U.S. Soccer Communications
VANCOUVER, Canada – The U.S. Women's National Team rolled past a young and over-matched Dominican
Republic side to open the 2012 CONCACAF Olympic Women's Qualifying Tournament with a dominating
14-0 victory in a match played indoors at BC Place.
The 14 goals set a U.
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.
The U.S. WNT got an inspiring and touching package in the mail the other day. It was from U.S. Army
Captain Elizabeth Hultgren, who when at home, is a Critical Care nurse stationed at the Madigan
Army Medical Center on Joint Base Lewis-McCord in Tacoma, Wash., where she spends her days caring
for the Wounded Warriors.
cover photo of Boquete by Michael Long
The Philadelphia Independence's Veronica Boquete, Nikki Krzysik, and coach Paul Riley all won
end of the season awards in front of the team's Super Semi-Final match on Saturday. Boquete won the
Michelle Akers Player of the Year award, Krzysik received the Citi Sportswoman of the Year award
as voted on by the players, and Riley won his second consecutive Coach of the Year award.
Abby Wambach is feeling it!
The 1991 US team broke new ground winning the first ever World Cup and repeated the feat eight
years later. By that time Michelle Akers, Mia Hamm, Brandi Chastain, and Kristine Lilly were
household names. US women's soccer and success are so inextricably intertwined with those names
leaving each succeeding squad aspiring to reach the same heights and write their names into
history.
Frankfurt, Germany. Sunday, July 17, 2011.
FIFA Women's World Cup Final: Two stories. One dream.
Story 1:
Japan. A thriving culture devastated by unstoppable power. A once strong body now undergoing the
most meticulous reconstruction.
You remember that famous 1999 World Cup victory, don't you?
Watch:
And it has cast a long shadow, as Associated Press Writer Nancy Armour points out:
FRANKFURT, Germany (AP) -- Lauren Cheney was just 11 during the 1999 World Cup,
watching from the stands and imagining what it would be like to be on that field with Mia Hamm and
Michelle Akers and Julie Foudy and Brandi Chastain.
Rising sun: Japan, a nation that is a sentimental favorite of many soccer fans because of
the recent disasters the nation has endured and a former lightweight in the sport, is now a
legitimate World Cup contender displacing such former powers as China (AP Photo).
Associated Press National Writer Nancy Armour explores the new world of international women's
soccer that can be summed up in one word - parity:
FRANKFURT, Germany (AP) -- It wasn't long ago that you could predict the lineup for the
final four at the Women's World Cup even before the tournament began.
LINEUP
USA: 1-Hope Solo; 11-Ali Krieger, 4-Becky Sauerbrunn, 3-Christie Rampone (capt.), 6-Amy LePeilbet;
9-Heather O'Reilly, 7-Shannon Boxx, 10-Carli Lloyd, 12-Lauren Cheney; 8-Amy Rodriguez, 20-Abby
Wambach
Subs: 2-Heather Mitts, 5-Kelley O'Hara, 13-Alex Morgan,14-Stephanie Cox, 15-Megan Rapinoe, 16-Lori
Lindsey, 17-Tobin Heath, 18-Nicole Barnhart, 21-Jill Loyden
Not Eligible: 19-Rachel Buehler (suspension)
PRE-GAME NOTES:
- Hope Solo wins her 100th cap tonight.
Germany with its many weapons fall silent after Karina Maruyama's brilliant finish off a
pinpoint pass by Homare Sawa. The defending champions were sent packing as Japan showed skill and
true grit throughout the match. A well deserved win for the Nadeshiko.
Kim Kulig was an early exit suffering a knee strain as the Germans absorbed her absence to
create a number of opportunities.
Pressure is a privelege. That's the perspective of our Women's USA squad this World Cup. Ranked
#1 according to FIFA world rankings, the United States Women's National Soccer Team are the team at
the top. We are team to defeat. This, however, is a new era. An era that follows the staunch
legacy of 1999's Michelle Akers, Mia Hamm, and Brandy Chastain when the USA hosted and won the
World Cup claiming World Dominance in women's football.
Far removed from the powerhouse days of Michelle Akers and Mia Hamm, the USWNT enters as one of the
odds on favorites to win the Cup, along with Brazil and hosts Germany. North Korea has been getting
steadily better as a team over the past 10 yrs with a draw against Holland earlier this year and
numerous draws with Japan.
Despite our local custom of summer soccer and the occasional snow flurries drifting around the
greater Seattle area, today is chock full of games that will be of interest to local fans.
At some unholy hour this morning (which explains the lack of a game thread), the Sounders kicked
off a friendly versus the hated Houston Dynamo: the team that knocked Seattle out of its first ever
MLS playoff run - a victory that both of Houston's fans were very excited about.
Sportlifestyle brand PUMA kicked off the 2011 women's soccer season during a launch event
Thursday night, while celebrating a momentous year for the sport, a new season for Women's
Professional Soccer (WPS), and the debut of the PUMA Women's Soccer Training Collection.
With the FIFA Women's World Cup on the horizon, PUMA pulled out all the stops to showcase its
longstanding commitment to women's soccer, the best female players on the planet, and the millions
of young rising stars throughout the world.
PUMA® Kicks Off Huge Year in Women's Soccer with WPS Uniform Unveiling
Players, PUMA Unveil 2011 WPS Kits in New York CityWestford, MA & New York City, NY (February 3, 2011) – Sportlifestyle brand
PUMA® kicked off the 2011 women's soccer season during a launch event today, celebrating this
momentous year for the sport, a new season for Women's Professional Soccer (WPS), and the debut of
the PUMA Women's Soccer Training Collection.
Kristine Lilly, retires after 24 years. The most capped player in men's or women's soccer
history with 352 caps. A feat of incredible durability. The most under rated player in her group of
high flying compatriots like Mia Hamm, Brandi Chastain, Julie Foudy, and Michelle Akers who
regularly stole the thunder.
