In Memory of Our Fallen

Posted on by RJ Allen

 

Today is Memorial Day in the United States. A day set aside to remember the fallen soldiers–men and women, mothers and fathers, brothers and sisters, spouses, friends, mentors–who have met their end while protecting our nation. And across the NWSL, teams and players took a moment to give their thanks.

https://twitter.com/chicagoredstars/status/869204184859631617

https://twitter.com/aarlitt/status/869208007669886977

At Backline Soccer, we bow our heads in thanks to the men and women who have served, who are serving, and who will serve, and in honor of all our fallen citizens.

We remember you.

Breaking News: Houston Dash and Randy Waldrum Part Ways

Posted on by RJ Allen

The Houston Dash has announced that it has parted ways with head coach Randy Waldrum.  Waldrum, who had been the head coach of the Dash since the team joined the NWSL in 2014, sported a 19-39-13 overall record over 71 games in just over three seasons.

Dash president Chris Canetti had this to say about the decision to part ways with Waldrum:

“Randy is an excellent coach and a great man. He has been fully committed to the Dash and the pursuit of our goals over the last three and a half years. Unfortunately, we have fallen short on expectations, and after a tough start this season, we both agreed today that it’s in the best interest of the team to have a new voice leading the group. We believe this team has the talent to be a playoff contender, and we hope this change can help point it in the right direction.”

Waldrum had this comment:

“I spoke with Chris today and we decided that it’s in the best interest of the players and the team to go in a different direction. This is a tough decision to make, but we all want the team to do well. This group has the talent to fight for a playoff spot and there are a lot of games left to reach that goal. I want to thank the organization, the players and the fans for a very memorable tenure here in Houston.”

Waldrum has been offered a technical advisory role with the team. The details of this role have not been released at this time nor if Waldrum will be taking the post. 

Dash assistant coach Omar Morales will manage the team on June 3 against the Washington Spirit.

The club will be evaluating possible options regarding the head coaching position in the coming days.

 

Off the Bench with Backline Soccer: 2017, Week 7

Posted on by RJ Allen

Welcome to Week 7 of Off the Bench!

Backline Soccer Recap:

Quick Fire Week 7 Game Previews:

Week 7 of the NWSL is upon us. We were graced Wednesday with a midweek matchup but we will still see five total games as well, all on Saturday, May 27th. Let’s dive in.

Game 1: North Carolina Courage 2 vs. Sky Blue 0

North Carolina Courage record: 5-2-0
Position: 1st
Total Points: 15

Sky Blue FC record: 3-3-1
Position: 3rd
Total Points: 10

A midweek game saw a showdown between the first place Courage and (before the game) second place Sky Blue. Sky Blue ended up resting some players in preparation for their match this weekend against the Pride. Both teams saw some great opportunities, but in the end, it was a huge shot from Lynn Williams and a goal from Sam Mewis that saw the Courage keep possession of first place. Kailen Sheridan, however, had herself one heck of a game in goal for Sky Blue, and without some of her stellar saves, North Carolina may have very well had more than two goals.

 

Game 2: Houston Dash vs. Seattle Reign

Houston Dash record: 2-4-0
Position: 9th
Total Points: 6

Seattle Reign record: 2-1-3
Position: 4th
Total Points: 9

The Dash are coming off quite an abysmal showing last week and will be looking to start connecting their pieces more. They just really seem to lack cohesion and a well thought out plan, as well as a way to implement it on the field. Many are speculating whether this has to do with coaching techniques or individual players. I believe it is mainly due to coaching techniques. The Dash will need to figure out their defensive woes very quickly as they will be facing a strong attack from the Reign. Lydia Williams, for the most part, has been holding steady but can only do so much with the current backline. The Dash will need to move away from the hope of Kealia Ohai pulling goals out of thin air if they want to get back to winning ways.

The Reign, while drawing with the Pride last week, will look to continue to get back to their dominant ways and pull out three points. The Reign are coming in with a very in-form Megan Rapinoe as well as a strong offensive presence who will look to make the Dash pay early. The Dash will also need to get past Haley Kopmeyer, who, in her first full starting season after backing up Hope Solo, has been strong and consistent, save for the major Marta error last week. 

 

Game 3: Chicago Red Stars vs. North Carolina Courage

Chicago Red Stars record: 3-2-1
Position: 2nd
Total Points: 10

North Carolina Courage record: 5-2-0
Position: 1st
Total Points: 15

Chicago is coming into this game after playing arguably their best game of the season last week against the Courage. Christen Press is off and running and Chicago will benefit greatly from her as long as she remains consistent. Newly signed Japanese International, Yuki Nagasato will not be in Chicago in time for this match. Alyssa Naeher, after a slower-than-usual start, has been getting more consistent in goal for the Red Stars and will look to work with the backline to stop the strong attack the Courage will be putting forth.

Though coming off a solid win, the Courage are also coming in with a bit of a disadvantage, having played the midweek game on Wednesday. The attack will need to get behind the Red Stars early in order to see success. 

 

Game 4: Sky Blue vs. Orlando Pride

Sky Blue FC record: 3-3-1
Position: 3rd
Total Points: 10

Orlando Pride record: 1-2-3
Position: 8th
Total Points: 6

Sky Blue rested key players on Wednesday but will still be coming in with minimal recovery days against the Pride. Sky Blue will want to see a better end product than they had Wednesday, but with Kailen Sheridan having a stellar game, the Pride will need to find creative ways to get passed her as well as the backline of Sky Blue, who will be back at full force. 

The Pride will be without Captain and starting goalkeeper Ashlyn Harris for approximately eight weeks, after staving off the Reign mostly without her last week. This is a huge loss for the Pride, not only on the field but off as well. With backup keeper Aubrey Bledsoe also out with a concussion, Caroline Stanley was signed as an injury replacement. This is a huge opportunity for her, as she will be the one to likely face her former club. The Pride backline, while getting more consistent over the last few weeks, will need to communicate early and often with Stanley to make sure they are together. The Pride also need much more production from their midfield. Marta has been playing quite selflessly, going where she feels she is needed, but the Pride could benefit more from her playing a bit more selfishly sometimes. Alanna Kennedy is also coming off her best game of the season, so if she remains consistent, she will be a threat for Sky Blue.

 

Game 5: FC Kansas City vs. Washington Spirit

FC Kansas City record: 2-2-2
Position: 6th
Total Points: 8

Washington Spirit record: 1-4-1
Position: 10th
Total Points: 4

FC Kansas City has a strong backline led by Becky Sauerbrunn, but since the loss of Amy Rodriguez to a torn ACL at the start of the season, FCKC has not figured out how to match with Sydney Leroux up top to garner more goals. Leroux still has work to do after missing so many matches after the birth of her son, but FCKC needs to find someone that can help her up top. Nicole Barnhart will be a major barrier, as usual, for the somewhat weaker Spirit attack to get through. 

The Washington Spirit, now with Mal Pugh, will look for revenge this week. Pugh will likely see more minutes but cannot be the sole player the Spirit depend on. Kristie Mewis had a few almost goals last week, which the Spirit will need more of from her. The Spirit are struggling offensively, but recently defensively as well, despite Steph Labbé continuing her great season in goal. FCKC, already struggling offensively, will have a hard time getting through her. 

 

Game 6: Portland Thorns vs. Boston Breakers

Portland Thorns record: 2-1-3
Position: 5th
Total Points: 9

Boston Breakers record: 2-2-2
Position: 7th
Total Points: 8

Last week the Breakers, ahead 2-0 seemed to almost have the game in the bag, but the Thorns fought back hard and ended up equalizing late for the draw. The Breakers will focus this week on making sure – while scoring – they hold defensively to stave off the Thorns and not blow any lead that they may build. The Breakers will look to players such as Angela Salem and Adriana Leon, who are having great seasons thus far, to continue to create opportunities. With Abby Smith in goal for the Breakers, the Thorns will need to find creative ways to get past her to score.

The Thorns will again be without Tobin Heath, Katherine Reynolds, Mana Shim, and Dagny Brynjarsdottir. Heath is a continued loss for the Thorns, and her skill is sorely missed. The Thorns, however, still seem to be hanging around each game and will look dangerous when everyone is fully healthy. Their key this week is to continue to create opportunities and goals. Adrianna Franch is having a good season statistically speaking, but she still needs to work on her distribution and overall decision and play making. The Thorns have not really paid for those weaknesses yet but it is only a matter of time. 

The Scouting Report:

We went live on Monday night with our Week 6 TSR, recapping all of the NWSL games from the weekend. A reminder that you can catch TSR live every Monday night at 8pm EST on our YouTube channel. And make sure to follow the podcast on Twitter @ScoutingPodcast. 

In case you missed this week’s episode, catch up here:

https://www.spreaker.com/user/brewsports/the-scouting-report-season-5-week-6

Come back next week for the next edition of Off the Bench!

Can Orlando Pride Capitalize over Sky Blue FC for First Road Win?

Posted on by RJ Allen

With a quarter of the 2017 season in the books, the Orlando Pride sit 8th on the table, three points out of the playoff picture.

Going into Week 7, Coach Tom Sermanni’s side travel out to New Jersey to take on Sky Blue FC for their first meeting of the season. The timing for this week’s match may favor the Pride since Sky Blue is coming off a midweek loss to the North Carolina Courage on the road. Perhaps looking ahead to Orlando, Coach Christy Holly fielded a less than optimal starting XI Wednesday, and had to chase the match late which ended 2-0 in favor of the Courage.

Orlando have finally started to get in rhythm taking points in its last three matches, and have established a sense of identity missing in their first three. The most serious concern going into the match will surround the Pride netminder, more likely to be Caroline Stanley as regular backup goalkeeper Aubrey Bledsoe recovers from a concussion. A full week of practice to rally the Orlando back line will help as the defense looks to clamp down on league golden boot leader Sarah Killion, national team player Kelley O’Hara, and Australian star Samantha Kerr. Another weapon Orlando will be facing is Costa Rican international Raquel “Rocky” Rodriguez who, along with O’Hara and Killion, make for a stacked midfield.

Former Rutgers Scarlet Knight standout Kristen Edmonds is going to need to regain some of her 2016 form on her collegiate stomping grounds and work her way into the Pride attack; however, she’s been pressed to work on the defensive end alongside Dani Weatherholt while Camila has taken up the attacking midfielder role. Edmonds needs to provide better link play to the Pride offense to keep a quick transition, since her contributions so far haven’t been anything to write home about. She hasn’t been able to provide service from her free kicks which helped her last season.

Tactically, Sermanni may feel it more important to focus on the defensive side while on the road with Stanley in the back, but don’t dismiss Orlando’s attacking mindset with Marta leading the blitz against Canadian Kailen Sheridan and Captain American, herself Christie Pearce and the rest of the back line. The Pride need to take advantage of any fatigue plaguing Sky Blue after their rainy midweek game and travel to and from North Carolina. Orlando has demonstrated it can take it to a strong home side to get a result. Sermanni needs to be prepared to face SBFC’s 4-2-3-1 by changing his 4-3-3 formation to something that works to give better match ups for his side.

Orlando will need to be more physical for Saturday’s match without giving up fouls to the home side in dangerous spots. Orlando will need to take the ball up the flanks, and pressure the young Sky Blue defenders with crosses with multiple attacking players making runs inside the box. The Pride can’t push the ball forward with only a couple of players and hope to maintain possession or lob the ball over the top and be successful unless they can break on a quick counter-attack.

I do believe Stanley and the Orlando defense will have enough to keep the Sky Blue attack in check. This is one of the best opportunities to get the first road win of the season, putting to an end an 11-match road winless streak dating back to last year. One of the Pride’s secondary attacking option will need to make an impact to keep defenses honest, and create some space for Marta or Camila who should be taking the ball into the 18 if the Pride play direct or off a cross from one of the backs getting forward. This test will finally convince doubters that Orlando is a legit team. Orlando will get its first victory over Sky Blue and win 2-1.

The Unused Sub: We Are In This Together

Posted on by RJ Allen

I’ll leave a thorough recap of Wednesday night’s North Carolina Courage/Sky Blue FC match to the professionals here on this site, but goalkeeper Kailen Sheridan probably got her some Player of the Week considerations for her shift. Yes North Carolina won the match 2-0 but that scoreline could have been a rout if it weren’t for Sheridan.

IF I CAN BE SERIOUS FOR A MINUTE

As I write this, it’s been rather quiet in the world of WoSo (though here’s to a speedy & proper recovery to you Ashlyn Harris). We are still reeling from the Manchester Arena tragedy on Monday and finding ways to not necessarily “make sense” of what happened, rather doing something for lack of a better term, just … something. Whether the purpose is to overcome the grief or take their mind off it, we all have our respective ways. For a lot of us, sports is that agent, that vehicle to go to whenever something bad happens. Backline Soccer’s overlord RJ Allen wrote this beautiful piece on finding the beauty in the beautiful game.  Stop and go read her piece if you haven’t already. Don’t worry, I’ll wait.

Writing about the things that make us happy – whether it’s for therapeutic reasons or just for the hell of it – is a timeless practice and certainly writing about the sport we love sure applies. Everyone here on Backline Soccer loves the beautiful game and it’s nice to see their passion poured into the stuff that is on here. From recaps to interviews to episodes of The Scouting Report & The 123rd Minute, the people that make up Backline Soccer are here because they love it. They care about the sport as it is and where it can go, what it can mean to so many other people. The meaning of life is open to so much interpretation and I think that is the best way you can define it; the meaning of life is what you make of it. And what the people of Backline Soccer have declared is this site is a part of their life. We are here to connect with others through the commonality of loving the beautiful game. We are here because we are happy to be here. We are here because well, it helps us with living.

If you visit this site, it’s because you share a love for the game of soccer with us – thank you. Having something to love and enjoy and share it with people, I think is one of the pillars of the human experience and never forget that. Even in the face of tragedy. To suffer is human, yes, but to enjoy matters more.

FURT IS TWO GAMES BEING BACK TO BACK

  • Seattle Reign FC OVER Houston Dash
  • North Carolina Courage OVER Chicago Red Stars
  • Sky Blue FC and Orlando Pride play to a DRAW
  • FC Kansas City OVER Washington Spirit
  • Portland Thorns OVER Boston Breakers.

This week’s music video break is dedicated to everyone in Manchester, England. May the city and its people stay strong.

Song: “The Opener” | Artist: The Courteeners

The band’s frontman Liam Fray has said of this song as a love letter to the city he grew up in, Manchester, England.

Jill Ellis Releases Roster for June Friendlies

Posted on by RJ Allen

The 21-players named to the roster will travel to Europe for a June 8th match against Sweden in Gothenburg and a June 11th match against Norway in Sandefjord.

GOALKEEPERS (2): Alyssa Naeher (Chicago Red Stars), Abby Smith (Boston Breakers)

DEFENDERS (7): Abby Dahlkemper (NC Courage), Julie Ertz (Chicago Red Stars), Jaelene Hinkle (NC Courage), Meghan Klingenberg (Portland Thorns FC), Kelley O’Hara (Sky Blue FC), Becky Sauerbrunn (FC Kansas City), Casey Short (Chicago Red Stars)

MIDFIELDERS (7): Morgan Brian (Houston Dash), Lindsey Horan (Portland Thorns FC), Rose Lavelle (Boston Breakers), Carli Lloyd (Houston Dash/Manchester City), Allie Long (Portland Thorns FC), Samantha Mewis (NC Courage), Megan Rapinoe (Seattle Reign FC)

FORWARDS (5): Crystal Dunn (Chelsea FC), Sydney Leroux (FC Kansas City), Alex Morgan (Orlando Pride/Olympique Lyonnais), Christen Press (Chicago Red Stars), Mallory Pugh (Washington Spirit)

A few interesting points to talk about in Ellis’s choices.

The most obvious place to start is the goalkeeper position, where due to Ashlyn Harris’s Week 6 injury, may have undergone a last-minute shakeup. While it’s no surprise that Alyssa Naeher has been called up–she’s been the de facto #1 since Hope Solo’s termination in late 2016, Abby Smith getting her first call-up to the Senior team was a little unexpected. Unless, of course, you’ve been watching her play this season with her club team, where she has 22 saves for the season already, and a 1.0 GAA. Some might have expected to see Houston Dash’s Jane Campbell on the roster, but she’s been playing backup for Lydia Williams so far this season (minus her unfortunate debut against Seattle in Week 2), while Smith has been out on the line every week and keeping her team in the top half of the table.

Jaelene Hinkle  makes her return to the USWNT after several months without being called-up. Hinkle, who was allocated for the 2016 season, did not make the roster for Rio and has struggled with injuries in the meantime. But after winning the 2016 NWSL championship with the WNY Flash, and making the move to North Carolina, she has been looking fit and ready to compete at the highest level again. The question will be: can she bring her excellent club performance to the international pitch, and elevate it further? It’s not often players get second chances at this level, so hopefully Hinkle will be able to make the most of it.

The biggest news on the roster, though, is Sydney Leroux’s long-awaited return to international play. After taking off 2016 to give birth to her first child, Leroux has been working non-stop to return both for club (making her first start with FC Kansas City and netting her first goal for the Blues in their opening weekend game) and country. And no better time than the present. Leroux has always been a wildcard on the attack, and that’s something the US has been lacking since the World Cup. The closest anyone has come to making the kind of commotion on the field that Syd the Kid has been capable of in the past is Houston’s Kealia Ohai, who doesn’t appear on the roster for these games.

For all the discussion that will take place over this roster (who made it, who didn’t, who should have, who shouldn’t have) all-in-all, it’s well-balanced and strong. Full of experience and energy. And I can’t wait to see how they all come together on the field for the US’s first friendlies overseas since before the 2015 World Cup.

The matches will be aired on US television. The June 8th game against Sweden can be seen at 1:30pm ET on ESPN2 and UDN, and the June 11th game against Norway will air at 1:00pm ET on Fox.

As always, Backline Soccer will be here to break down the games in our weekly podcast, so make sure you tune in.

6 Takeaways From NWSL: Week Six

Posted on by RJ Allen

Week 6 of the NWSL season has come and gone. This was probably the most normal week of the NWSL season yet. But just when you started to get comfortable, midweek games are starting to appear. So to prepare you for Week 7, let’s look back at our takeaways from the last round of games.

Sky Blue FC & Portland No Strangers to Earning Penalty Kicks – Luis Hernandez

Alright, it’s no secret around here, I’ve followed the Orlando Pride since the beginning. When you support a new team, there’s always going to be a series of firsts to look forward to which will be a part of team history. Steph Catley recorded the first goal for the team, and she also provided the first assist last year. What’s my point? I’m still waiting for a PRO referee to point to the spot for Orlando, even though the Pride top the Fouls Suffered list.

Ending Week 6, Sky Blue FC and the Portland Thorns both earned a penalty kick which helped them get a positive result. In fact, Sky Blue has had four PKs called in their favor and the Thorns has had three so far. This isn’t an accident because last year both teams led the league in Penalty Kick Attempts, four PKA in 20 games. Remember, it’s Week 6 and Sarah Killion has four penalty kick goals this season alone, while Nadia Nadim has three. I don’t know if both teams can keep that pace up, but how do you explain those numbers? Either the clubs are being coached a specific way, or the soccer gods, or, I don’t know, PRO, but it’s something.

 

Pride Show Grit to Take a Point in Seattle – Luis Hernandez

It wasn’t pretty, and it surely wasn’t the way Coach Tom Sermanni expected his side to leave Memorial Stadium. However, I’m sure he’ll take the road point considering he lost team captain Ashlyn Harris to a hip injury, and had to call on recently signed Caroline Stanley since the normal backup goalkeeper was out with a concussion. It’s doubtful Stanley has been in Orlando the full week, but she took the field like a pro.

The point in Seattle demonstrates how much the second-year team has matured, and the improvements Sermanni has been able to make from one year to the next. Last season, the Pride fell to the Reign when they put up five goals on the less than stellar Orlando defense. At times, the Pride had to do everything it could to absorb the Seattle pressure, but as a team, Orlando was able to withstand it. Last year’s team could easily have given up more goals. There is something to be said for the feeling of seeing growth and improvement from the Pride who could only manage one draw last season.

Shea Groom Will Never Stop Going – Jordan Small

When Shea Groom exited the field after being subbed off this weekend, the first thing she did when she got with the trainer at the bench was to remove the huge piece of protective equipment that was covering her side. Groom has been playing since Week 1 with a broken rib on her left side. Yet somehow, she keeps going. She has not pulled back on a challenge and is still a very important piece to the physical front line of FCKC.

In the post-game press conference, head coach Vlatko Andonovski spoke about how they are trying to be careful with Groom because they don’t want this to turn into a situation where she is out for months. However, he said that she doesn’t want to ever slow down and they are playing on a fine line with her. While she may not be scoring for KC, the fact that she is out there every week is simply incredible.

The Three Back is Struggling in the NWSL – Jordan Small

Six weeks into the season, we have seen many teams attempt a three-back. Many have tried and many have failed at this experiment. The latest example of this was Chicago’s dismantling of the North Carolina Courage backline today. With that, it is hard to believe that any teams will continue to attempt this system. It’s just not working.

We’ve also seen Seattle and Washington try their hands at the tricky backline, but both have now gone back to the traditional four back. This is honestly for the best. It is very difficult to play a three-back week in and week out because of the high quality of strikers in this league. It’s one thing for the national teams to try it, but it’s a whole different ball game in the NWSL.

Rocky Rodriguez is Good at Scoring – Leigh Nieves

Maybe it was Raquel Rodriguez’s pre-game story that aired on Lifetime before Sky Blue’s face off with Houston, but the girl was on fire during their Saturday match. She drew their PK in the 19th minute to give them a 1-0 lead and also scored the game-winner in the 85th minute allowing Sky Blue to leave with three points.

The reigning Rookie of the Year has been in the shadow of Sarah Killion so far this season, since Killion is currently the league’s all-time leading goal scorer, but all signs are pointing to Rodriguez just starting to warm up. 

Beverly Yanez Remains Consistent – Leigh Nieves

Yanez has been a part of the Reign since 2014. She also has scored 15 goals in that time, three of which have been during this season. On a team where that often sings high praises of players like Megan Rapinoe, Jess Fishlock, Naho Kawasumi, and Kim Little (until she returned home to play for Arsenal L.F.C.), Yanez is a player that has often been overlooked. This could be a testament to the strength of some of the Reign’s strikers, but Beverly has been a consistent staple for the team since her arrival and 2017 seems no different. 

Those are our takeaways from Week 6 of the NWSL. So Week 7, whatcha got for us? We want to hear from you on these and any thoughts you may have. Consider leaving us a comment, and we’ll see you with new takeaways next week!

Unsung Hero of the Week: Rapinoe Brings Purple Reign

Posted on by RJ Allen

In this weekly series, I will be highlighting a player from the weekend who was their respective team’s unsung hero, win or lose. A player who does the dirty work, does the little but important things in a game and someone who didn’t exactly fill up the stat sheet but found other ways to contribute.

This week I’ve chosen Seattle Reign FC forward Megan Rapinoe.

Rapinoe has been one of the original Seattle fan-favorites since 2013, when the National Women’s Soccer League began. Making 46 appearances while scoring 22 goals for the Reign, Rapinoe has been a key part of Seattle’s rise to the top of the NWSL over the last five years. But after tearing her ACL with the National Team in December 2015, Rapinoe’s appearances with her club team have been limited, and when she does take the pitch, she’s been a little rusty.

But now, I think we can all say with confidence: Pinoe’s back, baby.

Seattle 1-1 Orlando:

Throughout the first six weeks, Seattle has had a kind of Jekyll and Hyde feel about them, while Orlando’s start has been a little underwhelming, to say the least, until their surprise win over the NC Courage in Week 5.  So no one was particularly surprised as the match started and the Reign started out strong, dominating early possession. The Reign are considered one of the best clubs at home and currently have a 10 match undefeated run at their Memorial Stadium home. Orlando, on the other hand, have yet to earn a win in their last 13 away games.

One of the biggest difference makers for me in this match was the 31-year-old Rapinoe, who was vital in the Reign maintaining possession throughout the match and controlling the pace of the game.

One of the best parts about Rapinoe’s game is her passing ability. An early example of this was in the seventh minute of the game, when Rapinoe checked into space near the midfield, her back to the opposing goal, to receive a pass from Christine Nairn. With one last quick shoulder check on her defender, Rapinoe took a single touch with her right and sent a lovely ball towards Jess Fishlock, who was wide-open and charging into Orlando’s eighteen yard-box territory at the time.

In this instance, the Pride’s defensive back Alanna Kennedy was able to slide over just in time to force a crunching tackle, and both players got tangled up trying to win the ball. But what many people may overlook in watching the ball is how Rapinoe not only knew where Fishlock was running too in that split second, but gave Fishlock a real chance with her placement of the ball.

One reason it’s difficult to defend the Reign is because they are known as a technical team, they love the one-touch passing game and time and time again, they are synchronized moving up into the attack. This season, Seattle are working with a 4-3-3 formation, pushing Rapinoe up top with fellow veterans Bev Yanez and Nahomi Kawasumi.  The attack is supported by a well-connected midfield, composed of Fishlock, Christine Nairn and Rumi Utsugi. But the most important part of the Reign’s dominance on the pitch is that all the players mentioned above–Rapinoe and her teammates in the front and midfield–are interchangeable on the field.  Each one of them could swap positions on the pitch at any point and perform to Laura Harvey’s exacting standards. That’s how they create so many quality chances and in doing do, currently lead the league in Goals (15), Assists (10), Shots on Goal (39) and are second in Shots overall (73).

Rapinoe was busy all game long finding space and getting service to her teammates in critical areas. In fact, the lone goal for Seattle came off service from that special right foot in the 40th minute. After the second consecutive corner found its way back to Rapinoe out wide, she whipped in a tantalizing ball that sent Orlando backup goalkeeper Caroline Stanley out to the six-yard box to only land a weak punch that landed the ball at Rachel Corsie’s feet. Corsie, then, deflected the ball toward Yanez, who scored with a beautiful tap-in.

But remember. It all started with Rapinoe. With Rapinoe not giving up on the right side after a few minutes down in their end, making the decision to continue pressing forward toward goal and pressuring the Pride’s defensive with her service.

The goal–the point, the eventual draw–it all started with Megan Rapinoe.

While Seattle are sitting in fourth place with two wins, one loss, and three draws, they once again have the talent and leadership to make it back to a familiar place–the coveted NWSL Championship game. If Rapinoe can continue to find the back of the net (four goals so far in 2017, second in the league) while also finding opportunities for her teammates, it just may be Reigning in October.

Breaking News: Chicago Red Stars Sign Yuki Nagasato

Posted on by RJ Allen

The Chicago Red Stars have announced the signing of Japanese international Yuki Nagasato.

https://twitter.com/chicagoredstars/status/867425029696479232

Nagasato has appeared 132 times with the Japanese Women’s National Team, where she scored 58 goals and was a three-time World Cup player and two-time Olympian. She was a key member of the 2011 Women’s World Cup team that defeated the U.S. Women’s National Team in a  penalty shoot-out to win the 2011 title.

She has previously played for NTV Beleza of the Nadeshiko League – scoring 88 goals in 133 appearances, FFC Turbine Potsdam of the Bundesliga – earning three straight Bundesliga championships and scoring 18 goals in her final season with the team, Chelsea FC of the FA Women’s Super League – scoring 5 goals in 18 appearances, and Vfl Wolfsburg of the Bundesliga – scoring 4 goals in 9 appearances. She has been with FFC Frankfurt of the Bundesliga since 2015, where she has scored 8 goals in 35 appearances.

The addition of 29-year-old Nagasato is a key addition to the Red Stars offense, which includes U.S. National Team forward Christen Press.

Nagasato is expected to join Chicago on May 31, 2017.

Ashlyn Harris Out 8 Weeks

Posted on by RJ Allen

Orlando shared the unfortunate news that star goalkeeper and captain Ashlyn Harris will be out approximately eight weeks after an injury suffered against the Seattle Reign this past Sunday.  Orlando reports that she’s suffered a quadriceps injury near her hip

Harris went down with a non-contact injury in the 24′, taking a goal kick and then collapsing in pain on the field. Though Harris walked off under her own power, Orlando was forced to make an early substitution, and sent new signing Caroline Stanley out into the box to keep the powerful Reign at bay for the rest of the match. Stanley and the team fought hard to earn a draw and a point despite losing their captain in an unfortunate and somewhat shocking way.

Stanley will stay with the team in the meantime, and it seems that Aubrey Bledsoe, the backup who was ruled out of last week’s match and prompted Stanley’s pickup, may have been replaced as the Pride’s #2 keeper.

As for Harris, this means fans will not see her play with the National Team in their upcoming June friendlies against Sweden and Norway in Europe, and and her status for the recently announced Tournament of Nations to take place on the West Coast later this summer is in jeopardy, leaving Jane Campbell as the likely candidate to fill the #2 GK spot on the UWSNT roster.