Monday, May 20, 2013

PORTLAND, Ore. – Portland Timbers U-23s defender/midfielder Eric Miller has been called up by the U.S. U-20 Men’s National Team for the upcoming 2013 Toulon Tournament in Toulon, France, it was announced today by U.S. Soccer.

Led by head coach Tab Ramos, the U.S. U-20 National Team opens play in the Toulon Tournament on Tuesday, May 28, against France at Stade Léo-Lagrange at 10:30 a.m. (Pacific). The United States is one of 10 countries participating in the 41st edition of the tournament and will compete in Group A against Colombia, Congo DR, South Korea and host France.

The group stage features four games, after which the group winners face each other in the championship match and the group runners-up meet in the third-place game on Saturday, June 8.

“It is a huge honor to be called up to play for your country and I’m excited to make my last push before the U-20 World Cup to try to earn a spot on the roster before the team heads to Turkey,” said Miller. “The tournament should be really good preparation to really figure out where we are at heading into the World Cup.”

Miller (Woodbury, Minn.) is one of 13 players on the U.S. U-20 National Team roster for the Toulon Tournament that helped the United States take second place at the 2013 CONCACAF U-20 Championship in early March in Puebla, Mexico. He will depart Friday for national team duty.

Miller has been a member of the U.S. U-20 National Team since 2012. He started against the Costa Rica U-20 National Team during the recent CONCACAF U-20 Championship, helping the United States qualify for the upcoming 2013 FIFA U-20 World Cup. In 2012, he was called up for the Northern Ireland Milk Cup, the Marbella Cup and a series of friendlies, earning seven caps last year.

In his second season with the Timbers U-23s, Miller has helped the team open the 2013 Premier Development League season with a 2-0-0 record, tallying a goal against Sounders FC U-23 on May 16. He also aided in the Timbers U-23s win over the Sacramento Gold in the first round of the 2013 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup on May 14. Miller was member of the Timbers U-23s squad in 2012 that reached the PDL’s Western Conference semifinal.

Miller is entering his junior season at Creighton University, where he is an all-conference player and has helped the school reach the NCAA College Cup in back-to-back seasons.

The U.S. U-20 National Team kicks off the 2013 FIFA U-20 World Cup, which runs June 21-July 13, against Spain on Friday, June 21, at Türk Telekom Arena in Istanbul, Turkey. 

Monday, May 20, 2013

OCEAN CITY, N.J. -- After defeating the New York Red Bulls U23 team 2-0 last Tuesday, the Ocean City Nor’easters have been rewarded with a home game against USL PRO team the Pittsburgh Riverhounds in the second round of the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup. The game will take place at Carey Stadium on Tuesday night with a 7:30 p.m kickoff.

The Riverhounds are struggling this season with a single victory against new franchise Phoenix FC two weeks ago. This was their first victory of the 2013 season after seven games without a win, and they are coming off a 2-2 draw on Saturday against the Dayton Dutch Lions at their home, Highmark Stadium.

The Riverhounds reached the second round of the Open Cup after struggling with amateur team RWB Adria from the USASA. RWB Adria took Pittsburgh to a penalty shootout after having a 1-0 until the halftime break, only for Seth C'deBaca to pull the Riverhounds even with a goal in the 53rd minute. After two scoreless periods of extra time, the Riverhounds won 5-4 on penalties to set up the fixture with the Nor’easters.

The prize for these two teams is a third-round game with Major League Soccer's Philadelphia Union. The third round of the U.S. Open Cup is where all of the teams who enter want to be as the MLS teams enter the competition. The prestige and financial rewards for the smaller professional teams and amateur teams is what makes the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup such a unique and fantastic tournament in American sports.

To keep up to date with the latest news from the Ocean City Nor’easters please follow us on Twitter and Facebook.

Monday, May 20, 2013

READING, Pa. – Reading United AC face their toughest task of the season on Tuesday evening, as they face USL PRO’s Harrisburg City Islanders in the second round of the 100th annual Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup. Reading, which advanced to the second round of the national tourney by a 2-0 margin over the 2012 NPSL Champion FC Lehigh Valley United Sonic last Tuesday, make their second straight appearance in the round of 48.

Reading (2-0 PDL; 1-0 USOC) has had a blazing start to their season, outscoring their opponents by a 13-0 margin. Their 270-minute shutout streak is going to be put to the test, facing a Harrisburg squad that carries five Philadelphia Union players on their roster, including United alum Leo Fernandes.

“We have something to build on, and to go and protect,” said head coach Brendan Burke. “We’ve been playing for two weeks, and Harrisburg’s been playing for two months. The pressure is still on Harrisburg at this point. We just need to go out, have fun with it, and enjoy the experience.”

Harrisburg (5-1-1) enters the game with quite the reputation in U.S. Open Cup play, making it to the quarterfinals of the tournament in four of the past six years. The City Islanders have beaten an MLS side five times in the Cup, including D.C. United (2007), New England Revolution (2009 & 2012) and New York Red Bulls (2010 & 2012).

Reading and Harrisburg have faced each other before in the U.S. Open Cup, most recently in 2011. Harrisburg scored two late goals to squeak past Reading into the second round.

The victor of this match will face a third round matchup with the New York Red Bulls at Red Bull Arena in Harrison, N.J. on Wednesday, May 29th at 7:30 p.m.

Reading’s next home match will be against the MLS side Philadelphia Union on June 7th, 2013 at 7pm at Exeter High School’s Don Thomas Stadium. Our annual Kicks Against Cancer Night will also coincide with the friendly, with multiple opportunities to honor and remember loved ones touched by cancer.

2013 Reading United Game Day Tickets and Season Tickets now available at readingunitedac.com

Also available: Game Day Youth Packages, Group Discount Packages, Birthday Parties and Fundraising Ticket Packages. Contact Denise Strohmayr at denise@readingunitedac.com for all your group needs.

Monday, May 20, 2013

AUSTIN, Texas -- Andres Cuero is standing in front of a green screen at a local television studio filming promotions for an upcoming youth soccer tournament. The Aztex forward is asked to add more energy to each take, the television producer asking for that “gusto” for the promo.

Cuero is finding the energy for the shot, but a few minutes into filming, Cuero receives news: The Austin Aztex would host his former team, the Wilmington Hammerheads, if they advance to the Second Round of the U.S. Open Cup.

Immediately, Cuero is jubilant at the news and on his next take he attacks the promotion with a buzzing energy filled with a renewed sense of vigor.

He found his “gusto”.

Few people are being filmed when they receive news of a dream matchup. For Cuero, the Hammerheads announcement brought electricity into the room.

“When I found out about the possible match up against the Hammerheads I got really excited,” Cuero said. “I think whenever anyone plays against a former team, and still having friends on it, the game becomes a little more meaningful.”

Cuero joined the Aztex after spending the previous two years with the USL PRO squad. Cuero had to work his way on to the team, and he was able to do so after a strong showing during open tryouts in March 2011.

The forward scored four goals and added an assist in 1,441 minutes played over his two seasons. However, the bulk of his work came in the 2011 season, where Cuero scored three goals and the assist after logging 1,117 minutes. In 2012, Cuero was a key role player in limited minutes for the Hammerheads, who lost to the Charleston Battery in the USL PRO championship game.

“I enjoyed my time in Wilmington,” Cuero said. “They have a strong backing from the community and their fan base is one of the best in the USL PRO and that was awesome to experience.”

Now Cuero has returned to Austin, where he was a graduate from Westlake High School. Cuero’s transition to the Aztex has also gone smoothly.

“Paul (Dalglish) has done a good job in bringing in not only quality players but also stand-up guys as well,” Cuero said. “So right off the bat we have all gotten along well.

“Representing Austin in the U.S. Open Cup means a lot to me,” he added. “I am from Austin so having the opportunity to represent it on a grand scale is an honor. It also means a lot to represent the hard work that the owners, staff, and coaches have put into this great club. I think being able to positively recognize the Aztex is a tribute to those who work hard behind the scenes and the U.S. Open Cup is a good means to do so.”

Cuero did not disappoint during the 3-0 first-round victory against the NTX Rayados. The forward scored the opening goal in the 14th minute when he collected a rebound from Sito Seoane’s shot on goal. Cuero was able to tap the ball in just far enough for the ball to cross the line. The win secured the matchup versus the Hammerheads, a dream matchup for Cuero.

Aztex Head Coach Paul Dalglish says regardless if it were cup game or not, there is an extra motivation to perform well any time a player faces off against a former team.

“I am sure Andres will be motivated to prove himself against his former teammates,” Dalglish said.

With Tuesday’s match on the horizon, the Aztex are focused on the Hammerheads. After all, the Hammerheads are the first pro team to visit Austin since 2010.

Cuero in particular is ready for the reunion on the field with his former team. After training wrapped up Monday morning, Cuero stood on the field and took extra shots on goal, envisioning the game tomorrow.

“I feel very good about the matchup,” Cuero said. “I think with the squad that Paul has assembled, with all the talent and blue collar work ethic, we can match up against anyone. What I would love most is to win. I don’t care how we do it or who scores as long as we get the win.”

SANFORD, Fla. — The Orlando City U23s defeated IMG Academy Bradenton 3-1 in their home opener on Sunday night at the Seminole Soccer Complex in Sanford, Fla. The Lions were led by forward Tyler Blackwood, who scored twice to help lead the squad to their first victory of the 2013 campaign.

“I’m pleased to win the game but we can do a lot better,” said Head Coach Paul Shaw after the match. “Overall I’m satisfied with the three points but there’s a lot of our game that needs to improve if we want to be successful on a weekly basis.”

The Lions got on the board in the 23rd minute when Blackwood skipped past the IMG defense and fired a shot on target, forcing IMG goalkeeper Andrew Wolverton to parry the ball out for a corner. Nicolas Russo then whipped the ball into the six-yard box, finding Kyle Fisher who nodded the ball into the far corner, putting the Lions up 1-0.

After going up 1-0 early in the match, Orlando gained confidence and spent more time on the ball. However despite controlling much of the play, IMG would break through the Lions' defense in the 42nd minute. Defender Joseph Toby got in behind the defense and was awarded a penalty after Daniel Barboto dragged him down in the box. IMG's Luis Calzadilla took the penalty and had his initial attempt saved by Gomez, but was able to head the rebound into the back of the net.

The Lions would respond quickly and converted from another corner just before the end of the first half. In the 43rd minute, Tom Skelly played a ball into the penalty area, which found Blackwood after a series of deflections. Blackwood took advantage of the opportunity and calmly tucked the ball away, giving the Lions a 2-1 edge at the break.

The second half began with a similar flow to the first 45 minutes. Orlando dominated possession on the ball and would eventually break through the IMG defense, scoring their third goal of the match. In the 82nd minute, Itode Fubara found Paul Clowes free on the left hand side of the pitch, who swung a ball into the six-yard box. Blackwood aggressively attacked the area and nodded the ball in to the back of the net, scoring his second goal of the match.

Orlando now turns its attention to VSI Tampa Bay FC, which is scheduled to square up against the U23s on Wednesday night at Seminole Soccer Complex. The match is set to kick off at 7 p.m. and tickets can be purchased at the gate for $8.

For more information, visit www.orlandocitysoccer.com.

READING, Pa. – It’s difficult to start a season any better than Reading United A.C. have in 2013. Reading have started the season by scoring thirteen goals and have gone 270 minutes without conceding a goal on the way to earning three wins in all competitions. On Sunday, Reading posted a solid 3-0 victory over the visiting New Jersey LUSO Rangers in Premier Development League action. Goals from captain Steve Neumann, Stephen Baker and Jason Plumhoff and a strong showing from the Reading defensive unit helped to keep United perfect.

The match against the Rangers was Reading’s third in eight days. Head Coach Brendan Burke used the match to rest some key members of the squad ahead of Tuesday’s second round U.S. Open Cup match against the Harrisburg City Islanders. Burke made seven changes to United’s starting line-up that played against FC Lehigh Valley United Sonic, including handing goalkeeper Alex Bono his first start of the season.

Reading again started fast, pressing the Rangers’ defense in early minutes of the match. PDL Player of the Week Mario Pinto created United’s first opportunity, racing into the New Jersey penalty area before crossing to a streaking Shane Campbell. The Rangers scrambled to clear the early threat, but they continued to struggle with Reading’s high tempo passing game.

A Rangers’ error allowed United to get on the scoreboard in the 15th minute. While attempting to close down Reading midfielder Dante Marini, one of the New Jersey defenders handled the ball in the area. Referee Ian Bongaardt pointed to the spot and Neumann fired his effort into the upper-left corner of the goal to stake Reading to a 1-0 lead.

The Rangers did little to threaten United’s back four and failed to record a shot in the first half. They did manage to hold firm defensively over the final 30 minutes of the half to keep the score at 1-0.

With an eye towards Tuesday’s Open Cup match, Burke made four substitutions at the half. Neumann made way for his Georgetown teammate Melvin Snoh. Jonny Dolezal replaced Damion Lowe in central defense while Fatai Alashe made his Reading debut when he came on for Keegan Rosenberry. Pinto would also come off in favor of Penn product Stephen Baker.

New Jersey upped its game in the second half, frequently testing the Reading back four. Following a Plumhoff free kick that forced Rangers’ keeper Rafeal Krauze into a spectacular diving save, New Jersey countered and a low drive to the far post sent Bono diving to his right to tip the ball around the post for a Rangers’ corner in the 56th minute. The big Syracuse keeper came off his line strongly to claim the corner and end the threat.

United would double their lead in the 73rd minute. Attacking down the right flank, Darius Madison worked his way into the box and picked out Plumhoff near the penalty spot. The midfielder took a shot, but it was blocked and rebounded back to his feet. Plumhoff spotted Baker on the left side of the penalty area and the Penn forward buried his opportunity to make it 2-0.

Any chance of a Rangers comeback ended in the 80th minute when Phillip Cunha picked up his second yellow card of the evening and was ejected for a hard challenge on Bill McConnell.

Reading sealed the win in second half stoppage time when Marini worked his way down the left flank before sending an inch perfect cross to an unmarked Plumhoff, who headed the ball home to make it 3-0 to Reading. “I saw Dante winding up and just got myself to the back post. The cross was amazing, I just headed it home,” said Plumhoff.

With the win, Reading sit atop the PDL’s Mid Atlantic Division with six points and an eye-popping plus-11 goal differential. “The six points are huge,” said Burke. “Early season is when we’ve tripped up in the past. Now, we’ve stepped up and taken care of business and done it in style.”

United will look to continue their winning ways when they play fellow Philadelphia Union affiliate, the Harrisburg City Islanders, in the second round of the U.S. Open Cup on Tuesday night. Reading will look to avenge a close 2-1 loss to Harrisburg in the 2011 U.S. Open Cup. The match will be played on Reading’s home field, Exeter’s Don Thomas Stadium with kick off scheduled for 7 p.m.

TUCSON, Ariz. — It took FC Tucson six PDL matches to score more than one goal in 2012. The club did that in just its second match in 2013. FC Tucson downed Southern California 3-1 on Saturday in front of a crowd of 747 at the Kino Sports Complex. The win gives FC Tucson (1-0-1) four points out of a possible six to begin the season.

“It was unbelievable,” said FC Tucson forward David Clemens “I’m grateful I got the chance to be in the lineup and the fans were unbelievable. It’s an awesome experience to be in front of all the fans. I mean the atmosphere is unbelievable there’s nothing else I could ask for.”

FC Tucson pressed the Seahorses (0-2-0) defense early and often, testing goalkeeper Cody Suppe for the first 20 minutes of the match. The club finally broke through following a penalty called in the box after Eli Galbraith-Knapp drew a foul. Ricardo Velazco calmly stepped up to the spot of the ball and hit the back of the net with his penalty kick to give Tucson a 1-0 lead at the 21st minute.

Twenty minutes later, Clemens had arguably the highlight of the night despite not even scoring a goal. Clemens picked up the ball in the attacking right corner of the field. With two defenders between him and the 18-yard box, Clemens darted past the first defender’s left side with a sliver of space left between him and the endline. Then he rushed past the second defender’s right side on his way into the 18-yard box. And finally he took a quick shot that passed the goalkeeper, only to slam against the crossbar.

Clemens had another chance moments later when Connor Brandt toe poked a slow-rolling pass to him into the box. The Virginia Tech product had to wait a little bit for the ball to reach him but he calmly shot the ball into the back of the net to give Tucson a 2-0 lead at the 44th minute.

“I felt that I could get another one,” Clemens said. “I kept plugging it in, and Connor played a great ball in and I just slipped it past the goalie.”

Southern California opened the second half on the attack, notching a shot on goal less than five minutes into the second frame. Then in the 49th minute, the Seahorses’ Zach Bautista cut the lead to one.

The game slowed down a bit after the goal and neither team could create any dangerous chances. Then Southern California’s Geoff Bowman earned a red card in the 83rd minute, which all but killed any chance for the Seahorses to tie the match. Velazco iced the match with his 86th-minute goal, his second of the match.

“It feels fantastic to finally score,” Velazco said. “It’s my first goal and I made one the second half (and) it feels great. The fans are great, I love them, everyone here is fantastic. I love everybody. I couldn’t be more happy.”

FC Tucson’s next match will be on Tuesday night in the second round of the U.S. Open Cup against the San Antonio Scorpions.

EDMONDS, Wash. — Two first-half goals were too much to overcome as the North Sound SeaWolves fell to the Portland Timbers U-23 team 2-1 in a Premier Development League match in front of 1,296 fans on Saturday afternoon at Edmonds Stadium. Clark Phillips scored in the 11th and 16th minutes for Portland (2-0). David Durant scored in the 69th minute for the SeaWolves.

“It’s a good starting point for us,” said SeaWolves coach Ed Moore, who was leading the club for the first time. “I thought both of their goals came from bad turnovers but those are things we can fix.”

Phillips got the Timbers on the board early, firing a header off a cross from Jaime Velasco into the net for a 1-0 lead. Five minutes later, SeaWolves defender Nick Hamer fell down handling the ball and Phillips – Hamer’s teammate at Gonzaga – took control and easily beat North Sound keeper Ryan Herman 1-on-1 for a 2-0 Portland lead.

“You could tell in the first 20 minutes our guys were nervous,” Moore said. “But we regrouped and came together and it was nice to see us respond well to getting down early.”

The SeaWolves had a couple chances to get on the scoreboard in the first half. In the 19th minute Victor Vasquez collected a loose ball in front of the Portland goal but Vasquez’s shot was just knocked away by Portland keeper David Meves. Meves also made a diving save on a low shot by Brad Jacobson.

Durant, a native of Nottingham, England, came on in the 63rd minute and six minutes later he found the back of the net, firing a long shot past Meves for North Sound’s first goal of the season.

“It was a good, spirited effort,” Durant said. “We were unlucky to not get a point but we just have to cut out some mistakes.”

The SeaWolves continued to push forward. Zach Hamer missed high off a volley three minutes after Durant’s goal. In stoppage time, Josh Heard crossed a ball into the goal box to Durant but his shot was knocked away. Durant returned the favor, crossing to a charging Heard but Meves made a save.

The SeaWolves next play on Saturday, May 25 against the Victoria Highlanders at Royal Athletic Park. The next home match is June 7 against the Vancouver Whitecaps U-23 team.

AUSTIN, Texas -- The Austin Aztex defense held strong and needed only one goal from defender Aaron Guillen to secure the 1-0 win over the Houston Dutch Lions Saturday evening at House Park. The win and three points allow for the Aztex to remain on top of the Mid South division with six points, two points ahead of the Laredo Heat.

“It was a really hard game,” Aztex defender Aaron Guillen said. “Obviously they were going to try and come in here, take the three points from us and at least get a tie. Fortunately we got three points, we are in first place now. We have got to keep working.”

The Aztex defense stole the show as the defenders were able to deflect pressure from the Dutch Lions attack throughout the game. At one point during the match, the Aztex had as many as eight players who played defense for their respective college teams to hold the lead.

The Houston Dutch Lions proved to be a physical side that looked to challenge the Aztex, with both teams matching up in 4-2-3-1 formations.

“We thought they were going to play a 4-3-3,” Aztex Head Coach Paul Dalglish said. “So we prepared as if they were going to play a 4-3-3 but when they came out in a 4-2-3-1 we had to change a little bit, change the game plan. The players managed to adapt and grind out a gritty win.”

Chuy Cortes provided dangerous attacking runs into the middle of the attacking half and nearly scored in the 19th minute when he ripped a shot that carried just wide of the goal. Cortes played with great determination to create opportunities and showed creativity with the ball to give his teammates scoring chances, much to the pleasure of the home crowd of 1,205 who watched the team’s league home opener.

“It was exciting to be back and have all the fans supporting us,” Cortes said. ”It is definitely an advantage that we have on the field when we are playing. It gives me an extra boost on the field because it gives you adrenaline that you need when you play.”

A pair of defenders came through to deliver the lone goal of the game in the 32nd minute. Aztex midfielder Sito Seoane sent a corner into the penalty area for Westlake High graduate and Aztex defender Walker Hume, whose 6-foot-5-inch frame helped head the ball across goal to fellow defender Guillen, who headed the ball into the back of the net.

“We have been practicing the corners,” Guillen said on the scoring play. “When the ball comes off the corner, we can look for the big boys and I just get the trash out in front. I saw the ball in front of me and I put it in.”

After scoring his first goal for the Aztex, Guillen went to the corner flag for a salsa dance celebration.

After the goal, the Aztex solidified the defense to protect the lead. At one point in the second half, the Aztex had as many as eight players on the field who played on the back line for their respective collegiate teams.

“It’s not just the defenders,” Dalglish said. “People in the back were defending, but the guys on the front were defending from the front as well. The wingers were putting them under much pressure. Leo, Tony and Sito worked tirelessly in the midfield. It was a real blue collar performance there.”

The home town squad calmly deflected any Dutch Lions attack. Making their Austin Aztex debut Saturday evening were Damian Rosales, Robbie Derschang, and Alesi Osorio.

The Aztex return to House Park to face USL PRO squad the Wilmington Hammerheads in the second round of the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup on Tuesday night at 7:30 p.m. CT. The winner of Tuesday’s match will travel to face MLS side the Portland Timbers in the third round.

SOUTH HUNTINGDON, N.Y. -- The Long Island Rough Riders and the Baltimore Bohemians played to a 2-2 draw in the season-opener for both teams at Cy Donnelly Stadium on Saturday night. The Rough Riders came back from a 2-0 deficit in a high-paced, aggressive match through goals by Orlando Castaneda and Dominick Sarle.

The Rough Riders and Bohemians both came out strongly in the first half. The even battle between both teams saw the attacking style of the Bohemians match-up against the high-pressure defensive style of the Rough Riders. Both teams were evenly matched competing for control over the midfield.

In the 23rd minute, Baltimore took the lead after the Bohemians intercepted the ball in the middle of the pitch and played it wide, shifting the Rough Riders’ defense. Baltimore's Geaton Caltabiano sent in a low, hard ball from the left side, and after a battle in the penalty area, Rough Riders defender Tom Wharf turned the ball into his own net to give the Bohemians the lead.

The Rough Riders turned on the pressure in the 32nd minute that created numerous opportunities. Danny Kramer received multiple balls down the right flank, and was able to find space with a great touch towards the outside. Kramer then whipped a dangerous ball into the goalmouth to Dakota Barnathan, whose finish went just wide of the left post.

With the momentum shifting towards the Rough Riders, it was Kramer again who took on a Baltimore defender. The defender went in hard, earning a free kick for the Rough Riders just outside the penalty area. Baltimore struggled to clear the dangerous Rough Riders’ cross, but were able to secure a 1-0 halftime lead.

In the 55th minute the Bohemians took a 2-0 lead with a goal by Julio Arjona, as he shot a well-placed ball in the upper-right corner. The Rough Riders came close to pulling a goal back in the 74th minute as Steven Roche sent a shot from the top of the penalty area just over the crossbar. Just four minutes later the Rough Riders would get on the scoreboard, Dane Kenny sending a pass toward Castaneda, who was positioned perfectly at the top of the six-yard box to finish into the right corner.

Rough Riders goalkeeper Gary Poulin was called into action late on, keeping his side in the game as they pushed for an equalizer. The Bohemians had a breakaway, but Poulin made an incredible save to keep the game close. The Rough Riders continued to press at the other end, and in the 88th minute, Tyler Botte looked like he capitalized on a good opportunity, but Baltimore goalkeeper Andrew Harris came up with a great save.

Botte continued to apply pressure to Baltimore’s defense. In the 89th minute, he flicked the ball to left side to Sarle, who scored a dramatic equalizer to earn his side a point in their opening game of the season. 

Make sure to come back and support the Rough Riders on June 1st as they take on their New York rival, theF.A. Euro - New York Magic at Cy Donnelly Stadium. Kickoff is set for 7:30 p.m.

Thursday, May 16, 2013

LOUISVILLE, Ky. -- The River City Rovers will host Forest City London, the reigning PDL champions, in their regular-season opener this Saturday night at the Rovers’ new home stadium, the Shelby County Athletic Complex. Kickoff is scheduled for 7 p.m.

“This is an extraordinary event,” said Rovers coach Muhamed Fazlagic. “The Rovers are only three years in the PDL and already we are opening the season against the national champions.”

For most of its second season in 2012, the Rovers sat in second place in the PDL's Great Lakes Division, even defeating the Michigan Bucks -- the PDL’s regular-season champion. London edged out River City for second place, and then made a remarkable run through the PDL playoffs, defeating the Carolina Dynamo 2-1 in Greensboro, N.C. in the 2012 PDL Championship Game. The PDL is the fourth-tier of organized soccer in the United States, with the Great Lakes Division’s standard of competition being consistently among the highest in the league.

“This is a fantastic opportunity to see such competitive soccer right here in Kentucky,” said Rovers Executive Director Pete Laventis.

Admission for Saturday's season-opener is $7. In honor of Armed Forces Day, active military with ID are free. Free water bottles will be given to the first 100 fans.

The Rovers, one of 65 teams in the PDL nationwide, showcase the finest area players who currently play for independent club and college soccer teams. Already recognized for its diversity, the Rovers have featured local players from the University of Louisville, University of Kentucky, Centre College, Notre Dame, Bellarmine, as well as international players from Africa, Ireland, Mexico and Germany.

Saturday, May 18, 2013

HAMDEN, Conn. – CFC Azul will host the Western Mass Pioneers on Saturday night at 8 p.m. in its 2013 home opener at the CCSU Soccer Field in New Britain, Conn.

This will be the first of three meetings between the two teams. Last season, the Azul finished with a 0-1-2 record against the Pioneers. After playing to two 0-0 ties in an eight-day span, the Azul were defeated on the road, 2-0, in the final meeting last season.

The two teams were also neck-and-neck at the end of the season with the Pioneers grabbing the third-place spot by one point finishing with 24 points. The Azul finished the 2012 season with 23 points.

“The Pioneers will be an early, tough challenge for us,” CFC Azul head coach David Kelly said. “They are a club with a lot of history and a big following. It has become a derby that the players and supporters both relish, and Saturday’s match will be no different. Our objective will be to pick up where we left off last weekend – and last year – by playing good football, entertaining the fans, and scoring some goals.”

Last weekend, the Azul opened up their 2013 season with a 3-0 victory over the Real Boston Rams. After playing to a scoreless first half, the Azul launched an offensive barrage with goals from Thomas Obasi, Mario DiMiceli and Justin Brewer. Pat Boucher assisted on the Obasi header to help both players register their first career points with the Azul. Meanwhile, Brewer and DiMiceli picked up their sixth and fifth career goals, respectively.

“We got off to a great start this season,” Kelly said. “Against Boston, we scored three very good goals from three different players, and I was happy with how we defended.”

Azul goalkeeper Andrew Esposito registered his first shutout in the PDL in his first career game, stopping four Ram shots.

Saturday’s game will be the season-opener for Western Mass who are lead by head coach Federico Molinari who returns for his second year. Under Molinari, the Pioneers had a division-low 11 goals allowed as his goalkeeper, Warren Gross, led the entire PDL with nine shutouts, three coming against the Azul. Molinari used to play for the Pioneers from 2006-11.

Fresh Start
After surrendering goals in the final minutes in their first three games last season, the Azul started the 2013 campaign in winning fashion with a 3-0 shutout victory.

Offensive Onslaught
Justin Brewer and Mario DiMiceli proved that they could score last season and they showed that they are ever stronger weapons this year scoring their first goals of the year in their first game. With last year’s points leader Ryan Kinne, (18 p – 8 g, 2 a) gone, they will have to step up and lead the charge.

Friday, May 17, 2013

WEST DES MOINES, Iowa – Fresh off a confidence-boosting win in the first round of the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup, the Des Moines Menace are poised to host to WSA Winnipeg on Saturday night.

The Menace will look to add three valuable points to their Premier Development League resume, one week after a disappointing draw in their league opener at Springfield. The team’s first regular-season home action is sandwiched by a pair of Open Cup matches that come less than a week apart.

In the Cup’s opening round, Des Moines defeated the Madison 56ers 1-0 on Wednesday at Valley Stadium. The victory set the stage for a round-two bout against professional side Minnesota United on Tuesday night, with the winner advancing to play at Major League Soccer’s Sporting Kansas City one week later.

ABOUT THE MENACE
- Seeking its first regular-season win of the young season (0-0-1 PDL).
- Finished 8-5-3 in 2012, missing the Heartland Division’s second and final playoff spot by a single point to Real Colorado (8-4-4).
- Began 2013 under the direction of a new general manager (Matt Homonoff) and head coach (Mike Jeffries). The last time Des Moines did this, in 2005, the team ended the season as PDL champion (GM Alan Oatsvall and coach Casey Mann).
- The updated roster: www.MenaceSoccer.com/men/roster

ABOUT WSA WINNIPEG
- Coming off a 3-8-5 season in which they finished sixth in the seven team Heartland Division of the Premier Development League.
- Eduardo Badescu, a former Winnipeg Fury player, has coached all three of the franchise’s PDL seasons.
- Have 15 players originally from Winnipeg including six who went through the World Soccer Academy (WSA).

ALL-TIME SERIES
- The Menace won (4-1) and drew (2-2) at Winnipeg last June, in the only 2012 meetings.
- Des Moines is undefeated (5-0-1) against Winnipeg in a series that began with the Menace taking a four-game sweep in the Canadian side’s inaugural 2011 season.
- Des Moines has outscored Winnipeg, 19-7, in six encounters.

SATURDAY’S PROMOTIONS
- Fans get two games for the price of one, as the Menace women open their schedule with a 4:30 p.m. exhibition against WSA Winnipeg.
- The matches are presented by Vitamin Water and Powerade, and the first 300 fans receive magnet schedules.

UP NEXT: Open Cup Round Two
- On Tuesday, May 21, Des Moines will be invading Elizabeth Lyle Robbie Stadium (St. Paul, Minn.) to battle pro side Minnesota United FC in the second round of the Lamer Hunt U.S. Open Cup.
- The Menace seek vengeance after coming up short against Minnesota (2-0) last season at Valley Stadium, also in the second round of the Open Cup.
- Minnesota features Menace alumni Justin Davis (2007-08) and Luis Piffer (2010-12).
- A victory in Minnesota would set up a showdown with Major League Soccer’s Sporting KC on May 28.

Friday, May 17, 2013

BECKLEY, W.Va. -- The Southern West Virginia King's Warriors will kick off their 2013 PDL campaign on Saturday night at home at the Paul Cline Memorial Youth Soccer Complex, hosting the West Virginia Chaos at 7 p.m. The King's Warriors will begin their second season in the United Soccer League's 65-team Premier Development League.

Head Coach Scott Reitnour returns for his second season at the helm of the King's Warriors. Reitnour guided the King's Warriors to a 4-10-2 record in the team's inaugural campaign. Southern West Virginia played its best soccer at the end of the season going 2-2-1 in the final five games. Scott also added to his impressive resume last fall with another North Carolina Independent School State Championship, leading Wesleyan Christian Academy of High Point, N.C. to a second consecutive title while going undefeated in the process at 25-0.

"The 2013 Warriors return a host of veteran players, approximately one-third of last year's roster," said Reitnour. "I have been impressed with the servant-leadership of our veteran players, and think that this will turn into quality performances on the pitch. We have added depth, quality, and some attacking flair to our roster and I'm looking forward to a successful 2013 campaign."

Player-Assistant Coach Harry Sherwood, who returns for his second season as a defender for Southern West Virginia, will also begin his first season on the King's Warriors coaching staff.

Sherwood finished the 2012 season tied as the King's Warriors second-leading scorer with three goals and six points. A tenacious defender, Sherwood also displays the knack to go forward and jump into the final third when the opportunity presented itself.

Sherwood's play last season with Southern West Virginia also earned him a tryout with the King's Warriors affiliate in USL PRO, the Charlotte Eagles.

"I'm really excited for the season to get underway," said Sherwood. "The league season is a pivotal part of our time together as a team, and I'm looking forward to us taking the organization forward and improving on the strides we made last year in our inaugural season."

Erik Mozzo returns in goal for the King's Warriors, and the presence of newcomer Stephen Moffitt will give Southern West Virginia a solid goaltending tandem. Mozzo started 14 of the King's Warriors 16 games last season, posting an excellent 1.40 goals against average while earning four, well-deserved shutouts. The former two-season Clemson Tigers goalkeeper transferred to Lubbock Christian University this past fall. Mozzo played in 11 games for the Golden Eagles going 5-3-1 and sporting a 1.58 goals against average.

IMPACT NEWCOMERS: The King's Warriors have added depth and quality to their 2013 roster. Newcomers include four players from the University of North Carolina - Greensboro Spartans. They include midfielder Austin Miller, forward Noah DeAngelo, defender Jhon Lopez and goalkeeper Stephen Moffitt. Miller should be a starter, with Moffitt expected to see time in net. Andres Ruiz Gama is a talented midfielder with international experience as a member of the U23 Colombian National Team. Speedy forward Billy Forbes also joins the King's Warriors after playing for the PDL's Mississippi Brilla last season. Forbes was an NAIA All-American in 2011.

INTERNATIONAL FLAVOR: Southern West Virginia will have players from 11 different countries on the 2013 roster. The countries include the United States, Canada, Colombia, Brazil, England, Ireland, Scotland, Barbados, Jamaica, South Africa, and the British territory, the Turks and Caicos Islands.

GAMES AT CARTER FIELD: The Southern West Virginia King's Warriors home to start the season will be Carter Field at the Paul Cline Memorial Youth Sports Complex. The main stadium field at the complex is unplayable at the present time due to the cold and rainy weather this spring. Carter Field is directly adjacent to the main stadium at the Paul Cline Memorial Youth Sports Complex. The King's Warriors hope to return to the main stadium field when conditions permit.

WEST VIRGINIA CHAOS PREVIEW: The King's Warriors home-opening opponent will be their in-state rival, the West Virginia Chaos. Based in Charleston, W.Va., the Chaos feature a new Head Coach this season, Predrag Ivanovic. Ivanovic is also an Assistant Soccer Coach at the University of Charleston and will double as a playing defender for the Chaos this season.

The King's Warriors will play the Chaos three times in the regular season. Last season in the two-game series, Southern West Virginia fell both time to the Chaos in two close matches 1-0 and 3-2.

TICKET INFO: Tickets for the King's Warriors home opener this Saturday night at 7 p.m. at Carter Field at the YMCA's Paul Cline Memorial Youth Sports Complex in Beckley are available by calling the team's office at (304) 466-9080, or by e-mail at wvkingswarriors@yahoo.com. Tickets will also be available at the gate.

Single-game tickets are priced at $8 for adults, $5 for students 16 years of age and under, and $5 for senior citizens 60 and over. Adult tickets purchased at least one day in advance of the match will be discounted to $5. Season tickets are also available for seven regular-season home games and one "friendly" with the Charlotte Eagles for $40.

Friday, May 17, 2013

TUCSON, Ariz. — Tuesday night’s 2-1 win against Phoenix FC in the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup is still fresh in the minds of everyone at Kino Sports Complex North. There’s really no choice. Just a day after the historic win, FC Tucson staff was scrambling to plan its road trip to San Antonio for the second round of the tournament.

But while the second round of the U.S. Open Cup is on the minds of everyone, there is still a league match to be played on Saturday night against Southern California. And it’s the home opener for the PDL season.

“The confidence is sky high and I’m sure that they feel they can beat anybody,” said FC Tucson Head Coach Rick Schantz. “The difficult part is I hope they’re not overlooking this game and thinking about the U.S. Open Cup match (on May 21).”

Schantz said he’s stressed to his players that the club’s second-round match doesn’t mean anything without a positive result on Saturday. A deep run in the U.S. Open Cup would be thrilling but without a top-two finish in league play, FC Tucson wouldn’t make it back to the U.S. Open Cup next season.

FC Tucson forward Ricardo Velasco acknowledged the excitement on the team for the U.S. Open Cup but said the team is still very focused its PDL home opener.

“Everybody’s really focused on the Seahorses,” Velasco said. “Of course everyone is looking forward to San Antonio but we can’t forget about our (PDL home opener) on Saturday.”

Added FC Tucson Captain Travis Campbell: “We have a big game in front of our home crowd. I think the guys are a little bit more focused and ready for this game.”

Last season FC Tucson won both of its matches against Southern California. The last time the Seahorses traveled to Tucson they lost 1-0 in the first PDL home match in FC Tucson’s history. In their second meeting, at Southern California, FC Tucson had its best scoring day ever, winning 4-2 in the last regular season weekend of the season.

Schantz said the staff doesn’t know as much about Southern California as they’d like. Because of a lack of game film and roster turnover, it’s difficult to fully know what FC Tucson will go up against. But Schantz believes the Seahorses will play a more defensive style and that FC Tucson will likely press a little bit more with their attack.

“We’re going to do the things that we do,” Schantz said. “We can only control what we can control and we’ll do the best that we can at it. We were very organized on our set plays; organized defensively (against Phoenix). And just like I told them before Tuesday night, if you leave everything on the field, you won’t be disappointed.”

FC Tucson opens its PDL home season against the Southern California Seahorses on Saturday night at the Kino Sports Complex North Grandstand. The match will kick off at 7:30 p.m.

FC Tucson will also be hosting the first semifinal match of the Chapman’s Champions League at 5:15 p.m. The champions of the Menlo Park League and the Guanajuato Arizona Soccer League will be squaring off. The winner of the Men’s Chapman Tucson Champions League will play FC Tucson on Saturday, July 6.

Friday, May 17, 2013

EDMONDS, Wash. — The North Sound SeaWolves will jump head-first into the Premier Development League season as they open Northwest Division play at 1 p.m. PT on Saturday afternoon at Edmonds Stadium against the Portland Timbers U-23s.

“It’s always exciting to start the season and see what you have,” new SeaWolves head coach Ed Moore said. “And against a talented team like Portland, we’re going to find out pretty quick where we stand. But our guys are ready.”

Portland is coming off a 2-0 season-opening win over the Seattle Sounders U-23 team on Thursday.

The SeaWolves are loaded with new faces but return past members Brady Ballew, Renato Bandeira and Devin Thomas. The club also features keeper Ryan Herman and midfielders Victor Vasquez and Andres Suazo-Ramirez, who have experience with the United States Youth National Team. Keegan Rogers and Nick Hamer played for the Portland Timbers U-23 team last season and Taylor Peay and Josh Heard played on a solid University of Washington team in 2012.

“We’ve got a lot of talent,” Moore said. “Guys are still learning how to play together but what I like about this group is that guys are used to winning. They come from successful programs and that confidence is going to carry over onto the field.”

The SeaWolves will have a busy Saturday morning. They’ll put on a skills clinic as part of the Health & Fitness Expo set to take place from 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at Edmonds Stadium. SeaWolves posters will be available at the My Neighborhood News Network booth. Those attending the expo can get their hand stamped for free admission to the SeaWolves game.

Tickets for Saturday’s game will be available at the Edmonds Stadium ticket booth. The cost is $10 for adults, $5 for youth ages 8-18 and kids under 7 are free.

Those unable to attend the match can follow a live broadcast of the game by logging in at www.seawolvesfc.com, www.uslNation.com/pdl or www.myedmondsnews.com.

The SeaWolves are a member of the Northwest Division of the Premier Development League, the highest level of amateur soccer in the United States. The team plays its home games at Edmonds Stadium between May and July.

Thursday, May 16, 2013

VANCOUVER, B.C. -- Vancouver Whitecaps FC U-23 return to United Soccer Leagues (USL) Premier Development League (PDL) action on Friday when they host provincial rivals Victoria Highlanders FC at UBC’s Thunderbird Stadium. Kickoff will be at 7 p.m. PT. The match is free to the public, while updates can also be followed on Twitter through @WhitecapsMatch.

The ‘Caps opened their season with an exciting 2-1 come-from-behind win over the Kitsap Pumas last Friday at Thunderbird Stadium.

After going down a goal after six minutes, the ‘Caps stormed back late in the second half on goals from Cam Hundal and substitute Spencer DeBoice.

“This match will be another big challenge for our group,” noted head coach Stuart Neely. “We need to play better defensively and be quicker in our build-up play. Last match we adjusted our approach in the second half and the boys responded well. We cannot take Victoria lightly, so we need to be tactically and mentally prepared.”

The Highlanders are led by former Whitecaps FC women’s team assistant coach Steve Simonson in his first year in charge.

Victoria is looking to improve from its 2012 season when they finished in sixth place in the Northwest division, one spot behind Whitecaps FC U-23. Like the ‘Caps, the Highlanders defeated the Kitsap Pumas at home to begin their season, earning a 3-0 result at Royal Athletic Park in Victoria on May 4.

HEAD-TO-HEAD

The ‘Caps have an all-time record of 5W-2L-3D against Victoria Highlanders FC since they joined the PDL in 2009, including a 3W-1L-1D record at home.

JUAN DE FUCA PLATE

Friday’s match will be the first of the season in the battle for the Juan de Fuca Plate, a supporter-sponsored competition crowning the best PDL team from British Columbia. In its inaugural year in 2012, the Juan de Fuca Plate was contested between Fraser Valley Mariners, Vancouver Whitecaps FC, and Victoria Highlanders FC. Vancouver won the inaugural title in 2012.

With the Mariners dropping out of the PDL this year, the competition will be contested between Whitecaps FC and Victoria and will be based on their three-game head-to-head series. For more information on the Juan de Fuca Plate, visit http://www.juandefucaplate.ca.

Thursday, May 16, 2013

TAMPA, Fla. – VSI Tampa Bay FC PDL Head Coach Sheldon Cipriani faces his former club, the Ocala Stampede, in the team's home opener on Friday evening at Plant City Stadium. Kickoff is scheduled for 7:30 p.m., coming immediately following VSI’s W-League home opener.

Players to watch on VSI Tampa Bay FC’s PDL side include former Stampede center back Alex Harrison, whose leadership is helping VSI stay organized early on this season. Two local University of South Florida standouts Stiven Salinas and Ricardo Webb are set to make immediate impacts for Cipriani this season as well. Salinas delivers guile and creativity to VSI’s front line while Webb’s pace and energy helps Harrison hold down the back.

This Friday’s matchup is a heartfelt battle with many ties between Ocala and VSI. The Stampede are led by Head Coach Cheyne Roberts, the brother of VSI Tampa Bay FC Director of Soccer Clay Roberts. Cipriani and a few of VSI Tampa Bay FC’s players on the PRO and PDL made the transition from Ocala to Tampa Bay this season.

The Stampede enter Plant City Stadium this Friday after a massive franchise first. The Stampede advanced to the second round of the 100th edition of the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup on Tuesday night after defeating Red Force. After a 4-2 victory the Stampede will face USL PRO's Orlando City on Tuesday night in Ocala, while VSI's USL PRO side faces the Tampa Bay Rowdies at Plant City Stadium that same evening.

All of VSI Tampa Bay FC’s 2013 PRO, PDL and W-League home matches will be played at VSI’s home field, Plant City Stadium, which is located at 1810 East Park Road, Plant City, Florida 33563.  Entry into Friday’s W-League and PDL home opener double-header is free and donations are welcome. Gates open at 4 p.m. ET.

PORTLAND, Ore. – A goal by midfielder Eric Miller and forward Zack Foxhoven in each half helped guide the Portland Timbers U-23s to a 2-0 win against Northwest Division-rival Sounders FC U-23 before 3,681 fans on a Providence Health & Fitness Day on Thursday afternoon at JELD-WEN Field.

After trading a few early chances, the Timbers U-23s opened the scoring on Miller’s goal in the 25th minute. Portland added a second goal 15 minutes into the second half as Foxhoven took advantage of a free ball in the box. Backed by five saves from goalkeeper David Meves, the Timbers U-23s held firm against the Sounders FC U-23 attack to secure the shut-out victory in their 2013 Premier Development League season opener.

Miller and Foxhoven scored their first goals of the season in league play, forward Mark Sherrod and midfielder Gabriel Conelian each registered assists as the Timbers U-23s (1-0-0, 3pts) earned their first win over the Sounders FC U-23 (0-1-0, 0pts).

In the 25th minute, Miller received a pass from Conelian and then worked the ball into open space near the top left corner of the box. Miller drove a shot into the top far corner of the goal for his first tally of the season.

Portland doubled its lead, 2-0, in the 65th minute on a play off a set piece. A free kick into the penalty area was headed on by Sherrod near the right post and the ball deflected down in front of goal. Foxhoven worked into position to knock the ball into the back of an open net as Seattle defenders attempted to track back towards goal.

Meves made three saves in the first half to help keep Sounders FC U-23 at bay, including a diving save in the 28th minute on a shot from distance by forward David Geno, who scored four goals for Sounders FC U-23 in their U.S. Open Cup match on Tuesday. Meves turned in another key save in the 54th minute, pushing high a shot by defender Michael Uyehara from roughly 20 yards out with a diving effort.

Sounders FC U-23 had chances in the second half to cut into the deficit. Midfielder Adbul Aman lifted a shot from inside 10 yards over the crossbar in the 70th minute – one of his team-high three shots. Eight minutes later, midfielder Miles Byass drove a shot from just beyond the top right corner of the penalty area over the mark.

Timbers U-23s defender Bryan Gallego denied a scoring chance for Seattle in the 88th minute, heading a shot by Sounders FC U-23 defender Josh Phillips off the goal line. Gallego also made a timely tackle inside the penalty area in the first half to prevent a quality look for Aman in the 17th minute.

The Timbers U-23s close out their first week of the regular season on Saturday as they visit North Sound SeaWolves FC at Edmonds-Woodway High School at 1 p.m. (Pacific).

Thursday, May 16, 2013

TAMPA, Fla. – The PDL announced today its Team of the Week for the second week of the season, with Reading United forward Mario Pinto Neto being honored as the Player of the Week. Pinto Neto recorded a hat trick in United’s season-opening 8-0 victory against the Westchester Flames to claim the weekly honor.

In pursuit of its sixth consecutive playoff berth, Reading got its season off to a flying start on Saturday night. Pinto Neto scored the club’s first goal of the season, heading home from inside the penalty area, and he added a second in the 59th minute, finishing an opportunity created by Larry Ndjock. The young Brazilian completed his hat trick seven minutes later, firing home a first-time finish from a corner.

Joining Pinto Neto in the Team of the Week attack were Austin’s Tucker Hume, who scored the game-winning goal while playing a key role in the Aztex’s 2-1 victory against Oklahoma City FC. Ventura County’s Chase Minter was also selected after he scored a pair of second-half goals, including the game-winner, in the Fusion’s 3-1 win against the BYU Cougars.

F.A. Euro – New York Magic goalkeeper Alex Naples was named to the team after earning his side a point with a 13-save shutout in a 0-0 draw against the NJ LUSO Rangers on Sunday afternoon. He is joined in defense by CFC Azul’s Jonny Raj, who played a key role in his club’s 3-0 win against the Real Boston Rams, and Fresno’s Jorge Gutierrez, whose leadership was key as the Fuego earned a point against BYU.

GPS Portland’s Gilbert Mainer earned his selection after scoring the game-winning goal for the Phoenix against Vermont, while Houston’s Walter Krombholtz had a standout performance as the Dutch Lions earned a draw with defending division champion Laredo.

Carolina midfielder Brandt Bronico led the midfield selections, with the 17-year-old scoring the opening goal of the season for the Dynamo in their 3-0 win against Virginia Beach. He was joined by Vancouver’s Cam Hundal, who played a key role in the Whitecaps U-23’s win against Kitsap, and Laredo’s Alejandro de la Garza, whose stoppage-time goal earned his side a point against Houston.

PDL Team of the Week

Pos	Player	Team	Highlights
GK	Alex Naples	F.A. Euro	Recorded 13-save shutout against NJ LUSO Rangers
D	Jonny Raj	CFC Azul	Played key role in 3-0 win against Real Boston
D	Jorge Gutierrez	Fresno	Led defense in shutout against BYU
D	Gilbert Manier	GPS Portland	Scored game-winning goal against Vermont
D	Walter Krombholtz	Houston	Held defense’s shape, and was dangerous from set pieces
M	Cam Hundal	Vancouver	Played a pivotal role in Whitecaps’ win against Kitsap
M	Brandt Bronico	Carolina	17-year-old had a goal in impressive debut for Dynamo
M	Alejandro de la Garza	Laredo	Scored stoppage-time equalizer against Houston
F	Mario Pinto Neto	Reading	Had a hat trick as United defeated Westchester
F	Tucker Hume	Austin	Scored game-winning goal as Aztex rallied to victory
F	Chase Minter	Ventura County	Pair of goals led Fusion to victory against BYU

Honorable Mention – Austin: Tony Rocha; Carolina: Hakan Ilhan, Sebastian Ibeagha; CFC Azul: Mario DiMiceli; El Paso: George Lara, Franciso De Anda; F.A. Euro: Alex Billington, Adam Maabdi; Fresno: Abraham Campos; GPS Portland: Neil Harries, Richardo Isreal; Houston: Jaimy Sharp; Kitsap: Dustyn Brim; LA Misioneros: Leonid Sharf; Laredo: Emmanuel Frias; OC Blues: Christopher Santana; Oklahoma City: Adam Black; Reading: Manolo Sanchez, Ben Sweat; Southern California: Alex Anderson; SW Florida: Lewis Hilton, Damian Vincent; Tucson: Aaron Long, Greg Carter; Vancouver: Derrick Bassi; Ventura County: Patrick Otte, Francisco Lopez; West Texas: Andres Maldonado.

WEST DES MOINES, Iowa – With a chip over the goalkeeper’s head, Jimmy Tulloch lifted the Des Moines Menace to their first home win in the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup since 2006. The Menace got past the Madison 56ers, 1-0, on Wednesday night at Valley Stadium, setting up a second-round matchup at pro side Minnesota United F.C. next Tuesday night. 

“It feels great to score for the Menace, especially in this tournament that the club takes so much pride in,” Tulloch said.

The Jamaican forward scored in the 50th minute, following an offensive flurry by the home team. The win snaps a streak of futility in home matches in the national tournament; Des Moines lost Open Cup matches on this field in 2010, 2011 and 2012, by a combined 4-0 margin.

On the attack for most of the night, the Menace controlled and moved the ball with ease throughout the middle third of the pitch. Des Moines was unable to find the back of the net in the first half, despite launching five shots on goal and receiving eight corner kicks in the first 45 minutes.

The home team came out with vengeance after halftime, and it paid off just five minutes into the second stanza.

“I’m happy and relieved,” Mike Jeffries said of his first win as the Menace’s head coach. “Credit to the guys. I thought they did a good job maintaining their composure, pushing in the second half and getting the win.”

The victory improves the Menace’s all-time Open Cup mark to 9-7, and it sets up a rematch with Minnesota, which knocked Des Moines out of last year’s cup, 2-0.

“I think our mentality and concentration will be top notch (at Minnesota),” said Jeffries. “Most of the guys here want to play professionally. This is a big opportunity to show themselves in a big game.”

In the final match of the 2013 Open Cup’s first round – and the only one decided by a 1-0 count – the Menace become the 12th Premier Development League team (out of 16 in the 68-team tournament) to advance to the second round.

With tonight’s dose of confidence, following a season-opening 1-1 draw at Springfield (Mo.) on May 11, the Menace prepares for its PDL home opener this Saturday against WSA Winnipeg.

MAN of the MATCH, presented by Seneca Companies: Jimmy Tulloch, whose goal caught 56ers goalie Ryan Onwukewe out of position. Tulloch is a native of Kingston, Jamaica who prepares for his senior year at Central Florida.

“Fans can expect a lot of goals from our team this year,” Tulloch said. “We’ve got the speed, the skill, the creativity, a lot of talent. Very exciting to watch.”

UP NEXT: The Menace plays its second home match in four days. Saturday’s match is preceded by the Menace women’s team’s home opener, at 4:30 p.m., also against WSA Winnipeg. The first 300 fans will receive magnet schedules. All PDL home matches start at 7:30 p.m.

Thursday, May 16, 2013

PONTIAC, Mich. -- The Michigan Bucks are using Tuesday night's U.S. Open Cup loss to the Dearborn Stars as a valuable learning experience as they get ready to open their 18th Premier Development League regular season on the road Friday night against the Chicago Inferno. The Bucks only game so far this season was this week's Cup game, where they were defeated 2-0 at home against the Stars. The loss was the Bucks first ever defeat by an amateur team in their 10 appearances in the Lamar Hunt Open Cup tournament. Friday's opponent, the Inferno, open their second PDL season by hosting the Bucks at Wheaton College.

Bucks first-year head coach Demir Muftari, was unsurprisingly disappointed with the team's early exit from the tournament, but identified a variety of talent in the match.

"The challenge for us is playing the Open Cup game with only a week of training with this year's club," Muftari said. "Tuesday night we played several players who are very talented but have yet to even participate in one team training this season due to late arrival from college.

"Take nothing away from the Stars. They were well prepared and executed a very good strategy against us, and it worked for them. We made one major mistake and they made us pay for it. Going forward, we know what we need to clean up, but what we really need is some time to gel together. I think once these players get to know each other, they have the ability to be a special group. As much as we are all very disappointed to not advance in the Open Cup, we all realize that this may have been the best preparation we could have had leading into the regular season, where we need a result each game to defend our Great Lakes title."

The Stars played in their first ever US Open Cup, but they had some valuable past experience on their side. Dearborn head coach Sam Piraine and Stars goal scorer Nik Djokic both played and scored for the Bucks in previous Open Cup matches. Piraine scored a huge goal against the Miami Fusion in 2000 and Djokic scored two goals against the Richmond Kickers in 2007.

"There is no question that this team was prepared for the challenge on Tuesday. I think their strategy to kind of sit back and see how dangerous we were going to be in the first half paid off for them," said Bucks Director of Coaching Gary Parsons. "When they saw that our attacking players were not connected and got to halftime 0-0, they got the feeling they could attack a bit more in the second half."

The game-winning goal came in the 58th minute when a Dearborn shot was saved by Bucks goal keeper Adam Grinwis but the short hopper caused a rebound at the six yard box when an opportunistic Djokic calmly poked home the rebound.

"We kind of fell asleep defensively on that one," said Parsons.

Michigan appeared to have figured out the Stars stingy defense with continuous attacking from Tom Catalano, Will Walker and Zach Steinberger, but none of the midfielders or forwards Nazeem Bartman and Dion Peters could get on the end of the elusive equalizer.
While the Bucks continued to attack for the final thirty plus minutes, they just couldn't get the game tying goal past Stars keeper Vito Lonigro. Djokic knocked home an insurance goal in the 93rd minute after catching the Bucks in an all-out final attempt to equalize. The Stars will move on to round two next Tuesday in Dayton and the Bucks will turn their entire focus to the 14-game regular season.

The Bucks will return home for their first home game of the season on Saturday, May 25, when the Canton Cup hosts the Bucks for the sixth consecutive year. This year the Bucks will take on the River City Rovers from Louisville, Ky. in a 12 p.m. kickoff on Field 3 at Independence Park in Canton. Admission to the game is free courtesy of the Canton Cup organizing committee.

The Buck next home game at Ultimate Soccer Arenas is Saturday, June 1 against K-W United from Canada. Kickoff is 7:30 p.m. and special priced pre-sale tickets can be purchased on line at www.buckssoccer.com or call the Bucks office at 248-334-7460.

Wednesday, May 15, 2013

CHICAGO – The third-round possible pairings and locations for the 2013 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup were announced today as Major League Soccer’s 16 domestic clubs kick off the tournament on May 28 or 29.

Defending champion Sporting Kansas City begins its title defense on May 28 and will host either Minnesota United FC or the PDL’s Des Moines Menace. Sporting won the 2012 U.S. Open Cup in a penalty kick shootout against three-time champion Seattle Sounders FC on Aug. 8, 2012.

The 2013 U.S. Open Cup marks the 100th edition of the tournament as U.S. Soccer is in the midst of its Centennial celebration. Following tonight’s Des Moines/Madison game, the tournament will reach the second-round stage on Tuesday, May 21.

For a full breakdown of the upcoming schedule and previous results, complete with venue information, visit the following 2013 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup pages:

• 2013 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup Tournament Home
• 2013 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup Schedule

THIRD ROUND SCHEDULE

37. Philadelphia Union (MLS) at Pittsburgh Riverhounds (USL PRO)
Highmark Stadium; Pittsburgh, Pa.
Tuesday, May 28, at 7 p.m. ET

OR

Ocean City Nor’easters (PDL) at Philadelphia Union (MLS)
PPL Park; Chester, Pa.
Tuesday, May 28, at 7:30 p.m. ET

38. D.C. United (MLS) at Richmond Kickers (USL PRO)
Richmond City Stadium; Richmond, Va.
Tuesday, May 28, at 7 p.m. ET

OR

Icon FC (USASA) at D.C. United (MLS)
Maryland SoccerPlex; Boyds, Md.
Tuesday, May 28 at 7 p.m. ET

39. New England Revolution (MLS) at Rochester Rhinos (USL PRO)
Sahlen’s Stadium; Rochester, N.Y.
Tuesday, May 28, at 7:35 p.m. ET

OR

GPS Portland Phoenix (PDL) at New England Revolution (MLS)
Harvard University; Cambridge, Mass.
Tuesday, May 28, at 7:30 p.m. ET

40. Chicago Fire (MLS) at Charlotte Eagles (USL PRO)
Winthrop University Stadium; Rock Hill, S.C.
Tuesday, May 28, at 7 p.m. ET

OR

Sounders FC U-23 (PDL) at Chicago Fire (MLS)
Toyota Park; Bridgeview, Ill.
Tuesday, May 28, at 7:30 p.m. CT

41. Colorado Rapids (MLS) at Orlando City SC (USL PRO)
Florida Citrus Bowl; Orlando, Fla.
Tuesday, May 28, at 7:30 p.m. ET

OR

Ocala Stampede (PDL) at Colorado Rapids (MLS)
Dick’s Sporting Goods Park; Commerce City, Colo.
Tuesday, May 28, at 7 p.m. MT

42. FC Dallas (MLS) at Fort Lauderdale Strikers (NASL)
Lockhart Stadium; Fort Lauderdale, Fla.
Tuesday, May 28, at 7:30 p.m. ET

OR

FC Dallas (MLS) at Laredo Heat SC (PDL)
Texas A&M International Soccer Complex; Laredo, Texas
Tuesday, May 28, at 8:15 p.m. CT

43. San Jose Earthquakes (MLS) at Charleston Battery (USL PRO)
Blackbaud Stadium; Charleston, S.C.
Tuesday, May 28, at 7:30 p.m. ET

OR

San Jose Earthquakes (MLS) at Portland Timbers U-23s (PDL)
JELD-WEN Field; Portland, Ore.
Tuesday, May 28, at 7:30 p.m. PT

44. Minnesota United FC (NASL)/Des Moines Menace (PDL) winner at Sporting Kansas City (MLS)
Sporting Park; Kansas City, Kan.
Tuesday, May 28, at 7:30 p.m. CT

45. Atlanta Silverbacks (NASL)/Georgia Revolution (NPSL) winner at Real Salt Lake (MLS)
Rio Tinto Stadium; Sandy, Utah
Tuesday, May 28, at 7:30 p.m. MT

46. Chivas USA (MLS) at L.A. Blues (USL PRO)
Titan Stadium; Fullerton, Calif.
Tuesday, May 28, at 7:30 p.m. PT

OR

Chivas USA (MLS) at Ventura County Fusion (PDL)
Ventura College; Ventura, Calif.
Tuesday, May 28, at 7 p.m. PT

47. LA Galaxy (MLS) at Carolina RailHawks (NASL)
WakeMed Soccer Park; Cary, N.C.
Wednesday, May 29, at 7:15 p.m. ET

OR

LA Galaxy (MLS) at Carolina Dynamo (PDL)
Macpherson Stadium; Greensboro, N.C.
Wednesday, May 29, at 7 p.m. ET

48. Dayton Dutch Lions/Dearborn Stars (USASA) winner at Columbus Crew (MLS)
Columbus Crew Stadium; Columbus, Ohio
Wednesday, May 29, at 7:30 p.m. ET

49. Harrisburg City Islanders (USL PRO)/Reading United AC (PDL) winner at New York Red Bulls (MLS)
Red Bull Arena; Harrison, N.J.
Wednesday, May 29, at 7:30 p.m. ET

50. Houston Dynamo (MLS) at San Antonio Scorpions (NASL)
Toyota Field; San Antonio, Texas
Wednesday, May 29, at 7:30 p.m. CT

OR

FC Tucson (PDL) at Houston Dynamo (MLS)
BBVA Compass Stadium; Houston, Texas
Wednesday, May 29, at 7:30 p.m. CT

51. Seattle Sounders (MLS) at Tampa Bay Rowdies (NASL)
Al Lang Stadium; St. Petersburg, Fla.
Wednesday, May 29, at 7:30 p.m. ET

OR

VSI Tampa Bay FC (USL PRO) at Seattle Sounders (MLS)
Starfire Sports Complex; Tukwila, Wash.
Wednesday, May 29, at 7 p.m. PT

52. Wilmington Hammerheads (USL PRO)/Austin Aztex (PDL) winner at Portland Timbers (MLS)
JELD-WEN Field; Portland, Ore.
Wednesday, May 29, at 7:30 p.m. PT

CLINTON, Miss.- Mississippi Brilla adds four more players to their talented 2013 squad. Logan Miller and Greg Pestana from Hannibal-LaGrange University and Martin Gonzalez and Misha Kolemasov from John Brown University will suit up for Brilla this season as they attempt a return to the playoffs.

Logan Miller, a sophomore goalkeeper from Quincy, Ill., started 18 games in goal for the Trojans in 2012. Miller earned his roster spot after impressing Coach Drew Courtney in an open tryout in March. He will look to compete for the starting goalkeeper role and anchor what Coach Courtney hopes will be a strong defense.

Joining Miller in defense is his college teammate Greg Pestana. Pestana, a sophomore defender from Sao Paulo, Brazil started 21 games for the Trojans in 2012, scoring one goal. He joins four other Brazilians on the Brilla roster.

Martin Gonzalez, a sophomore forward from Houston scored five goals and added three assists for John Brown University in 2012. Brilla will hope he can continue his form and find the net this summer.

Looking to link up with Gonzalez is his Golden Eagle teammate, Misha Kolemasov. Kolemasov is a midfielder from Russia who missed his 2012 college season recovering from a broken leg.

"Misha's ability to link with players is a real strength," said a confident Coach Courtney. "His vision and ability to deliver a ball can really make an impact on the game."

Brilla kicks off on the road on May 23rd in Fort Lauderdale, Fla. and plays the Southwest Florida Adrenaline two days later in Naples. The team will play their home opener on May 31 at Clinton High School at 7 PM when they host the Ocala Stampede.

Purchase season tickets online at brillasoccer.org/tickets.

Wednesday, May 15, 2013

EL PASO, Texas -- The El Paso Patriots of the Premier Development League (PDL) announced today that Francisco “Paco” Chavez is taking over head coaching duties for the team that will play its 2013 home games at the Student Activities Complex (SAC) of the Socorro Independent School District.

Former head coach Hugo Samano will become Assistant Head Coach and Director of Operations for the Patriots effective immediately. The Patriots, representing the highest level of soccer played in El Paso, will open their 2013 home schedule at the SAC against Oklahoma City FC at 7:30 p.m. CT on Thursday, May 23 with Coach Chavez at the helm.

“We are so excited to have Paco Chavez back with the El Paso Patriots," said Patriots Vice President Diana Cervantes. "He was very successful here previously coaching the Patriots from 1996-2000. He also brings Mexican Division 1 playing and coaching experience to the mix. He played for Atlas de Guadalajara and Tecos de UAG among others. In addition to coaching the Patriots, he also coached Tecos de UAG and Cobras de Ciudad Juarez.”

Also of note is the fact that Paco Chavez’ son Darvin Francisco Chavez is a defender for Rayados de Monterrey and was a member of the Mexico's 2012 Olympic Team that claimed the gold medal in London.

The Patriots' home opener will be followed up two days later with the club's second home game at 7:30 p.m. on Saturday, May 25 against the Texas Dutch Lions. The Patriots are coming off of a 2-2 season-opening tie against the West Texas Sockers in Midland Saturday night.

“That result was a solid performance on the road to open the 2013 season, earning one point in the standings,” said Cervantes. “The move to the SAC will provide a great soccer experience for our fans. The SAC has been recently renovated and the playing surface is fantastic. We invite all of our fans to come enjoy a fun, family-oriented soccer experience with the Patriots on May 23rd and May 25th.”

The 2013 El Paso Patriots team will consist primarily of players from the El Paso/Las Cruces/Cd. Juarez area. Tickets will be just $6 for adults and $4 for children ages 3-12 and are now on sale at Dream Arena, 6969 Industrial Ave., El Paso, TX, 79915. For more information call (915) 771-6620 or www.elpasopatriots.com.

In recognition of the move to the SAC, all SISD students and staff will be admitted free to the games on May 23rd and 25th with their student or employee ID card or school logo shirt.

Wednesday, May 15, 2013

EDMONDS, Wash. —A year ago, the North Sound SeaWolves FC was one of a handful of Premier Development League teams that offered a live blog of their matches. In 2013, the team has taken it to another level.

The Edmonds-based SeaWolves will be one of the few PDL teams that will offer a live videostream of all their home games online to anyone with a computer, laptop, tablet or smart phone. The team is partnering with the My Neighborhood News network – publisher of My Edmonds News, Lynnwood Today and MLT News – to present all seven home games live.

The SeaWolves Live Broadcast Network, presented by Brien Ford, will debut with the club’s season-opener on this Saturday at Edmonds Stadium against the Portland Timbers U-23 team. The pre-game show begins at about 12:45 p.m. with kickoff set for 1 p.m. Fans can access the broadcast by going to www.uslNation.com/pdl, then finding the SeaWolves match, or by visiting www.seawolvesfc.com and by visiting the My Neighborhood News sites. Every game will also be archived on the league site for later viewing.

“This is such an exciting step for the team,” SeaWolves owner Alex Silva said. “To be able to let fans see our games anywhere in the world is going to be such a great thing. It’s also going to be a great recruiting tool for us, and to be one of the only teams in the league to offer this, it’s a big step for this club.”

Play-by-play duties for the games will be shared by veteran broadcasters Nathan Murphy and Keith Nealey. Both handled play-by-play for live audio broadcasts of Edmonds-Woodway High School sporting events and they’ll be joined each game by guest color commentators.

Besides Everett-based Brien Ford, other broadcast partners include Edmonds Waterfront Coffee and Lynnwood Honda.

“We reached a lot of fans last year with our live blog,” SeaWolves General Manager Jim Underhill said. “But having a live video broadcast where fans can watch the game from anywhere is a huge step. We’re thankful to all those involved who helped put this together. It’s going to be a really exciting thing for our fans and our players.”

The SeaWolves are a member of the Northwest Division of the Premier Development League, the highest level of amateur soccer in the United States. The team plays its home games at Edmonds Stadium between May and July.