Pittsburgh Passion

Pittsburgh Passion
Founded 2002
League NWFA (2003-2007)
IWFL (2008-2010)
WFA (2011-2013)
IWFL (2014-)
Team history Pittsburgh Passion (2003-present)
Based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Stadium Highmark Stadium George K. Cupples Stadium
Colors Black & Gold
Owner(s) Teresa Conn & Franco Harris
Head coach Teresa Conn
Championships 3 (2007 NWFA) (2014, 2015 IWFL)
Division titles 2 (2007 NWFA, 2008 IWFL, 2011 WFA)

The Pittsburgh Passion is a women's American football team based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The franchise was formed in March 2002 and is currently owned by Teresa Conn and Franco Harris. The team is a part of the Women's Football Alliance, with home games played at Highmark Stadium in Pittsburgh.

History

In 2003, the Passion played its home games at Belle Vernon Area High School. The team finished its inaugural season with a 2-6 record. The average attendance at each of their four home games that season was between 2,500 and 3,000 fans.

In 2004 season, the Passion changed its home stadium to Ambridge High School's Moe Rubenstein Stadium. The team improved its regular season record to 6-2, just missing the playoffs as a Northern Conference wildcard team. The Passion led the league in attendance for 2004 with crowds approaching 4,000 fans per game.

In 2005, the Passion carried an active roster of 55 players along with a practice squad.

Starting in 2006, the Passion have played its home games at George K. Cupples Stadium (formerly "South Stadium") in the South Side of Pittsburgh.

In 2007, the Passion recorded an undefeated regular season going 8-0. After winning all three of their home playoff games, the team improved to 11-0 after victories over Erie, the West Michigan Mayhem, and Cleveland. The team then won the National Championship Game on July 21, 2007 against the Columbus Comets by a score of 32-0.

In 2008, the Passion recorded their second consecutive perfect regular season, finishing 8-0, winning the North Atlantic Division title, and defeating the Orlando Mayhem in the Eastern Conference Semifinal. However, they lost the Eastern Conference Championship to the Chicago Force by a score of 8-7, ending their 23-game winning streak that dated back to 2006.

In 2009, the Passion finished 7-1, good for the Eastern Conference wild card spot. However, they lost the Eastern Conference Semifinal to eventual conference champion D.C. Divas 27-17.

In 2010, the Passion finished 4-4, missing the playoffs for the first time since 2006.

For 2011, the Passion joined the Women's Football Alliance. They finished their inaugural regular season with a perfect 8-0 and won the Mid-Atlantic Division title before losing to the Chicago Force in the National Conference quarterfinal game.

Notable achievements

Season-By-Season

Season W L T Finish Playoff results
Pittsburgh Passion (NWFA)
2003 2 6 0 4th Mid-Atlantic Division --
2004 6 2 0 2nd North Mid-Atlantic --
2005 5 3 0 9th North Division --
2006 5 3 0 3rd North Central --
2007 8 0 0 1st North Central Won Northern Conference Quarterfinal (Erie)
Won Northern Conference Semifinal (West Michigan)
Won Northern Conference Championship (Cleveland)
Won NWFA Championship (Columbus)
Pittsburgh Passion (IWFL)
2008 8 0 0 1st East North Atlantic Won Eastern Conference Semifinal (Orlando)
Lost Eastern Conference Championship (Chicago)
2009 7 1 0 2nd East Mid Atlantic Lost Eastern Conference Semifinal (D.C.)
2010 4 4 0 3rd East Northeast --
Pittsburgh Passion (WFA)
2011 8 0 0 1st National Mid-Atlantic Lost National Conference Quarterfinal (Chicago)
2012 7 1 0 2nd National Division 3 Won National Conference First Round (Detroit)
Lost National Conference Quarterfinal (D.C.)
Totals 66 24 0 (including playoffs)

* = current standing

Roster

Pittsburgh Passion roster
Quarterbacks
  • 14 Lisa Horton
  • 16 Kara Prentice
Running Backs
  •  5 Sonya Osselborn
  • 11 Ciara Chic
  • 26 Melinda Henderson (FB)
  • 36 Lori Burkholder (FB)
  • 54 Gretchen Hulse
  • 80 Lyndsi Hughes
Wide Receivers
  • 12 Tina Kopelic
  • 19 Kim Basic (TE)
  • 23 Sherry Kring (TE)
  • 31 Suzanne Read
  • 33 Tammy Spencer
  • 37 Desiree Sterling
  • 81 Diedra DiBucci (TE)
  • 82 Angela Baker
  • 87 Autumn Dillaman (TE)
  • 88 Valerie Riley
  • 89 Lorraine Stanek (TE)
Offensive Line
  • 25 Heather Sopko
  • 46 Kate Sullivan
  • 51 Madeline McPherson
  • 62 Talisa Beachom
  • 64 Shelby Horak
  • 66 Michelle Neuber
  • 67 Tera McIntosh
  • 68 Valerie Rizzo
  • 71 Kweilin Wofford
  • 73 Kristi Torba
  • 79 Kate Handra
  • 90 Joei Nocito
  • 95 Jacklyn Eaton
  • 96 Jacqueline Reynolds
Defensive Line
  •  3 Janice Masters
  • 45 JoJo Warner
  • 52 Melanie Hammond
  • 53 Tina Rojtas
  • 57 Jessica Nelko
  • 65 Denise Taylor
  • 69 Sharon Burkes
  • 70 Tina Kelly
  • 78 Christina Medley
  • 92 Shelley Victor
  • 93 Kendra Galbreath
  • 98 Kim Zubovic
Linebackers
  • 13 Deanna New
  • 27 Renee Zavolta
  • 32 Cathylee Peffer
  • 38 Beth Amato
  • 48 Ali McGrath
  • 55 Ebony Ivy
  • 56 Emily Reasey
  • 58 Stephanie Balochko
  • 60 Rochelle Roeschenthaler
Defensive Backs
  •  2 Alex McAtee (FS)
  •  4 Jennifer Hoffman) (FS
  •  6 Jordan Zeunges (SS)
  •  8 Sharon Vasquez
  •  9 Casey Waha
  • 15 Shawna Rouse (FS)
  • 24 Kristen Ruzicka
  • 39 Victoria Miller
  • 40 Krystal Cozzo
  • 41 Erika Kurzawa
  • 43 Michelle Brevard
  • 83 Lauren Lander
  • 85 Kayla Steffee
  • 86 Olivia Griswold (SS)
Special Teams
  •  1 Amy Fallon
Multiple Positions
  •  7 Amanda Haeg (WR/QB)
  • 17 Rachel Wojdowski (WR/LB)
  • 20 Trumane Rogers (TE/LB)
  • 34 Hope Cain (LB/DL)
  • 50 Cydney Matthews (OL/DL)
  • 76 Samantha Simeone (OL/DL)
  • 77 Kaitlain Niedermeyer (OL/DL)
  • 97 Octavia Griswold (FB/OL)
  • 99 Veronica Burress (OL/DL)
Injured Reserve
  • Currently vacant
Exempt List
  • Currently vacant
Practice Squad
  • Currently vacant


Rookies in italics
Roster|updated May 7, 2012
78 Active, 0 Inactive, 0 PS

→ More rosters

2009

Season Schedule

Date Opponent Home/Away Result
April 18 Detroit Demolition Home Won 29-6
April 25 Baltimore Nighthawks Home Won 49-0
May 2 D.C. Divas Away Lost 7-27
May 16 New York Nemesis Home Won 41-0
May 23 Detroit Demolition Away Won 34-12
May 30 Connecticut Crushers Home Won 76-0
June 6 Philadelphia Firebirds Away Won 53-0
June 13 New York Sharks Away Won 34-33
June 27 D.C. Divas (Eastern Conference Semifinal) Away Lost 17-27

2010

Season Schedule

Date Opponent Home/Away Result
April 3 Erie Illusion Away Won 32-0
April 17 Philadelphia Firebirds Home Won 49-0
April 24 Boston Militia Away Lost 0-27
May 1 Erie Illusion Home Won 40-2
May 8 New York Sharks Away Lost 8-12
May 15 Baltimore Nighthawks Home Won 34-6
May 22 Chicago Force Away Lost 0-7
May 29 New York Sharks Home Lost 10-27

2011

Standings

2011 Mid Atlantic Division
W L T PCT PF PA DIV GB STK
y-Pittsburgh Passion 8 0 0 1.000 270 35 8-0 --- W8
Cleveland Fusion 5 3 0 0.625 267 90 5-3 3.0 L1
Columbus Comets 5 3 0 0.625 191 60 5-3 3.0 W2
Pittsburgh Force 2 6 0 0.000 8 364 2-6 6.0 L1
Erie Illusion 0 8 0 0.250 68 255 0-8 8.0 L8

Season Schedule

Date Opponent Home/Away Result
April 2 Pittsburgh Force Away Won 30-0
April 9 Erie Illusion Away Won 56-14
April 16 Cleveland Fusion Away Won 26-8
April 30 Columbus Comets Home Won 17-0
May 14 Pittsburgh Force Home Won 45-0
May 21 Columbus Comets Away Won 7-6
June 11 Cleveland Fusion Home Won 42-0
June 18 Erie Illusion Home Won 47-7
June 25 Chicago Force (National Conference Quarterfinal) Away Lost 31-41

2012

Standings

2012 Division 3
W L T PCT PF PA DIV GB STK
Pittsburgh Passion 7 1 0 0.875 407 90 3-1 --- W3
D.C. Divas 5 3 0 0.625 289 157 4-1 1 L1
Columbus Comets 2 6 0 0.250 78 139 0-2 4 W1

Season Schedule

Date Opponent Home/Away Result
April 14 D.C. Divas Away Won 35-34
April 28 Columbus Comets Away Won 37-14
May 5 Cleveland Fusion Home Won 49-0
May 12 Toledo Reign Home Won 71-14
May 19 Pittsburgh Force Away Won 66-0
June 2 D.C. Divas Home Loss 43-28
June 9 Columbus Comets Home Win 22-0
June 16 Philadelphia Firebirds Away Win 50-0
June 23 Detroit Dark Angels (1st round) Home Win 34-0

External links

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