Last week, with a tie against FC Gold Pride, the Sol clinched the #1 ranking in the inaugural season of Women's Professional Soccer. Along with the Regular Season title will come the honor of hosting the WPS Championship at 1 p.m. on Saturday, August 22nd.

In this first piece of a weekly Championship series, we catch up with Sol players to discuss how the team is looking back on the season, addressing their last two games, and focusing on the Championship.

The nemesis

For some fans around the WPS, the Sol have become a team they love to hate. Maintaining only two losses all season and carrying a roster of explosive players - some predicted, some surprising - Los Angeles has been seen as a nemesis.

"I think everyone just gears up to play against us," says Aly Wagner, U.S. National Team veteran and midfielder for the Sol. "I think a huge goal in the regular season was that they wanted to knock us off."

"The whole year we've been that team to beat," says Brittany Bock, the Sol's number one college draft pick. "Just because of standings and our consistency. But I also think any team in this league can win it any day, and it's a fight every day."

The past two games

When the Sol wasn't able to pull out a win for their final home game against St. Louis Athletica on July 8th, then only tied last-place team FC Gold Pride on the 23rd, naysayers around the league were high-fiving. Even though the Sol had just won the Regular Season title, they saw it as a sign that the Sol's success was fading.

"I think there is a certain perception once you're at the level that we've gotten to, where we're not supposed to tie, we're not supposed to lose, because we had a period where that wasn't happening," says Wagner.

"There comes a point in the season," says Bock, "where the same players have played back to back games, and fatigue becomes a factor. It's not about our fighting spirit. I don't think we let down. For me personally, I wanted to win that game more than anything, for our hometown."

"But now we've got some rest behind us."

The next two games

"We are excited about that and the fact that we get to host the Championship in front of our hometown crowd, who have been so supportive this year," says Bock. "But we still have two more games to finish off."

"I'm really excited to be in the first ever WPS final," says Wagner. "Knowing that there's a couple games left... I'm excited mentally, but I'm not emotionally committed yet. As we get closer, move past these two games, the excitement will be there."

This week of training especially, the team has been focusing on the Chicago Red Stars, their next opponent. "We don't want to take any of the teams lightly," says Bock. "There's pressure from every team right now who are fighting to make those playoffs."

Championship Preparation

Keeping in mind that the final is almost a month away, the Sol are intensifying their practice sessions.

Wagner: "They've kind of ramped up our fitness, I guess you could say."

What that amounts to is weeks of intense sessions in the heat, full of running drills.

"It's so we're ready if the game goes into overtime," says Camille Abily, the two-time French Player of the Year, who leaves August 9th for the Euros. Since she'll miss the championship game with the Sol, is she frustrated about running through these grueling practices? "Not at all," she says. "I'm still training for France."

Abily away

The French international, who has made an incredible impact in midfield with the Sol, has the honor of representing her country in the EUFA Women's Euro tournament in Finland. The team is looking at options for filling in the position that Abily will leave vacant. She won't be easy to replace.

"She's just so good on the ball," says Wagner. "Very composed, plays great balls to her teammates, and as you saw, she's a really opportunistic finisher. She's definitely going to be missed... she's been a key, key figure in our season all year long."

Time off before final

The Sol will see a two-week break between the 9th and the Championship on the 22nd. This is also cause for naysayer glee, as the Sol's as-yet-unnamed opponent in the Championship will be coming off of a highly competitive Super Semifinal game on the 19th. In some ways, they argue that though the season title gives the Sol a home field advantage, it leaves them less prepared for the Championship.

While it's a blessing that we go straight to the final," says Wagner, "it is a little bit of a curse to have two weeks off without a game. We're going to have to really rely on our training and scrimmages to make sure that we're sharp going into that final game."

"We'll take hopefully a day to rest, then get back into training," says Bock. "We'll play men's teams, which is good for us. Every time you play guys they're quicker, stronger, and faster, so that'll just push us harder."

If you can't fly out to the Sol's last two regular season games, don't just watch at home! Come to the viewing party at The Fox & Hounds in Studio City and cheer on the team with the biggest fans around.

"When you have that home crowd behind you, it motivates you... You have people who enjoy watching you play and it just makes you love the game more when you're out there." - Brittany Bock

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The Playoff Playlist
Check out what's getting the Sol amped in the locker room

"Whatever You Like" - TI
"Knock You Down" - Keri Hilson featuring Ne-Yo and Kanye West
"Right Round" - Flo Rida
"Scream" - Michael Jackson
"Insomnia" - Craig David
"Poker Face" - Lady Gaga
"Don't Stop Till You Get Enough" - Michael Jackson
"Jealous" - Ne-Yo