Author Archives: Soccer America

Patrick Boateng Washington, D.C. Why didn’t WUSA teams select any African players, especially the skillful Nigerians? Scott French: Hello, Patrick. There are only a few African players — Mercy Akide, Patience Avre, Florence Omagbemi — for whom the WUSA would have any interest, as there are only 32 foreign-player slots available. Lauren Gregg, who is […]

The Colorado Rapids named former Tampa Bay Mutiny head coach Tim Hankinson as their new head coach. Hankinson, 45, guided the Mutiny to a 39-38-3 mark in two-and-a-half seasons. The victories are the most by a Mutiny head coach. Hankinson (0-4-0 in the playoffs) was not offered a contract extension after the 2000 season when […]

Jacob Wang San Francisco, Calif. Is the Youth Soccer Letter article by Dan Woog in the Dec. 18th issue about Silent Soccer available at www.socceramerica.com? Mike Woitalla: Jacob, the Youth Soccer Letter appears once every two weeks in Soccer America Magazine (print) and is not available on the Web site, but I will include “Silent […]

After the Creighton Bluejays destroyed IndianaÆs dream of three in a row, they ran into Chris Gbandi. The Liberian native inspired Connecticut at both ends of the field to bring the Huskies their first national championship since 1981. The makeup of the 2000 MenÆs College Cup was peculiar but intriguing: No California schools, no Atlantic […]

The U.S. women’s national team will travel to China for its first games of 2001, facing its long-time rival in two matches on Thursday, Jan. 11, in Pangyu, and on Sunday, Jan. 14, in Hangzhou. The Americans will depart for the Far East on or around Saturday, Jan. 6. Both matches are in the southwest […]

In only his second appearance in Spanish League play this season, U.S. goalkeeper Kasey Keller gave up three goals as his Rayo Vallecano fell, 3-1, to Real Madrid Dec. 19. Keller, who has been playing in Rayo VallecanoÆs UEFA Cup games with more success, suffered a bad outing in his other league start. On Nov. […]

Penn State has promoted assistant coach Paula Wilkins to head coach, replacing Pat Farmer, who left the Nittany Lions to coach the WUSA’s New York Power. “Paula was the obvious choice to head our women’s soccer team,” Penn State athletic director Tim Curley said. “She has been an integral part of the program’s success from […]

The playoff between Costa Rica and Guatemala for the final berth in next year’s Hexagonal will be played Jan. 6 at Miami’s Orange Bowl. Kickoff time is 8 pm. Adult general admission tickets are $20 in advance, and $25 on the day of the match. Youth general admission will be $10 both in advance and […]

The U.S. under-20 men’s national team will return to action early in 2001 with a training camp in San Diego scheduled for Jan. 2- 15. Head coach Wolfgang Suhnholz has called in 21 players, including four professionals. Also eligible for Suhnholz’s U-20s are several other professionals who have seen action with the U.S. senior national […]

Update on Americans in Europe Croatia Erik Kuster, Cakonec (D1) winter break Denmark Will Orben, Viborg (SL) winter break England Brad Friedel, Blackburn (D1) started (90 min.) at Burnley 2-0 Ben Olsen, Nottingham Forest (D1) started (90 min.) vs. Queens Park Rangers (0-1) Marcus Hahnemann, Fulham (D1) DNP at Tranmere Rovers (3-1) Eddie Lewis, Fulham […]

by Soccer America Youth Soccer Letter executive editor Dan Woog A Southern California league for elite teams impresses from top to bottom. Across America, there are many well-organized soccer leagues. Numerous leagues also offer top-notch competition. Then there is the Coast Soccer League Premier. Chances are, if any league has innovative ideas for administration, publicizing […]

Carla Overbeck ended her glorious career with the United States’ 1-1 tie with Japan in Phoenix. All the scoring in the listless game came in the first half, with goals from two WUSA players — the CyberRays’ Brandi Chastain and Atlanta’s Homare Sawa. The USA also ended its Glory Tour with the match, played in […]

American midfielder Claudio Reyna scored Glasgow RangersÆ goal in a 1-1 tie with Dundee United Dec. 17. ReynaÆs goal, in the 18th minute, was described by the BBC as a ôsublime strike.ö Claudio Reyna, Glasgow Rangers (PL) started (90 min.) at Dundee United (1-1)

Ben Olsen (Nottingham Forest), Brad Friedel (Blackburn), Joe Enochs (Osnabrueck), Tony Sanneh (Hertha Berlin) and Steve Cherundolo (Hannover) saw action this weekend in England and Germany. ENGLAND Brad Friedel, Blackburn (D1) started (90 min.) at Burnley 2-0) Ben Olsen, Nottingham Forest (D1) started (90 min.) vs. Queens Park Rangers (0-1) Marcus Hahnemann, Fulham (D1) DNP […]

As 2000 comes to an end, let us recall 1990. There was a World Cup, and it was the worst. A record goal shortage (2.21 per game) and few entertaining games. In case that wasnÆt enough for AmericaÆs soccer critics, UCLA won the NCAA Division I title without scoring a goal in 270 minutes of […]

At the same press conference in which the Bay Area CyberRays finally announced a head coach — former Stanford boss Ian Sawyers — they learned that they might not play at Spartan Stadium in the upcoming season. Sawyers, who is the husband of U.S. and San Diego Spirit midfielder Julie Foudy, had coached the Stanford […]

Frankie Hejduk first made headlines as UCLAÆs surfing soccer player, before moving on to the 1996 Olympic team and the Tampa Bay Mutiny. After playing in the 1998 World Cup, he traded beach life for GermanyÆs Bundesliga. STADIUM. The BayArena is Frankie HejdukÆs home away from home. ôItÆs got a built-in hotel, where we stay […]

The United States opens its New Year with a friendly against the People’s Republic of China at the Network Associates Coliseum in Oakland, Calif., on Saturday, Jan. 27, 2001, at 2:30 p.m. PT. The match will be televised live on ESPN2. China and the United States last met almost four years ago in China when […]

The following are the US Youth Soccer ODP Teams from the annual Thanksgiving Interregional in Boca Raton, Fla.: Key: I=Region I (East), II=Region II (Midwest); III=Region III (South); IV=Region IV (West). U-16 National Pool List: Kim Bonilla, I Sheree Gray, I Ashley Kirk, I Heather O’Reilly, I Elizabeth Reed, I Megan Schnur, I Jen Buczkowski, […]

The following are the US Youth Soccer ODP Teams from the annual Thanksgiving Interregional in Cocoa, Fla.: 1983 Boys All-Americans: Seyi Abolaji — Aurora, CO William Arnault — Clay, NY Devin Barclay — Annapolis, MD Knox Cameron — Bronx, NY Ricardo Clark — Lightning, SC Ryan Cochrane — Portland, OR Steve Cronin — Fair Oaks, […]

Alexi Lalas played the second half for the Los Angeles Galaxy in a 1-0 win over Mexican club Puebla in a friendly played at Cal State Fulerton’s Titan Stadium. Lalas is contemplaying coming out of retirement. He has been tralking with the Galaxy and considering options overseas. Danny Califf scored the lone goal of the […]

What does MLS referee boss Joe Machnik do in the offseason? HeÆs orchestrating ways for the league to address four major issues. SOCCER AMERICA: One of the most obvious problems for MLS referees must be the amount of abuse they took from players last year … JOE MACHNIK: The first focal point addresses the outrageous […]

The way things were going this season, there was some doubt North Carolina would make the Sweet 16. The Tar Heels lost three games for the first time in two decades and entered the playoffs as the No. 5 seed. But Carolina endured to capture its 16th NCAA title in 19 years. Parity means teams […]

Uhlsport America and the Women’s United Soccer Association have reached a multi-year agreement for Uhlsport to become the official uniform supplier for three WUSA teams: the Bay Area CyberRays, New York Power and Philadelphia Charge. “We are very excited and pleased to be associated with the first premier women’s soccer league,” said Jurgen Kiefer, president […]

Graham Dalziel Lawrenceville, Ga. A friend told me that once a year you have an issue that has a list of college coachesÆ names and school addresses. If this is so, how can a buy that issue? Mike Woitalla: Indeed, Graham, Soccer America annually publishes its College Choice issue. (In fact, I used it 20 […]