D.C. United will keep Tom Soehn as coach in 2009, Steven Goff reports, quoting “sources close to the club.” A formal announcement is expected within a week. “The decision was hardly a surprise,” writes Goff. “In recent days, General Manager Dave Kasper came out in support of Soehn, and club president Kevin Payne expressed empathy […]
Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story
Houston’s Downtown Deadline
Houston Dynamo President and GM Oliver Luck says that if the team has not reached a deal for a downtown stadium by the end of the year then it will look elsewhere, writes Bernardo Fallas. “It almost has to [happen soon],” Luck said Wednesday. “If it doesn’t happen by the end of the year, if […]
Posted inCollege Soccer Reporter, Story
MORNING BRIEFING: Hot Big West race draws big crowd
The best men’s conference race in the country is in the Big West, where only three points separated the top five teams. Interest is so high that No. 21 UC Santa Barbara drew 9,749 fans on Wednesday night for its 0-0 tie with No. 25 Cal Poly in their top-of-the-table clash.
Posted inCollege Soccer Reporter, Story
TOURNAMENT WATCH: Big East quarterfinals
Louisville, which had spent most of the season in the Soccer America Top 25 until a recent slump, beat West Virginia, 2-0, in the first round of the Big East Tournament.
Posted inCollege Soccer Reporter, Story
NAIA: Men’s & Women’s Rankings
For the third week in a row, Lindsey Wilson is No. 1 in both the NSCAA/adidas NAIA men’s and women’s rankings. Oklahoma City (men) and Lee (women) remained No. 2, while Notre Dame of Ohio and Martin Methodist moved up to No. 3 in the men’s and women’s rankings, respectively. For all the NAIA rankings …
Posted inCollege Soccer Reporter, Story
MORNING BRIEFING: Three top 10 women’s teams fall
Three top 10 teams fell on Wednesday in women’s conference tournament action. No. 7 Florida State lost to Virginia Tech on penalty kicks in the ACC quarterfinals, and No. 8 Texas A&M and No. 10 Texas fell to Kansas (4-2) and Missouri (2-1), respectively, on the first day of play in the Big 12.
Posted inCollege Soccer Reporter, Story
TOURNAMENT CENTRAL: Women’s Conferences
Eight women’s conferences began tournament play with quarterfinal action on Wednesday. Two No. 7 seeds — Virginia Tech (over Florida State on penalties in the ACC) and Kansas (over Texas A&M, 4-2, in the Big 12) –advanced. Indiana State became the lowest seed to advance in the Missouri Valley since 2005 after the No. 6-seeded Sycamores upset No. 3 Drake, 1-0, in double overtime. The only conference in which form held — all four seeds won — was the Atlantic Sun. For all the conference tournament results and schedules …
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
Fire keeper hopes to stay hot against Revs
If history is to repeat itself in the MLS playoff series between Chicago and New England, the Revs can’t lose, right? Not necessarily, for while New England has knocked off Chicago in the last three postseasons, and can do so again Thursday (ESPN2, 8:30 p.m. ET) when the teams meet at Toyota Park, who’s to say the Fire won’t duplicate its 2003 triumph?
Posted inSoccer America Daily, What They're Saying
What They’re Saying
“The team was happy with the news about Beckham, but what people don’t know is that we’ll also have George Clooney as coach and Brad Pitt as assistant manager.”
— AC Milan defender Kakha Kaladze on David Beckham‘s arrival on loan from the Los Angeles Galaxy. (Irish Times)
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
U.S. nine-game winning streak snapped
[U.S. WOMEN] South Korea held the USA to a 0-0 tie Wednesday in Cincinnati, marking only second time in 33 games this year that the Americans didn’t emerge victorious.
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
Players takes a yellow card, literally (VIDEO)
[OFF THE POST] Defender Andre Luis of Brazilian club Botafogo snatched the yellow card out of referee Carlos Chandia‘s hand during a Copa Sudamericana game against Estudiantes, then was shown the red.
Posted inSoccerTalk with Paul Gardner, Story
When Coaches Speak
Listening in as coaches accuse each other of dirty tactics is a fascinating, if ultimately frustrating, exercise. If only because you know that while Coach A may today be accusing Coach B of encouraging roughhouse play, it won’t be long before Coach A will be accused of the same crime by Coach C, while Coach B will be finding the same fault with Coach D.
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
Del Piero double rocks Real
[UEFA CHAMPIONS LEAGUE] Alessandro del Piero was the hero of Wednesday’s Champions League group play when his two goals lead Juventus to a stunning victory at Real Madrid.
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
No new choices on 2009 player ballot
[HALL OF FAME] Twenty-five players are on the ballot for induction into the National Soccer Hall of Fame. All players have been previously on the ballot.
Posted inCollege Soccer Reporter, Story
MORNING BRIEFING: Caligiuri quits college job
Former U.S. national team star Paul Caligiuri resigned as Division II Cal Poly Pomona men’s coach to focus on other professional interests.
Posted inCollege Soccer Reporter, Story
JUNIOR COLLEGES: NSCAA/adidas Rankings
There were no changes in the top spots in the NSCAA/adidas JC rankings. Yavapai (D1 men), Herkimer County (D3 men), Darton (D1 women) and Cerritos (D3 women) remained No. 1. For all the rankings …
Posted inCollege Soccer Reporter, Story
SMALL COLLEGES: NSCAA/adidas Women’s Rankings
For the second year in a row, Grand Valley State, No. 1 in the NCAA Division II rankings, is unbeaten and untied heading into the Great Lakes Conference Tournament. Williams is still No. 1 in Division III. For the NSCAA/adidas D2 and D3 women’s rankings …
Posted inCollege Soccer Reporter, Story
SMALL COLLEGES: NSCAA/adidas Men’s Rankings
Midwestern State remained No. 1 in the NCAA Division II men’s rankings. Trinity (Texas) is again first in the Division III rankings. York and Montclair State, also unbeaten and untied, follow at 2-3. For the NSCAA/adidas D2 and D3 men’s rankings …
Posted inCollege Soccer Reporter, Story
TOURNAMENT CENTRAL: Women’s Conferences
Tuesday’s winners in women’s conference tournament action were lower seeds Hofstra and Northeastern in the CAA and Morehead State and UT Martin in the Ohio Valley. Conference play moves into high gear with quarterfinal action in the ACC (highlighted by Boston College vs. Duke), Big 12 (Missouri vs. Texas) and SEC. For all the conference tournament results and schedules …
Posted inCollege Soccer Reporter, Story
SOCCER AMERICA INTERVIEW: Kasey Moore
SOCCER AMERICA interviews Texas senior Kasey Moore, one of the most accomplished defenders in women’s college soccer. She has twice been named a Soccer America MVP, as a sophomore in 2006 and junior in 2007. Moore leads the Longhorns, who begin their Big 12 title defense on Wednesday.
Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story
Caligiuri Resigns From Cal Poly
“I really thought it was the right time. It was an emotional, difficult decision. I had a great time here and I will always feel like I’m part of the Bronco family.” Former U.S. national team player Paul Caligiuri resigns as head of the men’s soccer program at Cal Poly Pomona.
Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story
Onalfo’s Smart Switch
“You can say we rolled the dice, but it was a move we thought about long and hard and went for it. The signs looked pretty darn good when Davy [Arnaud] scored that unbelievable goal against Los Angeles.” Kansas City Wizards’ Coach Curt Onalfo on switching Davey Arnaud from forward to attacking midfielder, and Jack […]
Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story
Baby, The Stars Shine Albright
“I probably should have been there a few years earlier.” Revs’ defender Chris Albright looks back on the switch from forward to defender that transformed his career.
Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story
Gamba Hammers Adelaide In AFC Final
Gamba Osaka “comprehensively outplayed” Adelaide in the first leg of the Asian Champions’ League Final Wednesday, winning 3-0 on goals from Brazilian Lucas, Yasuhito Endo and Michihiro Yasudo. The second leg is next Wednesday.
Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story
Aston Martin The Victim After Sunday Team’s Heavy Defeat
A feisty Sunday League football game in the northeast of England ended with a player’s $216,000 Aston Martin smashed up in the parking lot after a postgame fracas, Newcastle Crown Court heard. Andrew Wilson was assaulted and his DB9 Volante convertible was pelted with bricks and concrete after his side, the Boldon Lad pub team, […]