Erik Stover, who took over as the managing director of the Red Bulls in 2008, has some big decisions to make in the club's offseason, possibly the most crucial winter in franchise history. This winter, as the league unveils a new collective bargaining agreement in January, and as the league revamps roster rules, the Red […]
Author Archives: Soccer America
Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story
President Gulati: ‘We’re talking about dreams’
Jack Bell conducted an interview with Sunil Gulati, the president of the United States Soccer Federation, on the New York Times' Goal.com blog. Gulati, an economics professor at Columbia University, speaks about the World Cup seeding process, the U.S. chances in the World Cup, and whether there's a U.S. inferiority complex. Gulati on the mystery […]
Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story
Cunningham’s Two-Sided Season
Jeff Cunningham‘s 2009 season had a bittersweet flavor. Cunningham struggled at the start, benched by FC Dallas coach Schellas Hyndman. He didn’t score his first goal until May 31 at Chicago in his club’s 11th game of the season. After strike partner Kenny Cooper left for Germany, however, Cunningham found his scoring touch. He finished […]
Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story
Newcastle Off the Market
Newcastle is no longer for sale as owner Mike Ashley has taken the club off the market. Ashley failed to find a buyer at his asking price, around $131 million for a club that he bought for $220 million two years ago. Ashley now says that he will provide over $30 million to help fund […]
Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story
Fire-Revolution Game Moved to Sunday
MLS has changed the date of the first-leg playoff clash between the New England Revolution and the Chicago Fire. The game, originally scheduled for Saturday, Oct. 31, has been rescheduled for 2 p.m. ET on Sunday in Foxborough, Mass., and will be broadcast on Fox Soccer Channel and Fox Sports en Espanol.
Posted inSoccer America Classifieds, Story
Soccer America Classifieds
Welcome to Soccer America Classifieds, Soccer America’s email newsletter connecting soccer companies and organizations to Soccer America members each week. Soccer America Classifieds feature soccer classified advertisements on the latest soccer job openings, soccer products and soccer opportunities. Read Soccer America Classifieds each Wednesday.
Posted inSoccer on TV., Story
Soccer on TV
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 match up between East Coast rivals (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
San Jose State soccer boom
WOMEN’S NEWS … Down the road from top-ranked Stanford is another women’s team on a roll. San Jose State takes a 13-match undefeated streak into its WAC game against Fresno State on Friday at Spartan Stadium. A San Jose State win, coupled with a New Mexico State loss at home against Nevada, would clinch a first-ever regular-season conference crown for the first-place Spartans.
Second-year coach Jeff Leightman has turned around the Spartan women, who started 0-4-0 but have won 10 games and tied the other three since then.
* LONGEST UNBEATEN STREAKS:
17 Stanford (17-0-0)
17 Dayton (12-0-5)
13 Central Michigan (12-0-1)
13 San Jose State (10-0-3)
12 Notre Dame (11-0-1)
12 BYU (11-0-1)
12 Charlotte (11-0-1)
12 San Diego State (8-0-4)
(The San Jose State men are also on a roll. Gary St. Clair‘s team has an eight-game unbeaten streak and seven-game winning streak.)
* CANADA CALL-UPS. Penn State has reentered the Soccer America Women’s Top 25 tied at No. 25 with Oregon State, but the Nittany Lions will be without freshmen Lexi Marton and Rachel Lamarre for Thursday’s key Big Ten game against Indiana. (The Big Ten has dropped its women’s conference tournament, meaning the regular-season champion will get its automatic bid.) Marton and Lamarre will join Canada’s U-20s for a two-game series against Mexico’s U-20s in Ciudad Juarez Thursday and Saturday. Ten other U.S.-based collegians and high school junior Nicole Hill (Sereno White) are among the players Canada called up.
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
Brad Guzan saves four PKs
[AMERICANS ABROAD] Brad Friedel‘s understudy Brad Guzan made the most of a rare appearance for Aston Villa, saving one penalty kick in regulation time and three PKs in the tiebreaker in a win over Sunderland that sends Villa to the English League Cup quarterfinals. In Scotland, DaMarcus Beasley saw his first action of the season.
Posted inSoccer America Daily, What They're Saying
What They’re Saying
“He was excellent. No one’s more euphoric than Mr. Guzan. His was a fabulous, fantastic performance. He’s got everything and he’s as brave as they come. [Brad] Friedel has been terrific for us but Guzan was immense tonight. I can’t remember the last time a keeper saved four penalties but, by the end, I was almost expecting him to save them.”
— Aston Villa coach Martin O’Neill on 25-year-old American goalkeeper Brad Guzan after an English League Cup win over Sunderland. (The Guardian)
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
2009 Playoff Television Schedule (Updated)
[MLS] The MLS playoffs will begin Thursday when the Seattle Sounders FC host the Houston Dynamo (TV: ESPN2 and ESPN Deportes, live, 10 pm ET). Of the 11 games, 10 will be available on national television — five on ESPN2 and ESPN Deportes, three on Fox Soccer Channel and Fox Sports en Espanol, one on TeleFutura and MLS Cup 2009 on ESPN and Galavision. For the complete television schedule …
Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story
Chelsea Not Worried About Swine Flu on Field
Chelsea says it is unconcerned with the recent surge of fears over swine flu spreading around the Premier League. Blackburn, which lost 5-0 to Chelsea on Saturday, confirmed three ill players after the match. Bolton has also revealed that four of their players have recovered from the virus. Chelsea's expressed viewpoint represents that of many […]
Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story
Brown Preaches Professional Standards to Altidore
Hull City manager Phil Brown is trying to impress some standards on young American striker Jozy Altidore. Brown axed Altidore from the Hull City match-day squad when Altidore arrived just 50 minutes before kickoff, instead 90 minutes. Altidore then issued a public apology via Twitter that only angered Brown further. Brown says Altidore will need […]
Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story
Gap in Quality, Professionalism, in Premier League
Rob Hughes, writing for the New York Times, takes issue with the Premier League’s image as the most competitive league on earth. “In truth,” writes Hughes, “the gulf between the elite and the struggling clubs is getting so wide that it is no longer one league, but two.” As evidence, Hughes looks at Chelsea’s clinical […]
Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story
Fire vs. New England, Round Eight
The Chicago Fire and New England Revolution meet again this MLS postseason. It will mark their eighth postseason matchup. It might be fair to say that no two MLS teams know one another better. In the playoff history between these two teams, New England has won four of seven. In their first-ever playoff match-up in […]
Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story
Los Angeles Reveling in Rare Playoff Rivalry
Anticipation is building around the playoff edition of the SuperClasico between Southern California's two MLS teams, the Los Angeles Galaxy and Chivas USA. The two tenants of the Home Depot Center "literally pass each other in the hallways every day," writes Larry Morgan for MLSnet.com. The professional relationship should be put to the test during […]
Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story
Coach Cummins Out At Toronto FC
After Toronto FC failed to make the playoffs, the team has dismissed interim head coach Chris Cummins. Toronto finished with a 10-11-9 record. Cummins, who took over in the second month of the season for John Carver, oversaw an 8-9-7 record in 24 matches. TFC’s director of soccer Mo Johnston says the team hopes to […]
Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story
The Secret Life of Stuart Holden
Stuart Holden is trying to help the Houston Dynamo win its third MLS championship in four years. MLSnet.com provides a quirky interview with the U.S. national team midfielder that gives a few facts you might not know about the rising American star. Among other things, Holden reveals his fear of snakes, his current favorite song […]
Posted inCollege Soccer Reporter, Story
Big East teams move into tournament play
WOMEN’S NEWS … The 2008 women’s conference tournament season kicks off on Thursday with first-round games in three conferences. The highlight is a pair of 4-5 matchups in the Big East: Villanova, the No. 4 seed from the National Division, hosts Connecticut, the No. 5 seed from the American Division, and South Florida, the No. 4 seed from the American Division, is at home against DePaul, the No. 5 seed from the National Division. At least one win in the Big East Tournament may be necessary for them to maintain their NCAA Tournament hopes. Villanova, Connecticut and DePaul all have wins over teams in this week’s Soccer America Women’s Top 25.
Villanova (11-4-4) Wildcats have scored only one goal in their last four games.
Connecticut (10-7-1) Last year Huskies failed to make NCAA Tournament for first time in 27 years.
South Florida (8-7-3) All seven Bulls losses have been by one-goal margins.
DePaul (10-8-2) Blue Demons are making first appearance in Big East Tournament.
Conference Tournament Scoreboard
* HAGEN STREAK ENDS. Sophomore Sarah Hagen‘s nine-game goal scoring streak came to an end Monday when she didn’t score in Wisconsin-Milwaukee’s 4-1 over Wisconsin-Green Bay in their makeup game. Hagen assisted on Kate Megna‘s goal. Megna also added an assist to give her 15, the most in the country.
Women’s Player of the Week: Danielle Foxhoven (Portland)
Women’s Team of the Week
* LEADING GOAL SCORERS:
1. Danielle Foxhoven, Portland 21
1. Morgan Marlborough, Nebraska 21
3. Sarah Hagen, Milwaukee 19
3. Kelley O’Hara, Stanford 19
5. Jessica Fuccello, Penn 16
5. Britany Curry, Texas State 16
7. Sydney Leroux, UCLA 15
7. Christen Press, Stanford 15
7. Whitney Palmer, Oklahoma 15
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
Soccer America Women’s Team of the Week
[COLLEGE] For the third time this year, Portland sophomore Danielle Foxhoven is the Soccer America Women’s Player of the Week, earning the honor for games played Oct. 19-25 thanks to two-goal and four-goal performances in WCC wins for the No. 2-ranked Pilots. For the Soccer America Women’s Team of the Week …
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
Soccer America Men’s Team of the Week
[COLLEGE] Freshman Carlos Alvarez, who assisted on two goals in each of a pair of Connecticut road wins over Yale (2-0) and Seton Hall (3-1), is the Soccer America Men’s Player of the Week for games played Oct. 19-25. For the Soccer America Men’s Team of the Week …
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
MLS scoring hits all-time low
[MLS] The 2009 regular-season averaged 2.54 goals per game – the lowest in MLS’s 14-year history and a significant drop from last season’s scoring average. For a season-by-season history of MLS scoring averages and the team-by-team rankings from 2009. …
Posted inSoccer America Daily, What They're Saying
What They’re Saying
“We have to determine whether we believe, for the immediate long term, if Tommy is the guy to lead the team. … Tommy’s year was like everybody else’s year: Some good things and some things that weren’t as good. He is still a fairly young coach, and he did some things very well and made some mistakes.”
— D.C. United president Kevin Payne, who said that the club will decide within a month whether to retain head coach Tom Soehn, who has failed to guide the club to the MLS playoffs the past two seasons. (Washington Post)
Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story
Ramos Fired From CSKA Moscow
CSKA Moscow fired coach Juande Ramos after a 3-1 home defeat to FK Moscow. Ramos, who has also coached Tottenham and Real Madrid within the last year, replaced Zico at the beginning of September. His short reign at the club produced a record of three wins, two losses and a draw. The loss to FK […]
Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story
Swine Flu Adds to Blackburn’s Woes
Fresh off a 5-0 drubbing by Chelsea on Saturday, Blackburn had three players and two staff members diagnosed with swine flu. The English Premier League club has not confirmed the affected players, but Coach Sam Allardyce said Sunday that midfielder David Dunn and defender Christopher Samba were sick with "a virus." The two players sat […]