Category: Story

For five New England Revolution players, Shalrie Joseph, Jay Heaps, Daniel Hernandez, Steve Ralston, and Taylor Twellman, Sunday’s MLS Cup loss was particularly hard to take, writes Frank Dell’Apa of the Boston Globe. It was their third MLS Cup final loss in a New England shirt, after twice losing 1-0 to the Los Angeles Galaxy […]

Barcelona’s Striker Woes Worsen

Being at the top isn’t getting any easier for Barcelona. The Spanish champion lost two more of its strikers during Sunday’s rousing contest against Real Zaragoza, which the Catalans won 3-1 thanks to the set-piece brilliance of Ronaldinho, who scored from one free kick and made another in the final four minutes of the game […]

Rafa ‘No Me Jodas’ Can’t Stop Barca

Soccernet’s Phil Ball tells the interesting story of Rafael Guerrero, possibly the most famous linesman in the game, certainly the most famous linesman in Spain’s La Liga. He is known as “Rafa no me jodas” Guerrero for the words spoken by a match referee to him in a game involving Zaragoza and Barcelona 10 years […]

Either Way, Dempsey’s Revs Days Are Over

By several accounts, New England Revolution midfielder Clint Dempsey played his last game in a Revs shirt on Sunday when his team lost, 4-3, on penalties to the Houston Dynamo in the MLS Cup final. The 2006 Honda U.S. Soccer Player of Year has made no secret of the fact that he wants to play […]

It’s Really Over, Milan

Don’t believe AC Milan’s board when they declare that the Rossoneri’s challenge for this year’s Scudetto isn’t over. Now 20 points behind leaders Inter Milan and Palermo, it would be nothing short of a miracle if Milan was able to overcome that kind of deficit to claim the top spot in Serie A. Even without […]

MLS HONORS: Four D.C. United players on 2006 Best XI

MLS Best XI GOALKEEPER: Troy Perkins (D.C. United) DEFENDERS: Bobby Boswell (D.C. United), Jose Burciaga Jr. (Kansas City Wizards), Jimmy Conrad (Kansas City Wizards) MIDFIELDERS: Ricardo Clark (Houston Dynamo), Clint Dempsey (New England Revolution), Dwayne De Rosario (Houston Dynamo), Christian Gomez (D.C. United), Justin Mapp (Chicago Fire) FORWARDS: Jeff Cunningham (Real Salt Lake), Jaime Moreno […]

COLLEGE PROGRAMS: Central Arkansas drops men's soccer

Another Division I men's soccer program has been dropped. The University of Central Arkansas has announced the elimination of the men's intercollegiate soccer program, which played its first season of Division I ball in 2006. The move stems from UCA's failure to find a D1 soccer conference in which to play. Athletic Director John Thompson […]

TOURNAMENT CENTRAL: Texas moves into third round

Texas, one of four No. 1 seeds in the NCAA Division I Women's Tournament, earned a shootout victory over Connecticut Monday afternoon in a game delayed 24 hours because of inclement weather and moved from UConn's Morrone Field to Yousef Al-Marzook Field on the campus of the University of Hartford. The Longhorns edged UConn, 3-1, […]

Videira and Lapira in race for Hermann Trophy

Michael Videira of No. 1 Duke leads the 15 players named as semifinalists for the 2006 Missouri Athletic Club's Hermann Trophy. Videira and Notre Dame < >Greg Dalby are the only repeats from last year's short list. Notre Dame (Joseph Lapira and Dalby), SMU (Bruno Guarda and Jay Needham), Maryland (Maurice Edu and Stephen King) […]

NAIA: Appeal on at-large bid upheld

Ever wished your school could appeal its non-selection to the Big Dance? That's what NAIA school Oklahoma Christian University did — and it won. It was successful in its appeal of the selection process for the 2006 NAIA women's championships and was granted a berth in the national tournament after first being overlooked in favor […]

WOMEN'S HERMANN TROPHY: Hanks makes case

North Carolina forward Heather O'Reilly and Nebraska midfielder Brittany Timko have been named to the women's short list for the Missouri Athletic Club's Hermann Trophy for the third straight year. Both Notre Dame selections — midfielder Jen Buczkowski and Kerri Hanks — are repeat semifinalists. North Carolina Yael Averbuch and O'Reilly) and Portland (Stephanie Lopez […]

WORLD: South Korea's U.S. assistant Ghotbi denied entry into Iran

American Afshin Ghotbi, an assistant coach with South Korea's national team, was denied a visa to enter his native Iran, where Iran and South Korea are set to square off in an Asian Cup qualifier on Wednesday. Ghotbi, 42, left Iran in his early teens and now has American citizenship. He joined the South Korea […]

MLS: Pros get serious about youth development

By Ridge Mahoney Starting next season, MLS teams will be required to field at least two youth teams, the first step in a program of club-driven player development. Ultimately, each league team will field six youth teams ranging in age from U-14 to U-25. Each youth team will include up to 18 players and teams […]

MLS Confidential: Coach Search

Two MLS head coaching jobs are open and a third may be also if Sigi Schmid leaves Columbus to work with Juergen Klinsmann, whose employment as U.S. national team head coach is drawing near. As to this possibility, Schmid said only, ''You'd have to ask [U.S. Soccer president] Sunil Gulati or Juergen.'' Schmid has stated […]

5. PROGRAMS: Central Arkansas drops men’s soccer

Another Division I men’s soccer program has been dropped. The University of Central Arkansas has announced the elimination of the men’s intercollegiate soccer program, which played its first season of Division I ball in 2006. The move stems from UCA’s failure to find a D1 soccer conference in which to play. Athletic Director John Thompson […]

4. NAIA: Appeal on at-large bid upheld

Ever wished your school could appeal its non-selection to the Big Dance? That’s what NAIA school Oklahoma Christian University did — and it won. It was successful in its appeal of the selection process for the 2006 NAIA women’s championships and was granted a berth in the national tournament after first being overlooked in favor […]

3. TOURNAMENT CENTRAL: Texas moves into third round

Texas, one of four No. 1 seeds in the NCAA Division I Women’s Tournament, earned a shootout victory over Connecticut Monday afternoon in a game delayed 24 hours because of inclement weather and moved from UConn’s Morrone Field to Yousef Al-Marzook Field on the campus of the University of Hartford. The Longhorns edged UConn, 3-1, […]

2. WOMEN’S HERMANN TROPHY: Hanks makes case

North Carolina forward Heather O’Reilly and Nebraska midfielder Brittany Timko have been named to the women’s short list for the Missouri Athletic Club’s Hermann Trophy for the third straight year. Both Notre Dame selections — midfielder Jen Buczkowski and Kerri Hanks — are repeat semifinalists. North Carolina (Yael Averbuch and O’Reilly) and Portland (Stephanie Lopez […]

1. Videira and Lapira in race for Hermann Trophy

Michael Videira of No. 1 Duke leads the 15 players named as semifinalists for the 2006 Missouri Athletic Club’s Hermann Trophy. Videira and Notre Dame Greg Dalby are the only repeats from last year’s short list. Notre Dame (Joseph Lapira and Dalby), SMU (Bruno Guarda and Jay Needham), Maryland (Maurice Edu and Stephen King) are […]

1. WHAT THEY’RE SAYING

“She should not be here. I know that sounds sexist, but I am sexist, so I am not going to be anything other than that. We have a problem in this country with political correctness, and bringing women into the game is not the way to improve refereeing and officialdom. … When do we reach […]

2. MLS: Pros get serious about youth development

3. MLS HONORS: Four D.C. United players on 2006

MLS Best IX GOALKEEPER: Troy Perkins (D.C. United) DEFENDERS: Bobby Boswell (D.C. United), Jose Burciaga Jr. (Kansas City Wizards), Jimmy Conrad (Kansas City Wizards) MIDFIELDERS: Ricardo Clark (Houston Dynamo), Clint Dempsey (New England Revolution), Dwayne De Rosario (Houston Dynamo), Christian Gomez (D.C. United), Justin Mapp (Chicago Fire) FORWARDS: Jeff Cunningham (Real Salt Lake), Jaime Moreno […]

4. WORLD: South Korea’s U.S. assistant Ghotbi denied entry into Iran