Megan, Si; Stephanie, No!

by DoubleDipper Tue Jan 17, 2012 10:08 am

CHICAGO (AP) — Forward Sydney Leroux is on the U.S. roster for women's Olympic soccer qualifying, the only one of the 20 players who was not at last year's World Cup.

Leroux was born in Canada but switched nationalities in 2008. She was the top pick in the Women's Professional Soccer draft last week, selected by the Atlanta Beat.

Two players who went to Germany last summer were not included on the defending Olympic champions' roster: goalkeeper Jill Loyden and defender Stephanie Cox.

In the North and Central American and Caribbean qualifying tournament at Vancouver, British Columbia, the Americans are in Group B and play the Dominican Republic (Jan. 20), Guatemala (Jan. 22) and Mexico (Jan. 24). The top two teams advance to the semifinals along with the top two from Group A, which includes Canada, Costa Rica, Cuba and Haiti.

Winners of the semifinals on Jan. 27 qualify for the London Olympics.
Qualifying will take place on an artificial turf field at BC Place.
The roster:

Goalkeepers — Nicole Barnhart, Hope Solo
Defenders — Rachel Buehler, Ali Krieger, Amy LePeilbet, Heather Mitts, Christie Rampone, Becky Sauerbrunn
Midfielders — Shannon Boxx, Tobin Heath, Lori Lindsey, Carli Lloyd, Heather O'Reilly, Megan Rapinoe, Amy Rodriguez
Forwards — Lauren Cheney, Sydney Leroux, Alex Morgan, Abby Wambach

by OldePilot Sat Jan 21, 2012 6:16 am

Big routs in opening round in Vancouver. Christine has four and an assist in 6-0 win over Haiti and US tops Dominican Republic 12-nil. Unfortunate Ali Krieger injury might reopen the door for Stephanie.

Besides Wambach's tribute calling Christine the best all-around player in the world, Megan tweeted: #imissmyoldpilotdayswheresincymadeeverypassanassist.

Beautiful!

by skip hobart Sat Jan 21, 2012 11:34 am

it was no fun watching the match without any Pilots on the field for the U.S..
while it was a scoring fest, this didn't look like the number 1 team in the world. this was not a crisp passing possession clinic, just straight up out run your opponent soccer. this U.S. team looks awkward if it is not charging forward. the players Pia looks to favor are not good at their feet except maybe Tobin Heath. they look one dimensional. there is no flair or personality to this team. i don't know if I can take another Carli Lloyd long range blast. give me Stephanie-Keelin Winters- Meagan triangle anyday. because winning is everything, Pia talks a beautiful game, but she won't risk losing her big physical players for longer term development. I can't help thinking every time I see Jillian Ellis on the sidelines that her ULCA style game is influencing this team. ugh

I also doubt if Clive Charles would ever be seem jump up and down after the 14th goal.

Call me spoiled, maybe decades of UP and FC Barcelona soccer has made my view of soccer jaded. but it was hard to be excited for last night's game.

by GUPhantom Sat Jan 21, 2012 2:06 pm

I loved the Rapinoe, Cox and Heath triangle combos I saw during the Celebration Tour versus Canada! They really work well together. Great chemistry. They always had something cooking offensively at the left side of the box. All 3 of them displayed great dribbling and passing skills. At the very least, if one of them didn't get a shot on-goal or a threathening cross, there were always many corners.

by Geezaldinho Sun Jan 22, 2012 1:50 am

A gangster got shot and killed in the bar of the Hotel in which te Women's team is staying. The team is safe and none witnessed the shooting.

Goalie Hope Solo tweeted:

Saved by our instant yoga session. Was about to walk to Starbucks when all hell broke loose in the lobby of our hotel! Life is precious."

http://theoriginalwinger.com/2012-01-19-u-safe-after-hotel-shooting

by DoubleDipper Mon Jan 23, 2012 12:01 am

PurpleGeezer wrote:A gangster got shot and killed in the bar of the Hotel in which te Women's team is staying.

Apparently the only shots fired this time were toward the goal.

VANCOUVER, British Columbia (AP) -- The scores look absolutely ridiculous. 14-0. 13-0. The two most lopsided wins in the history of the U.S. women's soccer team. One of the few lively things about the second game was the constant chant of "Ju-das" directed at the player who scored five second-half goals.

The United States took it to Guatemala 13-0 Sunday to clinch a berth in the semifinals of the CONCACAF qualifying tournament for the London Olympics. It was a great game for statisticians and for those who think the Americans need to learn to chill when they have a big lead.

Read more: http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/soccer/news/20120122/u-s-routs-guatemala/#ixzz1kGYNLyDl

Alas, still no Stephanie! Crying or Very sad

by A_Fan Mon Jan 23, 2012 11:09 am

The games are available on Universal Sports if you have cable and on their internet site if you don't. The US plays Mexico at 7:30 Tuesday night (1/24/12).

by Geezaldinho Mon Jan 23, 2012 1:58 pm

DoubleDipper wrote:
Alas, still no Stephanie!

Tournament rules don't allow additions to the team once the qualifiers start. She can't be added to the Olympic team until after the tournament.

by UPSoccerFanatic Mon Jan 23, 2012 6:39 pm

A_Fan wrote:The games are available on Universal Sports if you have cable and on their internet site if you don't. The US plays Mexico at 7:30 Tuesday night (1/24/12).

For those of you with DirecTV, Universal Sports is channel 625. Brandi Chastain has been one of the commentators and I think she has been really good, as much as I hate to admit it. Some excellent technical commentary and analysis.

by Geezaldinho Mon Jan 23, 2012 7:20 pm

UPSoccerFanatic wrote:

For those of you with DirecTV, Universal Sports is channel 625. Brandi Chastain has been one of the commentators and I think she has been really good, as much as I hate to admit it. Some excellent technical commentary and analysis.

You can also get the games on the CONCACAF site with no commentary whatever (except crowd noise). It's the same video feed you see with Brandi commentating. You need Silverlight.

Then you can figure out that what the Canadians were chanting every time Sidney touched the ball was "Judas, Judas..."

There was a lot of that while she scored her 5 goals.

She didn't seem to care.

by color me purple Tue Jan 24, 2012 12:38 pm

Unfortunately, I heard that Ali Krieger tore her ACL during the game and will not be playing in the Olympics. This will open up a slot for a defender........

by Geezaldinho Tue Jan 24, 2012 12:53 pm

Krieger is a right fullback, and Steph plays on the left, but yeah, there will be a slot opening up.

by KFTC Tue Jan 24, 2012 1:45 pm

Unfortunately, I heard that Ali Krieger tore her ACL during the game and will not be playing in the Olympics. This will open up a slot for a defender........

I think that's news to Ali...

http://espn.go.com/olympics/story/_/id/7491867/ali-krieger-not-giving-london-olympics-acl-tear

Mac did her rehab in less than 4 months to make the 2003 World Cup roster, so stranger things have happened.

by DoubleDipper Sat Jan 28, 2012 12:10 am

The United States booked its way to London on Friday night with a 3-0 victory over Costa Rica in the semifinals of the CONCACAF qualifying tournament, a game more suspenseful than most anyone expected. Smile

http://espn.go.com/olympics/story/_/id/7512129/us-women-soccer-team-qualifies-olympics

Christine scores twice and the Canadian women's soccer team booked its ticket to the 2012 Olympics Friday with an emotional 3-1 win over Mexico at BC Place. Smile

The win sets up a Canada-U.S. final in the CONCACAF women's Olympic qualifying tournament on Sunday, with both teams assured of a berth in the London 2012 Olympic competition. Very Happy

http://www.vancouversun.com/sports/Canada+defeats+Mexico+secures+2012+Olympic+spot/6064989/story.html

by A_Fan Sat Jan 28, 2012 7:15 am

And it was a pleasure to listen to the Canadian announcers on the Concacaf website for both games.

by Geezaldinho Sat Jan 28, 2012 12:11 pm

Midfielder Sophie Schmidt had a particularly strong two-way game before being replaced by Brittany Timko late in the game and LeBlanc – sporting streaked red hair – made two key second-half saves.

Read more: http://www.vancouversun.com/sports/Canada+defeats+Mexico+secures+2012+Olympic+spot/6064989/story.html#ixzz1kmmNkqd7

by DoubleDipper Sat Jan 28, 2012 9:33 pm

Although both Canada and the USA are now assured berths in this year’s Olympic Games, tomorrow’s (Sunday 1/29) CONCAAF final should be a great match to watch.

TV: Live @ 5pm on NBCSP (that’s 732 on my Portland area Comcast Cable). I assume it’s also online on the CONCAAF website.

by DoubleDipper Sun Jan 29, 2012 7:57 pm

USA 4 – Canada 0

Four words to describe the USA team:

1.Dominant
3.Fit
3.Unselfish
4.TEAM Very Happy

by Geezaldinho Sun Jan 29, 2012 8:27 pm

Or

1. Morgan,
2. Morgan,
3. Morgan, and
4. Morgan.(two goals and two assists tonight)

Take your pick.

Seriously, the team looked Great, and all the UP players impressed this tournament.

by PurplePrideTrumpet Sun Jan 29, 2012 10:10 pm

So I guess 38 GF and 0 GA is not bad.

Of COURSE Leroux had to come on as a sub. If she had scored, oh boy... Laughing

by Geezaldinho Sun Jan 29, 2012 10:12 pm

Loved how the crowd cheered her.

LeRoooooooooooo lol!

by DoubleDipper Sun Jan 29, 2012 10:26 pm

PurpleGeezer wrote:Or

1. Morgan,
2. Morgan,
3. Morgan, and
4. Morgan.(two goals and two assists tonight)

Take your pick.

Seriously, the team looked Great, and all the UP players impressed this tournament.

Yea, I originally had Morgan at #4 on my list, but realized she couldn't do it alone.

She is, however, the new wallpaper on my laptop. clown

by Guest Mon Jan 30, 2012 2:37 pm

Stalker!

by DoubleDipper Mon Jan 30, 2012 3:25 pm

up7587 wrote:Stalker!

I plead guilty as charged, and it has nothing to do with my previous insanity pleas. clown

by DoubleDipper Wed Feb 15, 2012 9:46 am

As many of you know, there are a number of athletic women in this year’s SI swimsuit edition. But, what I didn’t know until my wife brought a copy home, soccer super star Alex Morgan is only wearing BODY PAINT, no fabric.

Needless to say, Alex just replaced herself as the wallpaper on my laptop.

Megan, Si; Stephanie, No! Alex-m12

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