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Knapp Notes: Looking At All-Star Picks, And Other Thoughts
In this week's Knapp Notes, the All-Star voting results are revealed. While there are only three games left, and two playoff spots up for grabs.
Aug 7, 2009 2:05:32 AM
All-Star Voting Results
When the All-Star picks were announced, Goal.com contributor and myself made our picks for the All-Star team. Let’s see how they stack up with the recently named First XI.
The WPS All-Stars take on Swedish league champions Umeå IK at The Anheuser-Busch Soccer Park at 5:30 p.m. ET on August 30th. The match will be televised live on Fox Soccer Channel.
A full roster of 18 will be announced later this week. There will also likely be replacements as a number of players may be called into national team camp for the 2009 European Championships. But meanwhile here is the current roster.
WPS: GK Karina LeBlanc (Los Angeles Sol), D Tina Ellertson (Saint Louis Athletica), D Amy LePeilbet (Boston Breakers), D Alex Scott (Boston Breakers), M Camille Abily (Los Angeles Sol), M Sonia Bompastor (Washington Freedom), M Shannon Boxx (Los Angeles Sol), M Lori Chalupny (Saint Louis Athletica), M Kelly Smith (Boston Breakers), F Eniola Aluko (Saint Louis Athletica), F Marta (Los Angeles Sol).
And here’s how I voted…
Kathryn: GK Karina LeBlanc (Los Angeles Sol), D Tina Ellertson (Saint Louis Athletica), D Cat Whitehill (Washington Freedom), D Alex Scott (Boston Breakers), M Camille Abily (Los Angeles Sol), M Sonia Bompastor (Washington Freedom), M Lisa De Vanna (Washington Freedom), M Megan Rapinoe (Chicago Red Stars), M Kelly Smith (Boston Breakers), F Cristiane (Chicago Red Stars), F Marta (Los Angeles Sol).
Alternates: GK Allison Lipsher (Boston Breakers), Abby Wambach (Washington Freedom), Kacey White (Sky Blue FC), Christine Sinclair (FC Gold Pride)
Ok so with the first round of picks – I am is -4 in my picks. That’s not too bad, considering all the players to choose from. Let’s see who Christa selected.
Christa: GK Karina LeBlanc (Los Angeles Sol), D Amy LePeilbet (Boston Breakers), D Cat Whitehill (Washington Freedom), D Alex Scott (Boston Breakers), M Camille Abily (Los Angeles Sol), M Sonia Bompastor (Washington Freedom), M Lori Chalupny (Saint Louis Athletica), M Megan Rapinoe (Chicago Red Stars), M Shannon Boxx (Los Angeles Sol), F Christine Sinclair (FC Gold Pride), F Marta (Los Angeles Sol).
Alternates: GK Hope Solo (Saint Louis Athletica), D Heather Mitts (Boston Breakers), F Eniola Aluko (Saint Louis Athletica), F Cristiane (Chicago Red Stars)
Christa also did fairly well in her first round of picks with a score of -3. All-in-All… it wasn’t bad for a first try.
Here’s more on the WPS All-Star First XI announcement.
Check out our original predictions here.
The Final Three Games…
It’s hard to believe the WPS inaugural season will be over in just three games. Well it’s not completely over… but the regular season will be. After the regular season wraps up on Sunday there are four games left, including the All-Star Game. But first there are three games and two playoff spots to fill.
The Washington Freedom and Sky Blue FC are both tied for third place with identical records 7-7-5 (26 points). The Boston Breakers are in fifth place with a 7-8-4 record (25 points).
Washington and Sky Blue face off this weekend. The winner will automatically clinch a playoff spot. However if the match ends in a draw both clubs will be playing the waiting game. They face off Saturday at 7:00 p.m. ET at the Maryland SoccerPlex. The teams will then sit and await their fate.
Boston faces the Los Angeles Sol take the pitch Sunday at 6:00 p.m. ET at Harvard Stadium. One point behind the third place teams, Boston will need a win to definitely clinch a position. With a draw, they could still be in depending on what happens with the first game. It could all come down to goal differential. At this time, Sky Blue FC leads with +1 in goal differential. Boston ranks second at -1 and Washington ranks third at -2. This of course depends on the rest of the results.
Saint Louis will face FC Gold Pride in the final regular season match. But the outcome is irrelevant to the playoffs. Saint Louis already clinched second place. FC Gold Pride, along with the Chicago Red Stars, is eliminated from the playoffs.
My Predictions
Sky Blue is going to beat Washington. And the Sol may just beat Boston. Or else the Breakers will force a draw, which will make things interesting. Sky Blue FC is on a mission and the odds are they are going to give it 300 percent on Saturday.
Saint Louis will most likely beat FCGP. They’re tough lately. However FCGP did pull off a 3-2 win over Washington last Saturday. The Pride could surprise Athletica, but it’s somewhat doubtful.
Kathryn L. Knapp, Goal.com
For more on Women’s Professional Soccer, go to Goal.com’s women’s soccer page.
When the All-Star picks were announced, Goal.com contributor and myself made our picks for the All-Star team. Let’s see how they stack up with the recently named First XI.
The WPS All-Stars take on Swedish league champions Umeå IK at The Anheuser-Busch Soccer Park at 5:30 p.m. ET on August 30th. The match will be televised live on Fox Soccer Channel.
A full roster of 18 will be announced later this week. There will also likely be replacements as a number of players may be called into national team camp for the 2009 European Championships. But meanwhile here is the current roster.
WPS: GK Karina LeBlanc (Los Angeles Sol), D Tina Ellertson (Saint Louis Athletica), D Amy LePeilbet (Boston Breakers), D Alex Scott (Boston Breakers), M Camille Abily (Los Angeles Sol), M Sonia Bompastor (Washington Freedom), M Shannon Boxx (Los Angeles Sol), M Lori Chalupny (Saint Louis Athletica), M Kelly Smith (Boston Breakers), F Eniola Aluko (Saint Louis Athletica), F Marta (Los Angeles Sol).
And here’s how I voted…
Kathryn: GK Karina LeBlanc (Los Angeles Sol), D Tina Ellertson (Saint Louis Athletica), D Cat Whitehill (Washington Freedom), D Alex Scott (Boston Breakers), M Camille Abily (Los Angeles Sol), M Sonia Bompastor (Washington Freedom), M Lisa De Vanna (Washington Freedom), M Megan Rapinoe (Chicago Red Stars), M Kelly Smith (Boston Breakers), F Cristiane (Chicago Red Stars), F Marta (Los Angeles Sol).
Alternates: GK Allison Lipsher (Boston Breakers), Abby Wambach (Washington Freedom), Kacey White (Sky Blue FC), Christine Sinclair (FC Gold Pride)
Ok so with the first round of picks – I am is -4 in my picks. That’s not too bad, considering all the players to choose from. Let’s see who Christa selected.
Christa: GK Karina LeBlanc (Los Angeles Sol), D Amy LePeilbet (Boston Breakers), D Cat Whitehill (Washington Freedom), D Alex Scott (Boston Breakers), M Camille Abily (Los Angeles Sol), M Sonia Bompastor (Washington Freedom), M Lori Chalupny (Saint Louis Athletica), M Megan Rapinoe (Chicago Red Stars), M Shannon Boxx (Los Angeles Sol), F Christine Sinclair (FC Gold Pride), F Marta (Los Angeles Sol).
Alternates: GK Hope Solo (Saint Louis Athletica), D Heather Mitts (Boston Breakers), F Eniola Aluko (Saint Louis Athletica), F Cristiane (Chicago Red Stars)
Christa also did fairly well in her first round of picks with a score of -3. All-in-All… it wasn’t bad for a first try.
Here’s more on the WPS All-Star First XI announcement.
Check out our original predictions here.
The Final Three Games…
It’s hard to believe the WPS inaugural season will be over in just three games. Well it’s not completely over… but the regular season will be. After the regular season wraps up on Sunday there are four games left, including the All-Star Game. But first there are three games and two playoff spots to fill.
The Washington Freedom and Sky Blue FC are both tied for third place with identical records 7-7-5 (26 points). The Boston Breakers are in fifth place with a 7-8-4 record (25 points).
Washington and Sky Blue face off this weekend. The winner will automatically clinch a playoff spot. However if the match ends in a draw both clubs will be playing the waiting game. They face off Saturday at 7:00 p.m. ET at the Maryland SoccerPlex. The teams will then sit and await their fate.
Boston faces the Los Angeles Sol take the pitch Sunday at 6:00 p.m. ET at Harvard Stadium. One point behind the third place teams, Boston will need a win to definitely clinch a position. With a draw, they could still be in depending on what happens with the first game. It could all come down to goal differential. At this time, Sky Blue FC leads with +1 in goal differential. Boston ranks second at -1 and Washington ranks third at -2. This of course depends on the rest of the results.
Saint Louis will face FC Gold Pride in the final regular season match. But the outcome is irrelevant to the playoffs. Saint Louis already clinched second place. FC Gold Pride, along with the Chicago Red Stars, is eliminated from the playoffs.
My Predictions
Sky Blue is going to beat Washington. And the Sol may just beat Boston. Or else the Breakers will force a draw, which will make things interesting. Sky Blue FC is on a mission and the odds are they are going to give it 300 percent on Saturday.
Saint Louis will most likely beat FCGP. They’re tough lately. However FCGP did pull off a 3-2 win over Washington last Saturday. The Pride could surprise Athletica, but it’s somewhat doubtful.
Kathryn L. Knapp, Goal.com
For more on Women’s Professional Soccer, go to Goal.com’s women’s soccer page.
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