RD Welch

Olympics: More Details on NBC’s Coverage of the Women’s Soccer Tournament (Updated July 15)

Note: The last update for this post was on July 21st. Please see a newer post for more complete listings, including official streaming links. Any changes/corrections to NBC’s schedule will only be made on that newer post.]

[Updated/Rewritten: An earlier version of this post was only based on the “TV Schedule By Sport” tab on NBCOlympics.com TV schedule, which is not as detailed as the per channel and grid listings on the “TV Schedule By Day/Time” tab. ]

In early July, NBC Sports posted their preliminary Olympics coverage schedule up at NBCOlympics.com. Regarding coverage of the women’s soccer tournament on MSNBC and NBC Sports Network (NBCSN), a complete list of the specific matches that will be broadcasted live and on tape-delay for both the group stage and the knock-out stage is now known. In addition, the full schedule for NBC’s specialty Olympic Soccer Channel is also available. Continue reading “Olympics: More Details on NBC’s Coverage of the Women’s Soccer Tournament (Updated July 15)”

Under-17 Women’s World Cup – The Draw: And, The Toughest Group Goes To… The USA

On Friday, July 6th, the draw for the 2012 Under-17 Women’s World Cup was held in Baku, Azerbaijan. For the second time this year, a United States Youth Women’s National Team got a difficult group, with the USA being drawn into Group B, along with North Korea, France, and debutante Gambia. In its only previous trip to the U-17 WWC, the USA was also grouped with France, and went on to face North Korea in the title match, falling to the Asian side via an extra time goal. The four groups were as follows:

Group A: Azerbaijan, Colombia, Nigeria, Canada
Group B: France, USA, North Korea, Gambia
Group C: Mexico, New Zealand, Brazil, Japan
Group D: Uruguay, China, Ghana, Germany Continue reading “Under-17 Women’s World Cup – The Draw: And, The Toughest Group Goes To… The USA”

U-20 USWNT: Final Camp Roster – Kelly Cobb, Makenzy Doniak, and Caprice Dydasco Still In The Mix

Today, U.S. Soccer released the final camp roster for the United States Under-20 Women’s National Team prior to the Under-20 Women’s World Cup this August in Japan. The camp runs from July 15th to the 30th and will be held in Bradenton, Florida. Head coach Steve Swanson invited 24 players to camp, including all 21 who traveled to Japan for the team’s recently friendlies with the hosts, plus forwards Kelly Cobb, Makenzy Doniak, and fullback Caprice Dydasco. Although those three were most likely invited as back-ups in case of injuries to the other 21 players, they could potentially make the tournament roster. However, Cobb is coming back from ankle surgery and may not yet be 100-percent, as she did not even play in any of the scrimmages or the friendly during the last domestic camp. And, at this point, a roster shake-up seems unlikely. (Full roster after the jump…) Continue reading “U-20 USWNT: Final Camp Roster – Kelly Cobb, Makenzy Doniak, and Caprice Dydasco Still In The Mix”

Under-17 Women’s World Cup: How the Teams Qualified and Quick Thoughts Ahead of the Draw

On Friday, July 6th the draw for the Under-17 Women’s World Cup (U-17 WWC) will be held in Baku, Azerbaijan, at 10:00 am EDT (19:00 local time). (FIFA.com) Once the draw is complete, the sixteen teams that qualified for the tournament, including the United States, Canada, and Mexico, will learn their opening round group opponents.

The bulk of this post reviews how the sixteen teams qualified, with scorelines for all official matches, along with the results of international friendlies, which are useful for cross-confederation comparisons. In addition, there are sections with thoughts on the possible pots and other notes. Continue reading “Under-17 Women’s World Cup: How the Teams Qualified and Quick Thoughts Ahead of the Draw”

Another Announcement For a New Women’s League: 2012 Edition, Volume 2

[Storm-related catch-up]

On Wednesday, June 27th, a meeting organized by U.S. Soccer was held in Chicago where a possible new (semi)professional women’s league was discussed. Right now, the main source of news is an article posted by Jeff Kassouf at EqualizerSoccer.com. Additionally, there was some elaboration on Twitter by Lisa Cole, who is with the Boston Breakers, summarized in a blog post. They key aspects of this proposal is a coast-to-coast national league, 12 to 16 teams, and more modest team budgets of around $500,000. This is the second league announcement this year, after the USL teased its own new league, which would be called “W-PRO” (www.potomacsoccerwire.com). Continue reading “Another Announcement For a New Women’s League: 2012 Edition, Volume 2”

Olympics: Some More Details on NBC’s Coverage of the Women’s Soccer Tournament

Today, NBC Sports posted a press release which includes details of their London Olympics coverage for the first few days of the games. Adding that information to what is already known, here is a summary of viewing options: Continue reading “Olympics: Some More Details on NBC’s Coverage of the Women’s Soccer Tournament”

USWNT: Olympic Send-Off Match – Hope Solo’s Save: Goal or No Goal?

In the final home friendly before the Olympics, the United States Women’s National Team defeat Canada 2:1, thanks in part to Hope Solo’s reflex save of a Christine Sinclair shot. That shot deflected off the leg of Amy LePeilbet, forcing Solo to suddenly reverse her dive. Solo was able to get a hand on the ball, however the ball was still bouncing toward the far post. Both Solo and Canada’s #6, Kaylyn Kyle went for the ball, with Solo getting the first touch, but Kyle slide-kicked for the ball while Solo lunged for it. Solo appears to have possession of the ball, but Kyle’s second effort pushed the ball farther across the goal line, and perhaps all the way over the line, but no goal was awarded.

Was a no-goal call correct? Continue reading “USWNT: Olympic Send-Off Match – Hope Solo’s Save: Goal or No Goal?”

USWNT: Olympic Send-Off Match – Rodriguez’s Goal: Offside or Not?

In their send-off friendly versus Canada, the United States Women’s National Team won the match via a late Amy Rodriguez goal, which was scored on a scrappy play at the top of the six-yard box. Rodriguez received the ball after an Abby Wambach effort (not sure it was a shot or a pass), was half-cleared by Canada’s goalkeeper, Erin McLeod. By the time Rodriguez received the ball, she is only in front of one defender, McLeod.

Thus, there is the appearance of a possible offside call, but on a closer inspection, Rodriguez is clearly not in an offside position at the relevant moment: when the ball is played by Wambach. Therefore, Rodriguez was not in an infringing position, and the goal was good.

Continue reading “USWNT: Olympic Send-Off Match – Rodriguez’s Goal: Offside or Not?”

USWNT: The USA Wins Its Olympic Send-Off Match Versus Canada

On Saturday, the United States Women’s National Team defeated their northern neighbor, Canada, 2:1 in an Olympic send-off match at Rio Tinto Stadium in Utah. The USA’s goals were scored by Carmelina Moscato via an own goal and Amy Rodriguez, who had an 85th minute game-winner after Melissa Tancredi equalized in the 57th minute. Continue reading “USWNT: The USA Wins Its Olympic Send-Off Match Versus Canada”

Olympics: Nadeshiko Japan Announces Its Roster

Early Monday, head coach Norio Sasaki announced Nadeshiko Japan’s roster for the women’s soccer tournament at this year’s Summer Olympics in Great Britain (JFA, Japanese version). All eighteen players on the primary roster were part of Japan’s 2011 World Champion squad, including Karina Maruyama, who injured her knee during Olympic qualifying last September. Also making the squad are defender Azusa Iwashimizu and U-20 forward Mana Iwabuchi, who both missed the Volvo Winners Cup in Sweden due to minor injuries (left ankle and foot, respectively). Not among the primary players or alternates is defender Rumi Utsugi, who was injured during Japan’s most recent friendly with the United States. Continue reading “Olympics: Nadeshiko Japan Announces Its Roster”