Soccer America Archives

[REF WATCH] A former MLS head coach who shall remain nameless once uttered these words in regards to penalty kicks and the amount of time spent discussing them by players, coaches, and journalists: “Every week, in every league and every competition in every part of the world, you’re going to see penalties called and not called. All of us – coaches, players, the media, the fans, everybody – spend way too much time talking about penalties given and not given. They’re almost always critical moments in the game, so it makes sense. But …

[MLS PREDICTION] After splitting back-to-back games with Toronto FC earlier this month, Colorado hosts San Jose five days after the teams played a 1-1 tie in Northern California. This is the penultimate home game of the 2009 season for the Rapids; the finale is against New England, so they need this one in the worst way.

[WPS] Expansion teams Atlanta and Philadelphia made their selections in Women’s Professional Soccer’s expansion draft, selecting five players apiece whose WPS rights they acquired.

[CONCACAF CHAMPIONS LEAGUE] The second phase of the regional championship’s group play gets underway this week, as the teams run through their three opponents for the second time. Houston starts off action for the three MLS participants Tuesday by hosting Panamanian club Arabe Unido at Robertson Stadium (10 p.m. ET), Columbus plays Mexican powerhouse Cruz Azul Wednesday (8 p.m. ET) at Columbus Crew Stadium, and D.C. United faces CD Marathon of Honduras Thursday (8 p.m. ET) at RFK Stadium. All of the games will be televised live on Fox Soccer Channel, and since the MLS teams are playing at home and none are atop their groups, each needs a victory.

[USL-1] The two-leg series in the USL First Division quarterfinals will take place Thursday and Sunday. The two Canadian entrants, defending champion Vancouver and Montreal, will be at home in the first leg, while Puerto Rico will travel to Rochester in the third game, two days after the Islanders host Saprissa of Costa Rica in the Concacaf Champions League.

[COLLEGE] Freshman goalie Amy Howard, who made 12 saves to earn Auburn a 0-0 tie against top-ranked North Carolina, is Soccer America Women’s Player of the Week for games played Sept. 14-20. For the Soccer America Women’s Team of the Week …

[COLLEGE] Michael Nanchoff, who scored on a free kick to give No. 1 Akron a 1-0 win over Indiana, is Soccer America Men’s Player of the Week for games played Sept. 14-20. For the Soccer America Men’s Team of the Week …

[UNDER-17 WORLD CUP] The USA is holding its final international training camp to prepare for the U-17 World Cup in Nigeria. Coach Wilmer Cabrera brought in 22 U-17 players for a 10-day camp in Cobham, England. The only player not currently in the under-17 residency program in Bradenton, Fla., is former FC Greater Boston Bolts midfielder Will Packwood, who plays in Birmingham City’s youth system. Not in camp is English-based U-17 star Sebastian Lletget, who joined West Ham’s academy program this summer. For the complete roster and game schedule …

[OFF THE POST] Universidad Chile striker Juan Manuel Olivera had to be taken away by ambulance after a collision with O’Higgins goalkeeper Jorge Rivera. Then Olivera’s arrival at the hospital was delayed for two hours because the ambulance crashed and the replacement vehicle was stuck in rush-hour traffic.

[MLS] Jeremy Hall was the New York Red Bulls’ first selection in the 2009 SuperDraft. Even though he was drafted as an attacking player from last year’s NCAA champs, Maryland, Jeremy has found his way on the field with the Red Bull’s as a defender and has made 20 appearances. Get to know the 21-year-old in this profile by Soccer America’s Bryan Alvarez that covers on and off-field experiences.

[MLS] The league is doing what it can to build its ratings on ESPN2. A scheduled telecast for an Oct. 7 meeting between FC Dallas and San Jose that likely will have no effect on the playoff race has been scrapped; instead, the final game of the season, New England and Columbus on Oct. 25, will be aired at 5 p.m. ET. League and network executives, said league spokesman Will Kuhns, have worked to give league telecasts better lead-in programming as well as showcase the top teams as much as possible.