The Wait Is Over

Back To The Grind

Most of the NWSL teams were back to work on Monday, with the upcoming weekend's matches coming quickly into focus. With a two-week road trip coming up for the Breakers just ahead of the next international break, Lee called Laura Harvey to inquire about her plans to call up players from his team. He was informed that Morgan and Megan were on her list for the July camp, but Sam was getting the break off and though Abby was in her plans for the future, she wouldn't be called in this time. 

Elsewhere in the league, a valuation of the North Carolina Courage was requested by Heather O'Reilly's investment group as their trade with Washington most likely decreased the value of their assets and thus would reduce the maximum price tag for the club. The Houston Dash's probation for financial fair play violations was coming close to conclusion, with next Monday being the deadline for them to right the wrongs of their money shuffle before the league had the right to move them into receivership and seek out bids for new ownership. The Philadelphia Charge and Sky Blue FC held a friendly on Monday for their non-national team players to provide a chance for their new coaching staffs to work out some kinks ahead of returning to league action against North Carolina and Kansas City, respectively.

***

On Tuesday, the US Women's National Team laid the wood to Belgium in their rematch in Denver, winning 6-0.

US First XI: Rowland; Sullivan-Oyster-Short-Hinkle(c); Dougherty Howard-Colaprico-Corboz; Huerta-McCaffrey-Pugh.

Bench: Campbell, Franch; Smith, Roccaro, Gibbons; Killion, Andrews, K. Mewis, Sanchez; Jordan, Williams, Groom.

US 6 Belgium 0 (McCaffrey/Huerta 8', McCaffrey/Dougherty Howard 17', Huerta/Pugh 19' McCaffrey/Pugh 37', Jordan/Sanchez 66', Williams/Andrews 81')

Substitutions: Williams for McCaffrey 46', Sanchez for Huerta 46', K. Mewis for Hinkle 58', Jordan for Pugh 58', Andrews for Corboz 73', Roccaro for Colaprico 73'

***

A good number of the players flew together as far as Chicago before their second legs would split them up. Lindsey and Emily took a few moments together in one of the empty gate lounges, talking about next weekend and their time together in camp.

Emily: Just over nine months until I become Emily Horan.

Lindsey: You're taking my name? Shouldn't you or Emma keep your last name in order that it be passed on?

Emily: I'm not particularly partial to it, and I want us and our future children to have the same name.

Lindsey: How about I take yours? My brother's already keeping up the Horan name and Lindsey Sonnett sounds better than Emily Horan, in my opinion.

Emily: I guess it DOES have a nice ring to it, much like the one I'll be getting you for when we say our I Dos. When are you coming up to Atlanta?

Lindsey: If I can cut it, Thursday night so we have most of Friday and Saturday to do some wedding prep and lock down our site.

Emily: Want to do anything special Friday night?

Lindsey: I can think of a LOT of special things I'd want to do with you.

Emily: I mean as a date. I KNOW we're going to have Thursday and Saturday nights hopefully to satisfy your insatiability.

Lindsey: Keeping it clean, then. Dinner with the other Georgia Girls, Ash, and Alex. It'd give me a chance to maybe see Stephen for the first time.

Emily: I think Kelley is coming to training tomorrow, so I'll see him there I'm guessing.

The duo walked back toward the rest of the group that was remaining. After a number of hugs, embraces, and kisses between the women, they went their separate ways to the various gates from which their flights for home would depart.