The U.S. Women’s Soccer team that will go to the Olympics in Beijing will be missing some familiar names. The new head coach, Pia Sundhage, has made some personnel decisions. Some choices were forced by injury and circumstance.

Kristine Lilly will be missing from the team going to Beijing. She is taking some family time, with a baby on its way. Leslie Osborne and Cat Whitehill are recovering from anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injuries. Both these experienced national team members face a long rehabilitation process.

Goalkeeper Briana Scurry was left off the Beijing roster. Pia Sundhage selected Nicole Barnhart and Hope Solo as the goalkeepers. There is speculation that undercurrents and tensions remain between Hope Solo and some of the veteran team members from the World Cup incident. Nevertheless, Hope Solo is the starting goalkeeper for this team, with Nichole Barnhart as her backup replacement.

link: The U.S Women’s national Team

Added to the team are new members such as Tobin Heath. She is twenty years old and gives the team versatility from the bench. Pia Sundhage has blended veteran players with new team members. She knows that there will be high expectations for this team in Beijing, especially after the disappoint and controversies at the World Cup. Not only will this team be watched closely, as the new national team coach, Pia Sundhage knows that her every decision will be scrutinized. Her task is simply to return this Women’s National Team to goal medal excellence. With anything less than that, the second guessing will begin.

Catherine Forsythe