Wisconsin Soccer Central

2011.06.06 09:08:19

Eric Anderson

The U.S. women's national team very nearly headed to the Women's World Cup with a sour taste in its mouth.

Instead, Lauren Cheney provided a spark to brighten the mood significantly.

Cheney scored on an impressive 27-yard strike in the second minute of stoppage time Sunday to give the Americans a 1-0 victory over Mexico in their send-off match in Harrison, N.Y. (Video below)

The U.S. dominated play and outshot Mexico 34-4, but 16-year-old goalkeeper Caci Santiago made eight saves to frustrate the Americans throughout the afternoon.

But there was little Santiago could do about Cheney's drive from the right side. The shot blazed past the teenage keeper into the upper left corner of the goal for Cheney's 14th career international goal.

The U.S. leaves June 14 for training camp in Austria, and opens the sixth Women's World Cup on June 28 against North Korea in Dresden, Germany. The Americans also play Colombia on July 2 in Sinsheim and Sweden on July 6 in Wolfsburg in Group C action.

All 32 matches at the tournament will be televised by ESPN or ESPN2, with all of the U.S. games on ESPN.

USWNT | Videos

2010.01.20 02:58:13

Eric Anderson

U.S. national team midfielder-forward Lindsay Tarpley chatted with The Equalizer Web site recently about being traded from the Chicago Red Stars to Saint Louis Athletica last Friday.

The Madison native, who is recovering from a torn ACL in her right knee suffered in the Red Stars' final training session of the year Aug. 4, said she is "really looking forward to a fresh start" with Athletica, which gave up goalkeeper Jillian Loyden in the draft-day deal.

Tarpley's four goals last season ranked second for Chicago, and her team-high four assists left her tied for fifth in Women's Professional Soccer last season. She also was named the WPS Player of the Week twice.

Lindsay Tarpley | USWNT | WPS

2009.12.17 10:03:51

Eric Anderson

Madison native Lindsay Tarpley is "well ahead of schedule" in her recovery from surgery to repair a torn ACL in her right knee, the U.S. women's national team blog reports.

Tarpley, who stands 12th in national team history with 30 goals, is expected to be ready when Women's Professional Soccer kicks off its second season in April.

Lindsay Tarpley | USWNT

2009.12.17 10:00:17

Eric Anderson

Chicago Red Stars and U.S. national team forward Lindsay Tarpley was born in Madison, but her family moved to Michigan when she was young.

Too bad for local soccer fans.

Tarpley was named the girls soccer national Player of the Decade by ESPN RISE for her career at Portage Central High School near Kalamazoo. The full team is here.

Tarpley, whose parents now live in Middleton, is recovering from a torn ACL in her right knee suffered in the final training session of the year with the Red Stars on Aug. 4.

Lindsay Tarpley | USWNT | WPS | Prep girls

2009.12.17 09:45:06

Eric Anderson

The Women's World Cup is expanding.

FIFA announced today that the 2015 event will include 24 teams, up from the 16-team fields that have been used in the event since 1999.

The 2011 tournament in Germany, the seventh Women's World Cup, will include 16 teams. The first two events, in 1991 and 1995, featured 12 teams. Some have expressed concerns about the tournament growing, considering several lopsided results in the 2007 event.

• U.S. national team midfielder Leslie Osborne (Brookfield/Waukesha Catholic Memorial) did a light-hearted Q-and-A with the Bleacher Report centered on her recent move to the Boston Breakers of Women's Professional Soccer.

USWNT