The beat (no pun intended) goes on for the Independence, announcing the signing of former US
Women's National Team standout, Lori Chalupny earlier today. Chalupny comes to Philadelphia from
the Atlanta Beat, where she played in 17 games and scored two goals. "Lori is a world class
midfielder. She has great vision, is a fantastic engine and can play both the percentage and
million dollar pass," Philadelphia head coach Paul Riley told the official Independence website
today.
Group B encounters with the Ferns taking on the Nadeshiko. Look out for Japan with
their midfield creativity in Aya Miyama and captain Homare Sawa.
Miyama played for the Los Angeles Sol and St Louis Athletica in the WPS before they folded up
while Sawa is Abby Wambach's team mate in the Washington Freedom.
As much as Major League Soccer officials like to bash college soccer for not developing young
talent, the biggest challenge for professional soccer to continue to grow and develop players in
the United States is the establishment of a successful second division.
With the NASL and USL D2 going through his trials and tribulations to coexist, Paul Kennedy of
Soccer America writes of what's left of D2 soccer in the United States.
