Maria Karlsson: Two important weeks
Aine, Maria, and Kylla, and a upcoming Doncaster star (photo by Shaun Flannery)
Every year before the season starts there’s a lot of excitement and anticipation in the air and then suddenly you’re in the midst of everything. The weeks pass quickly and we play game after game. Last weekend we lost our consistency that is so important. We definitely played a game with two halves when we played Chelsea at Keepmoat Stadium. Our first half was good, but in the second we lost our game and Chelsea took advantage. (more…)
Stephanie Labbe: Canadian teammates/friends visit Piteå
After the game in Stockholm with my three great Canadian friends/biggest fans
It has been a very interesting week here in Piteå. Something I never thought would happen happened! My double lives collided, head on! The Canadian team has been on break for the past week and a half, and fortunately for me, three of my close friends from the team decided Sweden was where they wanted to spend their break! Carmelina, Kaylyn, and Marie-Eve hopped on the plane and began their trip to the north. (more…)
Japan Football Association announces women’s roster for May friendlies vs. U.S.
Japan’s roster for next month’s friendly matches against the U.S. Women’s National Team was announced Thursday by the Japan Football Association. The squad includes three former Women’s Professional Soccer players – midfielders Aya Miyama and Homare Sawa and Karina Maruyama- in addition to Yuki Nagasato, who plays for Turbine Potsdam in Germany’s Bundesliga. Nagasato scored the game-winner for Potsdam in a 1-0 win over Duisburg in the Champions League semifinals two weeks ago. Japan will play the U.S. twice in May, the first on May 14th in Columbus, Ohio, and then on May 18 in Cary, North Carolina. (more…)
Alli Lipsher makes WPS history
Atlanta Beat keeper Alli Lipsher became the first player in Women’s Professional Soccer (WPS) history to win back-to-back Player of the Week awards. WPS announced today that Lipsher won the award for the second straight week after her performance in Sunday’s 2-2 draw against the Western New York Flash. (more…)
Interviews with Emma Part 3: A conversation with WNY Flash’s Caroline Seger
Emma with Caroline Seger
By David Bayer
I realize it’s still early in this series, but Emma and I decided to take a big step. We went … international! Our guest this week was Caroline Seger. Caroline is not only from Sweden, but she is the captain of the Swedish National Team! I’ll admit that I went into the interview feeling a bit intimidated. Luckily, Emma kept her composure. She broke the ice with her discussions about mosquitoes, her injury in the jumpie, and the 47 eggs she found on her Easter egg hunt. We then moved on to our questions. (more…)
Australia beginning World Cup preparations
Decision time for Australia Head Coach Tom Sermanni
By Ann Odong
With the FIFA Women’s World Cup just over eight weeks away, Australia has recently stepped up its preparations for the tournament. With friendlies announced against Trans-Tasman rivals New Zealand, traditional sporting rivals England and Mexico, the Australian’s are setting themselves to better their 2007 quarterfinal appearance. (more…)
Chicago Red Stars are back, will play in WPSL
One of the founding members of Women’s Professional Soccer, the Chicago Red Stars have returned. The Red Stars, who suspended operations in late 2010 and are not in WPS this season, will play in the Women’s Premier Soccer League in 2011. Their goal is to rejoin WPS as early as 2012. (more…)
OSA World Juggle-a-thon taking place today
The Online Soccer Academy (OSA) World Juggle-a-thon is going on right now and continues throughout the day. The worldwide fundraiser that supports the Nothing But Nets campaign raises money to help save lives by preventing malaria. A number of WPS players are taking part in this program, including Carli Lloyd, Ella Masar, and Lori Lindsey. (more…)
Boston Aztec U23′s roster released, New England Mutiny announce home schedule
Boston Aztec U23 of the Women’s Premier Soccer League announced its 2011 roster. Last year’s team lost to eventual WPSL champion Boston Aztec Breakers Reserves, 2-1, in overtime in the playoffs. Meanwhile, the New England Mutiny, released their home schedule. Both teams play in the WPSL East-Northeast Division. (more…)
magicJack set to make 2011 WPS debut
Nearly four months after Dan Borislow bought the Washington Freedom, changed its name to magicTalk, magicTalk SC, magicJack’s Washington Freedom, and then finally, magicJack, the team that calls Florida Atlantic University (FAU) its home will play its first game of the 2011 Women’s Professional Soccer season. MagicJack was supposed to open up against the Philadelphia Independence in Pennsylvania last weekend, but the game was postponed due to inclement weather. Tonight at 7 p.m. ET in Boca Raton, Florida on the campus of FAU, magicJack will play the Boston Breakers, who come into the game with a 1-1 record. (more…)
World Cup teams have international friendlies on schedule leading up to Germany
A number of teams headed to the 2011 FIFA Women’s World Cup will play friendly matches prior to leaving for Germany. This week, it was announced that Australia will play two games against New Zealand (May 12 and May 15). Colombia will play Mexico twice (both games are scheduled for the last week of April), while France will host Scotland at the 20,000-seat Stade Francis le Blé in Brest on May 18. Germany will play North Korea (May 21), Italy (June 3), the Netherlands (June 7), and Norway (June 16). The U.S. will play Japan on May 14 and May 18 before their sendoff match, scheduled for June 5 against Mexico at Red Bull Arena. On May 17, England will play Sweden at The Kassam Stadium in Oxford, England. Nigeria will play Equatorial Guinea twice, but not in friendlies. The teams will play against each other in the 2012 Olympic qualifiers. (more…)
Jill Ellis names 23 players to U.S. U-17 training camp roster
Training to earn a spot in the 2012 U-17 World Cup, the U.S. U-17 Women’s National Team is currently in camp in California. Head Coach Jill Ellis called up 23 players, including one of the top freshmen in the nation – Shea Newman of FC Stars of Massachusetts and the 2010 Massachusetts state champion Medfield High School team. (more…)
Birmingham City atop of FA Women’s Super League
Although they’ve yet to face the toughest tests, Birmingham City comfortably sit in first place in the FA Women’s Super League after two games. No matter the result of Thursday’s game between Arsenal and Bristol Academy, Birmingham City will enter this weekend in first place. With Wednesday’s 4-0 win over Liverpool, the Blues improved to 2-0 and have outscored their opponents, 8-0. Doncaster drew, 1-1, with Everton and sit in second place with four points. An Arsenal win Thursday over Bristol Academy would put them in a first-place tie with Birmingham City. (more…)
Interviews with Emma Part 2: A conversation with Sky Blue FC’s Carolyn Blank
Emma with Carolyn Blank
By David Bayer
We were excited when we heard that we would be interviewing Carolyn Blank this week. She was a favorite of ours when she played with the Beat last season. For me, watching her play was very enjoyable because she always seemed to be in the middle of everything…always hustling. And when there was a “discussion” with a referee, you could always count on Carolyn to be there voicing her opinion…”strongly.” For Emma, Carolyn was a fun teacher at last season’s players’ clinic. She got her to dribble with the inside of her foot, rather than the outside.
After a tough loss, Carolyn came over to us, gave us a big smile and hugs and settled in for her interview. Here’s our report: (more…)
Top U.S. club players make 2012 commitments
The first list of high school/club soccer players in the U.S. who have committed to Division 1 colleges was released by TopDrawerSoccer.com today. Real New Jersey SC defender Lauren Budzinski will play at Villanova. Tucson Soccer Academy central midfielder Michelle Busse is headed to Arizona, Kelsey Bright of Challenge SC verbally committed to Jacksonville State. Check out the rest of the list … (more…)
Maria Karlsson: Super start for Doncaster
I think everyone who has ever been involved with sports can agree with me that winning is great. The feeling you get when you have three points after a football game is awesome, and it’s even better when it’s after the first game, of a new league, in a historic game for women’s football in England. We came out with three points against Lincoln last week and the goal came, well-deserved, from our experienced midfielder Vicky Exley. It was a great game and a really good team effort. It was all about that game. This week we have two new games. First, we play Everton away on Wednesday, and then Chelsea in our first home game, Easter Sunday. I hope that we can be consistent and have the same buzz as we had last week, and that all our Doncaster fans will be backing us up in the stands. (more…)
Fearful of the Future
By Chioma Igwe
I wake up with a shooting pain running down the outside of my left leg. It feels like I rolled onto a family porcupines. I get out of bed blindly and squint at my alarm. It’s five in the morning. I have a slight problem shaking this dream out of my head. For a brief moment I try and recall the hazy scene playing with my imagination, but the shooting pain again brings me back to reality. I try and stretch out the excruciating pain in my leg, but it doesn’t work. What is the matter? I have no clue. I had a hard workout preparing for the 2010 preseason in Chicago I was about a month away from having. I was sore the minute I had left the field earlier that day. I take a few extra strength Advil and lay in bed trying to ignore the pain that was begging for my attention. Somehow I manage to fall asleep and first thing in the morning I drive to the doctor’s office. (more…)
Irish international Julie-Ann Russell talks about joining new W-League team LA Strikers
The LA Strikers will make their W-League debut this season, and Monday the team signed four international players – Alisha Foote (Brisbane Roar of Australia’s W-League), Katie Tarrant (England – Chelsea), and two Irish internationals – Cherelle Khassal (Arsenal) and Julie-Ann Russell, formerly of the Irish club Salthill Devon. Russell talked to Our Game Magazine Tuesday about coming to America to play soccer for the first time. (more…)
Germany news: Lira Bajramaj to leave Potsdam
Lira Bajramaj confirmed Sunday that she had played her last home game for Turbine Potsdam. Monday, she signed with Frankfurt through the end of the 2014 season. The German Women’s National Team midfielder was a nominee this year for the FIFA World Player of the Year.
Champions League: Potsdam follows Lyonnais for a 2010 Final rematch
By Olaf Goldbecker
The second semifinal of the Champions League took place today between German sides Turbine Potsdam and FCR Duisburg, the trophy winners of the two previous seasons. Potsdam started the home game with the advantage of a 2-2 draw on the road, and after today’s 1-0 victory, Potsdam will join Lyonnais in the Champions League final. (more…)
Germany news: Frankfurt signs Potsdam keeper Desiree Schumann
The latest addition of 1.FFC Frankfurt is a goalkeeper of champion Turbine Potsdam, 21-year-old Desiree Schumann. Schumann will change clubs after the season and signed a three-year contract with Frankfurt. In Potsdam, Schumann often shared the starting position with her three years younger competitor Anna Sarholz with the latter usually being in goal in the important games. In Frankfurt, Schumann is expected to have a “learning year” behind Nadine Angerer before taking over her starting role.
Olympique Lyonnais reaches Champions League final
By Olaf Goldbecker
The second leg of the Champions League semifinal between Olympique Lyonnais and Arsenal London did not become a thriller. With the French side taking a 2-0 advantage with them to England, the duel was practically decided after only 16 minutes of today’s game when Eugenie Le Sommer marked the lead for Lyonnais meaning that Arsenal would have to score four goals to advance. Even this theoretical thought was history when Le Sommer added a second goal in the 34th minute for her team, which was also dominant on the road. To top this, Swiss international Lara Dickenmann scored to give Lyon a 3-0 halftime lead in stoppage time. (more…)
Stephanie Labbe: The “double life” of a national team keeper
Since the end of the 2009 Damallsvenskan season, we, Piteå IF, have been looking forward to our first game back in the Damallsvenskan. We had a very successful 2009, winning Division 1, and earning our spot back in the top league. It was a year of very hard work, but it paid off, and our moment is here. We had our first game back in the league on Wednesday vs. Linköping, away. They finished among the top of the table last year, and were recently knocked out of the Champions League in the semifinal. They are a strong, fast, talented team, that we knew would be very tough, not only from their recent successes, but from playing them two years ago. (more…)
