Shoe Trials

Nike was on hand to let players sign out different types of cleats for their games. Here are a few athletes trying them out.

And the Last Game Kicks Off

The last game of the 2008 Women's Nike Friendlies' has kicked off, the U-16 Strikers vs. Sereno match on Field 4 wrapping up a successful weekend of good games in great weather.

As the tournament winds down, here's a look at the event via all_acccess video.

More Highlights: U-14 GNT 2, U-16 Sereno 0

The 'Stripes' team faced U-16 Sereno on Saturday.

More Highlights: U-14 GNT 1, PDA 1

More than Just the Games

While the games are the biggest part of the Women's Nike Friendlies and what we hope the participants remember and benefit from the most, there are plenty of other things that the event offers to enhance the experience via both education and overall enjoyment.

Hydration & Nutrition: Gatorade has provided product for both at the benches of all six fields that are in use, and also had provided several varieties of bottled product for the Gatorade Bar, where all of the teams have been rushing right after the conclusion of their games. There are also apples, oranges and bananas available for the athletes as well.

Inspiration: One of the things every soccer coach tries to convey to his or her players is to watch soccer on TV, so what better way to do this than have the 2008 Olympic Gold Medal match playing on the 42" Panasonic Vieja TVs in the Athletes' Lounge.

Sports Medicine: Members of the U.S. National Team medical staff are on site in the Medical Tent and on the field to tape ankles, provide ice and in the event that there is are an injury, be able to provide top level care and advice.

Referee Education: In addition to some talented local referees, more than 10 of the top young women's referees from around the country are on site. This not only provides the participant with better officials for the matches, but allows U.S. Soccer to evaluate women's referees that are candidates to be involved in WPS matches next spring.

Shoe Trials: Nike, the headline sponsor of the event, is on site allowing all participants to try the latest Nike soccer cleats in their games.

FIFA '08: TVs are set up with gaming consoles that are set up with EA Sports FIFA '08. When players are relaxing in the Athlete's Lounge, they can face off against their friends.

U.S. Soccer Store: While each participant was provided a backpack and sweatshirt from Nike, the folks from ussoccerstore.com set up on-site for participants and fans pick up any of that U.S. Soccer gear they might want to get their hands to on show their support for the gold-medal winning U.S. WNT.

87,000 Words and Counting ....

... that is, if you say a picture is worth a thousand words. Imagine if writing a 2,000 word term paper you could just include two pictures and not have to write anything?

Well, the YNT blogger likes the sound of that so we decided to put together some more photo galleries at ussoccer.com for your viewing pleasure and to save us from carpal tunnel on this Friday evening. We'll have more throughout the weekend and early next week.

U-15 GNT Scores Big

Alexandra Doll and Christina Murillo (left) each scored a pair of goals, and Olivia Schultz and Caprice Dydasco each added one as the U-15 GNT topped the U-17 Irvine Strikers, 6-0. Shea Groom (right) assisted on Murillo's first goal.

We'll have video highlights and reactions later, but here's a game story.

Friday's Games Underway

At the Women's Nike Friendlies, each team gets a day off so that team's can focus on playing quality soccer without being worn out. Half of the teams have Friday off, and half of the teams have Saturday off.

Here's a look at today's slate of games:

U-15 Sereno vs. U-15 PDA
U-15 Mustang vs. U-15 Crossfire
U-15 GNT vs. U-17 Irvine Strikers
U-15 Slammers vs. U-15 Real So Cal
U-17 Colorado Rush vs. U-17 Seacoast United
U-17 Real Colorado vs. U-17 FC DELCO

As always, results will be posted here when they come in. The first game should be ending at about noon PT.

all_access at the Friendlies

Here's a quick all_access video that was just posted at ussoccer.com that's a quick recap of the welcome event and breakfast that included all of the athletes watching the 2008 Olympic Final.

Of course, Cat Whitehill was the star of the show as the only Gold Medalist in the room. Enjoy!

Stuff We All Get *

* Except Cat

One of the little benefits of the Women's Nike Friendlies is the whole Nike part. Participants always walk away with some sort of cool Nike gear, and this year is no except. In addition to a backpack, each participant also got a white, zip-up hoody courtesy of our friend and yours from Beaverton, Ore.

In the clip above, WNT defender Cat Whitehill, who served as emcee of the welcome breakfast, goes part stand-up comic, part runway model as she shows off the hoody.

And, she wonders where her backpack is. But don't worry, everyone ELSE got their bag on the way OUT of breakfast.

Golden Goals

The games have wrapped up on Day 2 of the 2008 Women's Nike Friendlies, and results will continue to be posted here as they are reported.

In the photo above, the U.S. U-15 Girls' Team, no doubt inspired by their Olympic heroes' effort earlier in the day, celebrates their first goal as they put on a scoring show in their first game of the weekend.

Picture Perfect Morning

This image is one of many from a photo gallery from this morning's welcome event to kick off the 2008 Women's Nike Friendlies. The event was attended by almost all the players participating. The run of show included the following:

1. Watch the U.S. Women face Brazil
   
2. Cheer for the USA after they won the gold medal
   
3. Hear 2004 U.S. Women's National Team gold medalist Cat Whitehill speak
   
4. Hear USC Women's Soccer Head Coach Ali Khosroshahin speak
5. A Q & A with Whitehill and Khosroshahin
   
6. Eat breakfast