What The Heart Wants

Risk And Reward

Bianca met with Wendy during Friday's training session to give her an update on the timeline concerning her surgery and how her national team doctors want to deal with it.

Bianca: Yesterday, after our national team doctors viewed copies of the MRI, they suggested that I come to Mexico City to have my knee operated on and then recuperate at home so they can best monitor my rehab. The hope is, once they get in there, the damage will not be as severe as imagined and that I will be able to make it back to about 85% or so by the end of October to play in the Gold Cup.

Wendy: I wish you'd consider staying in Philadelphia with Stephany and being part of the team as you go through the rehab process.

Bianca: Our national federation is already less-than-happy about us playing in NWSL because of the April-to-October schedule which won't allow us to participate in residency with the team over the summer, Add in the opinions from back home about our relationship and we're sort of stuck with the decision of whether to play nice with them or forego playing for El Tri Feminil. It's probably for the best in our situation that we at least attempt to be amenable to their requests.

Wendy pondered how to deal with what she was presented. The scenario of sending Bianca and Stephany with Mana to the Thorns was laid out yesterday, but she had yet to even start discussions with Gavin Wilkinson, the Thorns' GM, about moving Mana. Realizing that her injured player was looking for some response, she regained her senses.

Wendy: As you know, Mana Shim has left the club and will eventually be joining Portland. Now, I can try to include the two of you with her, but it may be a few days before their GM and I are able to talk and work out a deal. In the meantime, I'd like to have the two of you stay through the weekend and for Stephany to play in the friendly against Sky Blue on Sunday.

Bianca: I think that's fair. Thank you for understanding our position. We love it here, but there's not much we can do if we want to be part of the World Cup team next year should Mexico qualify.

After training, Stephany came upstairs to retrieve Bianca and confirmed her thoughts with Wendy about the future. Wendy re-iterated her position to Stephany, which was agreed to.

***

Sarah Troccoli's flight from Gainesville got into Charlotte about 1:30pm. She went down to the gate where her flight to Philadelphia would be leaving and then searched for some food. Upon returning to the gate, she threw her earbuds in and listened to her Savannah playlist, a set of songs that held special meaning for the two of them. Around 2:15, Morgan Reid came to the gate after arriving from Raleigh and sat down across from Sarah. The pair of them looked at one another, knowing that there was something familiar about the other person but unable to place it. Sarah took out her earbuds and made the initial inquiry.

Sarah: I believe I know you from somewhere, but can't quite place it. Soccer, maybe?

Morgan: Probably. I played at Duke. You look familiar as well.

Sarah: I play at Florida. Can graduate in May, but still have a year of eligibility left since I started school a semester early and had advanced credits as well. Sarah Troccoli.

Morgan: Morgan Reid. Shouldn't you be back in Gainesville for spring practice?

Sarah: I've decided to go ahead and graduate so I can move up to Philadelphia to be with my girlfriend and hopefully latch onto a UWS or WPSL team in the area for this season. It's spring break at school and so I'm surprising Savannah with a visit. Why are you going to Philly?

Morgan: I have a two-day trial with the Hearts. A couple of my Duke teammates were drafted by them and apparently got the word to their front office that I was looking for a team. My trial with the Courage came up empty last week.