I will take time off from my colorful venting, and my prognostications of celluloid heroines with a little look at the Women's Professional Soccer (WPS). This is a new league that just started, and I have been posting some articles on b/r talking about the adventures of the seven teams taking part in this competition.
This league was forged out of the mess that was the Women's United Soccer Association (WUSA), and created with a grassroots-oriented approach. Careful expansion and a more responsible take are what will drive the WPS to success. However, the big question is whether or not they can last more than three seasons. Just today I found out that the Los Angeles Avengers are no more. So with the only football teams here in LA-LA-Land being USC and UCLA, perhaps the other code of footbal might see some new converts.
Just about a few days ago, the WPS revamped their site, and the sites of all their teams. So, have a look at what this is all about.
Women's Professional Soccer
Los Angeles Sol
Showing posts with label women's professional soccer. Show all posts
Showing posts with label women's professional soccer. Show all posts
LA 2, Washington 0: Sol shine in WPS Inaugural Game
LA 2, Washington 0: Sol shine in WPS Inaugural Game
By Jo-Ryan Salazar
Bedlam on Baltic Avenue
March 29, 2009
A week after the Los Angeles Galaxy opened their 14th season as a founding member of Major League Soccer, the Los Angeles Sol began their first season as a founding member of Women’s Professional Soccer with the WPS Inaugural Game against the Washington Freedom at the Home Depot Center.
From all over Southern California, families brought their children; their grandparents; some who have never watched a football match in their life; some who have seen matches involving the G’s, Chivas USA, the national teams and others; all who wanted a change of pace.
Black, blue, gold and white balloons and streamers decked the concourses of the stadium. The Goodyear Blimp peered like a jovial sentinel over the low clouds floating across the South Bay skyline as if to say, “Kilroy was here!”
The pregame festivities included Sepp Blatter of FIFA and the Los Angeles Lakers’ Kobe Bryant sent their well wishes, flags of all nations in the league represented around the midfield circle, and Tonya Antonucci.
“Today is an historic day for soccer and women’s sports in the U.S. and the world,” Antonucci said. “We have kicked off a new league that can stake its claim as the worl’d premier soccer league for women based on the talent our teams have assembled.
“We have laid a foundation that can – and will – support a successful, entertaining and sustainable league.”
Mia Hamm, one of the USA’s most celebrated women footballers, presented the first-ever match ball with one of her twin daughters.
“Today I am here not as a player, but as a fan and a mom," said Hamm at the pre-game reception. “I couldn’t be more excited to watch the world-class action that will take place on the field…It’s a great day for women’s soccer and to see it back as part of the professional sports landscape in America.”
The Sol’s marquee player, Marta, showed flashes of her brilliance with Umea IK, but it was the supporting crew that dominated the match, along with key saves by Sol GK Karina LeBlanc.
It didn’t take long for Los Angeles to score off a set piece. Allison Falk went down in history as the first goal scorer in the league, with a header that was poorly handled by Freedom keeper Brianna Scurry off Aya Miyama in the sixth minute.
Scurry was hounded for the bulk of the match. She had to make twice as many saves as LeBlanc (6 to 3).
The Sol would not score again until Camille Abily, who plays for France’s Olympique Lyonnais, delivered a looping shot that Scurry would have no chance to stop in the 87th minute.
It was the product of a successful counter-attack that would ensure the Sol as the first team to win a game in WPS.
Sol manager Abner Rogers was all smile.
“We are really happy with the victory,” Rogers said. “To open up the inaugural season and come out with a victory is very pleasing. There were times when we played very well, but fitness was a bit of an issue for both teams, as you could see.
“It is only going to get better. I was definitely happy. We dodged a few bullets; even though we came out with a good victory, it was very beneficial.”
Freedom manager Jim Gabarra took it all in stride.
“We are missing some synchronization upfront, and that is due to the fact that we are missing a lead forward [M/F Parissa Eyokoron],” Gabarra said. “She has been carrying an injury and hasn’t been able to train with Abby.
“From my experience, the level of play was better than that of the WUSA inaugural game. The game deserved more goals. We deserved a goal or two, but that’s the game of soccer. We felt that in the second half, we possessed the ball better and had more scoring opportunities. What I take out of it is something to build on.
“We won our inaugural game for the WUSA, and we ended up tied for last at the end of that season. It’s just one game… it didn’t work out. We came here for three points, but it didn’t work out. They were composed, the keeper made saves. A bounce here, a bounce there, it would have been a different game.”
“It was a great ball from Aya,” said falk on her goal. ”I just went for it - I didn’t think I was going to get it, but I did and it went in.
“It was a very surreal experience… very exciting.”
Marta herself was satisfied with the 14,832 who came to Sunday afternoon’s match at Victoria Street.
“I was very excited to be out there today,” she said. “The atmosphere was phenomenal, and that always gives you a boost as a player.
“We got the result we wanted and are very happy with that. “
The Sol will hit the road on April 5 to face Sky Blue FC at 4:00PM EST.
The Freedom will return home to the Maryland SoccerPlex to take on the University of Virginia in a friendly on April 4 at 7:00PM before they resume WPS play against the Chicago Red Stars on April 11 at 6:00PM.
We got Marta. Yawn.
Personally, I don't care where we get our players, or who we get. As long as we win the championship, I'm fine with whoever we get.
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Los Angeles Sol Signs Brazilian Superstar Marta
Monday, January 12, 2009
Three Time FIFA World Female Player of the Year Joins Already Strong Los Angeles Side
CARSON, CALIFORNIA – Monday, January 12, 2009 – The Los Angeles Sol (Women’s Professional Soccer) achieved a major milestone in women’s professional sports when they announced an agreement today with three time FIFA World Female Player of the Year Marta Vieira da Silva, better known worldwide simply as Marta. Per team and league policy, the terms of the agreement were not disclosed.
Marta joins a potent Sol team that will be sure to captivate soccer fans throughout the Southland and already features three U.S. Women’s National Team players (Shannon Boxx, Aly Wagner, Stephanie Cox) and a host of others with significant international experience. The agreement comes upon the heels of Marta’s great accomplishment of becoming the FIFA World Female Player of the Year for the third year in a row.
"With the signing of Marta there is no doubt that we have brought in one of the biggest and most exciting pieces of the puzzle we targeted when we launched this franchise last fall,” said Scott Hanley, Vice President AEG Sports, who operates the Sol. “She is a bonafide superstar in the sport of soccer who will undoubtedly electrify fans and raise awareness for both our team and WPS on a global scale.”
The Sol originally acquired the exclusive WPS negotiating rights to Marta on September 24, 2008, when they drafted her third overall in the WPS Initial International Draft. In that draft, each team was allowed to draft four international players.
The initial International Draft gave each of the seven WPS teams the opportunity to begin a formal negotiation process with each selected player upon receiving permission from that player’s club. For the 2009 season, teams are allowed to sign up to five international players each.
“I am extremely excited to be joining the Los Angeles Sol,” Marta said. “Knowing that WPS is going to be the most competitive league in the world made my decision easy. I am going to Los Angeles to win as many titles as possible and achieve all the remaining goals in my professional life.”
Since 2004, Marta, a native of the Brazilian state of Alagoas, has been playing for fabled Swedish women’s club side Umea IK, helping lead to wide variety of team and personal accolades.
Umea has captured the Swedish league title three times (2005, 2006 and 2007) since her arrival, and took the UEFA Champions League crown in 2004 and a runner-up finish in 2007. In addition, they have drawn an average of nearly 10,000 fans per home game, easily best in the league.
A gifted left-footed attacking midfielder with a very deadly shot, Marta has also shone brightly individually since her arrival in Sweden, winning the FIFA Women’s Player of the year award in 2006, 2007, and 2008. In 2007, she also won the Golden Ball as the best player at the 2007 FIFA Women’s World Cup in China and the Golden Boot as its top scorer as Brazil captured the silver medal.
Marta and Brazil’s full national team first gained recognition on the world stage for their attractive, attacking football at the 2004 Athens Olympic Football Tournament, where they took the silver medal, losing to the USA in the final.
Marta turned in some amazing performance at the FIFA Under-19 Women’s World Championship in Canada, and has been a fixture with the full side since. In 2003, after some excellent performances in the Pan-American Games in the Dominican Republic, where Brazil won the gold medal, she received an offer to move to Umea, and has been there ever since.
The Sol will kick off the 2009 season on Sunday, March 29 at The Home Depot Center on the campus of California State University-Dominguez Hills, when the club hosts the Washington Freedom in a 3 pm (PT) match. The WPS Inaugural Match between the Sol and the Freedom will be the only one played in WPS that weekend.
The remainder of the Sol’s 2009 schedule will be announced in the coming weeks and season tickets are already on sale. Prices range from $125 to $750. For more information or to purchase your tickets today, please call toll free at 1-877-4-SOL-TIX and www.LosAngelesSol.com.
===
Los Angeles Sol Signs Brazilian Superstar Marta
Monday, January 12, 2009
Three Time FIFA World Female Player of the Year Joins Already Strong Los Angeles Side
CARSON, CALIFORNIA – Monday, January 12, 2009 – The Los Angeles Sol (Women’s Professional Soccer) achieved a major milestone in women’s professional sports when they announced an agreement today with three time FIFA World Female Player of the Year Marta Vieira da Silva, better known worldwide simply as Marta. Per team and league policy, the terms of the agreement were not disclosed.
Marta joins a potent Sol team that will be sure to captivate soccer fans throughout the Southland and already features three U.S. Women’s National Team players (Shannon Boxx, Aly Wagner, Stephanie Cox) and a host of others with significant international experience. The agreement comes upon the heels of Marta’s great accomplishment of becoming the FIFA World Female Player of the Year for the third year in a row.
"With the signing of Marta there is no doubt that we have brought in one of the biggest and most exciting pieces of the puzzle we targeted when we launched this franchise last fall,” said Scott Hanley, Vice President AEG Sports, who operates the Sol. “She is a bonafide superstar in the sport of soccer who will undoubtedly electrify fans and raise awareness for both our team and WPS on a global scale.”
The Sol originally acquired the exclusive WPS negotiating rights to Marta on September 24, 2008, when they drafted her third overall in the WPS Initial International Draft. In that draft, each team was allowed to draft four international players.
The initial International Draft gave each of the seven WPS teams the opportunity to begin a formal negotiation process with each selected player upon receiving permission from that player’s club. For the 2009 season, teams are allowed to sign up to five international players each.
“I am extremely excited to be joining the Los Angeles Sol,” Marta said. “Knowing that WPS is going to be the most competitive league in the world made my decision easy. I am going to Los Angeles to win as many titles as possible and achieve all the remaining goals in my professional life.”
Since 2004, Marta, a native of the Brazilian state of Alagoas, has been playing for fabled Swedish women’s club side Umea IK, helping lead to wide variety of team and personal accolades.
Umea has captured the Swedish league title three times (2005, 2006 and 2007) since her arrival, and took the UEFA Champions League crown in 2004 and a runner-up finish in 2007. In addition, they have drawn an average of nearly 10,000 fans per home game, easily best in the league.
A gifted left-footed attacking midfielder with a very deadly shot, Marta has also shone brightly individually since her arrival in Sweden, winning the FIFA Women’s Player of the year award in 2006, 2007, and 2008. In 2007, she also won the Golden Ball as the best player at the 2007 FIFA Women’s World Cup in China and the Golden Boot as its top scorer as Brazil captured the silver medal.
Marta and Brazil’s full national team first gained recognition on the world stage for their attractive, attacking football at the 2004 Athens Olympic Football Tournament, where they took the silver medal, losing to the USA in the final.
Marta turned in some amazing performance at the FIFA Under-19 Women’s World Championship in Canada, and has been a fixture with the full side since. In 2003, after some excellent performances in the Pan-American Games in the Dominican Republic, where Brazil won the gold medal, she received an offer to move to Umea, and has been there ever since.
The Sol will kick off the 2009 season on Sunday, March 29 at The Home Depot Center on the campus of California State University-Dominguez Hills, when the club hosts the Washington Freedom in a 3 pm (PT) match. The WPS Inaugural Match between the Sol and the Freedom will be the only one played in WPS that weekend.
The remainder of the Sol’s 2009 schedule will be announced in the coming weeks and season tickets are already on sale. Prices range from $125 to $750. For more information or to purchase your tickets today, please call toll free at 1-877-4-SOL-TIX and www.LosAngelesSol.com.
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