by Chip Saye

Greater Atlanta Christian, the No. 1 Class AA team in last week’s Eurosport rankings, suffered its first loss of the season when it fell to Blessed Trinity 3-2 on Friday in a game decided by penalty kicks. Blessed Trinity, ranked No. 3 before moving up to the No. 1 spot this week, got the game-tying goal with about four minutes remaining in regulation, according to the Gwinnett Daily Post, and then won 3-2 on PKs. Greater Atlanta Christian (10-1), which fell to No. 2 with the loss, got goals from Kayla Puzas and Rachel Garcia. Blessed Trinity (5-2-1) won its third consecutive game after starting the season 2-2-1. The game was a rematch of last year’s state championship, which Blessed Trinity won 1-0. Blessed Trinity faces Clarkston at home on Monday before playing at third-ranked Westminster on Thursday. …

Pope’s game against Lithia Springs on Friday was cancelled because of weather, so the Class AAAA No. 3 Greyhounds enter the week 10-0 with a defense that has not allowed a goal. In Pope’s most recent game, a 10-0 victory against Hiram last Tuesday, the Greyhounds got four goals from Jessie Sexton, two goals from Patricia Tancredi, one goal and two assists from Emily Gaid, and four assists from Randi Schroedel. Pope has scored 59 goals this season, including 38 in the past four games. …

Class AAAAA No. 1 Milton rebounded from a loss to St. Pius with a 4-0 victory over ninth-ranked Centennial on Friday in a Region 6-AAAAA game. The Eagles take on West Forsyth at home on Tuesday. Milton will play at No. 2 Walton on April 19 with the region championship likely at stake. …

Other big games this week: Class A No. 4 Whitefield Academy travels to top-ranked First Presbyterian on Tuesday in a battle for first place in Area 2-A. … Class AAA No. 1 St. Pius faces two top-10 teams this week, playing at No. 10 Riverwood on Tuesday and at home against No. 5 Carrollton on Thursday.

Women's Soccer

12:43 PM

By Chris North 

Senior soccer players Sarah Carlton, Daisy Mashburn, Nia Robertson, Kali Stitt and Devin Gooden,left to right, have played together on the AGS team for five years.

Midfielder Daisy Mashburn offers a simple reason why she expects the Atlanta Girls School soccer team to do well this spring: “It’s our turn,” she said.

Mashburn and four of her teammates have been playing soccer together at AGS for five seasons. The five girls won starting positions on the school’s varsity soccer team in the eighth grade and have stuck together every year since. This year, they’re seniors.

“It’s our last chance to play together and to really dominate in high school,” Daisy said.

Their history supports their belief that they can do well. Over the past four years, AGS Athletics Director Cat Stansbury said the school’s soccer team twice claimed 1-AAA regional titles in the Georgia Independent School Association, an association of private, independent and parochial schools. The other two years, including last year, the team finished second in the region, said Stansbury, who has coached the five since sixth grade.

What do they expect this year? “We’re going to win region and then go to state [tournament],” forward Kali Stitt predicted. “We’re going to do it all because it’s our senior year.”

Daisy, Kali, goalie Devin Gooden, midfielder Nia Robertson and midfielder Sarah Carlton said their years of playing together pay off on the field.

“We’ve been together so long,” Devin said, “we feel close together and know how we play.”

They also know that helping younger teammates is a big part of their jobs as seniors. “When we’re gone, about a third of the team will be gone,” Sarah said.

Their coach expects success in their final season.

“The goal is always to win the regional championship and to go as far as we can in the tournament,” Stansbury said. She turned to her players. “The sky’s the limit, right?”

Jessica Johnson

Tennis player Jessica Johnson has been on the varsity tennis team for four years, and has served as captain for two years.

Jackie Goodwin

Ninth grader Jackie Goodwin competed at the state level last year in the pole vault and high jump. This is her second year on the varsity team.

Telli Antinori

Telli Antinori inspired AGS to start a golf program, which was founded in 2008.

Women's Soccer Youth Soccer

12:23 PM

GSU Women’s Soccer Signs Nine for 2012
ATLANTA, - The Georgia State women's soccer team announced the signing of nine student-athletes to National Letters-of-Intent who will begin for the fall 2012 season. The class of 2016 is comprised of eight Georgia natives with just one signee hailing from outside the state lines.

"We are really excited for our 2012 season," said head coachDerek Leader. "It will be a fresh start for both our returners and newcomers. We can't wait to get this new group to campus and begin working with them. The mixture we will have with 21 veterans and nine rookies I think will create a great on-field chemistry that can lead to some positive results come fall."

The recruits, listed alphabetically, are:

Margaret Bruemmer (Lawrenceville, Ga., Collins Hill HS)

Plays women's varsity soccer for Collins Hill High School that was the 2009 Region 7-5A Champion... During her three years with the team, has posted 23 goals and 59 assists ... Named team MVP as a freshman ... Earned a spot on the 2011 All-County team by the Gwinnett Daily Post ... In 2006 & 2007 was a Clemson Summer Camp-Exhibition Player and played in the All-Star Competition in 2007 ... Played club soccer for Atlanta Fire United '94 ECNL Elite under Coach Mark MacKain with fellow recruit Lauren Harriman and Mackenzie Loula ... Atlanta Fire United was in R3PL in 2007 & 2008, a 2008 Georgia State Cup Semi-Finalist, a member of the Red Bull League 2007 & 2007, a Vulcan Cup Finalist in 2008 and placed in the top five in Georgia in 2011.

Miranda Griffin (Lone Tree, Colo., Mountain Vista HS)

Plays defense for the Mountain Vista High School women's varsity soccer team after transferring from Highlands Ranch High School following her junior year ... Helped lead her Highlands Ranch team to the second round of state playoffs in 2009 ... Earned All-State Honorable Mention as a freshman ... Played club soccer for REAL Colorado under Coach Lorne Donaldson.

Lauren Harriman (Suwanee, Ga., North Gwinnett HS)

Earned four letters as a member of the North Gwinnett High School women's varsity soccer team, the 2009 & 2010 Region 7 5A Champions, 2010 5A State Champions and 2011 5A State Runner-up ... In three seasons with North Gwinnett, scored 27 goals and added 12 assists ... As a sophomore, scored one goal in the State Championship game versus Northview High School ... Registered a hat trick and also one assist against Etowah High School in the GHSA 5A State Playoffs ... In addition to playing soccer for North Gwinnett, she also ran cross country and was a member of the National Science Honor Society, Beta Club, Latin Club, Spanish Club and the Student-Athlete Leadership team ... Five-year member of the Georgia Olympic Development Program team which includes playing with the Region III ODP team in 2010 & 2011 that played for the 2010 National Championship, and was also a member of the Region III Premier League from 2008-2011 ... Played club soccer for the Atlanta Fire United '94 Elite ECNL with fellow recruits Mackenzie Loula and Margaret Bruemmer ... Won the 2009 & 2010 Atlanta Cup as a member of AFU '94 Elite.

Anna Hilpertshauser (Alpharetta, Ga., Milton HS)

Earned four letters playing defense for the 2011 Region 6-5A Champion Milton High School women's varsity soccer team ... Voted 2010 Defensive Player of the Year ... Maintained status as a Scholar-Athlete her freshman through senior seasons ... Scored the game-winning goal versus Dacula High School with a 22-yard free kick ... Member of the Olympic Development Program team in 2007 & 2008 ... Played club soccer for United Futbol Academy '94 Elite under Coach Ignace Moleka ... UFA '94 Elite won the Region III League Championship in 2009 & 2010, was the 2009 & 2011 State Champion, 2009 Super Y National Champion and a Region III Finalist in 2011 ... UFA '94 Elite was nationally ranked as a top 20 team in 2009, 2010 & 2011.

Mackenzie Loula (Suwanee, Ga., North Gwinnett HS)

Lettered four years as a member of the North Gwinnett High School women's varsity soccer team that was the 2009 & 2010 Region 7-5A Champion, 2010 5A State Champion and 2011 5A State Runner-up ... During her past three seasons with the team, accumulated 11 goals and 26 assists ... Member of the defense that set a school record for most shutouts in a season ... Played club soccer for the Atlanta Fire United '94 ECNL Elite with fellow recruits Lauren Harriman and Margaret Bruemmer.

Jasmine Jakes (McDonough, Ga., Eagles Landing Christian Academy)

Earned four letters as a member of the Eagles Landing Christian Academy women's soccer team that won its Region Championship in 2010 ... Named All-Area first team in 2009, 2010 & 2011 ... Earned Henry County Player of the Week accolade in 2011 ... In addition to soccer ran track and played basketball ... Played club soccer for Tophat '12 Gold under Coach Ellie Davis.

Ashley Nagy (McDonough, Ga., Union Grove HS)

Plays forward for the Union Grove High School women's varsity soccer team ... In her previous three years, garnered 82 goals and 44 assists .... During her sophomore season, scored the most goals (39), assists (17) and points (95) in a single season at Union Grove ... Was an All-County and All-Region first team selection in 2009, 2010 & 2011 ... Earned Offensive Player of the Year her freshmen, sophomore and junior seasons .... Named the 2011 DiVarsity 4A Player of the Year ... Played club soccer for the Cobb Futbol Club under Coach Drew Bentley.

Danielle Paz (Roswell, Ga., Centennial HS)

Has played one year for the Centennial High School women's varsity soccer team after transferring from St. Francis High School where she played basketball, ran track, was a peer mentor and a member of the National Honors Society ... Led the Centennial team in assists (9) and points (19) as a junior when she was named Offensive MVP ... Played club soccer for the North Atlantic Soccer Association under Coach Dave Smith with fellow recruit Samantha Thomas ... NASA won three state championships, two R3PL Championships, was the 2010 National League Champion and the 2011 Region Champions.

Samantha Thomas (Canton, Ga., Woodstock HS)

In the midst of her fourth and final year playing women's varsity soccer for Woodstock High School ... Throughout her previous three seasons, notched 24 goals and provided 17 assists ... Registered a hat trick versus Cherokee High School ... Earned a spot on the Cherokee Tribune All-County team in 2009 & 2010 ... Named Offensive Player of the Year in 2009 & 2010 ... At Woodstock, earned an Academic Letter and the Lamp of Knowledge award ... Played club soccer for the North Atlantic Soccer Association with fellow recruit Danielle Paz.

The current Georgia State women's soccer team will soon begin preparations for its spring schedule beginning Saturday, Feb. 18 with the Blue-White Scrimmage at Panthersville.

Women's Soccer

1:31 PM

A letter to the fans

Women’s Professional Soccer Suspending Operations for 2012 Season

Dear Fans,

It deeply saddens me to inform you the Women’s Professional Soccer League has suspended the 2012 season and league operations.

The Atlanta Beat has made great progress and has been very proud to have you as our fans. We built the 2012 team to win a championship, and it is unfortunate that we will not have the opportunity.

Please be assured season ticket holders we will be fully refunded any monies paid. A representative will be contacting you over the next two weeks to make arrangements. 

We sincerely thank you for your loyal support, and for being the best fans in the WPS.

Best,

T. Fitz Johnson, Esq.
Chairman and CEO
"Atlanta Beat" 
Atlanta Women's Professional Soccer, LLC

See WPS press release below:

---

SAN FRANCISCO, CA (January 30, 2012) – Women’s Professional Soccer (WPS) announced today that its Board of Governors has voted to suspend the 2012 season to permit the League to focus on the resolution of certain pending legal issues and the challenges that now face the League as a result of its ongoing dispute with a former owner.

“All team owners remain fully committed to WPS,” said Sky Blue FC Owner Thomas Hofstetter. “We are proud of what the League has accomplished in the first three seasons, but we do recognize the necessity to resolve our existing legal and operational issues so that we can continue to support and grow WPS the right way. This was a very difficult decision, but one we as owners feel is the best business decision for the League at this time.”

The Board voted on Monday morning to suspend the 2012 season. Over the last year the league has faced significant challenges, including a lengthy and expensive legal battle with a former owner. The litigation has diverted resources from investment in the league and has forced the Board to take action, suspending the 2012 season in order to address the legal issues head-on before moving forward with competition.

“We firmly believe there is a place in the global sports landscape for Women’s Professional Soccer,” said WPS CEO Jennifer O’Sullivan. “Making the decision to suspend the 2012 season was a difficult and painful one, but it is necessary to take the time to address current issues and solidify our business in order to provide appropriate support needed to achieve the League’s long-term goals. Those that take part in our League - players, partners and fans - deserve the best, and that is what we are taking the time to ensure we deliver when we resume play in 2013 and beyond.”

WPS has established its plans to return to play in 2013, and all five owners of the League’s existing teams - Atlanta Beat, Boston Breakers, Philadelphia Independence, Sky Blue FC and Western New York Flash - will remain active in the governance of WPS throughout the current year with the intent to field a team for the 2013 season.

“We are deeply grateful to our fans and partners for the tremendous support they have shown for WPS, our players and the sport,” added O’Sullivan. “With our supporters and athletes in mind, we are committed to complete the hard work necessary to resume play in 2013 and reestablish WPS as the premiere women’s professional soccer league in the world.”

Women's Soccer

11:16 AM

[WPS SPOTLIGHT] WPS isn't the first business to have a legal dispute between partners. And WPS isn't the first league to have a maverick owner. Indeed, maverick owners are part and parcel with what sells sports. But the year-long dispute between MagicJack owner Dan Borislow and WPS and its owners consumed the fragile league. Could the owners afford the legal fees to fight Borislow? Sure. What WPS could not overcome was the time the fight was taking away from the business of saving the league.

“I’ve only been on board for four months, and the bulk of my time has been spent on addressing a lot of these other negative issues regarding termination of MagicJack and the sanctioning issue with U.S. Soccer and resulting issues with sponsors and such,” WPS chief executive Jennifer O’Sullivan said during a media conference call Monday afternoon. “It is unfortunate that the attention and focus that needed to be on the business, growing the business and developing the game and the sport just hasn’t been able to be there. Until this [MagicJack] situation is resolved, I don’t believe we can fully put our attention to it. It would’ve been unfair to put together a season while we would’ve still had this hanging over our heads.”

While Borislow announced a settlement of his lawsuit in a Florida court against WPS for improperly kicking MagicJack out of the league, O'Sullivan said "stumbling blocks" remained, making it impossible for all parties to come to an agreement. She said another hearing in the matter on Borislow's request for injunctive relief was set for Wednesday.

No doubt the 2012 season was going to be difficult.

There was a we'll-believe-it-when-we-see-it attitude about Year 4 even as recently as two weeks ago when WPS conducted its college draft (New York Times headline: W.P.S. Holds Its Draft, Just in Case)

The league was down to five teams from seven in 2009 and 2010 and six in 2011.

It had lost its biggest sponsor, Puma, whose three-year deal had expired, and no apparel deal had been announced for 2012.

The post-2011 Women's World Cup bounce that had everyone so excited was no more.

Ten of the 18 players on the U.S. team that just finished up in Olympic qualifying had not yet reupped for the 2012 WPS season. Star Abby Wambach was siding with Borislow ("I'm always going to back that guy," she said after beating Costa Rica Friday night).

The 2012 Olympic year was going to be tough for the league, taking away players for a good portion of the season. Unlike the 2011 Women's World Cup, the 2012 Olympics was not going to give the league a post-event bounce because the regular season would be over by the time the players returned.

O'Sullivan said a bounce was not what WPS needed.

"We can't build or sustain a business based on large-scale events," she said.


by Paul Kennedy
http://www.socceramerica.com

Women's Soccer

10:05 AM