Women's Soccer USA

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

November 30, 2008

Smaller sports teams, leagues suffering in downturn

"Smaller teams and leagues, especially those without hefty broadcast rights deals, such as indoor football, beach volleyball and women's sports, will be squeezed as sponsors and fans slash spending, analysts and sports bankers said.
Even the bigger sports like NASCAR, the National Basketball Association and Major League Baseball are cutting costs as executives scramble to stay ahead of what most economists believe will be the deepest recession in decades.

Analysts said there also could not be worse timing for such new leagues as Women's Professional Soccer and the United Football League, which both intend to begin play next year."

U20 World Cup: USA 3, England 0

Keelin WINTERS (53rd)
Sydney LEROUX (81st, 90th)

Really bad feeling

"Players who are interested only in money are never worth it."

I have this uncomfortable and growing hunch that all the Marta news, rumors and discussions coming out of Sweden is nothing more than a concentrated, strategic effort by Marta's agent, Marta friendly Swedish media and even possibly Swedish clubs to drive the price up and at the same time create fan and fellow WPS players disdain for Marta and her greed.
I suspect that clubs in Sweden are laughing at the league's gullibility and agreeing to Marta's obscene compensation demands.
The long term success of the WPS is dependent on Wambach, Lloyd and their WNT teammates not on Marta.

My unsolicited advice to the league, call Marta's bluff and watch her sign whatever you offer her. She needs the league.

November 28, 2008

UNC 2, Texas A&M 1

UNC defeated Texas A&M 2-1 in overtime with a goal from sophomore Ali Hawkins. This is the 24th time in 27 years that the Heels are going to the semi-finals.
The Tar Heels will play the winner of the UCLA-Duke game which will take place Saturday at 10 p.m. EST. The semi-final game will be played Friday at either 4:30 p.m. or 7 p.m. at Wake-Med Soccer Park in Cary.

Stanford 1, Portland 0

The 2008 Stanford women's soccer team is headed to the College Cup for the second time in program history, courtesy of sophomore Christen Press' game-winner in the 86th minute. Press knocked in the lone goal of the game and the Cardinal defense kept Portland off the board, giving Stanford a 1-0 victory over Portland in quarterfinal action of the 2008 NCAA DI Women's Soccer Championship.

25-0-0 and still going

Three players from the Dallas-Ft. Worth area, known as the metroplex, did all the scoring Friday night as the top-ranked Irish (25-0) beat Florida State 2-0 in the quarterfinals in South Bend, Ind.
The Irish will meet No. 5 Stanford (22-1-1) in this Friday's semifinals. The final is Dec. 7.

November 27, 2008

Svensson turned down Chicago

Victoria Svensson has turned down approach from Chicago.

November 26, 2008

Marta and LA Sol reach agreement?

"Nov. 25, 2008: Los Angeles Sol name Johanna Frisk from Sweden as a post-draft discovery player and have been assigned her WPS-playing rights."

As Frisk is Marta's girlfriend, it appears that the Sol's owners agree to Marta's demands that she will choose players for the team, and to Marta's agent of "$400,000 per season for five years guarantee."

November 24, 2008

No more Marta?

"An unnamed source, close to the Women's Professional Soccer league in USA, claims that Los Angeles Sol, the club that has been negotiating with Marta's agent Fabiano Farah for at least a month, has withdrawn from the negotiations and taken back their contract offer. The club is according to the same source simply not prepared to pay the kind of money Farah has been demanding for Marta."

Do we know what we are doing?

WPS international credibility is at stake. Players talk to each other and player decisions made by some teams make the league look unprofessional.

"Nov. 19, 2008: St. Louis renounces its rights to Sweden's Lotta Schelin and names Sara Larsson from Sweden as a post-draft discovery player. St. Louis has been assigned Sara Larsson's WPS-playing rights.

Nov. 17, 2008: St. Louis renounces its rights to Norway's Ingvild Stensland and names Francielle Manuel Alberto from Brazil as a post-draft discovery player. St. Louis has been assigned Francielle Manuel Alberto's WPS-playing rights."

November 23, 2008

UNC, Duke win

North Carolina women's soccer team extended its defensive scoreless streak to 671 minutes and 49 seconds, defeating Illinois 3-0 Saturday in the NCAA College Cup. UNC took the lead at 31:24 of the match on an own goal.

Third-seeded Duke beat second-seeded Virginia 2-0 to advance to the Elite Eight for the second straight year. Junior KayAnne Gummersall scored the game-winning goal in the 16th minute.

UCLA 1, USC 0

UCLA avenged the previous season's loss to the Trojans with a 1-0 win. With the victory, the Bruins advanced to the quarterfinals against Duke on Saturday at 6:30 pm at Drake Stadium. The winner will advance to the College Cup in Cary, North Carolina.

November 22, 2008

WPSL connects with new Bay Area WPS franchise

This past week, the new Bay Area Women's Professional Soccer (WPS) franchise announced its team name - FC Gold Pride - and colors (black & gold) at the team's kick-off media event held at Santa Clara University. Appropriately enough, the Pride will use Buck Shaw Stadium at Santa Clara as their home field - the 10,300-seat stadium will be the place when the team kicks off play in April 2009 - cementing their connections with one of the top collegiate programs in the nation.
Connections with the Women's Premier Soccer League (WPSL) are apparent as well, as the Pride named League Commissioner & California Storm owner Jerry Zanelli their new Director of Player Development. The FC Gold Pride has already been taking on a WPSL look, hiring as their head coach Albertin Montoya - long time Senior Advisor & trainer for the Storm - who will have as his assistant coach Sissi, a three-year player for the Storm and an All-WPSL selection each of those seasons.
"This is an opportunity for the WPSL to work closely with Women's Professional Soccer, as we are with many of the other teams," said Zanelli.
Such is the case with the FC Gold Pride's initial draft selections, as all three players have roots in the WPSL - Nicole Barnhart (California Storm), Rachel Buehler (San Diego WFC) & Tracy Hamm (California Storm & 2008 All-WPSL selection) were all on hand for this week's announcement. WPS Commissioner Tonya Antonucci - a former WPSL player & team owner - and Bay Area soccer icon & Storm alum Brandi Chastain were also on hand for the event.
Jerry Zanelli - who has served as the WPSL commissioner for 11 years and has overseen the league grow from 6 teams to last years' high water mark of 51 teams in five conferences - has been busy on both fronts this off-season. Zanelli is finalizing the expansion teams for 2009 with teams already committed from Portland (OR), San Antonio (TX), Pocono (PA), Palmdale (CA) and Las Vegas (NV).
"We are finding even a greater interest by teams for the 2010 season," said Zanelli.

Notre Dame 1, Minnesota 0

All-America senior forward Kerri Hanks scored on a penalty kick in overtime to lift the Irish to a 1-0 victory over Minnesota in the third round of the NCAA tournament Friday night.

November 21, 2008

Marta afraid of competition, wants security

Marta's agent Fabiano Farah told by AEG reps that his wage demands are unrealistic went back to Sweden to attempt reconciliation with Umea and to try to save his bargaining position.
"We are considering Umeå our number one and I am currently in talks with a possible Swedish sponsor" says Marta's agent Fabiano Farah in an interview with an Umeå newspaper. "This is the biggest club in Europe today, Marta has been there for more than four years, she has adapted, she likes the team, she likes the town and it's a competitive team."

Truth be told there are questions whether fragile Marta could handle the physical demands of the game in North America. Playing in Sweden where tackling is not allowed probably suits her more.

Nadine Angerer eager to sign

Nadine Angerer has declared her interest in playing a year in the WPS. Her agent Siegfried Dietrich is trying to get the best possible offer for her, but has no doubts where it would be best for Angerer to play. Financially, she would be better off in Germany. The salary cap placed on the American clubs, according to Dietrich $540,000 a year for the entire roster, makes it hard for the WPS league to offer really competitive wages. He is also wary about the durability of the new league, in particular with the recent economic recession, and the short season doesn't make for good conditions for a top player.

Nogueira's passion for soccer speaks volumes

Back in high school, Casey Nogueira wanted so badly to become part of UNC's winning women's soccer program that her mother moved her and her brother from Cedarburg, Wis., to Raleigh so she could play closer to the Tar Heels.
"We just wanted to go where the best soccer was," said Nogueira, who asked around and chose Broughton on the advice of a club coach.
Nogueira will play for North Carolina against the University of Illinois in the third round of the NCAA women's soccer tournament at 5:30 p.m. Saturday at Fetzer Field.

November 20, 2008

Gophers ready for perfect Notre Dame

Facing top-seeded Notre Dame in the Sweet 16 round, the No. 22-ranked Gophers are prepared for a challenge.

Western New York FC adds Canadian international Nonen

Western New York FC have signed defender Sharolta Nonen, the W- League club announced.
The former Canadian international has extensive professional and international soccer experience; she has recorded 63 national team caps with the Canadian national team and has played in two World Cups (1999, 2003). Nonen played in the WUSA with the Atlanta Beat from 2001-2003 where she named to the All WUSA First Team in 2003.

November 19, 2008

U20 World Cup: USA 3, France 0

The United States, U-20 champions from 2002, began their Chile 2008 campaign in flowing style. The Group B opener, played in Nelson Oyarzún Stadium in Chillan, was never in doubt as the American poured on the class from the opening whistle.

Erica Walsh proud of Penn State

For the first time in more than a decade, the Penn State women's soccer team ended with a first-round loss in the NCAA tournament.
Perhaps this was a fitting end to a season that was filled with firsts for the program, though not all were good.

FC Gold Pride

The San Francisco Bay area's entry in the new Women's Professional Soccer league will be named FC Gold Pride.
The franchise unveiled its name Wednesday along with its gold-and-black color scheme and a logo featuring a growling lioness.
FC Gold Pride will play their home games at the 10,300-seat Buck Shaw Stadium.

November 18, 2008

Sky Blue hire Joe Dorini

Sky Blue Soccer officially announced today the hiring of Joe Dorini to serve as the Director of the Sky Blue Soccer School.
Dorini joins Sky Blue Soccer from West Virginia, where he most recently served as the Head Coach and General Manager of the West Virginia Illusion of the W-League.
In addition to overseeing the educational branch of the Sky Blue Soccer organization, Dorini will also serve as the Team Administrator for Sky Blue FC - the NJ/NY entry into Women's Professional Soccer.

November 17, 2008

NCAA D1

Notre Dame vs. Minnesota
Boston College vs. Florida State
Portland vs. James Madison
Rutgers vs. Stanford
UCLA vs. USC
Duke vs. Virginia
Florida vs. Texas A&M
Illinois vs. North Carolina

November 16, 2008

U17 World Cup: USA 1, North Korea 2

Korea DPR wrote their name into football history today by becoming the first-ever winners of the FIFA U-17 Women's World Cup, coming from behind to beat USA 2-1.

November 15, 2008

Borkowski to coach Western New York FC

Shek Borkowski has left FC Indiana to take over as coach of Western New York FC. Borkowski, who coached FC Indiana since 2004 helped the Indianapolis club to two WPSL and two Open Cup titles.
Last season, FC Indiana finished second in W-League and according to the club website has re-signed most players for next season. The club is seemingly poised to challenge for the league title in ‘09 so Borkowski’s decision to leave is a major surprise.

November 14, 2008

Chicago Red Stars

The warning is out – Mayor Richard M. Daley says a parade of corporate chief executives have told him huge layoffs are planned around the city and will carry into next year.
The news is especially alarming because the discussion concerns not just city jobs, but the private sector.
Mayor Daley says corporate leaders told him huge layoffs will impact the city this month and next, and into the new year. He also says city, county and state governments should be prepared for their revenue to fall dramatically because of the souring economy.
"This is going to be all year, so it's going to be a very frightening economy," Mayor Daley said. "Each one tells me what they're laying off, and they're going to double that next year. We're talking huge numbers of permanent layoffs for people in the economy. It's going to have a huge effect on all businesses."
The mayor said the gravity of the situation cannot be underestimated.
"We never experienced anything like this except people who came from the Depression," Mayor Daley said. "When you have that many layoffs early – and they're telling me this is only the beginning of their layoffs – that is very frightening."

Bay Area

The Bay Area's new women's professional team will play its home games at Buck Shaw Stadium when it makes it debut in the spring.
The team will join the Earthquakes in using the revamped 10,500-seat stadium, making Santa Clara University the center of Bay Area soccer.

November 13, 2008

U17 World Cup: USA 2, Germany 1

USA came from behind to claim a dramatic and deserved 2-1 victory over Germany and set up an intriguing final with Korea DPR.

Ohio State

The Buckeyes (8-10-2, 5-5-0) failed to reach the Big Dance this year, following last year's play in the tournament after a 12-9-1 record.
Maxwell expected big things from the team in the Big Ten Tournament, but that did not happen.
"It was surprising that we didn't make it that far," Maxwell said. "I had a ton of faith in us to go in the Big Ten. My plans were to win the Big Ten and go to the NCAA and rock that."

November 12, 2008

Chicago Red Stars draftee injured

Heather Garriock could be out for the season after suffering from inflammation of a muscle near her hip.
"It's a fairly bad injury and if I want to nurse it through the season I could, but that means there could be repercussions for next year when I go the United States [to play in the new professional league]."

NJ Wildcats

USP Soccer, Inc. purchased the NJ Wildcats from long time owner and soccer enthusiast Vince Baldino.
Vince Baldino led the NJ Wildcats with a passion for 12 years with his greatest accomplishment coming in 2005 when his NJ Wildcats won the W-League Championship!
USP Soccer, Inc. was founded in October of 1997 and is now the largest soccer service provider in Monmouth County with over 1100 soccer campers attending their camps yearly.

November 11, 2008

Whats next for WPS?

Concerns are growing that the world economy will experience a sharp slowdown in 2009 and what that might mean for the Women’s Professional Soccer league scheduled to begin play in April ‘09.
According to one WPS insider the global economic meltdown could have serious impact on the league.
Perhaps the biggest story to date is that the league has made no player signings and morale is said to be low amongst management as there are major obstacles in negotiating with the US WNT representative John Langel who is steadfast in his demands.
The foreign player draft is a fiasco and privately league insiders admit that perhaps 50% of the drafted players will not play in the league.
Signing Marta at any price is a priority even at the risk of offending Wambach and Co.

NCAA tournament

The NCAA Division I Women's Soccer tournament will kick off this weekend:

First Round - Friday, Nov. 14
At South Bend, Ind.
Toledo (16-4-1) at Notre Dame (21-0-0)
Michigan State (13-6-3) vs. Wis.-Milwaukee (18-2-2)

At Minneapolis
Marquette (11-7-3) at Minnesota (20-3-0)
South Dakota (14-4-1) vs. Colorado (14-4-4)

At Boston
Central Connecticut State (12-6-4) at Boston College (13-5-2)
Northeastern (13-8-1) vs. Harvard (10-3-4)

At Auburn, Ala.
Belmont (13-6-3) at Auburn (11-8-2)
Mississippi Valley State (9-10-0) vs. Florida State (14-2-3)

At Portland, Ore.
Northern Arizona (12-6-3) at Portland (17-1-0)
Washington State (10-5-5) vs. Texas (12-3-4)

At Winston-Salem, N.C.
Georgia (11-10-1) vs. James Madison (12-6-2)
Morehead State (10-8-2) at Wake Forest (12-7-0)

At Piscataway, N.J.
Oklahoma State (17-1-3) vs. Fairfield (15-4-3)
Penn State (16-7-0) at Rutgers (12-6-1)

At Stanford, Calif.
Kansas (12-7-2) vs. Denver (19-2-2)
UC-Santa Barbara (12-6-3) at Stanford (18-1-1)

At Los Angeles
Fresno State (11-8-2) at UCLA (18-0-2)
San Diego (14-4-2) vs. Long Beach State (14-3-4)

At Provo, Utah
Virginia Tech (10-8-4) at BYU (17-5-0)
Boston University (15-5-1) vs. Southern Cal (15-4-1)

At Durham, N.C.
Radford (14-1-6) at Duke (12-5-3)
William & Mary (14-5-1) vs. South Carolina (11-6-4)

At Charlottesville, Va.
West Virginia (13-2-6) vs. Princeton (12-2-2)
Army (12-5-3) at Virginia (13-4-3)

At Tallahassee, Fla.
California (10-8-1) at Florida (17-3-1)
Central Florida (13-5-3) vs. Miami (10-8-3)

At College Station, Texas
LSU (14-3-2) vs. Washington (14-5-1)
Texas State (12-4-4) at Texas A&M (15-4-1)

At Columbia, Mo.
Evansville (13-4-2) at Missouri (15-5-1)
Memphis (15-4-2) vs. Illinois (11-8-1)

At Chapel Hill, N.C.
Charlotte (17-3-1) vs. Tennessee (10-10-2)
Western Carolina (16-4-3) at North Carolina (19-1-2)

November 10, 2008

Marta demands more money

"Marta's wage demands are high; $500,000 a year according to some information, close to $1 million according to other.
Marta also wants a guaranteed three year contract. If she gets sick or injured, she should still get paid for the full three years. If the club or the league folds, she should still get paid for the entire contract period. It is unclear whether Marta will sign a deal with LA Sol or with AEG or with both. But a guarantee would have to be backed up by AEG, not LA Sol."


I wonder if the US WNT players will get 3 year guaranteed contracts?

Player killed

Authorities say 19-year-old Lindsay Matthews of Orchard Park, a member of the Geneseo State College women's soccer team, was killed Sunday.

November 09, 2008

UNC 3, Virginia Tech 0

North Carolina, trying to find the chemistry it will need in the playoffs when it will lose two main contributors, scored early on Virginia Tech en route to a 3-0 win Sunday for the ACC women's soccer championship at WakeMed Soccer Park.
The Heels got goals from forwards Jessica McDonald, Casey Nogueira and Courtney Jones for their fourth straight ACC championship and their 19th in 21 years.

French diagnosed with cancer

Michelle French, my teammate from the Seattle Sounders was recently diagnosed with cancer, specifically: "Diffuse Large B Cell Lymphoma and Schelorsis of the Mediastinum, a Non-Hodgkins lymphoma and she has a tumor the size of a lemon in her chest.

November 08, 2008

USA 1, South Korea 0

Heather O'Reilly picked up a cross from Natasha Kai for the game's lone goal in the 72nd minute and the United States held on for a 1-0 win over South Korea in front of 3,500 fans Saturday night at Raymond James Stadium.

November 07, 2008

WPS in Rochester?

"Q: Does WNY FC want in the WPS expansion race?
A: Of course. Why wouldn't it? But Amos cautioned that talks have been "very preliminary." WPS needs to see how it will do financially in 2009 and so does WNY FC before there's more discussion. If the plan for Amos & Co. is to field a powerhouse team, bury opponents and try to average 2,000 to 3,00 fans to get Rochester back on the WPS radar, it's a good one. But it can't expect to turn a profit."

Western NY FC

Peter Amos, former head coach of the Rochester Rhinos in the United Soccer Leagues W-League, was awarded franchise rights to return the area to the league Thursday with the expansion Western New York FC Pride, who will play home games at 12,000-seat PAETEC Park, home to the USL First Division men's team, beginning in 2009.

November 06, 2008

Purdue 2, Ohio State 1

Purdue (11-6-3, 5-3-2) began its Big Ten tournament play with a decisive 2-1 victory over sixth-seeded Ohio State.
Purdue advances to the semifinals to play against second-seeded Minnesota (19-2, 8-2) Friday, November 7, 2008 at 1 p.m. n Ohio State finishes the 2008 season with an 8-10-2 record.

Texas and Texas A&M upset

No. 3 seed Missouri defeated defending champion Texas, 3-1, and seventh-seeded Kansas shocked No. 2 seed Texas A&M, 4-02 in the quarterfinals of the Big 12 women's soccer tournament Wednesday in San Antonio.
Missouri (14-5-0), ranked No. 20 by the National Soccer Coaches Association of America, got two goals fronm Alysha Bonnick to avenge a regular-season loss to the No. 15 Longhorns (12-3-4). Shannon McCabe scored twice as Kansas stopped No. 11 A&M (15-4-1).

November 05, 2008

USA 0, South Korea 0

The fifth game of the U.S. Women’s National Team’s Achieve Your Gold Tour resulted in a 0-0 draw as U.S. goalkeepers Nicole Barnhart and Briana Scurry combined to shutout Korea Republic in front of a crowd of 5,877 at Paul Brown Stadium on Wednesday evening.

Virginia Tech upsets Florida State

After engaging in a scoreless battle with second-seeded Florida State for a 110 full minutes, Virginia Tech prevailed on penalty kicks to score the first upset of the Atlantic Coast Conference Women's Soccer Championship quarterfinal round on Wednesday night.
The seventh-seeded Hokies held a 4-2 edge in PKs - including the clincher by senior Kim Hickey - to advance to Friday's 7:30 p.m. semifinal game against Virginia or Wake Forest. With their performance against the nationally-fifth ranked Seminoles, Virginia Tech (10-7-3) continued to build off the momentum of last Sunday's win over nationally-ranked Duke that closed out the regular season.

U17 World Cup: USA

USA squeezed through to the quarter-finals at France's expense, after fighting out an enthralling 1-1 draw in Auckland. Kazbek Tambi's side had started the day knowing that their superior goal difference would take them through from Group C with Japan - provided, of course, they could avoid defeat at North Harbour Stadium. That proved easier said than done against a determined and talented French side.

November 04, 2008

Laura Kerrigan fired by NC State?

Per one of State's more connected posters on the free message boards at PackPride.com, he stated he'd heard that Laura Kerrigan had been fired as of yesterday afternoon. James Henderson of PackPride.com then confirmed later in the thread he'd heard the same thing.
It brings to an end an 11-year run of very poor women's soccer coaching results by Kerrigan.
The Pack never fielded a competitive team in-conference under her watch, finishing with no more than three conference wins in a season at any point in her tenure.

November 01, 2008

Small crowd watches USA beat South Korea

A crowd of about 3,000 watched the U.S. Women’s National Soccer Team make it four wins in four games on the 2008 Achieve Your Gold Tour, defeating South Korea 3-1 to open a three-game series that continues on Wednesday, Nov. 5, in Cincinnati and concludes on Nov. 8 in Tampa.
Angela Hucles and Heather O’Reilly each scored first-half goals as the U.S. won their 30th game in 2008, building upon their record number of wins in a calendar year. After the half, Lindsay Tarpley scored her career high 12th goal of the year.

U17 World Cup: USA 3, Paraguay 1