Roster set for USA-MEX friendly matches

The US women’s national soccer team will be back in action after defeating Germany 3-2 for the Algarve Cup title in Portugal on Feb. 3. Head coach Pia Sundhage has named the 24 players that will take on Mexico in two friendly matches. The first game will be on Sunday, Mar. 28 at Torero Stadium (University of San Diego) at 2pm PT and will be aired live on FSC. The second match will be on Mar. 31 at Rio Tinto Stadium in Sandu, Utah and will be live on ESPN2 at 7pm MT.

All 19 players that were on the Algarve Cup roster are on this roster, and are joined by some newbies, and one other very familiar name. The 3 goalkeepers are Jillian Lloyden, Hope Solo, and Nicole Barnhart.

The defenders that played in Portugal are Stephanie Cox, Amy LePeilbet, Heather Mitts, Meghan Schnur, Cat Whitehill, and San Diego’s own Rachel Buehler. They are joined by first-round WPS Draft picks Brittany Taylor, who has trained with the national team before, and Whitney Engen who gets her first call up tot he national team.

The midfield consists of  Yael Averbuch, Shannon Boxx, Lori Lindsey, Carli Lloyd, Heather O’Reilly, Megan Rapinoe, and Kristine Lilly, who will be back witht he national team since Dec. 2008 when she joined that team in the last leg of the Achieve Your Gold Tour after having her daughter.

Up top, forwards Lauren Cheney, Casey Nogueira, Amy Rodriguez, and Abby Wambach are joined by Alex Morgan and Kelley O’Hara who are both also getting the chance to get their first caps ever.

The two matches wil be the first domestic games of the year for the WNT, as well as the domestic debut of their new uniforms.

More info: http://www.ussoccer.com/News/Womens-National-Team/2010/03/Sundhage-Names-24-Players-for-Matches-against-Mexico.aspx

Los Angeles Sol of WPS to fold

Sol-Long. We hardly knew ya. After attending most of the home games at the Home Depot Center, and watching some great soccer, it is with huge sadness we learn that the Los Angeles Sol folded today.   The notice comes after one season, despite the star power of FIFA world player of the year Marta and a successful campaign that ended in the championship game.

Women’s Professional Soccer  announced the termination of the franchise  and the dispersal of the team’s 19 players via a draft Thursday to other teams. This is going to have have a big impact in the league, as top players such as  Marta, Aya Miyama, Shannon Boxx and Karina LeBlanc will be scattered throughout the league.  The team participated in the recent WPS draft – picking up Casey Nogueira and Nikke Washington – and was lining up some European stars to play for the franchise, although national team veteran Aly Wagner recently announced her retirement.

The dispersal draft will have expansion franchises Atlanta and Philadelphia holding the first two selections. Both teams will begin play in April, giving the league eight teams and a balanced schedule.

The league operated the Sol for the last couple of months after one of its two original ownership groups pulled out in mid-year, leaving Galaxy owners Anschutz Entertainment Group in charge  until the end of last season when they, too, pulled out. The Sol lost as much as $2 million last year, despite leading the league in attendance, WPS officials said.

The Sol had suspended season ticket sales while it was operated by the league.

Coach Abner Rogers was fired via e-mail two days before Christmas and General Manager Charlie Naimo took over in that post.

Apparently, the league had attempted to sell the team, but those negotiations  fell through.

“We’ve been in several weeks of negotiations with an ownership group and unfortunately it fell through at the last minute,” league commissioner Tonya Antonucci told The Associated Press. “In terms of the viability of Los Angeles as a WPS market, we don’t think that’s in question. Suspending operations doesn’t mean we won’t be trying to find new ownership for 2011.”

The Sol drew a crowd of 14,832 to their opener last season, and ended up averaging more than 6,200 fans for home games at Home Depot Center. They finished the regular season 12-3-5, the best record in the league, before losing 1-0 to Sky Blue FC in the championship game.

What does this mean for the WPS?  Does the Sol’s demise mean the end of the league? Do we hear echos of the now defunct WUSA?

Though the profitability of one team shouldn’t affect the profitability of any other, it’s never good to have a team shut down.  Apparently every team in the league lost money last season, some more than others. Everyone knew that  starting a league in the midst of a major economic downturn was going to be tough. The upcoming season will be pivotal for the league.

League officials note that this season will see two new expansion teams (the Philadelphia Independence and Atlanta Beat), a longer regular season with more home games for each team, increased sponsorship and a reformatted All-Star Game that will take place in mid-season rather than at the end of it.

Still, the end of a franchise in one of the nation’s two largest markets is a bummer – especially since it was my home team.  Were there things the Sol could have done better out of the gate?  For sure. But they consistently delivered great soccer to appreciative fans and their base was growing. It’s too bad the corporate powers gave up on the them before they really had a chance to prove themselves.

Condolences to LA fans. Let’s hope there are some exhibition games that will be played in LA this year and a chance to see more of  our fave players.

Get to Know: Kristine Lilly

Kristine Lilly is often referred to as the USA’s Iron Woman, and for a good reason. Not only has she played in 342 matches for the USA (the most capped player on the world) and scored 129 goals in her national team career, but she has played on both professional leagues that have existed in the US and she has done it all over the course of more than 20 years (her first international appearance was in August 3, 1987). Can you think of any other athlete who’s had a professional career of 20 years?

She has won 2 World Cups, participating in 5, and 2 Olympic gold medals, participating in 3. She was an all-star with the Boston Breakers in the WUSA (2001-2003), and she is now playing for the Boston Breakers in WPS. She was a four time NCAA champion at UNC, and helped her high school team to 3 State championships.

Kristine was the captain of the national team from 2005-2007, but took 2008 off to have her baby girl, Sydney. Later that year she came back  to the field as she was allocated to the Boston Breakers. She started all 20 matches for the Breakers, the only player on the team to do so, and led the team in minutes played with 1,800. She was voted to the All-Star team where she started and scored a goal helping the team to a 4-2 win over opponent Umea IK.

You can certainly say that Kristine is one of the world’s greatest athletes, but she’s not done yet. As she is preparing for another season with the Breakers, she took the time to answer some questions, posted below.

What was your favorite moment/experience while at UNC?

I don’t think I have one moment that was my favorite but the best part was the great friends I made there.  Plus the education I got and winning 4 national championships were also good.

Do you intend to play in the 2011 World Cup or 2012 Olympics?

I haven’t been asked back up to the national team. So really it is in the hands of the U.S. coach.

Who on the national team is the most difficult to go one-on-one with?

Back in the day Joy Fawcett was always difficult to go up against.  Now Christie Rampone, Kate Markgraf and Amy LePeilbet were all difficult.

What does it mean to you, as a player and a person, to hold the world record for international appearances representing your country?

I am just really proud to have played in so many games.  That means I worked hard to remain a starter and be healthy to participate in so many games.

Do you think anyone will ever get more caps for their country than you have for the USA?

I’m not sure about that, but records are always made to be broken.

Who is the most difficult player from another country that you’ve ever had to play against?

Hege Riise, a player from Norway. She was very good.

If you could participate on any game show, which one would it be and why?

I always wanted to be on Family Feud.

Growing up, what was your favorite TV show to watch?

Happy Days.

If you didn’t play soccer for a living, what would you be doing instead?

I’m not sure. I love to take pictures, maybe a photographer.

I’ve read on your website that you took some cooking classes with your husband. What is your best dish?

My best dish now, is probably the mac & cheese I learned how to cook, by Ellie Deaner.

Do you have a hidden talent?

I can touch my tongue to my nose.

What is the craziest, most thrilling thing you’ve ever done?

I almost hiked to the top of Kilimanjaro.  Missed the summit by about 1500 feet.  I got altitude sickness.

Has your little one shown any interest for soccer?

She can kick a ball.

What do you like to do when you’re not training?

Play with my daughter and take a long walk with my dog.

What is your guilty pleasure?

Chocolate chip ice cream

What was your first car?

Passat

You’re first appearance for the USA was in 1987, more than 20 years ago, and you’ve been playing ever since you were a little kid- pretty much your entire life. How have you been able to play at the highest level for so long?

I just worked hard.  I made sure I was always fit.  I learned how to take care of myself but I also had fun with the people I played with, which made me want to work for them and vice versa.

This one is just for laughs. Do you think Sidney and the other WNT babies (the girls) will be the future of the national team?

It would be interesting to see one day what they all decide to do with their lives.

What do you want your legacy to be?

I think I would want people to know I went out there every day and worked hard and played for my teammates and to be the best!

What are your thoughts on the next WPS season?

Hopefully we can win in Boston!

(Ed. Note: Be sure to follow Kristine on her website www.KristineLilly13.com)

Soccer player Yael Averbuch delivers inspiring speech

Last week at the National Soccer Coach’s Association of American (NSCAA) convention  in Philadelphia there were lots of speeches and lectures, along with the WPS Draft, but one of the most inspiring addresses came early Saturday morning at the women’s soccer breakfast. The speaker? A midfielder from the first WPS championship team, Sky Blue FC, and North Carolina alum Yael Averbuch.

Averbuch’s speech focused on her soccer career, but it could apply to any sport as well as academics or life in general. She reminds everyone to “love the process”, and that happiness isn’t just found in the final step, but in all the steps it took to get there.

The official transcript of Averbuch’s speech is below. It’s a must-read for coaches, for players, for parents, for athletes in general, and anyone who needs that little reminder to always love what you do.

———————-

Good morning everyone. I’d like to start by thanking the women’s committee for inviting me here today, and to congratulate Louise Waxler on the Award of Excellence. I’d also like to acknowledge someone who unfortunately is not here today…Charlotte Moran. Charlotte was my mom away from home at countless Regional events, and never ceased to make me laugh, even during the most stressful moments of the ODP process.

When I was first asked to speak in front of this group, I have to be honest, I was slightly overwhelmed. Many of you in this room are the ones to whom I look for wisdom, and who have provided life-changing guidance to me over the years.

As I started to jot down some ideas, I realized that the person I am today is the result of so many different elements—elements I’ve picked up from some of the very people who I am standing in front of right now. These elements form the essence of what has become my passion.

Ever since I was a 9-year-old, attempting to get 10 thigh juggles on my front lawn, it has been my dream to be a professional soccer player. As a little girl, in my Mia Hamm jersey, I had no concept of exactly what that meant. There was no way I could have imagined what lay ahead, what it would take, or how I would get there.

But I knew what I wanted, and my goals have never wavered. Roughly a year ago, my childhood dream became reality when I signed my first professional contract with Sky Blue FC.

As a 23-year-old professional player, and current member of the Women’s National Team, I still see my journey as far from complete. Some people may look at my resume and think I’ve “arrived,” but I see my career as just beginning. It’s a strange feeling to finally accomplish a goal for which you have sweat, bled, and cried for nearly 15 years to achieve. I would have expected to feel overjoyed—even just simply content.

But while I am very proud of what I have achieved to this point, none of those emotions are fitting. As I embarked on my first professional season, at times I almost felt a sense of disappointment. I found myself thinking, “Is this really IT?” It was in uncovering the answer to this question that I came to truly realize why I do what I do.

Since the summer of 2000, when I was 12 years old and away from home at the UNC summer camp, I’ve kept a journal. I wrote down every single thing we did at camp, so that I could go home and perfect it—all for the day that I would play for UNC.

My journal, which has since then expanded into five written books, as well as a computer document, is filled with my thoughts, worries, goals, disappointments, and successes. There are quotes from books, movies, coaches I’ve had…there are song lyrics…even a couple of pages where I practiced my autograph (those are in the earlier journals, of course!).

It’s really enlightening to look back through my journal, because it’s an account of my journey, step by step, stripped of any of the perspective I have gained more recently. There is profanity, important things written in capital letters—even a list of players who I planned to overtake, and have crossed off as I felt that I had surpassed them.

There is an entry from December of 1999 in which I recorded parts of a conversation I had with my first real mentor, and coach at the time, Ashley Hammond. Under his name, I have the following quote: “People in the world need and love experts. In soccer, you must be an expert in many skills.” I was 13 when I wrote that down.

May 5, 2003 (when I was 16): “Daddy gave me this article on being a master, and I’m gunna (spelled G-U-N-N-A) read it and become a soccer master!”

My journal is sometimes comprised of longer written segments, sometimes just tidbits or bullet points, but the combination has helped me to piece together why I do what I do.

Every month, I like to set myself 4 or 5 personal goals or ideas to keep in mind. I start off by choosing a quote or motto as a theme for the month, and then I pick a few simple goals to aim for. For example, in April,  as we started the first WPS season, my monthly phrase was, “go with the flow.” May’s was, “play without a conscience.”

The reason I’m sharing this with you is because I think that my December 2009 phrase captures what I have finally come to realize is most important in my quest for greatness in soccer. December’s motto was: “love the process.”

This concept has come to mean something very important to me. I am an extremely driven person—some might say I am focused to the point of obsession. But now that soccer is my profession, I have found that I need to put it in greater perspective within my life. The best way I have come to define my drive is this: I work TOWARDS a goal, but I do not work FOR it.

Let me distinguish. Anyone who looks at my training schedule would either A. consider me an extremely hard worker, or B. think I’m crazy. I don’t define myself as the latter (although my family might argue that in many ways I’m not sane). I truly and whole-heartedly love what I do. And I would love what I do even if I never got the opportunity to play for a professional team, win a national championship, or represent my country.

A friend of mine recently said to me: “You’re the luckiest person in the world. Your hobby is your job.” And he couldn’t have been more right. One of my goals has always been never to “work” a day in my life. I don’t consider what I do as work, because every day that I train and compete, I find even greater joy in the process.

I believe that finding this joy, and loving the process itself, is essential. To truly be the best at what you do, the path will never be easy. The love of what we do is what provides the inspiration to see us through.

My path to where I am today hasn’t always been smooth. I’ve spent so many evenings slamming a ball angrily against the kickback in my backyard or the schoolyard wall up the block from my house—tears streaming down my face, wondering why so-and-so was invited to whatever event, or is starting instead of me.

And every time that I think I’ve reached smooth sailing, I am soon humbled. I was very confident going into this past WPS season. I was a first-round draft pick, felt well-prepared after my college career at UNC, and had done everything that I could to be ready for pre-season. I was sure that I could play at the next level and be successful.

Before our home opener against the LA Sol, I was shocked when we got the starting line-up and I wasn’t in it. My relatives had flown in from California and Arizona to see my first pro game, and all of my former coaches from New Jersey were there. Basically, everyone I know was at the game to see me play.

I assumed I’d play the second half, considering that I thought I was going to start, but wasn’t in the lineup. However, as the clock ticked away in the second half, and then as the final whistle blew, I was still sitting on the bench—not even asked to warm up. I was honestly shocked, and devastated. There will never be another inaugural season Sky Blue FC home opener, and I hadn’t even gotten the opportunity to step onto the field in front of my home crowd.

It’s interesting to contemplate how our lives build to these special, pivotal moments—the moments we dream of, work towards, and emphasize so heavily. But, in truth, the bulk of our life is in the in-between time, the waiting. The “off moments,” so to speak.

The special moments are only minor reference points along the way. After an extremely angry and disappointed drive home from that Sky Blue FC opener, that is what I came to realize. I don’t play this sport for the moment of glory.

And I think the people who DO are missing out. Yes, I love roar of the crowd, the championship game, and the thrill of performing when it really matters—but I love the preparation—the process—equally as much.

I didn’t always love the game the way I do now. I learned that love, just as I’ve learned numerous other skills. I feel very fortunate to have had great coaches and mentors along the way. As I mentioned earlier, I’m a big quote person. When I read or hear something that feels true to me, I’m always sure to write it down.

In the book Blue Like Jazz by Donald Miller, it says, “Sometimes you have to watch somebody love something before you can love it yourself. It is as if they are showing you the way.”

I believe that my club coach of many years, Kazbek Tambi, showed me how to love the game. Recently, I got a call from Kaz (as we call him) to come play on New Year’s day. Here’s a guy who is long past his prime, but opens up his indoor facility on every holiday just to hang out and watch (and occasionally jump in with) any players who he can get to show up.

There’s always techno music playing over the loud speakers, and the guys get together and just play small-sided. On New Year’s, it was a group of about 40 guys, most of whom work for Kaz, or are current or former college players and pros. The majority of them aren’t training for anything in particular, though (and I should probably add that most of them don’t speak English as their first language).

They certainly don’t have to wake up early on New Year’s day and trek out in the cold and snow to show up. But they love to play, watch, and be around the game. And this is the environment that Kaz creates. Through watching Kaz’s love for soccer, and being thrown into this atmosphere, I came to understand firsthand why soccer is referred to as “the beautiful game.” And I came to love it as something beyond my goals and aspirations.

I remember once, a lot of the girls on my U-18 club team were burned out and wanted a break. When they expressed this to Kaz, he was incredibly confused.

He sat the group down and in all seriousness, gave us a talk that went something like this: “If you love something, why would you ever want to take a break from it? It’s like, if you love ice cream and you eat it every day, you would never one day suddenly want to take a break from eating ice cream. Why isn’t soccer the same way?” It may seem silly, but it made perfect sense to me.

I’m not trying to claim that I am always happy, smiling, and joyous when it comes to soccer. I take my goals and my career extremely seriously, and at times, it is very stressful, because I care SO much. I’m sure it’s the same for most of you in this room. Sometimes, my entire life seems to revolve around soccer and my training.

And if you think I’m exaggerating, my pin number for my debit card is my juggling record (Hopefully none of you know my record!) So, in the tough times, when I don’t feel like I’m finding success, it’s easy to question why I put so much time and effort (both mental and physical) into something that seems not to be paying off.

During the past WPS season, I read the book, Way of the Peaceful Warrior, by Dan Millman. A major premise of the book is this line: “It’s not about dedicating your life to training, but about dedicating your training to your life.”

This was an interesting new perspective for me. Yes, I dedicate an astounding number of my waking hours to soccer. Whether I’m training, watching soccer, or even just thinking about it, my life is consumed by the game.

But what does this all mean in the bigger picture? I find that for what I put INTO the game (which is obviously a great deal of myself), I get back tenfold. In addition to the personal relationships I’ve created, the discipline I’ve learned, the places I’ve traveled—I realize now that soccer is about something far more for me.

My training gives back to me in ways deeper than just success on the field. There is a sense of freedom, of peace, that I feel when I have a soccer ball at my feet. I believe that some people play, some teach, some write, some dance—all simply to attain those few moments of personal freedom. We’ve all experienced it—the perfectly pure, uncompromised joy of being here, now.

It is the moment of peace when all else fades away, and you are left fearless and energized. Fully present in the process of your activity, performance is effortless and results are insignificant. It’s often described as “flow” or being “in the zone,” but whatever you call it, we are all familiar with that sensation–when you’re doing something enjoyable, and it just comes so easily.

This feeling for me doesn’t necessarily come in a moment of glory, in the last five minutes of a game, or in a winning play. It’s born from the passion of what I do when it “doesn’t matter,” when no one is watching, when nothing is at stake.

I find this feeling in the process, more often than I do in the result. I was reminded of this the night my college soccer career ended. We had just won the 2008 National Championship, and I sat in my room in Chapel Hill, actually feeling depressed, rather than satisfied. The team was out celebrating, and all I could seem to think about was the fact that it was finished. That was it.

All those Tuesdays of doing fitness, all the excruciating pre-game meetings, the effort, nerves, preparation to win a national championship, and it was over. Just like that. I felt like I would have given back my national championship to spend just one more week with the team. The more I thought about it, the more it dawned on me. It was the PROCESS of winning that I loved, not so much the actual win.

And when I think back on my life since I began playing soccer, the seemingly unimportant moments are the ones that come to mind first. It’s the videos I watched with my dad to learn about the game, and all our ridiculously naïve ideas on how things should be done. I remember trying to dribble in circles around a tree stump near my house to practice using the outside of my feet.

It’s the times playing on my own in the racquetball court, lost in the music of my ipod, when management would actually turn out the lights on me when my time was up. I would have to search for my phone and car keys in the dark.

It’s the time spent in parking garages, and basements of hotels, practicing tricks I had seen…or making up silly ways of training in the house when it was snowing outside.

It’s the time in elementary school when I was juggling at the bus stop and our Southern neighbor drove by and yelled, “Y’all can’t be playing soccer every dayyyy.” I knew I could prove him wrong!

It’s the time I was in Florida to watch my sister play a tournament, and I went to kick the ball around at some field that was more dirt than grass. I was struggling to curl the ball into the goal from behind the goal line, so actually from behind the goal.

It was taking a lot of tries, and I was getting frustrated, until I looked up and saw a group of guys who had been playing on the other half of the field. They had stopped, and were watching my efforts. They had clearly come straight from work to play…I’m pretty sure one or two of them were actually wearing cargo pants, and there were a variety of languages floating across the field.

I still remember their cheers and celebration when I finally bent the ball in. It honestly felt just as good as any goal I’ve ever scored.

It’s these moments that comprise the process, and that are most special to me.

As I learned the night of the 2008 national championship, if everything that you do, day in and day out, is solely building for a single moment—what becomes of it all when that moment has passed? It is this perspective that I have gained during the past year, and which I hope to carry with me throughout my life: Ideally, what we do in each moment should have value in and of itself. We should train just for the sake of training, play just for the sake of playing, and live just for the sake of living.

Winning is a process. Success is a process. Happiness is a process. And this point in my career is only one sliver of time within my process.

I have always believed that there is no limit to the rate of my improvement as an athlete, soccer player, and person. I pride myself on the fact that I seek to improve every day, every month, and every year. As Anson put it, “We should all strive to live on a never-ending path of ascension.” It is the PATH that Anson talks about and emphasizes, not the destination.

I used to look around and see players who were ahead of me, and envy what they had or where they were. I think we all do that. We see the success of others, and we are jealous of them, or focus on our own shortcomings in comparison. However, today I can honestly say that I wouldn’t trade places with any one of those players—not for a second. To me, professionalism is about realizing my own personal worth, and bringing that to the table—or the field—every day.

I got to put this into practice often this past fall, when I trained a lot with Heather O’Reilly. Heather and I probably couldn’t be more opposite types of players. Her strengths are areas in which I could most improve, and vice versa.

But this fall, we both embraced this fact, and it was some of the most fun I’ve ever had training. Heather pushed me to be quicker, more athletic, and more intense. Yet, I distinctly recall one day when we had done a series of sprints, and she was visibly feeling very confident and good about herself.

So, of course I knew I had to quickly put an end to that! “Hey Heath,” I shouted over to her, still out of breath from the fitness. “Wanna have a juggling competition?” I had to bring her back down to earth! That’s one reason soccer is so special, and training with Heather has helped me to believe in myself, and never to take my strengths and unique qualities for granted.

Yes, I’m still extremely competitive with my teammates. Yes, I still strive to improve my weaknesses, and constantly analyze every aspect of my game. But I don’t let that take away from the core of who I am as a player and a person, which is something that I have crafted over time, and I am very proud of.

I’ve learned that we all have something to share. It’s often the little things that make me aware of this. It’s the impact I can have on younger players, those little girls who are where I once was. A couple of weeks ago, I was making an appearance for Sky Blue FC, and I was asked to take a picture with a young girl.

This kind of thing has become routine for WPS players, but as I put my arm around her, I realized that she was trembling. I was really moved to know that I could have this kind of effect on someone—that I could perhaps be an important part of her journey, someone she might remember for something I said or did.

I have a tremendous amount of respect for everyone in this room, because you have the platform to shape players’ journeys. You might never know the little things you do that will change a person’s life. Maybe it’s as simple as a smile at the right time, or a silly speech about ice cream.

Even on the days when you feel like your athletes or co-workers couldn’t care less, and that no one is listening, there’s that one player in the group whose eyes light up when you speak, who is hanging on your every word, who will quote you in her journal. Coach for that player.

Anson writes each senior a personal note before they’re finished playing for him. I know my letter talks about soccer, national championships, and player of the year awards, but the following passage from the letter is what I have recorded in my journal, and what means more to me than anything else he could have said. Anson wrote:

“But of all your wonderful achievements, what I cherish most is the lasting effect you have had on our culture here. You made sure everything was fun. Sometimes, in the fight for athletic success, many of us lose sight of what this is all about, and you never let us.”

So, when I reflect back on the 15 years I’ve spent so far involved in this game, and the lifetime ahead I plan to, I hope to have an impressive list of accomplishments. I want to defend the WPS Championship, win a World Cup, and an Olympic gold medal. But when all is said and done, it is not only those accolades that I will cherish.

I will always smile when I think about the time at UNC when we were about to start our first of 10 cones (a dreaded fitness drill) and, as Anson yelled “GO!” we all fell to the ground as a joke.

I will always look forward to being home in New Jersey, where I can go kick the ball around at the local schoolyard with my sister.

I will always feel sentimental when I think about playing pickup on Fetzer Field (our UNC game field) in Chapel Hill at midnight, under the single light that’s left on.

I will always laugh when I reminisce on the absurdity and turbulence of Sky Blue FC’s first season, when, it seems, we had more coaches than are currently sitting in this room.

And my eyes will always light up when I see a ragtag group of guys playing soccer in some random park on the side of the road.

These are the things that I love most about this game, because for me it’s about the journey, not the destination.

Copyright © 2010 by Yael Averbuch/Sky Blue FC. Inquiries or permission to reprint, contact John Archibald at jarchibald@skybluesoccer.com

Check back soon for an exclusive Q&A with Yael which we’re sure will be equally inspiring!

Seven UNC soccer players turning pro

If you want to play women’s professional soccer,  there is one collegiate programs that seems to do a particularly good job prepping players for the big show.  In the recent 2010 Women’s Pro Soccer Draft,  seven Tar Heels were selected, including four of the first eight picks.

Tobin Heath was drafted first overall by the Atlanta Beat. Defender Whitney Engen was selected fourth by the Chicago Red Stars.

Two teammates will stick together. Midfielder Nikki Washington will once again set goals up for forward Casey Nogueria. The two were drafted by my local team – the Los Angeles Sol.

Forward Jessica McDonald was chosen in the second round. She’ll join Engen with the Chicago Red Stars. Goalkeeper Ashlyn Harris was also taken in the second round by the St. Louis team, Athletica.

On top of that, defender Kristi Eveland was taken in the fourth round by the DC Freedom.

Led by legendary coach Anson Dorrance this graduating Tar Heel class won three national championships in four years. Dorrance has been the head coach of the North Carolina women’s soccer program since its inception in 1979 and has won 20 NCAA titles.

Following North Carolina, Santa Clara had the next largest group of players picked in the recent draft with five players selected.

Defender Jordan Angeli was picked by Boston in the second round. In the third round, forward Kiki Bosio was picked by the LA Sol and midfielder Amanda Poach went to the St.  Louis Athletica.

Defender Katherine Reynolds will join Santa Clara teammate Angeli in Boston and forward Meagan Snell is heading to Sky Blue FC.

Other college programs that are sending multiple players to the WPS include UCLA (Lauren Cheney, Kristina Larsen, Lauren Wilmoth), Wake Forest (Kaley Fountain, Jill Hutchinson, Caitlin Farrell) and Boston College, Boston University, LSU, Ohio State, Penn State, Portland, Rutgers, Stanford,  Washington State and West Florida.

Playing in college isn’t a prerequisite for a WPS career, but it certainly provides a great opportunity to develop as a player and be seen by the pro coaches and managers.  If your goal is playing professionally, be sure to check out the colleges mentioned here to see if any are a good athletic and academic match.

WPS Draft results – Tobin Heath is first pick

(via Womens Pro Soccer release)

As many had expected but the Atlanta Beat had yet to confirm until Draft Day, North Carolina’s Tobin Heath (Basking Ridge, NJ) was the first player selected in the 2010 WPS Draft on Friday by Atlanta at the Philadelphia Convention Center.  Heath was the first of four North Carolina Tarheels selected during the first round (and a total of 7 UNC players) including defender Whitney Engen at No. 4 (Chicago Red Stars/Rolling Hills Estates, CA), forward Nikki Washington at No. 5 (Los Angeles Sol/Mesquite, TX) and forward Casey Nogueira at No. 8 (Los Angeles Sol/Raleigh, NC) . The first round included 11 selections for the nine WPS teams with expansion teams Philadelphia Independence and Atlanta Beat both receiving additional picks at the end of the first round, which they traded away prior to the draft.

The first overall four picks went largely how the experts had predicted with Heath going first, the Boston Breakers then selecting attacking forward and 2008 Olympics gold medalist Lauren Cheney (UCLA/Indianapolis, IN), and 2009 MAC Hermann Trophy winner Kelley O’Hara (Fayetteville, GA) of Stanford going to FC Gold Pride with the third pick. Engen, the consensus top defender in the draft, went fourth, while Alyssa Naeher (Penn State/Seymour, CT) was the first goalkeeper selected at No. 11 by the Boston Breakers. Nogueira, predicted by many experts to be among the top four prospects, slipped to eighth and was snapped up by the Los Angeles Sol where the creative forward could partner up top with Marta for an interesting frontline.

Teams were busy with several trades towards the latter rounds, especially the expansion Philadelphia Independence. The Independence swapped their fifth round pick with Atlanta’s fifth round pick. They also sent their 49th overall selection, Jennifer Anzivino (Rutgers), to Sky Blue FC and received Sky Blue FC’s seventh round pick in return with which they selected local Philadelphia prospect Danielle Collins (William & Mary). Boston also traded up for the 56th selection that belonged to Los Angeles, choosing Gina DiMartino (Boston College) in that slot and giving LA future considerations in return.

After North Carolina, Santa Clara was second among colleges with five selections, UCLA and Wake Forest each featured three selections among the draftees.

The draft festivities included a Commissioner’s Welcome from WPS Commissioner Tonya Antonucci and appearances from NSCAA President Randy Waldrum, NSCAA Executive Director Joe Cummings and Los Angeles Sol goalkeeper and WPS All-Star Karina LeBlanc. Draft day began with a panel of coaches discussing the growth of the global professional women’s game including Boston Breakers Head Coach Tony DiCicco and North Carolina Head Coach Anson Dorrance.

2010 WPS Draft
FIRST ROUND
1. Atlanta Beat – Tobin Heath, M, UNC
2. Boston Breakers # – Lauren Cheney, F, UCLA
3. FC Gold Pride – Kelley O’Hara, F, Stanford
4. Chicago Red Stars – Whitney Engen, D, North Carolina
5. Los Angeles Sol # – Nikki Washington, F, North Carolina
6. Sky Blue FC – Brittany Taylor, D, Connecticut
7. Washington Freedom – Nikki Marshall, D/M/F, Colorado
8. Los Angeles Sol # – Casey Nogueira, F, North Carolina
9. Los Angeles Sol – Kiersten Dallstream, F, Washington St.
10. FC Gold Pride # – Ali Riley, D, Stanford
11. Boston Breakers # – Alyssa Naeher, GK, Penn State

SECOND ROUND
12. FC Gold Pride # – Becky Edwards, D/M, Florida State
13. Philadelphia Independence – Malorie Rutledge, M, LSU
14. Los Angeles Sol # – Michelle Enyeart, F, Portland
15. Chicago Red Stars – Jessica McDonald, F, North Carolina
16. Boston Breakers – Jordan Angeli, D, Santa Clara
17. Saint Louis Athletica # – Kristina Larsen, F, UCLA
18. Washington Freedom – Carly Dobratz, M, Washington State
19. Saint Louis Athletica – Ashlyn Harris, GK, North Carolina
20. FC Gold Pride # – Kaley Fountain, F, Wake Forest

THIRD ROUND
21. Atlanta Beat – Blakely Mattern, D, South Carolina
22. Los Angeles Sol # – Kiki Bosio, F, Santa Clara
23. Atlanta Beat # – Shameka Gordon, D/M, West Florida
24. Chicago Red Stars – Kelsey Davis, GK, Portland
25. Los Angeles Sol – Estelle Johnson,  D, Kansas
26. Sky Blue FC – Katie Schoepfer, F, Penn State
27. Washington Freedom – Beverly Goebel, M, Miami
28. Saint Louis Athletica – Amanda Poach, M, Santa Clara
29. Sky Blue FC # – Melissa Clarke, M, LSU

FOURTH ROUND
30. Atlanta Beat – Jill Hutchinson, F, Wake Forest
31. Philadelphia Independence – Kelly Henderson, D/M, Boston College
32. FC Gold Pride – Erin Guthrie, GK, Rutgers
33. Chicago Red Stars – Michele Weissenhofer, F, Notre Dame
34. Boston Breakers – Katherine Reynolds, D, Santa Clara
35. Sky Blue FC – Danielle Johnson, D, Ole Miss
36. Washington Freedom – Kristi Eveland, D, UNC
37. Saint Louis Athletica – Veronica Perez, M/F, Washington
38. Los Angeles Sol – Mary Casey, GK, Maryland

ROUND FIVE
39. Atlanta Beat – Mallori Lofton-Malachi, GK, South Florida (traded to Philadelphia)
40. Philadelphia Independence – Carrie Patterson, F, Georgia (traded to Atlanta)
41. FC Gold Pride – Ashley Bowyer, M/D, Ohio State
42. Chicago Red Stars – Sophie Reiser, M/F, Columbia
43. Boston Breakers – Cynthia Morote-Ariza, F, Loyola-Chicago
44. Sky Blue FC – Meagan Snell, F, Santa Clara
45. Washington Freedom – Lauren Robertson, GK, Ohio State
46. Saint Louis Athletica – Carolyn Blank, M/D, WVU
47. Los Angeles Sol – Lindsay Browne, M/F, Clemson

ROUND SIX
48. Atlanta Beat – Kasey Langdon, F, Oklahoma St.
49. Philadelphia Independence – Jennifer Anzivino, D/M, Rutgers (to Sky Blue FC)
50. FC Gold Pride – Eilzabeth Harkin, D, Arizona State
51. Chicago Red Stars – Fiona O’Sullivan, M/F, San Francisco
52. Boston Breakers – Carly Peetz, D, Nebraska
53. Sky Blue FC – Kelly Isleib, M, Utah
54. Washington Freedom – Mara Osher, D/M, Boston University
55. Saint Louis Athletica – Sarah Teegarden, M, Wisconsin-Milwaukee
56. Boston Breakers – Gina DiMartino, M/F, Boston College (pick traded from Los Angeles Sol)

ROUND SEVEN
57. Atlanta Beat – Shaneka Gordon, F, West Florida
58. Philadelphia Independence – Caitlin Farrell, D, Wake Forest
59. FC Gold Pride – Lauren Wilmoth, D, UCLA
60. Chicago Red Stars – Jackie Santacaterina, M, Illinois
61. Boston Breakers – Casey Brown, D, Boston University
62. Philadelphia Independence – Danielle Collins, D/M, William & Mary
63. Washington Freedom – Caitline Miskel, M/F, Virginia
64. Saint Louis Athletica – Elisabeth Redmond, M, Duke
65. Boston Breakers – Taryn Hemmings, F, Denver

#via trade

read more at womensprosoccer.com

PUMA unveils new WPS match ball

The official 2010 PUMA WPS ball has been bouncing through Philadelphia all week and was finally unveiled tonight at the NSCAA Soccer Convention.

Those following the ball’s  journey through Philly found it first on the famed stairs that Rocky ascended in front of the Philadelphia Museum of Art. On Day Two of the  ball’s journey through the City of Brotherly Love, it made a pit stop at the Italian Market where it found company amongst the spaghetti squash and rutabaga. The new WPS game ball next bounced over to Pat’s King of Steaks on Day Three for a quick snack and to weigh in on the argument Philadelphians have been having for centuries (who serves the best cheese steak).

The mysterious sphere then made it’s way over to the Philadelphia Convention tonight just in time for its big moment. And it was at the NSCAA Convention, where WPS Commissioner Tonya Antonucci unveiled the new WPS Official Match Ball as PUMA athlete and Los Angeles Sol goalkeeper Karina LeBlanc made her “first save” on the new ball, snaring a practice shot on one of the clinic fields at the Convention Center.

After securing the ball’s “first save”, Leblanc walked over and presented PUMA’s WPS PWR-C 1.10, the Official Match Ball of the 2010 WPS Season, to Commissioner Antonucci.

The WPS PWR-C 1.10 features a unique 20-panel construction developed with the aim of improving both shooting speed and flight distance. The ball is abrasion-resistant and water-repellent and, for the first time in PUMA’s history, high-frequency molded instead of hand-stitched, providing improved stability of form and less water uptake.

PUMA’s new ball comes with a two-year shape guarantee and features an innovative take on the jasmine green colorway first seen in the WPS Official Match Ball developed for the league’s inaugural year. The WPS PWR-C 1.10 will be showcased on-field throughout the 2010 WPS season and will be used for the first time in a regular season game when the Washington Freedom kick off against the Boston Breakers on Saturday, April 10 at the Maryland SoccerPlex.

Play on…

Stanford’s Kelley O’Hara wins Hermann Trophy

Senior forward Kelley O’Hara became the first Stanford player in history to the win the MAC Hermann Trophy, college soccer’s highest honor.

O’Hara was one of three finalists – North Carolina midfielder Tobin Heath and UCLA forward Lauren Cheney were the others — invited to Friday’s ceremony, with the award decided by a vote of coaches. O’Hara received the women’s honor and Akron’s Teal Bunbury received the men’s.

“It’s a great way to end the college season,” O’Hara said. “I’m so thankful, and blessed. But the reason I was able to get the award was because of my teammates. I couldn’t have done it without them.”

O’Hara, who hails from Fayetteville, Ga., shattered Stanford season records for goals (26) and points (65) this season while leading the nation in both categories. She also dished out 13 assists in 2009, the third-best mark in school history. The senior captain led Stanford to its first NCAA championship final and its’ best-ever record (25-1).

O’Hara earned Pac-10 Conference Player of the Year and NSCAA first-team All-America honors. She also excelled in the classroom, earning Academic All-America honors.

O’Hara completed her collegiate career with 57 goals and 156 points, No. 2 in Cardinal history in both categories. O’Hara is the first player in Stanford history to claim the MAC Hermann Trophy. Last month, she was one of 24 players named to a December training camp for the full U.S. national team. O’Hara has played internationally from the under-17 to the under-23 age groups.

O’Hara had been nominated three times for the award, but had never been a finalist until this year, joining Julie Foudy (1991 and ‘92) as the only finalists in Stanford history.

Stanford and O’Hara had a fairy-tale season that included a Pac-10 title and a perfect record heading into the College Cup final, which ended with a disappointing 1-0 loss to North Carolina and a (questionable?)  red card for O’Hara in her final collegiate match.

“This is a great honor,” O’Hara said. “But I would give it up to win a national championship. That’s not to downplay the trophy. To be honored like this is incredible. I’m so excited.”

A 2009 NSCAA first-team All-America, O’Hara was the Pacific-10 Conference’s Player of the Year and an ESPN The Magazine first-team Academic All-American.

The Hermann Trophy has been awarded since 1967 to men, and since 1988 to women. Michelle Akers was the first women’s winner, and Mia Hamm won it twice. O’Hara becomes just the third winner from a Bay Area school: Mani Hernandez of San Jose State won the men’s award in 1968 and Santa Clara’s Aly Wagner won the women’s in 2002.

Click here to read the Missouri Athletic Club press release.

2010 Women’s Professional Soccer Draft

The Women’s Professional Soccer draft takes place next week, on January 15th in Philadelphia at the NSCAA National Convention.

The folks at WPS have done a great job keeping fans in the loop and as we countdown to the big day, they’ve polled a number of media experts to rank the top college seniors. It’s a great class providing all the teams with lots of terrific choices to balance their squads.

Top Rated Forwards
Almost all the experts believe that Lauren Cheney (UCLA) will be the top pick followed by Kelley O’Hara (Stanford) and Casey Nogueira (North Carolina). Other players who are expected to go in early rounds include Michelle Enyeart, (Portland), Jill Hutchinson (Wake Forest), Katie Schoepfer (Penn State) and Gina DiMartino (Boston College).

Top Rated Midfielders
It’s no surprise that Tobin Heath (North Carolina) is the top prospect for a midfielder. Heath, part of the Tar Heel team that won this year’s College Cup, is a 2008 Olympic gold medalist and was named 2009 Young Female Athlete of the Year  by U.S. Soccer.  Other top picks include teammate Nikki Washington (North Carolina), Kara Lang (UCLA) and Becky Edwards (Florida State).

Top Rated Defenders
Whitney Engen (North Carolina) is the almost unanimous choice as the top defender. Among other defenders, Connecticut’s Brittany Taylor was a top prospect along with Stanford’s Ali Riley (an LA player we’ve been following for a while) and Santa Clara’s Jordan Angeli.

Top Rated Goalkeepers
USC goalkeeper, Kristin Olsen, made each of the experts’ Top 5 Prospects lists.  Other top picks include Ashlyn Harris (North Carolina)  and Alyssa Naeher (Penn State).

The  Draft begins at 10am on Friday, January 15 and is scheduled for seven rounds for each team with the two expansion teams receiving an additional pick each at the end of Round One. For more information, go to: http://www.womensprosoccer.com/Home/schedule/2010-wps-draft.aspx

Here’s how the draft picks will go:

FIRST ROUND
1. Atlanta Beat
2. Boston Breakers
3. FC Gold Pride
4. Chicago Red Stars
5. Los Angeles Sol
6. Sky Blue FC
7. Washington Freedom
8. Los Angeles Sol
9. Los Angeles Sol
10. Atlanta Beat
11. Boston Breakers

SECOND ROUND
12. Atlanta Beat
13. Philadelphia Independence
14. FC Gold Pride
15. Chicago Red Stars
16. Boston Breakers
17. Saint Louis Athletica
18. Washington Freedom
19. Saint Louis Athletica
20. Los Angeles Sol

THIRD ROUND
21. Atlanta Beat
22. Los Angeles Sol
23. FC Gold Pride
24. Chicago Red Stars
25. Boston Breakers
26. Sky Blue FC
27. Washington Freedom
28. Saint Louis Athletica
29. Sky Blue FC

FOURTH – SEVENTH ROUNDS
Atlanta Beat
Philadelphia Independence
FC Gold Pride
Chicago Red Stars
Boston Breakers
Sky Blue FC
Washington Freedom
Saint Louis Athletica
Los Angeles Sol

Stay tuned for complete coverage and exclusive interviews relating to the draft.

UNC soccer player takes top national honors

Whitney Engen, a senior at North Carolina, has won the 2010 Honda Sports Award in soccer, designating her as the nation’s top collegiate female athlete in that sport. The honor was based on the results of national balloting among 1,000 NCAA member schools as part of the Collegiate Women Sports Awards program, now in its 34th year.

“To end our season with a championship and then win the Honda Sports Award is beyond my wildest dreams,” Engen said. “I was really shocked when I heard the news.”

Engen’s win marks the 11th time that a University of North Carolina soccer player has been honored with the award.

Honda Award winners are selected in each of the 12 NCAA-sanctioned sports . Three other athletes are honored as the Division II Athlete of the Year, Division III Athlete of the Year and Inspiration Award winner. Each woman is selected not only for her superior athletic skills, but also for her leadership abilities, academic excellence and eagerness to participate in community service.

At the end of the year, one deserving athlete will be chosen as the Collegiate Woman Athlete of the Year and receive the coveted Honda-Broderick Cup. Past winners of this prestigious award include Jackie Joyner and Mia Hamm. In 2009, the honor went to gymnastics star Courtney Kupets of the University of Georgia.

Other winners for this year’s award include Angela Bizzari (University of Illinois) for cross-country and Katie O’Donnell (University of Maryland) for field hockey.

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