Lady Vols Soccer ⚽️ SEC TOURNAMENT 11/3-11/10

[MAD]

Big news from the new NWSL expansion team “Angel City FC”

Mary Alice “MA” Vignola is ACFC’s second official player signing!









Dec 06, 2021
LOS ANGELES (December 6, 2021) - Angel City Football Club (ACFC) is pleased to announce the signing of defender Mary Alice (MA) Vignola to the team’s official roster. The signing, a two-year contract with an option for an additional year, comes after a trade deal was made with the Washington Spirit. In exchange, the Spirit receives $30,000 allocation money and allocated player protection in the 2022 NWSL Expansion Draft.
“Mary Alice is an exciting young player that we are delighted to welcome to Angel City,” said ACFC Sporting Director Eni Aluko. “Her athleticism and versatility as a defender is important to what we are building in our defensive unit with her ability to also have freedom in our attack. Her vibrant personality will also be positive for our team culture.”
Vignola joins ACFC following the announcement of USWNT star Christen Press in August. A standout at the University of Tennessee, Vignola started for the Volunteers from 2016-2019. In her junior and senior years (2018 and 2019) she was named to the All-SEC and United Coaches All-Region teams. Vignola comes to ACFC after playing internationally in Iceland for Thróttur Reykjavík (2020) and Valur (2021).
“It has been a dream of mine to play in the NWSL and I am beyond excited to get started in LA,” said Vignola. “Growing up watching players such as Abby Wambach, Christen Press, and Mia Hamm, I aspired to be like them. Now I get the chance to improve my game playing with them and for them. Having the opportunity to join this club that has already made such a difference in the community and building a family is something to be excited for. I can’t wait to get the season started.”

This transaction precedes the roster-building milestones of the 2022 NWSL Expansion Draft on December 16 and the 2022 NWSL Draft on December 18 and comes on the heels of ACFC acquiring the playing rights of USWNT star Julie Ertz and 2021 NWSL Defender of the Year nominee Sarah Gorden.

 

[MAD]

VFL

 

[MAD]

 

[MAD]

 

[turbovol]

Wow--super-excited about Vignola. What a good opportunity for her in LA. She had a great career at UT as a archetypal outside back--good size, physical, and very athletic. Also has a big leg. I figured she was ready for a bigger, better league than Iceland, but didn't realize an NWSL team had her rights. Eager to see her play in the NWSL. Katie Cousins played very well in the Iceland pro league last year as well and it will be interesting to see if she gets picked up soon by a team in a better European league or in the NWSL. I'm not as convinced of Cousins' pro potential as Vignola's, but Katie has a lot of high-level qualities and experience.

 

[gule]

@54 minute mark of the match no score for either byu/fsu

 

[kregman]

I forgot they were playing. Going to OT Florida state should have been a player down with an obvious red card not given.

 

[MAD]

sudden death is a brutal way to lose, glad I’m just a neutral fan

 

[gule]

who won?

 

[kregman]

Couple makeup calls for Byu

 

[kregman]

who won?

Still playing near end of first OT

 

[kregman]

Florida state goalie can’t kick

 

[kregman]

BYU didn’t put much effort into scoring that first OT. Dangerous playing for penalty kicks.

 

[MAD]

BYU didn’t put much effort into scoring that first OT. Dangerous playing for penalty kicks.

Seems like that’s what they are playing for, penalty shootout. They know FSU lost last year is penalty kicks and that it might mess with their heads.

 

[MAD]

That’s it, we are going to a penalty shootout, such a tough way to decide the National Championship

 

[kregman]

That’s why you don’t go to penalty kicks win in play if you can.

 

[MAD]

 

[turbovol]

I believe this is the 3rd straight year that the National Championship has been decided on penalties. Not what you want, but it's what we've been getting.

Though there were no goals scored, I thought this was a very high quality soccer match--and of course super competitive. What jumped out at me was the athleticism of every player on the field--they can all run, both teams--and almost every player is quite technical and comfortable with the ball. Again, every player on both teams can beat a mark (defender) with the dribble and push the ball forward into space. It's very rare to see two teams in which almost every player on the team can dribble proficiently. I knew BYU was good--but I thought they played exceptional well tonight. They were the better team in the 2nd half and had more SOG than FSU for the game. But, in the end, you have to put the ball in the net, and they couldn't do it. Nobody can do it against FSU--they are a defensive force every year, great back four every year--and that's why they've won 3 Nattys in less than a decade. Did the Noles give up 1 goal in the tourney? I don't remember their scores from the first couple of rounds--but they did not give up a goal in the Quarters, Semi or Final.

 

[MAD]

I believe this is the 3rd straight year that the National Championship has been decided on penalties. Not what you want, but it's what we've been getting.

Though there were no goals scored, I thought this was a very high quality soccer match--and of course super competitive. What jumped out at me was the athleticism of every player on the field--they can all run, both teams--and almost every player is quite technical and comfortable with the ball. Again, every player on both teams can beat a mark (defender) with the dribble and push the ball forward into space. It's very rare to see two teams in which almost every player on the team can dribble proficiently. I knew BYU was good--but I thought they played exceptional well tonight. They were the better team in the 2nd half and had more SOG than FSU for the game. But, in the end, you have to put the ball in the net, and they couldn't do it. Nobody can do it against FSU--they are a defensive force every year, great back four every year--and that's why they've won 3 Nattys in less than a decade. Did the Noles give up 1 goal in the tourney? I don't remember their scores from the first couple of rounds--but they did not give up a goal in the Quarters, Semi or Final.

They only gave up one goal in the whole tournament, that was to SMU in the second round. It was a meaningless goal in the 81st minute in a 5-1 victory. I think the first goal BYU scored looked onside, but unfortunately there is no var.

 

[lvocd]

I hate the penalty kick solution to breaking ties and especially to determine champions. It says it in the name that the kicks are intended for penalties, and I don't consider both squads playing outstanding defense as something that deserves to be penalized. Ugh.

If I were in charge of the world, I'd create a different solution. Maybe have both teams have their three best players (three runners, no goalkeeper), have them face off in center pitch like in hockey, and whichever three players manage to get the ball into their own net first, wins. Obviously you'd want the fastest and strongest-legged three on your team out there on Thunder Pitch.

 

[turbovol]

One more thing about Vignola and the NWSL: the league, which is still young, has had a variety of issues, one of which is that the players are poorly paid. Player salaries range from about $22,500 annually (rough minimum) to $55,000--which is the max. That is nothing for a professional athlete---the average salary in the Major League Soccer is close to $400K annually. But then the women's league and its teams are not profitable. The league badly needs a major TV/streaming deal. It's had media-rights deals, but I think they've all been small potatoes and on lesser platforms. If Vignola could have got signed by a fairly big European club in the England or French league, say, she'd be making more money. Of course, her goal now will be be to get regularly playing time with LA. If she does that, she may come to the attention of the coaches of the U.S. women's national team and get invited to a USWNT camp or two. If she can ever earn a spot on the USWNT roster, she will make good money because they are paid by the US Soccer Federation.

 

[MAD]

One more thing about Vignola and the NWSL: the league, which is still young, has had a variety of issues, one of which is that the players are poorly paid. Player salaries range from about $22,500 annually (rough minimum) to $55,000--which is the max. That is nothing for a professional athlete---the average salary in the Major League Soccer is close to $400K annually. But then the women's league and its teams are not profitable. The league badly needs a major TV/streaming deal. It's had media-rights deals, but I think they've all been small potatoes and on lesser platforms. If Vignola could have got signed by a fairly big European club in the England or French league, say, she'd be making more money. Of course, her goal now will be be to get regularly playing time with LA. If she does that, she may come to the attention of the coaches of the U.S. women's national team and get invited to a USWNT camp or two. If she can ever earn a spot on the USWNT roster, she will make good money because they are paid by the US Soccer Federation.

After reading your post I was curious where the top players in the wold are playing and found this neat little article from the Guardian. It’s from last year, and the current year is being released slowly each day. You can break it down so many different ways, by nationality, league or position.

This is for 2020, I’ll post 2021 when it’s finished.

The 100 best female footballers in the world 2020

Explains how they voted.
How the Guardian ranked the 100 best female footballers in the world 2021

 

[MAD]

Two of UT’s recruits will be playing in the match. I’m hoping it will be live streamed.

Bearden High School will host some of the nation's top talent at the High School Soccer All-American Game Saturday, Dec. 11. Girls at 11:00, Boys at 1:00. Tickets $5 at the gate.

 

[Aladywhovolunteer]

Why did Kelly leave Tennessee? Was there a fear of being sacked or was Texas a better job? In addition, why do you think Pensky came to Tennessee from Maryland, at the time, wasn’t that a downgrade?

As I remember, Kelly's performance was trending down. Not sure if an agent contacted Texas or they contacted her.
Once Texas made an offer, Kelly used it as leverage with Hart for a raise. Tn matched Texas' offer. Kelly used Tn''s offer to extract a second offer from Texas. Hart decline to get into a bidding war when he thought there might be better options.

Pensky had received national recognition at Maryland and had recently beaten NC twice and Duke as well. Pensky visited Tennessee but said no to our first offer. Rather than look at other options, Hart made another attempt at Pensky. Pensky accepted second offer.

 

[MAD]

As I remember, Kelly's performance was trending down. Not sure if an agent contacted Texas or they contacted her.
Once Texas made an offer, Kelly used it as leverage with Hart for a raise. Tn matched Texas' offer. Kelly used Tn''s offer to extract a second offer from Texas. Hart decline to get into a bidding war when he thought there might be better options.

Pensky had received national recognition at Maryland and had recently beaten NC twice and Duke as well. Pensky visited Tennessee but said no to our first offer. Rather than look at other options, Hart made another attempt at Pensky. Pensky accepted second offer.

It’s so interesting hearing these stories, thanks for sharing.