Author Archives: Bryan Alvarez

SOCCER AMERICA profiles Florida junior Lauren Hyde, one of the nation’s top center backs. She recovered from a foot injury in preseason to anchor the Gators’ backline. Florida heads into Friday’s SEC semifinal against Georgia with a 13-game winning streak.

SOCCER AMERICA interviews Texas senior Kasey Moore, one of the most accomplished defenders in women’s college soccer. She has twice been named a Soccer America MVP, as a sophomore in 2006 and junior in 2007. Moore leads the Longhorns, who begin their Big 12 title defense on Wednesday.

SOCCER AMERICA profiles USC goalkeeper Kristin Olsen. The Women of Troy face archrival UCLA Friday in their biggest match since last year’s Women’s College Cup at which they upset the Bruins in the semifinals en route to their first women’s soccer national championship. Olsen, now a junior, was a big part of USC’s success in 2007, earning Defensive MVP honors at the final four, and will be in goal on Friday when USC tries to break the NCAA women’s soccer attendance record by drawing 15,000 to the Coliseum.

SOCCER AMERICA profiles Ike Opara, one of the nation’s top sophomores. Opara started on Wake Forest’s 2007 national championship team and is considered one of the top pro prospects among college soccer’s underclassmen. He is also a member of the U.S. under-20 national team.

SOCCER AMERICA profiles one of the nation’s top sophomores, Andrew Wiedeman, whose play up front was a key factor in California’s 2007 Pac-10 title, and the Bears are again a force on the national scene.

SOCCER AMERICA profiles the University of Portland’s Michelle Enyeart, who is busy this fall on two fronts. She is one of the stars of the fourth-ranked Pilots (11-1-0) with five goals and seven assists in 11 games and is expected to be a key player on the U.S. under-20 women’s national team that is headed to the world championships next month in Chile.

SOCCER AMERICA profiles 6-foot-5 Omar Gonzalez, the Maryland junior. Gonzalez is one of the most imposing players in college soccer. He’s a key player in the Terrapins’ bid for a third national championship.

SOCCER AMERICA interviews UCLA All-American Christina DiMartino, one of the country’s top playmakers. The U.S. international is the oldest of a family of soccer-playing sisters. Gina is a sophomore at Boston College. Victoria is a member of the U.S. girls under-17 national team. Jaclyn is a member of the ‘Region I ’95 ODP pool.

SOCCER AMERICA interviews Peri Marosevic, one of the top strikers in men’s college soccer. The Michigan junior had an outstanding season for the rising U.S. under-20 national team and has helped the Wolverines get off to a solid start this fall.

SOCCER AMERICA interviews top-ranked Notre Dame’s Kerri Hanks, who will go down as one of the great strikers in the history of women’s college soccer. The 2006 Hermann Trophy winner ranks 17th in NCAA Division I history with 208 points (74 goals and 60 assists). She says the Irish are finding ways to finish early and late, making them a favorite to return to the Women’s College Cup.

SOCCER AMERICA talks with Harvard’s Andre Akpan, one of the most exciting players in college soccer. The lone sophomore on last year’s Soccer America MVP first team, Akpan is considered one of the top pro prospects in the college game, but the former U.S. U-20 has resisted the temptation to leave Harvard early and turn pro.

SOCCER AMERICA interviews Tobin Heath, one of the most skillful players to enter the women’s college ranks. In 2006, she was part of a spectacular freshman class that led North Carolina to the national championship. Just back from the Olympics, where she was part of the U.S. gold-medal team, Heath calls the ’08 Tar Heels a “special team.”

SOCCER AMERICA interviews Ofori Sarkodie, one of the top young defenders in American soccer. He captained the USA at the 2005 Under-17 World Cup and played in the 2007 Under-20 World Cup. He trained with three European clubs earlier this year before returning to Indiana University. Sarkodie talks about what it will take for Indiana to win an eighth NCAA title, his advice for young players, his professional ambitions and his thoughts on the presidential election.