Lion Links: 12/14/15

The weekend is over and I don't know about you, but it didn't seem long enough. Did everyone get to watch Star Wars to get ready for The Force Awakens? I have my tickets and I'll be watching it in IMAX. But enough about Star Wars, we're here for soccer, Mane Landers. Let's go to the links!

Success for U.S. Women's Teams

Busy night for the U.S. Women’s National Team program. First the U-20 USWNT took on Canada in the CONCACAF final in Honduras. Both teams had already qualified for the U-20 Women’s World Cup, but the United States managed to beat Canada, 1-0. The U-20 team has won the tournament the last four times.

The senior women’s team was also in action last night against China, as our Daniel Byrd recapped the match. The match went back and forth with the U.S. getting on the board with a Crystal Dunn strike in 39′. Alex Morgan looked dangerous the whole time she was on the pitch.

U.S. Soccer 2015 Top Moments

The end of the year is a time to reflect on the good and the bad that happened. The Washington Post published the top ten moments for soccer in the United States. The obvious No. 1 moment is the U.S. Women’s National Team winning the World Cup, but other moments listed include the Timbers winning MLS Cup and Abby Wambach’s retirement. Once you read the full list, drop a comment letting us know how you feel on the top ten. Keep an eye for the Mane Land top moments of 2015 as well.

Abby Wambach's Plan After Retirement

Speaking of Abby Wambach, she has big ideas of how she will spend her time once she hangs up her boots. Abby plans on changing the world. She wants to impact more than the sports arena and doesn't plan on coaching. Gender equality issues will be one of her top priorities. I don't put anything past Abby, and she is a legend, so she may actually accomplish to make a global change.

Stanford wins NCAA College Cup

Jordan Morris put his team on his back and scored a brace to give Stanford its first College Cup championship Sunday. The eighth seeded Cardinal beat up on Clemson, 4-0. Morris finishes a great 2015 and could make the jump to the pros next year. Our friends over at Sounder At Heart highlighted his goals. Morris played his club soccer with the Sounders.

Free Kicks

MLS will be represented at the Euro 2016 and some of the league’s stars may face one another in France…Italy’s coach Antonio Conte will surely call up Giovinco for the tournament, but he certainly didn’t give a vote of confidence to Italy forward Mario Balotelli. Conte actually hinted that the striker may be watching Euro 2016 from the couch…Finally, we had this happen in the EPL:

Bournemouth hung on and won the match for three points. That's all I have for today. See you tomorrow Mane Landers. Keep Roaring!