Almost Aussie Time

Due to a USL match for the hometown Carolina RailHawks on Saturday night, the USA had its stadium training today (usually its the day before the game), going for 90 minutes on the closely manicured grass of the WakeMed Soccer Park stadium. Australia trained before the USA, so as the Americans were coming and the Matildas were leaving, the players who knew each other from the WUSA days as well as the international soccer community were able to say some hellos and exchange some hugs. Australia head coach Tom Sermanni coached a few of the U.S. players, including Shannon Boxx and Christie Rampone, when he was head coach of the New York Power in 2003. This will actually be the first of three three matches for the USA against Australia this year, as the two teams will play this Saturday in Cary, N.C., on May 3 in Birmingham, Ala., and then against at the Peace Queen Cup in South Korea in June. Tomorrow, the team will have a short training in the morning and then all focus goes to the first domestic game of 2008.