Monthly Archives: September 2007

There were no changes at the top of the NSCAA/adidas rankings for NCAA Division II and III schools. All are still unbeaten and untied: Lynn (DII men), Trinity, Texas (DIII men), Grand Valley State (DII women) and Wheaton, Ill. (DIII women).

ACC powers sweep non-conference foes

by Paul KennedySeptember 26, 2007

[TUESDAY ACTION] Three ranked ACC men’s teams — No. 4 Virginia, No. 9 Duke and No. 16 Virginia Tech — were victorious in non-conference action. Virginia and Duke both broke open close games with Mount St. Mary’s and UNC Wilmington, respectively, in the second half, while a goal after intermission was the difference in Virginia Tech’s game at Richmond.

Players nominated for first Lowe’s Senior Class award

[NOMINEES] The Lowe’s Senior Class Award will add men’s and women’s soccer to its list of NCAA sports that are included in the national award program dedicated to senior student athletes. For the 40 men and women nominated …

CROWD COUNT: College Soccer’s Largest Crowds

Seven different men’s schools have drawn crowds in excess of 5,000, and Indiana and Creighton are both averaging more than 4,000 fans a game. On the women’s side, Texas A&M is the only team to draw more than 5,000 fans for a home game.

Soccer America Daily, What They're Saying

What They’re Saying

“Once you shake hands with the devil, you have to accept they are in control.”

— Manchester United coach Alex Ferguson on coping with incovenient scheduling to accommodate TV broadcasts, which will earn the English Premier League $3.4 billion for this season and the next two. (BBC)

OFF THE POST: Austrians turn on own team

by Mike WoitallaSeptember 26, 2007

A group of Austrian fans have started a petition that so far yielded 4,000 signatures urging the Austrian national team not to participate in the 2008 European Championship it is co-hosting with Switzerland. “This is not about criticizing players or coaches,” said Michael Kriess, one of the petition instigators. “We simply say that the way Austria is playing is an insult to our, to every fan’s aesthetic understanding of the game.” The petitioners say watching Coach Josef Hickersberger‘s team is detrimental to one’s mental health.

Convey goal overshadowed by $50 million man

[AMERICANS IN ENGLAND] Bobby Convey volleyed home from 17 yards for Reading to tie up its third-round English League Cup game with Liverpool. It was the 24-year-old’s eighth goal in all competitions since joining the club in 2004. But a second-half hat trick by Fernando Torres gave Liverpool a 4-2 win.

The Goleadoras: Marta, Prinz, Wambach and co.

by Paul KennedySeptember 26, 2007

[WOMEN’S WORLD CUP] While the level of play at the Women’s World Cup has not been great, several individuals have stood out. The great goal scorers of the women’s game — Marta, Birgit Prinz, Abby Wambach and company — have waged a fierce battle for the scoring title. Here’s a look at the leading scorers at the 2007 Women’s World Cup …

Brazil out to avenge Olympic loss against USA

by Ridge MahoneySeptember 26, 2007

Of the many matchups within the match to be watched when the U.S. women play Brazil in the Women’s World Cup semifinal (Thursday, 7:55 a.m. ET, ESPN2), the most anticipated is that of American midfielder Leslie Osborne tangling with Brazilian magician Marta.

MIDWEEK PREVIEW: International Soccer Headliners

by Paul KennedySeptember 26, 2007

There’s midweek league action in Germany, Italy and Spain and League Cup action in England and France. Roma and Real Madrid look to hold on to their leads in Italy and Spain, respectively, while Bundesliga leader Bayern faces Energie Cottbus, which has made a coaching change. In France, the derby du Nord between Lens and Lille highlights League Cup play.

D.C. United tackles Guadalajara in rematch

by Ridge MahoneySeptember 26, 2007

[COPA SUDAMERICANA] Make no mistake, regardless of what its MLS opponents may think, D.C. United regards itself as the league’s flagship franchise, and considers international competitions like the Copa Sudamericana vital to its reputation. A matchup with Mexican club Guadalajara on Wednesday (8:30 pm ET, Fox Sports en Espanol) also provides a chance for revenge, because Chivas nipped D.C., 3-2, on aggregate in the CONCACAF Champions’ Cup last spring.

High School Girls Fall Rankings

Sycamore of Cincinnati moved up three spots to No. 1 in this week’s NSCAA/adidas Boys National Rankings. Ali Shewmon leads the Aviators with eight goals and two assists. Sycamore is ranked ahead of Acton-Boxborough (Mass.) and Downingtown West (Pa.). For the complete Top 25 …

High School Boys Fall Rankings

Long Island’s Chaminade, which beat defending New Jersey state champion Harrison, 1-0, at last week’s Kearny (N.J.) Festival, is the new No. 1 team in this week’s NSCAA/adidas Boys National Rankings. Last week Chaminade was No. 13. DeMatha Catholic, last week’s No. 1, fell to No. 4. For the complete Top 25 …

The case of Juventus

After Juventus earned a 1-1 tie with Roma in its first big test since returning to Serie A after its year of punishment in the second level of Italian soccer, the Italian papers immediately began to make Juve a title favorite. “Juve for the Scudetto,” blared Corriere dello Sport, while “Juve can win it all” was […]

MLS version of the Superclasico

One of the most intriguing MLS matches of the year will take place on Saturday at the Home Depot Center, and it won’t involve David Beckham or his Los Angeles Galaxy. Chivas USA hosts the Chicago, and it will be “El Emperador” (Claudio Suarez) vs. “El Cuau” (Cuauhtemoc Blanco) and Chivas (the parent club of […]

Platini attacks influence of foreign money interests

Can Michel Platini, the president of UEFA, stop what he calls “the malign and ever-present influence of money” that is distorting sporting values in European soccer? Rob Hughes of the International Herald Tribune says Platini’s bid to stop business tycoons from taking over clubs as business transactions without any allegiance or historical ties to the […]

Tight leash for Beckham

David Beckham’s first MLS season appears to be over, and Los Angeles Galaxy president Alexi Lalas hopes to avoid the problems that arose in Year 1 — most notably issues surrounding Becks’ fitness. “Just because David says he is healthy, that does not mean he is healthy,” Lalas told Yahoo! Sports. “When we see he […]

Scary moment in Provo

[MONDAY ACTION] BYU’s shutout string ended at 849 scoreless minutes, but the Cougars, ranked No. 17 in the Soccer America Women’s Top 25, recovered to beat visiting Washington, 2-1, and give BYU head coach Jennifer Rockwood her 200th victory. The game featured a scary moment as BYU junior Katie Fellow was knocked unconscious after falling to the ground early in the game.

St. John’s Masur picks up 300th career win as head coach

by Paul KennedySeptember 25, 2007

[MILESTONE] St. John’s 4-1 win over Pitt on Sunday gave Coach Dave Masur his 300th career victory. Masur became the third Division I men’s coach to record his 300th win at a four-year institution this season.

Soccer America Women’s Player of the Week

U.S. international Lauren Cheney became just the third player in UCLA history to score four goals in a match, leading the Bruins to a 6-0 victory over visiting Hawaii on Sunday and earning Soccer America Women’s Player of the Week honors for games played Sept. 17-23.

Soccer America Women’s Team of the Week

James Madison’s Annie Lowry was the lone senior named to the Soccer America Women’s Team of the Week for games played Sept. 17-23.

Soccer America Men’s Team of the Week

Brown’s Kevin Davies and Michael Ferguson of Loyola, Ill, both had outstanding weekends at the San Diego adidas Classic and were named to the Soccer America Men’s Team of the Week for games played Sept. 17-23.

Soccer America Men’s Player of the Week

Midfielder Carl Pett, who scored two goals and added an assist in unbeaten Northwestern’s 4-0 victory at Ohio State on Sunday, is the Soccer America Men’s Player of the Week for games played Sept. 17-23.

Arsenal proclaimed England’s richest

Arsenal, whose major shareholders include American Stan Kroenke, has laid claim to being England’s richest club after reporting an income of $400 million for the year ending May 31, 2007. Operating profits increased 274 percent, to $103.7 million, from the previous year.