Carolina Railhawks roster announced

The Carolina RailHawks announced today a roster of 20 athletes.
“Based on the quality and personalities of the players on the 2008 Inaugural Carolina RailHawks Women roster, we will field an aggressive, attacking, and creative team,” said Carolina RailHawks Women Head Coach Jay Howell. “The team will be entertaining to watch and fun to coach.”

Yamaguchi leaves FSU

Florida State University and head coach Mark Krikorian has announced that junior forward Mami Yamaguchi will forgo her senior season to pursue her professional soccer career.

Atlanta Re-Sign Four From W-League Final Squad

The Atlanta Silverbacks Women of the United Soccer Leagues W-League announced Wednesday the re-signings of Sarah Steinmann, Tara Minnax, Melanie Schneider and Monica Buff, four members of the 2007 team that advanced to their first league championship game, which they lost to the Washington Freedom.

Esposito signs with Jersey Sky Blue

Jersey Sky Blue brought another player back into the squad for the 2008 season with Sky Blue Soccer announcing today the Domenique Esposito has signed for the team’s second season in the W-League. The former Rutgers University forward first joined Jersey Sky Blue late in the 2007 season.

Pali adds pair of goalkeepers

The Pali Blues Soccer Club are seemingly set at the goalkeeper position, announcing today the signings of former youth internationals Karen Bardsley and Valerie Henderson. The duo looks to backstop the club this year in its inaugural season in the USL W-League.
“We are pleased to have two fantastic keepers that will challenge each other,” Blues head coach Charlie Naimo stated. “Both have international experience and possess leadership qualities to help guide our team defensively.”

USA, Mexico, Jamaica

The USA was drawn into Group A along with Jamaica and Mexico for 2008 CONCACAF Women's Olympic Qualifying Tournament that will take place April 2-12 at the Estadio Olimpico Benito Juarez in Ciudad Juarez, Mexico.

USC 1, Mexico WNT 3

Iris Mora scores one goal to lead Mexico to a comfortable 3-1 win over USC.

Dames a leading candidate for WPS Chicago

Rory Dames, Director of Coaching and Player Development for the Eclipse Select Soccer Club, is one of the leading candidates for the position. The Eclipse Select Soccer Club was named the No. 1 girl's soccer club in the nation in 2007 by "Soccer America."

Mahar set to leave Washington

Former Maryland women's soccer All-American Mallory Mahar will be taking on a new challenge this summer. In lieu of playing for the Washington Freedom W-league team, Mahar will be hanging up her soccer boots and trading them in for some spandex and a helmet.

FC Indiana duo returns

FC Indiana have confirmed the re-signing of two key players. Defender Christie Shaner and midfielder Aivi Luik have re-signed with the club for their fourth season.

LA Rampage add four

The Los Angeles Rampage of the West Conference of the Women's Premier Soccer League (WPSL) announced their first signings for its inaugural season in WPSL competition this past week. Four Califonia State University-Northridge Matador teammates have signed on to be part of the foundation of a promising 2008 season's roster, as Susie Mischenko, Kristy Krohn, Nalena Betancourt and Shanna Hudson will all join the Rampage this summer.

St. Louis stadium on hold

Attorney Jeff Cooper is still confident that Major League Soccer will one day come to Collinsville, although that won't happen as soon as he had hoped. Collinsville and Philadelphia are in the running for the 16th expansion team but Cooper said Tuesday that it appears that MLS will soon award the team to Philadelphia. Collinsville, he said, will be in a strong position to land a 17th franchise the following year.

"2010 is what we're targeting," Cooper said.
In 2007, he was awarded a franchise in the newly-formed Women's Soccer League and if the stadium becomes a reality, the team would play its games there, Cooper said.
Earlier this year, River Cities FC, a Women's Premier Soccer League team owned by Copper ceased operations.

Three US based players on New Zealand roster

Simone Ferrara of Ajax of Southern California, Ria Percival of FC Indiana and Ali Riley of Stanford University are three US based players named to New Zealand Olympic qualifier roster.

What is the USSF good for?

No other leading women's soccer country would consider having a foreigner in charge of the national team - such an occurrence has never been the strategy for Brazil, Sweden, Norway or Germany. Even countries such as England, France, Italy, Denmark will not permit it. This is a tactic used by the second tier nations who buy in expertise due to the lack of coaching quality in their own country.
In the US, there are around 315 D1 college coaches, and around 100 WPSL, W-League and elite club coaches.
Apparently Waldrum, Smith, Krikorian, DiCicco, Gabarra are not good enough to lead the US.
Now it seems that players from the Washington Freedom, arguably the best American club, are better off playing and training in Sweden.
If the coaching programs run by the USSF are of no value and produce no quality coaches, why do we need them?

Algarve Cup roster

GOALKEEPERS (2): Nicole Barnhart (2) (Gilbertsville, Pa.), Hope Solo (5) (Richland, Wash.);
DEFENDERS (6): Rachel Buehler (1) (Del Mar, Calif.), Stephanie Cox (4) (Elk Grove, Calif.), Tobin Heath (1) (Basking Ridge, N.J.), Kate Markgraf (7) (Bloomfield Hills, Mich.), Christie Rampone (8) (Point Pleasant, N.J.), Cat Whitehill (8) (Birmingham, Ala.);
MIDFIELDERS (7): Shannon Boxx (5) (Redondo Beach, Calif.), Lori Chalupny (5) (St. Louis, Mo.), Angela Hucles (4) (Virginia Beach, Va.), Carli Lloyd (3) (Delran, N.J.), Leslie Osborne (4) (Brookfield, Wis.), Lindsay Tarpley (6) (Kalamazoo, Mich.), Angie Woznuk (1) (El Cajon, Calif.);
FORWARDS (5): Lauren Cheney (1) (Indianapolis, Ind.), Natasha Kai (3) (Kahuku, Hawaii), Heather O’Reilly (6) (East Brunswick, N.J.), Amy Rodriguez (3) (Lake Forest, Calif.), Abby Wambach (5) (Rochester, N.Y.).

Oaks, Kline and Bogus to Plai Blues

The roster for the Pali Blues Soccer Club steadily grows, and the level of U.S. National Team involvement is on the rise. Today, the Blues announce the signing of midfielder Jill Oakes, midfielder Brittany Klein and forward Elizabeth Bogus.

No respect for Washington and Gabarra?

"Our biggest signing since Anne Mäkinen", comments a happy Conny Sjöberg, Bälinge's sport director. The player he is talking about is Joanna Lohman, a 26 years old midfielder with 9 caps for USA. She was released from the USA national team camp only last week and was encouraged by USA coach Pia Sundhage to take the offer from Bälinge as a way to keep sharp in case she will be called up again. She will pair up with fellow American Kacey White on Bälinge's midfield, playing in a kind of Mäkinen position if Sjöberg's plans works out.
The actual paperwork isn't finalized yet, but Sjöberg says they have a verbal agreement. Lohman will arrive in Uppsala in early April and stay for six months. Bälinge will use the tax exemptions such an "artist contract" gives in Sweden to be able to afford her. "She is not the kind of player you give an au-pair contract".

Adirondack signs two

The Adirondack Lynx of the East Conference of the Women's Premier Soccer League (WPSL) announced their first signings of 2008. Erica Jensen and Tanya Roberts - former members of the University of Nevada-Las Vegas & WPSL Las Vegas Tabagators.

The last shot for women's pro soccer

At the turn of the millennium, the first incarnation of a fully professional women's soccer league in the United States began with a wave of publicity, grand expectations and a million reasons why the product would work. Just three years later, it ended with a sorrowful wave goodbye, a bunch of shattered dreams and an opportunity lost.

Fast forward to 2008. Rising from that spectacular pile of ashes is Women's Professional Soccer, a smaller, frugal and much more sensible endeavour than its arrogant and defunct older sister.

"We know we are not going to get another shot at this," WPS chief executive officer Tonya Antonucci said. "We have to get it right this time. There is no going back.
The brutal fact is that if she, the new team owners and the players on the field do not pull together to manufacture something far more economically viable than its predecessor, there won't be a professional league for women.

Arizona State 0, Mexico WNT 3

The Arizona State women's soccer team fell to the Mexican National Team, 3-0, Sunday in front of a crowd of 1,277 at Sun Devil Soccer Stadium.

UCLA 1, Mexico WNT 1

Arizona State 3, UCLA 4

The Arizona State women's soccer team was back in action Saturday night as they hosted the UCLA Bruins for the second of three games being played at Sun Devil Soccer Stadium this weekend.
The Sun Devils and Bruins played an exciting match that went back and forth; however, the Bruins came out on top, 4-3.

US U20 5, Chile U20 1

In a match watched by 8,000 fans, the U.S. Under-20 Women's National Team blew past host Chile by a 5-1 score to win its third straight match, and the championship, of the Four Nations Tournament in La Serena. It was the first tournament victory under new U.S. head coach Tony DiCicco.

US U23 1, Germany U23 1

The U.S. Under-23 National Team tied Germany, 1-1, in its final match at the La Manga Tournament in La Manga, Spain. A 1-0 victory would have given the USA the tournament title, but the Americans finished second in the competition with the draw.

West Michigan signs head coach

The West Michigan Firewomen announced today that Neathan Gibson has been selected as the head coach for the upcoming 2008 W-League season.

Ohio State inks athletes

Ohio State University women's soccer coach Lori Walker announced today that 12 high school student-athletes have committed to attend Ohio State this fall and play soccer for the Buckeyes.
Devin Anuzis - Basking Ridge, N.J. - PDA/Parsippany
GK Katie Baumgardner - Sterling, Va. - Reston FC
D Colleen Brady - Dublin, Ohio - Ohio Premier SC
D Brittney Contacos - Irwin, Pa. - Internationals SC
D Lauren Cusick - Hillsborough, N.J. - PDA Power
D Kelsi Landry - Whitby, Ontario, Canada - Dixie Saints
M/F Caitlyn Martin - Dublin, Ohio - Ohio Premier SC
GK Kendall Maxwell - Anderson, S.C. - CESA
F Paige Maxwell - Medina, Ohio - Internationals FC
D Elizabeth Sullivan - Powell, Ohio - Ohio Premier SC
M/F/D Danielle Scoliere - Dublin, Ohio - Ohio Premier SC
F Brook Taylor - Sylvania, Ohio - Internationals SC

BIG 10 CONFERENCE FINISH
1997 - 7th
1998 - 7th
1999 - 5th
2000 - 11th
2001 - 4th
2002 - 7th
2003 - 5th
2004 - 2nd
2005 - 9th
2006 - 5th
2007 - 5th

US U20 2, Norway U20 1

US U23 2, Norway U23 0

Loyden Returns to Sky Blue

After capping a stellar collegiate career at Villanova University, Jillian Loyden will rejoin Jersey Sky Blue for the 2008 W-League season. Sky Blue Soccer announced today that the All-American goalkeeper will return in net after making a successful debut with Jersey Sky Blue last year.

USC to play Mexico in exhibition at Coliseum

The USC women's soccer team will be put to the test later this month.
They will play the Mexican national team in an exhibition game on Feb. 22 at the Coliseum.
Trojans coach Ali Khosroshahin has connections with Leonardo Cuellar, the Mexican national team coach.
"We are excited and honored to be playing the Mexican national team," Khosroshashin said.

WPS

The Bay Area remains in the waiting area when it comes to landing a franchise in Women's Professional Soccer, scheduled to open play in the spring of 2009. The league has agreements with franchises in seven other cities, and the Bay Area is in a group of five possibilities for the eighth spot.

The league has been talking to Lew Wolff's A's/Quakes ownership group. "They have a keen interest in it," WPS Commissioner Tonya Antonucci said. "However, they're in a holding pattern with respect to a stadium. We're starting to talk to other groups who might move more quickly and have a different stadium solution. We really need another team on the West Coast, and this is one of the strongest soccer communities in the whole nation."

US U23 1, England U23 3

The U.S. Under-23 Women’s National Team fell to the England U-23 Women’s National Team by a 3-1 score at the La Manga Tournament in La Manga, Spain.

The English sat back defensively and looked for the counter attack, tactics that worked exceptionally well as the English scored once in the first half and then twice in the last 11 minutes to get the win. The first goal came on a header from Rebecca Angus that looped over U.S. goalkeeper Kelsey Davis in the 38th minute. England made it 2-0 in the 79th minute on a goal from Michelle Evans after the Americans had been dispossessed in the midfield.

The USA pulled a goal back with 10 minutes to play on an 18-yard shot by Kiki Bosio that was misplayed by England goalkeeper Marie Hourihan, but instead of the Americans getting an equalizer, it was the English that got a clincher. Two minutes from the end of the game, the U.S. team lost the ball in the back and Rachel Williams was able to chip over the head of Val Henderson for the final margin.

US U20 1, England U20 0

The U.S. Under-20 Women’s National Team opened its three-game run at the Four Nations Tournament in La Serena, Chile, with a 1-0 victory over England on a goal from midfielder Teresa Noyola in the final minute of the first half.

Brazil coach inquires about Chicago women's job

Brazil women's soccer coach Jorge Barcellos has inquired about the Chicago Women's Pro Soccer head coach position, according to a source. Barcellos is expected to interview for the position later this week.
Jorge Barcellos led Brazil to the 2007 World Cup final where his team lost 2-0 to Germany on Sept. 30. Before being named the head coach of Brazil's senior women's team, he coached the women's U-20 squad. Barcellos led the U-20 team to a third place finish in the U-20 Women's World Championship in 2006.

Pali Blues win Silver Mug Cup

The Pali Blues Soccer Club headed to Las Vegas this past weekend and returned to the Pacific Palisades as champions of the 2008 Silver Mug Tournament presented by Friendship Sports, Inc. The tournament pitted the Blues against some very experienced clubs in a series of highly-contested match ups.

“A lot of character was shown by our team this past weekend,” Blues head coach Charlie Naimo stated. “Our group has not had a lot of experience together, but our players were still out there solving problems. It was a great experience for all of the players involved, and we now have somewhat of a measuring stick to guide us into preseason training.”

Pali Blues 1, Ajax America Women 0
Pali Blues 4, Denver Diamonds 2
Pali Blues 3, Ventura County 0
Pali Blues 0, Ajax America Women 0

Mexico WNT 7, UTEP 1

Cara Nordin scored for UTEP.

National Player Of The Year Henderson highlights Notre Dame's signing class

The nation's top-ranked high school player - forward Melissa Henderson (Garland, Texas/Berkner HS) - highlights a group of eight current prep standouts who will comprise the Notre Dame women's soccer team's freshman class for the 2008 season, as announced this week by Irish head coach Randy Waldrum.

WPSL vs. W-League

W-League newcomers Pali Blues and WPSL powerhouse Ajax America Women tied 0-0 in Las Vegas based Silver Mug tournament on Saturday.

Jac Cicala in charge of the Majestics

The Northern Virginia Majestics eagerly announced today that Jac Cicala will resume his role as head coach for a third consecutive season. Also named to the 2008 Northern Virginia W-League coaching staff were Tom Torres, Remy DuCote, and Sean Burke.

Cicala returns to the Majestics following a 7-6-1 season and two consecutive playoff appearances for the club. Cicala came to the Majestics in 2006 after a brilliant career as the head coach for George Mason University Women’s Soccer.
The 2002 co-Coach of the Year in the CAA, Cicala posted his 100th career victory in the 2000 season opener and he became Mason’s all-time leader in women’s coaching victories in 2002. He boasts a collegiate career mark of 130-87-16 for a .592 winning percentage.

Pali Blues to face WPSL teams

he Pali Blues Soccer Club of the USL W-League will travel to Las Vegas this weekend to participate in the Silver Mug Tournament presented by Friendship Sports, Inc.
"It is a great opportunity to play in such a high level event this early in the 2008 season,” Blues head coach Charlie Naimo stated. “I have always looked forward to the opportunity of playing Ajax and the California Storm of the WPSL. We are looking forward to great matches this weekend."
The Blues will leave for Nevada on Friday to hold a pre-tournament training session on site. The team will first play Ajax on Saturday which is expected to be a highly-contested match up.

Down to 26

Sundhage has sent defender Becky Sauerbrunn to play with the U.S. U-23s, who leave for Spain tomorrow, where she will get three excellent matches against top U-23 sides from England, Norway and Germany.
In addition, Sundhage released goalkeeper Cori Alexander; defenders Amy LePeilbet, Brittany Taylor, Lindsay Huie and Manya Makoski; midfielders Jen Buczkowski, Tina DiMartino, Sarah Huffman, Noelle Keselica and Joanna Lohman; and forwards Tiffany Weimer and Christie Welsh.
Sundhage held 10 of the 23 players who were training with the younger group, including four young players (Tobin Heath, Lauren Cheney, Amy Rodriguez and Angie Woznuk), who were on the roster for the 2008 Four Nations tournament, 2007 WWC team members Heather Mitts, Natasha Kai and Nicole Barnhart, 2004 Olympic gold medalist Kristin Luckenbill, as well as 2007 Residency Training Camp participants Keeley Dowling and India Trotter, both defenders.

Petrucelli is smilling

No doubt Chris Petrucelli, the women's soccer coach at Texas, has a smile on his face today. Three of the top prep seniors in Southern California signed letters of intent to play for the Longhorns in the fall: striker Amanda Lisberger, goaltender Shaine Millheiser and midfielder/forward Courtney Goodson.

Greg Ryan

"They’ll never have another coach that plays 55 games and loses once. I’m serious. Wait and see."

"I just walk away with a fantastic experience and a record that no U.S. National Team coach has ever achieved..."

"Given that many of the young players had never been in that environment with the number of people in the stands, with the pressure, with the media, with the sponsors clamoring for their attention. I think as much as we could be prepared, we were prepared."

"I’ve probably coached more than most coaches coach in ten years at the college level, especially with the residency programs."

Chicago Gaels hires coach

Evan Strehlau will be starting his second season with the Gaels as the goalkeeper coach. The veteran 28-year old coach will work with keepers at all levels of the Gaels 2008 programs.
Evan is the Head Varsity Girls Coach at Queen of Peace High School in Burbank, IL .
He started in goal for his high school Tennessee state championship team.
After his prep career he continued playing collegiate soccer for 2 years (1997 and 1998) at Moraine Valley Community College until a injury sidelined him.

Brazil's Daniela in talks with FC Indiana

FC Indiana, an expansion team in the United Soccer Leagues W-League in 2008, is interested in obtaining the services of 23-year-old Brazilian midfielder Daniela Alves, who has said she would like to continue her playing career again in the US.
In an interview Wednesday on WASK-FM in Lafayette, IN, head coach Shek Borkowski said "Someone like Daniela would be a great option. We've asked about her and we're waiting."

Tiffany Weimer back in WPSL

With the start of the New Year already well past its proverbial warmup laps, the race for the 2008 Women's Premier Soccer League (WPSL) crown has begun in earnest. A number of East Conference playoff teams have re-signed their 2007 All-WPSL selections for the Summer 2008 season, starting with SoccerPlus CT who will have the services of head coach Tony DiCicco - who in the past few months has been also hired to head the U.S. U-20 Women's National Team & Boston Breakers of the WPS - and East MVP & First Team All-WPSL selection Tiffany Weimer for this upcoming season.

Two more 2007 East Playoff participants will have key returnees returning in 2008, as the 2006 WPSL National Champion Long Island Fury will have their Final Four MVP & Boston College standout Kelly Henderson (2007 Third Team All-WPSL) to rely upon again - alongside the speedy & dangerous Alaina Beyar. Northampton Laurels F.C. will have Trinidad & Tobago international Kennya Cordner (2007 Second Team All-WPSL) & 2007 NLFC Rookie of the Year Kelly Fitzpatrick - with a host of cornerstone players - wearing their team colors as well.

Adirondack's Garriock signs with Fortuna Hjørring

Australian midfielder Heather Garricok who played two seasons with WPSL's Adirondack Lynx has signed with Danish powerhouse Fortuna Hjorring

Best in the world

This time around, "the expectations have to be more modest," Antonucci said. "We're taking a more conservative approach. … We want to be smart about how to put the best product on the field, but we also want to try to manage those costs more conservatively."
The league already has teams in Los Angeles, Chicago, Dallas, St. Louis, Washington, Boston and New Jersey/New York. Antonucci would like to see an eighth team for the inaugural season, with others to follow in the ensuing years.

After 10 years, she went on, "I see probably 12 to 16 teams. I see very mature franchises. I see our teams filling a number of these soccer-specific stadiums. I see a robust national and international television presence. And I see us on the map when people think of professional sports leagues in this country."
WPS games may attract 5,000-7,000 fans at the outset, "but if we do our jobs right, I see us filling 20,000-seat stadiums in 10 years," she said.
"Will we be the NFL, the NBA? No. But we'll have an audience, a fan base, and it'll be sizeable. And we'll be the best league in the world for women's soccer."

Cooper returns to Sky Blues

Sky Blue Soccer announced today that defender Fanta Cooper will return for a second season with the organization’s W-League team Jersey Sky Blue - the first player announcement for Sky Blue's 2008 squad. In the franchise’s debut season in 2007, Cooper starred in the center of a Sky Blue defense that led the W-League in least amount of goals allowed in the regular season.

Phoenix Suns guard Steve Nash to invest in WPS

Women’s Professional Soccer added Phoenix Suns guard Steve Nash and former Yahoo! President Jeff Mallett as investors last week, giving the latest push for women’s pro soccer the marketing power of an NBA star and the business muscle of a new media visionary.
Terms of the deal were not available, but sources put the combined investment in the six figures. Both Mallett, who owns a piece of the San Francisco Giants, and Nash described their investments as a mix of cash and sweat equity. That mixture gives them a minority stake in the league and opportunities to invest more money.

Silverbacks to face Auburn

Atlanta Silverbacks will play an exhibition against Auburn University on Saturday, Apr. 12 at 1pm.

Coleman may be force-fed

With legal avenues of appeal narrowing, convicted rapist and prison inmate William B. Coleman has launched a hunger strike, subsisting on little morethan occasional drinks of juice or milk, water and ice chips.
Whether his claim of innocence has merit is debatable, but one thing is certain: He has the attention of prison staff, alarmed at his loss of 53 pounds since September.
In a phone interview Thursday, Coleman, a native of Liverpool, England, and the former women's soccer coach at Central Connecticut State University, said although he doesn't necessarily want to die, he doesn't want the state to interfere with his protest.

Though a jury and several judges have disagreed, Coleman maintains that his ex-wife lied and said he raped her because she wanted to prevent him from getting custody of their two sons. She could not be reached for comment for this story.
There was no physical evidence presented by prosecutors in the case against Coleman. In one account, Coleman's ex-wife reported that, culminating a week of abuse, Coleman sodomized her in her house on Oct. 3. But she had showered after the incident, she reported the crime Oct. 4, and there was no mention of a rape kit in an arrest warrant affidavit.