Rodriguez will come off the bench for Team Marta, which features defender Allison Falk in the starting lineup. Midfielder Lori Lindsey will start for Team Abby.

Independence midfielder Caroline Seger is a member of Team Marta but her injury will keep her off the field.

The two players receiving the highest number of votes were allowed to choose their teams from the other worthy players. Abby Wombach and Marta will lead their teams onto the field tonight at 7pm on Fox Soccer Channel.

Full rosters:

Abby XI – Starters: Hope Solo, GK, Atlanta Beat; Amy LePeilbet, D, Boston Breakers; Lori Lindsey, M, Philadelphia Independence; Shannon Boxx, M, FC Gold Pride; Tina Ellertson, D, Atlanta Beat; Eniola Aluko, F, Atlanta Beat; Heather O’Reilly, M, Sky Blue FC; Lauren Cheney, F, Boston Breakers; Lori Chalupny, M, Atlanta Beat; Abby Wambach, F, Washington Freedom; Cat Whitehill, D, Washington Freedom. Reserves: Angie Kerr, M, Atlanta Beat; Karen Carney, M, Chicago Red Stars; Kelley O�Hara, F, FC Gold Pride; Laura Kalmari, M, Sky Blue FC; Tasha Kai, F, Sky Blue FC; Jillian Loyden, GK, Chicago Red Stars; Kate Markgraf, D, Chicago Red Stars (injured).

Marta XI – Starters: Karen Bardsley, GK, Sky Blue FC; Allison Falk, D, Philadelphia Independence; Rachel Buehler, D, FC Gold Pride; Kelly Smith, M, Boston Breakers; Sonia Bompastor, M, Washington Freedom; Ramona Bachmann, F, Atlanta Beat; Marta, F, FC Gold Pride; Christine Sinclair, F, FC Gold Pride; Kristine Lilly, M, Boston Breakers; Brittany Taylor, D, Sky Blue FC; Aya Miyama, M, Atlanta Beat. Reserves: Christie Rampone, D, Sky Blue FC; Becky Sauerbrunn, D, Washington Freedom; Amy Rodriguez, F, Philadelphia Independence; Erin McLeod, GK, Washington Freedom; Alex Scott, D, Boston Breakers; Cristiane, F, Chicago Red Stars; Caroline Seger, M, Philadelphia Independence (injured).

(Rosters courtesy: Sportsnetwork.com)

Caroline Seger throws up Thomas Payne's famous "Horns of Independence" sign

The Philadelphia Independence will play five matches on Fox Soccer Channel this season, beginning with a game in Boston on April 18.

The Independence have a packed preseason schedule including an autograph session on March 11 and a March 20 match against University of North Carolina. We will keep you up to date on other Independence events as they approach. On a brief aside, it seems strange that the autograph session is four days before the roster is trimmed from 28 to 24. I guess at least four signatures will quickly become collector’s items.

Full list of Independence TV matches after the jump.

Notable matches: July 4 at home against Boston, and they’ll play through the World Cup that MLS is taking off for. Three of their first four matches are at home in West Chester.

The Independence’s schedule is below. Home games are boldfaced.

Sunday, April 11:  Atlanta Beat, 6 p.m.

Sunday, April 18: at Boston Breakers, 6 p.m.

Sunday, April 25: Washington Freedom,  6 p.m.

Saturday, May 1: Atlanta Beat,  6 p.m.

Saturday, May 8: at St. Louis Athletica,  8:10 p.m.

Saturday, May 15: at Chicago Red Stars, 7 p.m.

Sunday, May 30: at Washington Freedom,  6 p.m.

Sunday, Jun 6: Sky Blue FC, 6 p.m.

Sunday, Jun 13: FC Gold Pride,  6 p.m.

Saturday, Jun 19: at Sky Blue FC,  7 p.m.

Wednesday, Jun 23: at Atlanta Beat,  7:30 p.m.

Saturday, Jun 26: Washington Freedom,  6 p.m.

Sunday, Jul 4: Boston Breakers,  4 p.m.

Saturday, Jul 10: at Chicago Red Stars,  7 p.m.

Saturday, Jul 17: at FC Gold Pride,  10 p.m.

Saturday, Jul 24: Sky Blue FC,  6 p.m.

Saturday, Jul 31: at Boston Breakers,  6 p.m.

Wednesday, Aug 4: at Washington Freedom,  7:30 p.m.

Sunday, Aug 8: St. Louis Athletica,  7:30 p.m.

Sunday, Aug 15: Chicago Red Stars,  6 p.m.

Sunday, Aug 22: at Sky Blue FC,  4 p.m.

Sunday, Aug 29: Boston Breakers,  6 p.m.

Sunday, Sep 5: St. Louis Athletica,  6 p.m.

Sunday, Sep 12: at FC Gold Pride,  TBD

U.S. forward Kenny Cooper moves to Plymouth Argyle on loan.

The Los Angeles Sol of Women’s Professional Soccer have folded. They were the best team in the league last year and had the best player, Marta, who will now be drafted to another team.

Egypt and Ghana will meet in the final of the African Cup of Nations.

Independence top pick Malorie Rutledge

The Philadelphia Independence drafted six players in today’s Women’s Professional Soccer draft, including local product Dani Collins.

LSU midfielder Malorie Rutledge led the way as the expansion Independence’s first pick, which came in the second round at No. 13 overall. The Independence had traded away their first rounder to acquire U.S. international forward Amy Rodriguez from the Boston Breakers.

Like their MLS counterparts, the Independence made draft day trades to move around in the draft, held today at the Philadelphia Convention Center.

Rather then break down all the complications that went down after a too-long work day, I’ll simply accept that I wasn’t there to follow it all and just list for you who (it looks like) they got in addition to Rutledge. (Right now, my brain is mush, and the Independence’s draft maneuvering looks more complicated than the nuclear power documents and congressional legislation that I’ve been reading today.)

• Fourth round – Kelly Henderson, defender/midfielder, Boston College.
• Fifth round – Mallori Lofton-Malachi, goalkeeper, South Florida (acquired from Atlanta)
• Seventh round – Caitlin Farrell, defender, Wake Forest
• Seventh round – Dani Collins, D/M, William & Mary

For a full list of players selected in the draft, click here.

Of the picks, Collins might be the most interesting because the team actually hired her in October to work in community outreach and youth development for the Independence. The two-time All-American also hails from the Philly area, according to WPS.

So I guess it makes sense to draft her, but what would have happened if the Chicago Red Stars got mischievous and decided to burn a pick on her?

Yes, it’s been a long day, so I’ll shut up and let you weigh in with comments below.

The Independence, an expansion team in Women’s Professional Soccer, will play a fellow expansion team, the Atlanta Beat. Their second match will come against the Boston Breakers in Boston, a match that will be televised on Fox Soccer Channel.

“Opening day against Atlanta at our home venue gives us the opportunity to get our WPS season kicked off in proper form in front of the Philly fans, with lots of hometown fanfare,” Independence General Manager Terry Foley said.

The team is offering a one-day promotion that ends at 6 p.m. tomorrow: Buy a ticket for $25 and be guaranteed a  seat between the 18-yard lines as well as entry to the home team’s inaugural match festivities at West Chester University. For more information, click here.

The match takes place the day after Philadelphia Union play D.C. United in their Major League Soccer home opener at Lincoln Financial Field, so it’s a full weekend of new Philly teams in action.

Posted via web from The Philly Soccer Page

Waxler most recently served as the Freedom’s director of operations, and she managed team, venue and game day operations for the team.  

Additionally, the Freedom will hold open tryouts for prospective players Dec. 8-9. 

The sessions will take place at the United Sports Training Center in Downingtown, Pa., the team’s official training center, according to a news release from the team. Independence coach Paul Riley will oversee the combine for the new women’s pro team, which next year will play its first season. Players must be 18 years of age as of March 1, 2010. Players must pay $100 and must complete the online registration at <a href="http://www.wpsphillyindependence.com/registration.

http://www.wpsphillyindependence.com/registration.</p>

Posted via web from The Philly Soccer Page