Division I soccer programs largely escaped the wrath of the NCAA, which handed out teams this week to programs that failed to meet academic standards. Only two soccer teams — San Jose State’s men and Texas Southern’s women — were subject to sanctions.
Posted inCollege Soccer Reporter, Story
Soccer teams recognized for academic success
As part of the NCAA’s broad Division I academic reform effort, the NCAA recognized teams that posted multi-year Academic Progress Rate (APR) scores in the top 10 percent of all squads in their respective sports. Programs honored included 2006 NCAA Division I men’s quarterfinalists Duke and Northwestern and women’s runner-up Notre Dame and quarterfinalist Portland.
Posted inCollege Soccer Reporter, Story
NCAA announces sanctions in West Virginia men’s investigation
The NCAA placed the West Virginia men’s soccer program on two-year probation and issued a public reprimand to the school for major rules violations by former men’s coach Mike Seabolt. In a lengthy report, the NCAA Division I Committee on Infractions outlined violations committed by Seabolt.
Posted inCollege Soccer Reporter, Story
Cal women hire Texas Tech’s McGuire
California has hired Texas Tech women’s coach Neil McGuire as its new women’s coach, replacing Kevin Boyd, who resigned earlier this year and later took the women’s job at Arizona State.
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
Robust stuff in United-Revs clash at RFK
In the run-up to Thursday night’s D.C. United-New England tussle, Revs coach Steve Nicol said whether or not it was a great match, it would be passionate and fierce and rugged. Was it? As Nicol might have replied if asked, “Aye.” Scuffles, hard tackles, aerial duels, a controversial penalty, a hotly disputed ejection, and an ESPN2 audience fueled a intense if inelegant 1-1 tie. The Revs struck just seconds into the second half when Andy Dorman slotted the rebound of a Taylor Twellman shot, and D.C. equalized five minutes later with a Jaime Moreno penalty kick.
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
The Jason Kreis era begins in Salt Lake
[TV PREVIEW] Jason Kreis, the man who has scored a league record 108 goals, retired on Thursday and immediately launched a new career. He’s leaving the Real Salt Lake captaincy and replacing his boss, John Ellinger, after RSL started the 2007 season with an 0-2-2 record. Ellinger, who failed to guide Real Salt Lake to the playoffs in its first two seasons, lasted longer than any other coach in MLS history who had gone that distance without taking a team to the playoffs. When the 34-year-old Kreis steps on the sidelines Saturday against the New York Red Bulls, he will become the youngest person in MLS history to serve as head coach of a team. Real is keeping Ellinger, who was credited for Freddy Adu‘s arrival to Real this season, as Technical Director/Director of Soccer Operations. But General Manager Steve Pastorino has resigned.
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
Mexico’s Toluca crushed in Libertadores Cup
Argentine youngster Juan Manuel Martinez scored a hat trick in 13 minutes late in the first half to lead of Colombian champion Cucuta past Mexico’s Toluca, 5-1, in the first leg of their Libertadores Cup second-round series. In the other Thursday matches, Paraguayan champion Libertad came from behind to win at Brazil’s Parana, 2-1, while Nacional of Uruguay beat Mexico’s Necaxa, 3-2, in Montevideo.
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
Barcelona president Laporta to lecture Monday at Stanford
Joan Laporta, president of famed Futbol Club Barcelona, is scheduled to lecture at Stanford University on Monday afternoon.
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
USA looks to extent U-17 streaks
[MAKING A LIST] The USA can wrap a berth in the Under-17 World Cup for a record 12th straight time if it ties or beats host Jamaica Friday at CONCACAF’s Group B qualifying tournament or Canada and Trinidad & Tobago tie in the first game. The USA, which also faces group leader Costa Rica on Sunday, takes an 18-game unbeaten streak in CONCACAF qualifying into the weekend action.
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
San Francisco soccer with ties to Spain
It’s not often that a major American city boasts a pro soccer team within its true borders. The New York Red Bulls play in New Jersey. FC Dallas is based in Frisco, the Los Angeles Galaxy in Carson and the Chicago Fire in Bridgeview. But San Francisco now has a USL-1 team, the California Victory, which will play at the edge of Golden Gate Park in Kezar Stadium, once home to the San Francisco 49ers. The man behind the Victory is Dmitry Piterman, who emigrated from Ukraine to the USA at age 15 in 1979, graduated from UC Berkeley (across the bay from San Francisco) and started accumulating a fortune in San Francisco area real estate. Three years ago, he bought Spanish club Deportivo Alaves while keeping his eyes on opportunities in the USA.
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
American Hilgenbrinck scores winner in Chile
[VIDEO] Illinois product Chase Hilgenbrinck scored the gamewinner for Chilean First Division club Nublense in its 1-0 victory over O’Higgins, which hadn’t lost at home since April 2006 and had never lost to Nublense. Hilgenbrinck, who at Clemson University was teammates with Oguchi Onyewu, has started 13 of Nublense’s 14 games this season, mostly at left back until he was moved to left midfield to fill in for an injured player.
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
OFF THE POST: Witnesses vouch for miracle header
There were only 37 people in the stands when English amateur clubs Holker Old Boys clashed with Chadderton FC and nobody had a video camera. But eyewitnesses confirmed that Holker Old Boys’ captain Graham Capstick did indeed score with a header from 57 yards out. “I can honestly say that he scored with a header from inside his own half,” Holker right back David Robinson told the Evening Mail.
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
Sevilla faces Espanyol in all-Spanish UEFA Cup final
Defending champion Sevilla beat Spanish rival Osasuna, 2-0, and advanced, 2-1, on aggregate to the final of the UEFA Cup, where it will meet Espanyol in an all-Spanish clash May 16 in Glasgow. Espanyol beat Werder Bremen of Germany, 2-1, away to go through, 5-1, on aggregate in Thursday’s other semifinal.
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
Man. United has chance to clinch EPL title on Sunday
[TV PREVIEW] Manchester United and Chelsea must put aside the disappointment of being eliminated from the UEFA Champions League and refocus on the English Premier League race. A huge match takes place in Spain, where third-place Real Madrid hosts second-place Sevilla on Sunday.
Posted inSoccer America Daily, What They're Saying
What They’re Saying
“Milan Baros merely wanted to tell [Stephane M’Bia] something he didn’t know how to say in French: ‘leave me alone and give me breathing space.'”
— A statement from French club Lyon, claiming its Czech striker Milan Baros wasn’t trying to insult Rennes’ Stephane M’Bia when Baros pinched his own nose and waved his hand in front of it while facing the Cameroon-born midfielder. Baros has been suspended for three games for the gesture. (Reuters)
Posted inSoccer on TV., Story
Article 3350
On the menu for U.S. viewers this weekend are title contenders in England (Fox and Setanta), Germany (Gol TV) and Spain (Gol TV). Mexico’s last two playoff spots will be determined on Saturday (Galavision). MLS action kicks off with red-hot Kansas City hosting Columbus (Direct Kick Package).
Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story
Yanks’ Nationals Need to Play Abroad
Kenya Brown of Yanks Abroad says the U.S. national team’s dominance of the CONCACAF region is getting a little tiresome. Notwithstanding the team’s respectable 3-0-1 record in international friendlies this year, these meaningless games are made all the more so by the fact that each of them has been played at home. In fact, the […]
Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story
Ferguson Blames Fatigue, but Defense Cost United
Sir Alex Ferguson was a little more gracious in defeat than Jose Mourinho after Manchester United followed Chelsea out of the Champions League, but excuses still had to be made and blame still had to be placed. For not the first time, Fergie blamed the English Premier League for its scheduling, which burned out his […]
Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story
Milan “Miracle” a Vindication for Italian Soccer
Milan’s 3-0 victory over “the big man of English football” descended upon Italy Wednesday night like a holy vindication. Indeed, since the national team lifted the World Cup last July, Italian soccer has been through trying times, including a series of match-fixing scandals, poor attendance, the riots in Sicily and the resulting stadium bans and […]
Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story
‘Listless’ D.C. United Needs a Jolt Tonight
Even if D.C. United brings its “A game” to RFK Stadium Thursday night when it plays the New England Revolution (ESPN 2, Live 7 pm ET), the Screaming Eagles would be forgiven for wondering if that even makes their side the favorite anymore. The Revs are a team in good form (2-1-1), while United is […]
Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story
Jason Kreis Retires, Becomes RSL Head Coach
Real Salt Lake Thursday afternoon announced a significant management reshuffling. Team captain Jason Kreis, the league’s all-time leading scorer, has now retired from the game and will take over as RSL head coach, effective immediately. Kreis is set to run Thursday’s practice in preparation for Saturday’s match at home to the league-leading New York Red […]
Posted inStory, Youth Soccer Insider
Small-Sided Games: What’s all the fuss?
For quite a few years now US Youth Soccer, U.S. Soccer, AYSO and the NSCAA have advocated playing less than 11-a-side soccer for our younger players.
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
D.C. hopes to get it right against Revs
[TV PREVIEW] Senior Editor Ridge Mahoney talked to New England coach Steve Nicol on the eve of the Revs’ Thursday night (ESPN2, 7 pm ET) clash with D.C. United, the preseason favorite that has lost its first three games.
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
‘The biggest financial prize in world soccer’
A report by accountancy firm Deloitte & Touche says that the teams promoted this season from the English second tier to the English Premier League will be rewarded with up to $120 million, thanks to the EPL’s new TV deal. Birmingham City and Sunderland have already clinched promotion. Four other teams will play off for the remaining spot, which will be decided in a May 28 final at the new Wembley, a game the report called, “the biggest financial prize in world football.”
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
Libertadores Cup win streak ends for Brazil’s Santos
Santos could have broken the Libertadores Cup record of eight straight wins it shares with Vasco da Gama by beating Caracas FC in Venezuela on Wednesday night but tied, 2-2. In a battle between the only two Argentine clubs left in the competition, Boca Juniors beat Velez Sarsfield even though Martin Palermo missed his second penalty kick in four days. Palermo is famous for missing three penalty kicks in one game while playing for Argentina against Colombia in 1999.