NWSL allocation results keep Richland’s Solo in Seattle

US Women’s National Team goalkeeper Hope Solo (Richland, WA) was among the seven American, Canadian and Mexican national team players assigned to the newly-formed Seattle Reign in Friday’s announcement by the new professional National Women’s Soccer League being operated by the US Soccer Federation.

USA Women Golden; Richland’s Solo gets second Olympic gold medal

It was not the best the United States women’s national team has played, but the standout performance of Carli Lloyd with two goals and a few quality timely saves from Richland’s Hope Solo along with a little fortune from the decisions of the referee guided the United States to a third consecutive gold medal and fourth overall in five tournaments.

The United States took command of the scoreboard early with a good series of play from Shannon Boxx, Kelley O’Hara and Tobin Heath that got the ball to Alex Morgan (Seattle Sounders Women) in the box. Morgan took the ball to the end line before cutting a cross back into the six where Lloyd got her head on it in a crowd. It was Morgan's team-leading fifth assist of the Olympics.

Cascadia stars as USA Women survive 4-3 OT thriller after trailing three times to Canada

Richland’s Hope Solo made a couple nice stops, but was outshined on the day by her Northwest counterparts who dominated the scoring summary and stole the spotlight in a wild back-and-forth Olympic Semifinal affair that saw the Canadians take the lead three times before going to overtime, where the United States eventually prevailed, 4-3, on a stoppage time header from Seattle Sounders Women striker Alex Morgan.

Seattle Sounders goalkeeper and University of Washington product Hope Solo was one of the focal points heading into the tournament, but despite her lengthy shutout streak coming into the contest most of the eyes were on the star duo Abby Wambach of the United States and Christine Sinclair. Instead, the match ended up being a showdown of University of Portland products as Sinclair and fellow former Pilot Megan Rapinoe exchanged goals, making the match an all-Cascadia affair.

USA Women, Richland's Hope Solo start real Olympic test Friday in Quarters

The United States women’s national team and Richland, Wash. native Hope Solo begin the knockout phase of the Olympics Friday in the Quarterfinals against New Zealand at 6:30 am PT on NBC Sports Network.

When it comes to major tournaments, more often than not the group phase is a mere formality for the US Women’s National Team, barring any unusual draw. After rallying from two down to top France, 4-2, in the opening game, the team has had little trouble, blanking Colombia 3-0 and edging North Korea 1-0 in a game in which they rested players having already advanced.

After withstanding the slow start, the usual tournament performance has been pushed out of the spotlight by the atypical storylines that have emerged.

Hope Solo accepts warning for accidental use of banned substance

It was announced Monday that United States national team goalkeeper Hope Solo of Richland, Wash. and the Seattle Sounders Women W-League team accepted a public warning from the United States Anti-Doping Agency (USADA) for testing positive for a banned substance.

Seattle U’s INW trio face Sounders Women Friday

The Seattle Sounders Women continue their preseason slate Friday evening at the Starfire Sports Stadium in Tukwila, Wash. with a friendly versus local Seattle University, which features three Inland Northwest players from Boise, Pasco and Spokane.

Junior M/F Carlee Norquist (Boise, Idaho), sophomore M/F Shawna Anderson (Pasco, Wash.) and redshirt sophomore midfielder Ashley Fritts (Spokane, Wash.) will be going up against the W-League team featuring five US Women’s National Team players.

The match-up will create a Tri-Cities showdown between Anderson and Richland native Hope Solo, the star goalkeeper from the FIFA Women’s World Cup. Solo faced only a few challenges in their opening friendly versus Seattle Pacific University, leaving late in the contest with a shutout performance and three saves.

Spokane’s Megan Lindsay to test Richland’s Hope Solo Monday in first friendly for Sounders Women, US National Team stars

Lindsay in action for Seattle Pacific University (photo: SPU)

It is only a friendly Monday evening, but Spokane native Megan Lindsay (Gonzaga Prep High School) will lead Seattle Pacific University against the Seattle Sounders Women in an exhibition at Starfire Stadium in Tukwila, Wash. The game is the first of the university’s spring campaign and will be the first match for the new-look Sounders Women, who have signed five US Women’s National Team players for the 2012 campaign.

The striker is one of four juniors on the squad that will be called upon face the Sounders, pitting her up against Richland native Hope Solo, the starting goalkeeper for the Olympic-bound US National Team and star from last year’s FIFA Women’s World Cup.

"I'm really excited to test Hope Solo and see how she is in person,” said Lindsay about the upcoming contest. “She did really awesome in the World Cup, making fantastic saves. There are balls that she gets to that most goalkeepers wouldn't even think of diving for, and she saves them. She's super-good at PKs. I'm actually in awe of how great of a goalkeeper she is.”

Solo back in Seattle

She has been in Seattle for less than 24 hours, but Hope Solo is already the center of attention in her home state, where she will be playing for the W-League Seattle Sounders Women this season.

Richland’s Solo posts shutout versus Brazil

The U.S. Women’s National Team scored on three set plays in Chiba, Japan to defeat Brazil 3-0 in its second and final match of the Kirin Challenge Cup in a game that kicked off four hours earlier than previously scheduled due to inclement weather.  Richland, Wash. native Hope Solo recorded the shutout in goal.