Final shots for the day:

*Sol defenders Brittany Bock and Stephanie Cox and midfielder Shannon Boxx were among 26 players called into Pia Sundhage's 12-day USWNT camp that begins Sept. 21 at Home Depot Center. Bock gets her second call-up of the year after also making the U.S. roster for the May 25 game against Canada in Toronto she was forced to miss after suffering a heel injury in training the day before.

Actually, the title of this post may be a bit misleading since I do recall reading a recent Offside blog post where the author claimed to know nothing about soccer in St. Louis except "the spanking hot Hope Solo." Anyhooo, our Fearless Leader™ is having a training camp next week with the usual suspects plus a few of the current NCAA Div 1 standouts.

Chicago midfielder, along with Lloyd and Rapinoe, to train with squad
On Tuesday, three players from the Chicago Red Stars were named to the U.S. Women's National Team's training session running from Sept. 21 to Oct. 2.
Red Stars midfielder Brittany Klein (pictured) joins the team with the hopes of earning her first international camp.

United States Women's National Team coach Pia Sundhage has named 26 players for a training camp running from September 21st to October 2nd in Carson, California. GOALKEEPERS (3): Nicole Barnhart (FC Gold Pride), Ashlyn Harris (North Carolina), Hope Solo (St. Louis Athletica); DEFENDERS (8): Brittany Bock (Los Angeles Sol), Rachel Buehler (FC Gold Pride), Lori Chalupny (St.

Defender Brittany Bock, 22, received her first call-up to the U.S. Women's National Team today in the wake of a 12-day camp at Home Depot Center and ahead of the Oct. 29 game against Germany.

She was an integral part of the Sol's defense last season.

Also named to the roster were Torrance's Shannon Boxx of the Sol and USC product Amy Rodriguez.

Naperville native relishing opportunity with WPS's 1st-place Sol
Neuqua Valley and Notre Dame grad Brittany Bock is continuing to add chapters to her already storied local soccer career. CLICK HERE for my feature on the Naperville native and her successful inaugural season with Women's Professional Soccer's championship-bound Los Angeles Sol.

New Jersey-based Sky Blue FC completed its Cinderella Story finish to the Women's Professional Soccer season, defeating regular-season champion Los Angeles Sol, 1-0, on Saturday in the WPS Championship. Below are Associated Press photos of the Chicago-area locals who played in the match. (CLICK HERE for the game report)
Elk Grove Village native Jen Buczkowski (4) celebrates the WPS title with her Sky Blue FC teammates Saturday.

GOALKEEPERS (2): Nicole Barnhart (FC Gold Pride), Hope Solo (St. Louis Athletica) DEFENDERS (6): Brittany Bock (Los Angeles Sol), Rachel Buehler (FC Gold Pride), Lori Chalupny (St. Louis Athletica), Amy LePeilbet (Boston Breakers), Heather Mitts (Out of Contract), Cat Whitehill (Washington Freedom) MIDFIELDERS (8): Yael Averbuch (Sky Blue FC), Shannon Boxx (Los Angeles Sol), Tobin Heath (North Carolina), Angela Hucles (Boston Breakers), Lori Lindsey (Washington Freedom), Carli Lloyd (Out of Contract), Heather O'Reilly (Sky Blue.

Red Stars midfielder to face Germany on Oct. 29
Chicago Red Stars midfielder Megan Rapinoe was one of 18 players named to the U.S. Women's National Team on Monday for the team's Oct. 29 match against Germany.
This year she has played in all seven of the U.S.'s international matches, posting two goals, an assist and a team-high five points.

Briefly:

*The MLS playoffs begin tonight and Seattle Sounders fans will demonstrate the right way to support a team - by going freaking nuts in the stands. Hope Galaxy and Chivas USA fans are taking note. The Dynamo-Sounders game is on ESPN2 at 7 p.m. Game preview here.

*Incidentally, the U.

Wet, cold weather, crummy public transportation system, high crime rate and expensive accommodations.

Sounds a lot like Los Angeles on this rainy Monday, doesn't it?

But that's also a good description of South Africa during the World Cup (it will be winter there, don't forget). And with ticket buying beginning in earnest now that we know where and when each team will play in the wake of Friday's draw (more U.