Lloyd suspended for match against Thorns; Wambach to make debut

The NWSL Disciplinary Committee announced today that Western New York Flash midfielder Carli Lloyd has been suspended for two matches following her actions April 19, 2014 against Chicago.

Lloyd will miss this Saturday's match against the Thorns, as well as their match against FC Kansas City on May 7.

The incident occurred in first half stoppage time, as Lloyd committed a reckless foul on Red Stars midfielder Vanessa DiBernardo. She received a yellow card on the play.

"My action in the game against the Chicago Red Stars was not acceptable and is inexcusable," Carli Lloyd said in a release by the Flash. "I am very disappointed in myself and this is a lesson I will learn from. I want to apologize to Vanessa, the Red Stars, my teammates, the WNY Flash organization and the NWSL fans."

The suspension leaves the Flash without one of their most dangerous weapons in Lloyd, who finished last season with 8 goals, including 3 game-winning goals.

Additionally, the Flash announced Tuesday that star forward Abby Wambach has been cleared to play this weekend. Western New York's leading goalscorer last season with 11, Wambach missed the Flash's first two matches after suffering a fractured left orbital bone during national team duty against China on April 10, the same match Thorns' defender Rachel Van Hollebeke suffered an ankle injury.