The 2014 NWSL season may be complete, but several Thorns FC players have headed overseas on loan, while many are competing with their various national teams in the coming months as they prepare for the 2015 Womens World Cup qualifiying period..
This upcoming fall marks the beginning of the CONCACAF Women’s Championships to determine this region's representatives in the big tournament. Canada has already qualified for the 2015 FIFA Women’s World Cup as the host and will not be participating in the tournament. However, the United States was drawn into groups for the upcoming qualifying tournament in October.
Thorns FC forward Alex Morgan, midfielders Tobin Heath and Allie Long and defender Rachel Van Hollebeke have been in training camp with the United States in preparation for a pair of friendlies on Sept. 13 and Sept. 18 against Mexico upcoming 2014 CONCACAF Women’s Championships.
The United States was drawn into Group A with Guatemala, Haiti and Trinidad & Tobago, while Group B includes Mexico, Costa Rica, Jamaica and Martinique. The top two finishers in each group advance to the semifinals. The winners of the semifinal matches and the third-place match will qualify for the FIFA Women’s World Cup. The fourth-place finisher will compete in a two-game playoff against the third-place team from South America for a Women’s World Cup berth.
The U.S. Women’s National Team opens the tournament against Trinidad & Tobago on Oct. 15, at Sporting Park in Kansas City, Kan.; kickoff is set for 5:30 p.m. (Pacific)..
The United States and Mexico will square off in a pair of upcoming friendlies beginning this week on Saturday, Sept. 13, at Rio Tinto Stadium in Sandy, Utah; kickoff is set for 6:30 p.m. (Pacific). Saturday’s match will be streamed live on ussoccer.com. The two teams meet again on Thursday, Sept. 18, at Sahlen’s Stadium in Rochester, N.Y. This match will be on ESPN2 live at 4 p.m. (Pacific).
In the last USA-Mexico meeting on Sept. 7, 2013, the United States earned a 7-0 win at RFK Stadium in Washington D.C. Van Hollebeke appeared as a second-half sub, scoring just three minutes after entering the match. In her international career, Van Hollebeke has seven caps against Mexico. Morgan earned her first cap against Mexico in Salt Lake City in 2010 and Heath appeared in a match in 2008.
Thorns FC goalkeeper Nadine Angerer will play for the Brisbane Roar of the W-League this fall. Angerer also has important UEFA Women’s World Cup qualifying matches this week with Germany. The Germany Women’s National Team takes on Russia in group play Sept. 13 in Moscow, Russia and hosts the Republic of Ireland in the final match of group play on Sept. 17. In five qualifying matches for Germany, Angerer has made five starts in goal and registered four clean sheets. Angerer is set to return to Australia to potentially make her season debut with the Roar on Sept. 27 against the Newcastle Jets.
Thorns FC defender Steph Catley returned to Australia and will captain the Melbourne Victory this season – the team she made her professional debut with at age 15 in 2009. The Victory are the reigning W-League Champions and open the season on Sept. 12 against the Newcastle Jets.
Catley was recently named a FIFA Live Your Goals ambassador for Australia. The program, which debuted at the 2011 FIFA Women’s World Cup in Germany, promotes development for the women’s game and has grown into one of FIFA’s most recognized initiatives in the women’s game.
In Europe, Thorns FC midfielder Amber Brooks made her season debut for Bayern Munich FC of the Frauen Bundesliga on Sept. 7 in a 2-1 win against SC Freiburg, starting and playing all 90 minutes. Brooks and Bayern return to action on Sunday, Sept. 21 against Hoffenheim.
Brooks even found some time, late in the evening, to watch the Timbers take on San Jose.
