After Inter Milan's 0-0 draw with Barcelona in the group stages of the Champions League, Inter coach Jose Mourinho was up to his usual creative responses. Looking bored at the postgame conference, Mourinho grabbed a stat sheet of the game and made this pronouncement: "This game has a point I think is significant. Inter committed […]
Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story
MLS to Break For World Cup
For the first time in its history, MLS will not play league games during the two-week group phase of the 2010 FIFA World Cup. The group phase, which includes 48 of the tournament's 64 games, begins on June 11 and runs until June 25. MLS also doesn't plan to schedule any games on the days […]
Posted inCollege Soccer Reporter, Story
Fourth broken foot sidelines Notre Dame star
WOMEN’S NEWS … When Notre Dame co-captain Courtney Rosen was sidelined with a broken foot last month, it was the fourth time she has broken her foot in five years. What made the injury different was that it was the first time she has broken her left foot. Because of stress fractures to her right foot, Rosen has a screw placed in that foot.
Rosen was walking from the locker room to the practice field when her left foot gave out. “It was like a death in the family when she broke her foot,” teammate Michele Weissenhofer, who has also battled injuries, told the Notre Dame Observer. “That just shows how big of a part of the team she is.”
Without Rosen, a second-team All-Big East selection in 2008, the Irish have struggled, losing three of their last four games.
* TOP 25 ACTION: No. 22 Indiana dominated play against state rival Butler, but all the Hoosiers could muster was a goal by Orianica Velasquez Herrera in the 79th minute for a 1-0 victory that improved IU’s record to 7-1-0. The Hoosiers were stymied by keeper Jessica Schein, who made five saves. They also had Carly Samp‘s shot glance off the far post.
Wednesday’s Scoreboard
* HAT TRICK HERO:
— Kirby Zak scored three goals for Sam Houston State in its 6-0 win over Texas Southern.
Posted inCollege Soccer Reporter, Story
Free-kick specialists extend Kentucky and UMBC streaks
MEN’S NEWS … Freshman midfielder Matt Lodge, the former English prison guard, scored his second goal on a free kick from 30 or more yards away in the last two games to lead No. 25 Kentucky to a 1-0 win over Alabama A&M and improve its record to 5-0-0, equaling the best start to a season in the 19-year history of the program.
“Credit goes to Matt Lodge,” UK head coach Ian Collins said. “He was feeling awful today, battling a bit of sickness. He really showed some toughness and guts to play as hard as he did tonight.”
The goal was Lodge’s team-high fourth of the year. In his last game, Lodge scored both of UK’s goals in a 2-1 comeback win over SIU-Edwardsville.
— UMBC sophomore forward Andrew Bulls scored ninth goal of the season — and his fifth game-winning goal — to lead the Retrievers to a 1-0 win over neighboring Towson. UMBC tied a school Division I record with the 6-0-0 start, equaling the 1999 squad, which produced the nation’s best record of 19-1-2.
Bulls was fouled 23 yards from the goal, and his ensuing free kick went to the right of the four-man wall and just inside the right post, keeping his streak intact of having scored in every game.
Wednesday’s Scoreboard
* INJURY REPORT: Saint Louis forward Jimmy Holmes was lost for the season after suffering a knee injury in the first half of Saturday’s 3-1 win against Loyola (Ill.). The senior will apply for a medical hardship.
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
Soccer America Men’s College Scoreboard
[COLLEGE] Freshman midfielder Matt Lodge, the former English prison guard, scored his fourth goal in five games to lead No. 25 Kentucky to a 1-0 win over Alabama A&M, equaling the best start to a season in the 19-year history of the program. For all Wednesday’s results …
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
Soccer America Women’s College Scoreboard
[COLLEGE] No. 22 Indiana dominated play against state rival Butler, but all the Hoosiers could muster was a goal by Orianica Velasquez Herrera in the 79th minute for a 1-0 victory that improved IU’s record to 7-1-0. For all Wednesday’s results …
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
UEFA Champions League Results
The four English teams all won their first games in the group stage of the UEFA Champions League, but they were all by one-goal margins. For all the midweek results …
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
What we learned on Wednesday …
[UEFA CHAMPIONS LEAGUE] The first big game of the UEFA Champions League campaign between defending champion Barcelona and Inter Milan ended in a scoreless draw, but there were fireworks elsewhere on Day 1. Here’s four things we learned on Wednesday …
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
Atlanta and Philadelphia make expansion draft picks
[WPS] The Atlanta Beat and Philadelphia Independence, who will debut in Women’s Professional Soccer in 2010, began the process of stocking their rosters by selecting players available in the expansion draft. The 13 players taken — seven by Philadelphia and six by Atlanta — included Independence pick Jen Buczkowski, a starting defender on champion Sky Blue FC.
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
FC Dallas signs youth star Leyva
[MLS] In the most high-profile signing to date of a home-grown player, FC Dallas has signed 17-year-old Bryan Leyva to a professional contract.
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
President Mark Abbott explains 2010 decisions
[MLS] As it did this year during certain FIFA international dates, MLS will lighten its schedule next year during the World Cup. But rather than reduce the number of games, MLS will take a complete break during the group phase. MLS president Mark Abbott spoke exclusively to Soccer America on the league’s decision to halt play June 11-25 and to institute a balanced schedule.
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
Pachuca continues Mexican dominance over MLS teams
[CONCACAF CHAMPIONS LEAGUE] The Houston Dynamo, the only MLS team to get so much as a tie on the road against a Mexican team in competitive play, came up two goals and a man short Wednesday night.
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
Crew pulls shocker in Saprissa
[CONCACAF CHAMPIONS LEAGUE] The defending MLS champion Columbus Crew accomplished what the U.S. national team has never been able to do and win at the Estadio Ricardo Saprissa in Costa Rica. The Crew moved into second place in Group C of the Concacaf Champions League with a 1-0 win over Deportivo Saprissa.
Posted inSoccer America Daily, What They're Saying
What They’re Saying
“You ask 100 people, 99 will say it’s very bad and the hundredth will be Mark Hughes.”
— Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger reacts to Manchester City coach Mark Hughes‘s reaction to Emmanuel Adebayor stamping on Robin van Persie‘s face. Hughes expressed his support for Adebayor and said his striker should be “cut a bit of slack.” Adebayor faces a three-game ban. (BBC)
Posted inSoccerTalk with Paul Gardner, Story
Idiotic celebrations and lunatic fans
I see that goal celebrations are in trouble. Emmanuel Adebayor’s performance in front of the Arsenal fans — after he had scored against Arsenal, his old team — has been deemed provocative and inflammatory and maybe even seditious. It so upset the Arsenal fans that they started throwing things, including a bottle that knocked out one of the security personnel.
Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story
Coach Holds Dual Duty in Connecticut, Portugal
More and more Americans have found employment as soccer players in Europe. But few coaches can say the same. Dan Gaspar, however, has managed a few successful stints coaching European teams, working as a goalkeeper coach with both FC Porto and Benfica in Portugal. Now, Gaspar is managing to work double-duty as coach of the […]
Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story
Homophobic Abuse Cases Overturned in Portsmouth
Ian Trow, 43, of Milton Keynes and a 14-year-old boy, who cannot be named, were both convicted for shouting homophobic abuse at former Portsmouth defender Sol Campbell during a match at Fratton Park on Sept. 28 last year. But both cases have been overturned after the pair launched a successful appeal, heard Monday at Portsmouth […]
Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story
Grafite Wants Brazil Call-Up
Wolfsburg striker Grafite hopes he can parlay his three-goal output in his Champions League debut to an appearance for Brazil's national team. "That's my goal and that's what I am working for,'' Grafite said after scoring all of Wolfsburg's goals in a 3-1 victory over CSKA Moscow on Tuesday. Grafite led the Bundesliga last season […]
Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story
Kenyon to Leave Position As Chelsea Chief Executive
Chelsea chief executive Peter Kenyon will vacate his full-time post with the club on Oct. 31, the club said Wednesday. But Kenton will remain at Stamford Bridge as a non-executive director to represent Chelsea on UEFA and European Clubs' Association Committees. Kenyon moved to Chelsea from Manchester United after Roman Abramovich took over the London […]
Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story
Huckerby: ‘I’m 99 Percent Sure I’m Done’
San Jose Earthquakes English midfielder Darren Huckerby has probably finished his soccer career. He recently underwent surgery to repair a shredded hip joint that hampered his performance this season. “I’ve got to give it chance to see how it is but I’m 99 percent sure that I am done,” said Huckerby. “The second part of […]
Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story
United Stays Alive in Champions League
D.C. United’s 1-0 win over San Juan Jabloteh in Port of Spain on Tuesday kept United alive in Group B of the Concacaf Champions League. “We’re still in it,” midfielder Clyde Simms said. “We knew if we got a win here, we definitely have a chance. We need to take care of business at home […]
Posted inSoccer America Classifieds, Story
Soccer America Classifieds
Welcome to Soccer America Classifieds, Soccer America’s email newsletter connecting soccer companies and organizations to Soccer America members each week. Soccer America Classifieds feature soccer classified advertisements on the latest soccer job openings, soccer products and soccer opportunities. Read Soccer America Classifieds each Wednesday.
Posted inSoccer on TV., Story
Soccer on TV
Don’t miss European Champions League and Europa League (previously known as the UEFA Cup) in the midweek. The MLS Game of the Week moves to Friday as San Jose hosts Colorado. In the USL, on the same night, Vancouver hosts Cleveland. The weekend holds a full slate of MLS matches and fixtures from various leagues from around the world.
Posted inCollege Soccer Reporter, Story
Swarthmore is again too much for Stevens Tech
SMALL COLLEGE NEWS … Stevens Tech, No. 2 in the NSCAA/adidas NCAA Division III men’s rankings, fell to Swarthmore for the second straight year and dropped to 10th in this week’s rankings.
After ending the Ducks’ 62-game home unbeaten streak in 2008, Swarthmore won, 1-0, on Sunday afternoon on sophomore Roberto Contreras‘ goal.
Messiah remained No. 1, and Amherst climbed to No. 2. Spencer Noon scored two goals in his first game for the Lord Jeffs in their 2-0 victory over Bowdoin.
MEN RANKINGS:
NCAA Division II 1. Tampa, 2. Northern Kentucky, 3. Millersville.
NCAA Division III 1. Messiah, 2. Amherst, 3. Ohio Wesleyan.
WOMEN RANKINGS:
NCAA Division II 1. Seattle Pacific, 2. West Florida, 3. Saint Rose.
NCAA Division III 1. Messiah, 2. Puget Sound, 3. Williams.
NAIA MEN’S PLAYERS OF THE WEEK:
Offense: Alex Hanne, Simon Fraser (Tied school record with six goals in 9-1 win at Menlo)
Defense: Tyler Stromberg, Azusa Pacific (Made 12 saves in wins over Notre Dame of Ohio and Mobile)
NAIA WOMEN’S PLAYERS OF THE WEEK:
Offense: Ashley Sherr, Fresno Pacific (Scored golden goal at Southern Oregon and added four more goals in win over Simpson)
Defense: Kylie Willet, Ashford (Back-to-back shutouts against Trinity Christian and Calumet College of St. Joseph)
Posted inCollege Soccer Reporter, Story
Hill on a roll for unbeaten Michigan State
WOMEN’S NEWS … Last year, it was Laura Heyboer who carried Michigan State with 21 goals in 24 games as freshman. This year it’s senior Lauren Hill who leads the Spartans with eight goals in six games.
Hill’s goal with under a minute to go in the first half broke a scoreless deadlock against Detroit and Michigan State went on to win, 2-0, extending its unbeaten streak to 16 games at DeMartin Stadium — 9-0-2 last year and 5-0-0 so far in 2009.
After a shot by Samantha Cook bounced off the crossbar, Hill scored off the rebound with a header to extend her own streak of having scored in every game for the 5-0-1 Spartans.
“She has been on a roll and we want to keep it that way,” said Coach Tom Saxton. “Her goal today was an opportunistic one; she was in the right place and the right time and took advantage of the loose ball.”
Hill’s goal gives her 36 for her career and puts her within three of the MLS record held by Michelle Wise.
Tuesday’s Scoreboard
* RECORD BOOK:
— Rachel King needed only eight games to break the Louisiana Tech record for goals in a season, collecting her 10th goal of the season in a 2-0 win over Grambling State that improve the Lady Techsters’ record to 8-0-0.