Cleveland FC to play in Women’s League Soccer
The semi-professional Women’s League Soccer (WLS) will make its debut this May. Cleveland Futbol Club (Cleveland FC) is one of the league’s founding members. Cleveland FC is regarded as one of the top youth programs in the nation and has a handful of alumni playing in the professional ranks, most notably Danesha Adams (Philadelphia Independence – Women’s Professional Soccer) and Amanda Cinalli (Saint Louis Athletica/Atlanta Beat). WLS is a semi-professional league based in the Midwest and will also include the Chicago Breeze, Fort Wayne SC, FC Indiana, Cincinnati Saints, and South Bend WFC.
WPS fans can voice their opinions each week on #WPSchat
Women’s Professional Soccer (WPS) fans always have something to say about teams, players, and the league. And with the emergence of Twitter, fans can easily interact with other fans, and even do a little trash talking. Bill Tammick came up with an idea to bring WPS fans together even more, so they could voice their opinions together and have a discussion each week. Tammick created the #WPSchat on Twitter. (more…)
U.S. Women’s National Team has busy schedule leading up to World Cup
The U.S. Women’s National team is seeking its third World Cup title, and leading up to the 2011 FIFA Women’s World Cup in Germany, the team is scheduled to meet several times to prepare for the tournament. The team begins with the Algarve Cup, which runs from March 2-9 in Portugal. A friendly against England, a couple exhibition matches, and a few more training camps follow. (more…)
Maria Karlsson: Team spirit and teamwork
Teams spirit and teamwork. These two words mean a lot to me. I really believe in team spirit and teamwork and the cliché that a team never is stronger than the weakest link. Do I think like that because I’m usually not the player who determines games by scoring the winning goal? Did I choose to play a team game like football for that reason? How true is this cliché? (more…)
Four Nations U-23 tournament update: U.S. draws with England, Sweden beats Norway
The second day of the U-23 Four Nations Tournament in La Manga produced a 1-1 draw between the U.S. and England and 3-1 win by Sweden over Norway. Sweden, which lost, 4-2, on Friday to the U.S., came out Sunday and took a 1-0 lead 12 minutes into the match on a goal from Sofia Jakobsson (Umeå IK). Norway’s Hege Hansen, who scored Norway’s lone goal in a 1-1 draw Friday against England, tied the match in the 24th minute. Less than 10 minutes later, Sweden’s Sarah Storck (LdB FC Malmö) scored what proved to be the game-winner. Before the first half ended, Sweden’s Linnea Liljegård (Kopparbergs/Göteborg FC) scored her team’s final goal. (more…)
U.S. tops Sweden, England and Norway draw in opening matches of U-23 Four Nations Tournament
Norway’s Hege Hansen, right, scored Norway’s lone goal against England (photo by Astrid M. Nordhaug/Digitalsport)
Notre Dame forward Melissa Henderson scored two goals for the U.S. U-23 Women’s National Team in its 4-2 win Friday over Sweden at the Four Nations Tournament in La Manga, Spain. Sarah Hagen (UW-Milwaukee) and Casey Noguiera (Sky Blue FC) also scored for the U.S., while Sofia Jakobsson and Emma Berglund, who both play for Umeå IK, scored for Sweden. (more…)
The Wright Stuff – New Dream Home
By David Bayer
When we last left Kylie Wright, she had signed a contract with the Atlanta Beat and was waiting for training camp to begin. In the meantime, her plans were to continue training on her own, and finish her education at UCLA. (Wow! A professional athlete with a college degree … What a concept!) She has held true to those plans. Coach Jim Galanis of the Beat has not put her on any training program yet, so she has continued her basic “touching the ball” routine. She told me, “When you have a soccer ball at your feet, anything is better than just running.” Her professors have cut her some slack time-wise, but she’s still had to finish up three papers prior to the end of school on March 16. There was one “minor” addition to Kylie’s plans. She’ll be participating in the U-23 Four Nations Tournament in Spain. Her U.S. squad will face England, Sweden and Norway. She made sure to get Coach Galanis’ blessing before accepting the roster spot. (more…)
Germany: Nadine Angerer extends contract with Frankfurt
1.FFC Frankfurt goalkeeper Nadine Angerer extended her contract by another season. She is now signed until June 30, 2012. The world champion, who did not allow a single goal at the last World Cup, was considered to be one of the players who might retire this summer or go to play in another country. In other news this week from Germany, Hamburger SV celebrated a 3-2 success at VfL Wolfsburg in a makeup game. Wolfsburg could not manage to hold onto two leads (Selina Wagner scored twice for Wolfsburg). For Hamburg, Kim Kulig netted a pair as well, including the game-winner. Hamburg climbed to a surprising fourth place, while Wolfsburg dropped to a disappointing sixth place.
Ali Riley ready for new challenge in WPS
Former FC Gold Pride and Stanford University teammates Ali Riley (right) and Kelley O’Hara are now WPS opponents.
When FC Gold Pride ceased operations less than two months after winning the 2010 Women’s Professional Soccer Championship, more than two dozen players were left without a place to play. Ali Riley was one of them. Even though her stock rose after winning the 2010 WPS Rookie of the Year, she was like everyone else on her former team – a free agent. But she found a home in the offseason, one she’s looking forward to in a big way. (more…)
Historic day in Qatar as inaugural league kicks off
Thursday marks the start of the first Qatar Women’s Football Championship. Run by the Qatar Football Association and the Qatar Women’s Sports Committee, the league will feature eight teams – Al Ahli Sport Club, Al-Kharaitiyat Club, Al-Khor Sport Club, Al-Rayan Sport Club. Ladies Club 1, Ladies Club 2, Saad Sport Club, and Ummsalal Sport Club. The teams will play at the Al Yarmouk Independent School for Women.
When in Rome
Shopping=my weakness. OK, I have many weaknesses, like chocolate, candy, new clothes, and possibly even watches. Unfortunately for my bank account, on our day off in Rome, I indulged in some of these weaknesses. “When in Rome, right?” After many hard days of testing, training, and workouts, we were rewarded with a day off. Some girls on the team stayed back to do some rehab/treatments for injuries and knocks, and some of us went into the city to explore a little, and of course shop. We are girls, what do you expect right? (more…)
Nation’s top recruit Lindsey Horan commits to UNC
A number of high school soccer players in the U.S. have begun to commit to play at Division 1 colleges. U-17 USWNT forward Lindsey Horan (Colorado Rush) has committed to play at the University of North Carolina. Laura Liedle (San Diego Surf) also committed to UNC. Three other schools that competed in the 2010 NCAA Women’s College Cup received commitments from some of the top girls in the country. Santa Clara: Alesha Blair (De Anza Force), Sofia Huerta (FC Nova-Idaho), Kelly Jarvis (MVLA-NorCal), Alyssa Kleiner (Neusport), Catherine Parchinski (Pride SC), Brooke Rice (Sparta United), Stephanie Sorg (MVLA-NorCal), Kathryn Speidel (Real So Cal); Virginia: Lia Bellizzi (Albertson SC), Olivia Brannon (Michigan Jaguars FC), Morgan Brian (Ponte Vedra), Danielle Colaprico (PDA), Campbell Millar (Bethesda SC), Kaili Torres (Ponte Vedra); Penn State: Kori Chapic (Cleveland Cobras), Whitney Church (Loudoun FC), Britt Eckerstrom (FC Frederick), Kindrah Kohne (Empire Syracuse).
Alyssa Naeher talks Algarve Cup: “I like the team’s chances”
Alyssa Naeher is in Portugal at her first Algarve Cup (ISI Photos)
Alyssa Naeher’s been on the big stage before. The 22-year-old Boston Breakers keeper won the Golden Glove for the world champion U-20 Women’s National Team at the 2008 Women’s World Cup. Now, Naeher has taken her game to another level. She’s currently in Portugal at her first Algarve Cup with the full U.S. Women’s National Team. (more…)
U.S. U20s heading to Spain for tournament in La Manga
Following a training camp that ran through Feb. 20 in Chula Vista, Calif., the U.S. U-20 Women’s National Team will head to Spain to play in La Manga against U-20 teams from Norway, Sweden, and England. The four-team tournament runs from March 4-March 8. (more…)
Ali Riley: “I think we’re going to be more competitive and a lot more confident”
Photo by Chung Sung-Jun/Getty Images
It’s a little more than four months from the start of the FIFA Women’s World Cup. But Ali Riley’s got a lot of soccer to play between now and then. In less than two months, she makes her debut for the expansion Western New York Flash of Women’s Professional Soccer. But Riley’s 2011 soccer season actually begins in 10 days. She’s heading overseas to compete in the 2011 Cyprus Cup with the New Zealand Women’s National Team. (more…)
Maria Karlsson: Adapt to a smile
One thing that I’ve come to think about after a couple of weeks here in England is how good people adapt to new settings and faces, simply new conditions. And that’s exactly how I feel here in Doncaster. I know that it’s not usual to live at a hotel for one year. But when you know going to do it, it’s just to adapt. And I think we all do it very well! But one thing that I still think will be very hard to adapt to is the left traffic in this country. According to Google, there are only four countries in Europe that drive on the “wrong” side. Why don’t they drive like the rest of us? I am happy when I pass over a cross walk and they have written “look right” or “look left” on the street. That information (and my friends) has saved me a lot of times. (more…)
Two more WPSL players earn recognition from Gatorade
Sarah Killion and Riley Houle, who both played in the Women’s Premier Soccer League last summer, have been named Gatorade High School Players of the Year for their respective states. Killion, from Indiana, played eight games for Fort Wayne F.C. in 2010, and helped lead the team to the Midwest Conference playoffs. The Bishop Dwenger High School midfielder will play for UCLA in the fall. Houle played for the New England Mutiny last summer. The midfielder from Windham High School in Connecticut committed to play at the University of Connecticut in 2011. Houle played for the U.S. U-17 team that went to the Algarve Cup in 2009.
Lisa-Marie Woods: Settled in at Fortuna
I feel like I have been in Denmark and playing for Fortuna for a while now, when in reality it has only been about two weeks. I take that as a good sign as that means that I have settled in well with the team both on and off the field. Any player that goes abroad to play with a new team knows that this kind of settlement early is really important. It allows you to lower your guard, just be yourself and have fun with playing and getting better.
Since I last wrote we have had two other friendly games. First game was against Gøteborg from Sweden, and then the second game was against a boys/junior. team. We won the first game, 2-1, and drew the second game, 1-1. We have performed better and better in each game, and we are starting to show some real potential. We do still have our work set out for us, but I am really happy about the development I have seen. My own form is also getting better and better, and it is easier and easier to play alongside my new teammates. That is a relief for me personally. Thanks to Fortuna for making this “easy” for me! (more…)
FCR Duisburg fires Coach Martina Voss-Tecklenburg
In a surprise statement, FCR Duisburg announced that Head Coach Martina Voss-Tecklenburg is released from her tasks for the club. Assistant Coach Marco Ketelaer will take over. (more…)
Florida Atlantic University confirms that magicTalk SC will play on campus
Mitch Silverman, Asst. AD (Facilities Management, Operations and Events) at Florida Atlantic University, said Wednesday night that magicTalk SC will play all of its home games on the Florida Atlantic University campus in Boca Raton, Florida. (more…)
Germany: Potsdam stays on top due to Bajramaj resurrection
No less than five makeup games were scheduled for the middle of this week in German Bundesliga. Turbine Potsdam defended its place on top of the standings Tuesday after a 5-2 win at SC Bad Neuenahr. Potsdam led 2-0 at halftime, but Bad Neuenahr equalized until the 60th minute. The match winner for Potsdam was Lira Bajramaj (she was taken out on Sunday, a major injury was suspected, even the World Cup participation was endangered, according to reports). But on Monday, the relieve followed as Bajramaj played and scored four goals against Bad Neuenahr. (more…)
More countries release their rosters for Algarve Cup
A number of teams that are competing in the Algarve Cup in Portugal have announced their rosters. The U.S. roster was released last week, while Sweden and Finland both unveiled their rosters Tuesday. Other teams that have their rosters set include Norway, Denmark, Portugal, and Wales. Romanian club Cluj announced that nearly its entire starting 11 will play for Romania in Portugal. (more…)
