US Olympic Women’s Soccer Preview

Both the Men’s and Women’s Olympic soccer tournaments begin today, two days before the opening ceremonies. Unfortunately the US only qualified one team for this tournament, but the Women’s team will start their run at a medal today so here’s a bit of a preview of that tournament. The US Women’s team includes a few local names, including Heather O’Reilly of  East Brunswick, NJ, former Independence GK Nicole Barnhart, Christie Rampone, from Monmouth University and Point Pleasant, NJ, and Villanova’s Jill Loyden, from Vineland, NJ who will be the alternate GK.

12 teams are entered in to this summers tournament, 11 made it through qualifying including 2 from every confederation and one from Oceania along with Great Britain. Unlike the men’s games is a full senior competition so there is no age limit.

The twelve teams which will be competing are Great Britain, Japan, North Korea, South Africa, Cameroon, United States, Canada, Brazil, Colombia, New Zealand, France, and Sweden.

The favorites in the tournament have to be the US and Japan. Both are currently ranked in the top 3 (second ranked Germany missed qualifying), and were the finalists in the most recent World Cup.  Sweden, Brazil, France,Canada, and North Korea (along with England who is a large part of the Great Britain team) are ranked in the top 10, leaving Cameroon, South Africa, New Zealand and  Colombia as the most prominent underdogs.

While many expect a rematch of the World Cup Final, between Homare Sawa led Japan and the American squad, this is a deep tournament which will surely see strong competition.

 

Players to watch:

Alex Morgan, USA Age 23, Breakthrough Athlete of the Year 2012 ESPY Awards

Hope Solo, USA Age 30, US Soccer Athlete of the Year 2009, Golden Glove 2011 World Cup

Abby Wambach, USA Age 32, AP Female Athlete of the Year 2011, US Soccer Athlete of the Year 2010, 2011

Homare Sawa, Japan Age 33 2012 World Player Of The Year

Marta, Brazil Age 26 2005-2010 World Player Of The Year

Cristiane, Brazil Age 27 Leading Scorer Olympics, 2004, 2008

Christine Sinclair, Canada Age 29, Canadian Player of the Year 2005-2010

Marie-Laure Delie, France Age 24, 41 Appearances 36 Goals since 2009 with France

Ellen White, Great Britain Age 23, 19 Apparences 21 Goals from 2008-2010 with Leeds Carnegie Ladies

Lotta Schelin, Sweden Age 28, Diamond Ball Winner (Swedish Female Footballer of the Year) 2011

 

USWNT To Face Japan Twice

The USWNT has scheduled matches against Japan on May 14 at Columbus Crew Stadium in Columbus, Ohio, and on May 18 at WakeMed Soccer Park in Cary, N.C.  The first match will kick off at 6:30 p.m. ET and be broadcast on Fox Soccer and Fox Deportes. The second, in Cary, kicks off at 7 p.m. ET and will air live on ESPN2. After the two matches against Japan the US plans to schedule one more game before this summers World Cup. The US played Japan most recently in the 2011 Algarve Cup, defeating the perennial Asian power on March 2nd in the opening game of the tournament. The USWNT is also in the midst of a 49 game undefeated streak, having gone 44-0-5 in those games.

USWNT Wins Algarve Cup

The USWNT defeated Iceland yesterday to bring home their eighth Algarve Cup trophy. Carli Lloyd opened the scoring for the U.S. which was followed by goals from Katrin Omarsdottir and Hallbera Gisladottir. 26 minutes in Iceland had a 2-1 lead. Lauren Cheney scored the tying goal just before halftime, and Heather O’Reilly scored the game winner (below) with resilient pressure on the keeper and a bit of ball-watching from the Icelandic defense. Alex Morgan added a fourth American goal with three minutes left to put the game out of reach.

 

 

Nicole Barnhart Coming Home To Philadelphia

“I am excited to be returning to the area that influenced my soccer career at a young age. I look forward to playing for Coach Paul Riley and being an asset to such a talented and competitive squad.” That’s what Nicole Barnhart had to say after signing with the Philadelphia Independence. In the most recent WPS season Barnhart led all goalkeepers with 21 starts, a goals against average of 0.77, and eight shutouts while playing for FC Gold Pride. Barnhart grew up in the Philadelphia area, playing her youth soccer with FC Delco. She was inducted into the FC Delco Hall of Fame in 2005.

Pia Names USWNT 24-Player Roster For Algarve Cup

Here are the 24 Players who are still in camp, 20 of whom will be going on to Portugal to play in the Algarve Cup. The list includes three Philadelphia Independence players.

U.S. Women’s National Team Roster by Position Detailed Roster
GOALKEEPERS (4): Nicole Barnhart (out of contract), Ashlyn Harris (Western New York Flash), Alyssa Naeher (Boston Breakers), Hope Solo (out of contract)
DEFENDERS (7): Rachel Buehler (Boston Breakers), Stephanie Cox (Boston Breakers), Whitney Engen (Western New York Flash), Ali Krieger (FFC Frankfurt), Amy LePeilbet (Boston Breakers), Christie Rampone (Washington Freedom), Becky Sauerbrunn (Washington Freedom),
MIDFIELDERS (9): Yael Averbuch (Western New York Flash), Shannon Boxx (Washington Freedom), Tobin Heath (Sky Blue FC), Lori Lindsey (Philadelphia Independence), Carli Lloyd (Atlanta Beat), Kelley O’Hara (Boston Breakers), Heather O’Reilly (Sky Blue FC), Megan Rapinoe (Philadelphia Independence), Lindsay Tarpley (Washington Freedom)
FORWARDS (4): Lauren Cheney (Boston Breakers), Alex Morgan (Western New York Flash), Amy Rodriguez (Philadelphia Independence), Abby Wambach (Washington Freedom)

USWNT To Face England April 2

U.S. Soccer just announced that the USWNT will be facing England in the lead up to this summers World Cup. They are currently competing in the Algarve Cup in Portugal. Their schedule looks like this so far.

Algarve Cup Group Play

Japan-March 2

Norway- March 4

Finland- March 7

If they win the group placement matches are on March 9

England-April 2

World Cup Germany-June 26-July 11

The USWNT hasn’t faced England since 2007 and has only played England 10 times in its 27 years of existence.

>>http://www.ussoccer.com/News/Womens-National-Team/2011/02/US-Women-to-Play-First-Ever-Match-in-England-on-April-2.aspx

 

USWNT Roster Announced

Image via Wikipedia

The USWNT just released the roster for the pre-Algarve Cup which includes a few members of the Philadelphia Independence. Rookie Midfielder Sinead Farrelly will be making her first appearance with the senior USWNT after many appearances with the youth teams. Lori Lindsey, Megan Rapinoe, and Amy Rodriguez also appear on the roster along with former Indepence player Heather Mitts. 23 of the 32 players brought into camp will go to Portugal for the tournament.

GOALKEEPERS (5): Nicole Barnhart (out of contract), Ashlyn Harris (Western New York Flash), Bianca Henninger (Santa Clara), Alyssa Naeher (Boston Breakers), Hope Solo (out of contract)
DEFENDERS (9): Rachel Buehler (Boston Breakers), Stephanie Cox (Boston Breakers), Whitney Engen (Western New York Flash), Amy LePeilbet (Boston Breakers), Heather Mitts (Atlanta Beat), Christie Rampone (out of contract), Becky Sauerbrunn (Washington Freedom), Meghan Schnur (out of contract), Brittany Taylor (Sky Blue FC)
MIDFIELDERS (13): Jordan Angeli (Boston Breakers), Yael Averbuch (Western New York Flash), Shannon Boxx (out of contract), Sinead Farrelly (Philadelphia Independence), Tobin Heath (Sky Blue FC), Meghan Klingenberg (Washington Freedom), Lori Lindsey (Philadelphia Independence), Carli Lloyd (Atlanta Beat), Kristie Mewis (Boston College), Kelley O’Hara (Boston Breakers), Heather O’Reilly (Sky Blue FC), Megan Rapinoe (Philadelphia Independence), Lindsay Tarpley (out of contract)
FORWARDS (5): Lauren Cheney (Boston Breakers), Sydney Leroux (UCLA), Alex Morgan (Western New York Flash), Amy Rodriguez (Philadelphia Independence), Abby Wambach (Washington Freedom)

http://www.ussoccer.com/News/Womens-National-Team/2011/01/Sundhage-Names-Roster-for-Florida-Camp-as-USA-Continues-Preparations-for-2011-FIFA-Womens-World-Cup.aspx