Tuesday brought some surprise announcements from WPS rosters, while Pia Sundhage’s announcement of the U.S. team that will take on England on April 2 brought little surprise.
Although Monday was officially the day that WPS rosters had to be cut from 30 players to 28, the biggest news involved players being added to teams. In Florida, magicJack’s goalkeeping situation is now less of a mystery. The team recently terminated Erin McLeod’s contract, but has since signed former Chicago Red Stars goalkeeper Jillian Loyden and former Atlanta Beat goalkeeper Brett Maron. Loyden looks to be on the outside, looking in with the U.S. after breaking her left hand in early January.
The most subtly intriguing addition is Gina Lewandowski, who is now on the Western New York Flash roster. Lewandowski played for FFC Frankfurt alongside U.S. international Ali Krieger.
Curiously, Czech Republic midfielder Pavlina Scasna has left Boston Breakers training camp after only two days and the two parties mutually terminated Scasna’s contract. Word is she just did not feel right after practicing on her knee, which was operated on this WPS offseason. Scasna determined that she could not play on her knee in its current state after training. Check out full rosters in their current state here.
The Boston Breakers and magicJack met in a critical WPS preseason showdown on Tuesday, with magicJack winning 3-2. Christen Press opened the scoring early and Abby Wambach added a second goal in the second of three, 30 minute periods. Ella Masar scored magicJack’s final goal to put her team up 3-0, but Boston did not go away.
The Breakers made things interesting with late goals from Claire Zimmeck and Kasey Moore (PK) to cut magicJack’s lead to 3-2, but that is how the game would end.
USWNT
U.S. Women’s National Team Head Coach Pia Sundhage has named the 23 players that will travel to the U.K. for the April 2 match against England and the surrounding training camp. Of the 23 players, the only one that did not participate in the Algarve Cup is magicJack rookie midfielder Meghan Klingenberg.
U.S. Women’s National Team Roster by Position –
GOALKEEPERS (3): Nicole Barnhart (Philadelphia Independence), Ashlyn Harris (Western New York Flash), Hope Solo (magicJack)
DEFENDERS (6): Rachel Buehler (Boston Breakers), Stephanie Cox (Boston Breakers), Ali Krieger (FFC Frankfurt), Amy LePeilbet (Boston Breakers), Christie Rampone (magicJack), Becky Sauerbrunn (Washington Freedom)
MIDFIELDERS (10): Yael Averbuch (Western New York Flash), Shannon Boxx (magicJack’s Washington Freedom), Tobin Heath (Sky Blue FC), Meghan Klingenberg (magicJack), Lori Lindsey (Philadelphia Independence), Carli Lloyd (Atlanta Beat), Kelley O’Hara (Boston Breakers), Heather O’Reilly (Sky Blue FC), Megan Rapinoe (Philadelphia Independence), Lindsay Tarpley (magicJack)
FORWARDS (4): Lauren Cheney (Boston Breakers), Alex Morgan (Western New York Flash), Amy Rodriguez (Philadelphia Independence), Abby Wambach (magicJack)
