Local Soccer Roundup – 2.1

Every Monday/Tuesday I’m going to run the weekly roundup of local soccer, primarily focused on the semi-pro happenings in the area. Once these teams start hosting games that I can attend you’ll be seeing more in-depth posts on those games.

US WNT 6 – 0 Canada
Yeah, it wasn’t local in the sense that it was the National team, but it was at local because it was played at RFK Stadium. Natasha Kai’s hat trick as well as single goals by Carli Lloyd, Leslie Osborne and Lindsay Tarpley were more than enough for the US to dispatch with Canada. Kai’s hat trick came over a 21 minute span, with goals in the 54th, 60th, and 75th minute.

Freedom 3 – 1 Long Island Lady Rough Riders
Opening the defense of their 2007 W-League title on the road, the Washington Freedom defeated Long Island behind a Christie Welsh brace and a single goal by Sarah Huffman. Welsh’s first strike came on 6 minutes to give the Freedom a 1-0 lead which they held at halftime. Long Island’s goal did not come until the 80th minute. The Freedom open the season with 4 road games, not playing at home until June 1st. Next up is a May 15th date at the Fort Collins Force.

Royals 1 – 0 Hampton Roads Piranhas
The Northern Virginia Royals opened their season with a 1-0 victory over defending regular season champions Hampton Roads at their home field at Virginia Wesleyan College (what happened to the Hampton Roads Soccerplex?). The lone goal of the match came in the 2nd minute of 2nd half stoppage, courtesy of Royals forward David Atkinson. The Royals play Thursday 5/15 at the Fredericksburg Gunners before the hope opener at Fairfax High School against the Vermont Voltage on 5/17