Monthly Archives: November 2008
Posted inCollege Soccer Reporter, Story

TOURNAMENT CENTRAL: Men’s Conferences

by Soccer America

Men’s conferences swung into tournament action in a big way on Wednesday. Finals were set in two conferences: UC Irvine vs. UC Santa Barbara in the Big West and Boston University vs. Binghamton in the America East. Perhaps the biggest shocker was SMU’s 3-0 loss at home to South Carolina in the Conference USA’s quarterfinals — a loss that left the Mustangs  in danger of not being selected to the NCAA Tournament for the first time in 15 years. For all the results and schedules …

Posted inCollege Soccer Reporter, Story

MORNING BRIEFING: Virginia overcomes major losses

by Paul Kennedy

First, Virginia lost Chris Agorsor, the nation’s top freshman prospect, with a knee injury in September. Then, Tony Tchani, since named the ACC Freshman of the Year, went down with a knee injury of his own in late October. You’d think the Cavaliers were done for the year, but they exploded for a 4-2 win over Duke in the Wednesday’s quarterfinals of the ACC Tournament in Cary, N.C.

Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story

Americans on the verge of history

by Paul Kennedy

[UNDER-17 WOMEN’S WORLD CUP] Winner of the inaugural competitions at the Women’s World Cup in 1991, Women’s Olympic Soccer in 1996 and Under-19 (now Under-20) Women’s World Cup  in 2002, the United States is in position to make it 4-for 4. Kazbek Tambi‘s girls came back from a goal down in the last half hour to beat Germany, 2-1, Thursday night and move into the final of the first Under-17 Women’s World Cup Sunday against North Korea in New Zealand.

Posted inSoccer America Daily, What They're Saying

What They’re Saying

by Soccer America

“I tried to celebrate the goal and I received some things at me. The big mistake I did was to throw it back so if someone was hurt I just want to apologize for it.”

— Cheslea forward Didier Drogba, who tossed a coin back into the crowd that was thrown at him by Burnley fans during an English League Cup game on Wednesday. He received a yellow card for returning the money. The were no reports of coin bruise. (BBC)

Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story

Similar teams are evenly matched

by Ridge Mahoney

[MLS SEMIFINAL PREVIEW] For the Eastern Conference finalists Columbus and Chicago, the similarities go beyond the presence of a dynamic playmaker, a quality left back, a solid holding midfielder, a rugged striker, and a strong back four. Both teams are talented, hungry, well-coached, and long overdue heading into their meeting at Crew Stadium Thursday (7:30 ET, ESPN2). Chicago has lost in two MLS Cups, the 2000 and 2003 editions, after capturing the title in its first season a decade ago. Columbus, an original member of MLS when it began operations in 1996, has never reached the final hurdle, much less cleared it.

Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story

Respect Is A Two-Way Channel

by Soccer America

“Football is characterized by its room for human error. Many would argue it’s a trait that is integral to the game itself but the [Respect] campaign has so far only appeared to increase tensions between referees and managers.” Dan Bryant on the English FA’s increasingly derided campaign for players and managers to respect referees.

Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story

Scots Still Wary Of Team GB

by Soccer America

Assurances from soccer’s world governing body FIFA that a united British team at the 2012 Olympics will not threaten the independence of the four individual nations — Wales, Scotland, England and Northern Ireland — are not softening the Scottish FA’s opposition to the concept. “We await with interest the outcome of FIFA’s deliberations next month […]

Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story

Coach of the Year Needs New TV

by Soccer America

Sigi Schmid, the 55-year-old Columbus Crew boss who has been deservedly crowned MLS Coach of the Year, probably “watches more televised soccer than any other person in America,” according to Shawn Mitchell. “Sundays are for European games and MLS highlights from the weekend,” writes Mitchell. “Mondays are dedicated to watching recordings of the upcoming opponent. […]

Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story

Chicago’s Bakary Backbone

by Soccer America

The Chicago Fire was concerned that defender Bakary Soumare would be unable to make the transition from the college game to Major League Soccer, writes Nick Firchau, but those doubts were banished long before Soumare, 23, was nominated for this season’s Defensive Player of the Year award. “‘We always had the idea that he would […]

Posted inCollege Soccer Reporter, Story

MORNING BRIEFING: Tennessee’s Lady Vols become winners

by Paul Kennedy

Perhaps the most remarkable story of last weekend’s conference tournaments was Tennessee’s SEC championship. With an 8-10-1 record, the  Lady Vols’ only path to an eighth straight NCAA Tournament appearance was to win the SEC Tournament in Orange Beach, Ala. To make their task more difficult, Preseason All-American Kylee Rossi was sidelined with a hip injury that has ended her career.

Gift this article