Pittsburgh Passion

The Pittsburgh Passion is a women's American football team based in the Pittsburgh metropolitan area. The franchise was formed in March 2002 and is currently owned by Teresa Conn, Anthony Misitano, and the family of Franco Harris. The team is a part of the Women's Football Alliance, with home games played at West Allegheny High School in Imperial, Pennsylvania.

Pittsburgh Passion

Founded	2002
League	NWFA (2003-2007) IWFL (2008-2010) WFA (2011-2013) IWFL (2014-2015) WFA (2016-present)
Team history	Pittsburgh Passion (2003-present)
Based in	Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Stadium	West Allegheny High School Imperial, Pennsylvania
Colors	Black & Gold, White
Owner	Teresa Conn & estate of Franco Harris
Head coach	Teresa Conn
Championships	3 (2007 NWFA) (2014, 2015 IWFL)
Division titles	2 (2007 NWFA, 2008 IWFL, 2011 WFA)

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.

In 2014 and 2015 they won the IWFL Championship in Rock Hill, SC

May 21, 2016 The Passion won the NFC Central North Division with this victory and it is their 6th Division title in team history.

Notable achievements

• First women's football franchise in history to broadcast games on a major television network (Fox Sports Net)^{[citation needed]}
• First franchise to be featured in Sports Illustrated^{[citation needed]}
• First franchise to be featured on ESPN^{[citation needed]}
• Awarded a permanent fixture in the Heinz History Center's Western Pennsylvania Sports Museum in association with the Smithsonian Institution.^{[citation needed]}
• Won the Dapper Dan Charities Sportswoman of the Year Award for 2011–12.
• Franchise was selected to host the WFA National Championship Game slated for August 4 in Pittsburgh.
• The W Bowl National Championship weekend, hosted by the Women's Professional Sports Services, on July 21–23, 2016 in Pittsburgh, PA.

Season-By-Season

Season records

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 2016
Quarterbacks 14 Lisa Horton 16 Kara Prentice 3 Janice Masters FS 6 Remy Olinzock 41 Kim Beaver FB 26 Melinda Henderson 48 Moni Sciullo TE 89 Lorraine Stanek LS 16 Kara Prentice Running Backs 5 Sonya Osselborn *Bit* 6 Remy Olinzock 13 Tara Sease 25 Tara Catone 31 Qualin Pitts 34 Kia Foster 54 Sarah Niedermeyer 87 Hope Fletcher Wide Receivers 4 Kristea Smith 7 Alyanna Marin 8 Sharon Vasquez 12 Cassie Hauser 17 Rachel Wojdowski 18 Santana Ramsey 37 Ashley DiCicco 80 Jessica Melodia 81 Laura Baden 82 Angela Baker 84 Nikki Goisse		Offensive Line 35 Kim Dreischalick 46 Kate "Sully" Sullivan 64 Shelby Horak 71 Kweilin Wofford 73 Lauren "Goose" Ferragonio 74 Paige Bowman 75 Kristen Holzer 76 Samantha "Sam" Simeone 79 Aliesha Pollino 89 Lorraine Stanek 96 Kaitlyn Mackay OLB 47 Johana Collins 58 Amanda Wensel 61 Diane Anderson ILB 19 Katie Kacinko 36 Hannah Daman 53 Jaharia Filmore 55 Hope Crawford 94 Danielle Ripper Defensive Line 20 Chelsea Zahn 24 Denise Taylor 52 Melanie "Hammer" Hammond 63 Brittany McKinstry 68 Necla Ragins 75 Kristen Holzer 76 Samantha "Sam" Simeone 77 Kaitlain Niedermeyer 98 Kim Zubovic DE 23 Kasey Hatfield 50 Shannon Ribblett 57 Jessica "Jessy" Nelko 92 Kiara Keys 97 Deitra Cooper Linebackers 20 Chelsea Zahn 28 Rosie Christian 49 Miashanti Smith		Defensive Backs 72 Toni Jones 51 Jamie Rimel 41 Kim Beaver 33 Kelli Clark 8 Sharon Vasquez 32 Allison Bashe 30 Madison Baxter 18 Santana Ramsey 10 Ashley Strawn 9 Rebecca Ehrgood 2 Jess Cimino K 1 Amy Fallon C 64 Shelby Horak Multiple Positions 16 Kara Prentice (QB/LS) 20 Chelsea Zahn (LB/DL) 18 Santana Ramsey (WR/DB) 6 Remy Olinzock (RB/FS) 41 Kim Beaver (FS/DB) 64 Shelby Horak (OL/C) 75 Kristen Holzer (OL/DL) 76 Samantha Simeone (OL/DL) 89 Lorraine Stanek (TE/OL)

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
view talk edit	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
view talk edit	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

Date	Opponent	Location	Score	Result
April 2	Toledo Reign	Toledo, OH	28-0	WIN
April 9	Columbus Comets	Columbus, OH	48-3	WIN
April 23	Cleveland Fusion	Slippery Rock, PA	43-0	WIN
April 30	Detroit Dark Angels	Detroit, MI	55-6	WIN
May 7	Keystone Assault	California, PA	56-6	WIN
May 14	Boston Renegades	Pittsburgh, PA	32-51	LOSS
May 21	Detroit Dark Angels	Pittsburgh, PA	63-8	Win
June 4	Chicago Force	Chicago, IL	33-48	LOSS
June 11	Atlanta Phoenix	Imperial, PA	35-24	WIN
June 25	D.C. Divas	Landover, MD	29-41	LOSS

Passion Defeat Atlanta 35-24 In 1st Round Of Playoffs

10 Pittsburgh Passion Players Named To WFA All American Teams^{[citation needed]}

External links

• Official website
• WFA website