Loudoun NASL Team Named Virginia Cavalry FC

And the winner is ... Virginia Cavalry FC! 

VIP-Loudoun Professional Soccer LLC, the local group that won the right to build a North American Soccer League professional team in Loudoun, unveiled the team’s name during an event Wednesday at Bungalow Lakehouse in Sterling.

With big-screen TVs at the restaurant airing the U.S. Men’s National Team’s qualifier against Honduras, about 200 soccer fans were in attendance to learn that the ownership team would had selected Virginia Cavalry FC, chosen from among nearly 2,000 suggestions from future fans.

The team credited 14-year-old Connor Rouch, of Leesburg, with thinking up the name. He was awarded tickets to the inaugural Cavalry game in 2014 as well as an official home jersey. 

Chris Kirkendall, a Leesburg resident who regularly goes to DC United games, attended the event with his neighbors.

"As DC United Fans, we are happy to have something closer to home and we look forward to supporting Loudoun's team," he said. 

NBC Sports personality Russ Thaler served as host for the event, while U.S. Men’s National Team veterans John Harkes and Eddie Pope assisted with the name unveiling.

Mark Simpson, a DC United goalkeeper and director of soccer operations for the Cavalry FC thanked those who turned out.

"We are super excited to put together a competitive team in the NASL," he said, thanking local youth soccer partners. Simpson said the team would reach out to all the community soccer clubs.

The team’s new website is VirginiaCavalry.com and the home stadium will a ballpark shared with the Loudoun Hounds. The park, initially slated for the Kincora development near the Dulles Town Center is now proposed at One Loudoun in Ashburn.

Both Cavalry FC and the Hounds expect to begin playing ball in 2014. See a video about Cavalry FC here.