Daily Archives: July 3, 2012

Another Announcement For a New Women’s League: 2012 Edition, Volume 2

[Storm-related catch-up]

On Wednesday, June 27th, a meeting organized by U.S. Soccer was held in Chicago where a possible new (semi)professional women’s league was discussed. Right now, the main source of news is an article posted by Jeff Kassouf at EqualizerSoccer.com. Additionally, there was some elaboration on Twitter by Lisa Cole, who is with the Boston Breakers, summarized in a blog post. They key aspects of this proposal is a coast-to-coast national league, 12 to 16 teams, and more modest team budgets of around $500,000. This is the second league announcement this year, after the USL teased its own new league, which would be called “W-PRO” (www.potomacsoccerwire.com). Continue reading →

USWNT: Olympic Send-Off Match – Hope Solo’s Save: Goal or No Goal?

In the final home friendly before the Olympics, the United States Women’s National Team defeat Canada 2:1, thanks in part to Hope Solo’s reflex save of a Christine Sinclair shot. That shot deflected off the leg of Amy LePeilbet, forcing Solo to suddenly reverse her dive. Solo was able to get a hand on the ball, however the ball was still bouncing toward the far post. Both Solo and Canada’s #6, Kaylyn Kyle went for the ball, with Solo getting the first touch, but Kyle slide-kicked for the ball while Solo lunged for it. Solo appears to have possession of the ball, but Kyle’s second effort pushed the ball farther across the goal line, and perhaps all the way over the line, but no goal was awarded.

Was a no-goal call correct? Continue reading →

USWNT: Olympic Send-Off Match – Rodriguez’s Goal: Offside or Not?

In their send-off friendly versus Canada, the United States Women’s National Team won the match via a late Amy Rodriguez goal, which was scored on a scrappy play at the top of the six-yard box. Rodriguez received the ball after an Abby Wambach effort (not sure it was a shot or a pass), was half-cleared by Canada’s goalkeeper, Erin McLeod.  By the time Rodriguez received the ball, she is only in front of one defender, McLeod.

Thus, there is the appearance of a possible offside call, but on a closer inspection, Rodriguez is clearly not in an offside position at the relevant moment: when the ball is played by Wambach. Therefore, Rodriguez was not in an infringing position, and the goal was good.

Continue reading →

USWNT: The USA Wins Its Olympic Send-Off Match Versus Canada

On Saturday, the United States Women’s National Team defeated their northern neighbor, Canada, 2:1 in an Olympic send-off match at Rio Tinto Stadium in Utah. The USA’s goals were scored by Carmelina Moscato via an own goal and Amy Rodriguez, who had an 85th minute game-winner after Melissa Tancredi equalized in the 57th minute. Continue reading →