Q & A with Omolyn Davis: Washington Freedom/magicTalk SC draft pick

Omolyn Davis was drafted by the Washington Freedom/magicTalk SC in the 2011 WPS Draft. Davis played at George Mason University and is from Kingston, Jamaica.

VaSoccerNews: How popular is soccer with girls in Jamaica?

Omolyn Davis: Girls soccer in Jamaica is very popular. It might not get the same recognition as the boys program, but we have many leagues that support the girls program in Jamaica.

VASN: When did you realize you would have the opportunity to play in the WPS?

Davis: I realized I might have the opportunity to play in the WPS as long as the league was around. By doing this, I wanted to ensure that I get as much exposure as I could while playing college. In the summer however, I played for the Washington Freedom W-League team, and that was where I got a lot of exposure.

VASN: What attracted you to soccer as opposed to other sports?

Davis: The uniqueness of the game. Unlike other sports, one goal can be the determining factor of that game.

VASN: Which player are you looking forward to playing against the most, why?

Davis: I am really excited to play against all the players this season. They’re  all talented players. I’ve played against a few of the US national team players, and I’ve also played against Marta, so it should be exciting to share the field with such great players.

VASN: How important is it for the WPS to exist and how important is it for its players to be seen as role models to young female soccer players/athletes?

Davis: It is very important for the league to exist so that young girls who dream and aspire to play professional will have the opportunity to do so after college. It is also important for players to be seen as good role models for young female soccer athletes so that they can be more inspired to play the sport.

VASN: What is your best memory from playing soccer at George Mason?

Davis:  Well, I have two. First, My 2009 season when I scored and hat-trick in our 3-2 overtime win against William & Mary University. It was our team first win over William & Mary since 2003. My next was last season, making it to our conference tournament semi finals.

VASN: Do you feel that women’s soccer in general get fair media coverage compared to the men’s game? Why or why not?

Davis: No, I don’t think we get fair coverage as the men’s programs do. It could be because soccer is less popular here in the US than many other countries around the world.

VASN: If you were not going to be a professional athlete what career would you pursue?

Davis: I have a passion for soccer, so I would definitely go into coaching.  I have been coaching little kids here for about 2 years now, and it’s something I could see myself doing.

VASN: What is the strongest part of your game? What aspect needs the most improvement?

Davis: I would say my dribbling and technical skills. The aspect that needs improvement would be heading.

Thanks to Omolyn Davis for her time and best of luck on the upcoming season.

Jenna Pel of All White Kit: An Interview With Becky Sauerbrunn

This interview is courtesy of Jenna Pel.
Jenna covers Women's soccer & WPS and runs the site http://www.allwhitekit.com/

The Washington Freedom defender will help hold down the back line of Marta’s XI in tonight’s All-Star Game. She discusses what makes Marta’s XI unique, why the Freedom concede late sometimes and why she looks forward to playing alongside Marta.

AWK: Do you know if Albertin’s playing with a 3 back system?

BS: It was picked so that teams could play in a 3-5-2 but our team somehow has more defenders than the other team.
AWK: I saw a lot of defenders making over-lapping runs and helping out in the attack.

BS: Yeah, I think some of are going to be midfielders too which would be really interesting.
AWK: What’s the main difference between Montoya’s style to [Freedom Coach] Jim Gabarra’s?

BS: It’s hard right now because this was kind of a fun, ‘get to know you’ practice but we actually did a lot of similar things. Small-sided possession, small-sided games, crossing, finishing, that kind of stuff. Technical stuff with just a little variation from what Jim does but not a huge difference at all.
AWK: So how has your team gelled so far?

BS: We definitely have more international players on our team so that’s going to make it a little more fun because everyone’s a little different and has their own style of soccer so it should be very entertaining.

AWK: Ok, so please don’t be offended by this question, but what the hell happened this past weekend against Philadelphia?

BS: As was seen in the Chicago game a week before, we get a lead in the first half and then we just can’t protect it. So there’s need be a mentality change or just some kind of shift in how we’re playing or what we’re thinking in the second half.
AWK: Is it fitness-related because I know the goals from Philadelphia came pretty late in the game?

BS: I don’t think it’s a fitness thing because our team is quite fit right now but I think we kind of wore ourselves thin in the first so we were kind of struggling in the second. But we’re definitely fit enough to play the full 90 plus some time. I just think it needs to be a mentality shift right now.
AWK: Your back four has improved dramatically from last year. You guys have been pretty rock solid up to this point. So what’s been the biggest catalyst for that change?

BS: I think we did a lot of work in the off-season watching European games and I think we studied a lot as a back line. And I think we learned a lot from what happened in the back line. We’re a little quicker to react to things that we didn’t react to last year.
AWK: And [Freedom goalkeeper] Erin McLeod has also seemed to improve a lot too.

BS: Yeah, Erin makes game saving saves all the time.
AWK: I think one of the biggest reasons for Washington’s success so far is having two holding midfielders Allie Long and Sarah Huffman. Do you think that tactical difference from last year has helped you? Especially because Huffman is practically a new player.

BS: I absolutely think so. When Allie gets stuck in she usually comes out with the ball. And then Huffy is always busy, always running, she’s got a great engine so she’s always closing down spaces. And that helps unbelievably with our back line because they’re always putting pressure on the ball so we don’t have to worry as much about them chipping balls over the backline. I think that’s been one of the major differences in not conceding as many goals as we did last year.
AWK: They really gives you six defenders, plus McLeod and I think that makes a huge difference.

BS: And even with [Homare] Sawa and Sonia [Bompastor] and Bev [Goebel] who was really come through a lot. They’re all very good at tackling and pressuring the ball so I think it’s just been a whole mentality shift that we just need to continue into the second half of games.
AWK: What do you look forward to the most from this whole experience?

BS: I’m just having fun playing with players I’ve never gotten to play with before. I’ve never gotten to play with Marta. I’m just looking forward to playing with her and not chasing after her.

What WPS Means to Me: An Essay by Helen (WINNING WRITING CONTEST SUBMISSION)

Congratulations to Helen for her winning submission to the VaSoccerNews writing contest titled 'What the WPS measn to Me'.

An Essay by Helen:

To me, women’s soccer is an inspiration; a dream, showing the world what women can do for us. It shows that women can be role models; teaching young girls what they can do; how they can improve soccer, sports, how women are treated! It is an enormous effort that women are making for the future; trying to show that they are equal to men. It shows me how much women want to be respected as much as men; told that they can achieve just as much. It shows people how much the world can improve; to make women’s sports just as great as men’s.

I think that women can help the world. I believe that soccer is changing the world and women are helping. Girls are disappointed to see so many empty seats at women’s soccer games and they want to grow up to fix that. If we keep trying, women’s soccer could be as famous as men’s. Women could be more respected in sports; not everything would be about men. Every little girl could have the same chance at becoming famous as every little boy. Someday, if the world can keep improving; everyone, no matter race nor gender, can have the same chance at becoming a professional soccer player.

I play travel soccer and our coaches are always trying to tell us how we can become professional if we practice. For some girls, it would be more of an inspiration to be told this if women’s soccer was more celebrated. To me, being told of this just comes to show how we need more people to care about women’s soccer if it is ever going to become something great. It shows how much women’s soccer needs us.

I love women’s soccer and believe that someday it will become just as good as men’s. But right now, that day, is only a dream.

Poll Results and is Freedom vs. Independence game final game for Gabarra?

The results of the VaSoccerNews Poll: "Should Washington Freedom replace Coach Jim Gabarra?" so far are posted below.

Now every website that covers WPS and the Washington Freedom are weighing in on the topic. Of course there are many different perspectives out there regarding Coach Jim Gabarra and the security of his position as head coach for the Freedom. However one question remains and might be answered following the upcoming match-up of Freedom vs. Independence, is this the final chance for coach Gabarra to save his job?

Win less in the last 10 games and in last place it would be very surprising to not see some sort of coaching change from Washington General Manager Mark Washo who just last week had this to say:

The mission of the Washington Freedom is: 'We are leaders in women’s professional sports. We win championships and awards. We strive to serve our community, while furthering the growth and development of women’s soccer.

Therefore it is fair to say that changes need to be made in order for us to achieve our stated mission this season. The entire team, players and coaching staff is currently under evaluation in order for us to draw appropriate conclusions as to what specifically must be changed to right the ship. The goal is still to make sure we are in the best possible position to make it into the post season and win a championship. Clearly time is of the essence at this critical juncture in the season. However with a win this weekend, we are right back in 3rd place and would clearly improve our overall situation.

I guess the fans, media, players, and coaching staff will find out soon enough.

What Was Your Best Youth Soccer Memory?

By Chris Wimmer 

After reading a few of the submissions for the "What the WPS means to me?" writing contest it’s got me thinking back to some of my best memories of youth soccer as a player, then parent and coach.

What was your best memory from your involvement in youth soccer (it can be as a coach, player, parent, or referee)?

I am going to ask this on Twitter and post the responses below in the comments as well. Some of my best memories included:

(Kapiolani Park, site of Rainbow Tournament)

• traveling to Hawaii as a U-13 player for the Rainbow Tournament 
• my daughter and her team as player escorts for D.C. United
• my first ever sleep-away soccer camp at Univ. of California at Irvine
• watching Mia Hamm run a surprise practice session for my daughters team 
• getting my first AYSO uniform at age 5 (I wore it around the house all night)

I’m sure to see some similar themes in your experiences but know that there will be others too.

So now it’s over to you. What Was Your Best Youth Soccer Memory?