more), and fundraising events for the community.The Hawks provide soccer coaching and education to players of all ages and skills. They provide to the community, a stable of knowledgeable, skilled and motivated female coaches, teachers, administrators and others who will share those attributes at little or no cost to the community.