Alex Morgan scored a pair for the U.S. Women's National Team as they overcame a 1-0 deficit to grab
the win in stoppage time, 2-1.
Fun fact: The two headers in the 88th and 93rd minute meant that ten of her career 16 goals have
come in the 80th minute or later.
An uncharacteristically poor backpass to second half goalkeeper Nicole Barnhart gave New Zealand
the lead shortly after halftime (49th minute), but the sometimes sloppy Lady Nats found another
victory in the jaws of defeat.
The U.S. Women's National Team came from behind thanks to two late Alex Morgan goals to defeat
New Zealand, 2-1, in an international friendly on Saturday afternoon at FC Dallas Stadium (formerly
Pizza Hut Park) in Frisco, Texas. Morgan, who gained a reputation as a super-sub during the 2011
Women's World Cup, started this match, but still saved her best for late, tallying in the 88th
minute and deep into stoppage time.
Philadelphia Union drew 1-1 in a friendly against Florida Gulf Coast University on Saturday.
Carlos Valdes scored for the Union. So far, there's little info available on the game, so if you
were there or have photos or more info, please share observations, links, etc. in the comments
below.
For those of you wondering, FGCU made the NCAA tournament last year and will play Seattle next
week.
Philadelphia Union drew 1-1 in a friendly against Florida Gulf Coast University on Saturday.
Carlos Valdes scored for the Union. So far, there's little info available on the game, so if you
were there or have photos or more info, please share observations, links, etc. in the comments
below.
For those of you wondering, FGCU made the NCAA tournament last year and will play Seattle next
week.
Now that The USWNT team has qualified for the Summer Olympics after a superb tournament in
Canada, Head Coach Pia Sundhage can now turn her focus onto her squads first friendly match of the
new year against New Zealand. The match will be played at FC Dallas Stadium in Frisco, Texas,
marking the eighth time the USWNT will play in the Lone Star State.
photo by Stephen Brashear/ISIphotos.com
Fresh off a successful Olympic qualifying campaign, U.S. women's national team head coach Pia
Sundhage has called up 28 players for its upcoming friendly against New Zealand.
Nineteen of the 20 players on the Olympic qualifying roster were summoned by Sundhage for the
Americans' first game on home soil this year, including Alex Morgan, Hope Solo and Abby
Wambach.
Photo by Stephen Brashear/ISIphotos.com
The U.S. women's national team has been a wrecking crew during its run at CONCACAF Olympic
qualifying, but there is still one more piece of business to take care of before it can
celebrate.
With a win Friday night over Costa Rica (8 p.
Photo: Paul Rudderow
Le Talk
Yesterday he's going, today he is staying. An article from sportinglife.com suggests that Le
Toux "did not impress sufficiently" at Bolton. Owen Coyle is quoted in the article, "Sebastien came
in for a couple of days, and to be fair to him he hadn't trained for four or five weeks.
Hope Solo could potentially miss tomorrow nights all important semifinal match against Costa
Rica with a lingering quad injury. The timing could not be any worse as whoever loses the match
tomorrow will not qualify for the 2012 Summer Olympics in London. Solo was seen clutching her right
knee during the game against Mexico this past Tuesday night.
photo by Stephen Brashear/ISIphotos.com
The U.S. women's national team cruised through the Group Stage of Olympic qualifying and now
just needs a win on Friday against Costa Rica to reach the Summer Games in London.
There's one problem: Hope Solo might not play.
Pia Sundhage, head coach of the United States Women's National Team, announced earlier today the
20-player roster that she will be bringing with her to Vancouver, B.C. for the CONCACAF Women's
Qualifying Tournament. The two teams that make it to the final of the tournament, set to begin on
January 19th, will qualify for the 2012 London Summer Olympics.
cover image courtesy of Philadelphia Independence
Paul Riley and the Philadelphia Independence seemingly got everything they wanted in Friday's
WPS Draft. When I spoke to the coach on Wednesday, he said they would be looking for a striker,
some defensive depth and a goalkeeper, and in their six picks, the Independence added three
strikers, two defenders, and a goalkeeper.
Now that we've got the men out of the way, it's the women's turn on Friday. The WPS Draft
continues an exciting week of soccer from Kansas City as the Independence look to bolster their
squad moving into 2012.
In speaking with Philadelphia coach Paul Riley this week, it appears the entire starting XI from
last season's WPS Final will be returning to Philadelphia.
As the U.S. WNT will of course not be together for the holidays after breaking camp on Tuesday,
the team had its Holiday Party tonight and a merry time was had by all.
The focus of the party was the exchanging of Secret Santa gifts, spearheaded by master organizer
Heather Mitts, but the festivities also included Christmas music, cookie decorating and of course a
good helping of ugly sweaters (see above).
The U.S. WNT training camp is already two practices old, but the entire roster has yet to arrive.
U.S. WNT head coach Pia Sundhae called up 31 players for the camp, but thus far 26 players have
been run through last night's session, which included some small-sided games on big goals and this
morning's training, which being the first full day of camp, featured a fitness test (see pic
above).
In what was an historic year for U.S. Women's Soccer, the Americans finished at 13-3-4 while
scoring 41 goals and allowing 17.
The U.S. team started and finished the year ranked #1 in the world.
Abby Wambach led the USA in scoring (surprise!) with eight goals and four assists, but Carli Lloyd
(6 goals) and Lauren Cheney (5) also had quality goal scoring years.
After a two-week training camp that featured 30 players, U.S. WNT head coach Pia Sundhage has named
the 18 players that will suit up against Sweden on Sat., Nov. 19 at the University of Phoenix
Stadium. Kickoff is 7 p.m. and fans can watch live via a webstream on ussoccer.com and also follow
along on ussoccer.
Photo: Daniel Gajdamowicz
Union
Wednesday's press conference contained much talk about the future of the club. Here are some
talking points, beginning with Peter Nowak on:
Consistent lineups: "It's not that we are saying everything is fine. All we are saying is that
having a starting lineup consistent, 11 guys, maybe two substitutions or three guys, you cannot win
the championship with 13 guys.
Due to her participation on ABC's Dancing with the Stars, U.S. goalkeeper Hope Solo will not be
attending training camp in Arizona and has been replaced on the roster by Val Henderson of the
Philadelphia Independence. After a tremendous performance in two dances on Monday, Solo was voted
through and advanced to the semifinals of the dance competition show on Tuesday night.
Photo: Nicolae Stoian
Philadelphia Union v Houston Dynamo watch
Peter Nowak says, "The playoffs are not about worrying who won their last 10 or 20 games, it's
going to be who wins this series.
So, we don't need to worry too much about how the Union played against New York, right?
Nicole Barnhart (over the First Ladys right shoulder) blogged for the White HouseShe's the best on the U.S. WNT at crossword puzzles, bananagrams and graphic design, but Stanford
graduate Nicole Barnhart can also write, as you can see on this guest blog for The White House, in
which the U.
Six players from the U.S. Women's National Team joined First Lady Michelle Obama in hosting a Let's
Move! clinic today on the South Lawn of the White House. The players ran a group of kids through
some soccer skills emphasizing the importance of physical activity.
Rachel and Becky explain a drill to First Lady Michelle ObamaThe six players, all members of the the U.
Last year D.C. United and Washington Freedom players helped raise awareness of the Let's Move
campaign in Washington, D.C.
South Lawn Series Continues at White House | Oct. 13, 2010
The White House will be teaming up with professional soccer players again as Women's Professional
Soccer (WPS) has announced six players will join First Lady Michelle Obama in hosting a Let's Move!
Photo: Paul Rudderow
Union
Zac MacMath is listed as questionable with a left ankle sprain in Tuesday's injury report (see
below). Faryd Mondragon and Thorne Holder are still listed as out.
Sebastien Le Toux was named MLS Player of the Month by North American Soccer Reporters.
File this anecdote in the "It's a small world" folder...
Before the U.S. WNT came together for the two-game "Celebration Series" against Canada, the players
had a short time off after the end of the WPS season.
All of the players did what athletes do on breaks, spreading out to all corners of the country to
get some much need R&R, going back home, or to see friends and love ones.
Photo: Nicolae Stoian
Union
Kerith Gabriel reports at the Daily News that, with Sheanon Williams out with a concussion, "As
of now, midfielder Stefani Miglioranzi is slated to fill in at right fullback." Deep breaths,
people, deep breaths.
Sporting Kansas City v Philadelphia Union match previews from the Brotherly Game, the Daily Wiz,
SB Nation, AP, PhillyBurbs.
Photo: Nicolae Stoian
Union
Kerith Gabriel reports at the Daily News that, with Sheanon Williams out with a concussion, "As
of now, midfielder Stefani Miglioranzi is slated to fill in at right fullback." Deep breaths,
people, deep breaths.
Sporting Kansas City v Philadelphia Union match previews from the Brotherly Game, the Daily Wiz,
SB Nation, AP, PhillyBurbs.
Today US Soccer announced the roster for the women's team when they visit KC to take on Canada on
September 17th at LIVESTRONG Sporting Park. The roster contains all 21 players from the USA's run
to the World Cup final this year in Germany. It'll be a nice doubleheader for those wanting to go
out on that Saturday as following the US game they'll be showing the Sporting KC vs Real Salt Lake
game.
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.
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".
photo by Michael Long
The Independence defeated magicJack 2-0 in the WPS Super Semi Final at PPL Park on Saturday
afternoon. Goals from Tasha Kai and Amy Rodriguez were enough to see the Independence through as
magicJack will feel a bit unlucky after hitting the wood work three times over the course of the
match.
photo by Michael Long
The Independence defeated magicJack 2-0 in the WPS Super Semi Final at PPL Park on Saturday
afternoon. Goals from Tasha Kai and Amy Rodriguez were enough to see the Independence through as
magicJack will feel a bit unlucky after hitting the wood work three times over the course of the
match.
(Photos: Paul Rudderow)
With PPL Park playing host to it's first playoff game this Saturday, August 20 at 4:00pm
when the second-seeded Philadelphia Independence host the WPS Super Semifinal, the PSP caught up
with Independence and US National Team goalkeeper Nicole Barnhart. A former WPS champion with FC
Gold Pride who has earned 39 caps for the USA, Barnhart discusses the recent Women's World Cup,
the Philadelphia Independence, PPL Park and WPS.
(Photos: Paul Rudderow)
With PPL Park playing host to it's first playoff game this Saturday, August 20 at 4:00pm
when the second-seeded Philadelphia Independence host the WPS Super Semifinal, the PSP caught up
with Independence and US National Team goalkeeper Nicole Barnhart. A former WPS champion with FC
Gold Pride who has earned 39 caps for the USA, Barnhart discusses the recent Women's World Cup,
the Philadelphia Independence, PPL Park and WPS.
Photo: Kate Goughary
Will Juan Pablo Angel be joining the Union?
Speculation began to gain momentum when Faryd Mondragon, a close friend of Angel, tweeted, "What
a dream come true will be to have my "brother" Juan Pablo Angel to play for the Philadelphia Union,
he will fit perfectly in our Team!
The Independence travel to south Florida to take on the mysterious team known only as magicJack
in the final regular season game of the season. Philadelphia currently trails Western New York by
three points in the league table, but hold the tie break if the teams should tie. MagicJack have
secured a third place finish and will host either Boston or Sky Blue FC in the first round of the
WPS playoffs, which will be later this week.
Union
Four days remain until the close of the transfer window...
The Union will host its first Supporters Summit on Wednesday, August 17 with Union CEO Nick
Sakiewicz, Peter Nowak, Faryd Mondragón and MLS Commissioner Don Garber answering questions. If,
as Sakiewicz said, "hearing from a wider audience than usual" is the reason for the summit, the
fact that only registered members of the Sons of Be will be allowed to attend is rather mystifying,
particularly if topics for discussion will include "the Union's style of play, the League schedule,
game-day experience, ticketing, stadium expansion, single table alignment and playoff
structure.
Sunday's match, the last home game of the regular season, was Fan Appreciation
Night.
Tasha Kai once again proved why she is essential to this team, scoring the first
goal...
...with this shot over Sky Blue's keeper, Jenni Branam.
Sunday's match, the last home game of the regular season, was Fan Appreciation
Night.
Tasha Kai once again proved why she is essential to this team, scoring the first
goal...
...with this shot over Sky Blue's keeper, Jenni Branam.
PSP photographer Paul Rudderow was on hand for Philadelphia Independence Sunday's nights
1–0 Win over the Atlanta Beat. Here are some photos from Sunday's match. (Click on the photo for
a full-size photo.)
Heather Mitts being recognized for being on the US World Cup National Team.
