Quick Facts: Backline Soccer Staff Edition

Posted on August 4, 2017 by RJ Allen

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Perfect on Paper: 5 Reasons the Portland Thorns Should Be In First Place

Posted on July 31, 2017 by RJ Allen

The Portland Thorns is a team that has every advantage in the world. Their team makeup reads flawlessly. Their individual player résumés appear as though they were plagiarized, they are so good. And their coaching staff is top notch. To put it simply, the pendulum should always be swinging their way. But somehow they are sitting in third place on the table. It’s not a bad place to be in, but it’s not where they should be. No, they should be in hanging out in first.

Here are the five reasons why.

The United Nations of Teams

Take a look at the allocated players on Portland’s roster. It’s more than any other team in the league – six players in total. And that only takes into account the American and Canadian players. They have another five international players on top of that. Their roster features players from six different countries and a whole lot of talent. They are one of the few teams in the NWSL that really had to evaluate, not just how Women’s Euro would affect them, but also the Tournament of Nations. I, for one, am a huge fan of having such an elite assortment of players on the team. It makes watching the game that much more intriguing and diversifies the skill sets of other players. And these players aren’t just okay foreign players. They are some of the best international players currently in the game. So it should be like watching our own miniature Olympics every time they take the field. Yet they aren’t the best team in the league …

Technical Ability

With this international dream team comes immense technical ability. Everyone brings something different to the table, and there aren’t a lot of missing pieces that need to be filled. Looking at the lineup you have Lindsay Horan, who can be lethal on a set play; Amandine Henry who can break down a transition in the midfield like it’s child’s play; and Haley Raso, who finds a way to slip into open space like someone just left the door open for her. Match that with Klingenberg’s service from the wing or Adrianna Franch’s seven clean sheets and what should we have? The best team in the league. But what do we actually have? Third place.

Christine Sinclair

She could have been included in the last reason, but I think she really deserves her own section in this argument. We all know she deserves it. Her country even knows it – It’s why she was recently appointed to the Order of Canada, the country’s highest civilian honor. In her international career, she has scored 168 goals. She is a force. And for every American who has ever watched a match versus Canada, they know that she is one of the greatest threats inside the box. She is that extra boost of power up top, the veteran who holds everyone to her standard, and one of the most lethal strikers in the game. She is also someone who works harder than the team’s third place showing would have you believe.

Club and Country Teammates

There is something to be said about familiarity. The more you see and are around a person, the more you get to know them. The same can be said for soccer. The more you play with a teammate, the more you get to know their style of play and how they move on and off the ball. Sure, international breaks can sometimes interfere with the ease of chemistry when allocated players come back to their club team, but for the star Americans on the Portland Thorns that is not the case. Tobin Heath (who is currently sidelined with a back injury), Lindsay Horan, Meghan Klingenberg, and Allie Long almost never get a break from each other. They go from club to country and back. There should be a cohesiveness with these players that create a major advantage that other teams are not afforded, but it seems at times that they have difficulty capitalizing on this advantage. And yes, Klingenberg shockingly did not make the Tournament of Nations roster, but for the past few years, those four have not seen the pitch without the others on it. And even without Heath currently, their chemistry should still be the stuff of legends, but it doesn’t seem enough to propel them to the top of the table.

Providence Park

Even though it is only the third largest stadium in the NWSL, it is notoriously the hardest to come in and play at. It’s a sellout crowd that relentlessly chants for their team and against the opponents, and flags that will never stop waving. It is smoke bombs after goals. It is the pounding of the crowd in your ears. And it is the extra push that any other team in the league would die for. Being a part of the Portland Thorns doesn’t mean you just go out a play with ten other women on the pitch. It means that you play with a stadium of warriors behind you. Warriors that would do anything to help give you the edge. And they do. It is a major uphill battle to come out with an away win at Providence Park. The atmosphere is something that most other teams have to consider in preparations because they aren’t used to that kind of sound or that kind of rowdiness. Providence Park makes other teams’ matches look like scrimmages in comparison. Because no one is as hyped as the fans in Portland. But shouldn’t that drastic shift in atmosphere lend somewhat of a helping hand to the players on the pitch? Maybe not a push to make Portland better, but definitely a distraction that could cause the opposing team to lose focus. Still, the Thorns are not the best in the league.

Sure, there is a lot more that goes into the Portland Thorns and their record than just these five reasons. They have to work out the kinks like everyone else. And yes, they are on the rise. In fact, they have an excellent chance of finishing the regular season at the top of the table. But they should have been there sooner. They should be looking down at the rest of the teams. They should have been number one by now. They are perfect on paper. They should be in the standings.

Off the Bench with Backline Soccer: 2017, International Break #2

Posted on July 29, 2017 by RJ Allen

Backline Soccer Recap:

The Unknown International: Nahomi Kawasumi – In her weekly series, Allison Carey shines the spotlight this week on Nahomi Kawasumi.
Midway Report: Chicago Red Stars Half Season Review – Sandra Herrera breaks down the Chicago Red Stars season halfway through. She also has some post game comments from Head Coach Rory Dames and Sofia Huerta following the 2-1 win over the Orlando Pride.
Giant Slayer: 5 Reasons the Washington Spirit Can Wreck Your Team – In her debut piece, Lindsay Schwarz gives five solid reasons why the Spirit are a much better team than the NWSL standings show right now.
Celebrate Good Times – Berea Jurgensen takes a look at the seemingly muted celebrations of women in soccer and why it should not be such a rarity.
6 Takeaways from NWSL: Week 14 – Jordan Small, Luis Hernandez, and Elizabeth Wawrzyniak are back with their six takeaways for Week 14. This week, they discuss the more offensive play of Allie Long, weather delays, the craziness of Sky Blue and Seattle Reign plus much more.
Reign-ing Goals in the Emerald City: NWSL Power Rankings, Week 14 Edition – Jenn Hayes breaks down her order for this weeks NWSL power rankings. We see a shift at the top as well as movement throughout the top four.
Route Two Soccer – Sky Blue and Seattle play the craziest game of the year – Charles Olney breaks down all of the action in the 5-4 Seattle Reign win over Sky Blue FC.
The View from the Sidelines: Chicago Red Stars vs Orlando Pride – This week Elizabeth Wawrzyniak traveled to Chicago to take some action shots of the Red Stars and Pride match.
Clash of Titans: The USWNT vs AusWNT – Jacqui Porter breaks down the match between the USWNT and Matilda’s in her preview.
Unsung Hero of the Week: Notable Naughton in Chi Town – Jacqui Porter highlights a certain Chicago Red Stars defender as this week’s unsung hero.
This Isn’t About Soccer Anymore – Elizabeth Wawrzyniak talks about her experience at the Chicago Red Stars and Orlando Pride game in Chicago this week and how she dealt with some very rude fans.
The Unused Sub: From The Peanut Gallery – Jacob Cristobal gives his thoughts live from the USWNT match against Australia Thursday night in Seattle.

The Scouting Report:

We went live on Monday night with our weekly TSR. A reminder that you can catch TSR live every Monday night at 8pm EST on our YouTube channel. Make sure to follow the podcast on Twitter @ScoutingPodcast.

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

My colleague, Jacqui Porter, will be writing a great recap of the USWNT and Matilda’s match on Thursday night, which you can read later today. Come back next week as I will be back to regularly scheduled programming with NWSL previews!

This Isn’t About Soccer Anymore

Posted on July 28, 2017 by RJ Allen

Twice a season, I travel from the Greater Milwaukee area down to Bridgeview, IL, to catch a Red Stars game. I work most weekends, and I’m a public transport person, so when I go, it’s a big deal. I take the day off, I borrow or rent a car, and I have a great time.

Guaranteed.

No matter who wins or loses, I’m there to enjoy a great game of soccer. I get seats in roughly the same area each time, and there’s a season ticket holder who sits next to me who I’ve discovered is very nice and enthusiastic about soccer. I’ve done the two games a season for two years now, and every game I’ve been to, she’s been there, cheering on the players.

This past Saturday, the Orlando Pride were in town, and it was a fabulous game.

An admission? Because I don’t do the season ticket thing, I splurge on the games I go to, and get seats where I can practically see the sweat dripping off the players’ brows. And I’ve done the thing where I stay after–once to get a picture with Christie Pearce (because a picture with Captain America!) and once to thank Ali Krieger for her response to an article I wrote on being a fat fan of soccer. So don’t get me wrong, I understand the desire to rush down to the barrier and hopefully get a chance to meet a player.

This game, though, was going to be crazy.

And so I, and the woman who sits next to me, left our seats immediately after the game ended, wanting to get out of the way of the rush we knew was coming. As the stadium announcer was still imploring fans to be careful and considerate as they made their way to the barrier, eager to see Alex Morgan, Ali Krieger, Marta, and others, we were trying to work our way up the stairs. But both sides of the stairs were blocked by young girls and their parents trying to get down. Ironically, trying to get into our seats, our places that we were leaving so they could get closer.

I’ve written before about how sports stadiums aren’t built for larger fans. And Toyota Park is no different. So getting up the steps as the crowd of people were rushing down was actually a little nerve-wracking and I saw more than one grown adult get pushed off-balance as people kept coming down. It bottle-necked immediately, with fans filling both sides and preventing people who were trying to leave from getting into the aisle and up the stands. The woman I sit next to was pushed into the seats more than once, as others refused to move or blocked the stairway. Several of us leaving asked people to move to one side so we could clear the area for them, and faced eye-rolls, stares, “I can’t hear you” faces, and comments.

And then there was one white, middle-aged dad who told the woman in front of me that maybe she should lose some weight before she came to another game. Insinuating that she had no place in these stands with him and his daughter, watching these players, much less on that stairwell trying to leave so his kid could have a better chance at meeting whichever player she was there to support.

You know those moments when you wonder what you would do if a situation happened right in front of you?

I’m not ashamed to admit that I told him he was an asshole. He was an asshole.

He probably continued walking down those stairs thinking the same thing about me, that I was an asshole and that I, too, was too fat to be there. Because his comment could have just as easily have been directed at me.

So why am I writing this?

Two reasons, at the least.

First, to the stadium managers at Toyota Park. Obviously you knew that there was going to be a big crowd hoping for autographs post-match because you made an announcement.

Anytime the two most popular players in the NWSL and on the USWNT are in one location, there’s going to be a rush of fans. Next time, please consider sending staff members to those points around the barrier to the field that you can predict will end up bottle-necked and full of people trying to squirm their way closer. A few identifiable members of staff can help keep exit lanes clear of people, direct traffic, and make sure that fans can both head toward the field and head toward the exit with ease. I don’t think I should need to point out that too many people in too small a space can be dangerous, but maybe I do? Anyway, as a fan, I would certainly appreciate it. And I have a sneaking suspicion that the players confronted with what looks like mayhem might appreciate it as well.

Second, to the man who believes fat people have no place in the stands. I want to say “fuck you,” but I won’t. Nor will I apologize for calling you an asshole, though, because bigger people always end up having to be the bigger person, having to apologize for our desire to inhabit the same spaces as everyone else, and I have spent too long fighting with myself over my right to exist anywhere I damn well please. Instead, I’ll say this. You didn’t need to say what you said. Trust me, overweight people are always aware that the world doesn’t fit them. I’m sorry you live in the kind of world where you think it’s okay to say that to another person, though. And I hope your kid got the autograph or selfie or chance to talk with her favorite player.

And lastly–to the woman who sits next to me at these games. I hope I see you next year. I’d like to talk to you some more about the sport we both love.

Unsung Hero of the Week: Notable Naughton in Chi Town

Posted on July 28, 2017 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, lose or draw. 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 Chicago Red Star defender Katie Naughton.

The Elk Grove Village native was selected in the 2016 NWSL College Draft in the second round, going 19th overall to Chicago. She was one of seven players selected to join Rory Dames’ squad that year, and one of the three local players selected by the team. The 23-year-old center back played her college ball at Notre Dame, appearing 87 times while scoring 11 goals in her four-year career. In her rookie season, she played in 17 matches and quickly became an important building piece for Chicago. So far in 2017 Naughton has played in 14 games, and has become one of the five defenders Dames can rely upon to rotate in and out of the starting XI on a game-to-game basis.

Chicago 2-1 Orlando:

Chicago is undefeated at home and they don’t get scored on very often. In fact, the Red Stars have only allowed 13 goals (second-best) and just five goals at Toyota Park, also second-best. But heading into this game, Chicago were without their two regular starters: Julie Ertz and Sam Johnson (Ertz would enter the game in the second half). Orlando, on the other hand, were coming off an explosive 4-1 win over Kansas City, surely taking the field with a bit of confidence. I had thought that the game would be a little more even, to be honest, especially considering that Sermanni had moved Marta into the middle, the spot where Ertz would’ve been. And initially, Orlando took advantage of that mismatch, dominating and controlling 70 percent possession in the first 20 minutes.

Naughton had the challenge of handling not one world class player, but two; international-level competitors Marta and Alex Morgan. It was certainly an adjustment period for the Red Stars with Ertz and Johnson not around, but like I discussed in an earlier piece centered around Arin Gilliland, this group is capable of rotating players on the backline and being successful no matter who is lined up. Wave after wave of Orlando attacks came, but Naughton and her teammates held on, not getting down or panicking for even a second.

In the 22nd minute, Orlando had a nice spell of possession, switching fields and finding Marta to distribute from her central role. Pride midfielder Dani Weatherholt attempted to speed the play up, wanting to slip a pass to the cutting Morgan. Naughton read the intention just in time, stepping in front to escape the possibility of Morgan receiving it and turning for a 1v1 with Chicago goalkeeper Alyssa Naeher.

Throughout the first half, Naughton and her backline were clearly doing some extra communication, realizing that Orlando were building confidence after each run into the final third. Leading the way for the Red Stars defense were Casey Short and Naughton, working to make sure the outside backs Gilliland and Taylor Comeau were on the same page positioning-wise. And while the Pride continued to put pressure, no matter how much knocking they did, Chicago answered the door every time.

Chicago would find a goal in that first half, courtesy of Sofia Huerta and Christen Press (of course). This partnership has certainly been profitable for the Red Stars side; the team is 5-0-2 this season when these two link up for a goal or assist.

Just before halftime, though, Naughton was called upon again. This time it was Marta who attempted to take her to the end line on the left side. The Brazilian and five-time FIFA Player of the Year was doing her dance, hoping to shake Naughton to get into the box. Access completely denied, Naughton waited patiently, not diving in for one second. I enjoyed this play because the Red Star showed off her footwork. She contained the forward long enough and won the ball; not many defenders that go up against Marta wouldn’t have already been on the ground at this point. Chicago went into the locker room with a 1-o lead.

The second half was a different story for Chicago. To reduce the amount of time and space they were giving Orlando in the middle, they brought Ertz to shape things up. Immediately Orlando pressured once again on the left side, with Marta sliding over to make it to the end line of Chicago but Naughton once again stood her ground and won the encounter. The presence of Ertz was clearly helpful, as she took on some of the defensive duties, while Naughton and Casey switched the attack more to try and get Orlando unbalanced.

In the 88th minute, Naughton would make one more play to beat Morgan’s attempt at scoring, beating the USWNT star to header, clearing it to squash the chance of Morgan turning in Chicago’s own 18.

Part of the problem for Orlando was they were not willing to have patience in the final third. Too many times they rushed passes, tried to force themselves forward, and just did not get into the box enough. For Chicago, they were opportunistic, making a few passes before all the sudden they were off to the races, with Press leading the way. While Orlando did manage to score, it was in the 93rd minute and too late. While it wasn’t a perfect defensive game for Chicago, Naughton and the backline got the job done well enough to grab all three points.

With the loss, Orlando slipped to seventh place with 19 points while Chicago pushed past North Carolina into first place with 28 points.

The View from the Sidelines: Chicago Red Stars vs Orlando Pride

Posted on July 27, 2017 by RJ Allen

At the last Chicago home game our own Elizabeth Wawrzyniak snapped some beautiful shots.

Click on thumbnail to enlarge.

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6 Takeaways from NWSL: Week 14

Posted on July 26, 2017 by RJ Allen

Just when you think nothing else can surprise the NWSL faithful, Week 14 happens right before the break for Tournament of Nations, and folks it was nuts. I mean from an instant classic to a suspended match, the league is Must Watch TV. So let’s get right to it, and give you our Week 14 takeaways.

Allie Long Is Coming Alive at the Right Time – Jordan Small

Last week on The Scouting Report, I mentioned that Allie Long was having a quiet season. After moving into a more defensive role, we hadn’t seen as much of Long as we had in previous seasons. It was unfortunate because Long had become one of the best club players in the NWSL. It felt as if a great offensive talent was being wasted.

So of course, what happened this weekend? She went out and scored a goal to tie the game up for Portland. She was all over the field and had a number of chances for the Thorns. I’m not saying that she needs to be more offensive, but I think she is playing her best when she’s in an attacking role. Her ability to distribute and be in the right place at the right time for Portland is something that is hard to come by. Maybe it’s the absence of players like Amandine Henry and Nadia Nadim that has allowed Long to be more of an attacking presence this week.

Don’t Blame the Goalkeepers – Jordan Small

When looking at a high scoring game, it can appear as if the goalkeepers did not have decent games. That wasn’t the case in the Seattle vs. Sky Blue game where 9 goals were given up. Both Kailen Sheridan of Sky Blue and Haley Kopmeyer of Seattle were hung out to dry by their defenders.

For the second time in two meetings this season, each goalkeeper gave up a penalty kick goal. It’s hard to really blame goalkeepers for giving up a goal in that situation, especially when they get a piece of the shot. Then you look at the free kick goal that was scored by Megan Rapinoe. Sheridan was within a foot or two of getting a piece of that shot. Not many goalkeepers are going to be stopping shots in the upper 90. At the end of the day, there isn’t a lot to get out of that game from a goalkeeper’s perspective because the defense in front was poor at best.

Red Stars: A Model of Consistency – Luis Hernandez

It shouldn’t surprise anyone that Chicago enters the ToN break at the top of the table. The linchpin behind the success of the Red Stars has to be Head Coach Rory Dames. Dames has been the gaffer for the Red Stars since 2011, attached to the club from its rise out of the WPSL to the NWSL. Under his management, the Red Stars have been able to establish a culture of success: everyone on the Red Stars understands what it means to be a part of the team, and know their roles.

A younger or less experienced team may have been challenged to overcome their coach getting sent off for the second half, but Coach Dames’ ejection at halftime didn’t seem to phase the players or coaching staff, and the Red Stars were able to come away with three points at home against Orlando. A key aspect of the Red Star’s performance is the basic idea that the team has an identity. Teams that face Chicago know what the club is going to do beforehand, but teams like Orlando are helpless to overcome that. Chicago will sit back happy to yield the possession, and strike on a counterattack or play a ball over the top, so Christen Press can use her speed to score a goal. Having that consistency which Dames worked to have in the club, is paying off dividends. Can they cash that in with an NWSL shield or NWSL championship? We’ll just have to wait and see.

Weather Screws With the Schedule Again – Luis Hernandez

The league has really had a difficult time planning for and dealing with the weather. First, the Lifetime TV deal has forced teams into playing at a set time according to a broadcast schedule, which, especially in the summer heat, has consequences for attendance. That heat issue has also affected the players, as when Rachel Daly collapsed of heat exhaustion at the end of a match played in the hottest part of the Texas afternoon. The league reacted to this by shifting game start times again, and trying to make changes to address the concerns of the players and fans.

Wisely, this week the league shifted the start time of the FC Kansas City match against the North Carolina Courage due to forecasted heat conditions. Unfortunately, Mother Nature didn’t cooperate and the match had to be suspended because of the “weather problems.” Fans will remember the league had to abandon a scheduled match last season as well when pouring rain in Houston washed out the match against the Spirit in Week 7 that the teams had to make up in between week 15 and 16. The postponement did little to impact the final results in the standings back in 2016, and the replay when it does get played isn’t going to help the Blues either.

Is there a better way to handle weather delays? Could they be rescheduled sooner? Maybe it’s worth talking about a little more.

THAT Game – Elizabeth Wawrzyniak

My dad thinks he’s funny, because every time I tell him I’m watching a soccer game, he asks me “What’s the score?” See, he’s a football fan–an American football fan, and so the idea of a game ending 0-0, or even 2-1, is kind of blasphemous to him. There’s not enough action (obviously he’s never really tried to watch a game), the players flop around too much (you’re thinking of men’s soccer, dad), what’s with the extra time after the whistle (IT’S CALLED STOPPAGE TIME JUST GO WITH IT), and god forbid I ever try to explain the offside rule to him.

So when I got home on Saturday night and turned on the Seattle v Sky Blue game, and saw the Reign’s 4-0 lead slowly slip away as Kelley O’Hara, Leah Galton, Daphne Corboz, and the Australian wizard Sam Kerr each scored, I couldn’t help but text him.

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Let’s just say, he still wasn’t impressed.

But I was.

You know, I hate the phrase “deserved a win,” because no one really ever deserves to win something. A win is something you earn.

But man, Sky Blue deserved to win on Saturday night. And whether you blame Erica Skroski’s own goal or the backline’s breakdown in the wake of Kerr evening up the score, that loss just left me hollow after. Because they put up such a fight.

One time–maybe just once–they could come out looking like that from the start.

Take a Shot – Elizabeth Wawrzyniak

Do you know which team has the most Shots on Goal (SOG) this season? It’s not who you’d think.

It’s Sky Blue. Sky Blue FC has 99 SOG so far as we hit the second break of the season. 99 SOG out of 170 total shots. Over 50% of their shots are right on target. And yet, they only have 28 goals. Only 28% of their SOG (or 16% of their total shots) have found the net.

The Houston Dash, sitting right now at 6th on the table after a rocky start to the season, have the second most SOG. 99 of 183 total shots Their accuracy might be lower than Sky Blue, both in terms of shots and goals, but not by a lot. 50% of their shots are on goal and and 17% of those find the net.

Why do I care? Because I think Sky Blue still has a chance at making the post-season. But to do this, I think they might need to stop shooting in the blind hope that they’ll get one past the keeper and start putting together a more organized and efficient offense. Their attack needs to be more surgical–and not the exploratory kind. Less frenzied, less “Kelley O’Hara plays ALL the positions” and more committed to structure over desperation.

Because Sam Kerr won’t always be able to pull their asses out of the fire. And O’Hara won’t always be able to get them into the attacking third by sheer force of will.

And eventually, the whistle will blow.

SaveSave

Celebrate Good Times

Posted on July 25, 2017 by RJ Allen

In the women’s game, when the ball hits the back of the net there are two typical celebrations. Either the player who just scored will run to the arms of her teammates that are on the field, or run to the arms of her teammates on the bench. Watching this, a spectator might assume that it’s because women see goals as team efforts, and want to celebrate them as such. However, if we look a little deeper, it’s not hard to see this as partially a product of the standards set for women in society. This is a world where women are often told that their successes are not as important or as great as that of men. And, as a corollary, that they shouldn’t celebrate with as much enthusiasm.

So, if the standard celebrations are pretty low energy, is that because women generally just celebrate differently? Or is it because they’ve been encouraged to keep it low? Every league has its rules on celebrating. The National Football League can fine players for celebrating in a different way than what they define as being a “nice celebration.” People will complain no matter what the circumstance is, however, some gender-norms are also played into the women’s league.

Now, National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL) fans are accustomed to watching great celebrations from players like Samantha Kerr or Megan Rapinoe.

Loud.

Crazy.

Exciting.

And there have also been examples of great team celebrations, like the US Women’s National Team’s (USWNT) celebrations in the London 2012 Olympics. But these are generally the exceptions rather than the norm. So the question stands, why do we almost always see the same celebrations?

To understand the conversation surrounding goal celebrations, we need to take a look into the dynamics of women’s sports teams. Back in 2007 Hope Solo was banished from team USA after publicly calling her coach out. It’s not hard to see a double standard at work here. When a man calls a coach or teammate out it is often seen as a bold choice. Contentious and maybe even disruptive, but well within the bounds of normal behavior. However, when a woman does it, she is banished from the team and marked as too outspoken in the women’s soccer community.

It may well be that muted celebrations are a product of this climate. Don’t be aggressive, or loud. Don’t call too much attention to yourself. No one will complain about a group hug with your teammates or a pat on the back and a few high fives, so just stick with that.

As noted above, there are some exceptions to this rule. Sam Kerr is famous for her backflips, and Megan Rapinoe is often seen dancing on the field after a goal and encouraging her teammates to join in on the fun. Even on the national team back in 2011 she picked a field mic up and sang, “Born in the USA!” after her goal against Colombia. And in the 2012 Olympics, the USWNT was famous for their team celebrations. They did the worm, a salute, and even somersaults. And other national teams have occasionally got in on the fun. But generally, this sort of thing remains uncommon.

And that’s unfortunate. Kerr’s backflips are instantly turned into GIFs that get shared all around women’s soccer blogs and Twitters. The women’s soccer community loves to see big, fun celebrations. We can all take the game seriously, while still remembering that it’s a game and it’s supposed to be fun. And there are plenty of girls out there watching, who might see these joyful goal celebrations and get excited to score themselves.

Giant Slayer: 5 Reasons the Washington Spirit Can Wreck Your Team

Posted on July 24, 2017 by RJ Allen

It’s hard to be the Washington Spirit currently. They haven’t won a match on the road all season, they can’t seem to find their rhythm, and they are currently sitting at the bottom of the table. So their matches aren’t much of a competition, right?

Wrong. The Washington Spirit are a lot better than the statistics and their record give them credit for. They have the talent and the skillset to shake up the top of the table, and they absolutely have the power to bring down the giants of the league. Here are the five reasons they can:

Mallory Pugh

Obviously, 19-year-old Mallory Pugh is at the top of this list. The U.S. Women’s National Team player is an amazing playmaker on and off ball, and she is someone that every team has to prepare to play against. Her ball handling has the ability to slice through backlines, and her stutter step is quite possibly the best in the league – she’s stagnant one moment, and ten feet behind you the next. But the other reason that Mallory Pugh creates what can seem like insurmountable problems for other teams is that she draws attention to herself. And with that attention comes defenders. When she is inside the box she regularly pulls multiple opponents to combat her threat, which creates open spaces for other players, such as Estefania Banini, to slip in and make a game-changing play. So what is a back line left to do? Make a hard choice.

Attacking Style

The Spirit has an offensive style that has the potential to do a lot of damage if they can begin to capitalize on their scoring chances. It is the quick movement through short, one-touch passes that doesn’t seem to be too hard to handle at first, but throughout the game can become very tiring for backlines. This team doesn’t necessarily always look to make large cross-field passes, but instead builds their offense up, working in triangles to create shifts within the defense. As the game wears on these movements don’t seem too threatening, but as legs begin to get tired and sluggish, more space gets created and more chances begin to present themselves for the Spirit. It is the kind of offensive style that forces a lot of focus from the defense in order to continue to close out attackers around the box. It’s also the type of offense that can bring down an opposing team rather quickly when it is working effectively.

Stephanie Labbé

The Washington Spirit have an amazing goalkeeper in Stephanie Labbé. In fact, she might be the best technical goalkeeper in the game right now. Sure, she doesn’t have the flash of an Adrianna Franch or a Kailen Sheridan, but she is a steady keeper. And she makes amazing saves. She is pretty much a staple for NWSL Save of the Week nominees. But a lot of time the Canadian National Team player isn’t given the credit she deserves for the work she puts in. And part of that is because she is so good at her job – she makes it look easy. And she isn’t loud or overbearing. She doesn’t scream at her backline or let her emotions get the better of her. She keeps Washington in the game, even when they are losing. Her abilities in goal have helped to keep the Spirit competitive, and for that reason alone, the opposing team can never count on a win when facing them.

They’re Camping Out at the Bottom of the Table

Soccer can be just as much a mental game as it is a physical one. And that is why having the Washington Spirit sitting at the bottom of the table could be the cause of broken hearts at the top of it. Because when you are the worst team in the league there will always be a team that underestimates you. But, with the exception of their 6-2 loss to the Seattle Reign in May, the Spirit’s losses haven’t been blowouts. In fact, every other loss has only been by a single goal. That’s only one conversion of a shot on target. Those aren’t huge losses. But to look at their record, a team wouldn’t think that. Some teams may even think they had it in the bag. So they relax….and then they lose. Because the Spirit aren’t a bad team. Not by a long shot. They have just had some unlucky breaks and need some polishing on their finishes. So this is my warning to the top of the table – don’t sit back on the Spirit.

They’ve Already Done It

Let’s look at some of the giants they have already slain this season. How about the Portland Thorns? That team is made of superstars and the Washington Spirit scored early and held them off the rest of the match. Their game against Sky Blue FC was a hard-fought 4-3 victory where the Spirit never gave up their lead. Or how about the fact that they tied the Red Stars? I would argue that Chicago is the strongest team in the league currently, and they couldn’t even find a way to beat the Spirit. Couple that with two more draws against the Orlando Pride, which are definitely on the climb with Alex Morgan back from Lyon, and you have a pretty solid showing from the Washington Spirit against some pretty big rosters.

So, yes, the Washington Spirit may be hanging out near the bottom of the table, but that does not mean that they are meant to be there. They are by no means a team to pity or a team to undervalue. They have a lot of advantages going their way and they are a team that will find their pace and rhythm. So don’t count them out before they even take the field. They are not a team to joke about or write off.

They are a team to fear.

The Unknown International: Nahomi Kawasumi

Posted on July 24, 2017 by RJ Allen

The NWSL may be the American women’s soccer league, but some of their strongest players come from all around the world. This series will look at some of those internationals that you may not know a lot about. Each article will highlight their style of play, the role they play on their national team, and the role they play in their club.

This time we will be looking at Japanese international and Seattle Reign forward Nahomi Kawasumi.

What Does She Do?

Nahomi Kawasumi is a forward that plays for the Japanese national team and the Seattle Reign. She is one of four Japanese internationals playing in the NWSL: Yuri Kawamura plays for the North Carolina Courage; Yuki Nagasato plays for the Chicago Red Stars; and Rumi Utsugi is Kawasumi’s teammate for both club and country. Kawasumi has no problem scoring goals of her own, but currently she leads the NWSL with six assists on the season. Prior to playing for the Seattle Reign, she played for Japanese side Kobe Leonessa in the INAC.

Japanese National Team

Kawasumi was a member of the Japanese team when they won the World Cup in 2011 and when they were the runners-up in 2015. In addition, she took home a silver medal with her team at the 2012 London Olympics. While she has been a member of the team since 2008, she scored her first international goal against Finland in the 2011 Algarve Cup. She then scored two goals in the 2011 World Cup semi-final against Sweden after her team went down 1-0 early in the match. In her time on the national team, she has scored 20 goals in 80 appearances for Japan. She isn’t a consistent starter, but she has played with the squad for nearly a decade and definitely left an impact in critical moments.

Seattle Reign

Kawasumi has played for the Reign for the last two seasons. But perhaps her most impactful game came earlier this season in the team’s 6-2 victory over the Washington Spirit. She scored a goal of her own and tallied four assists in the match, completely dominating the Spirit defense. Last season, she scored three goals in ten appearances for the squad. So far, she has six assists and four goals in fourteen appearances this year. She is part of an attack that is unstoppable when they get going. But their performances this season have been inconsistent. Kawasumi and her teammates will need to find some consistency if they hope to make the playoffs.

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Tag: NWSL