USA & Colombia Prep For Olympics in the Cold Connecticut Spring.

USA goalie Ashlyn Harris practices a few diving stops at Miss Porter’s School in Farmington, CT (Erica Ayala/MyWSports)

The Women’s National Teams for Colombia and the United States held practices in Farmington, Connecticut yesterday to prepare for today’s friendly. MyWSports was able to catch up with the teams as they prepare for Wednesdays showdown.

Preparing for Rio

On the American side, the team is focusing on finalizing the roster for Rio, and getting the team to click, “I’m pleased with the core we have … so I’m not sure that there will be many, if any outsiders” said Head Coach Jill Ellis. However, Ellis and her team are diligently scouting talent for the future. As the beginning of the NWSL season approaches, Ellis noted scouts will be tracking domestic talent and eyeing talent in the youth programs. Veteran players can already see the value in coordinating with US Soccer youth programs, “We have so much depth and that’s largely owed to the youth systems developing these players” said defender Becky Sauerbrunn, “they were already professional, they already knew the philosophy of how we wanted to play.”

A noticeable name missing from the latest roster is Christie Rampone, who is recovering from minor knee surgery at the end of 2015. “Out of respect to Christie, and never knowing what can happen, my intent is to bring her in for the next time we get together. By then, she’ll have a few games [with Sky Blue FC] under her,” said Ellis, “she said, ‘Listen. If I think I’m ready and able to do it’, ‘cause she’s still figuring out her knee; she said she’d let me know. So, that’s good.”

Although Rampone’s leadership capabilities are a huge asset to the National Team, I cannot be said that the current roster leaves the team wanting. Ellis is relying on the older, more seasoned players to keep the team focused. Newest captains, Becky Sauerbrunn and Carli Lloyd are among those Ellis is looking to. The captains agree that today is about putting things together, “We’ve been asking more of the back line as far as quarterbacking and playing a role in the attack” said Sauerbrunn. She is looking to see progression in this area and others for today. Lloyd agreed, “it’s all about the team continuing to make strides, continuing to get better … [and] take our game to the next level.” Lloyd mentioned that the team will also be focused on keeping turnovers low.

As far as potentially making history by winning the World Cup and Olympic gold back-to-back, it is certainly something the team has discussed, “It’s a motivation for us just because it’s never happened before,” said Sauerbrunn, “that’s kept us motivated these past few months.”

Mallory Pugh is working to graduate high school, and find a spot on the WNT roster. (Photo: US Soccer)

Youth Movement

There has been a good amount of change from the current roster and the World Cup Championship roster. From retirements, to pregnancies, to injury, the makeup of the team is different. So too, is the style of play. Lloyd feels that the current style benefits from the diversity of experience, “This generation; it’s a little bit different. We’ve got some silky and savvy players. Some younger players, some veterans and it’s really just about mixing in the two styles … I’ve heard from a numerous amount people that this is probably the best style of play they have seen this team play.” Lloyd added that the evolution of the American style is needed as the game continues to grow more competitive, “long gone are the days when the US team just rolls out on the field and wins six, seven nothing. It just doesn’t happen anymore.”

For younger players like Crystal Dunn, she acknowledges there is a unique challenge to creating a new team culture, “It’s, I don’t want to say it’s hard, but it’s definitely not easy.” Dunn also complimented the different types of leaders on the team and feels the current culture is one of learning and growing together. “We have some veterans who have been through all this and they’re leading the team and there are new faces … for me, it’s just about playing my role and taking in information.”

Recent USWNT Discrimination Complaint

Preceding this friendly are some not-so-friendly discussions about gender discrimination perpetuated by the US Soccer Federation. Last week, Sauerbrunn, Lloyd and three other teammates filed a discrimination claim against their employer. “It’s a unique situation” comment Coach Ellis. However, she is not worried that the off field battles will impact the on field performance, “we’ve always managed to compartmentalize the business side of it to the performance side of it … at the end of the day that’s business, and I’m sure the two parties will come to an agreement.” Sauerbrunn agreed that the focus is maintaining professionalism and focusing on the task at hand. “We wouldn’t do a disservice to the team by taking off field matters onto the field” said Becky.

Lloyd also commented on the recent discrimination claim, “When I first got onto this team, players didn’t have contracts, they didn’t have health benefits, and within a year they finished their CBA (collective bargaining agreement) and suddenly had guaranteed salaries. So, it’s really all about making strides and we can back it up with four Olympic gold medals and three World Cup Championships. So, as long as we keep doing our part; we just have to keep inspiring and make things better.”

“Money aside, it’s just the right thing to do. Billie Jean King did it for tennis, and it’s just about women’s rights around the globe” asserted Lloyd. When we spoke to a few of her competitors, we found that they too, see the bigger picture.

The Colombian Women’s Team posing for a picture after a pregame practice at Miss Porter’s School in Farmington, (Credit: FCF.com.co)

The Colombian Perspective

Much like the United States, the Colombian team has added younger players to their roster since the World Cup and the Pan American games last summer. We spoke to Colombian captain Natalia Gaitán after yesterday’s practice, “Right now we are trying to get ready [for the Olympics]. We have a few girls who are new. We are trying to adapt to them, they are trying to adapt to us, to our team.”

The focus for today and moving forward, asserted Gaitán, is to continue to grow and focus on improving from the results achieved in the 2012 Olympics. In the London games, the Colombian team finished 12th overall. The team was eliminated from the 2015 FIFA World Cup by the United States. Despite having key players out, including the starting goalie sent off with a red card, the Colombian team certainly showed growth. The team continued to improve against top teams, finishing the 2015 Pan American games as runners-up.

Natalia also sees promise in more Colombian players coming to the United States and playing at the college level. She is one of a handful of women able to study in the United States. The University of Toledo graduate sees value in melding exposure to America soccer with the Colombian style of play, “it’s very good for us because we can ‘use’ them in a way and ask them about their experiences … and teach the girls from other generations.” Maria Jaramillo is one of those next generation players, she is attending Western Michigan University and studying Biochemistry.

Similarly to the US, younger players like Jaramillo are looking to listen and learn, while also finding their niche on a new team, “I’m learning a lot and playing with players that have a lot of experience” said twenty year old Jaramillo, “they teach you how to act on and off the field with dedication and seriousness. You can joke around off the field, but once you get on the field, it’s serious. It’s kinda like that next level.”

Jaramillo agreed with her captain, that this match and moving forward is about establishing Colombia in International competition, “I think the mentality is always to be competitive … it’s also important for us to show that we can compete with the best in the world and prove to other people that we are not going to the Olympics for a vacation, but that we are going to compete for a medal.”

We asked Colombian players to comment on about the USWNT and other teams, such as the Australian Women’s Team, bringing gender inequity in soccer to the forefront, “I mean, that’s awesome for everyone. Not just teams like the US” stated Gaitán. The importance of a team with such recognition as the USWNT inspires, empowers and challenges developing programs to speak out as well, “we have to follow what they are doing and what they have done in the past so we can establish our program, we can establish the rules, the laws and everything in our country so we can improve and [have] better preparation … I think we just have to follow them and try to support, on our side, what they have done.”

“I think everyone would be surprised to hear know many federations treat the women’s side” added Jaramillo, “yes, the women’s side has come a long way, but it has a longer to go before there is equality and men and women are looked at the same in the sport.”

As far as what supporters can do, the young Jaramillo from Colombia encouraged people to continue to come to games and interact with teams on social media, “sports has done so much for me as a girl and as a woman, as I become one … keep supporting [sports], keep getting involved and maybe not be angry that it’s not equal yet, but just keep fighting for that equality. It’s important.”

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The United States and Colombia will compete in an International Friendly to be held tonight at 7:00pm EST. Over 20,000 tickets have been sold for the match. Fans can watch the match on FS1, or follow the action by following @ussoccer_wnt and @ussoccer_esp. MyWSports (@MyWSports) will be at Pratt & Whitney Stadium reporting post game.

Follow Erica Ayala on Twitter @elindsay08