Week 15 in Women's Professional Soccer threatens to only make the table even more congested and confusing, but thankfully questions will be answered in the W-League, the WPSL and the FIFA U-20 Women's World Cup.
League-leading FC Gold Pride visits the Maryland SoccerPlex Saturday when it takes on the Washington Freedom at 7 p.m. Eastern. With a record of 11-3-1 (34 pts.), FC Gold Pride is starting to run away with the league. Washington is winless in its last seven but still in fourth place. A win could put the Freedom just one point out of second place, but it will be tough to contain Marta, whose 11 goals this season already set a WPS record for goals in a season.
"It's always a hard game, especially playing away from home," Marta said. "But we are looking forward to the stretch from first place to second place or at least keep the points stretched a little bit and capitalize on the momentum we have right now."
Several festivities are taking place for the Freedom this weekend, including Friday's charity match that mixed Freedom alumni with Montgomery County Police to raise money for the Margaux Brown Memorial Fund, a charity to honor Sharon Brown and her one-year-old daughter Margaux. Sharon and baby Margaux were killed in a safari accident when a mother elephant protecting her calf charged them without warning this past January in Kenya. Still, Freedom forward Abby Wambach has her eyes on Saturday's pivotal match.
"Obviously having Marta and Gold Pride come here is the most important thing about this weekend personally, but having played for the Freedom in the former WUSA years, it's going to be exciting to have some of my old teammates back on campus here and it will be fun to talk with them, probably meet a lot of their children," Wambach said. "I don't know, it's just going to be an exciting weekend and for us, we just want to do the best that we can to close the gap between the Gold Pride and the rest of the league. They obviously have the most points by far and I know the rest of the teams in the league are trying to catch them, so hopefully we can get a result that we can be proud of and give the fans something to cheer about. And hopefully people come to watch. Not to often do you get Mia, Marta and myself on the same field."
At halftime, Washington will induct a new member into the Hall of Freedom to join Mia Hamm, Steffi Jones, Siri Mullinix, and David Vanole. Jen Grubb, owners Maureen and John Hendricks, Carrie Moore, Skylar Little and Lindsay Stoecker are all candidates for induction. Hamm is looking forward to the entire weekend.
"I think for me, the Freedom has been a big part in my career and a big part in my life and any chance to come back to the area and be a part of that franchise is very special for me and I'm so thrilled to watch two of the best players in the world compete against each other," Hamm said. "They are two players that continuously push their technical edge. Every time they step on the field they want to help their team win in every possible way and as a fan of the game I appreciate that and I am excited for everyone who will be lucky enough to get in the stadium to watch it."
Meanwhile, Sky Blue FC takes on the Philadelphia Independence Saturday in a battle of No. 2 versus No. 3 in West Chester, Penn. This will be the first game in charge for new Sky Blue FC Head Coach Rick Stainton. Previously the goalkeeper coach, Stainton took over for Pauliina Miettinen, who was fired Monday. Thus far, Sky Blue FC players have responded well to Stainton's new authority.
"Actually, it's gone fairly well. We've got a plan ahead of us and we are trying to stick to it, so it's been somewhat successful so far," Stainton said. "(The Players) have been upbeat and respectful and optimistic."
This will be goalkeeper Kristin Luckenbill's last match, giving Sky Blue FC more worries in net. She is returning to graduate school. Jenni Branam will not be healthy until early August, meaning developmental goalkeeper Shannon Myers will be the only healthy keeper on the roster. Sky Blue FC is actively searching for another goalkeeper, Stainton said.
Finally, the Boston Breakers travel to Toyota Park Sunday at 4 p.m. Eastern to take on the Chicago Red Stars. Both teams were on unbeaten streaks until Wednesday night, when Atlanta topped Chicago 1-0 and the Breakers fell 2-1 to FC Gold Pride. The Red Stars and the Breakers are separated by just one point in the congested WPS table.
Elsewhere:
The knockout stage of the the FIFA U-20 Women's World Cup begins with the quarterfinals taking place this weekend. Hosts Germany take on North Korea in a heavyweight battle Saturday and Columbia hosts Sweden on the other side of the bracket. Sunday, Mexico takes on South Korea and defending champion United States of America takes on Nigeria.
Saturday is a massive day for W-League and WPSL teams as semifinal contestants will be determined. Two-time defending W-League champion Pali Blues take on the Vancouver Whitecaps at 10 p.m. Eastern from Swangard Stadium in Vancouver for the Western Conference Championship and the Atlanta Silverbacks host the Charlotte Lady Eagles at 7:30 p.m. in the Eastern Conference Championship. The winner of each game will go straight to the W-League semifinals Thursday in Santa Clarita, Calif. Charlotte upset the Washington Freedom 3-2 on penalty kicks Friday after a 2-2 game after overtime and the Silverbacks beat up on the New Jersey Wildcats 5-1.
Meanwhile, the Buffalo Flash take on the Toronto Lady Lynx in the Central Conference semifinals at Niagara University at 5:30 p.m., while the Chicago Red Eleven take on the Ottawa Fury. The Central Conference Championship is Sunday at 6 p.m. and joins the W-League Regular Season Champion Hudson Valley Quickstrike Lady Blues and the two other conference champions in the final four.
Don't forget about the WPSL playoff race either. Here is how things will be determined:
EAST CONFERENCE FINAL
Long Island Fury (8-2-1) @ Boston Aztec Breakers Reserves (9-1-1)
Date/Time: Saturday, July 24 @ 5:00 PM (EST)
Venue: Governor's Academy
Address: 1 Elm Street, Byfield, MA 01922
MIDWEST/SUNSHINE CONFERENCE PLAYOFF
FSA Freedom (5-1-2, Sunshine Champion) @ F.C. Milwaukee Nationals (9-1-0, Midwest Champion)
Date/Time: Saturday, July 24 @ 7:00 PM (CST)
Venue: F.C. Milwaukee Soccer Complex
Address: W140N9800 Fond du Lac Avenue, Germantown, WI 53022
PACIFIC CONFERENCE SEMIFINALS
LAFC Chelsea (6-3-1, #2 South) vs. California Storm (11-1-0, #1 North)
Date/Time: Saturday, July 24 @ 4:00 PM (PST)
Venue: Maranatha High School (Pasadena, CA)
North Bay F.C. Wave (9-3-0, #2 North) vs. Ajax America (6-3-1, #1 South)
Date/Time: Saturday, July 24 @ 6:00 PM (PST)
Venue: Maranatha High School
Address: 169 South Saint John Avenue, Pasadena, CA 91105
PACIFIC CONFERENCE FINAL
Semifinal #1 WINNER vs. Semifinal #2 WINNER
Date/Time: Sunday, July 25 @ 5:00 PM (PST)
Venue: Muir High School
Address: 1905 Lincoln Avenue, Pasadena, CA 91103
BIG SKY CONFERENCE FINAL
Phoenix Del Sol (5-1-2, North Division Champion) @ Oklahoma Alliance F.C. (7-1-0, South Division Champion)
Date/Time: Thursday, July 29 @ 7:00 PM (CST)
Venue: Edmond Soccer Club (Field #4)
Address: 1502 W. Danforth Road, Edmond, OK 73003
WPSL NATIONAL SEMIFINALS
East Conference Champion vs. Midwest/Sunshine Playoff Winner
Date/Time: Saturday, July 31 @ 5:00 PM (CST)
Venue: University of Texas-Dallas
Address: 800 West Campbell Road, Richardson, TX 75080
Pacific Conference Champion vs. Big Sky Conference Champion
Date/Time: Saturday, July 31 @ 7:00 PM (CST)
Venue: University of Texas-Dallas
WPSL NATIONAL CONSOLATION
Date/Time: Sunday, August 1 @ 10:30 AM (CST)
Venue: University of Texas-Dallas
Address: 800 West Campbell Road, Richardson, TX 75080
WPSL NATIONAL FINAL
Semifinal #1 WINNER vs. Semifinal #2 WINNER
Date/Time: Sunday, August 1 @ 1:00 PM (CST)
Venue: University of Texas-Dallas