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Give & Go: Washington Freedom's Lori Lindsey
Lori Lindsey tallied the Washington Freedom's second goal in the club's 4-3 win on Sunday. At 22, the women's soccer veteran talks about the new league and her story.
Apr 30, 2009 2:33:58 AM
For the player who scored Washington’s second goal in the 4-3 win over FC Gold Pride, midfielder Lori Lindsey has seen the Freedom through both exciting and difficult times. From winning the Founder’s Cup in 2003 to witnessing the collapse of the league shortly thereafter, Lindsey still embraces the entire journey.
After two consecutive seasons as the ACC Player of the year, this University of Virginia standout became WUSA’s fourth overall draft pick by the San Diego Spirit in 2002. Following 13 starts, two goals and five assists in her rookie season, a trade sent Lindsey to the nation’s capital where she has spent the past seven years with the Washington Freedom.
Even after WUSA had completely dissipated, Lindsey and fellow teammates continued to play on the Freedom’s W-League squad. That newly formed semi-professional team went on to win the 2007 W-League Championship and earned Lindsey the honors of All W-League and All-Eastern Conference in both 2007 and 2008.
When Women’s Professional Soccer selected seven teams to open the inaugural season, Lori Lindsey found herself in a comfortable situation with the Washington Freedom as the team’s third draft pick and the league’s 17th overall in October.
Lori Lindsey has been along for the most of the roller coast ride of women’s competitive soccer in this country. Now entering into her second stint as a professional, she has started all four games and she finished her second goal of the season this week.
After wrapping up a weekend of confident play, Goal.com had a chance to catch up with Washington Freedom midfielder Lori Lindsey.
Goal.com: So Lori, Tell us your feelings on draft day when you realized that you would get to stay in Washington?
Lindsey: Ecstatic! It was what I had hoped for because D.C. is my home. I have found friendships and everything here so this is exactly where I wanted to be.
Goal.com: You’ve been through a lot with this team. Now that the WPS is here, how would you compare it to WUSA?
Lindsey: Even after our first game against the Sol, head coach Jim Gabarra said that this was a better display of soccer than in the first WUSA game. Women’s soccer is evolving and consistently getting better. There are more talented individuals and teams, and it’s better than it was in WUSA games. That’s the biggest thing. I mean, there is a great attacking presence in this league and the parity between teams is terrific.
Goal.com: Is it strange at all to hear people call you a veteran?
Lindsey: It’s actually pretty funny to me because I still think of myself as a 22 year old, but I welcome that role because I have been around the Freedom for a long time. I think it’s great that everyone can bring their own qualities to the team and if that’s my role, I welcome it.
Goal.com: Where do you think the team needs to improve right now?
Lindsey: I think through the season you will always find things to improve upon. For us there are a few individual and collective things to work on. Right now it’s finishing and putting our chances away in final third. It felt good this weekend, so now it’s also a matter of working on maintaining a lead.
Goal.com: How is team chemistry coming along with the Freedom?
Lindsey: Great! I think that’s actually one of our biggest qualities. We’re like a family and everyone really gets along. We continue to bring competitive edge to practice and that carries over into games.
Goal.com: How did it feel after Sunday’s 4-3 result?
Linsdey: Everyone felt good about the win on Sunday. That’s a first win and obviously a highlight with some good goals. Stuff is really coming together.
Goal.com: What are your hopes for the new league?
Lindsey: Well, in my point of view, it will take some slow, gradual steps to get to the point of eventually getting up to even 20 teams I think that would be incredible. With tons of young players out there, women’s soccer is getting better and better. It’s only just a matter continuing to put out a quality product with quality international players in a quality league. Once we maintain that, the league will expand. Already, there is good parity between teams. As it slowly expands to include more teams, it will give more girls an opportunity to live out a dream.
Christa Mann, Goal.com
For more on Women's Professional Soccer, go to Goal.com's Women's Soccer page.
After two consecutive seasons as the ACC Player of the year, this University of Virginia standout became WUSA’s fourth overall draft pick by the San Diego Spirit in 2002. Following 13 starts, two goals and five assists in her rookie season, a trade sent Lindsey to the nation’s capital where she has spent the past seven years with the Washington Freedom.
Even after WUSA had completely dissipated, Lindsey and fellow teammates continued to play on the Freedom’s W-League squad. That newly formed semi-professional team went on to win the 2007 W-League Championship and earned Lindsey the honors of All W-League and All-Eastern Conference in both 2007 and 2008.
When Women’s Professional Soccer selected seven teams to open the inaugural season, Lori Lindsey found herself in a comfortable situation with the Washington Freedom as the team’s third draft pick and the league’s 17th overall in October.
Lori Lindsey has been along for the most of the roller coast ride of women’s competitive soccer in this country. Now entering into her second stint as a professional, she has started all four games and she finished her second goal of the season this week.
After wrapping up a weekend of confident play, Goal.com had a chance to catch up with Washington Freedom midfielder Lori Lindsey.
Goal.com: So Lori, Tell us your feelings on draft day when you realized that you would get to stay in Washington?
Lindsey: Ecstatic! It was what I had hoped for because D.C. is my home. I have found friendships and everything here so this is exactly where I wanted to be.
Goal.com: You’ve been through a lot with this team. Now that the WPS is here, how would you compare it to WUSA?
Lindsey: Even after our first game against the Sol, head coach Jim Gabarra said that this was a better display of soccer than in the first WUSA game. Women’s soccer is evolving and consistently getting better. There are more talented individuals and teams, and it’s better than it was in WUSA games. That’s the biggest thing. I mean, there is a great attacking presence in this league and the parity between teams is terrific.
Goal.com: Is it strange at all to hear people call you a veteran?
Lindsey: It’s actually pretty funny to me because I still think of myself as a 22 year old, but I welcome that role because I have been around the Freedom for a long time. I think it’s great that everyone can bring their own qualities to the team and if that’s my role, I welcome it.
Goal.com: Where do you think the team needs to improve right now?
Lindsey: I think through the season you will always find things to improve upon. For us there are a few individual and collective things to work on. Right now it’s finishing and putting our chances away in final third. It felt good this weekend, so now it’s also a matter of working on maintaining a lead.
Goal.com: How is team chemistry coming along with the Freedom?
Lindsey: Great! I think that’s actually one of our biggest qualities. We’re like a family and everyone really gets along. We continue to bring competitive edge to practice and that carries over into games.
Goal.com: How did it feel after Sunday’s 4-3 result?
Linsdey: Everyone felt good about the win on Sunday. That’s a first win and obviously a highlight with some good goals. Stuff is really coming together.
Goal.com: What are your hopes for the new league?
Lindsey: Well, in my point of view, it will take some slow, gradual steps to get to the point of eventually getting up to even 20 teams I think that would be incredible. With tons of young players out there, women’s soccer is getting better and better. It’s only just a matter continuing to put out a quality product with quality international players in a quality league. Once we maintain that, the league will expand. Already, there is good parity between teams. As it slowly expands to include more teams, it will give more girls an opportunity to live out a dream.
Christa Mann, Goal.com
For more on Women's Professional Soccer, go to Goal.com's Women's Soccer page.
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