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Knapp Notes: Positives, Yet Negatives In This Past Week
The offense in Women's Professional Soccer games has picked up over this last week. Unfortunately, it's been overshadowed by a rough tackle.
May 8, 2009 2:36:19 AM
What a week it’s been. Another weekend of plenty of goals left fans with a lot to see. Ten goals in three games is pretty darn good. We could all hope for three goals minimum per game. But aside from the goals, this week has been an interesting one for Women’s Professional Soccer. The league loses its first player to perhaps a season-ending injury. And the controversy came to life.
Lots of Goals
Forty goals. WPS teams have combined for 40 goals in their first 16 games. That’s 2.5 goals per game. There have only been two scoreless draws during that span. And while there have been a few shutouts (seven on top of the two), there have been a lot of goals. As the players are getting comfortable with each other and finally speaking the same language on the field… they’re giving the fans something to cheer for. They’re all giving themselves something to strive for. The Washington Freedom is leading the attack with nine goals. The Boston Breakers have eight. But the majority of the teams, with the exception of Sky Blue FC (one goal) have found the winning combination – scoring wise at least.
What a Loss
The saddest part of the week however is the injury to Daniela. Here’s a young healthy vibrant player 25-year-old who had her season cut short. And while it’s possible she’ll return before the end of the inaugural season, it’s improbable. Her goals on Sunday were perfection - plain and simple. Now Saint Louis has to rework their attack. Daniela played in four matches, tallying 15 shots, including five on goal. Her two goals sparked Athletica last weekend. But two injured knee ligaments and a tibia fracture are sidelining the Brazilian international. Saint Louis is still looking for its first win. The loss of Daniela only complicates matters. And while she herself is going to have a painful recovery, the team will too search for a new leader.
A Loss for Wambach as well
This is a time when Abby Wambach should be reveling in her health. After suffering a broken leg in July 2008, Wambach pushed herself to get game-fit once again. And when she did, she earned a starting spot in the Washington Freedom’s lineup. Her two goals and assists have helped spark the Freedom’s offense. And now Wambach has received a call to return to the U.S. Women’s National Team. While it’s a happy time for her, it’s a bit bittersweet. Her controversial tackle on Daniela ended in a league ruled one-game suspension. The official release stated due to findings by Tonya Antonucci, WPS Commissioner Wambach would sit out. “Washington Freedom player #20 (Abby Wambach) is hereby suspended from the next Freedom game for which she is available to play (e.g. not injured or called to national team duty) based upon a tackle in the 80th minute that was reckless and resulted in a potentially season-ending injury of an opposing player.”
Final Thoughts
The league should completely be concentrating on what’s important – its success. And yet, the commissioner and team officials have been scrambling this last week to figure out how to deal with the Daniela – Wambach situation. In every game, things get rough. That’s a foregone conclusion. Last Sunday WPS took a step into the norm of other sports. It’s a rude awakening. A league so young should be concentrating on all the positives. Instead, an unfortunate situation is forcing it to dwell on the other side of sports – the reality.
Kathryn L. Knapp, Goal.com
For more on Women's Professional Soccer, go to Goal.com's Women's Soccer page.
Lots of Goals
Forty goals. WPS teams have combined for 40 goals in their first 16 games. That’s 2.5 goals per game. There have only been two scoreless draws during that span. And while there have been a few shutouts (seven on top of the two), there have been a lot of goals. As the players are getting comfortable with each other and finally speaking the same language on the field… they’re giving the fans something to cheer for. They’re all giving themselves something to strive for. The Washington Freedom is leading the attack with nine goals. The Boston Breakers have eight. But the majority of the teams, with the exception of Sky Blue FC (one goal) have found the winning combination – scoring wise at least.
What a Loss
The saddest part of the week however is the injury to Daniela. Here’s a young healthy vibrant player 25-year-old who had her season cut short. And while it’s possible she’ll return before the end of the inaugural season, it’s improbable. Her goals on Sunday were perfection - plain and simple. Now Saint Louis has to rework their attack. Daniela played in four matches, tallying 15 shots, including five on goal. Her two goals sparked Athletica last weekend. But two injured knee ligaments and a tibia fracture are sidelining the Brazilian international. Saint Louis is still looking for its first win. The loss of Daniela only complicates matters. And while she herself is going to have a painful recovery, the team will too search for a new leader.
A Loss for Wambach as well
This is a time when Abby Wambach should be reveling in her health. After suffering a broken leg in July 2008, Wambach pushed herself to get game-fit once again. And when she did, she earned a starting spot in the Washington Freedom’s lineup. Her two goals and assists have helped spark the Freedom’s offense. And now Wambach has received a call to return to the U.S. Women’s National Team. While it’s a happy time for her, it’s a bit bittersweet. Her controversial tackle on Daniela ended in a league ruled one-game suspension. The official release stated due to findings by Tonya Antonucci, WPS Commissioner Wambach would sit out. “Washington Freedom player #20 (Abby Wambach) is hereby suspended from the next Freedom game for which she is available to play (e.g. not injured or called to national team duty) based upon a tackle in the 80th minute that was reckless and resulted in a potentially season-ending injury of an opposing player.”
Final Thoughts
The league should completely be concentrating on what’s important – its success. And yet, the commissioner and team officials have been scrambling this last week to figure out how to deal with the Daniela – Wambach situation. In every game, things get rough. That’s a foregone conclusion. Last Sunday WPS took a step into the norm of other sports. It’s a rude awakening. A league so young should be concentrating on all the positives. Instead, an unfortunate situation is forcing it to dwell on the other side of sports – the reality.
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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