We know you never get tired of pictures from training, right? Here are a few from today.
Tobin Heath makes a diagonal run to the ball
The USA's four GKs train with Ashlyn Harris between the poles
Epic Battle: Rodriguez vs.
Most people make serious New Year's Resolutions. The usually fall into the eat less, excercise
more, stop smoking, spend more time with family, read more, smile more, type of categories.
We didn't want to hear those from the U.S. WNT players, so we asked a few some more amusing
resolutions.
We're not quite sure of our French, but this picture looks as if the U.S. WNT goalkeepers are on
some sort of a prisoner transfer for a chain gang. No, we just we caught them right after a tough
drill. Nicole Barnhart (left) has 31 caps for the USA while Ashlyn Harris has yet to be capped at
the full international level.
During the U.S. team's walk in the afternoon to shake out the legs and get some cool air in
order to help fend off the jet lag, there were some youngsters setting off firecrackers on the
street. The boys tried (and failed) to scare the U.S. players (not good on either their covertness
or fuse-lighting timing).
U.S. players get a good warm-up in the chilly climes of Chongqing
The U.S. team finished a busy day of training (which also included a post-dinner meeting) at a
different field from the one it had been training on. The trip into the foothills was a bit odd
(some small fields of vegatables, broken down brick structures, what looked to be an old damn, a
road that definitely needed a guard rail where there was none, a few stray chickens, and some
amazing art work upon entering the school where college was well), but after the team got there,
they found another excellent field on which to train.
Week three of Women's Professional Soccer is in the books with two matches played over the
weekend of April 23-24. The Boston Breakers traveled to Florida to take on magicJack which won 1-0
on Saturday. The WNY Flash traveled down to Atlanta to take on the Beat where they played to a 2-2
draw.
For magicJack, this was their first game ever after the game the week before in Philadelphia was
postponed.
The Independence wasted Meghan Rapinoe's early first half goal and were defeated 2-1 by the
Western New York Flash on Sunday evening at Widener University. Rapinoe struck after just 9 minutes
before Becky Edwards and Marta answered back for the undefeated Flash before half time.
Philadelphia coach Paul Riley started the game with Amy Rodriguez as a lone striker, possibly
trying to cope with New York's dynamic attack.
cover photo by Michael Long
The Independence won their fifth straight game on Saturday to go four points clear on the top of
the table over the visiting Western New York Flash. Tasha Kai scored her lead leading 8th goal of
the campaign and Sinead Farrelly scored her first ever career goal for the winner.
CHICAGO (March 15, 2011) – U.S. Women's National Team head coach Pia Sundhage
has named a roster of 23 players to travel to the United Kingdom on March 21 in preparation for the
USA's first match in England on April 2 at Brisbane Road in East London. The game will be televised
live on ESPN2 at 3 p.
The 2nd week of Women's Professional Soccer is over and the season is well underway! The second
week should have consistent three matches, but the Philadelphia Independence match versus magicJack
was canceled because of severe thunder and lightning. Instead, just two matches were played. The
Atlanta Beat earned a win over Sky Blue FC, and the Boston Breakers lost their home opener to the
Western New York Flash.
photo by Michael Long
Game Time: 4 pm Saturday
TV: Comcast Sports Network
The Philadelphia Indpendence is back in the WPS Final for the second time in only their second
year of existence. After dropping last year's final 4-0 to FC Gold Pride, this year's motto has
been "unfinished business".
In a game worthy of a Championship, the Western New York Flash defeated the Philadelphia
Independence in a shootout 5-4 after the teams ended 120 minutes of soccer tied at one. Ashlyn
Harris saved Laura del Rio's penalty on Philadelphia's fifth and final shot after every other
shooter had converted for both teams.
Amy Rodriguez's 88th minute goal gave the Philadelphia Independence new hope, as the team pulled
even with the Western New York Flash at the end of regular time. It would be for naught, as the
Independence eventually fell to the Flash on penalty kicks to lose the 2011 WPS Championship,
An incredibly defensive first half left the score at 0-0, but there were some lowlights to take
from those 45 minutes.
