California junior Javier Ayala-Hil and Texas sophomore Kasey Moore are the Soccer America Players of the Week. Ayala-Hil scored a hat trick and the game-winning goal in the Golden Bears' 4-1 win over UCLA to clinch the Pac-10 men's title. Ayala-Hil, a product of East Palo Alto, Calif., ranks second in the Pac-10 in points […]
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MEXICO: Two candidates for Tri job
The Mexican soccer federation (FMF) has confirmed it has narrowed the field down to two candidates for the position of national team coach. The unnamed candidates to succeed Ricardo La Volpe are believed to be a pair of Mexican league club coaches: former Mexico superstar Hugo Sanchez and former Argentina midfielder Americo Gallego. The outspoken […]
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N.C. State wins wild ACC Tournament opener
If the opening game is any indication, this year's ACC Men's Tournament should be sensational. Ninth seed N.C. State knocked off eighth seed Virginia Tech, 4-3, with all seven goals coming after halftime — the last three in the span of 105 seconds late in the see-saw game. The Wolfpack blew a 2-0 lead before […]
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SCOUTING REPORT: NCAA Division II men's regional seeds
Play begins this week in the NCAA Division II men's and women's tournaments. The final fours for both men and women will be played Nov. 16-19 in Pensacola, Fla., as part of the NCAA Division II National Championship Festival, Here's a look at the eight men's regional seeds. FRANKLIN PIERCE. The Ravens captured both the […]
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1. WHAT THEY’RE SAYING
“This is a very difficult league to make changes. It’s kind of built on status quo. It’s very difficult to get increasingly better with the system. The system is, in theory, equitable, but it’s a little imbalanced, depending on decisions that are made in terms of how you can bring in different players. We’re hopeful […]
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2. MLS PLAYOFFS: The Best of Round 1
By Ridge Mahoney BEST XI. For the second legs of the MLS quarterfinals played last weekend, here are the top performers: GOALKEEPER. Matt Pickens (Chicago). He staved off numerous Revs attacks with eight saves while surpassing his first playoff performance the week before. Not the equal of Matt Reis in the penalty-kick shootout, but who […]
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2. AWARDS: Ayala-Hil and Moore are Players of the Week
California junior Javier Ayala-Hil and Texas sophomore Kasey Moore are the Soccer America Players of the Week. Ayala-Hil scored a hat trick and the game-winning goal in the Golden Bears’ 4-1 win over UCLA to clinch the Pac-10 men’s title. Ayala-Hil, a product of East Palo Alto, Calif., ranks second in the Pac-10 in points […]
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1. N.C. State wins wild ACC Tournament opener
If the opening game is any indication, this year’s ACC Men’s Tournament should be sensational. Ninth seed N.C. State knocked off eighth seed Virginia Tech, 4-3, with all seven goals coming after halftime — the last three in the span of 105 seconds late in the see-saw game. The Wolfpack blew a 2-0 lead before […]
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3. WOMEN: Timko takes top Big 12 honor for third time
Canada international Brittany Timko (Nebraska) was named the Big 12 Player of the Year for a record third time, sharing this year’s award with Swede Yolanda Odenyo (Oklahoma State). Several other women’s conferences announced their individual award winners. In the ACC, sophomore Yael Averbuch beat out her teammate, U.S. international star Heather O’Reilly, for the […]
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3. MEXICO: Two candidates for Tri job
The Mexican soccer federation (FMF) has confirmed it has narrowed the field down to two candidates for the position of national team coach. The unnamed candidates to succeed Ricardo La Volpe are believed to be a pair of Mexican league club coaches: former Mexico superstar Hugo Sanchez and former Argentina midfielder Americo Gallego. The outspoken […]
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
4. EUROPE: Tie jeopardizes Barca’s chances
Defending champion Barcelona finds itself fighting for survival in the UEFA Champions League after a 2-2 tie at home Tuesday night with English champion Chelsea left it third in Group A with two games to play. Barca twice took the lead on goals by Deco and former Chelsea striker Eidur Gudjohnsen but twice gave up […]
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4. SCOUTING REPORT: NCAA Division II men’s regional seeds
Play begins this week in the NCAA Division II men’s and women’s tournaments. The final fours for both men and women will be played Nov. 16-19 in Pensacola, Fla., as part of the NCAA Division II National Championship Festival. Click here for the NCAA Division II men’s tournament first-round pairings. Click here for the NCAA […]
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COLLEGE WOMEN: Conference Tournament Scoreboard (Nov. 4)
1029conf wom ACC Quarterfinals Nov. 1 in Cary, N.C. North Carolina 3 N.C. State 0 Boston College 1 Clemson 2 Florida State 2 Duke 0 Wake Forest 2 Virginia 1 Semifinals Nov. 3 in Cary, N.C. North Carolina 3 Clemson 0 Wake Forest 0 Florida State 0 (OT) (Florida State wins 4-2 on aggregate.) Final […]
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5. PEACE QUEEN CUP: USA downs Matildas, 2-0
The USA got spectacular first-half finishes from Kristine Lilly (her 155th career goal) and Natasha Kai (making her first start) to defeat Australia, 2-0, Tuesday and remain in contention for a berth in the final of the 2006 Peace Queen Cup in South Korea. Greg Ryan‘s Americans next face the Netherlands on Thursday at Suwon […]
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Mourinho Not Out for Revenge Against Barca
To be sure, Tuesday’s Champions League clash between Barcelona-Chelsea didn’t hold the significance of previous meetings-well, for Jose Mourinho and Chelsea, anyway. But it was actually a must-not-lose for Barcelona, which only had four points from its first three games. A loss at home would put the Catalans in the position of having to fight […]
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Beckham Still Staying, Looks to Giggs for Inspiration
It’s unavoidable in the press these days: what’s going to happen to David Beckham? Will he or won’t he leave Real Madrid during the January transfer window? If he doesn’t, will he definitely be leaving this summer? Fact is, the former England captain can’t be too happy about his season so far: banished from the […]
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Column: Too Many Olive Branches for Calciopoli Clubs
Roberto Gotta of ESPN Soccernet says the outcome of last week’s arbitrato, which was the final decision handed down to the clubs involved in the protracted Calciopoli scandal, represents the kind of “debatable justice” Italians have become used to over time. Disgraced ringleader Juventus, Lazio and Fiorentina all got further discounts-for the second time, each. […]
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Study Says Refs Favor Home Side in the EPL
A new study aims to prove an old suspicion that referees’ favor the home team. Research covering 2,500 matches in England’s Premiership says that statistically, referees are more likely to show yellow and red cards to players on the away team. The study, conducted by the University of Bath in England, also attempts to show […]
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As U.S. Soccer Moves Forward, MLS Takes Steps Back
U.S. Soccer Federation President Sunil Gulati and Major League Soccer Commissioner Don Garber addressed the media yesterday in a joint conference call. Nick Green of the Torrance (Calif.) Daily Breeze found the information both pleasing and vexing. For the first time since 1995, the USA has accepted an invitation to play in next year’s Copa […]
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PEACE QUEEN CUP: USA downs Matildas, 2-0
The USA got spectacular first-half finishes from Kristine Lilly (her 155th career goal) and Natasha Kai (making her first start) to defeat Australia, 2-0, Tuesday and remain in contention for a berth in the final of the 2006 Peace Queen Cup in South Korea. Greg Ryan's Americans next face the Netherlands on Thursday at Suwon […]
Posted inSoccer America Site, Story
WORLD: Brazil gives up home games
Brazil's globetrotting national team is cutting back on its travel, going so far as to cut out all home friendlies. After the Brazilian soccer federation (CBF) signed a $369 million deal with Nike in 1996, Brazil toured the world, building its brand as soccer's most famous national team. But European clubs objected to the wear […]
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AMERICANS ABROAD: Beasley, Reyna start Man City win
DaMarcus Beasley made his first start for English Premier League club Manchester City on Monday, playing 71 minutes wide in midfield in a 1-0 win over Middlesbrough. The 24-year-old veteran of two World Cups, limited by injuries to two appearances off the bench since joining the Blues on loan from Dutch power PSV Eindhoven, was […]
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COPA AMERICA: How guest teams fared
The USA will take part in the 2007 Copa America, the world's oldest continental championship, which was launched in 1916 as the South American championship. Since 1993, the South American federation (Conmebol) has invited teams from outside the region. Here's how they've fared: 1993 Mexico (runner-up), USA (first round). Champion: Argentina 1995 USA (fourth place), […]
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MLS: Evaluating the first-round format
Away goals or penalty kicks? Which is better? When MLS drew up its playoff format, deputy commissioner Ivan Gazidis admitted that not using away goals as a tiebreaker increases the chances of overtime and penalty kicks. A league whose regular-season games are often lacking in drama selected a playoff scheme designed to ratchet up the […]
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YOUTH: U-17s wrap up Argentina stay with win
The U.S. under-17 boys national team finished its month-long tour of Uruguay and Argentina with a 4-4-1 record. The Americans finished second at the Torneo Internacional Sub-17 Provincia de San Luis and third at the Copa Ciudad de Rosario. In the final game of the tour, the U.S. U-17s defeated the Renato Cesarini Academy, 3-1.