Women’s Team Is a Good Mix
United States women’s national team Coach April Heinrichs has opted for a well-mixed roster of veterans and up-and-comers for this month’s CONCACAF Olympic qualifying tournament in Costa Rica.
The team Heinrichs announced Tuesday has many familiar faces -- Mia Hamm, Julie Foudy, Kristine Lilly and Shannon MacMillan to name a few -- but also includes a number of players ready to continue making their mark on a world stage.
Forward Heather O’Reilly and midfielders Lindsay Tarpley and Leslie Osborne are the only college players on the roster but all gained valuable experience at the recent Four-Nations Tournament in China. Other young players include defenders Catherine Reddick, a 2003 World Cup veteran, and Amy LePeilbet, who made her first start at Four-Nations.
The defense also includes three of the world’s most experienced international players: Joy Fawcett, Kate Markgaf (formerly Sobrero) and Christie Rampone (formerly Pierce). The goalkeepers, Briana Scurry and Siri Mullinix, also are veterans of international games.
Rounding out the team are forwards Cindy Parlow and Abby Wambach, midfielders Shannon Boxx, Angela Hucles and Aly Wagner and defender Heather Mitts. Notably absent from the roster is veteran defender Brandi Chastain, who is recovering from a foot injury.
The U.S. plays its first game Feb. 25 against Trinidad and Tobago. Also in its group are Haiti and Mexico.
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Galaxy Trip
The Galaxy will travel to France later this month to play three exhibition games, two against undetermined teams from the country’s top league.
The trip will take place between Feb. 24 and March 3. Last year, the Galaxy traveled to Spain to participate in the La Manga Cup, an eight-team tournament that featured the San Jose Earthquakes and mostly European clubs.
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Quick Passes
Arsenal extended its season-long unbeaten streak to 25 games with a 2-0 victory over Southampton in an English Premier League game. French striker Thierry Henry scored both goals and has 101 since joining Arsenal in September 1999.... Colombian striker Faustino Asprilla, who was scheduled for tryouts this week with teams in China, will instead sign with Argentine club Estudiantes La Plata, Agence-France Presse reported.... Manchester United forward Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, sidelined the last five months because of a knee injury, has been included on the roster for today’s game against Middlesbrough.
