New Women's Pro League!

UPSoccerFanatic wrote:Nice to see Marian Dalmy on the Thorns free agent list too. She was a very tough opponent at Santa Clara.

PurpleGeezer wrote:The curious pick was Tina Ellertson, who tweeted this week that she wouldn't play this year - family comes first.

PurpleGeezer wrote:

UPSoccerFanatic wrote:Nice to see Marian Dalmy on the Thorns free agent list too. She was a very tough opponent at Santa Clara.

I was going to say that, but then I though about her running around at Buck Shaw in 2008 with gold streamers in her hair and doing cartwheels directly in front of Clive when she scored the eighth goal in probably the worst pasting UP ever took, when we had almost all freshmen on the field and they were at their peak.

But maybe it's time to let go....

DoubleDipper wrote: Should we start the rumor now?

PurpleGeezer wrote:

DoubleDipper wrote: Should we start the rumor now?

too late. the rumor has been for a while now. sometime in March.

PurpleGeezer wrote:The rumor I heard was at Merlo, and it will be the game where they charge admission.

DoubleDipper wrote:

PurpleGeezer wrote:The rumor I heard was at Merlo, and it will be the game where they charge admission.

Well then, how about starting the rumor Timbers U-23's vs. the men's team at Merlo? Or what about the Timbers "varsity" squad even?

PurplePrideTrumpet wrote:
The Timbers first team has played the Pilots at Merlo before. The U23s would be problematic since those guys will be playing spring soccer at whatever schools they're going to.

Linda Phillips wasn't intimidated by her fellow players during the Portland Thorns' open tryouts, even though most of her competitors were as much as 30 years younger.

The Thorns held tryouts Saturday and Sunday at Jeld-Wen Field, and Phillips (wearing No. 40) decided to join the 85 players who are hoping to become a member of the professional soccer team in its inaugural season. The big difference between Phillips and the others is she is 50 years old.

"It was one of those of things that I never had the opportunity to do before," Phillips said. "I just wanted to try and see where I come up."

Thorns coach Cindy Parlow-Cone was inspired when she heard about Phillips' attempt to earn a spot on the squad.

"I thought, 'Good for her,' "said Cone, who is 34. "I hope when I'm 50 years old I feel comfortable enough to go try out for a professional soccer team. I don't think it will happen, though."

Cone said players from around the country competed in the tryouts. The Thorns are part of the eight-team National Women's Soccer League that is scheduled to begin regular season play in April.

"There were some quality players that I will be looking to ask to join us for the preseason starting on March 11," Cone said. "We're going to let the players know as soon as possible. We don't want this to drag out, we'll tell them as soon as we know for sure."

Cone declined to specifically discuss the performance of individual players, including Phillips. However, Phillips is trying to break through in a major professional sport, an industry dominated by young people as teenagers and in their 20s and 30s, though there are some exceptions.

Phillips, a part-time high school teacher in Molalla, is trying to become one of the oldest players ever to play professional soccer in a league. She said her effort isn't to achieve a moral victory by simply trying out.

"To be really honest, I don't see me making the full travel squad," Phillips said. "I could easily see myself making the practice squad."

Phillips, who played at defender and center midfielder at the tryouts, said she felt encouraged about her performance.

"Just being able to keep up with them and being able to move off the ball and support my teammates. I was able to fit in at that level of play and not be a hindrance to my team," Phillips said. "Not that I was expecting not to do well, but I was more impressed than I thought I would be."

Phillips possesses the pedigree.

She started playing soccer in junior high school and starred at Lake Oswego High School. Phillips (formerly Linda Brock), a forward at the University of Portland, scored 41 goals and was the school's all-time leading goal scorer when she finished her career in 1984. She currently ranks eighth on the Pilots' all-time list for goals scored and she is tied for 10th in points (41 goals, 18 assists).

Phillips also starred in track for the Pilots. Her 400-meter time of 58.7 seconds in the 400 meters ranks seventh on the Pilots' all-time list and an 800-meter time of 2:15.09 ranks ninth. Both times came in 1984.

Professional soccer was not a viable option for Phillips after she graduated from the University of Portland. Women's professional soccer was still in its infancy in the United States -- the women's national team played its first international game in 1985 and won its first World Cup in 1991, but the popularity of women's soccer didn't grow until the national team won the 1999 World Cup in Los Angeles.

"My seventh grade coach had never played soccer. He read a book," Phillips said. "A great guy, but in terms of strategy and basic skills, he was just learning the game."

Phillips had moved on with her life, but she didn't move too far away from the two sports she grew up playing.

Phillips trains with the Clackamas Community College women's track team three times a week. She also plays soccer in a women's league during the week, holding her own against players half her age. If she does make the Thorns team, Phillips said one of her goals is to make sure the current players are aware of who paved the road.

"I'd like to give them some idea of where soccer came from and why they have the opportunities that they have now, because when I was their age, this wasn't around," Phillips said. "They need to be thankful for it and be willing to give back to the sport as they age."

Regardless of whether Phillips makes the team, she will not have any reservations. Trying out for a professional soccer team has provided her with an opportunity that was unavailable nearly 30 years ago. Her body isn't the same as it was in 1984, but the desire is just as strong.

"It's one of those things where you never want to regret not doing something, just because you didn't," Phillips said. "There's a lot of women out there playing soccer who also didn't have the opportunity to try out. I just want to show them that it's never too late to do what you want to do."

PurplePrideTrumpet wrote:See you all downtown April 21.

Portland Thorns at Jeld-Wen and at Starfire 

Sunday 21st April 14:00 Portland Thorns FC v Seattle Reign FC JELD-WEN Field

Thursday 16th May 19:30 Portland Thorns FC v Sky Blue FC JELD-WEN Field

Saturday 25th May 19:00 Seattle Reign FC v Portland Thorns FC Starfire Stadium

Saturday 1st June 19:30 Portland Thorns FC v Chicago Red Stars JELD-WEN Field

Thursday 6th June 19:30 Portland Thorns FC v FC Kansas City JELD-WEN Field

Sunday 16th June 14:00 Portland Thorns FC v Seattle Reign FC JELD-WEN Field

Saturday 6th July 19:30 Portland Thorns FC v Boston Breakers JELD-WEN Field

Sunday 14th July 14:00 Portland Thorns FC v Western New York Flash JELD-WEN Field

Sunday 28th July 14:00 Portland Thorns FC v Chicago Red Stars JELD-WEN Field

Wednesday 31st July 19:30 Portland Thorns FC v Sky Blue FC JELD-WEN Field

Sunday 4th August 14:00 Portland Thorns FC v FC Kansas City JELD-WEN Field


Saturday 17th August 20:00 Seattle Reign FC v Portland Thorns FC Starfire Stadium

PurpleGeezer wrote:.....And from JULY 28 to Aug 10 they play every three days. (5 games in a row, with travel the last two)

BRUTAL!

PurpleGeezer wrote:Playing every three days for two weeks is brutal . Especially when the "rest" day is travel. Don't kid yourself.