Tuesday Kicks: MLS, WNT updates

*Chicago Fire defender Gonzalo Segares, who blatantly smacked Galaxy defender Leonardo in Saturday’s game, received an additional fine and one-game suspension today by the Major League Soccer Disciplinary Committee.

Segares was sent off, but the committee “determined that due to the reckless nature of the action that endangered the safety of his opponent, additional sanctions should be levied.”

So, in addition to an automatic one-game suspension and $250 fine issued for the red card, Segares’s punishment was doubled and he will now miss one additional game and was fined another $250.

*UCLA junior Sydney Leroux, who scored five goals at the recent FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup, received her first full national team call-up today.

The striker was one of 30 players named to a preliminary roster by U.S. Women’s National Team Coach Pia Sundhage for games Oct. 2 and 6 against China. The team will train on the East Coast ahead of the two games against China, which precede regional World Cup qualifying later in October.

“This is a very important camp as the team will get some quality time together to work on some tactical elements as we prepare for World Cup qualifying,” said Sundhage. “It’s also a great opportunity for our players to have two tough games before the important qualifying matches, as well as for the coaches, as we will have to make some important final decisions on our roster that goes to Mexico. We will also get to have a look at some of the less experienced players who have played well in WPS this season and some of the youngest players in our pool, so I am excited to get a lot of good work done and to find out some valuable information during the three weeks.”

The squad:

goalkeepers – Nicole Barnhart (FC Gold Pride), Jill Loyden (Chicago Red Stars), Alyssa Naeher (Boston Breakers), Hope Solo (Atlanta Beat)

defenders – Rachel Buehler (FC Gold Pride), Stephanie Cox (Boston Breakers), Whitney Engen (Chicago Red Stars), Ali Krieger (FFC Frankfurt), Amy LePeilbet (Boston Breakers), Heather Mitts (Philadelphia Independence), Christie Rampone (Sky Blue FC), Meghan Schnur (Sky Blue FC), Brittany Taylor (Sky Blue FC)

midfielders – Yael Averbuch (Sky Blue FC), Shannon Boxx (FC Gold Pride), Tobin Heath (Atlanta Beat), Sarah Huffman (Washington Freedom), Kristine Lilly (Boston Breakers), Lori Lindsey (Philadelphia Independence), Carli Lloyd (Sky Blue FC), Joanna Lohman (Philadelphia Independence), Kelley O’Hara (FC Gold Pride), Heather O’Reilly (Sky Blue FC), Megan Rapinoe (Chicago Red Stars), Lindsay Tarpley (Chicago Red Stars)

forwards – Lauren Cheney (Boston Breakers), Sydney Leroux (UCLA), Alex Morgan (California), Amy Rodriguez (Philadelphia Independence), Abby Wambach (Washington Freedom)

*Lastly, Chivas USA midfielder and San Diego native Sal Zizzo fulfills a lifelong dream as a Padres fan when he throws out the first pitch tonight against the Dodgers in San Diego.

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