Monthly Archives: September 2007

We apologize that due to technological problems outside our control, there was no College Soccer Reporter on Wednesday. Soccer America’s weekly awards that usually appear in Wednesday’s College Reporter are listed elsewhere in today’s College Reporter.

Red-hot UConn rolls on

by Paul KennedySeptember 13, 2007

Red-hot Connecticut continued its fine start to the 2007 men’s season with a 2-0 win over CAA power Hofstra on Wednesday night. The No. 2 ranked Huskies feature one of the most versatile attacks in the country. In the only midweek game involving a Top 25 men’s team, No. 11 Harvard won, 2-0, at Vermont on Tuesday.

Tar Heels triumphant in Greensboro

[MIDWEEK ACTION] Visiting North Carolina, ranked No. 2 in the Soccer America Women’s Top 25, got goals from by sophomore striker Whitney Engen and reserves Mandy Moraca and Sterling Smith to beat UNC Greensboro, 3-0, before a crowd of 2,844. For all the news on the other ranked women’s teams in action on Tuesday and Wednesday …

First men’s game of season airs Friday on College Game of the Week

[TV WATCH] No. 21 Virginia Tech (3-1-0) visits Tulsa (3-1-0) Friday in the first men’s game the NSCAA College Game of the Week on Fox Soccer Channel.

Soccer America Women’s Player of the Week

Purdue senior Shauna Stapleton, whose three-goal performance over the weekend included the winning goal in a 1-0 victory over then-No. 1 Portland, is the Soccer America Women’s Player of the Week for games played Sept. 4-9.

Soccer America Women’s Team of the Week

Midfielder Brittany Klein and defender Courtney Lewis, who were instrumental in No. 1 Santa Clara’s 7-1 demolition of Notre Dame, were two of the standouts named to the Soccer America Women’s Team of the Week for games played Sept. 4-9.

Soccer America Men’s Player of the Week

Villanova goalkeeper Jason Friel is the Soccer America Men’s Player of the Week for games played Sept. 4-9. Friel posted 10 saves as the Wildcats upset then-No. 2 Duke, 1-0, on Friday night. Six of the saves came in the second half when the Blue Devils threw everything at Friel in an attempt to recover from a first-half deficit.

Soccer America Men’s Team of the Week

Corben Bone, who lived up to his billing as one of the country’s top newcomers with two goals for No. 1 Wake Forest against Akron and one goal against Bradley, is the only freshman on the Soccer America Men’s Team of the Week for game played Sept. 4-9.

Host China opens with win

[VIDEO] On Wednesday, Women’s World Cup host China opened its campaign with a 3-2 win over Denmark 3-2, as sub Song Xiaoli hit the decider with two minutes left. Two-time FIFA World Player of the Year Marta scored twice in Brazil’s 5-0 win over New Zealand. Australia won its first Women’s World Cup game; Lisa De Vanna struck twice in a 4-1 win over Ghana. Canada fell, 2-1, to Norway on goals by Ragnhild Gulbrandsen and Ane Stangeland.

Abby’s ready for Sweden

U.S. striker Abby Wambach is set to go in a nearly must-win game on Friday against Sweden (ESPN, 5 am ET) despite a sore toe – suffered in a pre-tournament friendly – and stitches in her head from a clash during the 2-2 opening tie against North Korea.

Bolivia, with Jaime Moreno, falls to Peru

D.C. United forward Jaime Moreno played the last 61 minutes for Bolivia in its 2-0 friendly loss to Peru in Lima. Former MLS midfielder Joselito Vaca went the full 90 for the Bolivians.

Record crowd for Brazil-Mexico in New England

Kleber, Kaka and Afonso struck for Brazil in a 3-1 friendly win over Mexico in front of 67,584, a record for a soccer game at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Mass. On Wednesday, Brazil beat the USA, 4-2, in Chicago with 43,543 in attendance. Mexican goalkeeper Guillermo Ochoa kept the score down with 11 saves.

D.C. United books a playoff spot

by Ridge MahoneySeptember 13, 2007

No Jaime Moreno, no problem. With the league’s all-time leading scorer away on international duty, D.C. United widened its lead atop the Eastern Conference and overall MLS standings by beating Real Salt Lake, 2-1, with goals by Luciano Emilio and Christian Gomez. D.C. (15-6-4) officially clinched a playoff spot, which had hardly been in doubt, and also increased its unbeaten streak to nine games. Yet the victory – its eighth in that nine-game run – is among the toughest D.C. has carved out this season.

Beckham takes to booth for So Cal Clasico

by Ridge MahoneySeptember 13, 2007

David Beckham will be in the ESPN2 commentary booth as his Galaxy mates try to climb out of the Western Conference cellar. Riding a one-game winning streak after beating Colorado, 3-1, last Saturday, the Galaxy will have Landon Donovan back after he played a role on both U.S. goals in a 4-2 loss to Brazil. The victory broke a six-game losing streak in MLS play and reversed a humiliating 3-0 loss to Colorado during the skid. … Soccer America’s Ridge Mahoney previews the Clasico and explains the Beckham rumors …

Soccer America Daily, What They're Saying

What They’re Saying

“I’m sorry Fergie, I didn’t know it was you.”

— What Kevin Reynolds said after he punched Manchester United coach Alex Ferguson in the groin in an unprovoked attack at a London train station. Reynolds, described as a homeless alcoholic, then chanted, “Fergie, Fergie, shut your mouth.” The 43-year-old, who had 105 previous convictions including several assaults, had been released from prison five days earlier. (The Scotsman)

Scots pull Euro upset

Scotland beat France for the second time in European Championship qualifying with a stunning 1-0 win Wednesday night in Paris. Other key results: England picked up its second 3-0 victory in four days, beating Russia at Wembley. The Czech Republic’s 1-0 win over Ireland all but ended the suspense in Group D. Poland and Finland remained 1-2 in Group A after their 0-0 tie in Helsinki. Portugal and Serbia tied, 1-1, in an ill-tempered affair in Lisbon.

St. Louis Moves Closer to MLS Expansion

Jeff Cooper’s investment group this week crossed “the last of the major hurdles” in its effort to bring professional soccer to St. Louis after the Collinsville City Counsel approved funding for a massive $572.9 million development project that would include a soccer stadium, 240 hotel rooms, several youth soccer fields and nearly 500,000 square feet […]

Chivas USA’s Identity Crisis

Chivas USA may be enjoying the best season in its short existence but it has the biggest drop in attendance of any team in MLS this season. Chivas has averaged 12,191 fans at home this season, a 19 percent drop from a year ago, representing less than half the Home Depot Center’s 27,000-seat capacity, yet […]

Wahl on Becks, U.S. Women, U.S. Men

Grant Wahl of SI.com talks Beckham, the U.S. women's team opener and the U.S. men vs. Brazil. To make Becks a success next season, Wahl names five things the global superstar needs. One, the L.A. Galaxy and England manager Steve McClaren have to be on the same page when it comes to internationals. A player […]

United, Liverpool Lead CL Reform Resistance

During a UEFA meeting of Europe’s top clubs, Manchester United chief David Gill and Liverpool’s Rick Parry called on UEFA President Michel Platini to abandon his plans to grant a Champions League berth to the winner of the domestic cup competition in Europe’s bigger leagues. Given the TV cash haul guaranteed to qualifying clubs, it’s […]

Chivas USA names new president

Shawn Hunter, a former NHL, NBA and, most recently Anschutz Entertainment Group executive, has been named President and Chief Executive Officer of Chivas USA. Last week, Javier Leon left his post as Chivas USA CEO and GM.

Man U coach Alex Ferguson attacked in train station

Manchester United coach Alex Ferguson was attacked by a 40-year-old man at London’s Euston train station while en route to a 9/11 charity event. Ferguson suffered a leg injury but was able to attend the event.

Brazil, Mexico clash in USA

[TV PREVIEW] Brazil, coming off Sunday’s 4-2 win over the USA in front of 43,543 fans in Chicago, faces Mexico on Wednesday in Foxborough, Mass., where ticket presale reached the 60,000 mark. The game will be televised live on Telemundo at 8 pm ET. Brazil is preparing for its World Cup qualifying opener, at Colombia on Oct. 16.

Spain eyes rebound against Latvia

[TV PREVIEW] Spain, which was held to a scoreless tie by Iceland on Saturday and is tied for third in Group F of 2008 European Championship qualifying, needs a win over Latvia in what is one of 21 qualifiers on Wednesday. France, coming off a scoreless tie with Italy and atop Group B, hosts Scotland. England hosts Russia, which sits a point above it in second place of Group E. Croatia leads the group.