Women's Professional Soccer News And Notes

Women's Professional Soccer keeps plugging along. This week's edition of news and notes features the new team, a flashback an international opponent and a new player.

Jun 23, 2009 6:53:23 PM

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Mia Hamm, Nomar Garciaparra (Courtesy Charity Foundation)


Atlanta Beat Joins WPS
Incase you missed it, last week the WPS introduced its ninth franchise – the Atlanta Beat. The Beat will pick up where they left off with WUSA play, but have a bit of a different look. Atlanta will use its same logo, but will have new colors. The WUSA Beat was one of the league’s most consistent clubs in terms of attendance. Atlanta will join Philadelphia as the newbies in the 2010 WPS season.
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We really need to look no further than the history of the Atlanta Beat in the WUSA,” said WPS Commissioner Tonya Antonucci.  “It was just really a jewel in WUSA in terms of fan support and quality play and WUSA was so amazing in so many ways to, like we endeavor to do, put the best product on the field in terms of women’s soccer globally.”
 

Remembering 1999 U.S. Women
WPS teams and the league website have started celebrating the 10-year anniversary of U.S. Women’s National Team’s 1999 World Cup title. The Americans dominated pretty much every minute of play during the summer of 1999. Festivities will include guest appearances by some of the squad’s biggest players including Mia Hamm and Joy Fawcett. Saint Louis Athletica and the Los Angeles Sol both celebrated this past weekend. The five other teams will honor the 1999 women at future events.


July 4        Sky Blue FC vs. Boston Breakers        Yurcak Field
July 5        FC Gold Pride vs. Saint Louis Athletica      Buck Shaw Stadium        
July 5        Washington vs. Los Angeles Sol        Maryland SoccerPlex      
July 12    Boston vs. Sky Blue FC                     Harvard Stadium             
July 12           Chicago vs. FC Gold Pride         Toyota Park                    


The Irish Are Coming
Ireland’s Women’s National Team will be spending some time in the states over the summer. Ireland will start its Midwest tour playing FC Indiana (W-League) on Wednesday, June 24th at Kuntz Stadim in Indianapolis. Ireland will take part in a 10-week training camp in Indiana from June 18th to August 30th.

The Chicago Red Stars will host Ireland Sunday, July 5th at the Village of Lisle-Benedictine University Sports complex Stadium in Lisle, Ill. at 3:00 p.m. CT. Red Stars defender Therese McDonnell is also a member of the Irish National Team, making six Caps.

“Playing Ireland is a great chance for the Red Stars to add a mid-season match against some world-class talent,” said Red Stars General Manager Marcia McDermott.  “Holding the game at Benedictine University is also a terrific opportunity to bring Red Stars soccer out to the western suburbs, near all our great fans located out that way.”

Ireland will also be playing the Los Angeles Sol, Argentina, University of Louisville (Louisville, KY August 8th) and University of Notre Dame (Kuntz Stadium, Indianapolis, August 11th). Additional times and locations are TBD.


Sol Signs Schnugg
Julia Schnug joined the Los Angeles Sol on June 12th. The 24-year-old forward inked a developmental player contract and will look to add depth to the Sol’s front line. Schnugg played college ball at Florida State University and University of California-Berkeley. In 61 matches, she recorded 14 goals and 17 assists.


Kathryn L. Knapp, Goal.com

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