This week we review the first two rounds of matches in CONCACAF's Olympic Qualifying in Frisco and Houston, Texas and also present the 11 Canadian Women's National Team allocations for NWSL ahead of the 2016 season.
CONCACAF OLYMPIC QUALIFYING REVIEW — FIRST TWO ROUNDS
Group A The United States is confirmed as a semifinalist for the CONCACAF Olympic Qualifying Tournament, sitting atop Group A with six points from two victories.
On Saturday February 13, the Americans defeated Mexico 1-0 when Carli Lloyd slotted home a rebound of her saved penalty kick in the 80th minute. Mexican goalkeeper Celilia Santiago, who plays with Apollon Limassol in Cyprus and is a two-time World Cup Team Member at only 21-years-old , blocked Lloyd's spot kick blast to her right side but the ball bounced to her left while she was on the ground and Lloyd calmly slotted it home from 5 yards. Despite the narrow score, the U.S. dominated the match, compiling 16 shots to 2 for Mexico (6 shots on goal versus 2) as Mexico played a very defensive 5-4-1 formation. The doubleheader attracted 16,412 fans in Frisco (suburban Dallas).
Mexico and Costa Rica are tied for second on three points, while Mexico has a +5 goal difference to Costa Rica's +4 with all to play for on Monday when they meet. Costa Rica must win the match to advance to Friday's semifinals while Mexico can advance with a tie or a win. Costa Rica bounced back from their 5-0 defeat last Wednesday to the Americans with a 9-0 destruction of Puerto Rico on Saturday. Karla Villalobos (Moravia of Costa Rica) and Raquel Rodriguez (ex-Penn State University and Sky Blue FC) both scored hat tricks for the Ticas. Melissa Herrera (Moravia of Costa Rica), Diana Saenz (University of South Florida) and Shirley Cruz (Paris St. Germain) all scored single goals. The loss eliminated Puerto Rico from semifinal contention after losing 6-0 to Mexico on Wednesday February 10. Mexico's win was powered by long-time international forward Maribel Dominguez, who scored a hat trick. The 37 year old scored once in the first half and twice in the second, to go with goals from Alina Garciamendez (ex-Stanford and FFC Frankfurt), Lydia Rangel (who played 10 games with Sky Blue FC in NWSL in 2013)--but of whom both have been playing full-time with the national team--and Katie Johnson (University of Southern California). Of Mexico's roster in this tournament, seven play for U.S. colleges, two are tied to NWSL teams, one is with a U.S. amateur club side and three are currently playing in Europe—Cyprus, Sweden and Kazakhstan--with the rest are playing in Mexico, most with the national team on a continual basis.
Mexico 2016 CONCACAF Olympic Qualifying Roster
GK (3) – Esthefanny Barreras (Eastern Florida State College/USA); Bianca Henninger (Houston Dash/USA); Cecilia Santiago (Apollon Limassol/CYP)
DF (7) – Greta Espinoza (Oregon State University/USA); Janelly Farias (Unattached); Monica Flores (University of Notre Dame/USA); Alina Garciamendez (Unattached); Annia Mejia (University of California/USA); Valeria Miranda (UNAM/MEX); Arianna Romero (Washington Spirit/USA)
MF (5) – Karla Nieto (Leonas Morelos/MEX); Teresa Noyola (Tottenham Hotspur East Bay/USA); Monica Ocampo (Unattached); Veronica Perez (Canberra United/AUS & KIF Orebro/SWE); Nayeli Rangel (Unattached)
FW (5) – Maribel Dominguez (Unattached); Katlyn Johnson (University of Southern California/USA); Desiree Monsivais (BIIK Kazygurt/KAZ); Tanya Samarzich (University of Kentucky/USA); Paloma Zermeño (City College of San Francisco/USA)
Puerto Rico, making its first appearance in the finals of a confederation competition since the 1998 CONCACAF Women's Championship in Canada, brought a young team, with their oldest player at 26 and two 17 year old defenders: Miriannie Zaragoza and Adriana Font. In a group with the three CONCACAF Women's World Cup 2015 representatives, games versus Puerto Rico unfortunately became focused on ratcheting as many goals as possible, to build goal differential.
The U.S. defeated Costa Rica 5-0 in their opening match on February 10. Alex Morgan fired the Americans off immediately with a goal after 12 seconds, followed by Carli Lloyd's penalty kick in the ninth minute. Crystal Dunn scored the third goal after 15 minutes and the Americans were home and dry. Morgan scored her second on a Lloyd assist in the 62nd minute for the fourth tally goal. Substitute Christen Press scored eight minutes after coming on the field on an assist from Tobin Heath. The goal was Press' 30th in 57 caps. The attendance in Frisco, Texas for the first day's doubleheader was 8,143.
Costa Rica's roster included eight players based outside of the country, three of which are based in the U.S.: defenders Daniela Cruz (Red Star Belgrade of Serbia), Lixy Rodríguez (Santa Teresa CD/ESP); Diana Sáenz (University of South Florida/USA); and Fabiola Sánchez (Martin Methodist College/USA); Midfielders Wendy Acosta (UD Granadilla/ESP); Shirley Cruz (Paris Saint-Germain/FRA); Raquel Rodríguez (Sky Blue FC/USA); and Carolina Venegas (Madrid FF/ESP).
Group B On Sunday, February 14, Canada also clinched a semifinal spot with a 6-0 win over Trinidad and Tobago in Houston's BBVA Compass Stadium, compiling 6 points from two group B matches. Canada had six different scorers: Diana Matheson (24'), Melissa Tancredi (44'), Christine Sinclair (63'), Kadeisha Buchanan (66'), Janine Beckie (75') and Jessie Fleming (79'). Sinclair now has 159 international goals with her tally, surpassing Mia Hamm (158—U.S.) for second place and now trails only recently retired Abby Wambach (184—U.S.).
In Group B on February 14, Guyana broke Guatemalan fans' hearts by coming from behind to defeat Guatemala 2-1, which gives the Chapine's no chance of qualifying for the semifinals. Guyana, led by goals from 24 year old Mariam El-Masri (GS United of the Ontario, Canada Women's Soccer League and who formerly played with Division 1 side Boldklubben 1921 Nykøbing Falster of Denmark) in the 71st minute and Alison Heydorn (ex-Central Michigan University who now runs an Elite Training Center in Ann Arbor, Michigan) in the 76th minute, will now play Trinidad and Tobago on Tuesday February 16 for a trip to Friday's semifinals. The two teams are tied for second but Guyana leads in Goal Difference (-4 to -5) and thus can advance with a tie.
Guatemala is out despite holding 1-0 leads in both of their matches, losing both to Trinidad and Tobago 2-1 on Thursday and then on Sunday by the same score to Guyana. Ana Lucia Martinez (Rayo Vallecano/SPA)—the side's only European based player--gave Guatemala the lead in the 54th minute with her second goal of the competition.
On day 1 (February 11) Canada defeated Guyana 5-0; midfielder Ashley Lawrence (West Virginia University) scored a hat trick, scoring two goals within four minutes after the second half kickoff, and 16 year old Deanne Rose added a brace—her first two full national team goals. Her first goal was a cheeky flick on with her heel in front of the goalkeeper off of a header from a teammate. Canada defeated Guyana 8-0 in the 2010 CONCCAF Women's Championships—ahead of the 2011 WWC, but despite allowing three fewer goals, Guyana was still hopelessly outclassed, not putting a shot on goal in Houston versus 30 for the Canadians. The Maple Leafs held possession for over 80 percent of the match and successfully completed about 90% of their passes.
Nine of Guyana's team play in Canada, while starting goalkeeper Chante Sandiford—who played at UCLA and then professionally with UMF Selfoss in Iceland—and Brittany Persaud--who played professionally in the Netherlands with ADO Den Haag and Telstar after spells at the University of Dayton and Wright State University--are their highest profile players. Guyana held a pre-tournament camp in Toronto, as a number of their players are dual citizens of Canada and Guyana.
In the second match on February 10, Trinidad and Tobago came from behind to defeat Guatemala 2-1. Guatemala seized an early lead through Ana Lucia Martinez of Spain's Rayo Vallecano Femenino in the 17th minute from a penalty kick and maintained the lead well into the second half. Former Seattle Reign striker Kennya Cordner (ex-Seattle Reign and Brisbane Roar) evened the score in the 74th minute before Tasha St. Louis (who played professionally in the US with FC Indiana and with Sunnana SK in Sweden) scored the winner.
One has to wonder if all of these CONCACAF Tournament Games are for naught as the United States Olympic Committee has told its various sports federations that their staff and athletes are not obligated to go to Rio de Janeiro for the Olympic Games due to the outbreak of the Zika virus. The virus is carried via mosquitos and is linked to microcephaly, which can result in the birth of malformed babies. Particularly at risk are pregnant women or women considering pregnancy and the disease is also sexually transmitted.
This announcement certainly can caste some uncertainty on the Americans' participation this summer—though as three time consecutive defending Olympic Champion, it's more likely that individual players may choose not to go. One well-known player—goalkeeper Hope Solo who was rated the best goalkeeper at last summer's World Cup--said just before the CONCACAF Tournament that if she had to make a decision today:
“I would never take the risk of having an unhealthy child. I don't know when that day will come for [husband] Jerramy [Stevens] and me, but I personally reserve my right to have a healthy baby. No athlete competing in Rio should be faced with this dilemma. Female professional athletes already face many different considerations and have to make choices that male professional athletes don't."
Notwithstanding, if a CONCACAF finalist does decide not to attend, the third place finisher in the Olympic Qualifying Tournament could be called in as a late replacement.
CANADIAN SOCCER ASSOCIATION ALLOCATES 11 TO NWSL TEAM FOR 2016 SEASON
The National Women's Soccer League (NWSL) has announced the official list of Canadian Women's National Team allocated players from the Canadian Soccer Association (CSA) for the 2016 season. A total of 11 allocated National Team players will be participating in the upcoming NWSL season.
In addition to the returning allocated National Team players, there are six newly allocated players including Janine Beckie, Josée Belanger, Sabrina D'Angelo, Stephanie Labbé, Desiree Scott (returning to FC Kansas City after time in England with Notts County) and Shelina Zadorsky. Beckie attended Texas Tech University in 2015 and was a first round draft pick by Houston Dash in the 2016 NWSL College Draft.
Boston Breakers, Chicago Red Stars Seattle Reign FC, Sky Blue FC received no Canadian NWSL allocations for 2016.
The allocations are:
Houston Dash
Allysha Chapman
FC Kansas City
Desiree Scott*
Orlando Pride
Josée Belanger*
Kaylyn Kyle
Portland Thorns FC
Christine Sinclair
Washington Spirit
Stephanie Labbé*#
Diana Matheson
Shelina Zadorsky*
Western New York Flash
Sabrina D'Angelo*
Adriana Leon
* = Newly allocated player in 2016
# = Labbe was traded from the Chicago Red Stars on January 25.
