AUSTRALIA DAY!!

So i've been accused of being biased in my support for my fellow countrywomen(The Brits) in the WPS from some of my colleagues..mainly my Australian colleague Bluey..no actually he is called Tom.(Thommo ! ) haha.

Anyway...as it's the summer of the Ashes - (cricket - England v Australia) and all is fair in love and war, this post is dedicated to the Matilda's in the WPS. Fair Dinkum!



Heather Garriock- Chicago Red Stars

Is the most capped Australian on the current team(Captain Cheryl Salisbury has retired on 151 caps) with 111 with 19 goals scored.
Heather has been to the 2003 and 2007 World Cup scoring in both.
Plays for Sydney FC in Australia's professional league the Westfield W-League.
2008 wasn't a good year with Sydney FC as Garriock their Captain was out injured for most of the season but managed to tally 4 appearances and 1 goal.
Garriock was drafted to Chicago Red Stars but again been sidelined with injuries having only played 20 minutes in 2 games so far.
Top midfielder when healthy is one of the best in the world with her industry and take control.



Lydia Williams - Chicago Red Stars

Back-up goalie behind no1 Melissa Barbieri at only 21 yrs of age Williams looks set to make a splash in Australian women's soccer.
Already with 18 national caps, Williams is well thought of as she is strong, agile and quick.
The starting GK for Canberra United in the Westfield W-League , Williams took her team to the final, missing out on the 2008 Inaugural Championship to the Brisbane Roar.Williams played in all 12 games.
Drafted to Chicago Red Stars to continue her learning of the game as understudy to top Swedish GK Caroline Jonsson.

Sarah Walsh - Saint Louis Athletica

Explosive forward Walsh made her mark for the Matilda's at the 2004 Olympic Games and 2007 World Cup.
57 Caps 26 goals. It could have been , should have been many more if it wasn't for various knee injuries and a broken leg. Walsh has had 2 ACL injuries. Despite this she is one of the fastest forwards in the world.
Famous in Australia for scoring the 1st goal of the Matilda's 2007 World Cup campaign and her war paint on her face.(see picture -right).Walsh is a favourite with fans who like her fun nature and bundles of energy.
Plays for her home town Sydney FC in Australia's Westfield W-League, although only played 2 games due to injury.
Drafted to NJ Sky Blue FC, Walsh played 5 games scoring 1 goal but has been blighted by a hamstring injury.
In June Walsh was traded to Saint Louis Athletica. No appearances as of yet for them.







Lisa DeVanna - Washington Freedom

At age 24 De Vanna is a seasoned pro for the Matilda's.
58 Caps and 20 goals she combines with Sarah Walsh to make one of the fastest forward lines in Women's soccer worldwide.
Usualy coming of the bench DeVanna is known for her explosive pace , directness to goal and impact on a game.
Top scorer for the Matilda's in the 2007 World Cup with 4 goals. Named in the 2007 World Cup All Star team and was the 2nd ever Australian to be nominated for 2007 Fifa World Player of The Year.
Played for the Perth Glory in the Westfield W-League in 2008 scoring 3 goals in 7 matches.
Drafted to the Washington Freedom in 2009. DeVanna has improved her game and fitness by playing 15 matches and scoring 5 goals.







Collette McCallum - NJ Sky Blue FC

Scottish born Australian ( Glasgow) , McCallum is recognised as being one of the most talented up in coming midfielders in women's soccer.
49 caps 7 goals for the Matilda's she made her mark in 2007 World Cup scoring a goal against Canada helping to put Australia through to the Quarter-Finals.
Possessed with a lethal left foot McCallum has the vision and the ability to pick out teamates with one pass. She is also a dead ball specialist. A midfield maestro for the Matilda's McCallum supplies the passes for her speedy teamates.
2008 won the W-League Championship with Pali Blues.
Played for the Perth Glory in Australia's pro League Westfield W-League also in 2008.
Post Discovery for NJ Sky Blue FC. 15 games played 2 assists.




The Matilda's in WPS. A talented bunch that will surely make their mark in the 2011 World Cup along with the rest of their national teamates. With the professional Westfield W-League starting their 2nd season in October this year more gems will likely be found for the national team making Australia a team to watch in the soccer world.

Most if not all the WPS player will go back and play for their Australian clubs after the WPS season is finished to once again help their sport grow in the land down under.

HIGHLIGHTS OF THIS WEEKENDS GAMES -MAY 9-10

Los Angeles Sol 0 - 0 Boston Breakers






Chicago Red Stars 2 -0 Sky Blue FC


Find more videos like this on Women's Professional Soccer


St Louis Athletica 1 - 0 FC Gold Pride

CHICAGO RED STARS V SKY BLUE FC

Adam Ant?

Sky Blue FC won their first match, Chicago Red Stars lost their first match. Sarah Walsh scored her 1st goal and so did Natash Kai. A game of many 1st's at Toyata Park, Chicago.
Sky Blue came out to attack from the start with the midfield picking up all the loose balls and harassing Chicago's midfield. Not letting them have time on the ball.Even in the first 5 minutes Sky Blue were looking to put the speedy Australian forward Sarah Walsh through with the through ball.She was just off side.Her Australian international teamate Collete McCallum got the range right a couple of minutes later. In the 7th minute McCallum passed a perfect ball to Walsh(wearing war paint! nah it was sunblock-she is Australian after all) who had timed her run brilliantly slipping in behind two Red Stars defenders.She coolly passed the ball past GK Caroline Jonsson to the left of her goal putting Sky Blue one up and shocking the Red Stars.
Sky Blue never let up in the first half. They were 1st to every ball.Chicago were making mistakes and couldn't get their offensive players on the ball a lot.When they were they were swarmed by orange jersey's. Who were hunting in packs. At times it looked like Sky Blue had more players on the field than Chicago. I even tried to count them just to make sure.
On 10 minutes the very busy Heather O’Reilly played the ball up to Kai and then ran onto to the striker’s flick.As O’Reilly broke into the box alone and took a shot at goal, Red Stars GK Jonsson came off her line to stuff O’Reilly’s shot.Five minutes later, Sky Blue appeared to double the lead after a steal in the box by Julianne Sitch playing in the center of the midfield after playing at right back in previous games. Sitch stole the ball from Chicago's midfielder Frida Ostberg in the box and cut the ball across for Walsh to hammer home but the flag was up for offside.
Chicago's talented offence were held in check by Sky Blues defence brilliantly marshaled by Christie Rampone. The defence played very high. I mean VERY HIGH!They compressed the field knowing that they had the speed in Rampone and English star Anita Asante as insurance. At times the defence were on the halfway line. Chicago were caught out time and time again with offsides. They came close when the ball was fed through the defence by substitute Cristiane. Carli Lloyd and Karen Carney both raced to the ball and ended up getting in each others way. The ref calling offside for Lloyd. Carney was onside and through but Lloyd had touched the ball negating the opportunity.
Sky Blue sealed the game when play started once again by the impressive McCallum in the 78th minute. The Australian playmaker fed a nice through ball behind for Kelly Parker to run onto. As Jonsson charged out off her line, the Canadian midfielder slid a slow roller across the goal and Kai flew in to bury the ball into the open goal from five yards out.
Chicago’s last play came in stoppage time off the foot of Lindsey Tarpley. Carney passed in from the left and Tarpley hit a first time shot from the top of the box but GK Jenni Branam was there to punch her shot wide of the goal. 2 nil Sky Blue.

"Chicago made it very difficult, especially at the end of the game. I’m getting old, but that last ten minutes of the game made me even older. I’m very proud of the players today; they really stepped it up and expressed themselves." Ian Sawyers.

"Collette McCallum and I know each other’s game inside and out so the ball through was perfect. We’ve had three or four games without a goal, so it was just a huge relief to get a goal and to be up. To be honest, I was surprised we were up.""I’ve never been so relieved, to have my club win a game. We worked hard for it and we deserved it." Sarah Walsh.

"The goal came off a great run from Kelly Parker. The ball was probably already going in, but I made sure it went in to secure a 2-0 lead.""It felt good to score not just for me, but for our team in general. I just hope this carries on to our next game." Natasha Kai

“I don’t think any one of our players had a good game today,” “You can’t win games if your players are under performing. Unfortunately, we didn’t do some basic things, got exposed and were punished for it. I don’t think it was one single area, I thought it was everywhere.” Emma Hayes

Lineups:
Chicago Red Stars: – Caroline Jonsson; Marian Dalmy, Nikki Krzysik, Ifeoma Dieke, Chioma Igwe (Natalie Spilger 79’); Megan Rapinoe (Ella Masar 66’), Brittany Klein (Cristiane 54’), Frida Ostberg, Karen Carney; Carli Lloyd, Lindsay Tarpley.

Sky Blue FC: – Jenni Branam; Meghan Schnur, Christie Rampone (Christie Shaner 72’), Anita Asante, Keeley Dowling; Collette McCallum, Julianne Sitch, Kelly Parker, Heather O’Reilly; Natasha Kai (Rosana 82’), Sarah Walsh (Yael Averbuch 65’).

WPS PREVIEW WEEK 4

haha love this pic!


CHICAGO RED STARS v. NJ/NY SKY BLUE FC Sun 19th April 6pm ET Live on FSC, matchtracker

Televised game is from Toyota Park in Illinois. Chicago's first home game. They are the last team in the WPS to have their opening home match and they are expecting nearly 10,000 to attend.
The Red Stars are still unbeaten with great defensive displays against St Louis Athletica which they won and Washington Freedom where they were down to 10 men for the last 30 minutes of the match holding on for a 1-1 draw. With the defenders on top of their game including Scotland's Ifeoma Dieke and GK Caroline Jonsson look for another strong match from them although left-back Captain Frida Ostberg will be suspended. It's the offence that needs to be seen more. Although Lindsey Tarpley has scored 2 goals already look for the midfielders including Carli Lloyd to show more in front of their home fans. Karen Carney has said on twitter that her parents have flown over for the match, so expect her to have a blinder.Brazil star Cristiane should start from the off.
Sky Blue FC having battled back to a draw in their last match should have Captain Christie Rampone recovered from a slight hamstring strain. Look for Heather O'Reilly to once again put in a great performance and continue her quest for goals.This game will be a battle in midfield with both teams having talented players in there and the first goal will be key. Australian striker Sarah Walsh looking to have a good game also as she linked up well with O'Reilly and both said they enjoy playing together as they are on the same page on the pitch.
My prediction a score draw(both teams looking to start their seasons really).