U-20s: China advance as US pay the penalty

China wins in penalty kicks.
Many felt that these two heavyweights of women's soccer would have made worthy finalists, but in truth, this was not the evenly-matched contest we had anticipated, with the Chinese made to look distinctly ordinary by an American team who bested them throughout.

Florida State is number 1

RANK/TEAM (RECORD) LAST WEEK
1. Florida State (1-0-0) 4
2. Santa Clara (2-0-0) 5
3. Notre Dame (2-0-0) 6
4. Texas A&M (2-0-0) 9
5. Penn State (1-0-1) 8
6. Virginia (2-0-0) 7
7. UCLA (1-1-0) 1
8. Portland (0-1-1) 2
9. North Carolina (1-1-0) 3
10. Duke (2-0-0) 13

USA 4, China 1

The United States Women’s National Team defeated China, 4-1, at the brand new home of the Chicago Fire in Bridgeview, Ill., on Sunday, Aug. 27. The U.S. came back from a one-goal deficit, with unanswered goals from Cat Whitehill, Aly Wagner and two by Kristine Lilly.

U-20s: USA 4, Germany 1

Danesha Adams bagged a brace as the USA defeated Germany 4-1 in a thrilling FIFA U-20 Women's World Championship Russia 2006 quarter-final on Sunday evening.

College Women's 2006 MAC Hermann Trophy Watch List

Women's 2006 Missouri Athletic Club Hermann Trophy Watch List:
Danesha Adams, M, Jr., UCLA;
Melanie Booth, D, Sr., Florida;
Laura Boyer, K, Jr., Marquette;
Jen Buczkowski, M, Sr., Notre Dame;
Ali Christoph, M, Sr., Tennessee;
Niki Cross, F, Sr., Connecticut;
Marian Dalmy, D, Sr., Santa Clara;
Holly Gault, D, Sr., Kansas;
Laura Georges, D, Sr., Boston College;
Tyler Griffin, K, Sr., Vanderbilt;
Kerri Hanks, F, So., Notre Dame;
Valerie Henderson, K, Jr., UCLA;
Christina Huang, D, Sr., Yale;
Ali Krieger, M, Sr., Penn St.;
Sel Kuralay, F, Jr., Florida St.;
Stephanie Lopez, D, Jr., Portland;
Heather O'Reilly, F, Sr., UNC;
Ashlee Pistorius, F, Jr., Texas A&M;
Megan Rapinoe, M, So., Portland,;
Amy Rodriguez, F, So., USC;
Becky Sauerbrunn, M, Jr., Virginia;
Brittany Timko, F, Sr., Nebraska;
India Trotter, M, Sr., Florida St.;
Sue Weber, D, Jr., Hofstra;
Angie Woznuk, M, Jr., Portland.

Mitts critical of Hamm, Foudy and Fawcett

"I didn't feel like I was a part of the team as much as I would have liked," said Mitts, 28.
Back then, I really didn't get to know the players off the field because we didn't do a whole lot of stuff together.
It took me a long time to feel comfortable. Now we spend time off the field and get to know each other. That's when you build friendships."

US U-20s to face Germany

Jess Rostedt' 61st minute goal was enough as the US beat France 1-0 and will face Germany in quarterfinals of the U-20 World Cup.

U.S. WNT Arrives in Chicago

The U.S. Women’s National Team arrived in Chicago on the afternoon of Tues., Aug. 22, and quickly got to work Wednesday morning with a 90 minute training session. The team faces longtime rival China on Sunday, Aug. 27, at 12 p.m. CT at the brand new Toyota Park in Bridgeview, Ill. The match will be broadcast live on ESPN2.

Under pressure Ryan drops Christie Welsh

Here is what I posted on August 7, 2006:
"A group of senior US WNT players are lobbying coach Greg Ryan to start Natasha Kai (5 goals in 8 games) ahead of Christie Welsh in the upcoming friendlies vs. China and Mexico."

Here is a list of forwards for the China match:
FORWARDS (5): Natasha Kai (Kahuku, Hawaii), Kristine Lilly (Wilton, Conn.), Heather O’Reilly (East Brunswick, N.J.), Lindsay Tarpley (Kalamazoo, Mich.), Abby Wambach (Rochester, N.Y.)

Welsh is missing.

U-20s: USA 4, Argentina 1

USA took a giant leap towards the last eight this afternoon, but there was an undeniable element of déjà vu to their largely unconvincing, if ultimately deserved 4-1 win over Argentina at Moscow's Torpedo stadium.

Alcohol at Lenoir-Rhyne

A written statement from Lenoir-Rhyne administrators to WCNC confirms that the video "appears to show some members of the Women's Soccer Team engaged in behavior that may be a violation of the college's alcohol policy." And Lenoir-Rhyne women's soccer coach Will Beddingfield says what he saw on it "obviously violated our policies."

Fisher leaves after 6 games

Former Boston Renegades defender Caitlin Fisher who played six games for Sweden's Hammarby left the Swedish club after the first six matches to return to USA.

Hazing and alcohol at Santa Clara???

"Fourteen members of the Santa Clara University women's soccer team have been suspended for one game for undisclosed reasons, the university's athletic department announced today.
The suspended team members will serve their suspension over two games. Seven will be suspended for the August 25 game against Wake Forest and seven will sit out the August 27 game against Utah. Both games are at home, part of the Santa Clara Adidas Classic tournament.
"These players are good kids and I stand behind them. However, they made a mistake and they have acknowledged that. They all have accepted the consequences of their actions," Head Coach Jerry Smith said. "We have now put this issue behind us and we will focus on our goal of winning a national championship for Santa Clara University."
The university did not disclose the nature of the rules violation and a team spokesman did not return calls for comment on the suspension.

USA defeats Congo

In their opening match at the FIFA U-20 Women's World Championship Russia 2006, the Americans had all manner of difficulty defeating the Congolese. Despite dominating for most of the game, they had to contend with a defiant African outfit that came mighty close to clinching a draw. If Tim Schulz's charges are to go far in the tournament, the American coach will need to take urgent remedial action, while his opposite number Poly Bonganya can derive cause for optimism from this narrow defeat.

Hurless leaves AIK

Former University of Illinois forward Tara Hurless is leaving Swedish 2nd division side AIK after appearing in 11 games.

UNC 1, UNC Wilmington 1

Freshman defender Rebecca McBride scored a first-half goal as UNC-Wilmington tied North Carolina 1-1 in a college women's soccer exhibition Monday night at the UNCW Soccer Stadium.

The Tar Heels, ranked sixth nationally by Soccer Buzz magazine, outshot the Seahawks by a commanding 15-5 margin, but couldn't notch the go-ahead goal in the first appearance of the 2006-07 season for both clubs.

McBride put the Seahawks on top, 1-0, at 26:16 when she headed in a free kick from the midfield area. UNC answered less than three minutes later, as freshman midfielder Whitney Engen headed in a Yael Averbuch's corner kick.

Pellerud: "No more New Jersey"

Canada WNT coach Even Pellerud, upset by the accusations coming from the New Jersey Wildcats camp, has allegedly vowed not to allow Canadian WNT players to sign for the W-League club.
SEE August 1 posts

Youth Soccer Team Throws Game?

A number of people have written in asking if there was anything unethical about the Eclipse Select U-15G team allegedly losing a game intentionally.

One Texas reader sends this:
“I am disgusted by the Elite coaches and staff, and I would be embarrassed to have my daughter play for that club.
What they did was as cynical and wrong as I have ever seen in youth sports.
Collecting titles at any cost must be their motto.”

Buzz college rankings

1. UCLA
2. Santa Clara
3. Notre Dame
4. Florida State
5. Portland
6. North Carolina
7. Virginia
8. Penn State
9. Boston College
10. Tennessee

Adidas over Nike

'Nike's work was engrained in the idea of beautiful football, but if you look at some of the performances of its sponsored teams and players, namely Portugal and Wayne Rooney, it was the antithesis,' says Karen Earl Sponsorship consulting director Tim Crow. 'Brazil's comparatively early exit also didn't have the effect Nike had hoped for.'

UNC

The North Carolina Tar Heels have been selected as the top pick for the 2006 Atlantic Coast Conference women's soccer season as determined by a vote of the league's 11 head coaches. Carolina will go into the season minus 10 seniors from the 2005 team. But with the No. 1 ranked recruiting class in the nation arriving on campus the Tar Heels still prevailed as the No. 1 pick.

Vancouver president resigns

Vancouver Whitecaps are looking for a new president after John Rocha resigned yesterday.

Various rumors

A group of senior US WNT players are lobbying coach Greg Ryan to start Natasha Kai (5 goals in 8 games) ahead of Christie Welsh in the upcoming friendlies vs. China and Mexico. (Various)

The New Jersey Wildacts coach Charlie Naimo is furious with the so called "Pellerud scandal", involving Ottawa, Vancouver and Canada WNT coach Even Pellerud, which denied his team its second consecutive W-League title. (Various)

Vancouver wins W-League

Vancouver 3, Ottawa 0

USASA National Cup Finals Results

Women's Open Final
Sockers (IL) 0 - Dallas Roma (NTX) 1

Women's Amateur Final
Eclipse Select (I L) 1 - Hibernian Saints (WA) 0

Women's U23 Final
CUSC Cobras (IN) 2 - Real Colorado (CO) 3

Women's Over 30 Final
Houston Challengers (TXS) 2 - St. Louis S. C. (MO) 1

W-League final set

"Run the Maple Leaf up the flag pole. Pour some maple syrup on the pancakes. Start practising your "ehs."
It's an all-Canada W-League women's soccer championship game for the first time."

Ottawa 2 - Charlotte 1
Vancouver 5 - Seattle 0

Ottawa coach slams New Jersey, advises Hooper

Fury coach Frank Lofranco: "Some people handle (losing) better than others. We can't really worry about how (New Jersey) handled it."
He also offered tactical advice to Charmaine Hooper: "It's more than karma or luck or fate that gets things done on the field."

Top 2006 W-League Honors announced

United Soccer Leagues announced the final four awards of the 2006 W-League season, honoring the Defender of the Year, U19 Player of the Year, Coach of the Year and Most Valuable Player as voted on by the league’s coaches and general managers.

Most Valuable Player: Kristi Swaving (Michigan Hawks)
Defender of the Year: Leslie Gaston (Atlanta Silverbacks)
U19 Player of the Year: Katie Schoepfer (Western Mass Pioneers)
Coach of the Year: John Natale (Western Mass Pioneers)

W-League All-League Team announced

Goalkeeper – Justine Bernier (Toronto Lady Lynx)
Defender – Leslie Gaston (Atlanta Silverbacks)
Defender – Holly Gault (Minnesota Lightning)
Defender – Beth McNamara (New Jersey Wildcats)
Midfielder – Michelle French (Seattle Sounders Saints)
Midfielder – Formiga (New Jersey Wildcats)
Midfielder – Diana Matheson (Ottawa Fury)
Midfielder – Ashley Swinehart (Charlotte Lady Eagles)
Forward – Kelly Shimmin (Western Mass Lady Pioneers)
Forward – Christine Sinclair (Vancouver Whitecaps)
Forward – Kristi Swaving (Michigan Hawks)

Youth Soccer Team Throws Game?

From the National Championships in Des Moines, Iowa: The U15 Girls championship game, which the Eclipse Select (Illinois) won 4-0 over the PDA Price (New Jersey), was controversial amid allegations that the best two teams would not play in the game.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d8-SyOeS3lA

Did Kerfoot's $1million influence Pellerud?

"She credits Whitecaps owner Greg Kerfoot for a major investment in Canadian women's soccer -- reportedly a recent $1-million contribution -- and the fact that B.C.-based national team players are living rentfree in a Kerfoot-owned apartment complex in Vancouver's False Creek area."

NCAA eligibility concerns

"...players are living rentfree in a Kerfoot-owned apartment complex."

UCLA, University of Nebraska

More cheating allegations in W-League

"The question is why were the Ottawa players allowed to play in that Division Championship game vs the NJ Wildcats but Charmaine and Karina were not allowed to play. When that question was posed to Even, his answer was that the NJ organization did not ask. First of all, they were smart not to ask because any sane person knows that the national team should come first. What this shows it that Ottawa needed to tip the scales in their favour, with the help of the Canadian National Team coach, Even Pellerud, in order to win that Division Championship game.

The deal was if Even would allow those four national team players to play in the game and not allow Charmaine nor Karina to take part, then Ottawa would have a greater chance of winning the Division Championship. If the NJ Wildcats, 2005 W-League Champions, were kept out of the final four, then the Vancouver Whitecaps, who is hosting the W-League Championships and is overseen by Even Pellerud, would secure their chances of winning the championsips and protecting their investment there in Vancouver. In the end, this is the sad reality of this whole soap opera and I, as a representative of Canadian soccer, I am embarrassed that this is what some very desperate people have to resort to in order to try to win."