Tuesday, August 5, 2008

TAMPA, FL – When the Beijing Olympics open with the women’s soccer tournament Wednesday morning, 31 current and former W-League players will take the field representing four nations. Ten former USL players will kick off their quest to medal for the USA in the men’s tournament Thursday.

The US Women, led by eight W-League alumni, take on Norway, which includes former W-Leaguer Siri Nordby, in the opener and the Canadian squad, completely comprised of USL players, opens with Argentina. Two former W-League players will look to lead Brazil to a gold after winning Silver in Athens. They open against Germany.

Among the eight USL alumni on the US squad, which has been in camp the past two years in preparation of the World Cup and Olympics, are recent W-League players Lindsey Tarpley (New Jersey Wildcats 2005), Heather O’Reilly (New Jersey Wildcats 2004-05), Tobin Heath (Jersey Sky Blue 2007), Heather Mitts (Central Florida Krush 2005) and Angela Hucles (Boston Renegades 2005). The other three players are Christie Rampone (New Jersey Lady Stallions 1998), Shannon Boxx (Boston Renegades 1999) and Carli Lloyd (New Jersey Wildcats 2004). Nordby, their Norwegian opposition, played for the Tampa Bay Extreme in 2001.

Rampone, Tarpley, Boxx, O’Reilly and Hucles were members of the World Cup team last fall in China as well as Nordby.

Similar to the US, the Canadians have been in camp over the past two years, however, six players on the team saw action in the W-League this season with two others having last played in 2007. Jodi-Ann Robinson, Emily Zurrer, Sophie Schmidt, Randee Hermus, Jonelle Filigno and star striker Christine Sinclair played for the Vancouver Whitecaps. Former Jersey Sky Blue (2007) and Atlanta Silverback (2005-06) Melissa Tancredi and Whitecap veteran Clare Rustad played the previous year. Fourteen players on the team were also members of the World Cup team last fall.

Brazil’s Daniela played for the Hampton Roads Piranhas in 2005. Formiga played for the New Jersey Wildcats in 2006 and Jersey Sky Blue in 2007 before joining her national team, along with Daniela, for the World Cup last year and the Beijing Olympics.

Two other former W-League players in the Olympics are Japan’s star Homare Sawa (Denver 1999-00) and New Zealand’s and Emily McColl (Cocoa Expos 2007).

On the men’s side of the tournament, USL Hall of Famer Brian McBride will return to action after returning from international play for the senior national team. The former Milwaukee Rampage (1994) star will be guiding a team with seven former PDL players.

The Orange County Blue Star have two former players on the squad with Sascha Kljestan (2005) and Robbie Rogers (2003, 05-06). Charlie Davies joins Rogers as the most recent PDL players, having been a member of the Westchester Flames in 2006. Patrick Ianni (Southern California Seahorses 2005) played for the California Victory in the USL First Division last year. Michael Parkhurst (Bradenton Academics/Worcester Kings 2003), Dax McCarty (Ajax Orlando Prospects 2004-05) round out the team with star netminder Brad Guzan, who captured the 2004 PDL Goalkeeper of the Year honor in his second year with the Chicago Fire Premier in the PDL. Former Super Y-League players Freddy Adu and Jozy Altidore are also on the team.