Teams Busy Making Roster Adjustments; Veterans Shine
By: Womensprosoccer.com staff report
WPS teams are now in the second week of preseason and international and U.S. National Team stars will be returning from the Algarve Cup and Cyprus Cup tournaments at the end of this week to begin training with their WPS clubs. Several teams have begun releasing players that were on preseason rosters, as they prepare for the mandatory cut-down to the 24-player roster.
Meanwhile, the league office has extended the 24-player roster announcement to Monday, March 16 at 3pm Eastern/12 Pacific with Opening Day rosters to be announced on March 25.
On the field, the Boston Breakers have had two scrimmages already, outscoring Connecticut and Boston College by a combined 8-1, while using all field players on hand in their second game against BC. Kelly Schmedes has already tallied a hat trick, while veteran Kristine Lilly has a pair of goals. The team departs early next week for Florida, where they will face off against the Chicago Red Stars in a pre-season game on March 18th.
Similar to Boston, Chicago faced two college programs, playing indoor scrimmages against Northwestern and Purdue this past weekend in Chicago, notching one win and a scoreless draw in two short, 50-minute games. They have already arrived in Florida and face another college program this evening in a practice against the University of Miami.
FC Gold Pride took to the field for an exhibition game in Danville, CA, Wednesday night at Mustang Soccer Complex, where they overwhelmed California in the first half and went on to win 6-1. Two of the biggest names in the history of U.S. Women’s Soccer, Tiffeny Milbrett and Brandi Chastain made an impact on the field for FC Gold. Milbrett notched 3 assists and a goal, while Chastain put one in the back of the net as well. Liz Bogus also tallied a pair of goals.
Sky Blue FC has headed south to Greensboro, NC and the team is busy preparing for their first preseason game when they travel up to Germantown, MD, to take on the Washington Freedom on Saturday. Earlier in the week, the Freedom announced they had signed long-time national team goalkeeper Briana Scurry to a contract, bringing experience and confidence inside the posts. And finally, on the West Coast FC Gold Pride and Los Angeles Sol play in a preseason game Saturday at the Home Depot Center which is open to the public.
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