Kerri Hanks, the 2006 Hermann Trophy winner, and Notre Dame teammates Carrie Dew and Brittany Bock are among the first group of players who have accepted invitations to Women’s Professional Soccer combines to be held Dec. 11-14 (San Diego) and Dec. 18-21 (Ft. Lauderdale, Fla). Invitees included college seniors and former college players. For the complete list …
Posted inSoccer America Daily, What They're Saying
What They’re Saying
“We’re not going to gild the lily.”
— San Jose Earthquakes owner Lew Wolff on his proposal to go ahead with plans to build a soccer stadium in San Jose — but a much scaled-back facility (without luxury boxes) costing less than the $100 million that had earlier been projected because of the downturn in the economy. (San Jose Mercury-News)
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
Jozy and Freddy torment Chapines
[USA-GUATEMALA REPORT CARD] Soccer America’s Ridge Mahoney grades the U.S. players’ performance in their 2-0 victory over Guatemala on Wednesday …
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
Young Yanks too good for Guatemala
As he had promised, USA coach Bob Bradley called up mostly younger players for the final match of the Concacaf World Cup semifinal round, and they responded with a polished performance that blanked Guatemala, 2-0, on a brisk night at Dick’s Sporting Goods Park.
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
Bay Area team headed to Buck Shaw
[WPS] FC Gold Pride, the Women’s Professional Soccer team in the Bay Area, will play its home games at Buck Shaw Stadium on the campus of Santa Clara University.
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
Leroux leads Americans past France
[UNDER-20 WOMEN’S WORLD CUP] Sydney Leroux came off the bench to score two goals and set up a third and lead the USA to a 3-0 win over France in its opening game at the Under-20 Women’s World Cup in Chillan, Chile.
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
Will Johnson takes Goal of the Year (VIDEO)
[MLS] Real Salt Lake midfielder Will Johnson won the 2008 Sierra Mist Goal of the Year for his flick and volley, which struck the inside of the near post and beat FC Dallas goalkeeper Dario Sala, in RSL’s must-win away goal on Oct. 18.
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
Mexico reaches Hexagonal despite another loss
[WORLD CUP 2010 QUALIFYING] Next year’s Hexagonal field is set. Honduras, Mexico and Trinidad & Tobago completed the six-team group for next year’s final round of 2010 World Cup qualifying. Mexico edged out Jamaica on a tiebreaker after the Tri fell, 1-0, at Honduras and the Reggae Boyz beat Canada, 3-0.
Posted inSoccerTalk with Paul Gardner, Story
Is Defense Really All that Matters?
Oh dear. I came to praise Juan Carlos Osorio. I really want to say all sorts of nice things about the way he’s taken the world’s worst franchise, the hopeless, hapless Red Bulls, nee the MetroStars, a.k.a. the RotMasters, a team that has been for 12 years — imagine that, 12 whole years! — the very definition of futility and stumblebum incompetence, almost state-of-the-art slapstick, and in the space of one season he’s transformed them into MLS Cup finalists.
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
Maradona starts with a win
[INTERNATIONAL FRIENDLIES] New Argentina coach Diego Maradona kicked off his career at the helm of the former world champion with a 1-0 win in Scotland. England and Germany fielded largely experimental teams in their Berlin match-up, but it was the experienced England captain John Terry, who scored the winner in the 2-1 game.
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
Australia, Japan and South Korea well set for South Africa
[WORLD CUP 2010 QUALIFYING] There were road wins for Australia, Japan and South Korea in the latest round of Asian World Cup qualifying, making all three favorites to qualify for South Africa 2010.
Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story
Milan Reiterates: Beckham Move Temporary
"I want to make clear that the club does not have any future projects for him [David Beckham]. All we know is that he will come to Dubai [for winter training] and then he will return to Galaxy in March, besides that nothing else." AC Milan vice president Adriano Galliani states anew the temporary nature […]
Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story
Ronaldo Hints At Retirement
"I could decide tomorrow [to retire] or in a month's time what to do, but I still don't know. It was beautiful to return to play because soccer is my life, but it was just an exhibition as I only played for 22 minutes. Professional soccer is a different issue." Ronaldo, 32, mulls quitting the […]
Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story
30-Year-Old Could Make French Debut
“I am proof that the system doesn’t always work. I was born at the wrong time. I’m from the same generation as [Thierry] Henry and [Nicolas] Anelka and when they were coming through you had to be well over 6-foot to be picked for youth schemes.” Caen striker Steve Savidan, 30, who four years ago […]
Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story
United Players Lived On ‘Burgers And Beer’
"It [the diet at Old Trafford] was outrageous. Everyone ate whatever they wanted to eat and when you think about the typical English diet, you can imagine what I am talking about. Every 15 days they would put us on what we dubbed the 'spare-tire machine' to measure our body fat. You would be amazed […]
Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story
Paolo Sousa New QPR Manager
"I have great belief in my ideas and my coaching ability and I firmly believe I can achieve the objectives set by the management." Former Portugal national team assistant coach and Inter midfielder Paolo Sousa is the new manager of nouveau-riche Premier League wannabes Queens Park Rangers, presently 10th in the second-tier Championship.
Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story
Salt Lake Readies For Change
"After the game is before the game," as the legendary German coach Sepp Herberger used to say. Hardly had Real Salt Lake been eliminated from the MLS playoffs than it had to start planning for next season, what with Monday's expansion draft for Seattle Sounders FC looming. Players will be called in Wednesday and Thursday […]
Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story
Silverbacks To Sit Out 2009
The Atlanta Silverbacks have announced that its men's professional team will sit out the United Soccer Leagues 2009 season due to the state of the economy and the possibility that the city could land an MLS franchise. "This was an extremely difficult decision that was prompted by the dynamic events in our economy and the […]
Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story
Crew’s Fringe Players Hanging In For A Win Bonus
With most pre-MLS Cup story angles exhausted, Shawn Mitchell turns his attention to the poorly paid, unsung players on the Columbus Crew roster who will likely play no part in Sunday's final, but who will at least be happy to take some extra cash from the bonus money. "Obviously it's tough [not being in the […]
Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story
Defensive? Thanks For The Compliment
RB New York has made it to Sunday's MLS Cup Final on the back of some impressive defensive performances in the playoffs. Some observers are unhappy when defensive teams succeed, but it's a different matter if you're actually on that winning team. "When people say about me that I'm a defensive coach, I take that […]
Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story
Garber on Scheduling, Donovan, MLS Cup …
Jack Bell’s wide-ranging interview with Major League Soccer Commissioner Don Garber should be read in full, but below are some tasters on issues of scheduling, expansion, the recession and the possible transfer of Landon Donovan. Garber on scheduling: “The issues are being addressed. We’re trying to schedule away from as many international dates as we […]
Posted inCollege Soccer Reporter, Story
SPOTLIGHT: Yavapai shoots for greatness
In its 20th year of varsity play, Yavapai College has enjoyed considerable success — six NJCAA men’s championships and 18 national tournament appearances. But this year’s team is on the verge of greatness. The Roughriders are 23-0-0 heading into the NJCAA Division I finals, which begin Thursday at nearby Paradise Valley Community College in Phoenix, Ariz. For more on the Roughriders and Coach Mike Pantalione‘s advice for players looking to play JC soccer …
Posted inCollege Soccer Reporter, Story
MORNING BRIEFING: Hottest men’s teams
Top-ranked Wake Forest had its 25-game unbeaten streak snapped in the ACC Tournament. Loyola (Md.) lost for the first time in 28 games. But there are many other teams riding unbeaten streaks into the NCAA Division I Men’s Tournament, which starts Friday with the first round.
Posted inCollege Soccer Reporter, Story
LEADERS: NCAA Division I Women’s Scorers
Cynthia Morote-Ariza of Loyola (Ill.) and Milwaukee’s Sarah Hagen remained 1-2 in points among NCAA Division I women’s players, but Casey Nogueira will have a chance to overtake them when North Carolina plays in the third round of the NCAA Division I Women’s Tournament. For all the NCAA Division I leaders …
Posted inCollege Soccer Reporter, Story
MORNING BRIEFING: Under-20 World Cup effect
The Under-20 Women’s World Cup begins Wednesday in Chile. Many of college soccer’s top young players are skipping this fall’s NCAA Division I Women’s Tournament to represent their countries.