Checking in elsewhere

With all the ongoing hullabaloo over the DC United / Prince George’s County deal, it can be easy to miss out on the other local and US soccer news going on.

Freedom Auditioning Players
The Washington Freedom are permitted, by WPS rules, to have 28 players in camp in the preseason. With less than 28 players currently listed on their roster, the team is holding an open tryout today, February 20th, and tomorrow, February 21st at the Maryland Soccerplex, their home site for 2009. The Freedom’s 2009 preseason and WPS schedule is here.

Algarve Cup 2009
US Women’s National Team coach Pia Sundhage named her 18-player roster at the beginning of February for the tournament in Portugal that runs from March 4-11. The dates and venues have also been finalized for the tournament, and the US matches against Denmark, Iceland, and Norway. The team departs for Portugal on February 25.

Derby Over
Washington Freedom SC, the W-League outfit, and the Northern Virginia Majestics are no longer in the same division. Given their proximity I find this somewhat absurd, but there will be no Majestics/Freedom match this season unless they meet in the playoffs. See the Majestics’ schedule here, and the Freedom’s here.

Quarter Volley Local Soccer Calendar
I will soon begin work on the Quarter Volley Local Soccer Calendar, the aggregate listing of home matches that this year will include DC United, Washington Freedom, Northern Virginia Royals, Northern Virginia Majestics, Washington Freedom SC, Real Maryland FC, and any local US National Team matches both senior and youth. It seems every year I do this thing, the number of teams gets bigger and bigger. It should go without saying that this is great for soccer in this area.