



Sophie Schmidt signs with 1. FFC Frankfurt



Last Friday, midfielder Sophie Schmidt signed with reigning UEFA Champions League winners 1. FFC Frankfurt in the German Frauen-Bundesliga, until June 30, 2016. Recently, Frankfurt lost Vero Boquete to FC Bayern Munich, Célia Šašić to retirement and Dzsenifer Marozsán to injury, so Schmidt is an important and much needed signing for the club. The on and off-field transition should be easier for Schmidt, as she speaks German. She is the first Canadian ever to be signed by a reigning European Cup winning team.







Desiree Scott returns to Notts County and plays in the FA Cup Final



Over in England, Desiree Scott returned to Notts County Ladies of the FAWSL a few weeks ago and has already integrated herself back into her team well. Last Saturday, Scott played 90 minutes in Notts’ 1-0 loss to Chelsea in the FA Cup Final, in front of 30,000 fans at Wembley Stadium. Scott had one of the best chances on goal for her team in the 60th minute, as she gathered the ball on the 18-yard box and took a shot which deflected just wide of Chelsea’s goal.



According to Neil Davidson of the Canadian Press, Scott is the first Canadian ever to play in an FA Cup Final.



Highlights of the game can be found



Prior to the FA Cup Final, Scott played in three league games since returning from the World Cup, two wins and a loss, going 90 minutes in the last two. Notts County sits fourth in the crowded table after nine games.



Marie-Eve Nault returns to KIF Örebro



Defender Marie-Eve Nault returned to KIF Örebro of the Swedish Damallsvenskan, and played her first game since the World Cup on July 28th. Nault also went 90 minutes last Saturday in her team’s 4-2 win over Kristianstads DFF. Orebro sit sixth in the table (out of 10 teams) after 11 games.



An interview with Nault about returning to KIF Örebro and her experience at the World Cup can be found



The NWSL standings are crowded as the playoffs draw close



With week fifteen in the National Women’s Soccer League completed, the standings are quite crowded, with many teams still in the playoff hunt.



There have been a few standout performances since Canadians have returned from the World Cup, including that of Erin McLeod. McLeod is in the form of her life, and may be the best goalkeeper in the World at the moment. She started for the Houston Dash five times since the World Cup, and her stellar keeping has helped her team climb the NWSL standings where they currently sit in the fourth and final playoff spot.



She’s made 33 saves on 38 shots on goal, including a huge 12 saves on July 26th in a win over Western New York. Last Saturday, McLeod sustained an injury in her team’s loss to Washington, and was forced to leave the game in the 32nd minute. Houston announced that the injury was a skin laceration and is not serious.



Highlights of McLeod’s 12 save game on July 26th:







Diana Matheson returned to the Washington Spirit on July 18th for the first time since recovering from her ACL and foot injuries. She has played 166 minutes so far in the last few weeks in two starts and one substitute appearance, and already has two assists. Matheson looks like she really hasn’t missed a step, which is a good thing for a Canadian midfield that struggled mightily at times in the World Cup.



Christine Sinclair returned to the Portland Thorns on July 22nd. Her team recorded disappointing back-to-back losses to Seattle, but got back on track on July 29th with a 2-0 win over WNY. Sinclair scored a beautiful goal in that win, a little chip over fellow Canadian and WNY keeper Sabrina D’Angelo. Sinclair assisted on the second goal, and also earned a penalty kick (which Sinclair did not take, and was saved by D’Angelo).



Sinclair played 90 minutes in all three games since the World Cup, with six shots, four on goal.



Highlights of Sinclair’s performance on July 29th:







Here’s how the rest of Canada’s internationals are doing in NWSL:



Karina LeBlanc (Chicago)- Played two games in net for Chicago since the World Cup, sharing starting keeper duties with Michelle Dalton. 18 saves on 20 shots on goal, 2 goals against



Adriana Leon (Chicago)- 83 minutes in 1 start and 1 substitute appearance since the World Cup, 2 shots (both on goal)



Melissa Tancredi (Chicago)- 91 minutes in 1 start and 2 substitute appearances since the World Cup, 1 goal, 4 shots (2 on goal)



It’s been over a month since Canada was eliminated in the quarterfinals of the Women’s World Cup, and Canadians have recently returned to club action around the World. Fortunes have been mixed: some players have made history, with others struggling to get playing time after being away from their clubs for so long. Let’s take a look at how the Canadian women are doing…Last Friday, midfielder Sophie Schmidt signed with reigning UEFA Champions League winners 1. FFC Frankfurt in the German Frauen-Bundesliga, until June 30, 2016. Recently, Frankfurt lost Vero Boquete to FC Bayern Munich, Célia Šašić to retirement and Dzsenifer Marozsán to injury, so Schmidt is an important and much needed signing for the club. The on and off-field transition should be easier for Schmidt, as she speaks German. She is the first Canadian ever to be signed by a reigning European Cup winning team. Schmidt said , "I am delighted to be able to play for the current Champions League winners - which is a great honour for me."Over in England, Desiree Scott returned to Notts County Ladies of the FAWSL a few weeks ago and has already integrated herself back into her team well. Last Saturday, Scott played 90 minutes in Notts’ 1-0 loss to Chelsea in the FA Cup Final, in front of 30,000 fans at Wembley Stadium. Scott had one of the best chances on goal for her team in the 60th minute, as she gathered the ball on the 18-yard box and took a shot which deflected just wide of Chelsea’s goal.According to Neil Davidson of the Canadian Press, Scott is the first Canadian ever to play in an FA Cup Final.Highlights of the game can be found here Prior to the FA Cup Final, Scott played in three league games since returning from the World Cup, two wins and a loss, going 90 minutes in the last two. Notts County sits fourth in the crowded table after nine games.Defender Marie-Eve Nault returned to KIF Örebro of the Swedish Damallsvenskan, and played her first game since the World Cup on July 28th. Nault also went 90 minutes last Saturday in her team’s 4-2 win over Kristianstads DFF. Orebro sit sixth in the table (out of 10 teams) after 11 games.An interview with Nault about returning to KIF Örebro and her experience at the World Cup can be found here With week fifteen in the National Women’s Soccer League completed, the standings are quite crowded, with many teams still in the playoff hunt.There have been a few standout performances since Canadians have returned from the World Cup, including that of. McLeod is in the form of her life, and may be the best goalkeeper in the World at the moment. She started for the Houston Dash five times since the World Cup, and her stellar keeping has helped her team climb the NWSL standings where they currently sit in the fourth and final playoff spot.She’s made 33 saves on 38 shots on goal, including a huge 12 saves on July 26th in a win over Western New York. Last Saturday, McLeod sustained an injury in her team’s loss to Washington, and was forced to leave the game in the 32nd minute. Houston announced that the injury was a skin laceration and is not serious.returned to the Washington Spirit on July 18th for the first time since recovering from her ACL and foot injuries. She has played 166 minutes so far in the last few weeks in two starts and one substitute appearance, and already has two assists. Matheson looks like she really hasn’t missed a step, which is a good thing for a Canadian midfield that struggled mightily at times in the World Cup.returned to the Portland Thorns on July 22nd. Her team recorded disappointing back-to-back losses to Seattle, but got back on track on July 29th with a 2-0 win over WNY. Sinclair scored a beautiful goal in that win, a little chip over fellow Canadian and WNY keeper Sabrina D’Angelo. Sinclair assisted on the second goal, and also earned a penalty kick (which Sinclair did not take, and was saved by D’Angelo).Sinclair played 90 minutes in all three games since the World Cup, with six shots, four on goal.Played two games in net for Chicago since the World Cup, sharing starting keeper duties with Michelle Dalton. 18 saves on 20 shots on goal, 2 goals against83 minutes in 1 start and 1 substitute appearance since the World Cup, 2 shots (both on goal)91 minutes in 1 start and 2 substitute appearances since the World Cup, 1 goal, 4 shots (2 on goal) Highlights of Tancredi’s back-heel goal on July 22 in Chicago’s 2-1 win over Boston:



Rachel Quon (Chicago)- 863 minutes in 12 games total this season



Kaylyn Kyle (Portland)- 227 minutes in 2 starts and 3 substitute appearances since the World Cup, 2 shots



Jonelle Filigno (Sky Blue FC)- 24 minutes in 3 substitute appearances since the World Cup, no shots



Nkem Ezurike (Boston)- 339 minutes in 3 starts and 6 substitute appearances total this season, 1 goal and 1 assist, 11 shots, 3 on goal (Ezurike recently missed over two weeks with her club for the Pan Am Games)



Sabrina D’Angelo (Western New York)- 555 minutes total this season in 7 starts at goalkeeper, 24 saves on 35 shots on goal, recently saved a penalty kick against Portland on July 29th



D’Angelo seems to have established herself as WNY’s starting keeper again after sustaining a shoulder injury in May.



Injuries:



Houston’s Lauren Sesselmann (left knee meniscus injury) and Allysha Chapman (abdominal strain), and Portland’s Rhian Wilkinson (proximal partial thickness tear of right hamstring) are all currently with their NWSL clubs but are injured and have not played since the World Cup.