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Stanford has confirmed that USWNT center back Tierna Davidson sustained a left ankle fracture from a game on September 9 and will be out for 10-12 weeks, removing her from consideration for Concacaf World Cup qualifying, scheduled to take place from October 4 - 17.
Davidson took a horrendous tackle in the first half of Stanford’s game against UNC, which you can see here. They ended up beating UNC 2-1.
So, here, captured from my TiVo via my iPhone is the challenge that injured Tierna Davidson. In slow motion.
— Chris Henderson (@chris_awk) September 10, 2018
When I say you have to commit a felony to get a red card in the college game...this is what I mean. pic.twitter.com/Om4hZrammE
The tackle was bad enough for former USWNT defender Kate Markgraf to register her disapproval on twitter.
That is filthy. Pls tell me the offender got yanked after this play.
— Kate Markgraf (@katemarkgraf) September 11, 2018
Davidson’s absence leaves some mild questions at center back, since she looked like she was working her way towards a regular starting spot. Among the 35-player provisional roster for qualifying, Abby Dahlkemper, Becky Sauerbrunn, Emily Sonnett, and Hailie Mace all remain as center back options, with Julie Ertz also able to drop down in a pinch. All in all, while this does shallow the defensive waters a bit, the defense will probably be fine in qualifying. Here’s to a speedy recovery for Davidson.