Westchester Flames Announce 2004 Season Schedule

Not satisfied with second place, the Westchester Flames play host to defending champion Wilmington Hammerheads on Saturday, June 12th, 5:30 p.m. at City Park Stadium, New Rochelle, in a rematch of the August 23, 2003 national championship game.

Opening the home schedule on Saturday May 1st are the New Hampshire Phantoms as they look to avenge their loss in the 2003 regional playoffs. Regional rival Western Mass does not come to town until the end of the season when they take on the Flames on Saturday, July 31st and Saturday, August 7th.

The Flames both open and close the season on the road, first visiting the Long Island Rough Riders on Saturday, April 24th, and then to the New Hampshire Phantoms on Saturday, August 14th. Highlighting the summer is a July 4th home game with the Long Island Rough Riders, along with two consecutive road trips to Wilmington and Charlotte followed by Harrisburg and Pittsburgh.

All home games are at 5:30 p.m., City Park Stadium, New Rochelle.

Staying busy during the off-season, United Soccer Leagues (USL) saw many changes within the ranks. Joining the Pro Soccer League (PSL) are the former A-League teams Charlotte Eagles and Pittsburgh Riverhounds. Pittsburgh will visit the Flames on Saturday, July 10th. Both the Eagles and Riverhounds chose to move down in divisions for 2004. The Harrisburg City Islanders, a brand new team in an established area of the former Hershey Wildcats, should provide great competition in the Atlantic Region. Leaving USL for 2004 are long-time rivals, the New York Freedoms. Leaving PSL and joining the Premier Development League (PDL) are the Carolina Dynamo, NJ Stallions and Reading Rage.

Alignments for PSL have remained the same but some teams have changed. The Northern Region will once again consist of the Flames, New Hampshire Phantoms and Western Mass Pioneers. The Atlantic Region has the Pittsburgh Riverhounds and Harrisburg City Islanders joining the Long Island Rough Riders. The Southern Region sees Charlotte joining the Northern Virginia Royals and Wilmington Hammerheads. The Western Region remains the same as 2003 with the California Gold, San Diego Gauchos and Utah Blitzz.

The Westchester Flames 2004 Schedule is as follows:

Saturday, April 24th, Westchester Flames @ Long Island Rough Riders

Saturday, May 1st, Westchester Flames vs. New Hampshire Phantoms

Saturday, May 8th, Westchester Flames @ Western Mass Pioneers

Saturday, May 15th, Westchester Flames vs. Long Island Rough Riders

Saturday, May 22nd, Westchester Flames vs. Northern Virginia Royals

Saturday, May 29th, Westchester Flames @ New Hampshire Phantoms

Sunday, June 6th, Westchester Flames vs. Brooklyn Knights

Saturday, June 12th, Westchester Flames vs. Wilmington Hammerheads

Saturday, June 19th, Westchester Flames @ New Jersey Stallions

Saturday, June 26th, Westchester Flames vs. Harrisburg City Islanders

Friday, July 2nd, Westchester Flames @ Brooklyn Knights

Sunday, July 4th, Westchester Flames vs. Long Island Rough Riders

Saturday, July 10th, Westchester Flames vs. Pittsburgh Riverhounds

Friday, July 16th, Westchester Flames @ Wilmington Hammerheads

Saturday, July 17th, Westchester Flames @ Charlotte Eagles

Friday, July 23rd, Westchester Flames @ Harrisburg City Islanders

Saturday, July 24th, Westchester Flames @ Pittsburgh Riverhounds

Saturday, July 31st, Westchester Flames vs. Western Mass Pioneers

Saturday, August 7th, Westchester Flames vs. Western Mass Pioneers

Saturday, August 14th, Westchester Flames @ New Hampshire Phantoms

Home games listed in Bold, all home games played at 5:30 p.m., City Park Stadium, New Rochelle, NY

Games in italics are US Open Cup Qualifiers

01/16/2004