Una Nación. Un Equipo.

Rochester soccer stadium pre-game USA vs. Mexico
Rochester soccer stadium pre-game USA vs. Mexico

The Fringe Fest started here last night but we were over at the soccer stadium where the US Women’s team met Mexico in their last pre World Cup qualifying game. We got there early to watch the warmups up close. There was a large contingent of “Followers,” people who follow the US team from international city to city with drums and banners and chants. Their theme song, which they belted out throughout the game was Little Peggy March’s “I Will Follow Him.” I hope she’s collecting some royalties for this gem.

The players on this team are getting a little too familiar. Like Spain’s national men’s team they may be at the end of their run. But in women’s soccer the US is still dominant regardlesss of an internal changing of the guard. Still I panicked when I didn’t see Heather O’Reilly. I could handle seeing Abby Wambach and Alex Morgan on the bench but not Heather.

Luckily the new coach came to her senses and brought in Abby, Alex and Heather at the start of the second half. Heather has more hustle than anyone else on the pitch. She consistently puts herself in position to receive the ball on both sides of the field and when she gets it she delivers it to the center. Her cross to Morgan for their fourth gaol last night was picture perfect.

Leave a comment

Number Nine

Boston's Heather O'Reilly playing WNY Flash in Rochester
Boston’s Heather O’Reilly playing WNY Flash in Rochester

Abby Wambach was sitting out last night’s game with a possible concussion and Carly Lloyd, the other US national team member playing for the Flash, was sidelined with a knee injury. If you wonder how much of a difference a few great players make to a team’s performance I’m hear to tell you it must mean a lot. The Flash could not move the ball from one end of the field to the other. They continually booted it and hoped for he best. Boston’s two national team members, Sydney Larraux and Heather O’Reilly were clearly playing on another level but their team was supportive and able to continually move the ball in small steps toward the goal.

Here’s my old man analysis. Lereaux seems too shapely to play the game but she’s deceptively quick and can out finesse the best. O’Reilly’s a tomboy with more energy and enthusiasm then anyone on the field but she is also a strategic player who feels the flow of the game and positions herself accordingly at all times. It was delight cheering for her as she scored two goals to defeat the home team.

1 Comment