Recently in Sol Category

That's according to Brian Boswell, coach of the Rolling Hills Estates-based Women's Professional Soccer League club Ajax America (for years now one of the top women's teams in the nation and a WPSL finalist again last year) and a sometime contributor to this blog.

The revelations were contained in what is essentially a begging letter circulating via e-mail that seeks to ensure the continued existence of Ajax.

Boswell also has close ties to the Sol and it's the first-time I've seen semi-confirmation from someone associated with the team regarding the long-rumored magnitude of the team's losses.

Still, Anschutz Entertainment Group, which has part ownership of the Sol, has committed to the team for at least one more season and the club will play next year at Home Depot Center again from what I've heard.

Here's the text of Boswell's e-mail exactly as he wrote it:

Hi Everyone,

Please excuse this mass e/mail but many of you have watched the Ajax women play and/or participated in 1 or more of the Ajax Academies.

Ajax is one of the top women's teams in the world. Last year we were the LA SOL's reserve team and had 11 of the SOL players on our roster. We have been US Soccer National Champions 6 times, WPSL national Champions twice in the last 9 years and in the WPSL final 4 of the last 4 years.

Ajax is broke.

Each year we have been able to raise money through the Academies and some wonderful sponsorships. Plus 4 years ago we won $20,000 playing in an international tournament in Korea which we have been using.

For Ajax to play next season we need to raise a minimum of $12,000. This covers league fees, field fees, travel fees, referees fees etc. Notice no coaching fees.

We were hoping this year we would get financial support from the LA SOL but its possible there will not be an LA SOL. They lost over $2 million last season and may not be around for next year. Leaving Ajax as the best women's soccer you will be able to see locally.

Obviously we would love to find 1 sponsor who would donate the whole $12,000 but we realize that is probably impossible but please feel free to be that sponsor. Realistically we are hoping to find 120 families who would be willing to donate $100 each to the Ajax team.

We hope there are enough of you who have watched and enjoyed Ajax playing that you would want it to continue. We have never charged admittance, just hoped you would come up, watch and enjoy.

Please let me know if you would like to donate or have any ideas that we could use to raise the money.

Please consider this and please pass this onto anyone you feel could help or anyone we have missed.

Any donations are tax deductible.

Thank you all for your support in the past and hopefully the future.

Sincerely,

Brian

Brian Boswell Ajax

Brian's telephone number is listed on the team's page, BTW, for anyone who wants to help or get in touch with him.

In a shock trade the Sol allowed central defender Allison Falk, an integral part of the L.A. defense last season, and backup goalkeeper Val Henderson to leave for the expansion Philadelphia Independence today in exchange for the No. 5 and No. 22 draft picks.

I've received no notification from the Sol, but it's up on the Independence Web site.

Updated:

I chatted with Sol GM Charlie Naimo about the trade today, focusing largely on Falk leaving.

Naimo observed the Sol defense "was not as good as our stats show" and that the team was at or near the top of WPS rankings in shots allowed and saves made.

"We're looking to get faster," he said "We're trying to diversify the team next year and get a little less predictable."

With three picks in the first round of January's draft, which Naimo believes has a collegiete crop much stronger than last year, the team has the option of drafting a defender to replace Falk or picking up an international defender.

The Sol also did not pick up the option of Chinese forward Han Duan who made little impact between injuries, language issues and a lack of form and hopes to replace her with Czech midfielder-forward Pavlina Scasna, who formerly played in the WUSA with Philadelphia.

The option of injury-prone Aly Wagner was also not picked up by the team, although Naimo said he does intend to talk with the former U.S. international again.

Other roster moves: the Sol exercised their options in 2010 for Stephanie Cox, Camille Abily, Brittany Bock, Karina LeBlanc, Aya Miyama and Manya Makoski. The club waived Martina Franko and Christie Shaner and declared as free agents Liz Bogus, Brittany Cameron, Lyndsey Patterson, Keri Sanchez, Lisa Sari, Julia Schnugg and McCall Zerboni.

Naimo indicated he also has another big deal in the works; he's awaiting word from the other team involved.

"We will be a better team next year," he said. "Our fans need to trust what we're doing."

They were Canadian international defender Sharolta Nonen, who started two games after joining the team in the wake of defender Christie Shaner breaking her leg on her Sol debut, and midfielder Katie Larkin, a BYU product who made five starts for the Sol.

Full details of today's expansion draft are here.

Not many surprises here.

The WPS awards were handed out Saturday night ahead of Sunday's WPS All-Star game in St. Louis.

The six award winners:

*Golden Boot Award - Marta (Sol)
*Defender of the Year - Amy LePeilbet (Boston Breakers)
*Coach of the Year - Abner Rogers (Sol)
*Goalkeeper of the Year - Hope Solo (Saint Louis Athletica)
*Sportswoman of the Year - Christie Rampone (Sky Blue FC)
* Player of the Year Award - Marta (Sol)

Quotable:

"Each player in the league has it as their goal to try for an award like this," said Marta on being named WPS MVP. "It's very special to be a pioneer in this league in the first season. It's been a great year and I look forward to many good years to come."

Final shots for the day:

*Sol defenders Brittany Bock and Stephanie Cox and midfielder Shannon Boxx were among 26 players called into Pia Sundhage's 12-day USWNT camp that begins Sept. 21 at Home Depot Center. Bock gets her second call-up of the year after also making the U.S. roster for the May 25 game against Canada in Toronto she was forced to miss after suffering a heel injury in training the day before.

Sundhage has the luxury of calling in several other WPS players for a look including Washington Freedom midfielder Lori Lindsey (1 cap), Sky Blue FC midfielder Yael Averbuch (2), uncapped Chicago Red Stars midfielder Brittany Klein and Sky Blue FC defender Meghan Schnur.

The squad: goalkeepers - Nicole Barnhart (FC Gold Pride), Ashlyn Harris (North Carolina), Hope Solo (St. Louis Athletica)

defenders Brittany Bock (Los Angeles Sol), Rachel Buehler (FC Gold Pride), Lori Chalupny (St. Louis Athletica), Stephanie Cox (Los Angeles Sol), Amy LePeilbet (Boston Breakers), Heather Mitts (Boston Breakers), Megan Schnur (Sky Blue FC), Cat Whitehill (Washington Freedom)

midfielders Yael Averbuch (Sky Blue FC), Shannon Boxx ( Los Angeles Sol), Tina DiMartino (FC Gold Pride), Tobin Heath (UNC), Angela Hucles ( Boston Breakers), Brittany Klein ( Chicago Red Stars), Lori Lindsey ( Washington Freedom), Carli Lloyd ( Chicago Red Stars), Heather O'Reilly (Sky Blue FC), Leslie Osborne (FC Gold Pride), Megan Rapinoe ( Chicago Red Stars), Kacey White (Sky Blue FC)

forwards Lauren Cheney (UCLA), Amy Rodriguez ( Boston Breakers), Abby Wambach ( Washington Freedom)

*BTW, the Sol's Camille Abily scored the winner from the spot in France's 2-1 win Monday over Iceland at the European Championships. The scorer of the other: none other than Washington Freedom's Sonia Bompastor.

*New Columbian Chivas USA defender Yamith Cuesta,20, on loan from Colombian side Expreso Rojo was/is scheduled to arrive at LAX tonight and join the team after receiving a visa.

*BTW, I usually skip these press releases, but I couldn't resist this one. Chivas USA players Jorge Flores and Bobby Burling will promote Clamato juice this coming weekend at local stores (1-2:30 p.m. Saturday for Flores at the Wal-Mart at 8500 Washington Blvd., in Pico Rivera and 2 p.m.-3:30 p.m. Sunday for Burling at the Food 4 Less at 5100 N. Figueroa St., L.A.). Do they stand next to a huge mountain of Clamato juice? Hand out samples? Make a mean bloody mary? Or just have shoppers wondering who these guys are loitering near Clamato juice?

Sol 0 Sky Blue FC 1

A team that barely got into the playoffs has just beaten the dominant team of the regular season.

It was that sort of day for the Sol and Marta (AP Photo).

The Sol never got their attack in sync today; frankly there was more urgency in the line outside the women's restroom at half time.

FC Sky Blue outplayed them in virtually every facet of the game, especially with a defense marshaled by central defender Jen Buczkowski alongside player-coach Christie Rampone.

Torrance's Shannon Boxx perhaps had the best Sol chance of the second half with a rasping 72nd minute shot that required a diving save from Sky Blue goalkeeper Jenni Branham.

Marta couldn't even hit the target from a stoppage time free kick and the league's highest-paid player surely should have done better than that.

Questions:
Does this make Christie Rampone Coach of the Year, despite her short tenure? (Yes)
Was the straight red the deciding factor or the generally lethargic air around the Sol? (No and yes)

The Sol will literally leave this game with nothing; there are no medals for the losing team.

MVP was Sky Blue's Heather O'Reilly

Attendance: 7,218.

More later

It was blue skies for Sky Blue FC after beating the Sol at Home Depot Center.

Updated:

Here's Sol Coach Abner Rogers on his team's performance:

"They started it off very well, they got the upper hand, we gave them too much space. ... Had we got a goal I think we would have gone on and won the game."

Here's Rogers on the straight red card in the first half:

"I didn't feel it was a red card, it was a poor decision. ... Stephanie Cox was a covering player, it wasn't a last defender (call) and there wasn't a blatant tackle. It was a clumsy tackle and it was a questionable yellow."

Key stat: The shots were 9-1 in favor of Sky Blue FC in the first half and 7-3 in favor of the Sol in the second.

BTW, referee Kari Seitz said in a written response to questions after the game that Allison Falk's red card had nothing to do with whether she intended to foul Natasha Kai or not. Instead she took into consideration the distance between the foul and the goal, the likelihood of Kai keeping the ball had she not been challenged, "the location and number of defenders" and the fact Kai was "denied an obvious goal-scoring opportunity."

I'm not sure that clears much up.

Here's Sky Blue player-coach Christie Rampone (sporting a 4-1 record at the helm after taking over July 29) on whether she wants to keep the job next season:

"I still want to play the game. I'm retiring as coach for now until I'm done playing."

Here's MVP Heather O'Reilly on the end to the season and the unexpected success of the team:

"It's very surreal. I don't think its sunk in. ... The irony of the entire story was just incredible."

Here's Sol goalkeeper Karina LeBlanc on the absence of Camille Abily:

"Camille is a fantastic player, she creates a lot. Obviously we miss her and I'd be lying if I told you we didn't ... It could have been the same result. it could have been better."

Finally, here's Rogers' illuminating response on why the Sol lost:

"We lost the game because we didn't score any goals - that's the bottom line."

Remember, you read it here first.

Psst: Wanna party with the WPS champions? Well, don't tell anyone you read this here, but I'm told they will be celebrating at Hennessey's on Pier Plaza in Hermosa Beach.

Updated: BTW, a Home Depot Center staff member I know really well showed me a pic he took from the camera on his cell phone of the blackboard in the Sky Blue locker room after the team had left (I should have had him e-mail it to me). It read: "Shit outta luck."

Which pretty much summed up the the Sol's day.

Updated: here's a complete game story from the victor's perspective.

Sol 0 Sky Blue FC 1

It's a well-deserved lead for the underdogs against a flat Sol. Coach Abner Rogers removed midfielder McCall Zerboni for defender Sharolta Nonen after the straight red, but the Sol will need to do more than that to come from behind. Which team had the most rest coming into this game anyway?

To call the Sol one-dimensional at this point would be an understatement. Sky Blue FC has had the better of the attacks and that seems strange to say against a team that was so dominant going forward in the regular season.

The consensus up here: the Sol badly miss midfielder and second leading goalscorer Camille Abily, who is back in Europe playing for France.

And remember, the team that scores first in WPS invariably wins.

BTW, I've been designated the pool reporter up here and will ask referee Kari Seitz what that extremely questionable red card was all about. I'll try to phrase it tactfully. (Supposedly it was because Kai was denied a "goal scoring chance," BTW).

Key stat: Sky Blue has nine shots on goal, the Sol just one.

A straight red for Sol defender Allison Falk in the 27th minute after she clipped an on-rushing Natasha Kai from behind.

A poor decision by referee Kari Seitz in a championship game this early that changes the complexion of the match; no way did that look deliberate. It was just a clumsy, almost accidental touch. And I don't believe Falk was even the last defender back anyway.

Sol 0 Sky Blue FC 1

The improbable story of Sky Blue FC continues.

A 16th minute cross by Sky Blue midfielder Keeley Dowling that was nodded on by Natasha Kai and met by Heather O'Reilly from eight yards out provided the opening goal.

The Women's Professional Soccer championship is on at 1 p.m. on Prime. Alternatively, wander over to Carson and catch the game for $20.

It's a giggling global game for the Sol.

Game preview.

The Sky Blue perspective.

Saturday rerun: My column from earlier in the week.

It's unusually muggy today in the South Bay.

I'll blog from the game.

Updated:
Sol XI: Karina LeBlanc, Stephanie Cox, Brittany Bock, Allison Falk, Manya Makoski, Aya Miyama, Aly Wagner, Shannon Boxx, McCall Zerboni, Marta, Han Duan.

Sky Blue FC: Jenni Branam, Keely Dowling, Jen Buczkowski, Christie Rampone, Meghan Schnur, Yael Averbuch, Francielle, Heather O'Reilly, Natasha Kai, Rosana.

Expect the Sol to come out fast.

The WPS Championship game is Saturday at Home Depot Center.

It's the subject of today's column.

Call 877-4-SOL-TIX for more info.

BTW, Marta, midfielder McCall Zerboni and defenders Johanna Frisk and Sharolta Nonen will hold a clinic for several youth clubs and sign autographs for fans at the Puma store on Santa Monica's Third Street Promenade from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. Wednesday.

The Sol also tweeted this morning that several Sol players will be signing autographs beginning at 2 p.m. at El Segundo's Whole Foods Market.

And here's more from a Sky Blue FC perspective.

Another busy weekend of soccer begins this afternoon at 4:30 p.m. when Real Madrid plays Toronto (live on ESPN) and at the same time the Pali Blues take on the Washington Freedom (live on Fox Soccer Channel).

Both the Galaxy and Chivas USA are out of town this weekend, but does that mean no live soccer locally?

Not at all.

The Ventura County Fusion and Chicago Fire Premier play for the PDL title at 7 p.m. Saturday at Ventura High.

If you haven't been to Ventura in a while, I recommend you make a day of it. There's tons to do in the area, downtown Ventura is a great place to shop or grab a bite and as an added bonus the Ventura County Fair is going on very near Ventura High.

I'm taking my own advice and I'll be sitting in the stands with friends and family for the Fusion game, so give a shout-out if you see me.

Clarification: The game is at Buena High School (5670 Telegraph Rd., Ventura) not the high school on Main in midtown.

Click on the link to the right for a full slate of games, but here's the ones I recommend in addition to those already mentioned:

*3 p.m. Saturday FSC Galaxy at New England
*6:30 p.m. Saturday Fox Sports Net Chivas USA at Colorado Rapids
*8 p.m. Saturday FSC CD Guadalajara-Barcelona

*7 a.m. Sunday FSC Chelsea-Manchester United in the Community Shield
*Noon Sunday FSC Real Madrid at DC United
*3 p.m. Sunday FSC Sol at Boston Breakers

Have a great weekend.

The Sol's Brazilian star Marta was the top vote-getter overall, being named on all coaches ballots, 94 percent of media ballots (hello, media types), but finishing second to Boston Breakers defender Amy LePeilbet on players ballots (hmm, guess Marta is not exactly popular among her peers?). And the top three players fans voted for? Hope Solo, Lori Chalupny and Shannon Boxx. Guess we won't be seeing Marta doing many product endorsements then.

Full disclosure: I didn't vote, although more than 25,000 ballots were cast.

Three Sol players were named to the first XI, including Torrance native Shannon Boxx:

Karina LeBlanc GK Los Angeles Sol Canada
Tina Ellertson D Saint Louis Athletica United States
Amy LePeilbet D Boston Breakers United States
Alex Scott D Boston Breakers England
Camille Abily M Los Angeles Sol France
Sonia Bompastor M Washington Freedom France
Shannon Boxx M Los Angeles Sol United States
Lori Chalupny M Saint Louis Athletica United States
Kelly Smith M Boston Breakers England
Eniola Aluko F Saint Louis Athletica England
Marta F Los Angeles Sol Brazil

Sol Coach Abner Rogers will lead the team in the Aug. 30 game against Swedish league champions Umeå IK in St. Louis.

The Sol didn't have to win Sunday, having already wrapped up the WPS regular season title, but the best way to prepare for the Aug. 22 title game at Home Depot Center is probably not succumbing to a 3-1 defeat in Chicago that now means LA hasn't won in their last three games.

The Sol has one more chance for a victory at their final regular season game in Boston Sunday against the Breakers.

Game story.

Highlights:

It's a completely meaningless game - the Sol have captured the regular season WPS title, while the Chicago Red Stars are already eliminated from playoff contention - but you can watch the game beginning at 3 p.m. on Fox Soccer Channel.

Some unspecified Sol players will do just that this afternoon (while signing autographs, too) at the Fox & Hounds pub in Studio City.

A brief game preview is here.

The game is a match-up between Brazilian stars Marta and Christiane.

Notable: Sol striker Camile Abily (who has eight goals this season, one fewer than top scorer Marta) will miss the WPS title game Aug. 22 at Home Depot Center because she will represent France in the European Championships. The Sol is looking to sign a replacement for just that game.