Also in today’s Roundup, Andi Sullivan says she would enjoy playing for the Spirit, and the Spirit have launched their own app
Rose Lavelle will walk in her college graduation on Saturday and then play for the Breakers on Sunday (photo copyright Linehan Photography)
Graduation season is heading to the University of Wisconsin this weekend, and the stars have lined up for Rose Lavelle to be there to receive her college diploma. According to a story posted on the school’s athletic department site, Lavelle is already in the area and will join the Boston Breakers ahead of their match Sunday in Toyota Park outside Chicago.
“It worked out perfectly,” Lavelle told Andy Baggot of uwbadgers.com. “I miss Madison so much and the way the stars aligned for the weekend and we were (in Chicago) for the weekend, I really wanted to see everybody and experience graduation.”
Lavelle has jumped right into a starting role for the Breakers, who made her the No. 1 pick out of Wisconsin earlier this year. She scored her first NWSL goal for the club in an April 29 rout of the Reign and was later named NWSL Player of the Month for April. Lavelle also won her first cap for the United States during the SheBelieves Cup in March.
The topic of players attending college graduations has been in the air lately and tend to divide fans sharply. Raquel Rodriguez was given permission to walk in Penn State’s graduation last weekend and missed last weekend’s Sky Blue loss to the Washington Spirit. Rodriguez’s Penn State teammate Mallory Weber, meanwhile, tweeted her delight about missing her graduation in order to suit up for the Thorns.
Every player handles late graduations differently. Some have already completed their studies and are just waiting for the big day. Others, like Midge Purce, are balancing their rookie seasons with the end of the academic life. Tyler Lussi (Thorns) and Rachel Hill (Pride) are both forgoing the start of the season to finish degrees.
Andi Sullivan tells WaPo she would like to play for Spirit
Andi Sullivan is rehabbing a torn ACL and is currently planning to play her senior season at Stanford this fall. (Photo Courtesy CONCACAF.com)
While the women’s soccer fan base holds its collective breath waiting for a decision as to where Mallory Pugh will begin her professional career, another name has emerged. Andi Sullivan is believed to have been the original target of the Washington Spirit when they traded up the Distribution Ranking Order last fall, but she tore her ACL in November and continues to rehab.
Sullivan still has a season of eligibility at Stanford and told the Washington Post on Thursday that she would love to play for the Spirit at the Maryland SoccerPlex, where she grew up attending WPS and then NWSL matches.
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“I’ll go anywhere and I’ll play and hopefully I get drafted,” Sullivan told Nick Eilerson. “But I absolutely loved growing up in the DMV and playing soccer in the DMV (District, Maryland, Virginia).”
Meanwhile, according to multiple reports, Pugh could be on the verge of signing with U.S. Soccer and being claimed by the Spirit. Multiple sources have indicated to The Equalizer that while no deal is in place at the moment, there is momentum moving in that direction.
Should the Spirit claim Pugh, Sullivan, or anyone else, the Breakers are next in the DRO order. Trade negotiations between the Spirit and Thorns to put the Thorns at the top of the DRO order appear to have hit a quiet point.
Washington Spirit launch team app
The Washington Spirit have launched their own app, now available for free download for iPhone, iPad, and Androis users. The app appears to include news and ticket information as well as unspecified exclusive benefits.
The official Washington Spirit app is now available! Download/Register for exclusive benefits! https://t.co/HauB6I0zZa pic.twitter.com/DXyviI1Ha5
— Washington Spirit (@WashSpirit) May 11, 2017
