Women's Soccer USA

Coverage of women's soccer in the US. If it's not here...it's not important...

December 31, 2006

New markets push World Cup to the top of television ratings

Nver has the domination of football as the world’s most popular sport been better demonstrated than by the global television viewing figures for 2006.
Not only were the ratings for the World Cup final between Italy and France far higher than for any other competition, but the average audiences for 32 of the 64 matches in Germany were better than the Super Bowl, the next most popular event.
Kevin Alavy, its head of analytics, said: “Football has traditionally been the most popular sport in Europe, South America and Africa but over the last decade it has shown its strongest growth in North America and Asia/Pacific.

“One of the most notable features of the global audience for the 2006 Fifa World Cup was that more women than ever before watched the tournament. Women accounted for 41 per cent of the global audience for the event.”

December 30, 2006

WUSA revival looking more like reality

In the meantime, the biggest challenge for Antonucci is getting the remaining investors signed up and getting them to move in concert with one another.

"We don't want to be in a situation where we got the business model right the second time around but we created an operation challenge for ourselves by not preparing early enough in 2008," Antonucci said. "Every market is moving independently. We need all of them together on the same time line so that we can go to the next phase, which is actually standing up the league and standing up the teams. It's herding sheep."

If Antonucci can get those remaining investors on board, then her reputation as a miracle worker should be secure.

December 19, 2006

Lilly finishes second

Marta edged longtime U.S. star Kristine Lilly and German's Renate Lingor. The 20-year-old Brazilian, who skipped the Under-20 World Cup, stars for Swedish women's giant Umea.
Lilly had perhaps the most dominating year of her career, scoring the winning goals in the finals of the Peace Queen Cup and CONCACAF Gold Cup in November and both goals in the 2-0 victory over host China to clinch the Four Nations Tournament in January. She also scored in two games at the Algarve Cup, where the USA fell to Germany on penalty kicks in the final. She finished the year with 13 goals in 20 games to give her 117 goals in a record 319 international appearances.

Wisonsin coach steps down

Dean Duerst, the winningest coach in University of Wisconsin women's soccer history, stepped down abruptly Friday, ending a 19-year relationship with the program.
A statement released late Friday afternoon by the UW stated Duerst resigned to pursue other interests. It is unclear whether the sides parted amicably.

December 13, 2006

April Heinrichs leaves coaching

Former U.S. women's soccer coach April Heinrichs is leaving her coaching job at UC Irvine to join the U.S. Olympic Committee.
Heinrichs, who guided the American women to a gold medal in the 2004 Olympics, will be a team leader in the USOC's sports performance department.
She took the Irvine job in January and the UCI women struggled through a 3-13-1 season after going 2-13-1 the previous year.
Heinrichs was the women's national team coach from 2000-2005.

December 07, 2006

UNC win shows rising interest in college game

The increased competition in the women's college game has spurred more interest in the sport than ever.
8,349 fans were on hand to watch UNC beat Notre Dame 2-1 at the final match in Cary, N.C., That number bested that of the men's final (mostly because of the limited capacity of the stadium in St. Louis).

December 06, 2006

Website names Lilly its Player of the Year

Women' soccer website www.WomensWorldFootball.com has named Kristine Lilly its Player of the Year.
The website also includes Lori Chalupny and Abby Wambach in its top 11 for 2006.

New USL franchise in San Diego

United Soccer Leagues announced the expansion of the San Diego Sunwaves women’s soccer franchise into the W-League. The San Diego Sunwaves will join the Western Conference. USL welcomes new owners, headed by General Manager Mike Deeney and Head Coach Elio Bello.

December 05, 2006

2006 NSCAA/adidas High School Girls All-America Team

2006 NSCAA/adidas Girls High School All-America Team
*Previous selections
Position, Name, Class, School, Hometown
G, Molly Baird, Sr., Broughton High School, Raleigh, N.C.
G, Wendy Balgoun, Sr., Eleanor Roosevelt High School, Greenbelt, Md.
G, Grace Barnard, Sr., Christian Brothers Academy, Dewitt, N.Y.
G, Tasha Dittamore, Sr., Granite City High School, Granite City, Ill.
G, Kelly Dyer, Jr., St. Agnes Academy, Memphis, Tenn.
G, Sydney Hiance, Sr., Highlands High School, Fort Thomas, Ky.
G, Hannah Koesterer, Sr., St. Thomas Aquinas High School, Overland ParG, Kan.
G, Aubree SouthwicG, Sr., San Ramon Valley High School, Danville, Calif.
G, Nikki Weiss, Sr., Immaculate High School, Danbury, Conn.
D, Jessica Pardo, Sr., Bullard High School, Fresno, Calif.
D, Ashley Roberto, Sr., Badin High School, Hamilton, Ohio
M, Tahnai Annis, Jr., Pickerington High School North, Pickerington, Ohio
M, Rose Augustin, Sr., Walsh Jesuit High School, Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio
M, Jennifer Baumann, Sr., Catholic Memorial High School, Waukesha, Wis.
M, Kelly Blumenschein, Sr., Beavercreek High School, BeavercreeG, Ohio
M, Hannah Cerrone*, Sr., Roy C. Ketcham High School, Wappingers Falls, N.Y.
M, Jessica Childress, Sr., Grissom High School, Huntsville, Ala.
M, Amanda ClarG, Sr., Neuqua Valley High School, Naperville, Ill.
M, Bianca D'Agostino*, Sr., Loomis Chaffee High School, Windsor, Conn.
M, Jill Ferree, Sr., Strongsville High School, Strongsville, Ohio
M, Sam Hueker, Sr., Oldham County High School, Buckner, Ky.
M, Meghan Klingenberg, Sr., Pine-Richland High School, Gibsonia, Pa.
M, Hannah Macormic, Sr., Mandeville High School, Mandeville, La.
M, Kate Macauley*, Sr., Wilton High School, Wilton, Conn.
M, Blakely Mattern, Sr., J.L. Mann High School, Greenville, S.C.
M, Margo McAuley, Sr., Noblesville High School, Noblesville, Ind.
M, Emily MilbanG, Sr., Champlain Valley Union High School, Hinesburg, Vt.
M, Carly Mygrants, Sr., Archbishop Alter High School, Kettering, Ohio
M, Stefanee Pace, Jr., Kearny High School, Kearny, N.J.
M, Caroline Peetz, Sr., Pius X Central High School, Lincoln, Neb.
M, Julie Rezac, Sr., Eden Prairie High School, Eden Prairie, Minn.
M, Alyvia Rogers, Sr., Rogers High School, Rogers, Ark.
M, Jessica Rothenheber, Sr., Central Bucks West High School, Doylestown, Pa.
M, Brianna Schooley*, Sr., Douglas High School , Parkland, Fla.
M, Jamie Schiffer, Jr., St. Margaret's High School, San Juan Capistrano, Calif.
M, Katie Vogel, Sr., Lassiter High School, Marietta, Ga.
M, Hope Ward, Jr., Kingwood High School, Kingwood, Texas
M, Andrea Wilson, Sr., North Kingstown High School, North Kingstown, R.I.
M, Kelsey Wilson, Sr., Gorham High School, Gorham, Maine
M, Shelley Wong*, Sr., Norfolk Academy, NorfolG, Va.
F, Kimberly Abcouwer, Sr., Charleston Catholic High School, East Charleston, W.Va.
F, Rebecca Allen, Sr., Jenks High School, Jenks, Okla.
F, Courtney Barg, Jr., Plano West High School, Plano, Texas
F, Lauren Beachey, Sr., Loveland High School, Loveland, Ohio
F, Kristin Burton, Jr., Forest High School, Ocala, Fla.
F, Chrissy Butler, Sr., Hathaway Brown School, Shaker Heights, Ohio
F, Amy Caldwell*, Sr., Braintree High School, Braintree, Mass.
F, Jill Camburn, Sr., C.B. West High School, Doylestown, Pa.
F, Elizabeth Carroll, Sr., Bishop D.J. O'Connell High School, Arlington, Va.
F, Nicole Cavallaro, Sr., New Hyde Park Memorial High School, New Hyde ParG, N.Y.
F, Amanda D'Acosta, Sr., Somers High School, Lincolndale, N.Y.
F, Emily EsbrooG, Sr., Novi High School, Novi, Mich.
F, Samantha Fortier, Sr., Minnechaug Regional High School, Wilbraham, Mass.
F, Rachel Givan*, Sr., Ridgeland High School, Ridgeland, Miss.
F, Taylor Gray, Sr., Theodore Roosevelt High school, Des Moines, Iowa
F, KayAnne Gummersall, Sr., New Trier High School, Winnetka, Ill.
F, Laura Heyboer, Jr., Unity-Christian High School, Hudsonville, Mich.
F, Courtney Jones, Jr., Monte Vista High School, Danville, Calif.
F, Brooke Knowlton, Sr., Niskayuna High School , Niskayuna, N.Y.
F, Danielle Martens, Jr., St. Teresa's Academy, Kansas City, Mo.
F, Tiffany McCarty*, Jr., St. John's College High School, Washington, D.C.
F, Maura McLaughlin, So., West Windsor Plainsboro High School, Princeton Junction, N.J.
F, Lindsey Miller, Sr., Bishop Guertin High School, Nashua, N.H.
F, Christine Nairn, Jr., Archbishop Spalding High School, Severn, Md.
F, Megan Ohai, Sr., Alta High School, Sandy, Utah
F, Kelly O'Hara*, Sr., Starr's Mill High School, Peachtree City, Ga.
F, Angie Olson, Sr., Eagan High School, Eagan, Minn.
F, Christen Press, Sr., Chadwick School, Palos Verdes, Calif.
F, Jennifer Putnam, Sr., Bonners Ferry High School, Bonners Ferry, Idaho
F, Brittany Rhoades, Jr., Padua Academy, Wilmington, Del.
F, Kylie Ricker, Sr., Nashoba Regional High School, Bolton, Mass.
F, Allie Sadow, Sr., South Mecklenburg High School, Charlotte, N.C.
F, Jenna Samora, Jr., Eatonville High School, Eatonville, Wash.
F, Julie Scheidler, Sr., Bishop Chatard High School, Indianapolis, Ind.
F, Katherine Sheeleigh, Sr., The Pingry School, Martinsville, N.J.
F, Rachel Shipley, Sr., Plano West High School, Plano, Texas
F, Nikki Stone, So., Gloucester Catholic High School, Gloucester City, N.J.
F, Lindsay Taylor, Sr., Arapahoe High School, Littleton, Colo.

December 03, 2006

North Carolina Wins NCAA Championship

Freshman Casey Nogueira had a goal and an assist Sunday to lead North Carolina past Notre Dame 2-1, winning the NCAA soccer championship for the 18th time.

Kerri Hanks wins Hermann Trophy

Notre Dame star Kerri Hanks won the 2006 Missouri Athletic Club's Hermann Trophy as the top college player.

December 02, 2006

NCAA Division I All Americans

G, Jillian Loyden, Jr., Villanova, Vineland, N.J.
D, Ali Krieger *, Sr., Penn State, Dumfries, Va.
D , Kasey Moore, So., Texas, Mission Viejo, Calif.
D, Kelly Rowland, Sr., Florida State, Wallingford, Pa.
M, Yael Averbuch, So., North Carolina, Upper Montclair, N.J.
M, Christina DiMartino, So., UCLA, Massapequa, N.Y.
M, Yolanda Odenyo, Jr., Oklahoma State, Uppsala, Sweden
F, Lauren Cheney, Fr., UCLA, Indianapolis, Ind.
F, Kerri Hanks *, So., Notre Dame, Allen, Texas
F, Heather O'Reilly, Sr., North Carolina, East Brunswick, N.J.
F, India Trotter *, Sr., Florida State, Fort Lauderdale, Fla.

Sky Blue sign Formiga

Sky Blue Soccer announced the first-ever signing today for its expansion W-League franchise. Brazilian international and 2005 W-League All-League selection Formiga is the first player to take her place on the Jersey Sky Blue roster for the 2007 season.

December 01, 2006

Notre Dame vs. North Carolina

The Tar Heels (26-1), a 2-0 winners over UCLA, will play for their 18th national championship Sunday against Notre Dame, a 2-1 winners over Florida State.