Category: Interviews

Interviews with Emma: Estelle Johnson

Posted on by RJ Allen

Emma Bayer is an 11 year old who will be doing a recurring interview series for Backline Soccer. You can find more out about how Emma got in to soccer here.

Estelle Johnson began her professional career with the Philadelphia Independence. She also played for the Western New York Flash, and currently plays for the Washington Spirit. In 2011-2012, she played in Australia. She has always been a big supporter of our breast cancer charity.  Here are some more facts about her.

Birthdate:

7/21/1988

Nickname from teammates:

Stella

Hometown:

Fort Collins, Co

Age started playing:

7 years old

College/major:

Undergraduate: Communication Studies

Masters: Business (MBA)

Career aspirations after soccer:

Empowerment/mentor, model, Mom

Why did you pick your particular uniform number:

My oldest brother wore it for years so I wanted to carry on what he started AND I love Kobe Bryant so it worked out nicely 🙂

Pregame meal:

A big brunch with bacon, eggs, and pancakes

Workout music:

Justin Bieber, Cardi B

Favorite cartoon character:

The Smurfs

Fave movie:

The Sandlot

Fave actress:

Charlize Theron

Hidden talent:

Reenactments (acting)

Mentor (in soccer or life):

My Mom

Fave charity/cause:

Anything for the kids

Life motto:

Years, lovers and glasses of wine. These are the things that should never be counted.

Superstitions:

Going over railroad tracks or through red/yellow lights you have to kiss your hand then touch the roof of the car

Pets:

None

If you were going on Amazing Race, which teammate would you want as a partner, and why?:

Joanna Lohman for obvious reasons (entertainment) and we’d make a great team

Interviews with Emma: Beverly Yanez

Posted on by RJ Allen

Emma Bayer is an 11 year old who will be doing a recurring interview series for Backline Soccer. You can find more out about how Emma got in to soccer here.

When I first got to know Bev, her last name was Goebel. She married Othaniel Yanez in 2012. She has played for the Washington Freedom, Western New York Flash, and currently for the Seattle Reign. She has also played professionally in Australia, Finland and Japan. Bev is always smiling!  Here are a few facts about her:

Birthdate: July 19, 1988

Nickname from teammates: Bev

Hometown: Moreno Valley, CA

Age started playing: 5 years old

College/major: University of Miami, FL. Sports Administration

Career aspirations after soccer: To be a soccer coach and implement more tactics in youth soccer in America.

Why did you pick your particular uniform number: When I went to Japan three years ago, I learned a very technical and tactical style of soccer. My teammates were so kind and patient in teaching me this style. I was continually growing in so many aspects of my game and had a breakthrough year. I was given #17 from the club that year. After my breakthrough year, I stuck with the number. It was a new me and one that I was so proud of!

Pregame meal: Nuzest protein smoothie, and many carbs!

Workout music: Anything that Russ sings

Favorite cartoon character: Spongebob

Fave movie: The Mask

Fave actress: I don’t have one 😦

Hidden talent: Wish I had one, but I thought long and hard and could not think of anything 😦

Mentor (in soccer or life): My husband and parents! Always supporting me and inspiring me to be the best player and person I can be.

Fave charity/cause: Austen Everett Foundation 

Life motto: Treat others the way you want to be treated

Superstitions: I do not have any.

Pets: Love dogs! But don’t have any pets currently. My favorite dogs are pugs!

If you were going on Amazing Race, which teammate would you want as a partner, and why?: Naho Kawasumi because she is so smart and can make anything work with her positive attitude.

You can find Bev’s Twitter here.   

Before the Final: Quotes from Abby Erceg, Jess McDonald and McCall Zerboni

Posted on by RJ Allen

Abby Erceg

Backline: So, championship, second year in a row, sort of. Is there that same feeling as last year? Or do you guys think of this as sort of a different team? 

Erceg: No, I think we have 75% of the players from last year. So other than the rebranding I think it’s more or less the same team. We treat it as the same team. We treat the history the same as you would if a club was obviously the same name. So this for most of us is our second championship consecutively regardless of the name. Regardless of whether or not you’ve won one before, I think you have to put that aside and focus on what’s happening this year because last year’s championship isn’t going to win you this year’s championship, unfortunately. But yeah, we do treat it like it’s the same team. 

Backline: So, championship, second year in a row, sort of. Is there that same feeling as last year? Or do you guys think of this as sort of a different team? 

Erceg: No, I think we have 75% of the players from last year. So other than the rebranding I think it’s more or less the same team. We treat it as the same team. We treat the history the same as you would if a club was obviously the same name. So this for most of us is our second championship consecutively regardless of the name. Regardless of whether or not you’ve won one before, I think you have to put that aside and focus on what’s happening this year because last year’s championship isn’t going to win you this year’s championship, unfortunately. But yeah, we do treat it like it’s the same team. 

Backline: Is there a little bit of that comfort that a lot of your players have gone through a championship before? You don’t maybe have the same amount of nerves. I’m sure there’s nerves, but it’s not that first time you’ve sort of played on that stage. 

Erceg: Yeah, I think that’s a really good thing about it. It just seals the nerves a little bit. We know exactly what to expect. We know what’s going on. We know that it’s going ot be a little disruptive and not the same kind of build up that we have for normal games. So I think having that does help a little bit. You’re obviously going to have the nerves going into a game anyway. But I think it does help. 

Backline: You had the home semi this year. Was that something North Carolina’s first home semi in the league – was that sort of a nice thing to give back to the fans? 

Erceg: Yeah, I’ve played with Chicago and we had a home game there, and it’s kind of the exact same thing. You work so hard throughout the season. Obviously being with North Carolina for the first time you want to give something back to the fans and to everybody that’s supported us. SO I think coming to the championship is a really nice way to do that. 

Backline: Now there is something unusual this year. Both center backs on Portland are Emilys, both center backs on North Carolina are Abbys, is there just a little bit of that sort of weirdness of it? 

Erceg: Yeah, I think just playing with Abby last year, playing with two center backs called Abby, you don’t see that everyday. Even now, it’s weird. But the fact that we’ve got two teams like that. I mean, coincidence, maybe? 

Backline: A little bit about your relationship with Abby [Dahlkemper], sort of your partnership. Has that grown as she’s gotten some national team experience to sort of bring that back in? You yourself have a long history of experience. 

Erceg: Yeah, I think having played with her the first year, I didn’t get to play alongside her. I obviously played the midfield in front of her. We did a lot of switching, we did a lot of changes of formation trying to figure out who went where and what fit best with each other. I think this year hitting it, we know exactly where people fit and who fits best with each other and I think me and Ab have been able to build that relationship from the start. The way that she plays is a lot similar to me. We’re both more on the aggressive side rather than the conservative side so the way that she plays makes it easier for me to as well, I can read her, and I think it works really well together. 

Jess McDonald

Backline: So how are you feeling going into the final? I’ll get the boring question out of the way first.

McDonald: Feeling excited! I’m pumped to be here, obviously the whole team is so. It’s just cool to be back in the championship again. 

Backline: With Duke and UNC right there, is that helpful having a local pro team that those players – they can go to games, the UNC women can just come to a game as a block and watch you guys on the field as professionals. Does that sort of make it more real for the college players do you think? 

McDonald: Oh, most certainly! And the most incredible thing is that a lot of them have actually come and trained with us. So it’s cool to have them throughout the summer time to give them a piece of what the pro game is like. And so I think it’s just a cool experience for those type of college players overall to not only join in at our games and watch us, but to join us at training and to improve their football on the field. So it’s cool to watch them mature as well as players. I think it’s just an absolutely incredible thing for each program. 

Backline: One thing that we’re sort of getting to in the NWSL that we didn’t have in previous leagues. If you came into college as a freshman, and you’re about to graduate, you’ve had the NWSL every year you’ve been in college. Is that stability key to players? They can plan, “yeah, they want to go pro.” vs. “I don’t know if the leagues’ going to be there when I graduate college.” 

McDonald: Definitely! And I feel as if, if you have something like that to look forward to, you’ll want to improve your game. You’ll want to try to be the best player out there, obviously. So I think it’s cool to see how they have a plan to become a pro soccer plan, whereas when I was younger, when I was a freshman in college, we didn’t have a league. So I didn’t have that to look forward to. But for these college players now, that’s something to look forward to. I think it’s just a lot better of a feel. And obviously, parents always want their kids to become pro at whatever sport that they play, so. I know it’s only a small percentage but I just think it’s gonna help college players stay motivated.

Backline: Speaking of mother-son relationships, are you and your son going to be the first mother-son cap of the US? Is that the goal? 

McDonald: I hope so! That would be great! Yeah! 

McCall Zerboni

Backline: So Dan Lauletta put out an interesting stat, I think it was there’s been 3 years or 2 years since 2009 that neither you or Paul hasn’t been in the playoffs. Is that sort of one of those things where you guys have that experience that you can help some of the younger players sort of– it’s just another game guys, you know, you don’t have to–

Zerboni: I hope so, yeah. We’re a fairly young squad, and you know sometimes nerves can work into these things, or expectations get the best of us. But it’s just another game. And people just need to remember that. Nothing’s changed. it’s still a 90+ minute game, it’s still 120 by 75, it’s on a beautiful grass field, it’s what we’ve been doing, what most of us have been doing since we were 5, 6, 7 years old. So just to remind them why we do this, and it’s because we love it, and we should go out there and enjoy ourselves and not freak out. 

Backline: One interesting bit that you sort of touched on is that you have a lot of UCLA players on this team. Is there a little bit of that connection that helps that you guys have that UCLA background? 

Zerboni: You know, our generations were different. Like I never played with the young ones. But you know, a group of them did play together, so I’m sure that helps. I think it’s more fun for like banter, you know we banter all the time. Like oh, if you’re on UCLA, you can’t be in this box over here, you know so we kind of joke around, stuff like that. But yeah, I mean maybe a little bit, just kinda gets us on the same page, or that we have a little something in common, that helps, because we come from all different parts of the world and all different backgrounds, and the more and more we can find commonalities and realize our common goal, that’s helpful. 

Backline: You and Abby seem to have some experience. Does that help having another sort of player that’s not 21, 22, just sort of be like, okay – we’re going to talk about mortgages and about life. 

Zerboni: Yes (laughs). So that’s why I really appreciate her. So since Nora came in, we’ve just really bonded. I think not so much because of our age and our experience, but I mean she’s an amazing person, and we just sort of have the same take on life, and we’ve both been through a lot. And sometimes it was just me and Jess or whoever and so, I’m like, “Anyone? Anyone gotta pay their bills today? No one? okay.” Or, “remember when this happened, or remember when this song came out?” or just to have someone to relate to, to kind of help me lead the troops is helpful. 

A Conversation with Orlando Pride Coach Tom Sermanni

Posted on by RJ Allen

It’s been a long road for Orlando Pride Head Coach Tom Sermanni. The 2016 season of the Nation Women’s Soccer League brought many challenges to Sermanni’s side as they finished ninth in the table for their inaugural campaign. The start of the 2017 looked to bring more of the same for Orlando, but the gaffer was able to ride out only one win in the first seven matches, and eventually guide his team to a playoff spot, a first for an expansion team in the league.

With the regular season coming to a close, and the post season on the horizon, Coach Sermanni was kind enough to speak with me after the home match versus the Portland Thorns. The Pride had just earned its first point ever against Portland, so I took the opportunity to talk football with Coach.

Backline Soccer (BS): So Tom, the season is coming to an end you’re hoping to go into the playoffs, how much time have you spent thinking about the draft and into next year?

Tom Sermanni (TS): Not, honest, not a lot of time on the draft because at this time we only have a third round draft pick, so it really, that’s not…unless we do some trading, and that’s not really a major priority for us. To be honest, but we already for several weeks now started to–

At this point, Coach Sermanni took the time to greet Thorns defender Meghan Klingenberg who was a player for him in his time as manager of the United States women’s national team. He wished her well, and his face reflected his genuine feelings for her. Without missing a beat, Tom picked up where he had left off.

TS: So, it’s about looking at where we need to strengthen the team; we need to work out what we’ve done. What I think we’ve done very successfully is bring in good international players. We need to look at how many international spots we got next year, and where we can strengthen from there. One of the difficulties we’ve had coming in as a new team is to be able to get good quality domestic players, because teams don’t give them up. When you come in as a new team it’s hard to do that, so we’ve had to look at the international market and be creative in other areas. So obviously, the international market is something we need to look at.

BS: Any other options?

TS: The other one is looking at players– U.S. players, who perhaps have gone overseas to play and want to come back to the league. So we kind of cast the net out there. We got some names that we want to talk to, and hopefully chip away and strengthen (the team).   

BS: How did you improve the team between last season to this year?

TS: I think what we’ve done is made significant progress with the strength of the squad this year. Obviously, it was the management that brought Marta, but we brought five other players in here. I think if you include Marta, we brought in six very good players who have contributed, so we got the bases of a very good squad. So it’s now a case of just adding little bits and pieces to the structure that’s in place.

BS: So this season for the league there’s been a bit of turnover for the coaches, what are your thoughts on that. For a coach, most of the time your last day is going to be a bad one.

TS: Yeah. (Tom once again pauses to have a quick exchange post match with players exiting the locker room, then without missing a beat picks right back.) It’s always disappointing when I see a coach lose a job because we’re all out there working hard. At the end of the day in any league, some teams have got to win and some teams have got to lose. It doesn’t mean just because your team is losing that you’re necessarily doing a bad job. You look at particularly the Sky Blue occasion, they were really still right in the frame to make the top four at that stage. I feel for coaches that lost their job during the season, and also in the women’s game there tends to be a little bit more stability, so I’m hoping that the status quo can be maintained a little bit better, and coaches are allowed to have time to build the teams.

BS: Now, do you think you’d want to see more female coaches come into the league or do you think it’s hard to find a quality female coach?

TS: Look, I think that’s a complex question. The simple answer is yeah, we need to see more and more females coming into the profession, and as the game continues to develop professionally then there’s a greater chance of that happening. What you have to do is build over time depth of coaches. When you go to a typical coaches course, there might be 40 guys and there might be two women. Out of the 40 guys, maybe only ten of those guys get jobs, so if you only have two women maybe none of them are getting jobs. So for me, it’s a bigger issue than just saying bringing women professional coaches in, it’s an issue where there needs to be more at the youth level, development level staying in the game, and working their way in the system. I think a lot of time, there’s what I call “talking-ism” which doesn’t do anybody any good, but see we want a woman for this job, so they put a woman in the job whether that’s the right fit for her or the right fit for the team. I’m ranting about this in a long winded way because this is something I do believe in strongly. We need to encourage more and more women to be in the women’s game, but there needs to be more then it goes to the top. Does that make sense?

BS: Yeah, it does.

TS: There’s a lot of players now that have been professional players for several years now for their career, and if they finish, stay in the game at the coaching level. That’s what you want to look at. The other reality is that coaching is a tough job. When I say it’s a tough job, it’s a job that is fickle. There’s no security. You don’t know what going to happen. The hours are unsociable, you’re on the job 24/7 which is still great. It’s just the reality of the job, and often when females leave the game they go on to start another life…for women when their career looks like it’s coming to an end, they often have to think about “Okay, where am I going to go to actually start making a living for all the money I’ve given up being a poorly paid professional.” So there’s a whole range of stuff around getting more women’s coaches. There needs to be a big effort to more so then you get more in NWSL.

BS: If you had to have another assistant or Coach Smith left, what qualifications would a female have to have for you to add her to the staff?

TS: No different to a male. It’d need to be someone that you think has good knowledge of the game. Who is able to relate to the players, is able to work in with the staff, same as it would be for a guy. It’s not different. Hopefully, it could be one of the senior players saying “Look, I’m looking at retiring. I’m interested in coming on in the coaching staff.” I would take them onto our coaching staff in a heartbeat, but you’re still looking at the same thing. You’re still have someone who’s going to be able to do the job or you think has potential to do the job.

BS: There’s been some international teams that have also sacked their managers. I know you’re good where you’re at, but any temptation or a thought of jumping back into the international game?

TS: Going back into the international game? I enjoyed my time in the international game. Apparently, I was 50 to one for the England job, so I need people to put on money, so my odds get a bit more respectable. I would never say no, but obviously…and I don’t know what my future lies here. My contract is up at the end of the season. I enjoy my job, I enjoy the club. We have the basis of a very good team. So if I’m fortunate enough to be here next year, hopefully we can continue to keep growing this team. But I never discount anything, to be honest, I don’t say no I never want to go back to an international job. What I would say, pardon me, if I was going back to an international job it would need to be somewhere where I felt there was a chance to do something as opposed to just a job. So it would need to be a program that you think has potential to grow or you feel that you can take it somewhere.

BS: It’s a real trick because you have several countries that may not support the women’s game or you have New Zealand for example where you don’t have a lot of time together as a squad, and so it becomes an issue.

TS: Yeah, those are hard. Those kind of jobs are probably better for younger coaches coming up through, trying to make their mark on a team. They have the energy, and that kind of stuff. Probably not so much for someone at my stage of my career. So certain jobs that would appeal to me if they came up and if I was without employment, but I’m not out there looking. I enjoyed bits of the international game. You got every program that you think you can take somewhere. When John Herdman went into Canada, it was a real web, but the potential was there. When I went to Australia, there was a potential to move into Asia, so you’re building stuff, so when you got those situations. Then it’s good. Sometimes as a coach, you need to get a job because you haven’t got a job. Sometimes, you’re lucky enough to be in a job where you feel you can make a mark, and take a team somewhere you can build something. Generically, lucky most of the time to have those jobs, and this (Orlando Pride head coach) is another one that’s kinda got those qualities.

BS: You’re a manager that likes to build. You’re done a great job building the Pride, second year contending, the developmental academy, is there anything that you’d like to see in the club structure that you’d like to improve on?

TS: There’s not a lot to be honest. You’re restricted here. You say developmental, and it would be great to have that development phase all the way through, we have the academy, we have the ECNL which is part of it. Unfortunately, the college system comes in the way, and that stops that development. You don’t have control over the destiny of those players both being able to keep them, and at a critical time you don’t have your hands-on development with them because they are at college for four year. It’s difficult to get the development underneath here. Hopefully as this club progresses and it gets bigger, is younger teams getting into the philosophy of how Orlando Pride plays. You want to see that continuity, and maybe at sometime, down the track but I don’t think it’s anytime soon you might end up with a reserve team.   

BS: Changing gears a little bit, in your opinion, why is not a women’s open cup in the United States, and what needs to happen to get that on?

TS: I think the major reason is first of all, the difficulty that everyone’s had to get a professional league established, and you can go off in a whole range of different ways because then you’re juggling too many balls there. What we got to do is, we have to get this league set up and established. I read an article recently not about expansion, but about getting the standards of the ten teams higher. I’ve talked about that until I’m blue in the face, and I’m 100% in favor of that. So what we need to do with these ten teams, I mean Orlando Pride is up there, Portland is up there,and there a couple of others, and there’s a drop off. We need to get that right. That is priority number one. Get that right, then you can start at looking at other things. You don’t just want to be piecemeal, we’ll have a U.S. Cup and things aren’t all over the place. So for me, get this league right. Get ten teams, get standards we need to set. Conditions for players, training arrangements, standard of grounds, get all that sorted, then start adding to it.

BS: Do you think it’s the responsibility of U.S. Soccer to do that for the league. It’s the federation’s responsibility to have an open cup. Even though the federation supports the league, doesn’t NWSL have to do it.

TS: It’s a balance to that, but ultimately the federation is a major decision-maker. And I think they have said and are trying to do the right things, but again it’s a balancing act. The teams in the league that started this league five years ago when nobody wanted to come near it. Either  individual owners and groups of owners have put their heart and soul and the money in there. Then like anything the league jumps with teams like ours coming into it. There’s an old saying a fleet is as fast as its slowest ship. You then have to start bringing up those teams to a better standard, and that’s part of the federation partly responsible, the league itself is partly responsible, and the owners are partly responsible to say “okay, we’re in this, a new bar has been set, and we need to get to that bar.”

BS: It’s been five years of existence with the league, you’re still talking about stabilizing the league. How many more year are we talking in those terms?

TS: You have to go back historically here. You look at the MLS (Major League Soccer), and I was here in 2001 and MLS was on its knees, and that was at six, seven years in. If it wasn’t for (Philip) Anschutz bankrolling four or five clubs. It was a real (feeling of) which way is this going to go. You can go back ten years, teams are still playing in rubbish fields. It’s only ten years ago. New York City (FC) playing in a postage stamp. It’s a balance of time, patience, vision, organization, and then having the foresight to get things in place. It’s a real balancing act to get it right, and you have to have a little bit of patience, and at the right times you have to get the right decisions to get the league chipping on and improving.

BS: So there’s no set timeline, but in your opinion if you’re going to put a number on it…

TS: A couple of years. I think the idea of MLS team (affiliating with an NWSL team) is a great idea because you already have structure in place, you have finance in place, knowledge in place, facilities, you have the whole thing. So for me, what I believe it’s something the federation is working hard on. I think if I’m an MLS club, I think it’s great to have an Orlando Pride as part of it. I think we add a lot to this club, if it’s done properly, and I think from a financial perspective if you do it right, it’s actually not a financial burden. It’s somewhere where you add value to the club, so I would like to see in the coming years if the smaller owners are struggling to make the investments they’re making then MLS clubs then step in and take over the teams. But and I’m very, very conscious of this, the guys that were in there putting the money in there when nobody else was interested. You need to value what they have done for this league.  

Why You Should or Should Not Be Freaking Out About the Red Stars

Posted on by RJ Allen

Chances are if you follow the Chicago Red Stars and are reading this after watching the last home loss against Kansas City, you’re about FourFive seconds from wildin’. Or if you’re ever the optimist, you’re possibly looking forward to the playoff positioning race.

Whichever, here are some words to either help lift you up about of the abyss of a 3-game losing streak you didn’t think was possible, or to help you look ahead to possible brighter days for Summertime Chi.

Why You Should Be Freaking Out

Let’s be real. You are. At least a little bit. The team with the shaky slow start this season went on a tear and made you feel invincible, and now? They’re having a pretty rough August. Some injuries have come up, along with a 3-game losing streak. All losses coming at home in Toyota Park. The Red Stars are 1-3-1 in their last five games, with five games remaining in the season.  While their last three losses might have some positives, it was the fashion in which they lost that probably have you most concerned.

“Down 2 goals in the first 10 minutes against Portland?!”

“Colaprico got her hair pulled?!”

“Blow the lead by 2 goals in the last 2 minutes against Seattle?!”

“What is defense?!”

“KANSAS CITY?!”

I get it. But so does Christen Press. The season is winding down and this is the time where you want to build on your games down the stretch. No one knows that better than the Red Stars captain, and she spoke briefly about the disappointing stretch of games and the importance of having a playoff mentality into the playoffs and potentially beyond:

“That was really disappointing, obviously. We’ve dropped three games at home. I think that as a team, emotionally, we’ve been through a lot trying to pick ourselves back up and understand what’s going on.  It just keeps seeming to slip through the cracks and that’s disappointing. But as an athlete and a soccer player you kind of just have to grind through these hard times and it’s so important to just stay present and not think about the past and not think about the fact that it’s three games or if we’re down, and just keep doing what we’re doing because we have a great team. I think that we have a really good chance at winning the championship. It’s hard to see in moments like this but I think we’ll continue to believe in ourselves and will our way there.”

This season the Red Stars have put together an impressive run of undefeated games at home in Toyota Park. While many thought a 3-match homestead would go in favor of Chicago, the Red Stars find themselves having to try to pick their game up on the road against Washington Spirit. With one regular season home game left, Press understands the importance of a home field advantage and its significance to fans. When asked about what the team could do to get back on track she says:

“Just a little more pride in playing here. We only have one game left so we’re going to have to take a lot of pride in winning away as well. I think the fans have been fantastic. They always have our back through thick and thin. So, thanks to them. And we promise we’re going to defend our house to the best of our abilities, and [through] every game.”

Julie Ertz echoed similar sentiments when she expressed the importance of playing for points and for pride down the stretch, saying:

“To drop 9 points at home, it’s where we need to take more pride in home games. We only have one more home game, so it’s super frustrating, but I think it’s really one thing [finishing] we need to focus on fixing.”

 

Why You Shouldn’t Be Freaking Out

It’s going to be hard to feel any kind of Jedi Force type of Zen after these three games. But here is some perspective.

No matter what happened over the course of the last three games, Chicago is still in third place. Even if they stay in a close race with Orlando for the third and fourth seed, they hold a tie-breaker over Orlando in their head-to-head series this season with two wins over the Pride. 3 points currently separate the 3rd, 4th, 5th, and 6th seeds, where Seattle (5th) and Sky Blue (6th) currently sit. Chicago holds series head-to-head tie-breakers over both Orlando and Sky Blue.

There are worse situations to be in, like not being in contention at all. Don’t get it twisted, down the stretch Chicago can either be its own worst enemy, or its best homegirl. Truth is, their fate is entirely in their hands.

Julie Ertz expressed as much discussing the importance of the final five games of the season saying: “We’re not far off, we’re still in our playoff hunt, which is excellent. But you know what? It kind of comes down to us. These are big games to lose.” Ertz also knows the team is capable of pushing through, simply saying: “At this point, it’s kind of do or die … At the end of the day we need a win, and we need three points. So that’s got to be our main focus.”

Christen Press elaborated on the importance of not losing focus on the ultimate goal at hand, bringing a championship back to Chicago. Press is preaching the importance of entering their potential playoff destiny with a winning mindset, period. When asked about the narrative of playoff seeding versus just getting into the semi-finals, she says:

“I don’t think either. So, in past years I’ve felt like our team around this time starts worrying about getting into the playoffs. And at this point my concern as a leader on the team is more just about the feeling going into the playoffs. We have five games left and if we play five great games then that will be a great way to go into a semifinal. So, it’s not really about taking points, we obviously need the points, but for me, it’s about preparing ourselves for that semifinal. Because if we can’t get a cushion enough to prepare for a semifinal, and we fail again? That’s not something i think this team is interested in. So, it’s no longer about the glory of getting to the playoffs. It’s about winning.”

Despite the losses, this season Chicago has been a team that can still surprise you, even with five games left. Press believes the team can lock in, and get back to the mission at hand, saying:

“We have five games now. We’re going to learn our lessons from the last three games. We’re going to have to go [away] and we’re going to have to win games on the road, which is exactly what we’re going to have to do if we go to a final. I think we’re going to have to emotionally, physically, mentally – everything – to turn this around so that the last five games we go into October feeling like we can win.”

 

The Rock(y) of the Team: Raquel Rodriguez is Making her Mark

Posted on by RJ Allen

There are few players in the NWSL today who you can say truly transform a team’s play when they step onto the pitch. But Sky Blue’s Raquel Rodriguez is definitely one of those players. Every time she steps out onto the field, Sky Blue’s play becomes more dynamic and more focused. 

We saw just how much her presence can affect the tone of a game at Saturday’s match-up between Sky Blue and the Chicago Red Stars. When she checked into the game in the 56th minute, the midfield’s play started to shift in Sky Blue’s favor. And you wouldn’t be hard-pressed to link her play in the midfield to Sam Kerr’s extraordinary feats of late-game scoring, as Rodriguez’s movement on the ball helps to create space for Kerr and the other forwards to do their thing.

In her rookie season, she was awarded Rookie of the Year, and became the first non-American to bear the title.  And now, in just her second season as a pro, Rodriguez has made the center of the midfield her dominion to rule over.

With a large share of the pressure to control the midfield on Rodriguez’s shoulders, she approaches it game-by-game. But aAs I watch her week in and week out I can’t help but get flashbacks to when a young Lauren Holiday moved to center midfield. Rodriguez has the same spark that Holiday displayed, the same sense of being the spine of the team, the same drive to grow and learn as a player. They both can take a team on their back and deliver out of this world results. It’s just a matter of time before we see Rodriguez playing at the level of Lauren Holiday in her prime.

Backline Soccer: Your rookie season was about as good as could be, you won Rookie of the Year. A lot of players seem to have sophomore slumps, but you seem to have avoided that so far. You’ve had a couple late goals. You’ve played well. Is that something you’re sort of taking game-by-game? Or are you saying, you know, I want to have that type of season every year. I don’t want a slump. Is that in your head or is it just game-by-game? 

Rodriguez: I think during the season I take it game by game. My first off-season was this past one, and I think one thing that I learned from the rookie season where I came in knowing nothing more than what I heard, to come in the second season, I think the off-season was really key to feeling prepared for this game. But during the season I take it game-by-game. I always want to get better season after season. But that also means that every day I take care of the little things and then that will take care of the big picture. So I take it game by day. 

Learning from the game and fellow teammates is something that any good player should do. As much as Orlando or Houston considered to be packed with international players, Sky Blue, too, has their share of national team-quality players from all around the world. Players from Sky Blue have caps with Canada, Australia, England, American and Costa Rica. 

Backline Soccer: You have a lot of internationals on the team this year, but they tend to go unnoticed because they’re not from teams like Germany or France. Is that sort of nice that you can learn from these different styles, you don’t have to necessarily play the American style, you have other things to learn from? 

Rodriguez: 100%. I think I’m a person who tries to learn wherever I go with whatever experience I live. But, I mean, you’re totally right. Whether it’s Americans, Canadians, Australians, English, I learn every day from world class players. And I think that’s also the standard from this team, and we push each other and we learn from each other. So 100%. It’s a blessing to be in this team. 

But it isn’t just Sky Blue that Rodriguez puts on a uniform for. The Costa Rican international has been playing for her country’s senior team since 2010. With over 30 goals tallied for her country, she is an up-and-coming superstar at the international level. In fact, Rodriguez scored Costa Rica’s first ever Women’s World Cup goal in their tournament debut back in 2015. 

Backline Soccer: Costa Rica went to the 2015 Women’s World Cup, you scored the first Costa Rican goal in the World Cup. Do you have your sights on 2019? Are you in “we’re going to go to the World Cup again” mode?

Rodriguez: 100%. I think when I think about that, I really want it really bad. You know I want to–we all want to come back to the World Cup in 2019. That’s the goal, of course. I think qualifiers are next year, 2018, so that’s something that is in the back of my head, being a Costa Rican national player. It’s the dream, it’s a dream that I carry in my heart, and I know that my teammates do as well. So anything that I learn here in the international level, here in the NWSL, it’s to bring back to Costa Rica. 

And on the topic of captains? Rodriguez considers herself blessed.

Backline Soccer: I spoke to Kailen Sheridan a little bit last week. She has Christine Sinclair and Christie Pearce as her country and club captain, respectively. You have Shirley Cruz and Christie Pearce. Shirley Cruz is sort of a big figure in Costa Rican soccer in general, and internationally as well. Is it nice to have two captains of that sort of experience level, and you can sort of learn from those two captain styles? 

Rodriguez: For sure. I think, again I try to learn always, but you know it is an honor and a blessing. Like you mentioned, the two of them. It truly is an honor because they are legends. I say it’s a blessing because you know them as the people they are–not only as the soccer players they are, and the public figures they are. And when you get to know them personally then it just adds that little more you know, it’s a blessing and an honor, truly. 

There are players that you can watch just because the way they play the game, who they are in the game, is pure joy to witness. Raquel Rodriguez is one of those players. When she is good she lights up to pitch in a way so few can. And she’s always pretty damn good.

As far as France in 2019? I fully expect to watch Costa Rica take the field for their second Women’s World Cup appearance and to see Rodriguez there with them.

Sam Kerr, Australian for Baller

Posted on by RJ Allen

Sam Kerr is going to win FIFA Female Player of the Year one day.

All I have to do to know that is watch the first half of this NWSL season to know it all the way down to my bones.The way Kerr reads the game, the way she finds space where there should be none, her heart-stopp ing shots, all of it combines for a near total package for an attacking player. And her backflip isn’t bad either.

Two days before Sam Kerr scored a hat trick in a little over 12 minutes to lead Sky Blue FC to an unlikely comeback over FC Kansas City, I was able to catch up with her at the practice field. 

Sidenote: Anytime you get a chance to watch Sam Kerr take shots on goal, take it. In a game or just in practice she has a bit of magic that can’t be denied. 

Backline Soccer (BS): First off, I have to ask, is the reason you’re having such a good year because you have Brooklyn (Kerr and her housemates have been fostering a dog during this season)?

Sam Kerr: I mean I guess you could say if I’m having fun off the field I’m playing well on the field so I’m sure she’s a part of it. Laughs

BS: You’ve had an interesting season this year. Two Player of the Month awards. Off to a little bit of a slow start and then you caught fire. Did you just need to get warmed up, and then once you were comfortable you were off to the races?

Kerr: Yeah, I think this is my first year really being in the league from the start. Other than the first two, so. I’ve been injured the last two. So it plays on your mind a little bit. But I think, yeah, it’s hard to come into a team and do well straight away and I think as a team we’ve gotten better as the season’s gone on. So I think you could say that, but yeah I just felt more comfortable with the girls and I think as a team we’ve started playing better. 

BS: You guys seem to be the underdog of the league no matter how well you do. There seems to be this underdog mentality–does that help a little bit, like you don’t have that target straight on your back? You just sort of get to have fun? 

Kerr: Yeah! I personally like being the underdog. It’s fun, I like being a dark horse. I feel like being from Australia we’ve always kind of been the dark horse. So yeah we love that. We love just having fun and playing our style of football and not having all the pressures other big clubs might have on them. I think this year we’ve beaten most of the big clubs so that says a lot about our team. 

BS: One event coming up is the Tournament of Nations. I think we can safely assume you’ll be going against one of your teammates. Is that something that’s you enjoy–wildly different styles in the tournament, American style, Australian, Brazilian and Japanese. It’s not the World Cup, it’s not the Olympics. Can you have a lot more fun with it? 

Kerr: Yeah, well firstly, obviously, I hope I’m there. Gotta get selected. So, fingers crossed. But, yeah, it’s obviously always fun to play the US. We’ve never beaten them so it’s a massive challenge for us and it’s always nice to play the top nation in the world. We have a really big rivalry with Japan AND Brazil, so I love playing the Japanese, I think they’re a really fast team. And the Brazilians, obviously we’ve had a bit of history with them in the last few years so it will be nice to hopefully get one up on them. 

BS: You play with a lot of these players in the league. You play with a couple on Sky Blue and you play against several. Is that nice to get more familiarity with those players in the league before you go into a tournament like this? Assuming of course, that you are on the roster? 

Kerr: Yeah, I think you kinda know their tendencies and know what they’re like and know how they play. But it goes the same with us; there’s a lot of Australians in the league so, yeah I guess it’s good to see more of national team players and being familiar with what they do and I think when you watch all the Brazilians play, whether they’re playing for Orlando or Houston, they all have the same tendencies. They’re a skillful bunch, and you know they like that crafty play. And then the US players obviously, they’re that fit, fast, and go team. The Japanese are obviously very different. They’re pass, pass, pass and everyone wishes they could do that as well as the Japanese. Yeah, I think us Australians have our own style of play. We’re fast, we’re fit, and we’re really exciting. We’re really fast and attacking-minded team, as well as a really strong defensive team. 

BS: Is it fun to play against your Australian teammates? Lydia Williams is a goalkeeper for Houston–you’re a forward. How is it to have to go up against her directly, to have to do your job?

Kerr: Yeah, it’s fun. But, I think all of us would say we’d rather be on the same team. But you know, that’s life. The girls in Orlando have three Australians there. So they’re quite lucky–well, two now. But, yeah. I love playing against them because we get to have a laugh and catch up with them, but I’d rather be on the Australian team. 

BS: Are you trying to recruit a couple of Australians to come here? 

Kerr: I mean, ask Christy (Head Coach Christy Holly) if he would take some. But yeah, there’s so many that could play over here but we’d obviously like to get Caitlin Foord back and have her here. But people move on and people want to do new things. It’s awesome that we have 6 or 7 in the league, but you never know. 

BS: The W-League has been having a lot of success in the last decade. Coming up next season will be 10 years. That’s something that’s interesting, having that home league to go back to, and sort of having those seasons match up. Is it something you think would be important and a good step to have allocated Australian players to the NWSL because of how the seasons match so perfectly? 

Kerr: Yeah, I think it sounds good. But it takes away, you know, the Australian player being able to play overseas in Europe if that’s their choice. So it really does sound good, but the USA is not our home, so obviously we prefer to play in our own league during the summer which we could do. But if people want to go to Europe, that’s their choice. But I think if the players have their choice to their allocation as in if they wanted to be allocated; it wasn’t, you know, they had to play here because I know there are a lot of girls that are in Europe. There’s six or seven there, too. So, it sounds good but when you think about it, it takes away the girl’s choice of playing wherever they want overseas. 

BS: Coming up on the end of this season, are you excited? Are you ready to make that push? Are you ready to three-peat as Player of the Month? 

Kerr: Yeah, I mean it’s obviously nice to get recognized for those things but mostly I just want to push for a first spot. We’re sitting fourth with two games in front of everyone and that’s not good enough for me. So if we had Team of the Week every week and we won, I’d be happy. It’s obviously nice, but I want to be at the top of the table with the rest of these girls. 

BS: There is a little bit of a curse on the Shield winner. The Shield winner has never won the championship in the year they won the shield. Is luck happenstance? Or are you guys gonna be the ones to break the curse? 

Kerr: I mean, I don’t know. I guess that’s football you know. Anyone can win on the day and especially in this league. I think this league’s probably the best in the world with all the teams being equal. I think in the German league and in the French league there’s a lot of differences in the teams. And this league, any team can beat any team on any given day. So I think it’s a good thing for the league. But, look, we’re going for first, and then we’ll deal with that when we get there. But finals and top-spot Shield winners would be awesome. 

BS: There’s a lot made of rivals in the league. They tried to do somewhat forced rivalries last year, scheduling you to play different teams different numbers of times. If you had to pick one team to be Sky Blue’s biggest rival, who would you pick? 

Kerr: I don’t know. I don’t think we really have a rival like you said, we’re the underdog. Everyone kind of thinks they can come here and beat us. I think when we go to places they kind of count it as a win. I think you could say maybe DC, but I don’t feel, but the team I love beating is Portland. Laughs

BS: Doing the flip in Portland was nice.

Kerr: Being there twice and scored a few goals, it’s just the vibe, and it’s a credit to them and their atmosphere. Everyone dreams of playing in an atmosphere like that. It’s nothing against the players or the club or the team or the coach, it’s just the atmosphere. It’s probably like all the little premier league [teams] going to United or City. I just love winning there, I love scoring there. 

BS: I’ll ask you one final question. Favorite defender to go against in the league? You’re playing Becky Sauerbrunn this week. I imagine she’s fun to outwit or get around. 

Kerr: Not fun.

BS: No?

Kerr: You know what? Like, it’s different. Like obviously you’d love to go against a weakened defender or something, but like yeah, I feel like Becky’s probably, for me, one of the best defenders in the world. I respect her a lot. I’ve played against her a lot in the national team, and in the club level and I just think it’s a massive challenge every week I go out and play against her. So, I’m excited for this week and I haven’t played her in a while. Last time I played her I came on as a sub, so I think she’s a great defender so it will be nice to go against her and battle it out even though I do worry about playing against her because she’s very good. 

Kailen Sheridan: Not Your Average Rookie

Posted on by RJ Allen

Fact: Kailen Sheridan doesn’t play like a rookie goalkeeper.

Watching her play, talking to her, if I didn’t already know this was her first season in the league, I never would have guessed it. The Canadian International is just 21 years old and has 14 games under her but yet she is playing with a confidence that belies her years and stands up on the pitch. Her 53 saves are enough to put her in second in this season’s goalkeeper standings in terms of saves, just three behind Seattle’s Haley Kopmeyer.  

As the 23rd pick in the 2017 draft, every team in the league had a shot to take her, but it was Sky Blue that handed her a scarf. Though her success this year might have as much to do with her talent as landing with the right team and having the players around her she does, she came in with considerable experience under her belt. Still, being chosen by Sky Blue offers her the chance to grow, to work with the greatest defender in this nation’s history Christie Pearce, the sophomore defender (and remarkably composed) Erica Skroski, jack-of-all-trades USWNT veteran Kelley O’Hara, and a pair of backline rookies, Mandy Freeman and Kayla Mills. 

Sheridan is putting herself not only in the conversation for Rookie of the Year but her play each week is flat-out making a case to consider her for Goalkeeper of the Year as well. 

There are few things in the world of soccer that are better than a goalkeeper who can make a little magic happen between the pipes, but one of them is getting to interview someone who’s been making as much magic as Sheridan.

Backline Soccer (BS): So, Canadian goalkeepers. Best goalkeeping crew in the world, I’ve been saying this for about eight weeks straight on our podcast (The Scouting Report), so I figured if I’m here, I have to bring it up. Is it something in the water up there? You guys just born with tattoos and goalkeeping superpowers in the great white north now? 

Kailen Sheridan: Yeah, obviously. [Laughs] No, I mean we definitely have some good programs. We’re all from different areas. I think we’re kind of a good group because there’s an ability to push each other, but we’re also really good friends. Like they’re somebody that I hang out with. Steph was just down in Jersey the other day and I went and saw her. We hung out at the beach. It’s a level of confidence but it’s also like a level of friendship that you can know that you’re gunning for each other’s spot but at the same time, I’m gonna go and hang out with you later. 

BS: That seems to be something that not every country has had historically. 

Sheridan: No. 

BS: Goalkeepers especially tend to–

Sheridan: It’s a competitive position. There’s only one of us that can ever play. You don’t get subbed very often, and you kind of own that spot once you get it. So, it’s more of, let’s hold onto it or you’ve gotta work to earn it. 

BS: How would you feel your rookie season’s going? You know, you’re halfway through it, feel good?

Sheridan: Yeah, it’s been great. I really enjoy being at Sky Blue. I’m really happy and lucky to have been chosen to come here and earn the spot that I have. And I think that it’s been a good start and I think we have a lot more to go. And there’s definitely a lot of ground that we have to make up. We’ve made a lot of mistakes, but at the same time, they’re mistakes that we all know that we can fix. So I think that the beginning’s been great but I’m looking more forward to the end of the season. 

BS: There was a rumor, that I’m sure you will confirm, that you yelled at Christie Pearce to do what a centerback should do during a game, and people were very amused about that. Is that something that, as a rookie, you’re becoming more confident, you’re directing more?

Sheridan: Definitely. Christie is such an amazing person though, that she kind of calls it upon us to call her out on those things. She’s definitely going to be there for us and call us all out because that’s her job. She has the experience and the mindset to be able to do that, but if we can call her out and make her the better player, then she’s the first person to be like “thanks for calling me out, I appreciate that,” you know? She’s a very humble person, and that’s somebody that’s just the best kind of person to work with. I’m lucky she’s allowing me to help her as she’s helping me. 

BS: Your national team coach has said some things about you guys being number 1 one day. Is that something that you really do think about, that one day you want to sort of knock– I mean you’d have to get through France, and Germany, and the US, which is doable with how the US has been lately–is that something that you think about? Or is it just sort of play the game and the points will be what the points are?

Sheridan: No, definitely that’s something we’re all working towards. I think as a national team, that each of us has that in our mind at all times, that number 1 is where we’re going. Number 1 is where we want to be, and anything below that is not good enough. So as we’re all in our home environments here, it’s always something that’s in the back of our mind. That’s what we’re training for ultimately. You know, NWSL is really important but at the same time, once this is over, we go right into camp and we start gunning for that number 1 spot again. 

BS: Is that something that’s nice? You’re not in your home country, but if they do have a camp you’re not traveling to France or Germany or wherever? 

Sheridan: Yeah, it’s definitely helpful. It definitely helps with the travel period because sometimes we do have to go to Europe so that’s hard. But it does allow us an availability to do national staff as well, being able to contact them so easily, and go home when we want to go home, and being able to get into camp when it’s time to go. 

BS: One final question. You have Christine Sinclair as your country captain and Christie Pearce as your club. Did you win the lotto? 

Sheridan: I definitely did there. I got two amazing role models. Very different personalities, very different people, and very different strengths. I think that I’m lucky because I get the difference in the two of them and I have both of them as outlets. I learn a lot from each of them. I mean Christie day-to-day, and Sinc every time I go into camp. And you know she’s still there every time I play Portland, she’s got something to say to me. So that’s always fun. But I did hit the lottery in a way. 

No Regrets: How Mexican International Katie Johnson is Impacting the NWSL

Posted on by RJ Allen

After a Week 8 match-up against the Chicago Red Stars and earning her first start, Katie Johnson spoke with Backline Soccer about NWSL draft day, rookie life, and making an impact in the league as a Mexican International and Mexican-American player.

During the second round of the annual NWSL draft, after a draft day trade with the Chicago Red Stars, the Seattle Reign held the sixth pick, 16th overall. Katlyn Alicia Johnson Carreon had yet to be drafted, and three of her former USC teammates had gone in the first round. It’s not an easy day, waiting and hoping to hear your name called, but when Seattle drafted Johnson, she immediately made an impact on draft day.

“Ay Dios Mio”

Three simple words translate to “Oh My God.” It was small, but something that connects to some Latino/Latino-American fans who grew up hearing the phrase in our households or from our families. I mostly heard it from my mom or grandma when I was being mischievous and doing ridiculous kid things. Which, was often. But on draft day, for Katie, it seemed to represent a sense of excitement in achieving one’s goals. In that sense, no matter your background, “Ay dios mio” is entirely and immediately relatable.

Reign Rookie

Johnson declared for the draft and had been hoping to stay on the west coast and be selected by the Reign. After finding success at USC, she bet on herself and took a chance and made it known that she was looking for a future in the NWSL.

“I think I came off a pretty good season in college, and I think I made a good name for myself especially throughout the college finals, and scoring three goals. So, I was just confident going in, and thought that I could get drafted and picked in the NWSL draft. So, I took my chances, and Laura [Harvey] believed that I could be a good fit for this [Seattle] team. And I think I’ve done a good job of fitting into the team.”

Making the decision to go pro isn’t an easy one. An athlete’s options might open up with a successful collegiate career. Their options may expand even further if they’ve had international experience. For Johnson, her resume contains both of those very important bullet points. Having spent time with the senior women’s Mexican national team during Olympic qualifying and having a break-out senior season at USC that ended in a national title, Johnson could’ve played soccer overseas. She admits that could always be an option, but is fully committed to Seattle.

“Out of all the teams, the Reign were my number one pick. I’m really happy because my style of play fits in with the was that she [Harvey] likes to play. So, I was pretty happy with that. I was looking overseas before, just with how the [college] season went, just to see if it was an option, it is an option in the future. Right now, I’m just really happy playing in Seattle and I like how it’s going so far.”

A recent injury to Beverly Yanez saw Johnson get her first start against Chicago during Week 8. In earlier weeks, Seattle head coach Laura Harvey had done well to get Johnson quality minutes within games even before giving Johnson her first start. It’s difficult for some rookies to get time on the pitch in their first season, but Johnson is holding her own and has already scored two goals. She admits there is some adjustments from playing on the college level to going pro.

“The speed is a lot faster in the game [than in college]. There’s really not much room for mistakes. There’s less chances for goal but I have to be more on top of just finishing and holding the ball. I don’t think I did nearly as well today [against Chicago], but in past games I think I’ve done pretty well at that.”

Representing More than Soccer

While adjusting to playing in the NWSL, Johnson shared with me that fighting for a spot in Seattle’s starting XI has always been the goal since she got drafted. Her perspective of the NWSL is refreshing, as she emphasizes and expresses her want to be successful in this league. Her desire to have an active role in Seattle took front and center even in the face of the current FIFA break in the NWSL schedule.  

This June, several NWSL players reported for national team duty and participated in international team friendlies. That included a match between Mexico and Venezuela. I mention some disappointment in not seeing her name on the roster, but Johnson tells me that Mexico’s head coach Robert Medina approached her for a call up to national team camps.  Along with not trying to put extra strain on her body, she is actively choosing to improve her game through the NWSL.

“I was actually asked to be on the team, but I just decided that I wanted to stay here [in Seattle] and try to start. Obviously, I got my first one today [against Chicago]. And I’m trying to keep starting and stay with the team and just be focused on that. I also didn’t want to risk injury, it was kind of a late game [June Friendly] so I’m just trying to play it smart and get this season done.”

She emphasizes that she wants to improve on her game in order to be a better player in general as well as internationally with Mexico.

“When it comes to Mexico I’ll be ready to go for qualifiers or for wherever they need me to be. Just trying to play it smart, this time. I didn’t want to go too hard or too much on that, because I know we do double days when we’re out there [training camps] so it’d be a lot of soccer and I’m just trying to pick and choose for right now to be smarter about those things.”

Johnson says that there is open communication between the Mexican players and current head coach Medina, that sometimes scheduling comes into play when players make decisions regarding camps and friendlies. It’s part of how she was able to compete in Olympic qualifying for Mexico back when Leo Cuellar was coaching. She elaborates saying:

“It was a little last minute the [training] camp, which is another reason why I made the decision to stay with this team [Reign]. You have to think about that, ‘well do I want to go out of my way right now? How will this affect me physically?’ There are some who do have the opportunity to play right now, like with our players who play in Spain [La Liga] right now, their season just ended. So, they’re able to come over here and it’s a bit more convenient for them. Or how back in February [Olympic Qualifiers] when I wasn’t playing [in college] to be able to compete. So sometimes it’s also a clash of schedules as well.”

Johnson and I spoke about the decline in Mexican subsidized players in the NWSL over the years, the few Mexican-American players currently in the league, and how there is sometimes a perception of constantly “having to choose a side.” I ask her if she ever sees herself embracing the role of being a role model. She openly embraces the possibility saying:

“Absolutely. That’s definitely a segway I’d like to go into. I really hope I can be that for people. And hopefully encourage other girls who are Mexican-American, who are young, to say hey I can maybe go a different route. I know Monica Flores has gone through something similar with her sister, so it is having to choose sometimes, but I’m just really happy I made the decision.”

Recently, Seattle Reign were one of the NWSL teams featured on Lifetime’s game of the week against the Houston Dash. Johnson came on as a sub for an injured Bev Yanez, the rookie’s play had earned praise under the Houston heat and even raised questions during the broadcast. Coach Harvey was quoted through commentary that the U.S. would come to “rue Johnson’s decision” on playing for Mexico. When I mention some additional TV commentary suggesting if Johnson had any “regrets” in committing to representing Mexico now that she was getting recognition, I ask Johnson if she wants to set the record straight.

She doesn’t hesitate.

“No. I am so happy I made that decision.”

She elaborates on the good experiences she has with her teammates saying:

“When I go to camps, I don’t really speak Spanish very well, so it’s kind of hard sometimes, but my teammates have always been really nice to me. When I do try, they obviously joke with me about it. It’s always fun though because they’re all so nice to me.”

Johnson expresses that if there is any regret, it’s that she didn’t make the decision sooner to commit to playing for Mexico. After an ACL injury and some guidance from her parents, she began her journey to representing La Selección Tri Femenil.

“I was really happy with it [playing for Mexico]. I feel like I didn’t make it sooner than most players who make those decisions. But I made the choice over these last two years, it was after I tore my ACL. I sat down with my parents, and I talked to my mom about it, and she asked me ‘do you want to do this? We can do this, we can help you with all your paperwork if you want to [play for Mexico]’ So I just kind of made the decision from there and said, ‘Let’s do it!’ so I just kind of went for it, and I am really happy. I’m so proud of being Mexican too.”

The NWSL is five years young, and yet it’s come a long way from having 16 Mexican international subsidized players to zero. Although not currently listed as an allocated player, time will tell the kind of impact a player like Katie Johnson will have on the NWSL. For now, she is doing a good job growing her game within two countries she is proud to claim. 

Chicago Red Stars Head Coach Rory Dames is Here to Remind You He’s Chicago AF

Posted on by RJ Allen

It’s Week 3. And yeah, it’s a bit early in the season. But unless you’re the NC Courage, many teams are still busy building fitness, establishing chemistry, and finding their offensive rhythm. But if there’s one thing other than the sporadic goals to remind us that NWSL is back for season five, the early frustrating officiating is here to help you out.

To refresh your memory, last season in May, several coaches had issue with officiating during a weekend of games. In a rivalry match up that featured Portland and Seattle, things naturally got physical. However, when the contact between rival players increased to the point of potential injury, and Reign FC coach Laura Harvey let her feelings be known in the post-game. Quoted from Sounder At Heart, Harvey knew she would be fined for part the following statement:

“I thought the ref lost control of the game. I think everyone should look at Bev Goebel’s face. I’m not saying anybody went out to hurt anybody. But the reality is that when the referee doesn’t get a hold on the game, like he didn’t, someone was going to get hurt.”

During the same post game, Portland Thorns head coach Mark Parson shared similar sentiments, stating “It sounds like Laura might be getting fined, so I’ll try to take the calm approach.” Parsons further cemented his agreement in making a simple “No comment,” when he was asked his thoughts on the officiating. In the same 2016 weekend, NC Courage [then WNY Flash] Head Coach Paul Riley also expressed frustrations with the officiating.

It truly was a season to remember, but what some recall most are the articles, podcasts, and general conversations about PRO officiating. And this year, the season with the brand new shiny A+E Network Lifetime TV deal, fans got their first dose of Chicago Red Stars head coach Rory Dames joining the officiating critique party. On Saturday,  when the Red Stars faced the Thorns in Lifetime’s featured game of the week, this was Dames’ post-game reaction.

I reached out to Coach Dames for some post-game comments. When I asked him his thoughts on the collision between his star striker Christen Press and Portland’s Goal Keeper Adriana France, Dames shoots it straight from the hip,

“It’s a stone-cold penalty kick, and arguably, a Red Card. Casey plays the ball in, Christen takes the ball high, the goalie goes low, takes her feet and wraps her up. She’s [Franch] the last defender who prevents her from scoring. So, no question, it’s a penalty kick and arguably a red card.”

As the visiting team, in an early season game that could’ve been perceived as a future potential playoff game, collecting a first goal can often be crucial. Chicago is no stranger from having to play from behind, but while trying to grind out a result, one can’t help but wonder if momentum is killed or changed. Dames admits there can be both, while reminding me of one penalty vs no penalty.

“I don’t think it [missed calls] kills the momentum. I think that when he [official] turns around and calls a penalty kick on a ball that’s blasted from a yard away onto Christen’s arm, a ball that Sonnet’s actually kicking away from our goal, it probably would’ve traveled 40 yards towards the half line, and that’s when you decide to take the penalty kick? I mean obviously, it changes momentum in that scoring the first goal in that game was always going to be important. So, either be brave enough to call them on both sides, or don’t call them on either side.”

Both teams faced each other in preseason back in March. The result of that game also came from a penalty kick. However, playing for assessment and playing for a result are two very different things. Dames even took time to elaborate on the positives for a longer preseason,  saying that he thinks “a longer preseason and a longer regular season would be good for the league. But I don’t think what went on in our preseason has any impact on where we’re at in the table right now. But I think everyone would want to have a longer season and preseason if we could.”

Chicago’s head coach since 2011, Dames has been with the team since it was competing in the WPSL. He has been praised for his ability to draft well and help develop players. Coaches are often responsible to help establish the tone and culture of their teams. Since the NWSL began in 2013, Dames has been a key component of making that happen for his teams throughout the seasons. While many famous coaches in other sports have been tied to Chicago through their large personalities or their championships, Dames’ style and approach is tied to the players he coaches. While his hard-nosed techniques might not sit well will some, his coaching philosophies resonate with his players.

Although Dames currently doesn’t have an NWSL championship on his resume, no one doubts his experience, or his honesty. As to whether he expects a fine after his comments this weekend, Dames just said that if one comes his way, he’ll happily take it.

Now that’s a Chicago-style attitude for sure.