Tag: USWNT

6 Takeaways from NWSL: Week 20

Posted on by RJ Allen

Well, it has been quite the season, hasn’t it? And still, we’ve got two weeks left! 

The NWSL will take their final FIFA break of the season this upcoming week, so we hope you’ll let these takeaways keep your WoSo habit under control until Week 21. But until then, enjoy the International Friendlies, and keep your eyes peeled for some of our NWSL finest as they put on their National Team jerseys.

Boston Almost Did It. Almost. – Alyssa Zajac

Oh, Boston.

Going into this weekend’s matchup, it was almost certain that Portland was going to win by a decent margin. A team approaching its’ peak against a team that has continued to struggle with no signs of relief? A potential blowout in the making.

So you can imagine the almost disbelief that Boston came out swinging and Portland looked sloppy and disoriented. It was like “Freaky Friday” with Jamie Lee Curtis and Lindsay Lohan, except instead of two people it was two soccer teams. In the end, Portland squeaked out a 1-0 win courtesy of a goal by Christine Sinclair.

Looking at the match stats, you can’t help but wonder how on Earth did Boston not come away with the win – or at least a point. Boston had Portland beaten on almost every stat. The key issue that sealed Boston’s fate? Their inability to finish their chances. Boston had 17 shots to Portland’s three (yes, three total shots by the Portland Thorns). However, Boston had five shots on goal – four resulted in saves by AD Franch, while Portland had two – one of those was Sinclair’s goal. If Boston had been able to finish even one of their chances, they could have stunned a Portland side who just couldn’t get into a good rhythm. That seems to be the theme of Boston’s season: could have, should have, might have.

It’s not all bad though. Boston was able to out-possess, out-pass, and out-shoot Portland. If they improve their finishing come next season, Boston has the capability to finally have the strong season they have waited and worked for.

Chicago and Orlando Keep the Door Open for Seattle – Alyssa Zajac

We could have seen two teams secure the final two playoff spots this weekend with wins, but in the end, no more playoff spots were claimed, and the final games of the season now carry more weight.

Chicago made it out of Kansas City with a point, but the 0-0 draw was nothing spectacular (read: very boring). I’ve written about Chicago two weeks running, so I’ll spare you the “they need to figure stuff out” section. I’ll just say they have a better chance of winning against Houston than they do against Portland to clinch their playoff spot if current patterns hold true.

Now, to Orlando. You can feel a little bad for Orlando. A sure game-winning goal in stoppage time by none other than Alex Morgan – at home – to secure the Pride’s first-ever playoff appearance.  Less than two minutes later in stoppage time, Jess Fishlock scored the equalizer for Seattle. I, watching the stream, had never heard such a drastic difference in sound coming from the fans – joy, to near silence. With Fishlock’s goal, Pride fans are left to wait until the Portland Thorns come to town on Sept. 23 to see if they can secure their place in the playoffs.

Which leads us to the third team in the mix: Seattle. In order for Seattle to make the playoffs, they have to win their final two games against FC Kansas City and Washington, in addition to getting some help from Houston, North Carolina, or Portland. For reference: Houston plays Chicago, North Carolina plays Orlando, and Portland plays both Orlando and Chicago.

Two weeks, three teams, and two playoff spots. Let the race to the finish begin.

 

Preferential Treatment for Star Players – Charles Olney

We all know that superstars get some special treatment from referees. There’s one set of rules for the stars and another set for everyone else. It’s not fair, but it’s not a crisis. And you can even see some logic to it. Sports are, after all, a form of entertainment. And for many fans, the chance to see the biggest names in action is a major draw to a particular game. But if it becomes too obvious, or too extreme, it can start to degrade the fabric of the game. And that’s particularly true when it comes to handing out punishments for dangerous play. We saw a particularly stark example this week, with Alex Morgan (undoubtedly one of the biggest stars in the league) leaping into a challenge for a loose ball with reckless abandon. She missed the ball but did connect—studs up and fully flush—with Jess Fishlock’s ankle. It was a horrific tackle, and while NWSL officiating is notably quite lax, it’s hard to imagine someone of lesser stature getting away with this. Morgan probably should have seen straight red, and Seattle will rightly feel extremely hard done-by since it was Morgan herself who scored the decisive goal and put quite a bit more distance between the teams in the race for the playoffs.

I’ve focused on Morgan here, but the point is not to pick her out. Watch any big name and you’ll see similar treatment. And to a certain extent, this sort of thing is inevitable and probably not worth stressing too much about. But giving stars carte blanche to do whatever they like without consequence is a recipe for dangerous play and unfair games. I hope that the NWSL and the Professional Referee Organization are taking a look at this matter, and will work to reduce the risks going forward.

Bad Incentives and the Race for Andi Sullivan – Charles Olney

With just a couple weeks remaining in the season, there’s not a whole lot of tension left in the playoff race. There is, however, one crucial race still to be decided: the race to see who gets to draft Andi Sullivan. Draft slots are awarded in reverse order of the final table, meaning whoever finishes in last has first pick. This year, that looks like the easiest call in a long time, with Andi Sullivan looking like a budding superstar and a steep drop to the rest of the field. With a victory this weekend, Washington pulled three points clear of Boston. However, the two teams play each other on September 23, where a Boston victory would put them back ‘ahead’ on tiebreakers, and thereby put the Spirit first in line to cash in the Sullivan ticket. As a result, we have the strange situation of a game that both teams would prefer to lose. Now, my point is not to cast aspersions of match fixing. These are committed professionals who care about the integrity of the game and have plenty of self-respect tied up in their performances as well. I absolutely do not expect any shenanigans. But even if the players try their hardest, Boston and Washington fans will be put into the position of hoping that their team loses. That’s not a great look for the league.

The system of reverse-ordering the draft is always going to create some twisted incentives. But there are ways to reduce the magnitude of the effect. One possibility is to replace strict reverse with a lottery system, where teams lower down the table get more tickets. It still rewards the weaker teams overall without generating such a clear motive to throw games.

Got Your Number – Elizabeth Wawrzyniak

It’s odd, isn’t it? How some teams just seem to have your number?

For example, Washington has won a grand total of five games this season, and scored a total of 28 goals. Three of those wins, and 10 of those goals have come against coach Jim Gabarra’s old team, New Jersey’s Sky Blue FC. Earlier this season, I talked about Houston and their unlikely dominance over FCKC when playing in Missouri, never losing when on the road against the two-time NWSL champions. Then there’s Chicago and the NC Courage–despite the fact that they are number one in the league this year, Chicago is the only team that the Courage have not defeated in their inaugural season–and with only games against Sky Blue (1-1-0), Orlando (1-1-0), and maybe a make-up game against Houston (1-0-0) left to play, that little stat will stand until the 2018 season.

So, what is it about some match-ups or some match-ups in specific locations? Is it an intimidation thing? I don’t know if you could say that FCKC are particularly intimidated by Houston in general, much less when playing on their own field. (They have another chance to break this odd little streak in the final week of the season, when they host Houston in Week 24, by the way.) Just as I don’t know that Washington, with its epic list of injuries and its pretty stretched bench, should have posed such a threat to Sky Blue this season, that the team that can score five goals in the second half should have dropped nine points to the #9 team on the table.

But whatever the reasons, it is always interesting. And a reminder that sports aren’t just about physical performance–there’s a whole lot of mental strategy and mind games involved as well.

Not Like It Will Change Anything – Elizabeth Wawrzyniak

It’s been two weeks since Harvey hit the Southern US and the suspended Houston v North Carolina match-up. But just yesterday the NWSL announced that the game would be rescheduled for September 27th, exactly a month after the game was supposed to take place. I’m of two minds whether this game should even be played. On the one hand, yes, I always want more women’s soccer. More games, more teams, more, more, more, more, more.

But on the other hand, this game really doesn’t need to be played.

Even a game behind the pack, the NC Courage are leading the league–as they have been all season. Even if they were to do the near-impossible and beat the Courage, the Houston Dash are, once again, not going to make the playoffs. It just isn’t going to happen. Their 2017 season isn’t a sports biopic about overcoming adversity and Mother Nature. I’m sorry, it’s just not.

All this game does is give the Courage a really short and busy final week as they have to travel to New Jersey for their 6 pm game on Sunday, September 24, then to Texas for their 8 pm Wednesday game against the Dash, and finally back to North Carolina for their 7:30 pm Saturday match (and final game of the 2017 season) against the Orlando Pride. Houston, too, just ends up with a short week of multiple flights, though their travel, at least, is all within the same time zone.

I’m sorry, but all this game really does is put the health and safety of players at risk. We’re at the end of the season, the post-season is fast approaching, and bodies are worn down, stretched to their limits, and fatigue brings injuries. Pretty much always. And for what? A game that won’t actually change anything?

Honestly, the only reason we’re playing this game is so fans don’t have a reason to whine about stolen opportunities and “that year we wouldn’t have made the playoffs no matter what but, heck, let’s get upset about missed opportunities anyway.”

 

Breaking: Ellis Names Roster for New Zealand Friendlies

Posted on by RJ Allen

Jill Ellis has named 22 players to the roster for two friendlies between the U.S. Women’s National Team and New Zealand.

Carli Lloyd is recovering from an ankle injury and will miss the two matches. Other notable absences include Meghan Klingenberg, Ali Krieger, and Sydney Leroux.

Tobin Heath, Rose Lavelle, Morgan Brian and Ashlyn Harris all return to the roster after recovering from various injuries. Megan Rapinoe is also available for selection after recovering from a knee injury suffered in the Tournament of Nations.

Chicago Red Stars forward Sofia Huerta will once again train with the team as U.S. Soccer pursues a change of association with FIFA.  If the change is approved, Huerta will immediately be eligible to play with the USWNT.

If she makes an appearance in either of the two matches, Kelley O’Hara will become the 36th player in USWNT history to reach 100 caps.

 

U.S. Women’s National Team Roster by Position:

GOALKEEPERS (3): Alyssa Naeher (Chicago Red Stars), Jane Campbell (Houston Dash), Ashlyn Harris (Orlando Pride)

DEFENDERS (7): Abby Dahlkemper (NC Courage), Tierna Davidson (Stanford), Julie Ertz (Chicago Red Stars), Kelley O’Hara (Sky Blue FC), Becky Sauerbrunn (FC Kansas City), Casey Short (Chicago Red Stars), Taylor Smith (NC Courage)

MIDFIELDERS (7): Morgan Brian (Chicago Red Stars), Tobin Heath (Portland Thorns FC), Lindsay Horan (Portland Thorns FC), Rose Lavelle (Boston Breakers), Allie Long (Portland Thorns FC), Samantha Mewis (NC Courage), Megan Rapinoe (Seattle Reign FC)

FORWARDS (5): Crystal Dunn (Chelsea FC), Alex Morgan (Orlando Pride), Christen Press (Chicago Red Stars), Mallory Pugh (Washington Spirit), Lynn Williams (NC Courage)

6 Takeaways from NWSL: Week 17

Posted on by RJ Allen

It’s not even December, but it still felt like Christmas as the National Women’s Soccer League Week 17 came to an end. As soccer fans, we have been treated to some fantastic matches so far. The word historic has been tossed around to describe this season, and honestly, that’s almost an understatement. As most teams have only a handful of games left for the 2017 season and the playoff race continues to heat up, we outline some of the takeaways for the week which saw eight matches played.

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Orlando Needs to Make Turnovers Count – Luis Hernandez

This past weekend the Orlando Pride traveled to Jordan Field, and took all three points from the Boston Breakers. The performance was marred by a late foul in the box by Jamia Fields leading to the penalty kick which allowed Amanda Da Costa–retiring from professional soccer after the match–to pull one back for the Breakers for a final score of 2-1. Once Head Coach Tom Sermanni views the tape of the match, he should note that the Pride caused Boston to turn the ball over multiple times, but Sermanni’s side could not make the Breakers pay for those takeaways.

As potent as the Pride attack was prior to the match against Boston, the score line should have been worse from this past weekend. The top teams in the league force their opponents into turning the ball over and punish them by scoring. Case in point, the Chicago Red Stars have faced Orlando several times this season, and had been able to quickly pounce on the Pride to score once an Orlando player made a mistake. For the Pride to continue their push to the playoffs, the team will have to convert the mistakes into goals like Camila did versus Sky Blue when Kailen Sheridan misplayed a ball in their most recent meeting. As Orlando goes into Kansas City to face the Blues, both teams riding a three match winning streak, the team who takes advantage of the other errors will be the one to come out on top.

 

Roster Freeze Date Around the Corner – Luis Hernandez

As we have been focused on the action on the pitch and the excitement of the playoff race, everyone was quickly reminded by this Washington Spirit tweet that there was more going on behind the scenes.

Prior to the match, it was announced Kristie Mewis was not going to play for Washington due to an at the time pending trade. This wheeling and dealing is a good thing because it speaks to the level of competition in the league; as well as the pressure of the playoff push for teams to find any way to improve before the roster freeze date. This is what makes the offseason exciting, and during the season causes the fan base to buzz. The only negative on moves like this is the roster limit forces a team like Chicago, who carried a full roster, to cut a player like Morgan Proffitt who needed more time to develop since she wasn’t getting minutes on match day.

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Washington’s Starting Backline Could Be a Temporary Fix to a Major Problem – Jordan Small

Just when things seemed like they couldn’t get any worse for the Washington Spirit, they left North Carolina with zero points, a defender who has a possible illness and two more who have possible injuries from the match. While a team like Sky Blue has all the luck in the world right now, the Spirit definitely do not have any remaining. Despite all of that, the Spirit finally put together a backline that could possibly hold its own for the rest of the season.

With Whitney Church out with an injury sustained in practice this week, head coach Jim Gabarra was forced to put Kassey Kallman in alongside Shelina Zadorsky. Along with Caprice Dydasco and Estelle Johnson on the outside, the backline of Washington seemed to be doing a lot better. Against a very quick front line for North Carolina, Washington held their own in the first half. If Kallman does not have an injury from the own goal against the Courage and Johnson is able to recover from illness, the Spirit’s backline will see a major improvement going forward. The only question is: will Gabarra put Church back in the lineup once she is healthy again?

 

Zerboni Joins the 100 Appearance Club – Jordan Small

When talking about the North Carolina Courage midfield, Sam Mewis is usually the first name to come up. One of the players that does not get as much credit as she is due is McCall Zerboni. On Saturday, Zerboni became the fourth NWSL player to reach 100 appearances in the league. Whether it was in Portland, Western New York or North Carolina, Zerboni has always been a stud in the midfield. The tough nosed midfielder has an incredible soccer IQ that has really helped her team’s midfield. This season she has taken a leadership presence both on and off the field that has helped the rookies really grow. Courage head coach Paul Riley said after the game that she isn’t too old to make the national team. While Zerboni’s talent in the midfield could be a nice addition, it’s hard to see Jill Ellis calling up a 30-year-old into camp, especially with a major competition still two years away.

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An Elegy for Sky Blue – Elizabeth Wawrzyniak

We’ve all heard by now–Christy Holly is out as Sky Blue’s head coach and Christie Pearce is out for the rest of the season (and presumably has ended her career) with “accumulative injuries.”

In the end, we don’t know why Holly is gone. Whatever happened behind the scenes hasn’t been made public. In the end, doesn’t really matter since it’s done. He’s gone.

But what does matter is how the fuck Sky Blue is going to have any chance at the post-season now. Sure, they have Sam Kerr. But Sam Kerr cannot continue to drag this team kicking and screaming across the goal line each week. She is good, yes. No, she is great. But she is not yet consistent in a way that can guarantee Sky Blue’s continued success. 

Not only can they not rely on Kerr to win every game for them, but Sky Blue now has a leadership problem because the two guiding forces on the team are gone. Christy Holly and Christie Pearce, between the two of them, formed this team, molded it, and created the burgeoning positive culture that it had become over the past two seasons–a far cry from its initial “poor little sister” status of the league. The leadership on a backline that was already in dire need of support is gone.

As much as I can hope for SBFC to make that final miracle run to the playoffs, I don’t think it’s going to happen. And so I’m already thinking about next season and what the team needs to even have a chance. As always, it’s the backline that has me most concerned. First off, they need an experienced center back. Mandy Freeman, when paired with Pearce, has been doing okay, but she needs help. Second, I love me some Kayla Mills but she either needs to figure out how to defend or she needs to take her seat on the bench. Plus, she needs to stop looking like she’s ready to pass out in the last, crucial, ten minutes of the game. And, for real, either they need to play O’Hara as a winger or force her to stay in her defensive position because fast as she is, she has made some brutal, game-ending mistakes this past season tracking back.

Right now, they have four picks in the 2018 draft. They’re going to need to use them wisely. And they’re going to need to do some negotiating because this team can’t survive on Kerr’s nose for goal, O’Hara’s drive to win, and youthful energy alone. They need to explore some trade options and expand the depth of their bench.

I hate to admit it, but they need to start thinking like Washington now, and making next year their priority.

(Come on, Sky Blue, prove me wrong. Please?)

 

Sam Kerr – Elizabeth Wawrzyniak

Just. 

Sam Kerr. 

Edub is still recovering from that game. She practically had a heart attack that second-half. 

A Backline Soccer Apology to Off the Post

Posted on by RJ Allen

Backline Soccer would like to apologize for the Twitter account incident that occurred this morning. Told that the Off the Post account would be changed into a personal account by one of our joint members, we asked the individual to consider letting us take over the account to continue to provide in-the-moment soccer coverage to followers and fans. We saw it as a way to both continue the legacy of what Off the Post (OTP) had started, as well as to broaden our own existing base.

We were mislead by this individual, who assured us that she had received permission to transfer the account to us, and were excited to expand our coverage. However, we were quickly made aware that what we had been told was not true, and that OTP had neither been informed nor given their permission.

In a panic, we attempted to remedy the situation, but a subsequent misjudgment resulted in the account being deleted.

We know that there are some who believe it was deleted deliberately out of spite. And we understand why. We can only assure you that it was not, that it was an accident. And we would like to extend our deepest apologies to the wonderful staff of OTP. First for the misinformation that led us to take the account, and second for destroying your work as we panicked over what had happened and how to make it right.

We have turned the account back over to the members of OTP that brought the transgression to our attention. 

We hope that you can forgive our mistakes. And we would like to rectify them in whatever ways we can.

First, we have let the individual whose actions led to this situation go. There is no place for lies and deception here.

Second, we would like to begin a series of promotional tweets urging our followers and listeners to check out OTP if they are not already fans.

Third, after some time to heal has happened we’d be more than happy to have a member of OTP work with Backline on a podcast, written work or another project. 

Again we are deeply sorry for the actions we took today. 

Backline Soccer’s Stance on Homophobia

Posted on by RJ Allen

Backline Soccer is committed to lifting the voices of those in the LGBT community, people of color and those who have thoughts on the beautiful game.

The majority of the Backline Soccer staff is made up of those in the LGBT community and the issues that effect that community are important to everyone here.

The LGBT community is a diverse and complex community that houses within it a plethora of diverse and complex opinions. We endeavor to try and bring a thoughtful perspective to the table.

We want to make it clear that in no uncertain terms we do not support homophobia, transphobia, biphobia, or any other ideology of hate connected to the LGBT community or toward people of color, those with disabilities or any other targeted group.

Love and Soccer: A Queer Writer at Backline Soccer

Posted on by RJ Allen

I’m gay.

I’m a big fat lesbian.

Before anyone misinterprets who I am or what I’m about to say, know that.

Earlier this year, a member of Backline Soccer’s staff wrote an opinion piece about Jaelene Hinkle. The article was neither supportive of Hinkle’s views nor homophobic. It was immediately received as such, though, and knowing what a light trigger some communities of US women’s soccer fans have about Hinkle, some members of staff and I did express hesitation about publishing it.

But we value our writers’ opinions, and we value their work. Our writer had something she wanted to say, and we support her. We continue to support her.

The backlash has been interesting, coming and going in waves. Now, every time someone doesn’t like what a member of staff says in an article or on one of our social media accounts, they’ll throw “homophobic” at us, or re-share that piece, reigniting the conflict they see in it.

But what was actually in that piece?

What was actually expressed?

One of our writers explained that having been raised in a conservative Christian household herself, she could understand how Hinkle had come to believe what has been inferred from her social media posts. She could put herself in Hinkle’s shoes because she had once been in them herself. She knows the growth and the journey it takes to become an open-minded person who accepts and celebrates people of all identities into her life. Because she has taken that journey herself.

Our writer then said she didn’t support Hinkle’s beliefs but believed that in certain ways, with certain criteria, she could respect Hinkle: her skill as a football player, her dedication to her sport, and the part that most of you seem to have misunderstood, her loyalty to her convictions. Not her convictions, but how strongly she believes in them. To our writer, that is admirable.

This, from what I can tell, is what people have objected to and misinterpreted. I get that. When Hinkle was mysteriously absent in Europe, I ugly-laughed (the ugly-side of me did, anyway, the side that is small and bitter and petty; the side I’m never proud of). Because as an out and proud queer woman, I’m pretty much not a fan of those who don’t believe I should be able to live as I live and love as I love. And the thing is, we would never ask anyone to respect someone or something that goes against their own convictions.

The sad fact of life is that there are people in the nation who believe that LGBTQIA+ folk don’t deserve equal rights or respect or even human decency. They exist, and would that I could, I’d wave my magic wand and change that, make the world a better place for all of us. But it seems that I was probably daydreaming when the announcement for wand distribution went out because I still don’t have one.

What I have, and what our writer was trying to get at, is a love of soccer. An international sport that transcends boundaries, languages, political ideologies, and all of the things that get in the way of human beings loving and celebrating each other.

Soccer is a common ground where people come together. We’ve all seen the pictures–the young boys comforting a grown man after their team won against his, the child in Afghanistan whose homemade Messi jersey made us all “awww” a little (or a lot) on the inside. Soccer, football, our love for it, it makes the world smaller. It makes friends of strangers.

And this was our writer’s purpose, to remind us of the power of soccer.

We live in a time unimaginable once. When there are men and women who are willing and able to come out as LGBTQIA+ publicly and live openly. They are role models and inspirational and heroes, all of them. Every time an athlete takes that brave step (every time anyone takes that brave step) a big gay rainbow sparkles inside my heart. And though the world is becoming more and more open, more and more accepting, there is still work to be done. Our world isn’t finished yet.

And neither is our work.

I could tell you the percentage of Backline Soccer members who identify as LGBTQIA+, but for those who have already made up their minds that we’re homophobic, that we believe in injustice and inequality, I don’t think it would matter.

I could tell you that the writer of the article, the editor, haven’t a homophobic bone in their bodies, but those who have already made up their minds wouldn’t care.

What I can tell you is this.

We love soccer. We love soccer fans. We love what we do.

We don’t ask that anyone agree with us. We encourage debate–with our articles, with our opinions.

Because we want Women’s Soccer to grow. And we know it’s a platform for change, for progress.

Because we love the beautiful game.

Which is why we need to talk about this:

Threats 1

Threats 2

This was sent to a member of our staff today, on her personal account.

I don’t care what you believe. I don’t care what you think.

This is unacceptable.

The kind of person who does this doesn’t get to call themselves a fan of the beautiful game. Bullying isn’t a strong enough word for what this is, but whatever you call it, whoever sent it should take a step back and think long and hard about what kind of person they want to be in this world.

Take it from me, this kind of negativity, this kind of hatred? It’s a poison.

In the end, I can’t change your mind, no more than I could change Hinkle’s. But I wish I could.

But if you’re going to spread that kind of hatred around? If there’s something that dark inside of you?

Send your poison my way.

I can take it.

 

Backline Soccer Responds to Threats to Staff

Posted on by RJ Allen

Backline Soccer is aggrieved to know that members of our staff are being bullied and threatened on social media for their affiliation with our site.

We condemn, in the strongest of terms, bullying, bigotry, and threats. There is never a call to tell someone to kill themselves. Ever.

We will continue to put out quality articles, interviews, galleries, podcasts, and, yes, opinion pieces. Because we value discourse in the world of Women’s Soccer, and we know that bonds and communities are formed through civil, respectful discourse.

Passion breeds both unity and division, but we are not afraid to take on topics that not everyone may be willing to hear with an open mind. And we will not bow down to the intimidation of our wonderful writers, editors, and staff-at-large by those who would see us cower, anonymous or not.

This is the beautiful game, and we will not let the negativity of a few soil what we love so much.

Breaking News: USWNT to Host Korea Republic in October Friendlies

Posted on by RJ Allen

U.S. Soccer has announced that the United States Women’s National Team will be hosting the 16th ranked Korea Republic in two friendlies in October.

The first friendly will be held on Oct. 19 at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome in New Orleans, LA, and the second will be held on Oct. 22 at Shalen’s Stadium at WakeMed Soccer Park in Cary, NC. The games will be aired on FS1 and ESPN, respectively.

The last time the USWNT and the Korea Republic faced each other was May 30, 2015 – the last match before the USWNT’s famous Women’s World Cup run.

The two friendlies round out the remaining USWNT schedule for 2017, which includes New Zealand in September and Canada in November.

Strong Showing Against Old Rivals: USA Shuts Out Japan, 3-0

Posted on by RJ Allen

The USWNT came out on Thursday night looking more determined that I’ve seen them in a long while. I was away from home for the game, and stuck watching on the ESPN app on my tablet, but even on that tiny screen, I could see a different kind of fire had been lit under the Starting XI’s cleats for this final tournament match.

Maybe it was the familiar opponent. 

Maybe it was the feeling that they needed–NEEDED–to finish this home tournament better than they’d done in the 2nd-annual She Believes Cup way back in March. 

But whatever it was, the US team was ready for–and capable of–a win. 

And win they did. 

The Starting XI was perhaps the first clue that the US were determined to win.  Featuring Kelley O’Hara at right back, Julie Ertz in the midfield, and starting Press, Rapinoe, and Pugh in the 4-3-3 formation, Jill Ellis put out her strongest starting lineup of the tournament. Game three, fighting for the second-place spot, was no time to experiment and it seems the coach realized that. 

The game opened at breakneck speed, with Christen Press taking the ball into the Japanese box in the first 30 seconds. The drive didn’t result in a goal, but it set the tempo and gave the fans there in the stands a preview of what to expect from the game. The game was end-to-end, as Japan pressured high and chased US defenders around their own end, looking for an opening to intercept a pass and make a play at Alyssa Naeher in the net, but it was Megan Rapinoe who broke open the scoring in the 15′, with a brilliant run into the box to receive a perfect pass from Press, a slight juke to throw off both the defender and the goalkeeper, and sent the ball into the Japanese goal. The goal was beautiful, but don’t forget, that was the third time Rapinoe had thrown herself forward with the ball–she was on a mission to score, and try, try, try again, she succeeded. In perfect Rapinoe fashion.

The high-tempo of the game couldn’t be sustained, however. And eventually, the game settled into a more sedate pace. That change came, however, after Kelley O’Hara’s exit in the 30′ minute. Sustaining (or re-aggravating) a groin injury, O’Hara went to her knees untouched by the Japanese opponents, prompting the trainers to come out immediately. Earning her 99th cap, O’Hara’s speed on the right was what allowed Press (and the other forwards) to drive so dangerously into Japanese territory. In the minutes before she went down, she made several impressive runs halfway across the length of the field to shut down an attempt by Japan to even the scoreline. Once she was out, and Taylor Smith subbed in for her third cap, the entire game slowed down, as Smith, while doing a great job to protect the US’s right-flank, lacks O’Hara’s combination of speed, experience, and creativity in the position. Don’t get me wrong, though, Smith got some great experience across the tournament as a whole, and has certainly earned another call-up for the next set of games.

Once O’Hara was off the field, the rest of the game was a little more sedate. The Japanese almost equalized after the restart, but Julie Ertz made a fabulous goal-line save, picking up a knock as she slid into the goalpost, but denying the Japanese the chance to score. Honestly, that was probably the best look the Japanese team had at goal the entire game, with Naeher off her line and stranded in the box with nothing but space and the goal behind her. But Naeher was on her game the whole night, making several impressive saves to keep the US in front. 

Mallory Pugh doubled the lead in the 60′ off a beautiful cross from Taylor Smith, who later played a similar role in the game-deciding goal. Allie Long had come in for Ertz just a few minutes before in the 54′, and Long took her place in the midfield, the second of the US’ six substitutions. Four more US substitutions followed soon after the second goal, with Horan in for Lloyd in the 65′, and the entire forward corps subbed out in the 73′, with Morgan in for Press, Leroux for Rapinoe, and Williams for Pugh. The fresh legs seemed to spark the US attack again, and just five minutes later, Taylor Smith again assisted with a cross collected and sent into goal by Alex Morgan. The goal came off a slight deflection from a Japanese defender, and sealed the victory for the US. Sydney Leroux tried to notch one late in the match, just before stoppage time, but her direct shot was denied by the goalkeeper. But the way Leroux looks on the ball, now back from her maternity leave, I fully expect her to notch a few goals the next time she’s called up. 

The USWNT needed this win, both to demonstrate to their opponents across the globe that they are #1 for a reason, and plan to stay there at the top. But also to remind themselves of the kind of team they have been and can be. There’s been a lot of experimentation, for better or for worse, and there seems to be some locker room anxiety about the future of the team. But this game showed the players, and the rest of us, that the US–when set free to play–isn’t going anywhere anytime soon.

Multi-Trick Pony: 5 Reasons Christen Press Should Start for the USWNT

Posted on by RJ Allen

If there is one takeaway we can focus on from the U.S.’s performance in the Tournament of Nations, it is head coach Jill Ellis’s experimentation with the USWNT’s starting lineup. To say the experiment went well in their first two matches would be a gross overstatement. But one thing we did learn from it all–nobody’s spot is secure on the United States Women’s National Team. Unless your name is Megan Rapinoe, of course, because the Seattle Reign member is playing at an insane level right now. But there was one standout from the tournament and the NWSL season that I think has earned herself a regular starting spot–Chicago Red Stars forward Christen Press. She expands the mold of what a striker should be and elevates the rest of the team around her. She was the spark that the US needed against Brazil and part of why the U.S. led Japan at the half. And she can do a lot more than just shoot a soccer ball.

Here are the five reasons she deserves a regular starting spot:  

Her Shot

Yes, she is more than just a player that can shoot the ball, but this is one of the main reasons that she should be the starting striker for the USWNT. It’s not necessarily that she can shoot the ball, but rather how she can shoot the ball. Her placement is something to be marveled at, and if you don’t believe me check out that goal she scored against Brazil. Press can find the corners and bend the ball around a goalkeeper with ease when she is in full control. In the NWSL she is in the top five for goals scored. She’s the leader in both shots taken and shots on goal, meaning that Press isn’t the kind of player who waits for opportunities to come to her. She creates those opportunities for herself, which creates a lot of havoc when trying to defend her.

Put simply, she is a constant threat.

Her Friends Get By With a Little Help From Her

One of the best things about Press is that she isn’t the kind of striker that floats up top and waits for the ball to come to her from her teammates. That’s not necessarily a bad thing, but Press definitely takes the JFK approach when it comes to playing on a team: she doesn’t ask what her team can do for her, she asks what she can do for her team. While some strikers might not necessarily look to be great orchestrators of a play, that is where Press is different. Instead of always having the need to be fed the ball from the wing, she looks to her surrounding players to see what opportunities can be built from their approaches towards goal. This means that her service to her teammates has to be on point. It also means that Press isn’t always the highest woman on the pitch. But, as could be seen from her assist to Rapinoe against Brazil, it works.

The Orchestrator of Opportunity

Feeding off of the prior two reasons Press should be the starting forward for the USWNT, both her shooting ability and the way she can get her teammates involved in the run of play has created a lot of positive opportunities for the U.S. and reminded the world of just how lethal the #1 women’s team in the world can be. She has used this approach in Chicago, and they are currently sitting in second place in the NWSL. But whether it is for club or country, you can see her on the pitch in between plays shouting out to teammates to move them forward, or to place them in gaps. And we already know that she has created more opportunities in the league than any other player with regards to her shooting, but what is really important about the opportunities she has, or her team has, is that they are capitalized on when it counts. Take, for example, a penalty kick equalizer against the Washington Spirit back in June, or a 1-0 hard fought victory against a tough Seattle Reign side. They both have Christen Press all over them, and even though they were only one goal apiece, they were important goals.

Ball Handling

I’ll call a spade a spade. Christen Press doesn’t handle the ball like a striker. She handles it like a midfielder putting on a clinic. It might be one of her most important skill sets, but often the one that is far overlooked. She has the power to run full-steam into the box, pull the ball back across a defender and then have the poise to pick her placement on net. That is incredibly hard for any player to do, but she makes it look easy, like a walk in the park. No, a defender in front of her is not going to make her back off, but it might make the defender wish they had given her an extra step. Because she isn’t the kind of player that needs a wide-open shot. She just needs the width of the ball.

Old Reliable

One of the greatest things about Press is that you know what you are going to get. She’s a work horse every second of the game, she isn’t one to be bogged down by injuries constantly (knock on wood), and she is a steady constant at what she does. Soccer is just as much a mental game as it is physical and the one thing that Press has is the inherent ability to not let the negative bring her down. She keeps shooting and keeps making runs, and that is more important than just about anything else when the odds feel impossible and a team needs a spark of inspiration to keep going. That’s probably why she has a way of igniting the team when she comes off the bench. Let’s face it, the U.S. wasn’t doing great things against Brazil before Christen Press entered the game. And I am not saying that the comeback was all her, but she definitely played an important role in it. She is reliable at any time in the match, from start to finish, or coming off the bench. The situation doesn’t matter.

Christen Press makes an impact, always.

I don’t think anyone really knows what Jill Ellis is going to do with the USWNT in the future. And I don’t know what role will be given to Christen Press. I do know that she is worthy of a regular starting spot. But I also know that even if she comes off the bench, she is going to play just the same as she would in any other situation–technically, multifaceted, and with her team on her back.