Better to erase forever the illusion that winning the World Cup can deliver the sport.
Category: Story
Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story
Scapegoat Can’t Mask Harsh U.S. Reality
Mark Ziegler of the San Diego Union-Tribune launches a scathing tirade of the way the U.S. women’s national team has treated the Hope Solo incident, allowing its former No. 1 goalkeeper to become the scapegoat for what was, quite simply, “the worst loss in the 22-year history of the women’s program” in the Americans’ 4-0 […]
Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story
Everyone Against the Fire
As we gear up for MLS playoff crunch time this weekend, the Chicago Fire could be forgiven for feeling like it’s once again being portrayed as the bad guy. Aside from having the polarizing Cuauhtemoc Blanco in its lineup, the team’s supporters group, called Section 8, is often regarded as the most disliked in MLS, […]
Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story
Why Angel Should Be MVP
Most pundits believe this year’s MLS Most Valuable Player award will either go to Juan Pablo Angel of the New York Red Bulls, or D.C. United’s Luciano Emilio, the top two scorers in the league this season with 19 and 20 goals, respectively. The North Jersey Herald’s Ives Galarcep says Angel should win it, because […]
Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story
Frustrated Adu Must be Patient
Freddy Adu, one of several surprise inclusions in the U.S. squad to face Switzerland Wednesday, hasn’t enjoyed the best start to his European career. The 18-year-old starlet moved from Real Salt Lake to Benfica in July, yet he’s only played a total of 64 minutes in two matches in the two and a half months […]
Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story
England’s Euro Chances Suffer Huge Setback
England’s hopes of qualifying for Euro 2008 took a big blow on Wednesday after Russia came away the 2-1 winner in a tense match in Moscow. Manchester United striker Wayne Rooney hit an impressive volley to open the scoring in the 28th minute, but Russian substitute Roman Pavlyuchenko equalized from the spot in the 69th […]
Posted inCollege Soccer Reporter, Story
NCAA Division I Women’s Tuesday Results
Pam Shipway‘s goal in the 71st minute gave Wisconsin-Milwaukee a 2-1 win over Loyola (Ill.) Tuesday evening that opened up a four-point lead over Loyola in the Horizon League. For all Tuesday’s scores …
Posted inCollege Soccer Reporter, Story
NCAA Division I Men’s Tuesday Results
Elon earned its third tie against an ACC powerhouse when the Phoenix tied North Carolina, 1-1, on Tuesday before a record crowd of 1,773 fans. A late goal from Garry Lewis salvaged a tie for the Tar Heels (4-3-5). Elon (6-3-4) has also recorded ties against No. 1 Wake Forest and Clemson. For all Tuesday’s scores …
Posted inCollege Soccer Reporter, Story
Surprises in first RPI men’s rankings
[RPI RANKINGS] Wake Forest, No. 1 in this week’s Soccer America Men’s Top 25, is first in the NCAA’s initial RPI rankings of the 2007 season. Teams with surprisingly high rankings: Quinnipiac, Fairfield, Loyola (Md.) and Binghamton. On the other hand, Duke didn’t crack the top 40.
Posted inCollege Soccer Reporter, Story
There is no stopping James Madison women
James Madison has lost not one but two goalies for the season with torn knee ligaments, but that hasn’t stopped the Dukes. With redshirt freshman goalkeeper Stephanie Poucher in goal and a pair of freshmen leading the attack, JMU (12-1-1) is riding a school record eight-game unbeaten streak. It’s tied with Georgia for the best winning percentage in the nation at .893.
Posted inCollege Soccer Reporter, Story
NCAA Men’s Division I Scoring Leaders
With a hat trick against Providence — his second straight three-goal game — and a goal against Notre Dame, O’Brian White (Connecticut) moved into the lead among NCAA Division I men’s goal scorers. For the Top 10 goal scorers …
Posted inCollege Soccer Reporter, Story
NCAA Women’s Division I Scoring Leaders
Japan international Mami Yamaguchi (Florida State) has scored 16 goals to lead all NCAA Division I women’s goal scorers. The only freshman in the top five is Brittney Steinbruch of Miami (Fla.). For the Top 10 goal scorers …
Posted inCollege Soccer Reporter, Story
Slumping Navy shocks West Virginia with late winner
[MEN’S TOP 25 ACTION] Navy traveled to West Virginia with a three-game winless streak and had not scored for more than 300 minutes, but the Middies shocked the No. 21 Mountaineers, 1-0, on junior Adam Pennington‘s goal in the 85th minute. No. 9 Boston College also lost at home, falling to Providence, 1-0. For reports on all the Top 25 action …
Posted inCollege Soccer Reporter, Story
Rowan’s Gilmore earns 500th career victory
[MILESTONE] Rowan’s Dan Gilmore recorded his 500th career win on Monday when the Profs defeated Neumann, 3-2.
Posted inCollege Soccer Reporter, Story
Men’s & Women’s Small College Rankings
Ten teams in the NSCAA/adidas rankings remain unbeaten and untied: No. 1 Northern Kentucky (DII men), No. 1 Trinity (Texas), No. 2 Amherst and No. 3 North Carolina Wesleyan (DIII men), No. 1 Grand Valley State and No. 2 Seattle Pacific (DII women) and No. 1 Wheaton (Ill.), No. 2 Messiah, No. 4 Puget Sound and No. 6 Williams (DIII women).
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
High School Boys Fall Rankings
New York City’s King took over first place in the NSCAA/adidas High School Fall Boys Fall. DeSmet, last week’s No. 1, fell for the first time this season when it lost to St. Louis rival CBC, 3-2. For the complete Top 25 …
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
High School Girls Fall Rankings
Acton-Boxborough Regional (Mass.) is the No. 1 team in the NSCAA/adidas Girls National Rankings. Last week’s No. 1, Cincinnati’s Sycamore, dropped its first match of the season when it lost to Mason, 2-1, last Tuesday. For the complete Top 25 …
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
Development Academy U-18 Results
Chivas USA got a goal from U.S. U-18 callup Mario Ledezma in its 4-0 win over the San Diego Surf in their Development Academy U-18 match on Saturday. Riley Sumpter scored a hat trick in the Concorde Fire’s 8-0 win at Birmingham United. For all the weekend U-18 results, goal scorers and lineups …
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
Development Academy U-16 Results
Austin Savage scored a hat trick in the second half as Bridge FA pulled away from the Richmond Kickers, 5-2, in Development Academy U-16 action. Kendall Soccer Coalition earned South Florida bragging rights with a 3-0 win over the Schulz Academy. For all the weekend U-16 results, goal scorers and lineups …
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
Brilliant Messi leads Argentina past Venezuela in World Cup qualifying
First it was Juan Roman Riquelme with two goals on free kicks Saturday against Chile, then it was Lionel Messi who added to Argentina’s collection of golazos, scoring a superb goal to help the visiting Argentines beat Venezuela, 2-0, in a World Cup 2010 qualifier on Tuesday.
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
USA aims to end skid against Swiss
You have to go back more than 30 years to find when the USA lost at least six international matches in a row, but Bob Bradley‘s Americans will match that mark if they lose on Wednesday to Switzerland at Basel’s St. Jakob Park (TV: Fox Soccer Channel, 2:30 pm ET; Galavision, delay, 7 pm ET/PT). After a 10-0-1 start that culminated in its 2-1 victory over Mexico in the final of the 2007 Gold Cup, the USA has lost its last five games under Bradley, going down to defeat in all three matches at the Copa America and falling to Sweden and Brazil in recent friendlies.
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
Euro ’08 Qualifying TV Schedule
Euro ’08 qualifying continues Wednesday with several teams in line to clinch berths in next year’s finals. Russia-England, Georgia-Scotland, Greece-Turkey and Germany-Czech Republic highlight some of the big games available on U.S. TV. For the complete schedule and television listings …
Posted inGrassroots Soccer Biz, Story
The Politics of Building Soccer Fields
Practical tips to make soccer fields are high on local politician’s “to do” list!
Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story
MLS’s Playoff Permutations
We’re now into the last week of the regular season and the MLS playoff picture should be coming into focus, yet it remains extraordinarily muddled, with four closely linked teams battling for the final two playoff spots. Washington Post Soccer Insider Steven Goff breaks down the possibilities that would any combination of Chicago, Los Angeles, […]
Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story
Rolfe’s Return Helps Spark Fire Resurgence
Almost unthinkable in July, the Chicago Fire is now one result away from making the MLS playoffs. As many writers and pundits have noted, Cuauhtemoc Blanco’s arrival has had much to do with the turnaround, as has the appointment of Juan Carlos Osorio as Fire head coach. But Ian Plenderleith of USSoccerPlayers says that the […]