Also in today’s Roundup, UEFA reveals shortlist for Women’s Player of the Year, Haavi returns to LSK Kvinner, and Karina LeBlanc unveils new field in her hometown
Carli Lloyd went off the field injured on Sunday night against FC Kansas City (Photo Copyright Patricia Giobetti for The Equalizer)
Earlier today, the Houston Dash confirmed that Carli Lloyd suffered a left ankle sprain during Sunday’s match against FC Kansas City. The severity of the injury as well as the timetable for recovery have not yet been announced.
The 35-year old suffered the injury in the 26th minute after coming down on her left foot after going up for a ball in the air against Kansas City defender Desiree Scott. Lloyd was helped to the locker room after she made it off the field with ice wrapped around her left foot. Yesterday, the Houston Chronicle reported that the club ruled out any breaks by revealing that the X-rays came back negative, so today’s news confirming the ankle sprain was likely expected as a larger break was off the table.
In other recent NWSL injury news, Lloyd’s USWNT and Dash teammate Morgan Brian looks to be available tomorrow night for Houston, as she’s listed as questionable on the injury report. Chicago midfielder Danielle Colaprico was listed on today’s injury report as being questionable for tomorrow night’s match against the Reign after suffering a left wrist contusion. The injury occurred when Portland Thorns rookie Tyler Lussi stepped on Colaprico during a bad take down in Chicago’s 3-2 loss to the Thorns Saturday night.
UEFA announces Women’s Player of the Year shortlist
Lieke Martens (11), playing here against the USWNT last September, was instrumental in the Netherlands EURO Championship win. (photo by Allison Lee)
Today, UEFA announced that Danish international Pernille Harder, German international Dzsenifer Marozsan and Netherlands international and recent European Champion Lieke Martens were named to the shortlist for the UEFA Women’s Player of the Year Award. The winner of the award is set to be announced on August 24 at the 2017-18 UEFA Champions League group stage draw ceremony in Monaco.
Harder led her Denmark team as captain in an incredibly memorable run to the EURO Finals last month, where her side fell short in the championship match to the Netherlands, but far exceeded original expectations. She was instrumental in Denmark’s quarterfinal win over Germany and scored a goal in the Final, despite the loss. At only 24 years old, the Wolfsburg forward has 92 appearances for Denmark with 47 goals.
Dzsenifer Marozsan’s inclusion on the UEFA Women’s Player of the Year shortlist is her third following a year in which she helped lead Lyon to the UEFA Women’s Champions League title in addition to a domestic league title and cup title, completing the treble. Marozsan moved from FFC Frankfurt to Lyon last summer and was voted both French and German women’s player of the year. Although Germany’s EURO quarterfinal exit was disappointing, the 25-year old was key to Germany’s success last summer in the Rio Olympics.
It’s been quite a summer for Lieke Martens, who announced her signing with Barcelona in July and then a month later ended the EURO Championships with a title trophy in her home country. The 24-year old was named Player of the Tournament after leading the Netherlands to triumph in what was a sensational tournament run for the hosts. Before heading to Barcelona for club play, Martens was a strong performer for FC Rosengard, where she scored 17 goals in 26 appearances for the Swedish side.
?⚽️ Player of the Year Award shortlist ⚽️?
Bravo Lieke Martens, Dzsenifer Marozsán & Pernille Harder!Winner announced 24 August.#UEFAPOTY pic.twitter.com/bcpHc2qXC3
— UEFA Women’s CL (@UWCL) August 15, 2017
Haavi returns to LSK Kvinner after being released by Breakers
Haavi returned to Norway just a day after being released by the Boston Breakers. (photo copyright Linehan Photography for The Equalizer)
LSK Kvinner of the Toppserien announced the signing of Norweigan striker Emilie Haavi less than 24 hours after the Boston Breakers announced that they had agreed to waive Haavi as a result of her difficulty to adjust to life in the United States.
Haavi made only seven appearances with the Boston Breakers after making her late debut on May 27 due to a jaw injury sustained during preseason. She played in two matches at the EUROs for Norway this summer, although the nation failed to advance from the group stage.
The 25-year old returns to LSK Kvinner, a club where she spent her time since 2013 and has recorded 49 goals in 83 appearances.
En gledens dag. Emilie Haavi er tilbake i gult og svart. Les mer på hjemmesiden. https://t.co/5H4GTo6oKh pic.twitter.com/6Ui106qkEj
— LSK Kvinner (@LSKKvinner) August 15, 2017
Karina LeBlanc Field unveiled in Canadian veteran’s hometown
In former Canadian goalkeeper Karina LeBlanc’s hometown of Maple Ridge, a new field was unveiled after $2.5M was spent upgrading what was once a patch of grass that she played soccer on during her childhood.
LeBlanc recognized the field as a place where she transformed from a shy girl who was often bullied during her adolescence into a confident young athlete. She hopes that the Karina LeBlanc Field will have a strong impact on generations of Maple Ridge children that will have the opportunity to play there, just as it had for her. At the unveiling, she spoke to a group of young players about her journey from being cut from the B.C. provincial team one year and persevering through that to make it the next year after she found it within her self to add an extra 15 minutes of training every day on that field.
“This is incredible for me. I was just this young girl who moved to Canada after my parents took a lead of faith.” she said. “I was a shy kid who never spoke. I was bullied; I was irrelevant. Sport completely changed my life.”
Congrats to @karinaleblanc who is having a soccer field named after her in Maple Ridge, BC! pic.twitter.com/TIc7Qa7WlV
— Canada Soccer (@CanadaSoccerEN) August 14, 2017
