Tag: NWSL

The Unused Sub: When Silly Soccer Boys Tweet

Posted on by RJ Allen

You know what seems very unnecessary? That upcoming “Pirates of the Caribbean” movie.

SO ABOUT LAST WEEKEND

Well, last weekend sure had two matches stand out for different reasons, didn’t they?

Washington Spirit/Sky Blue FC was a barn-burner with seven goals. I think most of us are still recovering from all that back & forth action. Then you had the first installment of the Cascadia Rivalry in 2017 with Seattle Reign FC/Portland Thorns at times resembling a demolition derby that here and there had some moments of soccer. I get it being a rivalry and wanting to come off the block swinging, but Seattle sure had some piss & vinegar in them on Saturday night. Maybe – probably – because of what happened to them in Boston the week before, they came out surly. It was a blessing and a curse, with the highlight of the blessing being that absolute fireball Jess Fishlock blasted. Rightfully she won Goal of the Week honors because of it.

On the flip side, it sure was a physical match that had both coaches Mark Parsons & Laura Harvey yelling at various times at the officials. Four yellows were issued where there surely could have been more, and probably should have been. I don’t know – I’ve always looked at rivalry matches as being something unique and tough for a match official to preside over. Obviously you don’t want to let it get out of hand and run the risk of a brawl or serious injury happening, but you don’t want to call it Tupperware-tight, and you’ve got to give them the respect to let them play. The next two installments in the regular season will happen at Memorial Stadium and I imagine the context of last weekend’s installment will be remembered by whoever is officiating those ones.

And I am in full agreement with Reign FC head coach Laura Harvey that last Saturday’s match would have made for great TV.

JEAN-MICHEL AULAS IS THIRSTY & MERRITT PAULSON OBJECTS

Stop me if you’ve heard of this before: Jean-Michel Aulas, chairman & owner of Olympique Lyonnais is thirsty again.

This prompted Portland Thorns FC owner Merritt Paulson to tell Aulas to get his drink elsewhere.

All sports teams owners are egomaniacs and it’s all to our entertainment. Most, if not all, people here in Seattle get a kick out of it whenever Paulson tweets something because within five minutes he will delete it; hence it’s surprising his tweets to Aulas are still standing. Aulas would probably stop short of tampering to try and get players to join his women’s superteam. You know what – it’s all funny to me. It may not make sense to a lot of us, but you can’t accuse them or any other people of their ilk that they don’t care about their investments. Everyone just has a unique way of expressing it. It may not make sense to plebeians like you and me, but if you had their bank accounts, yeah you’d probably act a little bit off too. That said, I did like Paulson objecting and basically telling Aulas, “Come at me bro.” He cares about his players and wants to keep them in Portland, as he should. Much like Aulas cares about constantly trying to get talent to come to Lyon and the NWSL definitely is producing some talent. Some are just hilariously vocal about displaying their devotion to the team they own like Paulson and Aulas, while others aren’t. This may be the first time we’ve seen Paulson interact with Aulas, but certainly won’t be the last.

Would a friendly between Lyon and Portland Thorns be entertaining? Absolutely.

You know what would be just as entertaining if not more – Aulas & Paulson throwing hands.

Oh and I would not be surprised if Allie Long was playing for Lyon in the near future. Maybe after the 2019 World Cup.

AFTER A SEVEN GOAL-FEST, WATCH THIS WEEKEND BE SCORELESS DRAWS

What’s with Saturday’s games kicking off at the same time? Oh well.

Sky Blue FC OVER Houston Dash.
I really want Houston to get the results here because I really want to believe (and be confirmed) that they are better without a certain midfielder playing overseas at the moment. That said Sky Blue just seems hungry for revenge after that barn burner they had against Washington and will want to take it out on someone. Unfortunately that is Houston. However if Houston gets the result here, I would not be bummed about getting this prediction wrong.

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

With that out of the way, here’s what you all came for, this week’s music video break.

Song: “Stayin’ Alive” | Artist: Say Lou Lou

Four Star Takeaways from Chicago Red Stars: Week 4

Posted on by RJ Allen

It’s a new season, folks, and one ripe for some hot new takes. And that’s why this year I’ll be writing a new column for Backline Soccer, and providing our readers with Four Star Takeaways from Chicago Red Stars every week. Be sure to follow along for some post-game takes and match-day quotes!

Week 4 of NWSL action saw the Chicago Red Stars return home to face the Houston Dash. In their opening week matchup back in April, the Red Stars left Houston with a 2-0 loss. Since then Head Coach Rory Dames has shuffled his players in various starting lineups, including rotating forwards and playing Julie Ertz higher in the midfield. With the help of a Houston own goal, Chicago came away with the victory and additional points for the league table. Here are some takeaways from their Week 4 win.

✶ RUNNIN’ THROUGH THE 6 WITH MY WOES

This week saw Julie Ertz in playing the 6 as a defensive mid, and she still scored. This will mark the fourth different position in four weeks that Ertz has played in Chicago’s starting lineup. She has played in four different positions in four weeks and has been able to contribute in each one. She has seen time in the 4, 10, briefly as an 8, and after this week – as a 6.

When asked about her goal, Ertz recognized the demands of a holding mid, displayed her leadership, and credits the goal as a collaborative effort: “It was a lot of hard work from a lot of people kind of keeping the ball alive. A lot of second chances. It kind of popped out from everyone. Really just scrapping to keep the ball in, and it landed right where I was. Being a 6 today, obviously I kind of knew that second ball was going to be more where I would be able to score and help the team, and that’s where I ended up today.”

Despite having played four different positions in four weeks, Ertz is currently the Red Stars leading goal scorer with two goals.

✶ Welcome to Gilliland’s Island: GRITTYLAND

While Casey Short claimed complete ownership of the left flank against Houston, it was Arin Gilliland that was once again given the task of marking Kealia Ohai. In their Week 4 rematch, it was the right back who forced Ohai to switch sides during the second half in order to try and create opportunities for the Dash on the left flank against Short. Ohai would go goalless on the day after facing both outside backs. Gilliland was looking forward to the matchup going against Ohai, stating that, “It’s always great to go up against Kealia, she’s super athletic. Super-fast. Quick with the ball, and it really challenges me. I love going against the top forwards out there. It’s a great challenge. I think I definitely made leaps and bounds from the first time we played each other, but that’s part of the league, you get used to the people in the league and you learn and you get better and better each time. So, I look forward to the next time we’re going to play her too.”

In the 61st minute of the match, there was a collision between Ohai and Gilliland that lead to Chicago’s second goal. Both players were slow to get up, and part of Chicago’s goal celebration included checking on their teammate. After the game during the mixed zone session, Gilliland expressed her grit about the collision and was already looking ahead, stating: “We’re good to go. It’ll [knee] be a little swollen. Little ice, little compression, little Advil, good to go, part of the game.”

Gilliland is also Backline Soccer’s “Unsung Hero” this week, you can check out the article here.

✶ GOAL SHAWTY, IT’S YOUR BIRTHDAY

The weekend full of own goals was kicked off at Toyota Park by birthday girl Danielle Colaprico. A free kick taken by Colapirco was the first of three own goals we would see throughout NWSL in Week 4. A foul from Denise O’Sullivan on Colaprico set up the free kick just before halftime in the 43rd minute. Colaprico played the set piece over Houston, which was deflected into goal off Sarah Hagen.

Colaprico admits there was birthday luck in getting her free kick into a good spot saying: “Our coach [Dames] always says just get it in the right spots and good things will happen, and I think that’s what I tried to do. Got to break that first line of defense and get it up and over the defenders and just got lucky.”

That’s not to say the Red Stars aren’t aware of their lack of finishing in front of the net. Colaprico elaborated as such, but is happy to get the points, stating: “We’ve had a lot of chances in past games, and when teams can’t find the back of the net, they sometimes come from the other team. It was a lucky one, but a win is win. And that’s what matters”

Head coach Rory Dames knows the forward core has another level they have to reach as collective and has stated recently that his team needs to be more ruthless in front of goal. After playing as a forward against Houston, Sofia Huerta echoed a similar statement on whether the string of strikers has hit the gear they are capable of, saying: “I would say, no. Not yet. I think we have such good attacking players, and we all are capable of scoring at least a goal a game, or even a couple goals a game. So, I wouldn’t say we have completely gotten there… I still think that Press, Myself, Jen [Hoy], Steph [McCaffrey], Vanessa [DiBernardo] we still some more goals in us.”

✶ We Don’t Always Win, But When We Do, It’s a Shutout

The first quarter of the season still has two games left in it. Four weeks in, the Red Stars now sit in 3rd place with two wins and two losses. Both wins against Houston and Kansas City came with shutouts for the backline and goalkeeper Alyssa Naeher. The starting goalkeeper is happy to get the results, points, and shutouts, stating: “Always happy to get a shutout. I think when you come into any game as a defense and as a team our goal is to get a shutout every time. So, to be 2 for 2 at home with wins and shutouts is a good feeling”

With Julie Ertz being played more in the midfield, the backline has seen strong performances from center back duo Katie Naughton and Samantha Johnson. As a veteran in the backline, Johnson’s role has become more vocal, and her goalkeeper acknowledges and appreciates her growth as a center back. Naeher elaborated saying: “Julie [Ertz], she definitely ran, vocally, the backline. But I think as a backline everyone is responsible for different pieces of communication, otherwise it’s not going to work. So, I think Sam has stepped up, she’s doing what she’s always been good at. Which is getting in hard for tackles. Playing and being smart. And I think the vocalization piece of it is coming as well. She’s [Johnson] controlling the line, Katie’s controlling the line, and it’s been working.”

Ahead in Week 5

Chicago will face Boston, as the Breakers visit the Red Stars at Toyota Park. It will be the second match in two weeks that Chicago plays host. The Red Stars have a strong home record, and while there are fan concerns over dwindling attendance league wide, Head Coach Rory Dames recognizes that the team can only control how they approach game days at home. “It’s an unbelievable atmosphere to play in. Especially for the players that were here when we were in Benedictine. I mean we’ve worked hard as a collective group from the players, to the staff, to the front office, to the owner to be able to transition here. We really understand that it’s a privilege to play here. And every time we step on the field we try to continue to earn the right to keep playing here.”

You can watch the match on the Go90 app, this Saturday May 13th at 3 pm C.T. For tickets visit the Chicago Red Stars website.

6 Takeaways From NWSL: Week Four

Posted on by RJ Allen

Welcome to the second month of the NWSL season, where April golazos bring May own-goals. At least so far. Yes, indeed, this weekend was notable for the three OGs scored on Saturday; one per game, in fact.

But while the action this week was both entertaining and at times frustrating, the level of competition has never been higher, with all but one match decided by a single goal.

Still, there’s no need to be coy, you’re here for takeaways, so let’s see what we took away from this week.

Now That’s How You Play Three in the Back – Elizabeth Wawrzyniak

Seattle came out strong Saturday night, but what impressed me most was their initial formation. Many teams have tried a variation of the three-back form this season, as Jill Ellis has made it clear with her National Team formations that it’s something she wants players to have in their toolbox. But of all the teams to try it so far, Seattle–by leaps and bounds–has looked the best. A three-back isn’t just about crowding the attack, it’s about flexibility, and the only way it works out for a team is if there’s a midfield that can support it. And Seattle’s midfield, with talent and experience packed into every corner, was able to do just that. A bridging midfielder (making the backline feel a little like a 3-1/2 back formation at times) delicately balanced defensive duties and forward movement, and Seattle capitalized upon their powerful attacking talent in less than a minute of game-play. The Reign demonstrated just what a three-back can do, but also just what’s needed in order to make it work on the field. Hopefully Ellis caught the game.

That’s a Lot of White Space, Chicago – Elizabeth Wawrzyniak

The Windy City hosted their first Lifetime Game of the Week matchup this weekend against the Houston Dash, and to be honest, for all their efforts and success on the field, after the final whistle I was more focused on the image of the empty seats in the stands than anything any one player or team did. Don’t get me wrong, Chicago played a great game and came away with a solid three points that should keep them in the upper-half of the table this week. But their attendance was only 2,114 for the match, just slightly lower than their 2,153 home opener in Week 2 of the season. And this is a team with four popular National Team players on it! This is the team of Christen Press! Alyssa Naeher! Julie Ertz and Casey Short!

We’re all aware of just how much effort and time Chicago has poured into their rebranding and marketing campaigns this season–those player pics in the downtown are on fire!–but I don’t know that they’ve seen much gains in ticket sales yet. (I do know they’re calling previous attendees, because a lovely woman representing the team woke me up with a phone call one morning last week to ask if I’d bought tickets for the season yet–I have.) Either way, something needs to change because Chicago is one of the teams lucky enough to play in a professional-level stadium every week, but they’re pulling in fewer numbers than teams like Boston and Sky Blue, who call local college-level fields home. Chicago needs to figure out what they’re doing wrong–ticket prices, marketing campaigns, etc–and somehow put more fans into the stands.

At This Point, It’s Anyone’s League – Jordan Small

If we’ve learned anything from season five of the NWSL, it’s that the league is more competitive than ever before. Each week, it is very difficult to pick a winner for any game because anyone can beat anyone. Aside from North Carolina, every team has lost at least once, with all ten teams picking up at least a point through the first four weeks.

Last week, we saw the Breakers beat Seattle 3-0 in Boston. The week before that, Seattle beat Houston 5-1 in Seattle. That week, Boston beat Sky Blue 1-0, and Sky Blue and Seattle tied 1-1 on opening weekend. So like I said, anyone can beat anyone. At the end of Week 4, just five points separate the #2 and #10 in the league table. While it’s only Week 4, the parity of the league has made it fun and exciting for fans of the NWSL to tune in each week.

Christie Pearce is Even More Important to Sky Blue Than You Think – Jordan Small

Even at 41-years-old, Christie Pearce is still one of the top center backs in the NWSL. After being out with a concussion for two weeks, it’s become apparent just how important Pearce is to the Sky Blue backline. Without her in the lineup, all four players for Sky Blue were in just their first or second year in the NWSL, not to mention that the goalkeeper is a rookie drafted just this year.

Without Pearce, and with O’Hara playing an attacking role for the most part, the backline for Sky Blue has struggled to maintain a consistent shape. Washington Spirit forward Francisca Ordega really exposed the young backline in Week 4, penetrating the line twice to notch a brace for the home team. On top of her skills as a centerback, Sky Blue also misses her leadership on the field. Both fans and the team alike are hoping for a quick return to the lineup for our Captain America.

The Dash Can’t Figure Out Who They Are – Luis Hernandez

Of all the teams with two wins, the Houston Dash are the most enigmatic in the bunch. Houston has the talent to beat the likes of Chicago in Week 1 and then hold off the Washington Spirit in Week 3, but when they lose they lose badly. The offense can’t seem to put on a consistent performance, and defensively the goals conceded are kind of weak. The up-and-down nature of this team doesn’t seem to make sense. Since they host Sky Blue for only their second home game this season, is it a safe bet to predict a Dash win?  Who knows! That’s just how up and down they are.

With players like Rachel Daly, Kealia Ohai, Denise O’Sullivan, and a returning Morgan Brian on the roster, perhaps the Dash are soon to be rounding a corner. The Dash have good players, obviously, but still, they felt the need to add players like Sarah Hagen and Cami Levin, frequent bench-warmers on Tom Sermanni’s Orlando Pride. If the Dash can figure it out, the team might be able to hang on as a playoff team in time for Carli Lloyd’s return.

Orlando Finds Ways to Drop Points Again – Luis Hernandez

And speaking of teams who can’t figure things out, Orlando seemed poised to earn the team’s first win of the season only to have a late and questionable free kick awarded to FC Kansas City. Ultimately, it was their inability to clear the ball out of danger that left the Pride with a 1-1 draw after Marta had scored her first NWSL goal to take the lead. But the team should focus on continuing to build chemistry with Marta and across the pitch, because for the most part, they played a good game.

However, good teams find ways to win. The North Carolina Courage make good things happen because they are a good team. Across the league, the talent level in the NWSL is pretty even. Our own Jordan Small talked about league parity, yet having just two points out of four matches for Orlando is mediocre. The Courage are coming to Orlando Sunday. The good teams find a way; what’s Orlando going to do?

Well, folks, there you have it, our most important takeaways from the Week Four matches. Did we miss anything? Do you want to argue or challenge one of our points? Or do you just have an opinion about Week 4 games or play?  Go ahead and share it in the comments below or join the conversation in the Backline Soccer forums.  We’re looking forward to hearing from you!

 

Off the Bench with Backline Soccer: 2017, Week 4

Posted on by RJ Allen

Welcome to Week Four of Off the Bench! 

This week, the format has shifted from game recaps to short game previews. Take a moment and let us know what you think by leaving a note in the comment section!

Backline Soccer Recap:

This week we welcomed four new people to our staff. So give a warm welcome to the three newest members of our social media team: Alyssa Zajac, Becca Kimble, and Caitlin de Souza. And we can’t forget our new writer, Chantelle DeRose.  We’re excited to be working with these awesome soccer fans!

In addition to our new staff members, we introduced another new weekly series for our readers this past week, The Way I See It: Unsung Hero of the Week. As always, we invite you to let us know your thoughts on any of our pieces in the comments section!

Make sure to join us on our new Backline Soccer Forum. And don’t forget to check out our Backline Soccer Shop. 

Quick Fire Week 4 Game Previews: 

A reminder for U.S. fans that you can catch the Lifetime Game of the Week live and on demand either via TV, computer, or mobile, and all other games live and on demand at the go90 app and the go90 website. Additionally, after 48 hours, all go90 games will be archived and available to watch on demand on the NWSL app and website. And if you’re an international fan, you can catch every game, live and on demand, on the NWSL website.

 

Game 1: Chicago Red Stars vs. Houston Dash

Chicago Red Stars record: 1-2-0
Position: 7th
Total Points: 3

Houston Dash record: 2-1-0
Position: 4th
Total Points: 6

This week the Lifetime Game of the Week matchup will find the Dash taking on the Red Stars in Chicago. Coming off a bit of a slow start to the season, the Red Stars will be looking to pull out three points at home. The Dash have started off relatively well, notching two wins and six points so far despite a disappointing loss in Week 2 at Seattle. Lydia Williams found herself back in goal last week in the Dash’s 1-0 win over the Spirit but they were not really outstanding as a whole. The Dash did just enough on the defensive side to get by, but it will not continue to carry them further into the season. The Red Stars will look to counter on this when stepping up their attacking front. The Red Stars aren’t lacking in much and with a few key moves on the attacking front, they could very well pull out the win.

 

Game 2: Washington Spirit vs. Sky Blue FC

Washington Spirit record: 0-2-1
Position: 9th
Total Points: 1

Sky Blue FC record: 1-1-1
Position: 6th
Total Points: 4

Sky Blue will look to capitalize on their win against FCKC last week and the Spirit are going to want to bounce back from their disappointing loss to the Dash. Hopefully this week the backline for Sky Blue will see Christie Pearce rejoin the team from concussion protocol as she will be a key part of the team moving forward. On the Spirit side, Stephanie LabbĂ© has had a lot of work to do in net this season but she has proven beyond a shadow of a doubt that she is up for the task. The Spirit are going to need her at the top of her game this week, faced with the likes of Kelley O’Hara and Sam Kerr on the attacking front. Washington has taken hits on the attacking front, and they’re going to need to find a way to overcome their losses on the attacking front if they want to climb out of the basement this week.

 

Game 3: Portland Thorns vs. Seattle Reign

Portland Thorns record: 2-1-0
Position: 3rd
Total Points: 6

Seattle Reign record: 1-1-1
Position: 5th
Total Points: 4

The Portland Thorns will take on the Seattle Reign at home this week in the first of what essentially amounts to the NWSL’s own version of the Cascadia Cup. Several of Portland’s most exciting and game-changing players are still listed on the Injury Report and likely will not dress, including Tobin Heath, Mana Shim, Dagny Brynjarsdottir, and Katherine Reynolds, and this should ultimately favor Seattle’s chances. The Reign, of course, are looking to bounce back after being soundly defeated by the Boston Breakers last week 3-0. Seattle’s primary problem in Week 3 seemed to be in giving the Breakers too much space, which is something they will need to shut down this week in order to not let the Portland attack get by them. Portland, on the other hand, has been able to sneak out two wins this season, with last week’s victory accompanied by a bit of controversy regarding a penalty that wasn’t, and a penalty that probably shouldn’t have been. Even though Adrianna Franch has come up with some key saves for the Thorns, her distribution and work out of the back leaves a lot to be desired and eventually, will not be enough to keep other teams from capitalizing on her mistakes. But look for the Thorns to continue to take advantage of the Reign’s positioning errors if they continue from last week.

 

Game 4: Boston Breakers vs. North Carolina Courage

Boston Breakers record: 2-1-0
Position: 2nd
Total Points: 6

North Carolina Courage record: 3-0-0
Position: 1st
Total Points: 9

Who knew coming into Week 4 of the NWSL we would be seeing a match up between the number one team (NC Courage,) and the number TWO team (Boston Breakers?!?) The Breakers will take the pitch this week after a strong 3-0 win over the Seattle Reign while the Courage are coming in hot from their game against the Pride where they won 3-1. Boston could be the team to figure out how to beat the Courage, as the #1 team’s only real weakness might be its defense. The attacking front is covered but if the teams they have faced in the first three weeks had been able to capitalize when they needed to, the Courage might not be sitting undefeated at the top. Boston will look to attack this backline of the Courage consistently and get ahead early. This matchup should be a fun one to watch.

 

Game 5: FC Kansas City vs. Orlando Pride

FC Kansas City record: 1-2-0
Position: 8th
Total Points: 3

Orlando Pride record: 0-2-1
Position: 10th
Total Points: 1

The final game of the weekend features FCKC and the Pride, and both teams are struggling to overcome disappointing losses in Week 3. FCKC is clearly missing Amy Rodriguez, their attack has suffered since the moment she went down in Week 1. In addition to Rodriguez, Shea Groom was out last week with a broken rib, and her status for Week 4 is unknown at the time of this writing. Leroux, coming back from maternity leave and doing a great job, needs some help up top with ARod no longer in the picture. FCKC will look to hold more of the possession this week, something that has been one of the Pride’s strong suits this so far this season, though they don’t have much to show for it.

The Pride have had a very lackluster start to their season after some promising moves in the offseason. They have held a good amount of possession the first three weeks of action but big mistakes, mental and positioning wise, have cost them in each meeting. The backline has a lot of talent but an almost non-existent midfield has seen them have to do a lot more to get the ball up the field to the attack. Once it makes it there, the Pride’s finishing has been abysmal. Danica Evans has been an energetic and creative spark in the minutes she has played, so starting her will help the Pride out a lot this week. In addition, Marta had some great moments last week; look for her to capitalize this week and get her potential first NWSL goal. Pride Head Coach Tom Sermanni will need to make some changes to his lineup and put the best XI on the field in order to pull the three points out against FCKC. And FCKC needs to work quickly on figuring out how to move their attack forward without Amy Rodriguez.

The Scouting Report:

Huge news on the TSR front. We have joined Brew Sports Network!

The Scouting Report went live this past Monday with our NWSL Week 3 TSR recap. Make sure to tune in every Monday at 8pm EST to catch our weekly series!

You can find Monday night’s TSR here:

Come back next week for the next edition of Off the Bench! And don’t forget to check out the rest of our great content created weekly on the Backline Soccer website!

 

The Unused Sub: The Funny Thing About Making Matchup Predictions

Posted on by RJ Allen

How in God’s name are we in the first week of May?!

WHAT IS GOING ON AROUND HERE!? I DON’T LIKE CHANGE!
Actually I do, and there are some new faces joining Backline Soccer and this place is growing. Just being the resident dude who says a lot of nonsense to everyone around here (really that Backline Soccer Slack – whoo – there’s some hot fire going on there), I am happy to see the growth of this place. So welcome new people, apologies in advance for my nonsensical attempts at comedy.

And the announcement of “The Scouting Report” joining Brew Sports is nothing short of incredible. The folks that make up Backline Soccer are some really good people – yes I haven’t met any of them personally yet, but I feel like I could go a good thirty minutes before I wore out my welcome and I don’t know, they threw a pie at me for being a silly dude. But dammit, will I make those thirty minutes one they won’t forget. But Backline Soccer is doing some incredible work, with bigger and better things are coming to the collective and I am just happy to be a passenger.

NOW TO BUSINESS – HA HA NEVER MAKE PREDICTIONS AGAIN
Boy did I take it on the chin on my predictions for Round 3’s games in the NWSL.


A BIG FAT, STINKING ZERO FOR FIVE on the predictions last weekend. The most stinging one of course the Seattle Reign FC going to Boston and the Breakers running wild all over them. I’ll say: all the credit to the Breakers. They finally got one on Seattle and they did it incredible style. Adrianna Leon conducted the orchestra en route to winning NWSL Player of the Week honors – well deserved there. And WoSo’s new favorite thing Rose Lavelle lived up to the billing of being the first overall draft pick by winning NWSL Player of the Month honors. Saturday showed how good the Breakers can be, and I am telling ya – come August/September, the Breakers are going to jack up a team’s hopes of getting into the NWSL Playoffs.

As for the Reign, I can’t say I’m surprised. Doesn’t mean seeing them get smoked on the field for all 90 minutes didn’t sting but there’s going to be something of a Dr. Jekyll/Mr. Hyde situation with them this season. That said, I still think the experience and savvy of Laura Harvey will get her mix of veteran players and new faces sorted out, and when it’s crunch time they’ll be in the NWSL playoffs. It just could be an interesting ride for them.

DON’T MAKE PREDICTIONS HE SAID…
But here they are for this weekend’s matches anyway.

  • Chicago Red Stars OVER Houston Dash. (atch this game be some bonkers goal-fest – let’s say 5 goals total)
  • Sky Blue FC OVER Washington Spirit.
  • Seattle Reign FC OVER Portland Thorns.
  • Boston Breakers and North Carolina Courage play to a DRAW.
  • FC Kansas City OVER Orlando Pride.

And since none of you heathens left a comment in the last piece about your karaoke songs, I’m just going to arbitrarily start closing each of these with a music video. It could be something I recently came across or something I’ve long enjoyed. So yeah, enjoy your music video break.

Song: “What You Mean To Me” | Artist: Montaigne

The Way I See It: Unsung Hero of the Week

Posted on by RJ Allen

In my new weekly series, I will be highlighting a player each week from the National Women’s Soccer League 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 Washington Spirit defender Estelle Johnson.

Johnson has been with the club since 2015 and has since become a crucial contributor not only to the backline, but to the team as a whole. In her two years, she has started 32 games out of 33 she appeared in. The 28-year-old was shown just how much she means to the Spirit when they signed her to a new contract in March of this year.

This past weekend, Washington played a hard-fought battle with Houston, ending in a 1-0 defeat. While some would see just another loss on the scoreboard, I saw a bounce back game from the team, and a quietly impressive performance from Johnson. She had the tall task of keeping three extremely dynamic players in check: Rachel Daly, Kealia Ohai, and Janine Beckie. Now, I’m not saying she was mistake-free, as Ohai did manage to grab a goal in the 28th minute for the win, but without a doubt Johnson was one of the biggest reasons her team stayed in the game for as long as they did. The goal certainly doesn’t take away the effort by Johnson.

Throughout the game, Johnson showed her veteran leadership by constantly communicating with her fellow defenders Shelina Zadorsky and Whitney Church in the suddenly-popular 3-5-2 formation. Her patience played a big role in dealing with the Houston attack, with one example coming in the 47th minute when Houston initiated a promising attack through Ohai, which was then squashed by one hell of a tackle from Johnson. It’s one thing just to track down Ohai, but Johnson did more, she closed down the window of opportunity and preventing her opponent from taking a shot or sending in service. Against a player like Ohai, getting beat occasionally is inevitable. Where Johnson shined was in her ability to make crucial recoveries down the right side, keeping the opponent contained while her team got organized.

Johnson also was working hard to get the ball for her team, forcing several turnovers throughout the game and earning key possession opportunities. A prime example of this came in the 52nd minute when Johnson managed to block a powerful shot by Daly just outside the eighteen. In doing so, Washington grabbed possession and stopped any serious momentum from Houston. Johnson was linking up well with her midfield, even taking the opportunity to get into the offensive third when she saw fit. She created a chance in the 62nd minute when she slotted a neat pass to Francisca Ordega who in turn found Arielle Ship which resulted in a corner for the Spirit. Creating out of the back is an underrated quality in this league and Johnson showed how good she was at it on the night. Washington had nine shots, with Johnson taking one of those. As a team, the Spirit put just one shot on target, showing that they’ll need all the help they can get from the back.

Johnson hustled all night and played one solid game in my opinion and while her team did lose (by a narrow margin at that), her individual performance shouldn’t be overlooked. Estelle Johnson is my unsung hero for Week 3 and if Washington want a chance at being near the top of the table come September, Johnson will need to play like this for much of the season.

Four Star Takeaways from Chicago Red Stars: Week 3

Posted on by RJ Allen

It’s a new season, folks, and one ripe for some hot new takes. And that’s why this year I’ll be writing a new column for Backline Soccer, and providing our readers with Four Star Takeaways from Chicago Red Stars every week. Be sure to follow along for some post-game takes and match-day quotes!

Week 3: A Thorn of a Time in Rose City [Portland Thorns 1 – Chicago Red Stars 0]

Chicago Red Stars collected three points against FC Kansas City in their home opener back in Week 2, and looked to build upon that success in Portland during Saturday’s Game of the Week on Lifetime. Coming into Week 3, both teams were tied with with one win and one loss.  And with Portland once again without team MVP Tobin Heath, Chicago was looking for their first win against the Thorns since 2013.

It was another game with strong possession and moments of opportunities for Chicago’s offense, which was able to break through gaps in the home team’s backline early on. However, some interesting officiating in the game took center stage instead of Chicago’s tactical game plan to press high on Portland’s center backs. Chicago lost the game 1-0 on an unfortunate hand ball penalty that Portland’s Nadia Nadim converted in the 27th minute.

✶ Battle of the Mids

Last week against FC Kansas City we saw Julie Ertz in midfield as an attacking mid. And her performance last week earned her the start in position again this week against Portland.  And Ertz did well in just her second appearance in the Chicago midfield, providing some dominance against a Thorns midfield that featured fellow NT player Allie Long. Head Coach Rory Dames spoke about Ertz and helping his player adjust in the early weeks: 

“One of the bigger things that happened in our preseason was Julie not being in it for the most part, which was a choice we made. I’ve felt all along that the first three of four games would kind of be similar to preseason to working her in and figuring out how we were going to be and how we were going to do things.”

✶ Samantha Johnson, Weekend Warrior

With Ertz playing higher up as an attacking mid, her absence in the backline has given players like Katie Naughton time in the center back role, where she’s been partnered with Samantha Johnson. Both defenders worked on their game this offseason, traveling together to play in Australia’s winter W-league. “Sam and Katie have both been excellent. They both worked on their game in the offseason overseas and both look really good, even better than they did last year,” Dames said, acknowledging the benefit that their offseason play has brought to Chicago this year.

However, it’s veteran Samantha Johnson who has been having an impressive first three weeks. From an open tryout invitee in 2014 to an anchor in Chicago’s backline for 2017, Johnson has worked hard to get where she is, and made several strong impressive challenges this season against the offenses of Houston, Kansas City, and now Portland. Johnson had to be subbed off at the half due to an injury, and when Coach Dames was asked about her condition after the game, he explained that:

“Sam wasn’t a substitution by choice. She took a knock to the quad and had to come off because she felt her knee locking up on her.” He elaborated more on her contributions to the team this season, remarking that, “[Johnson] is part of the reason we are able to move Julie [Ertz] higher.” 

Hopefully Johnson can make a return to the pitch in Week 4. 

✶ Shine Bright like a Diamond

The last three weeks have seen the Red Stars play in a traditional 4-4-2 diamond formation but during the second half against Portland, we saw Chicago push for the equalizer in a 3-back form to free up their attacking players. Moving ahead to next week, Coach Dames will continue to work with his team but doesn’t put blame on formation for lack of finishing, saying that:

I think it depends on who we’re playing against and what their shape is. I think we we’ve been pretty good in the 4-4-2 all three weeks, and I feel like we’ve been the better team in all three games. Unfortunately, credit to Houston and Portland, because they won games and are both very good teams. So, I don’t know that we would change our shape, just to change our shape. And I don’t think our shape is the issue that we’re having. I think our quality in certain areas has to get better. Our decision making in certain areas has to get better. And we’re not ruthless enough in front of goal.”

✶ A Coach that Loves His F-ing Team

If you couldn’t watch Lifetime’s game of the week last Saturday, you probably heard about it. During the game, Christen Press had a big collision with Thorns goal keeper Adrianna Franch in the 26th minute. The hard challenge could have been called as a penalty in the box, but was not. The no call was further heightened when four minutes later a hand ball was called against Chicago in Portland’s box. A call that some have said is controversial, as Press’s contact with the ball appeared to be unintentional, and the USSF advises referees to use the rule of thumb that “it is handling if the player plays the ball, but not handling if the ball plays the player.” As far as we could tell, Christen Press was clearly played by the ball, and not other way around.  

Head Coach Rory Dames took to Twitter after the game when the visiting coach was not interviewed for comment, and he was obviously upset with the quality of the refereeing. Later, Backline Soccer was able to speak with Coach Dames about the match, where he continued to express his frustration on the no call.

“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.”

 We feel you, Coach Dames, we feel you.

Ahead in Week 4

The Red Stars will face the Houston Dash at home in Toyota Park on Saturday at 3pm CT. The match will be featured as Lifetime’s Game of the Week.

6 Takeaways From NWSL Week 3

Posted on by RJ Allen

Week 3 in the young NWSL season is at a close, and the standings are a bit unexpected. Do we believe the top five are the best of the best this season? Or will one of the current bottom-dwellers be able to right the ship and turn their season around? Verizon’s go90 streams aside, it’s been a sweet season so far, with plenty of action and upsets. (Sorry, Pride fans, but hey, at least you had #MartaWatch.)

Here’s what we took away from the matches going into Week 4.

The Dash Bounce Back in Washington — Jordan Small

Last week, the Houston Dash fell to the Seattle Reign 5-1 and for a ninety painful minutes, it seemed as if we were seeing the Dash of old again. With multiple starters out and a rookie goalkeeper making her professional debut, it was not the best performance from Houston.

One week later, they put in a stronger performance against a struggling Washington side. The backline of Cari Roccaro, Bruna, Janine Van Wyk, and Camille Levin was solid and eliminated most of the danger before it got to goalkeeper Lydia Williams. A goal from captain Kealia Ohai in the 28’ gave the Dash the lead and ultimately the 1-0 win. If the Dash can continue to have a consistent defense and constant production from Ohai and Rachel Daly, Houston will continue to pick up points. This is a very talented Dash team that can win on the road and at home.

 

Lack of Goalscoring is Crushing the Spirit in Washington — Jordan Small

Through three games this season, the Washington Spirit have only given up three goals. That seems like it would be few enough to pick up a couple of points for the Spirit. But if you thought that, you would be wrong. The Spirit have only earned themselves one point through three matches thanks to a lack of scoring.

Last year, the Spirit relied heavily on Crystal Dunn and Estefania Banini to carry the scoring load. With both of them heading overseas to play, Washington was left without a pure goalscorer. This has come back to bite them in the butt, especially with all of the injuries that are piling up. Goalkeeper Stephanie Labbé and the backline of Estelle Johnson, Whitney Church, and Shelina Zadorsky have remained positive through the whole process, despite the heavy workload they have had to take on. While they are one of the stingiest defenses in the league, the lack of finishing in the final third is a real problem for the Spirit.

North Carolina Courage Aren’t Just a Flash in the Pan –Luis Hernandez

Okay, I’ll admit it. I didn’t think the Courage would replicate the success from the end of the 2016 season going into 2017. I was sure they would be good, just not the best team in the league. Yes, two of the three wins are against the current ninth and tenth place teams, but it’s how North Carolina beat Washington and Orlando both times yielding possession and making the most of their opportunities.

The Courage have an identity and stick to their game plan. Orlando’s mental miscues allowed the cool, calm and collected Carolina side to put away easy finishes. The Pride attacked the Courage with individual effort all match long, so the NC defense was a bit relaxed, and allowed Orlando to score the first goal against them in team history. Had Orlando been able to attack with greater numbers, we might have seen a different result. North Carolina were never really under any pressure, and looked comfortable allowing Orlando to be ineffective against D’Angelo in net. Hopefully, the match against the Breakers will test the Courage better. The defending champs have not looked uncomfortable for any stretch of time this season, and Boston would be wise to do what they did to Seattle at home against the Courage. Otherwise it’s four-in-a-row for North Carolina.

 

FC Kansas City Still Figuring Things Out After Injuries –Luis Hernandez

The injury bug hasn’t been kind to the Blues. The Amy Rodriguez injury is still a sad point in the NWSL season, and I’m not even a fan of FCKC. In Week 3 Shea Groom joined her on the injury report with a broken rib, so Coach Vlatko Andonovski turned to the 4-2-3-1 for the first time this season with Sydney Leroux as the lone striker, away from the 4-3-3 of the two previous matches. Unfortunately, FC Kansas City couldn’t manage any goals while Raquel Rodriguez managed to get one past Nicole Barnhart, and FCKC now sits at 8th on the table going into Week 4.

The upcoming match for the Blues could be just what the doctor ordered, as FCKC hosts Orlando at Children’s Mercy Victory Field. The Pride have yet to figure things out this season, and the possible return of Groom and more time to practice in the 4-2-3-1 could provide FCKC some momentum in the first of a two-game homestand. Kansas City can’t afford to get mired near the bottom of the table after such optimism entering the season. Was A-Rod’s injury just a premonition of how the season was going to turn out? We’ll just have to see.

Boston is a Little Scary —Leigh Nieves

After defeating Sky Blue FC last week in a less than convincing win, Boston came away this week with an impressive 3-0 victory against Seattle. Yes, you read that correctly. Boston is now on a two-game winning streak, and both of the games were shutouts. Rose Lavelle scored her first professional goal against Seattle while Dowie and Leon put away two more to secure the win. While Seattle wasn’t playing their best game and made plenty of mistakes defensively, Boston is becoming more and more convincing as a potential middle-to-top of the table team.

I’m not saying that I told Rose Lavelle after I interviewed her in February that Boston was going to prove people wrong this season, but I told Rose Lavelle after I interviewed her in February that Boston was going to prove people wrong this season.

 

Do We Actually Miss the YouTube Streams? –Leigh Nieves

It’s Week 3 and we have yet to have a weekend where something hasn’t gone wrong with go90 or Lifetime. Whether it’s continuous commercials about quarterbacks, a black screen, or a random movie with Viola Davis interrupting our starting lineup, the whole viewing experience of Season 5 has been less than pleasant. We understand that there are kinks that need to be worked out from time to time, but is it time we, in a Carrie Bradshaw-esque way, ask ourselves: Do we actually miss the dependability of YouTube streams?

Of course Youtube had its flaws: the poor video quality, sound issues, etc. But, every week we at least knew that we would be able to see the games we wanted. While the production quality of the new Go90 and Lifetime streams are much better, their ability to deliver a consistent product each week leaves us a little less than confident.

There you have it, folks. Our big takeaways from Week 3 are starting to heat up like the weather heading into the summer on a four p.m. kick-off. We want to hear from you on these and any thoughts. Consider leaving us a comment, and we’ll see you for Week 4.

Off the Bench with Backline Soccer: 2017, Week 3

Posted on by RJ Allen

Welcome to Week 3 of Off the Bench. Next week we will be switching the format to previewing games instead of recapping as our podcast, “The Scouting Report,” will provide you with all of your game recapping needs.

Backline Soccer Recap:

We introduced another new weekly series, Four Star Takeaways from Chicago Red Stars, as well as a goalkeeper rankings series that will be updated throughout the season.

We also introduced our new Backline Soccer Forum. Join us to talk about the NWSL games and all things WoSo.

And don’t forget to check out our Backline Soccer Shop. We have team-inspired merchandise and much more to fit your WoSo wants and needs.

NWSL Week Three Game Recaps:

We’re already through three weeks of the NWSL season and so much has already happened. Let’s take a quick look at the outcome of each game.

Game 1: Portland Thorns 1 vs Chicago Red Stars 0

Portland Thorns record: 2-1-0
Position: 3rd
Total Points: 6

Chicago Red Stars record: 1-2-0
Position: 7th
Total Points: 3

Attendance: 14,471

Lifetime’s Game of the Week with the Portland Thorns and the Chicago Red Stars started off the weekend’s slate of much-anticipated matches. The game started right off on the gas pedal with both Alyssa Naeher and Adrianna Franch forced into early saves. Christen Press was trying everything she could to find the back of the net but just couldn’t quite make it happen. In the 21st minute, Press was taken out by Franch which, on replay, should have been a PK as she seemed to get hold of the foot of Press, effectively stopping her from potentially scoring a goal. Then in the 27th minute, Press was called for a handball and Nadia Nadim converted a PK, which would end up being the only goal of the match. Sofia Huerta had a huge opportunity in the 49th minute taking on three defenders, but she hit the side netting. Naeher came up with a pouncing save in 67th minute and Chicago continued to fight but in the end it was not enough. Portland took home the win 1-0.

 

Game 2: North Carolina Courage 3 vs Orlando Pride 1

North Carolina Courage record: 3-0-0
Position: 1st
Total Points: 9

Orlando Pride record: 0-2-1
Position: 10th
Total Points: 1

Attendance: 4,586

Saturday’s second game featured the first-ever meeting between the North Carolina Courage and the Orlando Pride, broadcast via the go90 app. This was always going to be a tough matchup for the Pride, taking on the Courage’s dominating attacking frontline, and sure enough, the Courage started off the goal scoring early. In the 6th minute, Ashlyn Harris made a great punch out save to deny a sure-fire goal by Lynn Williams but there were no Pride players to clear and Jessica McDonald banked home the rebound, putting the Courage up 1-0. Jasmyne Spencer had a big opportunity in the 14th minute but her shot went over the bar. She has had many missed opportunities to score goals through the first three games and the Pride may benefit from starting Danica Evans in her place next week.

Ashlyn Harris came up with a huge save in the 21st to deny Debinha a rocket of a goal. Finally in the 27th minute, Camila sent a rocket past the Courage’s keeper to even the game at 1. She has been a workhorse for the Pride through the first three games and will be one to watch moving forward; it’s nice to see her efforts pay off with a goal. But a handball on Laura Alleway in the 33rd minute gave Sam Mewis a chance to convert the PK and put the Courage up 2-1. In the 39th minute, Spencer played a beautiful cross to Marta but Sabrina D’Angelo comes up with a huge save. On replay, however, the ball looks like it may have crossed the goal line. Ashlyn Harris had a big miscue in the 70th minute that led to the Courage’s third goal of the night, and Lynn Williams’ first of the NWSL season. Harris played a poor ball out which the Courage intercepted, and Williams’ shot bounced hard off of the crossbar and went in. This sealed the game as the Courage continued their undefeated season with the win 3-1 over the Pride.

 

Game 3: Boston Breakers 3 vs Seattle Reign 0

Boston Breakers record: 2-1-0
Position: 2nd
Total Points: 6

Seattle Reign record: 1-1-1
Position: 5th
Total Points: 4

Attendance: 2,315

The next game saw the Boston Breakers taking on the Seattle Reign and what a different Reign team took the pitch this week! Gone was the dominating performance last week against the Dash, and instead the Boston Breakers took home three points and added three goals to their differential. The Breakers started off early with a supreme goal from Adriana Leon in the 11th minute. She pulled off some cheeky moves and caught Kopmeyer off of her line. Four minutes later, in the 15th minute, Rose Lavelle banked her first NWSL goal past Kopmeyer to put the Breakers up 2-0. In the 50th minute, the Reign almost found the back of the net, but were denied. Last week’s Boston hero, Natasha Dowie, then came right back in the 52nd minute, off of a beautiful assist from Adriana Leon, and put the Breakers up 3-0. The Reign looked to be struggling for most of the game against the Breakers, who have started off this season very strong. Boston, on the other hand, are seem to be making a name for themselves this season, and moving past the disappointments of previous seasons. They took home all three points with the 3-0 win over the Reign to put them just under North Carolina in the league standings this week.

 

Game 4: Washington Spirit 0 vs Houston Dash 1 

Washington Spirit record: 0-2-1
Position: 9th
Total Points: 1

Houston Dash record: 2-1-0
Position: 4th
Total Points: 6

Attendance: 3,154

Saturday’s last game, on simultaneously against the BOSvSEA match, was the season’s first meet-up between the Washington Spirit and the Houston Dash. This game was a tale of two halves. The Spirit came out in the first 45′ lacking fire, unable to make much happen. They’re currently a team lacking depth due to numerous injuries, and they played like it. Kealia Ohai made them pay in the 27th minute with a goal to put the Dash up 1-0. But come the second half, the Spirit looked like a different team. They took more control over the play and style but still could not come up with anything to show for it. Stephanie LabbĂ© continues to be a dominating force for the Spirit in goal and is a huge asset for them this season. She was forced to make many saves during the match and handled pretty much all of them very well. Estelle Johnson, being underappreciated, also continues to show her worth to the Spirit side with all of the work she is doing on the field this season. Their massive injury list certainly does not help but this team still has fight in them to try and get results. They just weren’t able to connect and finish in this match, giving Houston their first-ever win in Washington.

 

 

Game 5: Sky Blue FC 1 vs FC Kansas City 0

Sky Blue FC record: 1-1-1
Position: 6th
Total Points: 4

FC Kansas City record: 1-2-0
Position: 8th
Total Points: 3

Attendance: 2,562

The final game of the weekend was a matchup between Sky Blue and FC Kansas City. Sky Blue was without some big names, including Christie Pearce (out on concussion protocol) and Sam Kerr (excused absence).  And FC Kansas City were missing a player as well, with Shea Groom suffering from a broken rib she picked up in Week 2. The game was a little underwhelming, which is unfortunate, because both teams have stellar players. Neither side could really get anything going. We saw some big stops from both goalkeepers, Kailen Sheridan and Nicole Barnhart, in the 36th and 78th minute respectively. But it wasn’t until the 83rd minute that Raquel Rodriguez put one in the back of the net for Sky Blue, off an assist from Kelley O’Hara, that put them up 1-0. In the 88th minute, it looked like FC Kansas City had found the equalizer but were called offside, a decision that had some checking the game tape later, believing the refs had erred in their judgment. The game ended with with Sky Blue winning over FC Kansas City 1-0, for their first-ever victory over the visiting Blues on their home pitch at Yurcak Field.

 

The Scouting Report:

The Scouting Report went live last night with our NWSL Week 3 TSR recap. Make sure to tune in every Monday at 8pm EST to catch our weekly series!

You can find last night’s TSR here:

Come back next week for the next edition of Off the Bench! And don’t forget to check out the rest of our great content created weekly on the Backline Soccer website!

The XI Commandments of the NWSL

Posted on by RJ Allen

Commandment I: Thou Shalt Pick a Team and Love Thy Team Over All Others

In my experience, the fastest way to become deeply integrated into sports is to have a team to call your own. Yes, there are players you might like on other teams. And some teams you might like more than others. But everyone needs a team to call their own. 

Commandment II: Thou Shalt Learn the Players Names

Yes, even the players who aren’t on the national team. Even the bench players. Even that one player who got 15 minutes all season. Learn the names, learn their numbers, and learn what they look like. Make an effort to know who you’re rooting for.

Commandment III: Thou Shalt Not Overlook Consistency

Goals are nice. Flashy goals are nice. But do not turn your attention to flashy goal scorers who manage a good game every three or four matches over that holding midfielder who does their job consistently well every game. You might even find you enjoy watching consistent excellence over momentary brilliance.

Commandment IV: Thou Shalt Not Forget the Importance of Good Defense

Defenders are a needed part of the game. Don’t forget that without at least a semi-solid defense there to keep your team in the game, no amount of goals will save them. And defenders who save goals off the line? That’s about as good as it gets.

Commandment V: Thou Shalt Learn the History

This goes for team and player history. Learn about the team you have pledged your loyalty to. Learn about the players who wear the team colors. Learn about the history of women’s soccer, both local and national. Learn about the past leagues. It’s important to know how much work it’s taken to get here to fully appreciate what you’re seeing now.

Commandment VI: Thou Shalt Remember Time Is a Tricky Thing

Players can have a moment so good that the effects of time on your perception of that player are rendered null and void. That player who did that amazing thing for your team in 2013 might not be the same player in 2017. Just be aware time has tricked many of us.

Commandment VII: Thou Shalt Take Opponent into Account

Beating a last place team by two early in the season when they have all given up by the 60th minute should not be spoken about with the same pride as beating the first place team with two to go when they are fighting for the Shield. Remember to take all of these factors into account when talking about your team both positively and negatively.

Commandment VIII: Thou Shalt Not Forget the NWSL Is Sports

As family friendly, as geared toward being role models, as sanitized as the atmosphere may sometimes be, never forget that women’s soccer is sports. The fan culture needs to grow out of a place of sports first. That means some sections maybe aren’t meant for kids. It means there might be rude language. It means that this should be treated as sports even when the marketing from the league or teams themselves doesn’t always point in that direction.

Commandment IX: Thou Shalt Remember to Be Respectful

Number 8 being said just remember to not cross the line. When talking about players, or other fans, don’t bring up the big 5 subjects to avoid: race, gender, sexuality, family, personal life. You can still give a player shit, just remember to be respectful and to focus on the playing, not the personal lives, of players and you should be safe in the minds of most sports fans.

Commandment X: Thou Shalt Remember This Is Someone’s Job

Something that can get lost in all of the noise of role models and doing it for the next generation is the fact this is the player’s job. They are paid, in some cases far too little, to be on the field. If media writers write critically about a player they aren’t doing it to be a “hater” they are doing it because it is part of their job to look critically at the how a player is doing at their own work. Have enough respect for the players to treat them like professionals.

Commandment XI: Thou Shalt Be Open Minded ... Without Letting Thy Brain Fall Out.

Be open minded when someone is speaking to you about a player they are passionate about. Maybe they are seeing something you don’t. But don’t be so open minded that you take everything people say about a player they dislike the style of as gospel. Stick up for your positions as long as the supporting evidence is there. Have respectful discussions with people you disagree with. Learn from as many people as you can.