“NBC Universal, which will broadcast the Beijing Games in the United States, will start four new dedicated cable channels in August that could be available to 80 million TV households, company officials said.

One channel will be devoted exclusively to carrying men’s and women’s soccer games 12 hours a day, while a second channel will carry men’s and women’s basketball games 14 hours a day….”

More Here…

FC Uptown

Image via Engadget

Just three weeks after losing defensive midfielder Leslie Osborne to a torn ACL in the build up to the South Korean Peace Queen Cup, the Women’s team lost another with defender Cat Whitehill going down in South Korea.

Stephanie Cox has flown in to replace Whitehill on the roster as Cat is returning back to the states to prepare for surgery.

Both Osborne and Whitehill will be severly missed as both are integral parts of the squad, but are expected to be back at full strength and in the squad by spring of 2009.

image via Isiphotos

UPDATE - Leslie’s surgery was a success, but was a little more than expected as she also had her left ankle cleaned up a little bit.

Might as well if you’re already under the knife!

Now it’s rehab time and if there’s ever a girl that can get back to the highest level, it’s our girl Leslie Osborne.

Our homey Leslie Osborne tore her left ACL last Thursday during training at the Home Depot Center and will unfortunately miss the 2008 Olympics in Beijing, China.

Our thoughts are with her for a successful surgery and start to her recovery.

Our good friends over at Prolebrity (which I highly suggest for Athletes stories and updates) has Heather Mitts’ updates on everything that is Women’s soccer each and every week.

This is what happens when you’re on the road for weeks at a time.

Unlucky for the rookies.

I expect better from you Heather O’Reilly!

The US Women’s Team represented at the legendary The Price Is Right yesterday with host and Seattle Sounders FC co-owner Drew Carey.

The taped show will air on CBS June 13th.

I know if I had the chance to be on that show I better get to play Plinko!

image via WNT-Soccer.Blogspot.com

6-nil?  Dayum!  And no Wambach on the scoring sheet?  (3 Assists)
I know every team has a bad day, but lately Canada’s been bringing it on the international stage.  Hopefully for them it was just a one off.

I’m liking Abby and Natasha together.  Seems like their playing tendencies are starting to flow together.

Big props to our girl Leslie for finding the back of the net in the 87th.  And big props to Michael Kammerman on the play by play.

Canada took them the distance, but the US Women walked away with the trophy and possession of 1st place in the 2008 Olympic Qualifying Tournament in Juarez, Mexico.

Props to our homey Leslie Osborne for making her PK.

– GAME REPORT –   Via USSoccerPlayers.com

Match-up: USA vs. Canada
Competition: 2008 CONCACAF Women’s Olympic Qualifying Championship
Venue: Estadio Olimpico Benito Juarez; Juarez, Mexico
Date: April 12, 2008; Kickoff – 7:30 p.m. MT
Attendance: 4,151
Weather: Clear, light breeze – 63 degrees

Scoring Summary:   1   2   1OT  2OT   F   PK
USA                         0   0      0        1      1    6
CAN                        0   0      0        1      1    5

USA – Carli Lloyd (unassisted)          107 minute.
CAN – Melissa Tancredi (n/a)                      116.

Penalty Kicks
USA                          CAN
Lloyd GOAL             Sinclair GOAL
Hucles GOAL           Franko Left Post
Chalupyny Saved       Tancredi GOAL
Rampone GOAL       Rustad GOAL
Wambach GOAL      Lang GOAL
Osborne GOAL        Wilkinson GOAL
O’Reilly GOAL         Timko Saved

Lineups:
USA: 24-Nicole Barnhart; 2-Rachel Buehler, 3-Christie Rampone – Capt., 15-Kate Markgraf, 17-Lori Chalupny; 12-Leslie Osborne, 11-Carli Lloyd, 5-Lindsay Tarpley (9-Heather O’Reilly, 62), 10-Kacey White (16-Angela Hucles, 76); 6-Natasha Kai (20-Abby Wambach, 46), 19-Amy Rodriguez.
Subs not used: 4-Cat Whitehill, 8-Lauren Cheney, 14-Stephanie Cox, 18-Hope Solo.
Not Eligible: 7-Shannon Boxx, 13-Tobin Heath.
Head Coach: Pia Sundhage

CAN: 18-Erin McLeod; 9-Candace Chapman, 10-Martina Franko, 11-Randee Hermus (5-Robyn Gayle, 46), 4-Clare Rustad, 8-Diana Matheson (19-Alexandra Marton, 100), 16-Jonelle Filigno (17-Brittany Timko, 70), 7-Rhian Wilkinson, 12-Christine Sinclair, 14-Melissa Tancredi, 15-Kara Lang.
Subs not used: 1-Karina LeBlanc, 2-Kristina Kiss, 6-Sophie Schmidt, 13-Amy Walsh.
Not Eligible: 3-Melanie Booth, 21-Jodi Ann Robinson.
Head Coach: Even Pellerud

Statistical Summary: USA / CAN
Shots:                                24 / 10
Shots on Goal:                 12 / 5
Saves:                                  4 / 10
Corner Kicks:                    10 / 3
Fouls:                                 14 / 10
Offside:                                 3 / 7

Misconduct Summary:
CAN – Kara Lang (caution) 107th minute.

Officials
Referee: Erika Vargas (CRC)
Asst. Referee: Cynette Jeffrey (GUY)
Asst. Referee: Cindy Mohammed (TRI)
4th Official: Monique Ras (ARU)

Third-place Game
Mexico 1, Costa Rica 0

Championship
USA 1, Canada 1 (USA wins 6-5 in penalty kicks)

image via TheFootie

Natasha Kai had two more goals and an assist (to Heather O’Reilly) to her name as the US Women qualified for the 2008 Olympics in Beijing by beating Costa Rica 3-nil in the Tournaments Semi-Final match.

The US will now face Canada (who beat Mexico 1-nil for their ticket to China) in the 2008 Olympic Qualifying Tournament Final on Saturday at 9:30 pm ET.

– GAME REPORT –

Match-up: USA vs. Costa Rica
Competition: 2008 CONCACAF Women’s Olympic Qualifying Semifinal
Venue: Estadio Olimpico Benito Juarez; Juarez, Mexico
Date: April 9, 2008; Kickoff – 5:00 p.m. MT
Attendance: 22,280 (Sell-Out)
Weather: Windy – 73 degrees

Scoring Summary: 1 2 F
USA 0 3 3
CRC 0 0 0

USA – Natasha Kai (Tobin Heath) 57th minute.
USA – Heather O’Reilly (Natasha Kai) 72.
USA – Natasha Kai (Angela Hucles) 89.

Lineups:
USA: 18-Hope Solo; 14-Stephanie Cox, 3-Christie Rampone – Capt., 4-Cat Whitehill, 17-Lori Chalupny; 9-Heather O’Reilly (16-Angela Hucles, 83), 7-Shannon Boxx, 11-Carli Lloyd, 5-Lindsay Tarpley (13-Tobin Heath, 46); 6-Natasha Kai, 20-Abby Wambach (19-Amy Rodriguez, 74).
Subs not used: 2-Rachel Buehler, 8-Lauren Cheney, 12-Leslie Osborne, 24-Nicole Barnhart.
Not Eligible: 10-Kacey White, 15-Kate Markgraf.
Head Coach: Pia Sundhage

Image via CNN

With Natasha Kai dropping two past Mexico in a 3-1 win in the final match to win Group A (with a perfect record scoring 9 goals and only conceding 1), the US Women face Costa Rica in the Semi-Final Match Wednesday, April 9th at 5:00pm local time for a spot in Beijing.

Costa Rica came in 2nd place in Group B after posting a 0-1-1 record with 2 goals for and 3 against, while Canada came in 1st with a record of 2-0-0, 7 goals for and 0 against and will face Mexico in the second match (and definitely not a gimme) at 7:30pm local time.

Courtesy of USSoccerPlayers.com

– GAME REPORT –

Match-up: USA vs. Mexico
Competition: 2008 CONCACAF Women’s Olympic Qualifying
Venue: Estadio Olimpico Benito Juarez; Juarez, Mexico
Date: April 6, 2008; Kickoff – 1:30 p.m. MT
Attendance: 22,280 (Sell-Out)
Weather: Sunny, hot – 74 degrees

Scoring Summary:
1 2 F
USA 3 0 3
MEX 1 0 1

USA – Natasha Kai (Heather O’Reilly) 13th minute.
MEX – Lupita Worbis (unassisted) 31.
USA — Abby Wambach (Kate Markgraf) 32.
USA – Natasha Kai (unassisted) 45.

Lineups:
USA: 18-Hope Solo; 2-Rachel Buehler, 15-Kate Markgraf, 3-Christie Rampone – Capt., 17-Lori Chalupny; 9-Heather O’Reilly, 7-Shannon Boxx (12-Leslie Osborne, 66), 11-Carli Lloyd, 13-Tobin Heath (5-Lindsay Tarpley, 46); 6-Natasha Kai (19-Amy Rodriguez, 56), 20-Abby Wambach.
Subs not used: 4-Cat Whitehill, 14-Stephanie Cox, 16-Angela Hucles, 24-Nicole Barnhart.
Not Eligible: 8-Lauren Cheney, 10-Kacey White.
Head Coach: Pia Sundhage image via StarBulletin

The 20 player Roster has been set for the US Women’s National Team that’s headed to Ciudad Juarez, Mexico for the Beijing Olympic Qualification Tournament that kicks off April 4th against Jamaica.

After very encouraging results in the Four Nations Tournament and the Algarve Cup, the only thing to truthfully worry about down in Mexico will be circumstances out of the teams control. Other than that, the US Women should be in the Final and will book their spot in Beijing after winning their Semi-Final match.

U.S. women’s roster

GOALKEEPERS (2): Nicole Barnhart, Hope Solo

DEFENDERS (6): Rachel Buehler, Lori Chalupny, Stephanie Cox, Kate Markgraf, Christie Rampone, Cat Whitehill

MIDFIELDERS (7): Shannon Boxx, Tobin Heath, Angela Hucles, Carli Lloyd, Leslie Osborne, Lindsay Tarpley, Kacey White

FORWARDS (5): Lauren Cheney, Natasha Kai, Heather O’Reilly, Amy Rodriguez, Abby Wambach

image via GFX