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.

Photo by Brad Smith/ISIphotos.com

For Charlie Davies, perhaps not securing a full transfer or loan extension was the best tactic to take this winter after all.

Davies has been included on Sochaux's first-team roster for the club's league game at Stade Rennes on Saturday, marking a major milestone for him and his quest to break back into the club's lineup.

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.

By CALEB SONNELAND

Despite both sides having punched their tickets to the 2012 London Olympics, bragging rights and a No. 1 seed were on the line when the United States Women clashed with Canada last night.

Thanks to the continued brilliance of Abby Wambach and young gun Alex Morgan, the United States trotted out a 4-0 victory to cap off what has largely been a pedestrian Olympic Qualifying.

Through the first four games of Olympic qualifying, the United States silenced each of its powerless opponents. On Sunday, it was Canada's time.

The U.S. defense pitched its fifth shutout of the tournament while Alex Morgan and Abby Wambach each netted a pair of goals to give the Americans a comprehensive 4-0 victory over Canada at BC Place in Vancouver.

Got a little Morgan in ya? Alex Morgan celebrates her late goal that clinched a U.S. spot in London's Olympics Friday in Canada (AP Photo). Diamond Bar's fast-rising soccer star Alex Morgan further solidified her undoubted national team credentials by notching the third and final decisive goal: VANCOUVER, British Columbia

The U.S. Women's National Team faced a tougher test than expected, but ultimately the Americans proved too tough for underdog Costa Rica and eventually punched their ticket to the Summer Olympics.

A first-half goal by Tobin Heath gave the U.S. women the lead and despite a courageous fight from the Costa Ricans, the United States held that one-goal lead before Carli Lloyd blasted home a long-range blast in the second half to give the Americans a 2-0 victory in the CONCACAF Olympic Qualifying semifinals in Vancouver.

It was no walk in the park, but United States claimed an Olympic berth after withstanding a spirited and stubborn Costa Rica to earn a 3-0 win Friday night.

Tobin Heath put the U.S. on the board with a 16th minute goal while Carli Lloyd followed up with an insurance strike in the 74th minute.

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 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.

*Galaxy defender A.J. DeLaGarza and the U.S. plays Panama at 5:30 p.m. today live on Galavision. *Mexico faces Chivas USA's Alejandro Moreno and Venezuela in Houston (live 6 p.m. KMEX). More here. *FOX Soccer announced today it will air live the FA Cup showdown between Americans Landon Donovan, Tim Howard

Mexico's World Cup qualifying victory clearly shook the US Women's National Team to their core. On Tuesday night, the US settled the score, reminding Mexico, and the world, that there is still an enormous gap in class between the two sides. Were at not for some shoddy finishing and a whole lot of five-alarm defending, the score line could easily have been doubled as the US controlled the match from the opening whistle and were rarely troubled throughout the 90 minutes.

Photo by Stephen Brashear/ISIphotos.com

They might have been held to single digits on the scoreboard for the first time during the CONCACAF Olympic qualifying tournament, but the U.S. women's national team remains on a roll.

Carli Lloyd netted a hat trick, and the U.

Golden girls: UCLA product Sydney Leroux and Diamond Bar's Alex Morgan celebrate one of the numerous goals the U.S. scored Sunday against Guatemala (AP Photo). Having scored an incredible 27 goals in its first two Olympic qualifiers, the U.S. shifts its attention today to sturdier prey: Mexico. The USWNT is

Photo by Stephen Brashear/ISIphotos.com

The CONCACAF Olympic qualifying tournament has been a breeze so far for the U.S. women's national team, which has outscored two overmatched opponents by a combined 27-0 margin. Things should be a bit more competitive in Tuesday's final group match.

The US Women's National Team demolished their first two opponents in their quest to London. First up was a CONCACAF minnow who fell prey to the USWNT's elite squad in less than ten minutes. The Dominican Republic fell by the embarrassing score of 14-0.
Some raised questions of a mercy rule while others criticized the Americans for punishing such a weak squad into a pulp.

The U.S. Women's national team figured to face a tougher task against Guatemala on Sunday than it did after a 14-0 thrashing of the Dominican Republic to open CONCACAF Olympic qualifying on Friday.

The challenge was slightly tougher, but only by a goal.

Abby Wambach scored two goals to move into third place on the all-time international goals scored list, while Sydney LeRoux added five goals in a 13-0 thrashing of Guatemala in Vancouver on Sunday.

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.

Saving Solo: Goalkeeper Hope Solo and the rest of the U.S. National Team open their Olympic qualifying campaign Friday night in Vanvouver, B.C. (AP Photo). You can watch the U.S. women play the Dominican Republic tonight at 7:30 online at concacaf.com And you can read an Associated Press preview from

Thierry Henry has been able to provide a spark for Arsenal in his brief time on loan with the club, but the Gunners may have to look elsewhere for inspiration during their crucial match this weekend.

Henry picked up a calf strain in training, and his status is uncertain for Arsenal's match against Manchester United.

American girl: Diamond Bar's Alex Morgan is emerging as the new face of U.S. women's soccer (AP Photo). Staff Writer Larry Morgan headed out to the USMNT camp at Home Depot Center to chat with former WPS top draft pick Alex Morgan, expected to become an ever-more influential figure on

*If, like me, you took advantage of the holiday weekend and headed for areas of the state less traveled this weekend, here's a quick look at local soccer happenings over the weekend: *First off, the MLS Supplemental Draft gets under way at 11 a.m. today. *The Galaxy's Landon Donovan got

photo by Brad Smith/ISIphotos.com

The CONCACAF Olympic Women's qualifying tournament takes place later this month, and we now know who will be representing the U.S. women's national team in it.

Head coach Pia Sundhage has named a 20-player squad for the eight-team tournament in Vancouver, B.

Twenty-eleven turned out to be an interesting year, to say the least. It was a year that witnessed the long-awaited arrival of Jurgen Klinsmann as U.S. Men's National Team coach, the U.S. Women's National Team falling in agonizing fashion to Japan in the World Cup final, Steve Nicol's departure as Revolution manager, the introduction of Jay Heaps as his successor and.

Happy 2012 folks. Hope you enjoyed the holiday break; I know I enjoyed the respite from what can be a blogging grind. Let's bring ourselves up to date with what's been going on over the holiday break: *While David Beckham has reportedly decided against signing for French side PSG, (before

Winner Wambach: The South Bay resident, seen here posing today at Home Depot Center where the U.S. Women's National Team is currently training, becomes the first soccer player - male or female - to win a national AP award. See the full story below (AP Photo). *There was no column

Photo by Thomas Eisenhuth/ISIphotos.com

Abby Wambach's penchant for coming up big in the FIFA Women's World Cup this past summer has earned her more individual acclaim six months later.

Wambach was named the Associated Press Female Athlete of the Year Tuesday, becoming the first soccer player -- male or female -- to win an individual year-end award from the AP.

*CHICAGO (AP) -- Borussia Dortmund forward Terrence Boyd and UCLA midfielder Kelyn Rowe have been added to the U.S. under-23 roster for a training camp ahead of men's Olympic soccer qualifying. Thirty players will gather for the camp with new coach Caleb Porter. It will be held from Thursday through

If its winter, it must be time for soccer camps. Here's a run-down: *The Galaxy's Michael Stephens was called into the week-long U.S. Under-23 camp scheduled to begin a week from today in Florida. The 2010 first round draft pick is one of 28 players participating. The full roster is

Breakers' midfielders Meghan Klingenberg and Keelin Winters were among 31 players called into U.S. Women's National Team camp by head coach Pia Sundhage on Wednesday. The camp will run from Dec. 3-20, and will take place at the Home Depot Center in Carson, Calif.

Klingenberg started in 10 games for the Breakers in 2011 after the team acquired her from the now-defunct magicJack squad on June 1.

*Dave Werstin, Staff Writer with sister paper the Long Beach Press-Telegram, has the game story.

Notable: With the win, Long Beach State improved to 18-5-1 overall and extended its winning streak to a school record eight games.

In other women's soccer news:

*Pepperdine and Pali Blues forward Anisa Guajardo was called up to the full Mexican national team for the first time for a friendly against France Sunday.

United States Women's National soccer team first choice goalkeeper and 2011 FIFA Women's World Cup Golden Glove winner Hope Solo delivered her Week 9 performances in the semi-final round of the US version of Dancing with the Stars on Monday night. Solo and dance partner/coach Maksim Chmerkovskiy performed three dances for the evening a [.

United States Women's National soccer team first choice goalkeeper and 2011 FIFA Women's World Cup Golden Glove winner Hope Solo delivered her Week 8 performances on the US version of Dancing with the Stars on Monday night. Solo and dance partner/coach Maksim Chmerkovskiy performed two dances for the evening a quickstep and an "instant" [.

After escaping elimination for the second week in a row, United States Women's National soccer team first choice goalkeeper and 2011 FIFA Women's World Cup Golden Glove winner Hope Solo delivered her Week 7 performance on the US version of Dancing with the Stars on Monday night. Solo and dance partner/coach Maksim Chmerkovskiy performed two [.

Photo by Thomas Eisenhuth/ISIphotos.com

After a year in which the United States women's national team reached the World Cup final, Abby Wambach, Hope Solo and Alex Morgan were rewarded by being named are among the 10 finalists for the FIFA Women's World Player of the Year award.

After escaping elimination last week, United States Women's National soccer team first choice goalkeeper and 2011 FIFA Women's World Cup Golden Glove winner Hope Solo looked to rebound on the US version of Dancing with the Stars on Monday night with her Week 6 Performance. Solo and dance partner/coach Maksim Chmerkovskiy performed a lively rumba [.

*Hermosa Beach resident Abby Wambach and Dancing with the Stars star Hope Solo join Diamond Bar's Alex Morgan and former LA Sol stars Marta and Aya Miyama on the 10-player short list.

Swedish U.S. women's coach Pia Sundhage is also up for FIFA Women's Coach of the Year.

The full lists are here.

United States Women's National soccer team first choice goalkeeper and 2011 FIFA Women's World Cup Golden Glove winner Hope Solo delivered her Week 5 performance on the US version of Dancing with the Stars on Monday night. Solo and dance partner/coach Maksim Chmerkovskiy tangoed to 1980s rock classic Living on a Prayer.

United States Women's National soccer team first choice goalkeeper and 2011 FIFA Women's World Cup Golden Glove winner Hope Solo continued her run on the US version of Dancing with the Stars on Monday night with her Week Four Performance. Solo and dance partner/coach Maksim Chmerkovskiyfoxtrotted to Toy Story's You've Got a Friend.