With a goal in the U.
[b]Jasseel De La Cruz Jersey[/b]
.S. womens opener in Brazil, Alex Morgan proclaimed that shes poised
for another Olympic outburst.Morgan, finally healthy after a few years
with various injury battles, scored in the teams 2-0 victory over New
Zealand in the opening group stage match in Belo Horizonte.The reigning
World Cup champion U.S. team faces France on Saturday at Mineirao
Stadium as the Olympic tournament continues. The top-ranked Americans
are seeking their fourth straight gold medal in the sport, and fifth
overall.Both the U.S. and No. 3 France sit atop their group with wins.
Les Bleues defeated Colombia 4-0 in their opener.For me the injuries
kept me from progressing, it kind of kept me a little bit at a
standstill because I wasnt able to work on the things that I felt like
made me more of a complete forward, she said. So once the injuries left
me last year I felt like I was actually able to focus on the small
details to help me improve on the big stage.Morgans star rose quickly
following the 2011 World Cup in Germany. At 22, she was the youngest
player on the U.S. World Cup team, becoming a super sub and scoring a
goal and an assist in the final against Japan.She really broke through
in 2012, with an impressive 28 goals and 21 assists. Her big moment came
at the 2012 London Games, when her extra-time game-winner in the
semifinals against Canada sent the U.S. into the final against Japan.
Incidentally, during group play in London, Morgan also scored a pair of
goals against France.But she has struggled with a few inopportune
injures over the past three years. Late in 2013, she injured her left
ankle during training camp, then injured it again during the teams
CONCACAF World Cup qualifying tournament in 2014.She was hampered by a
bone bruise in her knee before last years World Cup and was eased back
into the lineup cautiously, used as a sub in the first two matches in
Canada.Following the World Cup, she had a minor procedure on her right
knee.So far shes had a fantastic 2016 with 12 goals -- her first year in
double figures since 2012. Among the goals was a stoppage-time
game-winner against France during the She Believes Cup.Morgans role has
changed in the absence of prolific striker Abby Wambach, who retired
late last year. Coach Jill Ellis said before the Olympics that shed be
asking more from Morgan.Shes healthy, shes fit, shes mentally in a good
place, shes scoring goals, and so I think its a lot of similar feelings
in terms of how she felt in 2012 to now, Ellis said. But in her game I
think she has grown in terms of her movement, her running off the ball,
her timing, her touch. I think shes making strides in that area.Morgans
latest goal came 34 seconds into the second half Wednesday against New
Zealand. After reigning World Player of the Year Carli Lloyd put the
Americans ahead with a header in the ninth minute, Morgan padded the
lead with a low left-footed shot off a quick pass from Morgan Brian.It
was Morgans fifth Olympic goal, pulling her into third place with Mia
Hamm and Tiffany Milbrett. Lloyd leads the current Olympians with
seven.The United States is now 15-0-1 in 2016. Morgans 12 goals, which
lead the team, are the result of hard work.My first couple of steps, my
finishing in the box -- those were some of the things I focused on a
little more. I did some more personal training. It was a combination of
things I was able to improve over the course of six to eight months, she
said. So finally Im seeing everything paying off from being injury free
and healthy and being able to work on the small details. It feels
really good.Morgan said Friday she feels like this season may turn out
even better than 2012.I feel like Ive surpassed anywhere Ive been in the
past, whether thats in 2011 or 2012 and I feel more like a complete
player, she said. Hopefully this tournament will show that.
[b]William Contreras Jersey[/b]
. Vancouver Whitecaps and Toronto FC failed to make the postseason
while Montreal Impact fell at the first hurdle losing heavily to Houston
Dynamo in the Eastern Conference Knockout Round.
[b]Deion Sanders Jersey Large[/b] . -- Team after team passed on Andre Ellington in the draft.
[b]http://www.custombravesjersey.com/custom-tom-glavine-jersey-large-377z.html[/b]
. -- Anaheim Ducks captain and leading scorer Ryan Getzlaf has been
scratched from Sunday nights game against the Vancouver Canucks because
of an upper-body injury.
NEW ORLEANS -- If Carolina Panthers quarterback Cam Newton
wants to get healthy, the NFLs reigning offensive MVP could not find a
better tonic than the New Orleans Saints defense.Newton, who sat out the
Panthers ugly 17-14 home loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Monday
night due to repercussions from the concussion he sustained in a Week 4
loss to Atlanta, returned to practice Wednesday in a limited role ahead
of the Sunday road game at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome (1 p.m. ET,
FOX).Although Panthers coach Ron Rivera couldnt promise Newton would
start Sunday against one of the leagues weakest defenses (allowing 422.8
yards and 32.5 points a game), Newton participated in team drills and
looked frisky in working through the NFLs protocol for returning from a
concussion.At 1-4 and buried in the NFC South cellar, the Panthers, far
removed from the team that sailed through the last regular season at
15-1, sorely need a booster shot of classic Newton against the Saints
(1-3). New Orleans is coming off a wild 35-34 victory over the San Diego
Chargers two weeks ago and is fully rested after a bye week.(Newton)
looked good and threw the ball pretty doggone well (in practice
Wednesday), said Rivera, who also gave first-team reps to backup QB
Derek Anderson. He was involved with the plays we had scripted for him.
Well see.Although Newton has struggled this year in comparisons to his
2015 MVP season -- he has five interceptions to go with six touchdowns
-- the Panthers realize they will need him if they are to claw back into
the NFC South race against the Falcons (4-1). Last season, Newton threw
35 TD passes against 10 picks.Carolinas ground game has been so anemic
this year that Newton, with 147 yards on 29 carries, is the Panthers
second-leading rusher, accounting for 24 percent of the teams rushing
yards. He also has taken plenty of hits -- 13 sacks in four starts.(Im)
just really happy that hes better, center Ryan Kalil said. To have Cam
not feeling like he was last week and seeing him more like himself was
really good for all of us.Saints coach Sean Payton is well aware of what
Newton can do when healthy. Newton torched the beleaguered Saints
defense in a 41-38 victory in the 2015 reegular-season finale, passing
for 331 yards and five touchdowns.
[b]Blue Moon Odom Jersey[/b].
In our case, were preparing for him, Payton said. We feel hes going to
play. I think thats the only way to approach it, and yet we understand
the strengths and weaknesses of Derek.Payton said he realizes the
Panthers are a wounded team but have plenty of pride after reaching the
Super Bowl last year.I dont think our teams going to take any team
lightly, Payton said. Were sitting here at 1-3. I think its a silly
question. We know the team were playing is a championship-level team
that has lost some tough, close games. Were going to have to be at our
best.Saints quarterback Drew Brees is having a stellar season at age 37,
averaging 317.3 yards a game on 65.9 percent completions with 10
touchdowns and three interceptions. Brees played well in two close
losses to Carolina last year, and he will not have to face cornerback
Josh Norman, who signed in the offseason with the Washington Redskins.As
I analyze them and from what Im looking at from a defensive
perspective, I think theyre as good now as theyve been, Brees said. I
know theyve had some tough losses, just like we have. We know exactly
what theyre capable of, and we know the mindset they have coming in this
week, needing a win just like we do.After Carolinas young corners --
rookies James Bradberry and Daryl Worley -- were embarrassed by allowing
Atlantas Julio Jones 12 catches for 300 yards, Rivera said they bounced
back in the close loss to Tampa Bay. But they will be right back in the
fire against Brees.All you have to do is watch the tape (of Brees), and
its scary, Rivera said. Drew Brees is a tremendous triggerman. He uses
all his targets.Rivera believes his team will show some fight after the
unexpected 1-4 start.Were a team that has been in touch situations
before, Rivera said. The biggest thing we have to do is stay focused on
what the task at hand is.Carolina linebacker Luke Kuechly added, You
dont expect to start out this way, but its a situation we are in now,
and its all about how youre going to respond from it.
'
'
'
