I guess everyone but me must be in Atlanta... Go Blue Lions!! Hope the commentators and the cameras focus on what is happening on the field.
I'm here. I'm here. I'm sure there was a good reason why I decided I didn't want to go to Atlanta for this, but I can't remember what it was now. I wish I were there! Let's go Blue Lions!
I'm rooting like mad crazy against you guys today but I just wanted to pop in here and wish both teams GOOD LUCK!!! today. Let's pray for an excellent match by both squads today. The Freedom and Courage have made their fans very, very, very proud this season! Now let's get it on!!!
Halftime, 1-1 It's a 1-1 tie. Hege had the first goal on a beautiful play with passes from Burt and Top. The Freedom's goal was scored an own goal but it came on a sizzling free kick by Grubb that ricocheted off of Fotop's hip.
A ball that glances off a defender is not an own goal. It should be a goal by Grubb. They need to get another scorekeeper.
Man oh man. . . That was a tough thirty minutes or so, coming down the homestretch. We were mighty lucky. Whew!
That's right.... it reminded me a lot of our game against Atlanta when we had numerous attacks trying to even the score. It really seemed inevitable that they would score... with 25 or 20 minutes to go we just looked like we were falling apart, but then Hege and Birgit stepped up, and Staci Wilson shored us up, even drawing a foul from Mia. Some good stops by Lucky and a lot of luck helped us hang on.
Congrats to the Courage and their fans. While I don't particularly like the result, I must say that it was a very entertaining game to watch. Enjoy the Cup!
Some pics from Yahoo! Sports: http://sports.yahoo.com/wusa/gallery/20020824/1030228938wusa_championship_axb104.html http://sports.yahoo.com/wusa/gallery/20020824/1030224246wusa_championship_axb102.html http://sports.yahoo.com/wusa/gallery/20020824/1030224081wusa_championship_axb101.html ------------- Wow...Slaton wins back to back titles...2001 WCC with SCU and now with the Courage.
Whee! We are the champions! Article on Courage site: http://carolinacourage.com/323309.html I agree with this quote from Coach McDermott: and this one
1) Was this Carla's last WUSA match? 2) Any estimation on how many Courage fans made the trek down to Atlanta this weekend?
another article: http://208.31.25.3/default.asp?c=sportsnetwork&page=soc-wusa/news/ALN2198927.htm Here is a photo of Hamm's brutal foul on Staci Wilson: http://sports.yahoo.com/wusa/gallery/20020824/1030235411wusa_championship_axb112.html speaking of fouls? http://sports.yahoo.com/wusa/gallery/20020824/1030235406wusa_championship_axb111.html another picture: http://sports.yahoo.com/wusa/gallery/20020824/1030235053wusa_championship_axb110.html Birgit celebrating her goal: http://sports.yahoo.com/wusa/gallery/20020824/1030230024wusa_championship_axb105.html the celebration: http://sports.yahoo.com/wusa/gallery/20020824/1030231816wusa_championship_axb109.html http://sports.yahoo.com/wusa/gallery/20020824/1030230372wusa_championship_axb106.html
Congratulations!!! Congratulations on a well-deserved Championship! (I was going to post the link to the WUSA article on the game, but the article is exactly the same as the Courage website one...)
Congratulations Wow... Yeah, wondering why I didn't make the trip down to Atlanta, too. What a great game and great outcome. I don't think I could give enough praise and accolades to coach McD for the job the coaching staff has done. The team this year was just awesome to watch. Top off the fabulous soccer with a Founders Cup championship. Freakin' awesome soccer!
Fotopoulos, Prinz strikes early in second half propel Carolina past Freedom 3-2 for WUSA crown. SoccerTimes Courage's turnaround complete By Ray Glier : The Herald-Sun How many times has a card been given for a whole lot less than that? Aw, but it's the second half of a championship game. And she's Mia Hamm.
At 09:15 into the game, big lightning strike in my NW Raleigh neighborhood knocked out both the cable and internet connections for 3 hours, so missed the last 81:00 of the game. Heeligan, you got a tape?
The ball was going wide until Fotop played it for her first goal of the match. I really thought that would be the end of them. Great effort by the Courage to get the momentum back in the second half.
Tar Heel of the Week The local paper, the News & Observer, named Marcia McDermott the "Tar Heel of the Week" and paid a nice tribute to her in this morning's paper. Link In fact they gave excellent coverage to the big victory, on the front page and then on the front of the sports section too. Rather amazing and much appreciated by us local soccer fans. Normally we get a few inches in the inside somewhere, while the local ice hockey team dominates the available space,.