Jeff DiVeronica

@RocDevo

The Western New York Flash are expected to introduce Paul Riley as their new head coach on Friday at an 11 a.m. news conference at Sahlen’s Sports Spark in Elma, Erie County. Riley, 52, who coached the Portland Thorns the past two years, replaces Aaran Lines, the only previous coach in National Women’s Soccer League club’s seven-year history. Lines resigned just before Christmas and was named the club’s vice president last month.

The announcement of Riley’s hiring will come about two months before the Flash’s April 16 season opener at two-time defending champion FC Kansas City. The NWSL announced its schedule Thursday. WNY's home opener is April 29 against the Washington Spirit. Riley will get his first crack at Portland on June 17 in Rochester. The Flash travel to Portland on Sept. 11.

Based on the way his tenure in Portland ended, Riley should be hungry to produce a winner.

Riley was let go last fall after a disappointing season in a city where sell-out crowds are the norm for women’s soccer. A native of England, he has been based in the Long Island area for much of the past 20 years. From 1994-97, he coached in the A-League (against the Rochester Rhinos) for the Long Island Rough Riders. He also coached women’s soccer for the Long Island Fury (W-League, 2006-09), Philadelphia Independence (WPS, 2010-11) and New York Fury (WPSL Elire (2012-13).

He was WPS Coach of the Year in 2011, edging out Lines for the honor.

Riley went just 16-17-11 in two seasons in Portland, where he replaced Cindy Parlow Cone following the Thorns’ 2013 NWSL Championship season when they beat the Abby Wambach- and Carli Lloyd-led Flash 2-0 for the title in Rochester. Portland made the playoffs under Riley in 2014, but was eliminated 2-0 by Kansas City in the semifinals. The Thorns went 6-9-5 and finished in a sixth-place tie last year with the Flash.

Riley also has a link to the 2011 and 2012 Flash teams. His 2012 New York Fury lost in the playoff semifinals in Rochester to the eventual WPSL Elite champion Flash. His 2011 Philadelphia squad lost the Women’s Professional Soccer title match on penalty kicks to WNY in Rochester. That Flash team was star-studded with Christine Sinclair and then-rookie Alex Morgan, star forwards Riley coached the past two years in Portland, Brazilian midfielder Marta and future U.S. national team backups, Whitney Engen and Ashlyn Harris. Engen and Harris were named WPS Defender and Goalkeeper of the Year, respectively, that season.

But this season’s Flash team, much like last year’s, won’t have much star power. Riley will have to rely on a young squad featuring American up-and-comers, Samantha Mewis (midfield), Jaelene Hinkle (defender) and Abby Dahlkemper (defense). Speedy forward Lynn Williams, who led WNY in scoring last year with four goals and four assists as a rookie, is also expected back after having last season cut short by injury.

Newcomer Jess McDonald played for Riley in Portland in 2014 and finished third in the NWSL with 11 goals.