Video :: Congratulations, Abby! Wambach Passes Hamm as All-Time Leading Scorer

via U.S. Soccer:

On June 20, 2013 Abby Wambach became the all-time leading socrer in international soccer, netting her 159th goal for the USA. Here's a look back at some of her most memorable highlights.

NWSL Player Allocation announced, Washington Spirit player list revealed

Today US Soccer officially announced the National team player allocations for all eight of the clubs in the newly formed National Women's Soccer League. 

NWSL Announces Allocation of 55 National Team Players to Eight Clubs

The list of US National Team players allocated for the Washington Spirit is below:

Washington Spirit
Ashlyn Harris (USA)
Ali Krieger (USA)
Lori Lindsey (USA)
Robin Gayle (CAN)
Diana Matheson (CAN)
Alina Garciamendez (MEX)
Teresa Worbis (MEX)

Other notable players allocated to other league teams include FIFA Women's Player of the Year winner Abby Wambach (Western New York Flash), FIFA Women's Player of the Year nominee Alex Morgan (Portland Thorns FC), and often controversial goalkeeper Hope Solo (Seattle Reign FC).

Wambach beats out Marta, teammate Alex Morgan to win FIFA Women's World Player of the Year

ussoccer.com News Release:

U.S. WNT FORWARD ABBY WAMBACH NAMED FIFA WOMEN'S WORLD PLAYER OF THE YEAR;
PIA SUNDHAGE NAMED WORLD COACH OF THE YEAR FOR WOMEN'S SOCCER

 

Alex Morgan Voted Third in Women's World Player of the Year Voting;
Wambach's Honor Marks Third Time American Woman Named World Player of the Year
Following Mia Hamm's 2001 and 2002 Selections

 

CHICAGO (Jan. 7, 2013) - Abby Wambach, the co-captain of the U.S. Women's National Team, has been named the 2012 FIFA Women's World Player of the Year, and Pia Sundhage, who led the USA to the 2012 Olympic gold medal, has been named the 2012 World Coach of the Year for Women's Soccer.

• Quote Sheet
• Wambach Climbs the Charts
• Sundhage Wins in Final U.S. WNT Game | Pia Plays Her Final Encore

Wambach and Sundhage received the awards today at the 2013 FIFA Ballon d'Or gala in Zurich, Switzerland, as the world's governing body for soccer held its annual event. Lionel Messi of Barcelona and Argentina was named the FIFA World Player of the Year for the fourth year in a row.

Wambach and Morgan Nominated for FIFA Women's World Player of the Year

via ussoccerdotcom YouTube:

ussoccer.com talks to U.S. Women's National Team forwards Abby Wambach and Alex Morgan about their nominations for FIFA Women's World Player of the Year. The award will be given on Monday, Jan. 7, 2013.

More info: http://www.ussoccer.com

Former Washington Freedom Star, Abby Wambach Previews Gold Medal Game against Japan

In two seasons with the Washington Freedom (2002-2003/WUSA & 2009-2010/WPS) Abby Wambach not only played along side the most famous U.S. Soccer player ever - Mia Hamm, she also won a league championship and was named MVP. Wambach scored 44 goals and added 30 assists while playing for the Freedom franchise and was by far a fan favorite at the Maryland SoccerPlex.

Now Wambach is looking to lead the U.S. Women's Soccer team to Olympic Gold in London against Japan, a team that beat the Americans only a year ago to win the 2011 Women's World Cup. On the other side of the pitch will be a former Washington Freedom teammate of Wambach's, Homare Sawa.
Another former Washington Freedom player on the U.S. roster for the 2012 Olympic squad going for gold include is Becky Sauerbrunn (2008-2010). 

Abby Wambach

On going up against her friend and former club teammate Homare Sawa against Japan:
"I think that Homare Sawa has proven herself to be one of the best players in the world. She led her team to a world championship. I have the greatest respect for her. She came to play in the United States a couple of times and took what she learned back to her country and they've done an extraordinary job over the last couple of years putting it together. I do think that we also have a great team. We're at a place that I think is solid. I think the fact that we lost the World Cup and the way that we did gives us even more passion and desire to go out and perform tomorrow. We saw each other in the Village. We told each other that we're both glad that the other had won because we believe that we're the top two teams in the world and our fans deserve to see a great final. This gold medal match is going to be nothing short of that."

Wambach pledges goal for Richmond coach battling tumor

StoweStrong
By Pat McStay

The Virginia soccer community was hit hard a few weeks ago when William and Mary graduate and FC Richmond youth soccer coach, Ian Stowe was diagnosed with Germinoma, a type of germ cell tumor typically resulting from a failure of germ cells to migrate properly in the body. Stowe is currently at VCU Medical Center undergoing chemotherapy treatments. 


 Stowe was a fantastic player for the tribe and an up-and-coming coach with FC Richmond, but more importantly, he is a great person. U.S. Women's National team stars Abby Wambach and Hope Solo even sent a shout out to #stowestrong via Twitter. Wambach went so far as to tweet, “the next goal is for you!”

His family needs your help. Go to Facebook and like their page for more updates at #stowestrong.  You can also go to http://www.stowestrong.com/ to donate and email stowestrong@gmail.com to order a *t-shirt to help support their family and rising medical costs for this unforeseen illness.

*100% of the proceeds for the shirts will go to the Stowe family.

Wambach keeps scoring, leads USWNT over Canada

The leader of the U.S. Womens team, Abby Wambach has continued her dominant play (at the age of 31) on the field during a recent "Celebration Series" which included two friendlies with our northern neighbors, Canada.

Wambach has scored three goals in the two games and is playing some of the best soccer of her international career. Hungry and focused on winning a Gold Medal at the upcoming 2012 London Olympics, Wambach and the rest of the USWNT are surely going to head into that competition with a mindset that this team has something to prove to its fans and the rest of the soccer world - they are deserving of their FIFA #1 ranking.


 
I for one would not feel comfortable betting against this motivated group. Up next for the U.S. is a six week long break for the player (with exception of GK Hope Solo, currently participating on ABC's dancing with the stars) followed by another friendly Nov. 19 against Sweden at the University of Phoenix Stadium in Glendale, Ariz.

Click Here to Vote for Hope Solo on Dancing With the Stars

Wambach Goal named ESPY Best Play for 2011

Should the U.S. go on to win their third Women's World Cup title against Japan this Sunday, the turning point for the USWNT will most surely be the goal from Abby Wambach against Brazil that tied the match and eventually allowed the U.S. women to win in penalty kicks. That goal has not only helped cement Wambach as one of the best USWNT players ever but has also helped raise awareness of soccer in America and united hardcore and casual fans alike. For that reason ESPN recognized Wambachs' goal and named it 'Best Play of 2011'.

Have a look again at the dramatic game leveling goal:




And yes, it was very similar to the goal Abby scored in teh Semifinal match against France:

Wambach does it again as U.S. Beats France, advance to Women's World Cup Final

A strong header from forward Abby Wambach sealed the victory for the USWNT in their semifinal match against France.

For most of the first 60 minutes France controlled possession and former Wambach teammate, Sonia Bompastor beat U.S. keeper Hope Solo from distance to even the game at 1-1 early in the second half.

U.S. Head Coach Pia Sundhage made some important substitutions in the second half to help refresh the faltering U.S. attack by bringing in Megan Rapinoe and a short while later Alex Morgan.

Rapinoe looked to be the better of the two substitutions making her presence known on the left side of the attack for the Americans while Morgan struggled to finish a couple of good opportunities.

With nearly 20 plus minutes to go in regulation Wambach made a charge at the top of the box to seemingly be brought down by Bompastor of France but there was no call. A motivated Wambach charged right back moments later to connect on the end of a corner from Lauren Chaney. In a near replay of her goal against Brazil the former Washington Freedom star came to the rescue for the second straight match. Having started slowly this World Cup Wambach clearly has all cylinders firing.

On multiple plays substitute Alex Morgan was unable to finish on a couple of clear goal scoring opportunities and fell down on a play where had she kept her footing she would have easily had a one-on-one with the French goalkeeper. Instead Morgan eventually found the back of the net with a great left footed shot only minutes after Wambachs' go ahead goal. With the Morgan goal the U.S. had done it again and is now headed to the Women's World Cup final for the first time since 1999 where they won their second World Cup title.

Up next for the women representing the Red, White, and Blue is the winner of the other semi-final match between Japan and Sweden. Should Sweden advance it would set up a rematch for the U.S. against the only team to beat them this tournament when the USWNT fell to the Swedes 2-1 on July 6th.

Former Freedom players Wambach, Bompastor face off in Women's World Cup Semi

Once teamates for the Washington Freedom of the WPS, quarterfinal hero Abby Wambach is set to face her former Freedom teamate Sonia Bompastor as the USWNT battle France for the chance to advance to the 2011 Women's World Cup final in Germany.

As head coach Pia Sundhage stated after the match, "There’s something to be said about this team. This American attitude of pulling everything together and bringing out the best performance in each other is contagious. I am very, very proud and I’m very, very happy to be the coach for the U.S. team.”
While we're all proud of what the team accomplished, the players and coaches have turned their focus to what lies ahead as they seek to make the United States the first nation to win a third FIFA Women's World Cup title.


Sonia Bompastor of France w/Freedom scarf



The USA faces France in the semifinals on Wednesday, July 13, with kickoff at 11:30 a.m. ET live on ESPN, ESPN3.com and Galavision. Fans can also follow on ussoccer.com’s MatchTracker and on Twitter @ussoccer_wnt.

U.S. Women Put Four Past Finland in Group A Finale

QUARTEIRA, Portugal (March 7, 2011) – The U.S. Women’s National Team rolled past Finland in what amounted to a warm-up match for the Algarve Cup championship game, winning 4-0 on two goals from Alex Morgan and one each from Shannon Boxx and Carli Lloyd.

In Group B, Iceland defeated Denmark 1-0 for its third win of the tournament to earn a spot in its first Algarve Cup title match. The USA will be playing for the tournament championship for the ninth consecutive year. The championship game will be held on March 9 at the beautiful Estádio Algarve, built for the 2004 European Championships, with a kickoff of 12 p.m. ET. Fans can follow the action as it happens on ussoccer.com’s MatchTracker and on Twitter @ussoccer_wnt.

U.S. Women's National Team Ready to Open 2011 Algarve Cup against Japan

U.S. WOMEN OPEN ALGARVE CUP AGAINST JAPAN: The U.S. Women’s National Team will open the 2011 Algarve Cup against Japan on March 2 at Municipal Stadium in Vila Real de San Antonio in what will be the first meeting between the teams since the semifinal of the 2008 Olympics in Beijing, China. It will also be a clash of two of the top teams in the world with the USA currently ranked first and Japan fifth. All of the USA’s Group A games will kick off at 3 p.m. local time (10 a.m. ET) and fans can follow the action as it happens on ussoccer.com’s MatchTracker and on Twitter @ussoccer_wnt. The Algarve Cup is a key component for U.S. head coach Pia Sundhage’s 2011 FIFA Women’s World Cup preparation as this will be the final tournament for the USA before it heads to Germany in mid-June. By the time the match against Japan kicks off, the USA will have trained in Portugal for 10 days, with one day off, as Sundhage continues to formulate her roster, lineup and tactics for the sixth FIFA Women’s World Cup.

U.S. Women in Portugal to Train for March 2 Algarve Cup Opener

U.S. Women's National Team

2011 Algarve Cup

The Algarve, Portugal

Feb. 21, 2011

U.S. WNT ARRIVES EARLY IN PORTUGAL FOR 11 DAYS OF TRAINING BEFORE ALGARVE CUP: The U.S. Women’s National Team has arrived on the southern coast of Portugal to prepare for its second international tournament of 2011. This is the USA’s 16th trip to the Algarve Cup, which has developed into one of the premier tournaments in the world. The 2011 edition of the event features 12 teams and four of FIFA’s top-10 ranked countries. It’s also an ideal environment for U.S. head coach Pia Sundhage to continue her roster evaluation and team preparation for the 2011 FIFA Women’s World Cup. The USA will play four matches, the first three in a group format, with a placement game coming on March 9. The U.S. team arrived on the early morning of Feb. 19 and will have 11 days of training before opening the competition against Japan on March 2 at Municipal Stadium in Vila Real de San Antonio, which is just a Hope Solo goal kick from the Spanish border. The tournament was held a week earlier last year and the USA arrived five days before its first match. All of the USA’s Group A games kick off at 3 p.m. local time (10 a.m. ET) and fans can follow the action as it happens on ussoccer.com’s MatchTracker and on Twitter @ussoccer_wnt.

FIRST MEETING WITH JAPAN SINCE 2008 OLYMPICS: The USA faced Japan twice at the 2008 Olympics in China, first in group play and again the semifinal, but the two countries have not met since. The USA and Japan will open play on March 2 in what should be an entertaining game with both countries looking to get a leg up on Group A. A loss during the Algarve Cup is difficult to rebound from, as a team needs to win its group to qualify for the championship game. The Algarve Cup is the fourth event of the year for the USA, which had a training camp in Los Angeles in mid-January, the Four Nations Tournament in China in late January and a training camp in Ft. Lauderdale, Fla., in early February. Seven of the eight teams in Groups A and B are the same as last year with Japan replacing Germany. The Germans are finishing up their club season early to prepare for the Women’s World Cup and did not want to pull their players out of crucial end-of-the-season club matches to attend the tournament.

  

18th Annual Algarve Cup

The Algarve, Portugal

Group A

USA, Japan, Norway, Finland

Group B

Sweden, China, Iceland, Denmark

Group C

Portugal, Chile, Wales, Romania

U.S. WNT 2011 Algarve Cup Schedule

Date / Opponent  / Kickoff (Local/ET) / Venue

March 2 Japan 3 p.m. / 10 a.m. Estádio Municipal; VR de SA

March 4 Norway 3 p.m. / 10 a.m. Estádio Municipal; VR de SA

March 7 Finland 3 p.m. / 10 a.m. Estádio Municipal; Quarteira

March 9 Placement Match TBD TBD


SIXTEEN YEARS IN PORTUGAL: The U.S. Women have gone 10-1-4 in openers of this annual tournament the past 15 times they have attended. The only opening game loss came in 2001 when the USA brought a very young team to the Algarve during WUSA pre-season camps. Last year, the USA won all four games of the tournament for only the fourth time in the 15 previous appearances. The USA won all four games, and of course the tournament title, in 2005, 2007, 2008 and 2010. The USA also won the tournament in 2000 (its first title), 2003 and 2004. The USA has twice lost in penalty kicks in the championship game, in 2006 to Germany and in 2009 to Sweden.

FINAL TOURNAMENT BEFORE GERMANY: The 2011 Algarve Cup will be the USA’s final tournament competition before starting play in the 2011 FIFA Women’s World Cup in Germany on June 28 against Korea DPR in Dresden. The USA will play a friendly against England on April 2 in London and several domestic matches in the spring to send the team off to the World Cup, giving the squad 11 full international matches this year before heading to Germany.

U.S. ROSTER BREAKDOWN: The USA comes to the 2011 Algarve Cup with a 24-player roster, but Pia Sundhage will name 20 to suit up for the tournament games. Sundhage has brought four goalkeepers, six defenders, nine midfielders and four forwards to the tournament. Goalkeeper Hope Solo, who is in the final stages of her comeback from major shoulder last September, will not play in this tournament and is targeting the USA’s trip to England for a return to game action. Of the USA’s 24 players, just four are over thirty in team captain Christie Rampone (35 years old), Shannon Boxx (33), Abby Wambach (31) and Lori Lindsey (30). Solo and Nicole Barnhart are 29. The youngest player on the squad is 21-year-old forward Alex Morgan. Fourteen of the players on the roster were at the tournament last year. Eight players – Ali Krieger, Alex Morgan, Kelley O’Hara, Becky Saurerbrunn, Ashlyn Harris, Whitney Engen and Alyssa Naeher – are at their first Algarve Cup. All 24 players on the roster are professionals with 23 playing in Women’s Professional Soccer (and Morgan entering her rookie year). Krieger is the lone American to play her club ball outside of the USA, plying her trade for FFC Frankfurt in Germany. The make-up of the roster gives several young players the chance to impress U.S. head coach Pia Sundhage in some highly competitive games as USA continues on its road to the 2011 FIFA Women’s World Cup in Germany.

ADD KRIEGER: Ali Krieger missed the first two days of camp as she was playing for Frankfurt on Sunday, Feb. 20, in a 6-0 victory against SG Essen-Schönebeck. She started at right back and played the first 74 minutes, and then joined the U.S. that evening in Portugal. Frankfurt is currently in a three-team battle for the Women’s Bundesliga title. Turbine Potsdam of Berlin (52 points from 20 matches) is in first, followed by Frankfurt (50 from 20 matches) and FCR Duisburg (47 from 20 matches). Each team has two matches remaining, one of which Krieger will miss before returning to Germany for the March 13 finale against Bayern Munich.

ALGARVE CUP QUICK HITS

The USA is 42-9-8 all-time in the Algarve Cup.

The USA has scored 124 goals while allowing 48 at the Algarve Cup.

The most goals the USA has scored in an Algarve Cup game is seven, achieved against Portugal in 2000.

The most goals the USA has scored in an Algarve Cup game not against Portugal is five, achieved against France in a 5-1 win in 2004 and against Denmark in a 5-0 win in 2006.

The USA has not lost a match in regulation time in the Algarve Cup since 2004, a 3-1 setback to Sweden.

The USA still made the championship game though and won its second Algarve Cup title 2-0 against China.

Eight players on the USA’s roster have scored at the Algarve Cup: Abby Wambach (15 goals), Carli Lloyd (6), Lindsay Tarpley (5), Lauren Cheney (4), Heather O’Reilly (4), Shannon Boxx (1), Tobin Heath (1) and Amy Rodriguez (1).

Wambach’s 15 goals are tops all-time at the Algarve Cup for a U.S. player and tied with Swedish legend Hanna Ljungberg as the top scorer in the 18-year history of the tournament.

Cheney had a breakout tournament last year at the Algarve cup, scoring in three of the four matches and four goals total, including the eventual winning goal against Germany in the championship game.

The USA had been shut out in just four of its 59 all-time Algarve Cup games (with two coming in 2001), but were shutout twice in 2006, with both games ending 0-0 in regulation against China and Germany. The tie against China in the 2006 Algarve opener broke a streak of 17 straight games in which the USA had scored at this tournament.

Currently, the USA has scored in 16 straight Algarve Cup games and a goal against Japan will tie its record.

Five teams have played in all 18 Algarve Cups so far: Denmark, Finland, Norway, Sweden and host Portugal.

Christie Rampone is the most-capped player on the U.S. roster with 229, 80 more than the next closest player, Wambach. Rampone will not arrive in Portugal on Feb. 22 as she gets in some fitness training back in New Jersey after recovering from sickness.


ALL-TIME U.S. FINISHES AT THE ALGARVE CUP: The USA has had some tremendous success at the Algarve Cup (eight straight appearances in the championship game and seven titles overall), but the USA didn’t win its first until its sixth try in 2000 when a Brandi Chastain penalty kick defeated Norway in the title game, 1-0. It took the USA three years to win it again.

Year U.S. Finish Teams Champion Runner-up

• 1994 Second Six Norway USA
• 1995 Fourth Eight Sweden Denmark
• 1996 DNP Eight Sweden Norway
• 1997 DNP Eight Norway China
• 1998 Third Eight Norway Denmark 
• 1999 Second Eight China USA 
• 2000 First Eight USA Norway 
• 2001 Sixth Eight Sweden Denmark  
• 2002 Fifth Twelve China Norway 
• 2003 First Twelve USA China  
• 2004 First Twelve USA Norway
• 2005 First Twelve USA Germany 
• 2006 Second Twelve Germany USA 
• 2007 First Twelve USA Denmark 
• 2008 First Twelve USA Denmark
• 2009 Second Twelve Sweden USA
• 2010 First Twelve USA Germany

HISTORY OF EXCELLENCE: With the success of the U.S. team in this tournament, the Americans have also taken home several individual awards over the years, including five MVPs and five Top Scorer awards. In 1999, Tiffeny Milbrett was the Best Player and the Top Scorer with four goals. In 2002, Shannon MacMillan was the Top Scorer with seven goals, the most in one Algarve Cup tournament by a U.S. player.

In 2004, Abby Wambach was the Top Scorer with five goals and Shannon Boxx was voted Best Player. In 2005, Christie Welsh was Top Scorer with five goals. In 2006, Hope Solo was voted Best Goalkeeper and Boxx took home her second Algarve Cup MVP award. In 2007, Carli Lloyd did the double, taking the Top Scorer (four goals) and Best Player awards. In 2009, Solo was the first goalkeeper to win the tournament’s MVP award.

  

TOURNAMENT FORMAT: Since the expansion from eight to 12 teams nine years ago, the Algarve Cup format has been as follows. The teams in Group A and B will compete for the title as the group winners will play in the championship game on Wednesday, March 9. The two second-place group finishers in Groups A and B will play for third place while the third-place finishers will play for fifth. The Group C teams will be competing for a chance to play for spots 7-11 as the winner of Group C will play the best fourth place team from Groups A or B, the second place team in Group C will play the worst fourth place team from Groups A or B. The teams that finish third and four in Group C will play each other for 11th place.

Stat of Note

Abby Wambach’s next cap will be her 150th, making her the 14th U.S. WNT player to achieve that milestone.

- ussoccer.com -

Five Washington Freedom/magicTalk SC players selected to 2011 Algarve Cup roster

CHICAGO (Feb. 10, 2011) – Following a seven-day training camp in Ft. Lauderdale, Fla., U.S. Women’s National Team head coach Pia Sundhage has named a 24-player preliminary roster for the 2011 Algarve Cup in Portugal.
This year’s tournament is being staged from March 2-9 and the U.S. team will depart for Europe on Feb. 18. The venues and kickoff times have yet to be confirmed. Sundhage will name 20 players to the tournament roster prior to the start of the matches.

All the games will be played at small venues across the Algarve region on the southern coast of the country, and the placement matches will take place on March 9. Fans can follow the USA’s intense schedule of four games in eight days online via ussoccer.com's MatchTracker, on Twitter @ussoccer_wnt and watch highlights on ussoccer.com.

The U.S. team, which has been placed into Group A at the annual tournament, will open play on March 2 against first-time Algarve Cup participants Japan, will face Norway on March 4 and will finish the first round on March 7 against Finland. Group B features Sweden, China, Iceland and Denmark. Group C features host Portugal, another first-time Algarve Cup participant in Chile, Wales and Romania.

Since the expansion to 12 teams 10 years ago, the Algarve Cup format has been as follows: The teams in Group A and B will compete for the title as the group winners will play on Wednesday, March 9, in the championship game. The two second-place finishers in Groups A and B will play for third place while the third-place finishers will play for fifth. The Group C teams will be competing for a chance to play for spots 7-12 as the winner of Group C will play the best fourth place team from Groups A or B for seventh place. The second place team in Group C will play the worst fourth place team from Groups A or B for ninth place, and the third and fourth place finishers in Group C will play each other for 11th place.

This will be the 16th trip to the Algarve Cup for the U.S. Women, who have won the tournament seven times, including an unprecedented three straight championships from 2003-05 at what has become one of the world’s most competitive international women’s events. Last year, the USA defeated Germany 3-2 in the championship game on a sloppy field at Stadium Algarve in Faro.

Sundhage will bring a slightly larger roster to the tournament as U.S. goalkeeper Hope Solo (who is attending her ninth Algarve Cup) is not yet cleared for game competition, but will come to train as she enters the final stages of her rehabilitation from major shoulder surgery. The larger roster will also give more players the chance to train in preparation for this summer’s 2011 FIFA Women’s World Cup. Four of the eight teams over Groups A and B will be participating in the World Cup in Germany.

The USA scored nine goals at last year’s tournament, including one own goal, credited to Sif Atladottir of Iceland, and each of the U.S. goalscorers return this year. Carli Lloyd, Abby Wambach and Lauren Cheney, who all scored in the championship game, accounted for the eight goals with Cheney netting four and Wambach three.

After missing January’s Four Nations Tournament in China, Wambach returns to the roster looking to build on her career total of 117 goals. The U.S. roster is stocked with veteran players, led by U.S. captain Christie Rampone (who missed last year’s tournament while preparing for the birth of her second daughter), Shanon Boxx (the 2004 and 2006 Algarve Cup MVP), Wambach (15 career goals at the Algarve, best of any U.S. player), and 100-plus capped midfielders Lloyd, Lindsay Tarpley and Heather O’Reilly. Lloyd was the MVP of the 2007 Algarve Cup after scoring in all four games. O’Reilly will be playing in her team-leading ninth Algarve Cup.

Joining Wambach in a quartet of forwards is Amy Rodriguez, Lauren Cheney and Alex Morgan, the top pick in the 2011 WPS Draft by the Western New York Flash. Sundhage chose nine midfielders with Yael Averbuch, Tobin Heath, Megan Rapinoe, Lori Lindsey and Kelley O’Hara – all of whom contributed to the Four Nations title – rounding out the group.
Seven defenders were chosen. Heather Mitts will not make the trip due to injury, but outside back Ali Krieger, currently playing her club soccer in Germany for FFC Frankfurt, will join the U.S. team in Portugal. Veterans Rachel Buehler, Amy LePeilbet and Stephanie Cox will be joined by Becky Sauerbrunn (five caps) and the uncapped Whitney Engen on the back line.
Nicole Barnhart, who has started the past 11 games in goal for the USA, is joined by uncapped Ashlyn Harris and Alyssa Naeher as the USA will bring four ‘keepers to Portugal. This is the eighth Algarve Cup appearance for Boxx and seventh for Wambach.

U.S. Women’s National Team Roster by Position – Detailed Roster

GOALKEEPERS (4): Nicole Barnhart (out of contract), Ashlyn Harris (Western New York Flash), Alyssa Naeher (Boston Breakers), Hope Solo (out of contract)

DEFENDERS (7): Rachel Buehler (Boston Breakers), Stephanie Cox (Boston Breakers), Whitney Engen (Western New York Flash), Ali Krieger (FFC Frankfurt), Amy LePeilbet (Boston Breakers), Christie Rampone (Washington Freedom), Becky Sauerbrunn (Washington Freedom),

MIDFIELDERS (9): Yael Averbuch (Western New York Flash), Shannon Boxx (Washington Freedom), Tobin Heath (Sky Blue FC), Lori Lindsey (Philadelphia Independence), Carli Lloyd (Atlanta Beat), Kelley O’Hara (Boston Breakers), Heather O’Reilly (Sky Blue FC), Megan Rapinoe (Philadelphia Independence), Lindsay Tarpley (Washington Freedom)

FORWARDS (4): Lauren Cheney (Boston Breakers), Alex Morgan (Western New York Flash), Amy Rodriguez (Philadelphia Independence), Abby Wambach (Washington Freedom)



18th Annual Algarve Cup

The Algarve, Portugal

Group A

Japan, Finland, USA, Norway

Group B

Sweden, China, Iceland, Denmark

Group C

Portugal, Chile, Wales, Romania



March 2

Group Teams

A Norway vs. Finland

A USA vs. Japan

B Sweden vs. Iceland

B China vs. Denmark

C Portugal vs. Wales

C Romania vs. Chile



March 4

Group Teams

A Japan vs. Finland

A USA vs. Norway

B Iceland vs. China

B Denmark vs. Sweden

C Portugal vs. Chile

C Wales vs. Romania



March 7

Group Teams

A Norway vs. Japan

A USA vs. Finland

B China vs. Sweden

B Denmark vs. Iceland

C Chile vs. Wales

C Portugal vs. Romania



March 9

Placement Matches

11th-Place Match

9th-Place Match

7th-Place Match

5th-Place Match

3rd-Place Match

Championship

- ussoccer.com -

Abby Wambach carrying USWNT in Women's World Cup Qualifying 2010

Abby Wambach does it again, with two more goals in the USWNT match against Costa Rica. Wambach has eight goals in four games as the US women are faced with a problem they have never imagined, they are having to fight to win a spot in the upcoming Women's World Cup after a loss (first ever in WC qualifying) to Mexico on November 5th.


Before US soccer fans and haters buy into all the naysayers predictions of impending doom for this version of the most successful international women's soccer team, remember this years team has outscored its opponents 22-2 in five Women's World Cup qualifying games. Since the tournament began in 1991 the US has won twice (1991, 1995) and finished 3rd three times (1995, 2003, 2007).




Though at times they have not looked as dominant as the USWNT teams of the past 19 years, the team is full of talented young players like Alex Morgan (3 app., 2 g), Yael Averbuch (2 app., 1 g), and Amy Rodriguez (3 app., 4 g).

The young players are supported by the aforementioned Abby Wambach who has taken the lead on the field and is doing all she can to prevent them from not qualifying for a Women's World Cup for the first time in its short history. By leading her team to victory over Costa Rica on Monday, Wambach and the USWNT secured third place and, with it, a play-off against Italy for a place at Germany 2011.

The team will now head to Italy for a two-game, total-goals playoff: Nov. 20 in Padova, Italy, and Nov. 27 at Toyota Park in Bridgeview, Ill. The winner will advance to next summer's World Cup in Germany.

To watch a Replay of the game go here: ESPN 3 Replay: US vs Costa Rica

BREAKING NEWS! Washington Freedom to Cease Opperations

The website: equalizersoccer.com is reporting that two more WPS franchises have folded. The Washington Freedom as well as defending champion FC Gold Pride.

Sadley for the WPS for the second season in a row the defending champion team will not be around to defend their title.

http://vasoccernews.blogspot.com/2010/09/top-3-obstacles-for-wps-success.html

I may have seen this coming from FC Gold Pride due to their geographic location on the west coast when all other WPS teams are aligned more closely to the east coast but the Washington Freedom folding is somewhat of a surprise.

I just recently spoke with Freedom GM Mark Washo for the story regarding their top offseason priorities and other than the fact that the current owners where looking to sell their ownership there was no indication given that the team was in perril. In fact they had just resigned star forward Abby Wambach.

http://vasoccernews.blogspot.com/2010/09/top-3-obstacles-for-wps-success.html

Is this the last hope for the WPS? And what where the owners of the newest expansion franchise in Western New York thinking when they decided to join the league.

*UPDATE - Nov. 2, The Washington Freedom released an official response: http://vasoccernews.blogspot.com/2010/11/message-from-freedom.html

Other Related Posts:

• Top 10 Offseason Priorities for Washington Freedom
• Abby Wambach returning to Wasington Freedom
• Top 3 Obsticles for WPS Success?

Abby Wambach on ESPN Sports Center (Video)

Abby Wambach: Qualifying And Hot Dogs

Abby Wambach stops by SportsCenter to talk World Cup qualifying and her appearance in the Not Top 10

  

Check out ESPN.com interview with Abby Wambach by: Jacqueline Purdy -

Talking shop with Abby Wambach

Top 10 Offseason Priorities for Washington Freedom

UPDATE! Washington Freedom to Cease Opperations

http://vasoccernews.blogspot.com/2010/11/breaking-news-washington-freedom-to.html

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Recently Washington Freedom President and General Manager, Mark Washo* took time out of his busy WPS offseason schedule to answer some questions from Virginia Online Soccer News.

The following is an attempt to rank the offseason goals in order of importance while giving some insight as to how Freedom management and GM Mark Washo are approaching each task.

#1 - Hire a Head Coach

Most of the 2010 WPS season was filled with drama at the coaching position for the Washington Freedom, spurred by a 10 game winless streak.

Former Chicago Red Stars head coach, Emma Hayes was brought in to assist Jim Gabarra and his staff near the end of the season. The team made the playoffs but lost its first game to Philadelphia and only  9 days later, Gabarra resigned as head coach after 10 seasons at the helm of the Freedom.

In an article by Steven Goff of Soccer Insider both Gabarra and Washo spoke about the resignation:

Said Gabarra:

At this time, I cannot continue with the current management and the irreconcilable differences that are present. There are differences, a lot of them fundamental.

I didn't think I was surprised at all, given recent events,

 club president Mark Washo told the Insider when asked about Gabarra's resignation.

The season concluded earlier than we hoped. Clearly, there was a lot of turmoil. It was a rough finish. Both sides considered things and this was the conclusion that he reached.

Without a head coach, GM Mark Washo has made the search for Gabarra’s replacement priority #1. Although this is an urgent task Washo expressed exactly how important he views this hiring. 

Washo told Virginia Online Soccer News:

The head coach position for the Washington Freedom is a very important hire. We are looking for a head coach that will not only connect with the players but will make a new stamp on the organization.

Washo was adamant about not taking any short-cuts during the hiring process.

As for who is currently being considered for the position, according to Washo it is still “wide open”. He did confirm their interest with rumored candidate April Heinrichts and that Emma Hayes is indeed a candidate as well, following her success with the team last season. All other options are being explored including unnamed college coaches.

Finally, the goal of Washo is to have a new head coach in position by the end of November.

#2 - Expansion Draft, Protected Player List

The Freedom list of unprotected players for the upcoming expansion draft was released October, 20. The three players left unprotected are: Jill Gilbeau, Beverly Goebel, and Christie Welsh.

Each WPS team had to make three players available for the draft. No team is allowed to lose more than two players and once a player is drafted, each team can protect another player.

Along with protected players, free agents may not be selected in the expansion draft.

#3 - 2011 WPS Budget

Very simply to run any business especially a sports franchise, management needs to know what type of budget they have available.

However, with league attendance down from 2009-2010 (5%) and with the economy still struggling along it is safe to assume the budgets will be lower than the previous two seasons. Just how much will not be known until the league announces the official 2011 budget.

#4 - Search for New Investors

John and Maureen Hendricks are attempting to sell their portion of the club or find partners. They have invested heavily in the Freedom for a decade and feel that the WPS is heading in a good direction and it is time for them to step aside.

Connections have been made with possible investors and the process is still ongoing.

#5 - Increase Attendance

With the expectations of a lower operating budget each team, not only the Washington Freedom, will need to be creative and find new sources of revenue. One way could be to increase attendance. Currently the Freedom is comfortable with the ticket prices and is instead focusing on where to direct their efforts to attract new fans.

#6 - Promotions

As part of their attempts to attract more fans, sell more tickets, and increase exposure as well as revenue the Freedom launched the Fight for Freedom campaign. The campaign is a social media campaign via Facebook. Follow the link to learn more and join the Fight for Freedom campaign.

#7 - Add new sponsors

One final piece of the revenue puzzle is to bring in new sponsors. Since the league eliminated its national marketing department the individual teams have been left to focus on more localized marketing.

The list of current Washington Freedom sponsors includes some bigger name companies like Papa Johns, Gieco, and Hilton as well as many local companies like Smoothie King, INOVA Health System, and the Greene Turtle restaurant.

No new sponsors were mentioned.

#8 - Sign Free Agents

The WPS website says a Start Date of WPS Free Agency Period to Be Announced Next Week. A list of WPS Free Agents is also on the website although many of the players listed have already been linked to European clubs. Former Freedom player Sonia Bompastor is set to return to her former club Olympique Lyonnais.

#9 - 2011 WPS Draft

The 2011 WPS Draft is scheduled to take place in January. Whoever the new coach end up being the 2011 Draft will quickly become a main focus but until then it is low on the priority list for the Freedom at this point.

#10 - WIN GAMES!

For most sports franchises the main goal of all the offseason activities is to build a team that will win games. Building a winning team and franchise is not an easy or quick undertaking. It takes focus, clear goals, and support. Mark Washo has started that process by resigning the face of the Freedom, Abby Wambach.

The first move is picking the right coach to lead this new Freedom team. Then together the coach and management will be exploring the free agent market and available players overseas as well as trying to select the best available talent in the upcoming draft.

Fans, players, and management will have to wait until at least the beginning of the 2011 WPS season to see if the moves of this offseason were the right ones.

* Mark Washo also serves on the Board of Directors for DC Scores as well as being the founder of MMW Marketing LLC. Mark is also the Author of the book: 'Break into Sports Through Ticket Sales'.

Abby Wambach Returning to Wasington Freedom

Today the Washington Freedom officially announced they have excercised their option to retain US Women's National team member Abby Wambach.

photo property of: womensprosoccer.com

Official Press Release Below:

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Freedom Come to Terms With Eight Players Prior to 2010 WPS Expansion Draft

BOYDS, MD (Oct. 20, 2010)—Washington Freedom has begun the process of building the 2011 roster by coming to terms with eight players, including exercising the option for Freedom veteran and US Women’s National team forward, Abby Wambach.

“Abby has been an incredible team leader both on and off the field and is the ‘face’ of our franchise,” said Freedom President and General Manager Mark Washo. “We are excited she will be back with us in 2011!”

In the 2010 season, Wambach led the team with 13 goals and 8 assists, making her one of the league leaders in Women’s Professional Soccer.

“I’m looking forward to the 2011 season with Washington Freedom. It’s going to be an exciting year for women’s soccer with the 2011 FIFA Women’s World Cup and third year for Women’s Pro Soccer,” said Wambach.

Freedom has also come to terms with Nikki Marshall, Becky Sauerbrunn, Kristi Eveland, Jill Gilbeau, Beverly Goebel, Christie Welsh, and Erin McLeod.

“Washington Freedom has grown through the years with some of the most loyal fans of the sport. I’m excited to play in front of them again when the 2011 WPS season kicks off.” Wambach added.

The eight players Freedom have come to terms with are listed as either protected or unprotected in the 2010 WPS Expansion Draft. <http://www.womensprosoccer.com/Home/dc/news/press_releases/101019-expansion-draft.aspx>  The protected player lists, along with Freedom free agents list will be released to the public after 5 p.m. ET on Wednesday, Oct. 20.

 

Washington Freedom 2010 Season Recap, Top 10 Stories in Pictures

The 2010 WPS season was full of highs and lows for the Washington Freedom. The season included player retirements, winless streaks, unbeaten streaks, coaching changes, controversy, awards, suspense, and excitement.

These ten pictures are an attempt to capture all of the many emotions of the 2010 season.

1. 
   
   Brianna Scurry Retires

2. 
   
   Emma Hayes hired as consultant

3. 
   
   Freedom lose to Independance in first round of Playoffs

4. 
   
   Start the season with a Loss to Boston Breakers

5. 
   
   Freedom win final game of regular season to make playoffs

6. 
   
   Mia Hamm welcomes Jennifer Grubb into Ring of Freedom

7. 
   
   Lisa De Vanna Facebook Photo Flap

8. 
   
   Freedom Select Nikki Marshall #7 in first round of WPS 2010 Draft

9. 
   
   Freedom Goalkeeper Erin McLeod Injury ends Season

10. 
    
    Abby Wambach finishes Freedom season as leader in Goals and Assists with 13and 8.