There was a minor incident before morning training today. Apparently, the coolers in the back of
one of the team mini-vans were improperly stacked, and when the hatch-back was opened by the U.S.
goalkeepers, a cooler fell out, spilling ice all over the ground. Being quick-thinking goalkeepers,
and handy with their hands, the GKs quickly scooped almost all the ice back into the cooler.
Finally, the full compliment of goalkeepers is in U.S. WNT training camp. When camp started, it was
just Jill Loyden getting some personal training from U.S. goalkeeper coach Paul Rogers. She was
then joined by Ashlyn Harris, then Alyssa Naeher, and finally veteran Nicole Barnhart arrived
yesterday. During today's morning training, Rogers had his 'keepers catching balls with SPARQ
weight vests on.
Hello Ashlyn...
With Hope Solo undergoing surgery yesterday, and Alyssa Naeher and Nicole Barnhart still involved
in the WPS playoffs, just one goalkeeper had been in camp, that being Jill Loyden of the Chicago
Red Stars. Let's just say she was getting A LOT of reps. The U.S.
Every U.S. WNT training is planned to be light, media, hard or very hard. Today was very hard. Or
maybe it just seemed that way because there was a training in the morning and some combative stuff
during the afternoon training in a hot, humid, sweat-dripping second session that included some
one-v-ones as well as some 4 v.
The final four teams standing after WPS ended its regular season were FC Gold Pride in first
place, the Boston Breakers in second place, the Philadelphia Independence in third place, and for
the second year in a row, the Washington Freedom in fourth place.
In a playoff system that gives home advantage to the top three playoff teams, the Washington
Freedom traveled up to Philadelphia to take on the Independence in the First Round.
It was a game that, at times, it looked like Philadelphia should have had four or five goals on
the board. Instead, it took 120 minutes for the Independence to score the only goal of the match
and earn a well-deserved win.
Sometimes, you just got to do it the hard way.
The Philadelphia Independence hosted Washington Freedom on Sunday in the first round of the WPS
playoffs and it was a nervous start for both teams.
It was a game that, at times, it looked like Philadelphia should have had four or five goals on
the board. Instead, it took 120 minutes for the Independence to score the only goal of the match
and earn a well-deserved win.
Sometimes, you just got to do it the hard way.
The Philadelphia Independence hosted Washington Freedom on Sunday in the first round of the WPS
playoffs and it was a nervous start for both teams.
