Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story

Women’s College Conference Tournament Scoreboard

by Soccer America

[COLLEGE] No. 4 North Carolina got a pair of early goals from 2008 Player of the Year Casey Nogueira and defeated No. 3 Florida State, 3-0, in the ACC final. No. 7 Notre Dame won the Big East with a 2-1 win over Marquette. Memphis upset No. 9 UCF, 3-0, to win the Conference USA. Sarah Hagen had all four goals for Wisconsin-Milwaukee in its 4-0 win over Valparaiso. For Sunday’s conference tournament results …

Posted inSoccer America Confidential, Story

ESPN playoff coverage needs more substance

by Ridge Mahoney

The good news is that of the 11 MLS postseason games, 10 will be televised nationally. The bad news is that after a regular season that produced a meager 2.54 goals per game, keeping a national audience captivated, or at least tuned in, if goals are scarce won’t be easy. There can be all manner of previews and pre-game hits and studio segments, but the game itself needs as much drama as possible, and that can only be guaranteed by goals, or at least the threat of same.

Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story

Manchester Rivalry Heating Up

by Soccer America

In the Industrial town of Manchester in Northwest England, the soccer debate has reached a new fervor this season. Friends and even family, like Kevin and Tony Parker, are split into two camps: Red and Blue. “This year, Manchester has accomplished something remarkable for a city of its modest size and stature,” writes Dave Kansas […]

Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story

MetroStars Coaches in South Africa

by Soccer America

Four members of the New York MetroStars coaching fraternity could have jobs heading various national teams at next summer’s World Cup. Bob Bradley, in charge at the Meadowlands from 2003-05, led the U.S. national team to first place in its CONCACAF qualifying group. Bradley was the MetroStars’ seventh head coach; the third was Carlos Alberto […]

Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story

Blanco to Return to Mexico

by Soccer America

Mexico star Cuauhtemoc Blanco announced on his website that he will leave the Chicago Fire at the end of the season to return home to rejoin second-division club Veracruz in January. Of Blanco’s decision, Fire technical director Frank Klopas said: “We respect his desire to continue playing in Mexico during the MLS offseason and continue […]

Posted inSoccer on TV., Story

Soccer on TV

by Soccer America

Real Salt Lake hosts defending MLS champion Columbus Crew on Saturday as the MLS Playoffs continue. Catch the first legs of the two remaining MLS Conference semifinals on Sunday with a battle for LA (Galaxy-Chivas USA) and a matchup between New England-Chicago. In the U-17 World Cup, the USA finishes the first round against the United Arab Emirates.

Posted inCollege Soccer Reporter, Story

Virginia has momentum heading into Maryland clash

by Soccer America

MEN’S NEWS … Coming off what its coach called the “most complete 90 minutes of the year,” No. 12 Virginia heads to No. 8 Maryland Saturday for a key ACC match. The Cavaliers’ 2-0 victory over visiting Boston College last weekend was their third in a row and improved their record to 10-3-1. Virginia has come a long way since a horrible pre-season when it lost all three games. “We defended well and converted on our scoring chances,” said Virginia coach George Gelnovatch after the BC game.

Freshman Will Bates has scored goals in each of the last four games, joining Chris Agorsor and Tony Tchani on one of the nation’s most dangerous frontlines. U.S. U-20 national team winger Brian Ownby, Bates’ former Richmond Strikers teammate, came off the bench and scored against BC. Former U.S. U-17 keeper Diego Restrepo, who spent two seasons at South Florida before transferring to Virginia, has been outstanding in goal for the Cavs with six shutouts.

Weekend Schedule

* LARGEST RPI IMPROVEMENT (OCT. 12-OCT. 27):
+78 Sacramento State (92 from 170) (Hornets are perfect — 4-0-0 in the MPSF.)
+63 Missouri State (39 from 102) (Bears are riding a five-game winning streak.)
+57 Wisconsin (33 from 90) (Badgers have Big Ten wins over Northwestern, Ohio State and Michigan State.)
+51 San Jose State (137 from 188) (Spartans put eight-game unbeaten streak on the line Friday against UNLV.)
+49 Hofstra (82 from 131) (The Pride is 4-1-1 in its last six games.)
+47 Michigan State (23 from 70) (Wednesday’s 2-1 win over Notre Dame was the Spartans’ fourth in a row.)
+45 San Diego State (11 from 56) (Aztecs have wins over ranked UCSB and Stanford, tie with UCLA and two wins over Cal.)
+41 Bowling Green (144 from 185) (Falcons have lost to No. 1 Akron and ranked Louisville.)
+40 Northeastern (111 from 151) (Wednesday’s 2-1 over Delaware extended winning streak to five games.)
+38 UCF (139 from 177) (Wednesday’s 2-1 overtime loss to Kentucky dropped UCF to 6-6-2.)
(Statistics courtesy of Jamie McConeghy, San Diego State University.)

Posted inCollege Soccer Reporter, Story

Where have you been, Casey Nogueira?

by Paul Kennedy

WOMEN’S NEWS … North Carolina ended its two-game losing streak with a 3-0 win over Clemson. The Tar Heels got two goals from 2008 Player of the Year Casey Nogueira, who had only one goal in her 12 previous games.

Nogueira, who scored 25 goals in 2008 but only has six this season, was one of eight seniors to start in the Tar Heels’ last home game of the regular season. Nikki Washington, whose senior year ended against LSU last month when she tore her right ACL, started the game in uniform wearing a brace on her right knee. Clemson, in a show of sportsmanship, intentionally kicked the ball out of play so sophomore Maria Lubrano could replace Washington 31 seconds into the match. The only senior not to start was midfielder Tobin Heath, who was with the U.S. women’s national team in Germany for its exhibition match against the Germany.

The other six Tar Heel seniors, all part of one of the most celebrated classes in UNC’s long history, were defenders Whitney Engen and Kristi Eveland, goalkeeper Ashlyn Harris, midfielder Sterling Smith and forwards Ashley Moore and Caroline Boneparth. Both Moore and Boneparth earned the first starts of their careers.

* THURSDAY TOP 25 RESULTS:
ACC: No. 4 North Carolina 3 (Nogueira 12, 54, McDonald 52) Clemson 0.
ACC: No. 6 Boston College 1 (Caldwell  25) Duke 0.
ACC: No. 8 Maryland 1 (Hutchinson 3) No. 17 Wake Forest 3 (Hutchinson 3, Farrell 75, Fountain 86).
Indiana 1 (Moses 70) No. 25 Penn State 2 (Toney 21, Nairn 80).

Weekend Schedule

* TOURNAMENT WATCH. Conference tournament play began Thursday with a huge first-round game in the Big East Tournament between Villanova and Connecticut. The Huskies are hoping to return to the NCAA Tournament after missing out for the first time ever in 2008, but they fell at ‘Nova, 4-1, in a shootout after their 1-1 tie. Villanova (11-4-5) travels to Milwaukee to face Marquette on Sunday. UConn will have to wait to see whether it gets an at-large bid, though its No. 19 in the last RPI Index puts it in good shape. In the other Big East first-round game, Chelsea Klotz scored late to give host South Florida a 1-0 win over DePaul.

Conference Tournament Scoreboard

* CMU STREAK OVER. Central Michigan’s shutout streak ended at 1,238 minutes when Paige Sheridan scored 11 minutes into Eastern Michigan’s Mid-American match with the Chippewas on Thursday. CMU rallied for a 1-1 tie with the Eagles to extend its school record unbeaten streak to 14 matches. The 13-game shutout streak was tied for the second longest in NCAA Division I women’s history. The Chippewas, the MAC regular-season champions, return home to begin their quest for their first conference tournament championship against Kent State on Sunday.

Posted inSoccer America Daily, What They're Saying

What They’re Saying

by Soccer America

“The problem in our league isn’t who is or isn’t in the playoffs; it’s that not enough people want to watch our league yet, and we have to convince them that our league is worth watching. I don’t think [playing conservatively] is the way to do it.”

— Among the comments by D.C. United president Kevin Payne that got him fined $5,000 by MLS Commissioner Don Garber. (Washington Post)

Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story

Soccer America Women’s Weekend College Scoreboard

by Soccer America

[COLLEGE] No. 3 Florida Sate clinched a share of its first ACC regular-season title with No. 6 Boston College when it beat Virginia Tech, 2-1, on Sunday. In two other ACC battles involving Top 25 teams, No. 4 North Carolina won at No. 8 Maryland, 1-0, and BC edged No. 17 Wake Forest, 2-1, in overtime. Big East Tournament winners include No. 7 Notre Dame and No. 12 Marquette. No. 11 Rutgers fell to West Virginia, 1-0. For the weekend action and Sunday Top 25 schedule …

Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story

Sounders frustrated in first playoff test

by Ridge Mahoney

[MLS] The first MLS playoff game at Qwest Field produced everything it had to, except a goal. Houston, playing its fourth game in 12 days amid a raucous atmosphere generated by nearly 36,000 fans, matched the hometown Sounders in grit and spirit to emerge with a 0-0 tie Thursday night in Game 1 of their Western Conference semifinal. The teams will have a long rest period before playing the second leg at Robertson Stadium Nov. 8.

Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story

U.S. women lay claim to No. 1 ranking

by Paul Kennedy

[U.S. WOMEN] Before a sellout crowd of 28,377 fans at Impuls Arena in Augsburg, one of the largest crowds ever to watch a women’s friendly match, the USA beat Germany, 1-0, to confirm its status as the best team in the world. The Americans got a first-half goal from Abby Wambach and a tremendous performance by their defense to hold off the recently crowned European champions.

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