Women's Soccer USA

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

May 31, 2008

Atlanta 3, Charlotte 2

The Atlanta Silverbacks Women topped the Charlotte Lady Eagles in dramatic fashion Friday night at Atlanta Silverbacks park, converting an injury time penalty kick to remain unbeaten on the season. Sharolta Nonen calmly placed the spot kick into the left corner to give the Silverbacks the 3-2 win. Lyndsey Patterson and Sarah Steinmann also tallied for the Silverbacks, handing Charlotte its first loss of the year.

May 28, 2008

W-League Team of the Week

United Soccer Leagues announced today the W-League Team of the Week for the sixth week of the USL season and the third edition of the W-League Team of the Week for the year, honoring FC Indiana forward Laura Del Rio as Player of the Week.
Del Rio scored five goals and added one assist in leading the Lionesses to two impressive victories last week. FC Indiana won both games by a combined score of 10-1 and is quickly showing that they are one of the teams to beat in the W-League.
W-League Team of the Week
GK, Megan Frey, Long Island - 4 saves in shutout victory over the Passion
D, Randee Hermus, Vancouver - Game-winner in 2-1 win over L.A.
D, Carolyn Ford, Atlanta - 1 assist and helped defense in two shut out wins
D, Betsy Fredrick, RailHawks - Solid in defense and had set piece goal over Dynamo
M, Alicia Tirelli, Tampa Bay - 1 goal in 3-1 win over Bradenton
M, Josee Busilacchi, Laval - 2 goals in victory over Vermont
M, Aimee Bresani, New Jersey - 2 goals in victory over New York
M, Lyndsey Patterson, Atlanta - 2 goals and controlled midfield in Silverbacks 2 wins
F, Jennifer Parsons, Washington - 3 goals in 3-0 victory over the Lady Gunners
F, Nikki Lyons, Charlotte - 3 goals and 1 assist off the bench over Richmond
F, Laura Del Rio, FC Indiana - 5 goals and 1 assist in 2 games

May 27, 2008

London 4, West Mass 0

The London Gryphons of United Soccer Leagues W-League had their 2008 home opener against West Mass Lady Pioneers this past Sunday, May 25th at North London Stadium. London, attempting to recover from a season opening loss on the road at the hands of the Toronto Lady Lynx 4 – 0, began the game with an offensive onslaught that saw the side create many early goal scoring opportunities.

May 21, 2008

US U-20 3, Charlotte Eagles 1

Notre Dame's Waldrum to coach Trinidad & Tobago U-17

Notre Dame women's soccer head coach Randy Waldrum will coach the Trinidad and Tobago Under-17 women's team this summer as they try to qualify for the Youth World Cup in New Zealand later in 2008.
The qualifying event will be held in Trinidad and Tobago at Bacolet's Dwight Yorke Stadium and Marvin Lee Stadium, from July 17-26.
Eight teams qualified for the CONCACAF region tournament including Trinidad and Tobago, the United States, Canada, Mexico, El Salvador, Jamaica and Puerto Rico. Three teams out of these eight will qualify for the first-ever U-17 Youth World Cup in New Zealand.
Waldrum has been working with the Trinidad and Tobago Federation for the past two summers and has helped them organize a structure for the women's national team program.

May 19, 2008

Women's Open Cup shocker

In Region I semi-final Kappa Real Wyckoff from New Jersey shocked Tony DiCicco's WPSL team Soccer Plus Reds 3-0.
Next up for the giant killers is Region 1 final against United German Hungarians.

May 18, 2008

Weekend scores

W-League
Pali Blues 4, LA Legends 0
Boston 7, Northern VA 1

WPSL
Soccer Plus 2, Maine 0
New England 5, Mass Stingers 1

May 17, 2008

Atlanta 5, Carolina 0

“We were absolutely awesome,” said head coach Tony Anglin. “From start to finish we dominated the game."

W-League to offer pro division

“Flexibility to our team and market demands has always been a strength of USL,” said USL Executive Vice President and COO Tim Holt. “Making changes to adapt to the needs of the soccer marketplace is a key component of USL’s management philosophy dating back to the USL’s founding and we take great pride in having been a leader in developing the sport, whether it be the lower divisions of the professional men’s game, the creation of national youth leagues or the launch of the most influential women’s developmental league in North America.”

“With the launch of Women’s Professional Soccer (WPS) occurring when several of our franchises are now fully capable of being professional themselves, we felt it was important to allow our franchises the opportunity to structure themselves in the manner that best fits their goals and objectives as a soccer club,” said Holt.

May 16, 2008

W-League

Ventura County 0, Seattle 1
Atlanta 2, Carolina Dynamo 0

Washington Freedom 2, Fort Collins 0

Bigger, stronger, faster - that was the theme of Thursday's 2-0 exhibition victory by the Washington Freedom over the Fort Collins Force at Dick's Sporting Goods Park.
The two teams belong to the W-League, but many of the similarities end there. The defending champion Freedom had the edge in size, strength and speed. That was apparent to the eye, and it was apparent on the field.
Emily Janss, who is listed as a midfielder but played significant stretches at right back, toe-poked the ball past Force keeper Kara Linder in the 23rd minute.
And in the 47th minute, Washington extended its lead to 2-0 on a beautiful goal.

May 15, 2008

No developments in St. Louis and Dallas

With 8 months to go we evaluate the league's status.
BOSTON
GM: Yes
Head Coach: Yes
Staff: Yes
Stadium: Yes
CHICAGO
GM: Yes
Head Coach: Yes
Staff: Yes
Stadium: Yes
DALLAS
GM: No
Head Coach: No
Staff: No
Stadium: No
LA
GM: No
Head Coach: No
Staff: No
Stadium: ?
NEW YORK
GM: Yes
Head Coach: Yes
Staff: Yes
Stadium: Yes
ST. LOUIS
GM: No
Head Coach: No
Staff: No
Stadium: ?
WASHINGTON
GM: Yes
Head Coach: Yes
Staff: Yes
Stadium: Yes

Chicago hires Arsenal assistant

Emma Hayes, formerly of Iona College and English powerhouse Arsenal has been named as WPS Chicago new head coach.

2002 Head Coach, Long Island (W-League), record 11-3-0
2003-2004 Head Coach, Iona College, record 12-21-5
2006-2007 Assistant Coach, Arsenal Ladies, 7 titles

May 14, 2008

Nogueira Player of the Week

United Soccer Leagues announced today the W-League Team of the Week for the fourth week of the USL season and the first edition of the W-League Team of the Week for the year, honoring Carolina RailHawks forward Casey Nogueira as Player of the Week, respectively.

May 11, 2008

DiCicco out for blood

"...today we had something to prove,” said Soccer Plus coach Tony DiCicco after his team embarrassed visiting Mass Stingers 10-0.

New England 4, New York AC 0

In front of a sellout crowd of 1,252 at Northampton High School, the New England Mutiny began defense of their Eastern Conference championship in the Women’s Premier Soccer League with a 4-0 victory over New York AC.

Atlanta 3, Hampton Roads 1

The Silverbacks Women kicked off W-League play Saturday night at Silverbacks Park topping the Hampton Roads Piranhas 3-1. Sarah Steinmann had a brace for the Silverbacks and Kristine Latham added the third.

Pali Blues 5, VC Fusion 0

The Ventura County Fusion women's soccer team still smiled, despite opening its inaugural W-League season with a 5-0 loss to powerhouse Pali Blues at Buena High.
"It was a good start to our season just getting everyone on the field together," said goalkeeper Tammy Lenham, who made 11 saves in frustrating the Blues for the better part of an hour.
"They did a good job," said Myers. "We look forward to getting another shot at (the Blues)."

May 10, 2008

Canada humiliated

The U.S. Women’s National Team ended a three-game domestic tour with a comprehensive 6-0 victory over Canada as forward Natasha Kai scored her first career hat trick. Lindsay Tarpley, Carli Lloyd and Leslie Osborne also added goals in what was a dominating performance from the opening whistle.

Pali Blues face Ventura County Fusion in W-League debut

The Pali Blues Soccer Club are making their final preparations for what will be their first-ever regular season match-up in the USL W-League. The Blues travel to Ventura, California, today to play their Western Conference foes, the Ventura County Fusion.
"We are so excited to get the regular season rolling,” Blues head coach Charlie Naimo commented. “It has been a long pre-season, and we have very high expectations.”
The projected opening day line up will be Danesha Adams along with Liz Bogus or Mele French up top. Collette McCallum is expected to run the midfield with the help of Rosie Tantillo, Kandace Wilson and Kara Kabellis, with Jill Oakes or Leah Tapscott holding. The Blues’ back line will feature Amy LePeilbet, Kendall Fletcher, Erin Hardy and possibly Oakes. Valerie Henderson and Karen Bardsley are expected to split time in net for the Blues.

May 05, 2008

Greg "The tough guy" Ryan

Prior to the 2003 World Cup, Ryan was tasked by head coach April Heinrichs to travel the globe to scout upcoming World Cup opponents. He remained as Heinrichs' assistant through the 2004 Athens Olympics, and adopted the role, he said, of being "the hard guy on the staff."

"Mia Hamm, Brandi (Chastain), some of the others, they needed a good kick in the pants, and I was more than happy to be that person," he said.
Ryan added that many star players had changed after the 1999 World Cup, a victory punctuated memorably by Chastain, who peeled off her jersey following her penalty kick in the championship match.
"I think they started enjoying the spoils of what they had done," Ryan said. "It seemed that they were more interested in the photo shoot than in actually coming to training and working hard, or showing up for the games and playing hard."
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"I'm very proud of the fact that the team lost one game in three years," Ryan said. "We got hammered in that game by Brazil, but I feel like a lot of good things happened during that three years. Number one, changing the culture of that team from one of players that were just entitled, who felt like they could run the show and run the coaches, to putting it back in the right perspective where they understand they're players and the coach is the coach. It became a healthier environment."

May 04, 2008

FC Indiana 3, Canada U20 0

May 02, 2008

Pali Blue add Notre Dame defender

The Pali Blues Soccer Club made official today the signing of 2006 Big East Defender of the Year Carrie Dew. The Notre Dame standout brings another talented back to the Blues in their first-ever season in the USL W-League.
"We are pleased to add another experienced back to our roster,” Blues head coach Charlie Naimo stated. “Carrie has been brought up in a great club and college setting as well as having strong national team experience, and she will adjust quickly. She will also give us the flexibility to move other backs into the midfield."

May 01, 2008

FC Indiana 3, Mexico U20 0

Prado, Cross and Snyder join Pali Blues

The Pali Blues Soccer Club announced today the acquisitions of midfielders Erika Prado, Katy Cross and forward Rachelle Snyder.