What The Heart Wants

Putting Pen To Paper

Ali and Carm camped out in front of the television with Philly Cheesesteaks for tonight's US/Korea Republic match from New Orleans. As pre-game coverage began on Fox Sports 1, Carm brought up developments from the office today.

Carm: 15 days until we get to select our first ten players. I can't believe it's that close already.

Ali: The off-season is going to fly by at this rate. Before you know it, Convention and the main draft will be here.

Carm: There's something I want to discuss with you. As you may have seen on the Internet or on TV, Vancouver has moved ahead and designated Sinc as their first selection in the expansion draft, filing the paperwork with the league yesterday.

Ali: Didn't see that. How does it affect the Hearts?

Carm: It means that we're now free to do the same thing and spend our first pick on someone that can help us in advance of the draft. Erica and I talked this afternoon, and we'd like you to be that player.

Ali: Really? I know Erin said I probably wouldn't last beyond their second pick if I was left exposed, but you want to take me first?

Carm: Yes. You're the type of charismatic leader that we need in our inaugural captain and your knowledge of the league would be a real positive for us in building our initial roster.

Ali: Captain? You already decided on that?

Carm: It's no different than what Vancouver's doing. They've got their captain already with Sinc.

Ali was silent for a few seconds, thinking through the ramifications of the Hearts' decision.

Ali: I'm honored that you are that interested in having me in Philly that you'd choose me ahead of the actual draft and give me the armband as well. It sounds like you are planning to take me anyhow, and I can't block that from happening, so getting to start with the two of you now is a better deal than waiting until the 3rd when you'd pick me second behind whoever you'd choose instead of me for the designation. How can I say no?

Carm: Actually, you can't, because like you said we'd just pick you with our second selection if you weren't interested in starting with us now. I have the paperwork here with me if you want to sign it. Otherwise, we'll be a bit handcuffed watching the game since we wouldn't be able to talk shop.

Carm went to get the papers, returning with them a few seconds later. Ali read them over and signed the documents.

Carm: Thanks. We'll send this over to the league office tomorrow before the three of us head to Happy Valley. Now, time for some fun.

The two teams came out onto the field for the pre-match introductions.

USA First XI: Campbell; O'Hara-Sullivan-Sauerbrunn-Short; Ertz-Lloyd(c)-Horan; Pugh-Press-Rapinoe.

Bench: Naeher; Huerta, Dahlkemper; Mewis, Long; Morgan, Williams

The game began with the United States maintaining possession and working the ball around the field before cascading forward through the touchline run from O'Hara, whose cross to Press was deflected out for a corner kick. Rapinoe's out-swinger found Sullivan crashing into the box and her header bolted past Korea's goalkeeper to give the US a 1-0 lead. Tonight's first XI for the States, chosen in order to keep all their North Carolina-connected players relatively fresh for Sunday afternoon's game in Cary, maintained discipline in the back and the interchange of the three midfielders resulted in another goal for the US in the 27th minute, when Lloyd poured on the dribble magic to draw both Korean center backs before playing a pass forward to a looping Horan, who slotted it past the goalkeeper's left hand to double the US' margin, which would be the halftime score.

Carm: Our biggest position to fill is, of course, goalkeeper. There are several available, but in our minds, there are only three worth considering as our number 1, those being Labbe, D'Angelo, and Abby Smith. Any impressions you'd like to share?

Ali: I played with Steph in Washington for a season before going to Orlando. I don't have to tell you what type of keeper she is or how she's done more with less in her two years in DC than any other keeper in the league save the other-worldly season Alyssa put up for Boston a few years back. Come to think of it, Jim played me a good portion of that season at defensive midfield because he wanted me to protect Shelina and Megan Oyster from a lot of the one-on-one defending that they weren't yet ready to take on as young players in the league.

Carm: Speaking of that, we're plotting out our choices with you penciled in as our opening day 6. We'll also be looking to find one or two box-to-box players in case we need to move you back due to problems with our central defenders.

Just before the second half kickoff, one of the cameras scanned the crowd, stopping on several signs in support of Sam and Abby and Lindsey and Emily's stepping out publicly with their relationships. Carm and Ali were quite pleased to see the public support for the US players. At halftime, Jill Ellis made two changes, putting Sofia Huerta in for Megan Rapinoe, with her taking O'Hara's right back position and moving Kelley up front to right wing, flipping Pugh to the left flank, and Allie Long replacing Carli Lloyd, who gave the armband to Becky Sauerbrunn. The changes opened up a bit more space for the Korea Republic to attack down the left side against the just-inserted Red Stars forward/midfielder. This mismatch would nearly pay off in the 53rd minute when a cross from the left side was palmed out by Campbell into the path of a Korean striker. Her attempt on goal was blocked by Sullivan, who was able to track the ball down and send it upfield. In the 67th minute, the US brought on Lynn Williams for Christen Press, Alex Morgan for Mallory Pugh, and Abby Dahlkemper in place of Becky Sauerbrunn, with O'Hara taking possession of the armband. A Williams goal in the 73rd minute rounded out the scoring and Sam Mewis was inserted for Julie Ertz, closing out Ellis' intervention in the match, which was won by the US 3-0.

Ali: Which way are you leaning on the goalkeeper front?

Carm: We're taking Steph. She can handle the workload she'll be facing here whereas I'm not sure either Sabrina or Abby can stand up to the amount of shots and breakaways they might have to contend with.

Ali: So Steph and myself to sort of backstop the rest of the team that you acquire.

Carm: That's another reason why I wanted you here. You have experience dealing with goalkeepers and their idiosyncrasies from your years with Ashlyn on the field and off, plus your pre-Olympic time with Steph in DC last season.

Ali: I think I'm going to turn in. Big day tomorrow with the game at Penn State and my doing some preliminary apartment hunting now that I know I'm going to be coming here.

Carm: Goodnight, Kriegs. Love you.

Ali: Back at ya, Carm.

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United States 3 Korea Republic 0 (Sullivan/Rapinoe, Horan/Lloyd, Williams/Horan)