Americans Abroad: Notes for August (2012)

With Germany’s Frauen-Bundesliga kicking off its season soon, here’s a quick and non-exhaustive review of news about Americans who are playing abroad, primarily in Sweden and Germany, but also in other leagues.

* * *

SWEDEN: DAMALLSVENSKAN
Season: April to November
Website: svenskfotboll.se/damallsvenskan/

Two Cardinals, a ‘Heel, and a Hoya in Göteborg — Kopparbergs/Göteborg FC currently features four Americans players: forward Christen Press and defender Camille Levin, who both played for Stanford, midfielder Yael Averbuch, a UNC alum, and Georgetown alum, Ingrid Wells.

• Christen Press, who was an alternate for the USWNT’s Olympic squad, currently has 12 league goals, which puts her in second place behind Germany’s Anja Mittag of LdB FC Malmö.
• Camille Levin, on Saturday, August 25th, apparently played in her first professional match, starting in central defense against Umeå IK FF.
• Yael Averbuch, in just her second match with the squad, had two assists in the Umeå match, including one that led to Press’ second goal of the game.
• Ingrid Wells has been more on the periphery in Göteborg’s line-up, playing in 11 of 15 league matches, but only having 6 starts.

K/Göteborg FC are in the current Women’s Champions League season (UEFA.com), but absent a WCL title, are not on track to qualify for next season.

Kligenberg to Tyresö FF — Just last week, Tyresö FF, announced the signing of midfielder Meghan Klingenberg, who, like Press, was an alternate for the USWNT’s Olympic squad (www.tyresoff.se). Tyresö recently appointed Sweden native Tony Gustavsson as head coach. Gustavsson was the USWNT’s defensive coach from early 2012 until the Olympics. Other former WPS players on Tyresö’s roster include Marta, Vero Boquete, and Caroline Seger. (Edit: American-born Football Fern Ali Riley plays for LdB FC Malmö, not Tyresö FF.)

Elsewhere in Sweden —

• Brittany Bock (Notre Dame), who played for Colorado Rush in the W-League this summer is another recent transfer. She joined Vittsjö GIK, which also includes two other Americans on its roster: Danesha Adams (UCLA) and Kendall Fletcher (UNC).
• Becky (Rebecca) Edwards (Florida State) has started 9 matches so far for Kristianstads DFF.
• Jennifer Nobis (U. of Missouri) is currently the leading scorer for Piteå IF, with 7 goals.
• Lori Chalupny (UNC), after playing for the Chicago Red Stars this summer, is now with AIK FF, who are in the relegation zone.

K/Göteborg FC and Tyresö FF will meet in the Swedish Cup final on October 10th.

* * *

GERMANY: FRAUEN-BUNDESLIGA
Season: September to May
Website: www.dfb.de/index.php?id=32

The Frauen Bundesliga kicks-off the first weekend of September.

Select matches are  streamed live on tv.dfb.de. The first live-streamed match of the season will be VfL Sindelfingen vs. Turbine Potsdam, which kicks off on September 2nd at 11:00 a.m. Central European Time (5:00 a.m. EDT).

A Trio in Munich — Gina Lewandowski (Lehigh U.), who was formerly with FFC Frankfurt, joins Sarah Hagen (Wisconsin-Milwaukee) and Niki Cross (UConn) at Bayern-Munich this season. Last season with Munich, Hagen and Cross won the German Women’s Cup.

Just Krieger in Frankfurt — With Lewandowski leaving FFC Frankfurt, that leaves USWNT fullback Alex Krieger (Penn State) as the lone American on Frankfurt’s roster. Krieger is coming back from an ACL injury that happened during Olympic qualifying.

Two Years in Dusiberg — In June, USWNT pool goalkeeper Ashyln Harris (UNC) signed a two-year contract with FCR 2001 Duisberg (dfb.de). Also recently joining the squad is defender Elli Reed (U. of Portland), although her name is not yet on their web roster.

Seattle to Potsdam — After playing for the Seattle Sounders Women in the W-League, midfielder Keelin Winters (U. of Portland) joins goalkeeper Alyssa Naeher (Penn State) and defender Alex Singer (U. of Virginia) on the squad of Turbine Potsdam.

Another Trio in Freiburg — SC Freiburg currently has three American-born players on its roster: Katherine Reynolds (Santa Clara), Chioma Igwe (Santa Clara), and Ireland international Fiona O’Sullivan (U. of San Fransisco).

An American Kiwi — New Zealand international Rebecca Smith (Duke), a California native, begins her fourth season with VfL Wolfsburg.

* * *

OTHER LEAGUES

France — The biggest transfer news this summer was PSG signing United States U-20 WNT forward Lindsey Horan, who decided to forego the traditional college route.

Japan — Beverly Goebel (U. of Miami, FL) and Rebecca Moros (Duke) continue to play for INAC Kobe.

Belgium/Netherlands — Last week, ADO Den Haag announced the signing (adodenhaag.nl) of Mexican international (and former U-20 USWNT international) Teresa Noyola, who recently graduated from Stanford. ADO Den Haag is in the current Women’s Champions League season (UEFA.com)