It seems that Pia Sundhage and the US Women's Team are still trying to figure out a magic winning concoction against formidable Japan! Unfortunately, the Americans lost 1-0 to them in the Algarve Cup yesterday- an annual highlight in the Women's football calendar.

With the Olympics quickly approaching, it would seem the USWNT are prepared to take on whoever will be thrown at them when they head to London. Pia Sundhage's squad played a great game of football in front of a sold out crowd at PPL Park on Sunday, coming up with a big win against China. This match also marked the debut of new matching kits for both the USMNT and the USWMNT, who put them to good use.

U.S. WNT head coach Pia Sundhage has named the roster for the January training camp in Los Angeles, after which she will name the 20-player roster for Olympic Qualifying being held in Vancouver, B.C. from Jan, 19-29. Sundhage will bring 20 players to Canada, but will only be able to suit up 18 per game.

While MLS has in the last few years reached a level of stability that will hopefully give us a break from our perennial worrying about "the future of the game", the women's pro game is still struggling for survival in this country. The Women's National Team is currently preparing for the Olympic Qualifying Tournament this month and the roster is officially listed as:

GOALKEEPERS (2): Nicole Barnhart (out of contract), Hope Solo (out of contract)

DEFENDERS (7): Rachel Buehler (Atlanta Beat), Ali Krieger (FFC Frankfurt), Amy LePeilbet (Atlanta Beat), Heather Mitts (out of contract), Kelley O'Hara (Atlanta Beat), Christie Rampone (out of contract), Becky Sauerbrunn (Sky Blue FC)

MIDFIELDERS (7): Shannon Boxx (out of contract), Tobin Heath (out of contract), Lori Lindsey (Western New York Flash), Carli Lloyd (Atlanta Beat), Heather O'Reilly (Boston Breakers), Megan Rapinoe (out of contract), Amy Rodriguez (out of contract)

FORWARDS (4): Lauren Cheney (out of contract), Sydney Leroux (Atlanta beat), Alex Morgan (Western New York Flash), Abby Wambach (out of contract)

That's 10 players out of 20 who don't currently have a club team, which is remarkable for a country that has dominated the sport internationally for decades.

It started as a soccer game. It ended with a football score.

Former Boston Breakers' striker Amy Rodriguez grabbed a record-tying five goals in the United States' record-setting 14-0 demolition of the Dominican Republic in the first game of Olympic Qualifying at BC Place in Vancouver.

WPS Season Canceled

Mere hours after the US Women reaffirm their dominance in the CONCACAF Olympics Qualifying tournament, WPS has announced the cancellation of their 2012 season.

This is not entirely surprising considering the well publicized struggles with the owners of MagicJack reducing the league to only 5 teams (FIFA guidelines specify a minimum of 8 teams to be considered a league).

Novak Djokovic beat Rafal Nadal in a herculean Australian Open finals that lasted 6 hours. The same day Arsenal had to summon every fibre to overcome a two goal deficit to overcome Aston Villa and prevent a FA Cup exit.

And then there is the US Women's team that blanked Canada, 4-0, en route to winning the CONCACAF qualifiers to the London Olympics.

Two long winning streaks continued on a chilly Thursday night in the Madison area.

Waunakee cruised past host Baraboo 6-0 in a Northern Badger Conference girls soccer opener, the 43rd consecutive conference victory for the Warriors.

Junior Abby Pandow had two goals and an assist for Waunakee (5-0-1), which has lost just once in the 11-year history of the Northern Badger: A 1-0 setback against Reedsburg on May 20, 2003.

Abby works the abs. Try this sometime. It ain't easy.

The U.S. WNT had a full day planned for today. Weights in the morning, Barcelona vs. Real Madrid on TV in the mid-day, and training in the late afternoon.
U.S. defender Becky Sauerbrunn was one of the few U.

La directora técnica de la selección estadounidense, Pia Sundhage, reveló hace unas horas a 18 jugadoras que competirán por estar en el podio en las próximas Olimpiadas de Londres.

Porteras:

Hope Solo | Seattle Sounders

Nicole Barnhart

Defensas:

Rachel Buehler

Amy LePeilbet

Heather Mitts

Kelley O'Hara

Christie Rampone

Becky Sauerbrunn | DC United

Mediocampistas:

Shannon Boxx

Carli Lloyd

Lauren Cheney

Tobin Heath

Heather O'Reilly

Megan Rapinoe

Delanteras:

Sydney Leroux | Seattle Sounders

Alex Morgan | Seattle Sounders

Amy Rodríguez

Abby Wambach

Quedan fuera de la lista final Ali Krieger por no estar recuperada al 100% de su lesión en la rodilla sufrida en el Preolímpico de Vancouver; Lori Lindsey, Jill Loyden, Meghan Klingenberg y Christen Press serán tomadas en cuenta como suplentes en caso de que alguna de las jugadoras base sufran alguna lesión.

Megan Rapinoe knows how to celebrate goals...but we knew that
Special thanks to all the Philly-area fans who packed PPL Park (15,573 strong ) on May 27 for the USA's 4-1 victory over China and for creating a special atmosphere. Although the USA fell fell behind 1-0 (whoops) the home fans helped the Americans roar back to score four unanswered goals -- two from Baby Horse herself -- and capped it off with a spectacular finish from Abby Wambach (perhaps worth the price of admission, that goal was).