Also in today’s roundup, Scott Vallow named Courage assistant coach, Pride acquire international slot from Chicago, W-League final sets records, Alex Morgan ruled out of upcoming OL match due to sickness, Signeul names Scotland squad for Cyprus Cup and Sky Blue takes on St. John’s in preseason fixture
Haley Kopmeyer re-signed with Reign through the 2018 NWSL season. (Photo Copyright Clark Linehan for The Equalizer)
On Tuesday, Seattle Reign FC announced that they have signed goalkeeper Haley Kopmeyer to a new two-year contract that will last through the 2018 NWSL season. Kopmeyer, who has been with the club since the inaugural 2013 season, started in 11 games last season, totaling 41 saves.
“I cannot overstate how excited I am to be back for a fifth season with the Reign,” said Kopmeyer in the club’s official release. “This team and staff took a huge risk on me a few years back and have invested in my development as both a player and person. I am beyond excited to make my mark on this program and help push us back to the top of the table.”
Kopmeyer has a real shot at becoming the number one goalkeeper in Seattle this year. Laura Harvey acknowledged exactly that, noting that it’s a really big year for Kopmeyer. “She deserves the opportunity to be a number one and I think this is her year to push to make it hers,” Harvey said. “We are trying to make it a real challenge for her and we want competition for that. We’re really just pleased she wants to stay around and push to be that number one.”
{MORE: The Lowdown: Looking at 3 issues facing NWSL}
Scott Vallow named NC Courage Assistant Coach
Scott Vallow was named assistant coach of the NC Courage after serving as assistant to Paul Riley at WNY last year.
The North Carolina Courage announced the naming of Scott Vallow as assistant coach ahead of the upcoming NWSL season. Vallow was part of the 2016 coaching staff for the NWSL Champions, the Western New York Flash. During the NWSL Championship, he served as interim head coach when Paul Riley was suspended and lead the team to a 3-2 penalty kick win over the Washington Spirit.
“I’m very thankful to the organization for the opportunity, and I’m really excited to be part of such an awesome team that is coming from Western New York,” said Vallow in the team’s official press release. “The roster is filled with great soccer players and great people, and we picked up some great additions. I’m really excited to get there and get started.”
Prior to Western New York last year, Vallow was an assistant coach in Portland with the Thorns in 2015. Before that, he coached at the Rochester Rhinos in 2014. For the three years prior to that, Vallow coached at the Flash from 2011 to 2013.
“Scott has been a tremendous asset to the club and to bring him to North Carolina provides the team with a consistency of technical staff and a right hand man who is soccer savvy, knowledgeable, well loved, and a superb human,” said Riley of Vallow.
Pride acquire international slot for 2017; Red Stars get 2nd round pick in ’18
Chicago Red Stars now have eight picks in the 2018 NWSL College Draft
Orlando Pride has acquired an international roster spot for the upcoming NWSL season from the Chicago Red Stars in exchange for their second round pick in the 2018 NWSL College Draft.
Chicago now has eight draft picks for the 2018 NWSL Draft. This includes two picks each in the first round and third rounds, four in the second round and one in the final round.
At this point, Orlando is traded out of the 2018 draft entirely.
W-League final smashes viewership and attendance records
Lydia Williams holds Melbourne City’s newest hardware as the team celebrate winning the W-League Grand Final. (photo courtesy Melbourne City)
On Monday, the FFA (Football Federation Australia) announced that the W-League Grand Final between Perth Glory and Melbourne City was the highest rated game in W-League history as well as the most attended final in W-League history.
Between Fox Sports and ABC, a total of 440,000 viewers watched Jess Fishlock and Beverly Yanez seal the deal for Melbourne City for the second straight year, and 4,591 attended the event in person. Greg O’Rourke, head of W-League and A-League told Outside90 that viewership numbers like this are a real testament to the continued growth of women’s football in Australia as well as the increasing prominence of the W-League. “To eclipse both the grand final attendance record and the highest ever ratings for a W-league match on Fox Sports is an outstanding result and a fantastic endorsement for the W-League and the game,” he said.
{DETAILS: Melbourne City repeats as W-League champions}
Alex Morgan ruled out of tomorrow’s match for OL
Alex Morgan is on the brink of scoring her first goal for her new club.
Alex Morgan took to Twitter to alert fans that she will be out of tomorrow’s match for OL against Juvisy due to illness. Over the weekend, Morgan entered off the bench for OL against Juvisy during the second half and had a fair share of chances. After the match, she told French Eurosport that she’s “getting settled in more, and getting used to [her] teammates. Everything was new, but [she’s] getting settled.”
Caught a stomach bug Sunday and still not myself. Haven’t called out of work sick… Ever. Good luck to my girls tomorrow vs Juvisy. #OL
— Alex Morgan (@alexmorgan13) February 14, 2017
Signeul names Scotland squad for 2017 Cyprus Cup
Head coach Anna Signeul named her roster for the upcoming 2017 Cyprus Cup, which kicks off at the beginning of March. The tournament will be one of the last preparations for the squad ahead of this summer’s UEFA EURO 2017.
The group chosen to represent Scotland at this tournament remains primarily unchanged from the roster taken to the two friendlies against Denmark in Cyprus last month. Five players included have over 100 caps as Scotland will compete in Group B against New Zealand, Korea Republic and Austria. As reported last month, the EURO will be Signeul’s last competition in charge of the Scottish side as her tenure with the Scottish FA comes to an end after 12 years as she takes a job as the head coach of the Finland women’s national team later this year.
Full roster below:
Goalkeepers (2): Shannon Lynn (Vittsjo GIK), Lee Alexander (Glasgow City)
Defenders (6): Jennifer Beattie (Manchester City), Frankie Brown (Bristol City), Rachel Corsie (Seattle Reign), Ifeoma Dieke (Vittsjo GIK), Emma Mitchell (Arsenal), Joelle Murray (Hibernian)
Midfielders (9): Leanne Crichton (Notts County), Erin Cuthbert (Chelsea), Lisa Evans (FC Bayern Munich), Hayley Lauder (Glasgow City), Christie Murray (Doncaster Rovers Belles), Leanne Ross (Glasgow City), Caroline Weir (Liverpool)
Forwards (4): Lizzie Arnot (Hibernian), Fiona Brown (Eskilstuna United), Lana Clelland (UPC Tavagnacco), Jane Ross (Manchester City)
{MORE ROSTER NEWS: Australia, Germany, others release tournament rosters}
Sky Blue to take on St. John’s in preseason match for third year running
Sky Blue FC to take on St. John’s in preseason fixture this year (Photo copyright Howard C. Smith)
St. John’s Women’s Soccer announced its spring fixture schedule today, which includes a match against Sky Blue FC during the NWSL preseason for the third year in a row. The game is set to take place on March 25 at 3 p.m. ET at Belson Stadium in Queens, NY.
