Kickers Coach and Defender USL PRO award finalists

USL PRO has announced the finalists for its 2011 awards honoring the Most Valuable Player, Rookie of the Year, Defender of the Year, Goalkeeper of the Year and Coach of the Year from the 2011 season. The winners will be announced at Friday’s awards ceremony prior to the 2011 USL PRO Championship Game in Orlando, Florida.

Orlando City, which will face the Harrisburg City Islanders in Saturday night’s USL PRO Championship Game (7 p.m. ET, FOX Soccer), has four individuals named to the list of finalists.  The Wilmington Hammerheads have three finalists competing for awards, while the Richmond Kickers and F.C. New York each have two.

  

Votes for the USL PRO honors are submitted by USL PRO team management, and finalists are determined based on total All-League votes.

2011 USL PRO Award Finalists

   

Coach of the Year

Leigh Cowlishaw,  Richmond Kickers               

Adrian Heath, Orlando City               

David Irving, Wilmington Hammerheads

Defender of the Year

Gareth Evans, Wilmington Hammerheads                

Rob Valentino, Orlando City                                

William Yomby, Richmond Kickers

Tribe Players earn National Honors, Rookie of the Week

Tribe’s Nicolas Abrigo Earns National Honors
Courtesy TribeAthletics.com
Mon, August 29, 2011

WILLIAMSBURG, Va. - After scoring a pair of goals in the College's upset win at No. 5-ranked SMU on Saturday night, William and Mary Tribe men's soccer senior Nicolas Abrigo earned three national honors on Monday.  Abrigo was named to both the College Soccer News and Top Drawer Soccer "National Teams of the Week" and he was also named CAA Player of the Week.

The "National Team of the Week" honors are the third and fourth, respectively, in Abrigo's career, while the CAA Player of the Week accolade is his first.  Last year, Abrigo was named to both national teams on November 15 after scoring four goals in helping the Tribe win the 2010 CAA Tournament.  Dating back to last season's CAA semifinals, Abrigo has scored six goals in his last five matches.

This past Saturday (August 27) against No. 5-ranked SMU, Abrigo scored both the game tying and the game-winning goals for the Tribe in its 3-2 win.  Abrigo netted the equalizer in the 37th minute on a great cross from sophomore John Ciampa.  Then in the 60th minute, Abrigo fired a shot from 20 yards out that deflected off a SMU defender and in to the goal for the match winner.

The No. 13-ranked William and Mary Tribe men's soccer team will return home to Williamsburg to face the St. John's Red Storm on Thursday, September 1.  Kickoff at Martin Family Stadium at Albert-Daly Field is scheduled for 7 p.m.

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Tribe’s Emily Fredrikson Named CAA Rookie of the Week
Courtesy TribeAthletics.com
Mon, August 29, 2011

RICHMOND, Va. - After helping the College win the VCYU Tournament this past weekend, William and Mary Tribe women's soccer freshman Emily Fredrikson was named CAA Rookie of the Week, the league office announced on Monday.  The honor is the first in the career for Fredrikson.

Fredrikson, an Ashburn, Virginia native, was a key component in the Tribe posting a pair of shutout victories this past weekend in the VCU Tournament.  On August 26, the College beat Appalachian State, 2-0, before defeating Marshall on August 28, 4-0.  For her efforts, Fredrikson was named the VCU Tournament MVP and to the All-Tournament team.

With its 4-0 win over Marshall on August 28, the Tribe has opened the season with three-straight shutout wins for just the second time in program history.  The last time the College accomplished the feat was during the 1993 season when W&M started the year with four-straight shutout victories.

The William and Mary Tribe women's soccer team will return to Williamsburg to host the Nike Tribe Fairfield Inn & Suites by Marriott Invitational on September 2-4.  The College will open the tournament against No. 13-ranked Georgetown on Friday, September 2.  Kickoff at Martin Family Stadium is scheduled for 7 p.m.

Yomby and Delicâte named USL PRO All-League First Team

Two members of the Richmond Kickers where selected to the 2011 USL PRO All-League First Team today. Defender William Yomby and Forward Matt Delicâte where recognised for their outstanding play this season.

USL PRO honored the top performers from an exciting and successful 2011 regular season today, naming the All-League First and Second Teams as chosen through a vote of team management.

USL PRO regular season champion Orlando City leads the way with four players selected to the First Team and a total of six players honored. The Lions, who will host Saturday’s USL PRO Championship against the Harrisburg City Islanders (7 p.m. ET, FOX Soccer), are represented at every position on the First Team after the selections of striker Maxwell Griffin, midfielder Yordany Alvarez, defender Rob Valentino and goalkeeper Miguel Gallardo.

Wilmington Hammerheads defender Gareth Evans is making his second consecutive appearance on the First Team, while Richmond Kickers defensive leader William Yomby and Richmond striker Matt Delicâte are honored for the third consecutive season. Remarkably, Charlotte Eagles set-up man Jorge Herrera is on the First Team for the fourth consecutive season after finishing second in the league in assists.

League scoring leader Jhonny Arteaga of F.C. New York was a natural choice for one of the three forward spots after tallying 13 goals and 27 points in 21 games. Rounding out the USL PRO All-League First Team is former MLS defender Nelson Akwari of the Los Angeles Blues and rookie midfield standout Luke Mulholland of Wilmington, who finished tied for second in points.

The finalists for Coach of the Year, Defender of the Year, Rookie of the Year and Most Valuable Player will be announced on Wednesday, August 31, with the awards being presented at the USL PRO Championship Media Luncheon on Friday, September 2 in Orlando.


2011 USL PRO All-League First Team
GK – Miguel Gallardo, Orlando City
D – Nelson Akwari, Los Angeles Blues
D – Gareth Evans, Wilmington Hammerheads
D – Rob Valentino, Orlando City
D – William Yomby, Richmond KickersMF – Yordany Alvarez, Orlando City
MF – Jorge Herrera, Charlotte Eagles
MF – Luke Mulholland, Wilmington Hammerheads
F – Jhonny Arteaga, F.C. New York
F – Matt Delicâte, Richmond KickersF – Maxwell Griffin, Orlando City

2011 USL PRO All-League Second Team
GK – Neal Kitson, Rochester Rhinos
D – George Dublin, Antigua Barracuda
D – Colin Falvey, Charleston Battery
D – Kyle Hoffer, F.C. New York
D – Troy Roberts, Rochester Rhinos
MF – Lewis Neal, Orlando City
MF – Lawson Robinson, Antigua Barracuda
MF – Jamie Watson, Orlando City
F – Jose Angulo, Harrisburg City Islanders
F – George Davis IV, Dayton Dutch Lions
F – Jason Yeisley, Pittsburgh Riverhounds

Virginia men destroy Richmond 7-1

The University of Virginia left no doubt who the number one mens team in the state is on Monday night.

The No. 11 Virginia men's soccer team scored four goals in a nine-minute span in the first half to break open a scoreless match and roll to a 7-1 win over Richmond Monday evening in front of 1,786 spectators in the home opener at Klöckner Stadium. UVa also scored three goals in a 12-minute period of the second half.

"We played well tonight and were probably a little wounded after our last game (against West Virginia)," Virginia head coach George Gelnovatch said. "Give Richmond and coach Clint Peay credit. They played very hard."

Virginia men vs. Richmond: Highlights

Will Bates scored a pair of goals and dished out two assists for Virginia (1-1-0) as he tied a career high with his six-point effort. UVa received goals from six others in rolling to the win.

True freshman Spencer LaCivita earned his first career win in goal after stopping four shots. Richmond goalkeeper Thomas Hand made eight saves. LaCivita was one of five UVa freshmen in the starting lineup and one of 11 who saw 10 or minutes of action Monday.

Virginia held a dominating 28-8 edge in shots, including a 16-5 advantage in shots on goal. Both teams attempted five corner kicks.

The teams played 27 scoreless minutes before the Cavaliers broke loose for four goals in a wild nine-minute span. Brian Span started the scoring after a great cross into the box from Bates and finished by ripping it past Hand. Just over four minutes later, Ari Dimas cranked from 25 yards out and perfectly placed it in the far left corner to push the lead to 2-0.

UVa scored 53 seconds later, as Bates lofted a cross across the box to freshman Chris Somerville, who powered home his shot from six yards out for his first career goal. Richmond (0-1-0) answered just 43 seconds later as Timmy Albright headed in a corner kick from Spencer Schiff, but UVa quickly quashed the UR momentum with another goal just over two minutes later. After Bates was pulled down in the box in the 36th minute, he was awarded a penalty kick and calmly finished it to push the UVa lead to 4-1.

UVa went 20 minutes without a goal in the second half before scoring three times in just under 12 minutes. After a great lead pass from Dimas, Bates broke away and dribbled around the goalkeeper before tapping in his second goal of the evening in the 66th minute. After a host of substitutions, the Cavalier reserves got into the act as freshman Kyle McCord, on his first career shot, slipped a goal just inside the right post off an assist from fellow rookie Calvin Rezende.

UVa concluded its scoring onslaught in the 78th minute when McCord crossed to Felipe Libreros, who touched it past Hand for the goal.

Virginia will compete in the Hilton Garden Hokie Invitational this weekend in Blacksburg. UVa will battle Cincinnati at 5 p.m. Friday before matching up with Wisconsin at noon Sunday.

Virginia Colleges make SoccerAmerica Top 25

Soccer America Men's Top 25
TEAM (2011 RECORD) LAST WEEK

19. William & Mary (1-0-0) NR
22. Virginia (0-1-0) 11
25. Old Dominion (0-0-0) 25

Soccer America Women's Top 25 (Aug. 29)
TEAM (2011 RECORD) LAST WEEK

14. Virginia (3-0-0) 15
25. Virginia Tech (4-0-0) NR

Hope Solo to compete on Dancing with the Stars

photo: property of ABC.com

Last night ABC TV announced the cast for the upcoming season of Dancing with the Stars. Guess who was named to participate, none other than USWNT goalkeeper and 2011 Women's World Cup star Hope Solo.

Solo has been a marketing machine since returning this summer from Germany, having already inked deals with Gatorade and Bank of America. There have also been rumors that Solo will be posing nude for ESPN The Magazine.

So, with all this recent publicity you have to wonder is Hope quickly becoming bigger than women's soccer? Is she forging a new path for future generations of women's soccer players in America. And, will any/all of this marketing and self promotion help bring much needed attention to the struggling Women's Professional Soccer league?


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Pontius to join teammate Hamid on USMNT roster

Add yet another D.C. United player to the growing list of the members of the Black and Red that have been called into action for their national teams.

U.S. Soccer announced today that D.C. United midfielder Chris Pontius has been called-up to the U.S. Men’s National Team for two friendly matches against Costa Rica and Belgium. Jurgen Klinsmann’s squad will host Costa Rica at The Home Depot Center in Carson, Calif. on Sept. 2 and will then travel to Brussels to face Belgium on Sept. 6.
  

photo property of D.C. United


This selection marks Pontius’ second experience with the U.S. Men’s National Team, as he was called-up for a ten-day training camp in February of 2010 in preparation for a friendly match against El Salvador. Following the camp, the United midfielder was selected to the preliminary 20-player roster, though he was not included in the final 18-man game day roster. 

Pontius is having a career year in 2011, as the California native has scored seven goals in 24 MLS matches (all starts). The midfielder also has two assists to his name. Following a tumultuous 2010 campaign, in which he missed much of the season with a hamstring injury, the 2009 MLS Rookie of the Year finalist has been one of United’s top performers this term. Pontius was selected by the Black-and-Red with the seventh overall pick in the 2009 MLS SuperDraft. He went on to play in 28 MLS matches (23 starts) during his rookie season, scoring four goals to accompany three assists.

Pontius will be joining fellow United player Bill Hamid on the U.S. roster for the September games.

Kickers fall in American Division Final, Prepare for Chicago in U.S. Open Cup Semis

The Richmond Kickers suffered a heartbreaking end to the 2011 USL PRO campaign Saturday night, conceding a 3-0 loss to Orlando City in the American Division Finals.  Orlando defenders Luke Boden and Mecheck Jerome gave the home side the advantage during the first half with midfielder Dennis Chin rounding out the scoreline in the 70th minute.  Orlando advances to the USL PRO Championship, hosting the Harrisburg City Islanders, on Saturday, September 3 at 7:00 p.m., live on FOX Soccer.

The Kickers are not going to dwell on the loss however as they are now looking to prepare for their U.S. Open Cup Semifinal match agianst MLS Side Chicago Fire. The Richmond Kickers’ remarkable run to the U.S. Open Cup Semifinals is making history, with the biggest game in the club’s 20-year tenure taking place on Tuesday, August 30. 

The momentous match-up pits the Kickers against Major League Soccer side Chicago Fire at Toyota Park in Chicago.  Kickoff is slated for 7:30 p.m. CT at Toyota Park.  The winner will advance to the U.S. Open Cup Finals to take on the winner of the F.C. Dallas/Seattle Sounders match-up on Tuesday, October 4.  The Kickers are just one win away from their first appearance in the U.S. Open Cup Finals since 1995.

“The U.S. Open Cup Semifinal is the game of the decade for the Kickers,” commented Leigh Cowlishaw, Richmond Kickers Head Coach and Director of Soccer.  “We ran into a top class Orlando team on Saturday who performed exceptionally well on the day. Fortunately, we have one more opportunity to finish our season in style. We look forward to channeling our disappointment into producing our best game of the season. We have nothing to lose and everything to gain.”

The Kickers became the first lower division team to defeat back-to-back MLS teams on the road following a 2-0 upset over Sporting Kansas City in the U.S. Open Cup Quarterfinals on July 12.  After a one hour, 30 minute lightning delay, Kickers forward Shaka Bangura connected on a David Bulow cross to net the first goal of the night in the 66th minute.  Bulow added a tally of his own when he converted a penalty kick in the 82nd minute, becoming the U.S. Open Cup all-time leading goal scorer, and handing Sporting Kansas City their first-ever loss at LIVESTRONG Sporting Park.

Two weeks earlier, in the lone upset of the Third Round, the Kickers ejected Major League Soccer’s Columbus Crew, 2-1, from Open Cup action at Columbus Crew Stadium on June 28.  Midfielder Nozomi Hiroyama gave the visitors an early lead when he connected on a Stanley Nyazamba pass in the 20th minute.  Crew midfielder Cole Grossman brought the score level in the 37th minute before the Kickers prolific goal scorer Matthew Delicâte nodded home the game-winning goal five minutes from regulation.  

The Kickers advanced to the Third Round after a pair of convincing 4-1 victories at Richmond City Stadium over USL PRO rivals Dayton Dutch Lions and Pittsburgh Riverhounds in the first two rounds.  

Meanwhile, the Chicago Fire handed a 4-0 decision to MLS opponent New York Red Bulls in the Quarterfinals with former Richmond Kickers Future (PDL) standout Dominic Oduro notching the first goal of the night. 

Yamith Cuesta added a second tally, with Orr Barouch rounding out the scoreline with a pair to help the Fire cruise to an easy victory over a defenseless Red Bulls squad. The only MLS club on the road for the Third Round, the Fire faced a tighter contest against giant-killer Rochester and came away with a narrow 1-0 win, courtesy of a lone goal by Diego Chavez.  

Seeded fourth overall, Chicago opened the play-in tournament in the second round of the western bracket of MLS qualifying and defeated the defending MLS Cup Champion Colorado Rapids on March 30 with a 2-1 victory. 

Then, a back-and-forth affair against the San Jose Earthquakes came down to a penalty kick shootout, which saw the Fire advance to the Open Cup, 5-4. The 2011 season marks the 13th time the Richmond Kickers have qualified for the U.S. Open Cup over the past 19 seasons, with an overall record of 23-11 during tournament play. 


After playing the El Paso Patriots to a 1-1 draw, the Richmond Kickers

captured the 1995 US Open Cup title by defeating the Patriots on penalty kicks 4-2.

Photo: Richmond Kickers


The Kickers claimed the U.S. Open Cup title the first year of the “Professional Era” in 1995 and have since made it to the quarterfinal round five times (1995, 2001, 2004, 2007, 2011), ousting five Major League Soccer teams along the way including Colorado Rapids in 2000, DC United in 2004, LA Galaxy in 2007 and Columbus Crew and Sporting Kansas City in 2011.  With 76 total goals scored during the Open Cup, the Kickers set several franchise records, as well as a Professional Era U.S. Open Cup record, for most goals (12) during the 8-4 rout over the Ocean City Barons in 2005.

Earn a contract with Real Valladolid CF Youth Accademy

Global Soccer Network USA in association with Real Valladolid CF has announced the first ever US International Affiliate Player Identification Program.

From Jan 2012, Global Soccer Network has been tasked to hold 12 Regional area try outs for players aged 15 - 18 years old, Each try out will then have a regional "winner" and all 12 regional players will then be accommodated in Washington DC where the Academy Director of Real Valladolid CF will pick the best player.

The overall best player will earn a one year professional contract in Real Valladolid CF youth academy, with everything paid for including schooling, equipment , books, and be training as a professional soccer academy member in the Spanish Premier league.

There are only 100 player spaces at each location and the dates and locations are as follows -

Jan - Miami, Tampa
Feb - Nevada, San Diego
Mar - Seattle, Portland
Apr - Chicago, Boston, New York
May - Philly, DC, Atlanta

Spaces are limited and it is on a first come first served basis, there is a small registration fee to secure your space on these try outs and you must state which location you wish to register for.

This is a chance of a lifetime, if you know any player in these age groups looking for an opportunity to experience this life changing event

contact djones@globalsoccernetwork.us and visit their website at www.globalsoccernetwork.us

Virginia College Soccer Weekend Wrap-up

University of Virginia, Men -

The No. 11 Virginia men's soccer team dropped a 1-0 decision to No. 17 West Virginia Friday in the ACC/Big East Challenge in the regular season opener at the Maryland SoccerPlex in Germantown, Md.

Highlights - UVA vs. WVA

The No. 11 Virginia men's soccer team begins its 2011 home schedule at 7 p.m. Monday when it battles Richmond at Klöckner Stadium. Live statistics will be available at VirginiaSports.com.

University of Virginia, Women -

The No. 6 Virginia women's soccer team had its biggest offensive explosion in six years as it downed Liberty 9-1 Friday night in front of 1,183 fans at Klöckner Stadium. Caroline Miller (Rockville, Md.) led the Cavalier attack, posting Virginia's first hat trick in three seasons.

Highlights - UVA vs. Liberty

The women's soccer game between Virginia and St. John's scheduled for Sunday, August 28 at Klöckner Stadium has been postponed to Tuesday, August 30. Game time will be 5 p.m.

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Virginia Tech, Men -

The Virginia Tech men’s soccer team opened the 2011 season tonight with a 2-1 loss to Howard at Thompson Field. All three of the goals scored in the game occurred after halftime, with two coming just 15 seconds apart in the 81st minute.

The Virginia Tech Men's Soccer Team battles with the University of Wisconsin in their opening match of the Hilton Garden Hokie Invitational September 2, Thompson Field.

VIrginia Tech, Women -

Junior defender Julia Goldsworthy recorded five points to lead the Virginia Tech women’s soccer squad to a blanking of High Point, 3-0 in its home opener Friday night at Thompson Field.

Junior Kelly Conheeney led the Virginia Tech women’s soccer team to a, 5-0, victory over the Elon Phoenix Sunday evening at Thompson Field. Shannon Mayrose, Rachel Beaumont and Katie Cramp also connected on one goal each. The Hokies remain unbeaten as they improve to 4-0-0 on the season.
Virginia Tech next play Friday, September 2 in Winsten-Salem, N.C. against Cambell.

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Richmond, Men -

The University of Richmond men's soccer team's match against James Madison scheduled for Saturday evening was canceled due to inclement weather in the Harrisonburg, Va., area.

Next up for the Spiders in their season-opening seven-match road swing is a contest at 11th-ranked Virginia on Monday at 7 p.m.

Richmond, Women -

Richmond was downed by Penn State, 3-0, Sunday afternoon in the final game of the Penn State Invitational.

Richmond returns to Robins Stadium Thursday, Sept. 1 to host in-state rival Old Dominion at 7:30 p.m.

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William & Mary, Men -

The No. 13-ranked William and Mary Tribe men's soccer team exacted some revenge on Saturday night, defeating the No. 5-ranked SMU Mustangs, 3-2, in Dallas.

The No. 13-ranked William and Mary Tribe men's soccer team will return home to Williamsburg to face the St. John's Red Storm on Thursday, September 1.  Kickoff at Martin Family Stadium at Albert-Daly Field is scheduled for 7 p.m.

William & Mary, Women -

The William and Mary Tribe women's soccer team beat the Marshall Thundering Herd on Sunday afternoon, 4-0, to sweep its two matches at the VCU Tournament. 

Post Game Comments w/ John Daly

The William and Mary Tribe women's soccer team will return to Williamsburg to host the Nike Tribe Fairfield Inn & Suites by Marriott Invitational on September 2-4.

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Old Dominion, Men -

The men's soccer game against Navy scheduled for Sunday has been postponed and no makeup date has been set at this time.

The ODU Men are participating in the WVU Nike Classic September 2-4 with their first match against Houston Baptist.

Old Dominion, Women -

NC State scored two goals in each half as the Wolfpack defeated Old Dominion University women's soccer 4-1 Friday night in Raleigh.

The Lady Monarchs continue their road swing as they travel to Richmond on Thursday, August 1 for a 7:30 p.m. start against the Spiders.

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Radford, Men -

Luis Grande (Caracas, Venezuela / U.E. Colegio Los Arcos) scored 49 seconds into overtime to give Radford a 1-0 victory over Appalachian State in both club’s season opener Saturday afternoon at the Ted Mackorell Complex.
Radford (1-0-0) will enjoy a six-day break before traveling to Washington, D.C. and College Park, Md., for contests with Georgetown (9/2) and Maryland (9/4).

Radford, Women -

Late in the match (80’), Jenna Caudle scored off a corner kick as East Tennessee State held off Radford, 1-0, Sunday night in women’s soccer action.

The Radford women host Alabama A&M Friday September 2.

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Hurricane Irene causes United to postpone Portland match, Latin Festival

Well mother nature proved to be no match for D.C. United, at least not this Saturday with Hurricane Irene set to take aim on the East Coast.

After having already pushing the start time up to 2 p.m. for the match agianst Portland and postponing their sixth annual Latin Festival D.C. United announced it has completely postponed their next game.

Citing general public safety concerns because of the anticipated impact of Hurricane Irene, Major League Soccer has postponed the game between D.C. United and the Portland Timbers, previously scheduled for tomorrow at RFK Stadium.

The game will be rescheduled and the new date and time announced next week. Tickets from Saturday’s contest will be valid on the make-up date. 

Virginia college soccer this weekend

Virginia Women’s Soccer Hosts Liberty and St. John’s
The No. 6 Virginia women’s soccer team continues its nine-game homestand this weekend with a pair of games at Klöckner Stadium. The Cavaliers host in-state foe Liberty on Friday at 7 p.m. and St. John’s on Sunday at 4 p.m.

No. 11 Virginia Men's Soccer Opens 2011 Season Friday vs. No. 17 West Virginia
The Virginia men's soccer team begins its 2011 regular season at 5 p.m. Friday when it takes on No. 17 West Virginia. The neutral-site contest will be played at the Maryland SoccerPlex in Germantown, Md., and is part of the ACC/Big East Challenge.

Tribe Women’s Soccer to Play in VCU Tournament this Weekend
Fresh off a 5-0 season opening win over St. John's last week, the William and Mary Tribe women's soccer team will head to Richmond this weekend to play in the VCU Tournament.  The College will play Appalachian State on Friday, August 26, before going against Marshall on Sunday, August 28.  Friday's match is scheduled for a 4 p.m. start, while Sunday's game will kickoff at 11:30 a.m.

Richmond Women’s Soccer Plays In Penn State Invitational
The Spiders travel to Penn State for a two-game road swing this weekend. Richmond opens the tournament with a 5:00 p.m. game against George Mason followed by a 2:30 p.m. Sunday contest against host Penn State.

Virginia Tech Men take on Howard
Tech opens the regular season this Saturday, Aug. 27, when it hosts Howard University at 7 p.m., in the first five straight home games to open the 2011 season. The following weekend, Tech hosts the Hilton Garden Hokie Invitational as the Hokies welcome Wisconsin, Cincinnati and Virginia to Blacksburg for games on Friday, Sept. 2 and Sunday, Sept. 4. Virginia Tech plays Wisconsin at 7:30 p.m. on Sept. 2 and Cincinnati at 2:30 p.m. on Sept. 4.

Tech Women battle High Point Friday
Tech opens its home slate at Thompson Field on Friday, Aug. 26 as it takes on High Point for a 7 p.m. matchup.

Hamid gets called to return to USMNT

D.C. United goalkeeper and academy product Bill Hamid has received his second national team call up. This follows the recent news of fellow D.C. United teammates Dwayne De Rosario and Dejan Jakovic getting called to represent Canada in World Cup qualifying and former MLS Rookie of the Year award winner Andy Najar recieving his first national team call up to represent Hondurus.

U.S. Soccer announced today that United goalkeeper Bill Hamid has been called-up to the U.S. Men’s National Team for two friendly matches against Costa Rica and Belgium. Jurgen Klinsmann’s squad will host Costa Rica at The Home Depot Center in Carson, Calif. on September 2 and will then travel to Brussels to face Belgium on September 6.

Bill Hamid was recently called-up by the U.S. Men’s National Team for the friendly match against Mexico on August 10, which resulted in a 1-1 draw. Although he did not take part in the match, Hamid was able to gain valuable experience training alongside veteran goalkeeper Tim Howard.

In his second full season with D.C. United, Hamid has been the first-choice goalkeeper since recovering from off-season shoulder surgery. To date, he has played in 19 games (all starts) and put together a record of 5-4-8 to go along with six shutouts. In 2010, Hamid became the youngest goalkeeper in MLS history to win a League contest on May 5 against Kansas City in a 2-1 victory at RFK Stadium, beating the previous record held by former New York netminder - and fellow U.S. Men’s National Team call-up - Tim Howard. He put together a record of 3-5 in eight games for the Black-and-Red, posting one shutout and 20 saves en route to a 1.25 goals-against average mark. Hamid made United history on 9/2/09, when he became the first D.C. United Academy player to sign with the first team. As the first player to come up through the club’s youth system, Hamid was only available for non-League games during the 2009 season and did not see any playing time.

In Philadelphia following the U.S. vs. Mexico friendly Howard told VASoccerNews:

"Bill reminds me a lot of myself when I was younger." That is quite a compliment coming from the reigning number one net minder for the USMNT.

Hamid also has experience at the youth national team levels, having spent time with the U.S. U-18 and U-20 sides. In 2008, he traveled to Portugal with the U-20s to play in the Campos Verdes International Tournament and to Mexico for Copa Chivas.

De Rosario, Jakovic to represent Canada in WC Qualifying

Two players from D.C. United have been selected to represent their home country of Canada in World Cup qualifying next week. Coach Stephen Hart named his roster on Wednesday which includes the D.C. United starters.

The Canadians host St. Lucia at Toronto’s BMO Field on Sept. 2, then travel to Puerto Rico four days later.

FULL CANADA ROSTER

GOALKEEPERS (2): Lars Hirschfeld (Vålerenga, Norway), Milan Borjan (Sivasspor, Turkey)

DEFENDERS (7): Nik Ledgerwood (SV Wehen Wiesbaden, Gemany), Kevin McKenna (1.FC Köln, Germany), Andre Hainault (Houston Dynamo), Ante Jazic (Chivas USA), Dejan Jakovic (DC United), Jaime Peters (Ipswich Town, England), Mike Klukowski (Manisaspor, Turkey)

MIDFIELDERS (6): Julian de Guzman (Toronto FC), Terry Dunfield (Toronto FC), Will Johnson (Real Salt Lake), Josh Simpson (Manisaspor, Turkey), Atiba Hutchinson (PSV Eindhoven, Netherlands), Dwayne De Rosario (DC United)

FORWARDS (4): Tosaint Ricketts (FC Politehnica Timişoara, Romania), Simeon Jackson (Norwich City, England), Olivier Occean (SpVgg Greuther Fürth, Germany), Iain Hume (Preston North End, England)

Alex Morgan on the Jared Montz Podcast

The Jared Montz Soccer Podcast on Virginia Online Soccer News is courtesy of Jared Montz Soccer.

Jared Montz is a former pro and the founder of Online Soccer Academy and  College Recruiting Website .

Virginia Online Soccer News syndicates his just about weekly Jared Montz Soccer Podcast and you can subscribe for free in iTunes.

You can also find him on Facebook and Twitter.

Capital Fall Classic hosted by the Richmond Strikers

Coaches, here is an opportunity to register your teams for a great tournament in Richmond, VA with quality competition.

Win at Capital Fall Classic and win guaranteed acceptance into the 2012 Jefferson Cup.  Again for the 2011 Capital Fall Classic, teams who win our Premier Divisions will be offered guaranteed acceptance into one of the nation’s top ranked tournaments in March.

The 2011 Capital Fall Classic will be the first tournament at SportsQuest soccer complex to feature all 17 synthetic turf fields by Shaw Sportexe.

The Richmond Strikers Soccer Club is proud to host the 2011 Capital Fall Classic on November 12 & 13th. Held annually in Richmond, Virginia, the Fall Classic is regarded as one of top end of season tournaments in Virginia. With its outstanding competition and quality fields this year's event should be no exception.

This year's event will attract upwards of 300 travel teams from the Mid-Atlantic region and beyond. The Fall Classic should not only be an outstanding end of season tournament for travel teams but could be used as a pre-college showcase event in preparation for the College Showcase events held later in November and December.

For over 32 years the Richmond Strikers have hosted the Jefferson Cup regarded as one of the top 5 tournaments in the country. And now for 2011 the Richmond Strikers are again hosting the Capital Fall Classic and offering winners the right to play in the 2012 Jefferson Cup.  This year's event looks to be the biggest ever and would give teams a perfect end of season opportunity

Registration has begun already and the Deadline for the 2011 event will be September 15th, 2011 and will be here before you know it, but it is equally important that you remember your league opt out rules and deadlines to ensure your weekend is free for another great tournament.

For more information email us at tournaments@richmondstrikers.com.

Hope you come join us for a competitive and fun filled weekend.

Chris Friant

Director of Tournaments

Richmond Strikers Soccer Club

Applications for the 2011 Capital Fall Classic are now open.

Click here to register for the 2011 Capital Fall Classic...

Pair of former MLSers coaching at Virginia schools

A pair of former MLS players are now looking to lead local Virginia colleges to the top. Clint Peay and George Celnovatch each spent time with MLS club D.C. United and are now head coaches at Richmond and Virginia respectively.

Clint Peay, Richmond (D.C. United 1996-2000)

The defender spent four seasons at D.C. United and won three MLS Cups before transitioning to a series of assistant coach roles at Davidson, George Mason and Georgetown. He was appointed head coach at the University of Richmond in January 2009 and is entering his third season in charge.

George Gelnovatch, Virginia (D.C. United 1996)

The successor to Bruce Arena at UVa, Gelnovatch joined D.C. United for a brief loan stint at the tail end of his playing career and appeared twice in 1996.

Kickers battle Orlando, look to advance to USL PRO Championship

Looking to make it to the USL PRO Championship game, the Richmond Kickers will face Orlando City in the American Division Finals this Saturday, August 27.  Kickoff is slated for 7:30 p.m. on USLLive.com from the Florida Citrus Bowl.  The winner of Saturday’s match-up will host the USL PRO Championship on Saturday, September 3, live on Fox Soccer Channel.

“Orlando is the class of USL PRO and there are many reasons why they won the Commissioners Cup by nine points,” commented Leigh Cowlishaw, Richmond Kickers Director of Soccer and Head Coach.  “I watched their Charleston playoff match and they were mesmerizing. Their movement, interchange of position and precise passing will be difficult to stop. We will need to defend very well, stay compact, disciplined and focused for the entire game.”

“We knew from the first day of preseason that to win a championship we would need to defeat Orlando at the Citrus Bowl,” added Cowlishaw.  “It is a daunting task but one we are very much looking forward to.”

The #3 seed Kickers edged the #2 seed Wilmington Hammerheads in the USL PRO American Division Semifinals last week, advancing to the Division Finals 5-4 on penalties.  Scoreless for 120 minutes of regulation and overtime, the Kickers converted all five of their penalty kicks before relying on veteran goalkeeper Ronnie Pascale to make a heroic save on the Hammerhead’s fifth attempt to send to the Kickers to the next round.

Top seed Orlando City also needed overtime to move forward, battling the #4 seed Charleston Battery to a 1-1 draw through regulation before Dennis Chin and Lewis Neal tallied a pair of overtime goals to boost Orlando to their first postseason win.

Over the past 19 seasons, Richmond has qualified for postseason play 17 times, and attempts to reach their seventh Championship appearance in the past 10 campaigns.  The Kickers fell just short of the USL title last season, falling 2-1 to the Charleston Battery.  Richmond's seven previous league Championship appearances (1995, 1996, 2002, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009) include winning the Premier League title in 1995, a shoot-out loss to Seattle in the USL First Division final in 2005 and taking the USL Second Division crown twice against Charlotte in 2006 and 2009.  

Meanwhile, rookie franchise Orlando are in search of their first league title after claiming the regular season championship this season.

The USL PRO Championship Game’s host will also be determined this weekend, with the winner of the Orlando-Richmond contest earning that honor after both teams finished with better records than their National Division opponents. The USL PRO Championship Game is scheduled for Saturday, September 3 at 7 p.m. and will be aired live on FOX Soccer.

Virginia Programs named to Soccer America Top 25

SoccerAmerica.com has released their Top 25 college rankings for both men (preseason) and women. Take a look at which Virginia programs made the lists.

Soccer America Men's Preseason Top 25
TEAM (2010 RECORD)
11. Virginia (11-6-3)
25. Old Dominion (10-7-2)

Soccer America Women's Top 25
TEAM (2011 RECORD) LAST WEEK
15. Virginia (2-0-0) 16

D.C. United and La Nueva to host sixth annual Latin Festival

D.C. United and Spanish-language radio partner La Nueva announced plans to celebrate the sixth annual Latin Festival presented by TD Bank, America’s Most Convenient Bank ®.  The festival will take place on Saturday, August 27, from 2:00-7:00 p.m. ET on the D.C. Armory Lawn.  Immediately following the event, D.C. United will take on the Portland Timbers at 7:30 p.m. ET at RFK Stadium.

See Pictures from past Latin Festival events.

“We’re very excited to partner with our friends at La Nueva to host this magnificent event for our Latin fanbase,” said Senior Vice President Stephen Zack. 

“D.C. United is proud of the deep and rich history of support developed within the local Hispanic community and we certainly hope the fans enjoy the festival atmosphere pre-game and afterward cheer on the Black-and-Red in this important match against the Portland Timbers.”

The Latin Festival is a great opportunity for fans to celebrate the culture, music, cuisine, and sport of Latin America. The event is free and open to the public and will feature musical performances by the group Nando and Solja Kingz, led by 2006 Grammy Award winner and Platinum Recording artist Fernando “Nando” Dominguez, the former lead vocalist of Kumbia Kings. 

Other music acts scheduled to perfrom include Brazeros Musical de Durango, Loisaidas, Rene Alonso, and El Sheriff.

In addition, Univision’s “Senadoras” models from the popular televison show “República Deportiva” will be onsite from 5:00-7:00 p.m. signing autographs and taking photos with fans.  Following the event, the Senadoras will move to RFK Stadium to perform the ceremonial kickoff for D.C. United’s match against the Portland Timbers.


 
Associate sponsors of the sixth annual Latin Festival include Verizon Wireless, DC Lottery, State Farm, and Volkswagen - the proud presenting partner of D.C. United.  For more information or to purchase tickets for the game against Portland, please call 202-587-5000 or visit http://www.dcunited.com/.

William and Mary soccer players get recognized

Tribe Men’s Soccer Places Three on Preseason All-CAA Team
Courtesy TribeAthletics.com
Mon, August 22, 2011

RICHMOND, Va. - With the 2011 season just days away, the No. 13-ranked William and Mary Tribe men's soccer team placed three players on the Preseason All-CAA Team released on Monday.  Senior Nicolas Abrigo was named to the 11-member team, while junior Ben Anderson and sophomore Roshan Patel earned Honorable Mention honors.

The 2010 CAA Tournament Most Outstanding Player, Abrigo is the Tribe's top-returning goal scorer from last season's CAA Championship squad.  Last year, Abrigo totaled seven goals and two assists for College, including four scores in the CAA Tournament.

Earning Preseason All-CAA Honorable Mention honors were Anderson and Patel.  Anderson was named Third-Team All-CAA in 2010 after scoring three goals and totaling five assists, while Patel was named to the CAA All-Rookie Team.

As a team, the Tribe was picked to place third in the CAA in a poll conducted by the conference's coaches.  After claiming both the CAA regular season and tournament crowns last season, the College earned four place votes and 90 total points.  Old Dominion was picked to win the league with 112 points, while VCU was picked just ahead of the Green and Gold in second.

The No. 13-ranked William and Mary Tribe men's soccer team will head to Dallas, Texas to play the No. 5-ranked SMU Mustangs in a rematch of last season's NCAA Tournament third round game.  Saturday's match is scheduled for an 8 p.m. EST start.

---

Tribe’s Cortlyn Bristol Named CAA Player of the Week
Courtesy TribeAthletics.com
Mon, August 22, 2011

RICHMOND, Va. - William and Mary Tribe women's soccer junior Cortlyn Bristol was named CAA Player of the Week on Monday, the conference office announced.  The weekly honor is the first for Bristol and the first weekly CAA honor for her since she was named CAA Rookie of the Week during the 2009 season.

Bristol, a Preseason All-CAA selection, started her junior campaign with a pair of goals, including the game-winner, in the Tribe's 5-0 win over St. John's on August 19.  Bristol opened the scoring with a goal in the 42nd minute and then added another in the 63rd minute. The match-winning score was the sixth of Bristol's career.

In 2010, Bristol had a terrific year for the College, earning Second-Team All-CAA honors.  Bristol totaled six goals and five assists to finish second on the team with 17 points.  For her career, Bristol has now scored an impressive 10 goals in just 39 career matches.

The William and Mary Tribe women's soccer team will next be in action on Friday, August 26, when the College will play Appalachian State in the VCU Tournament.  Kickoff in Richmond, Virginia is scheduled for 4 p.m.

UVA Women rout Richmond, 6-0

The University of Virginia women left no doubt that they are ready for the 2011 season by routing in state rival Richmond 6-0.

UVA saw five different players score agianst the Spiders at Klöckner Stadium. See all the goals HERE

Virginia Posts 6-0 Win Over Richmond - University of Virginia Cavaliers Official Athletic Site - VirginiaSports.com

United with a tie, loss unable to get much needed points

Following an amazing home performance at R.F.K. Stadium against the lowly Vancouver Whitecaps which saw D.C. United explode for 4 goals the Black and Red struggle to maintain momentum and close out the week with a tie then a loss.

Currently sitting in sixth place in the Eastern Conference with 31 points United needed to do better than earning one point in two matches to keep alive the teams playoff hopes.

Against the Chicago Fire, United where in jeopardy of walking away without any points until a late game goal by veteran Josh Wolff salveged the tie and gave them their only point for the weekend.

D.C. UNITED FORWARD JOSH WOLFF

On if he’s satisfied with a tie:

“Yes, when you look back on it. It’s not our best night in the first half. Clearly we weren’t the better team. At times they used their pace and put you in some danger. Bill [Hamid] made some big saves in the first half and you have to give him credit because he stood some plays up with great saves and obviously it’s disappointing to see him go off at the end of the first half. We hung in there, and the goal against us we could have dealt with better. But we keep plugging away and you get to one and at that point were kind of pushing to get forward, which was good to see. If we can’t come away with all of them, we can get the point and move on.”

Wolff may be satisfied however if United are to make a serious push and ensure a 2011 playoff birth the team is going to have to find a way to be more consistant and collect as many points as possible from hear on out.

Only three days after the tie agianst Chicago, D.C. United was back in action facing Sporting Kansas City and former JMU standout C.J. Sapong who is putting in an amazing rookie season for Kansas City. United was unable to answer back from an early first half goal by Kei Kamara and was held scoreless for the loss.

D.C. UNITED GOALKEEPER JOE WILLIS
On Being under pressure throughout the game:

"It’s been a long week with playing two games in short time and travel so everyone’s been tired. Kansas City has a high press and it’s pretty tough to break down so that didn’t help our legs at all. The more the game went on they kept pressing and we got more tired, it just wasn’t a good situation."

United wrap up the month of August returning home to face Portland (W-T-L-L-W ) and in seventh place out West. This is the perfect opportunity for United to get much needed points and bounce back from the less than ideal past week.

JMU Women's Soccer Falls 3-1 to Virginia Tech

JMU Women's Soccer Falls 3-1 to Virginia Tech - JMUSports.com—Official Web site of James Madison University Athletics

RADFORD WOMEN'S SOCCER FALLS TO NO. 8 OHIO STATE, 4-0

Radford University - RADFORD WOMEN'S SOCCER FALLS TO NO. 8 OHIO STATE, 4-0

Radford University - DRIDI'S GOLDEN-GOAL LIFTS MEN'S SOCCER TO EXHIBITION WIN

RADFORD, Va. – Ramzi Dridi (Falls Church, Va. / JEB Stuart)’ s golden-goal in the 95th minute lifted Radford to a 2-1 exhibition win over Lees McRae in men's soccer action Saturday afternoon at Cupp Stadium.

Radford University - DRIDI'S GOLDEN-GOAL LIFTS MEN'S SOCCER TO EXHIBITION WIN

Longwood Defeats Visiting Howard 2-0

FARMVILLE, Va. -- Longwood University took a 2-0 women's soccer victory past Howard University of the Great West Conference Sunday night at the Athletics Complex in Farmville. Junior Nikki Glisson|Mechanicsville (Hanover) scored the game-winning goal in the 57th minute for the Lancers (1-0-1), and redshirt-senior Alex Myers|Stafford (Colonial Forge) added an insurance goal in the 88th minute. The contest was played before a record-crowd of 1,839 in a match designated The GAME 2.0 (Greatest Athletics March Ever) that included tailgating, a pep rally introducing the school's new Mascot, and a march from campus to the soccer facility prior to the opening kick against the visiting Bison (0-2-0). Longwood will play again on Thursday night, August 25, on the road at Elon University of the Southern Conference in Elon, North Carolina beginning at 7 p.m. Full Story: CLICK HERE
 
 

Radford Women's Soccer Explodes in 8-0 Win over Souther Virginia

Radford University - RUTV: WOMEN'S SOCCER EXPLODES IN 8-0 ROUT OF SOUTHERN VIRGINIA

WSOC: SVU at Radford (8-19) from Radford Highlanders on Vimeo.

No. 10 Virginia Women overcome No. 13 West Virginia 2-1

Another women's team has officially started their season with a win as the No. 10 Virginia women’s soccer team opened the 2011 season with a 2-1 come-from-behind victory over No. 13 West Virginia in front of 998 fans Friday night at Klöckner Stadium. Gloria Douglas’ (Fayetteville, N.C.) goal in the 89th minute gave the Cavaliers a win in their home opener for the 22nd consecutive season.

“This was a great result, especially for the first game of the season,” said head coach Steve Swanson. “It really had the feel of a NCAA Tournament game; it had that intensity. I thought we did a lot of good things, other than a 10-second period of the first half when we gave up a goal against the run of play. The way we were moving the ball and the chances we were getting, I was confident we could get some goals.”

West Virginia (0-1) jumped out to a 1-0 lead in the eighth minute, scoring on the game’s first shot. After a corner kick, the ball bounced around in the box until it was headed in by Erica Henderson. The Mountaineers held that lead until the 23rd minute as Morgan Brian (St. Simons Island, Ga.) blasted in a cross by Molly Menchel (Alexandria, Va.) for her first career goal to even the score. The Cavaliers nearly took the lead in the 31st minute as Menchel’s long-range shot rattled off the crossbar, but the game remained scoreless at halftime.

Virginia (1-0) had the better of possession and chances in the second half, but the game remained tied until late in the second half. In the 89th minute, Julia Roberts (Frederick, Md.) flicked on a throw-in to Douglas, who was at the top of the six-yard area. She turned on her defender and as she fell she slotted a shot past the outstretched keeper and just inside the far post. It was the sophomore’s fourth career game-winning goal.

“That was a great finish by Gloria,” said Swanson. “She could easily start for us, but she gives us so much of a spark coming off the bench. She has scored some big goals for us and tonight was another one.”
Overall Virginia outshot West Virginia 12-7, while the Mountaineers had a 6-4 corner kick edge. Chantel Jones (Midlothian, Va.) made two saves for the Cavaliers, while Sara Keane made three saves at the other end for West Virginia.

The Cavaliers continue their season-opening nine-game homestand on Sunday as they host Richmond. Game time at Klöckner Stadium is 7 p.m.

2010 MLS ROY Andy Najar called by Honduras National Team

Another one of D.C. United's home grown academy products has been selected to represent their national team. United announced Friday that midfielder Andy Najar has been called-up by the Honduras National Team for two friendly matches in September.  Honduras will face Colombia at Red Bull Arena on September 3 before hosting Paraguay at the Estadio Olimpico Metropolitano in San Pedro Sula on September 6. 

        “Words can’t describe how I feel at this moment”, said Najar.  “I am so excited to have this opportunity to play for my native country.  As a player, it is always your dream to represent your national team.  I want to thank the Honduras Federation for calling me in and giving me an opportunity to show my talent at the international level.  I also want to thank my family and all the fans for their support.  I will work as hard as I can and try to do my best to help the Honduras national team be successful on the pitch”.

Najar, 18, is scheduled to join the Honduran team in New Jersey on August 29, and his international duty will not interfere with D.C. United’s schedule.  So far this season, the young Honduran has played 19 matches (16 starts), registering three goals and four assists in 1,451 minutes of play with the Black-and-Red.
“We’re very excited and happy for Andy to have this opportunity to play for the Honduras national team and showcase his talent on the international level”, said General Manager Dave Kasper.  “We wish Andy and the Honduras national team all the best in these upcoming matches”.

The 2010 MLS Rookie of the Year announced on April 6, 2011 that he wished to represent Honduras at the national team level. Signing with United as a 17-year-old Academy product in March of 2010, Najar became the youngest player in MLS history to capture Rookie of the Year honors following his five-goal inaugural campaign.

William and Mary Women’s Soccer Thrashes St. John’s in Season Opener, 5-0

College soccer has officially begun here in Virginia and William & Mary opened  it with a statement win. The William and Mary Tribe women's soccer team used four second-half goals to post an impressive 5-0, season-opening victory over St. John's at Martin Family Stadium at Albert-Daly Field.  With the win, the Tribe starts the 2011 campaign at 1-0, while St. John's falls to 0-1.

Juniors Mallory Schaffer and Cortlyn Bristol each had a pair of goals to lead the Tribe, while freshman Anna Madden had a goal and an assist in her first collegiate match.  Sophomore Dani Rutter and freshman Emory Camper each had a pair of assists, while senior Diana Weigel and junior Jackie Blake-Hedges also had helpers in the victory.

The College had two great looks at goal in the just two minutes in to the match.  On the attack, sophomore Dani Rutter beat a pair of SJU defenders to get a good look from 10 yards out.  Rutter's shot was saved by the Red Storm keeper, but the deflection came right to the foot of junior Mallory Schaffer.  Schaffer had a nice opportunity, but her shot sailed wide.

Throughout the first half, the Tribe dominated possession, out-shooting St. John's, 14-4.  Finally after some great looks, the Green and Gold broke through with a goal in the 42nd minute.  After a turnover near midfield, Weigel took control and dribbled down the left side of the pitch.  Weigel found a streaking Bristol down the middle of the pitch with just one defender to beat.  After nearly getting drug down at the top of the 16-yard box, Bristol finished to the left of the SJU keeper as she fell to the ground, scoring the Tribe's first goal of the 2011 season.  At the half, the College led the Red Storm, 1-0.

The Green and Gold wasted little time doubling its advantage out of the intermission. Madden tallied her first career goal off a rebound to give the College a 2-0 lead at the 48:31 mark.  Rutter initiated the attack breaking free a defender on the left side of the box. Her shot on goal was blocked by SJU goalkeeper Kristin Russell, but it fell to the feet of Madden, who collected and hammered home to the center netting from six yards out. It marked the first collegiate point for Rutter.

Madden and Rutter got in on the act again nearly 15 minutes later, setting up Bristol's second marker of the night. Madden started the attack setting Rutter free down the right side of the 18-yard box. The Tribe sophomore sent a cross to the center of the penalty area that found the Bristol, who toe-poked it home past the diving Red Storm keeper in the 63rd minute. It marked the third time in the junior forward's career that she his tallied a pair of goals in a game.

Schaffer recorded the College's final two goals on the night just over three minutes apart. The first came after Bristol sent Camper free down the left wing. The Green and Gold rookie made a nice move to beat a St. John's defender and gain space, before sending a perfect cross to the back post. A streaking Schaffer volleyed the cross into the right side netting to increase the margin to 4-0 at the 79:44 mark. It was the first collegiate point for Camper on the assist.

Just over three minutes later, it was another Camper-Schaffer combination with a little help from Blake-Hedges. Camper found Blake-Hedges along the left side of the area, before she touched a pass to the top of the 18, finding a wide-open Schaffer. The First-Team All-CAA selection from a season ago did the rest, finishing to the right side of the frame for her sixth career two-goal game. The Allison Park, Pa., native owns 16 career tallies for the Tribe. It marked the first career point for Blake-Hedges.
The Tribe's five-goal win over the Red Storm was the biggest for the College in a season-opening victory since the Green and Gold defeated American, 8-0, to start the 1996 campaign.  Overall, the five-goal win ties for the fourth-largest season-opening victory in program history.

The William and Mary Tribe women's soccer team will next be in action on Friday, August 26, when the College will play Appalachian State in the VCU Tournament.  Kickoff in Richmond, Virginia is scheduled for 4 p.m.

Kickers Face Wilmington Hammerheads in USL Pro Quarterfinals

Playoff soccer is finally here in Virginia as the Richmond Kickers concluded the 2011 USL PRO regular season as the third seed in the American Division with a 12-7-5 record and 41 points and will travel to Wilmington, NC this Friday, August 19 to face the #2 seed Wilmington Hammerheads (14-7-3, 45 points) in the first round of the playoffs.  Kickoff is slated for 7:30 p.m. on USLLive.com from Legion Stadium.  The winner of Friday’s match-up will advance to the USL PRO Semifinals to face the winner of the #1 seed Orlando City versus #4 seed Charleston Battery match on Saturday, August 27.  

Should both the Kickers and the Battery advance to the Semifinal Round, the Kickers will host the match at Richmond City Stadium on Saturday, August 27.  If they are successful in the Semifinals, the Kickers will host the winner of the National Division in the Championship match, as the league’s third seed overall, on Saturday, September 3. Kickers versus HammerheadsWith a rivalry dating back to the 2006 season, the Kickers hold an all-time series record of 9-3-3 over the Hammerheads. 

The two clubs face off this weekend for the third time in 2011, having most recently met on August 10 in Wilmington when the Kickers handed the Hammerheads a 2-0 decision on their home turf.  Kickers midfielder Ryan Heins notched the eventual game-winner in the 18th minute before forward Matthew Delicâte added an insurance goal 16 minutes from regulation. 

The Kickers staunch defense, led by goalkeeper Ronnie Pascale, posted their second of four shutouts that week to conclude the 2011 regular season schedule. Earlier this season, the American Division rivals met at Richmond City Stadium when the Kickers narrowly edged the Hammerheads 2-1 on May 7. 

Wilmington opened the scoreline in the 3rd minute and held the advantage until Kickers midfielder Gerson dos Santos unleashed an unstoppable low drive past goalkeeper Brock Duckworth to tie the score at one apiece in the 65th minute. 

With the momentum shifting in favor of the home side, it was the Kickers inexhaustible goal-scorer, Delicâte, who pulled through with an 80th minute game-winner. Over the past 19 seasons, Richmond has qualified for postseason play 17 times, and reached the title match in 2010 for the sixth time in the past nine campaigns, falling just short of the Championship title following a 2-1 loss to the Charleston Battery. 

Richmond's seven previous league Championship appearances (1995, 1996, 2002, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009) include winning the Premier League title in 1995, a shoot-out loss to Seattle in the USL First Division final in 2005 and taking the USL Second Division crown twice against Charlotte in 2006 and 2009.  

USL PRO PlayoffsThis weekend, the USL PRO playoffs will see eight teams compete in the postseason’s opening round, with the top four teams from each the American Division and National Division squaring off in four single-game Division Semifinals.  

The postseason begins on Friday, August 19, with the National Division champion Rochester Rhinos hosting the #4 seed Pittsburgh Riverhounds at 7:30 p.m. at Sahlen’s Stadium. The Rhinos completed a season sweep of the Riverhounds last Saturday with a 1-0 victory, and have yet to concede a goal against Pittsburgh in 2011, having earned a pair of 3-0 victories earlier in the season.

The other National Division Semifinal will also take place on Friday night as the Harrisburg City Islanders host the #3 seed Los Angeles Blues at the Skyline Sports Complex at 7:30 p.m. The #2 seed City Islanders went undefeated against the Blues during the regular season, taking a win and two draws in their three meetings. 

USL PRO regular season champion Orlando City closes out the divisional semifinals on Saturday night as it hosts the Charleston Battery at the Florida Citrus Bowl at 7:30 p.m. The Lions have won three of the teams’ four meetings this season against the Battery, including a win in the U.S. Open Cup. 

Charleston earned its place in the playoffs last weekend with a 4-3 win against the Charlotte Eagles, and will be hopeful of springing an upset as it tries to earn back-to-back championships. The single-game Division Finals will be played August 26-28, with the 2011 USL PRO Championship, hosted by the highest remaining seed, to be played Saturday, September 3, live on Fox Soccer Channel.

Chesterfield United assists teams in Kenya

Chesterfield United FC is a Richmond, VA based soccer club whose mission statement reads:

Mission Statement

The mission of Chesterfield United Football Club is to provide fun, instructional, dynamic, and competitive soccer experiences through a wide variety of soccer programs and to include individuals from diverse backgrounds, regardless of anyone’s family financial status.  We are committed to providing quality instruction and programming as well as striving to match these qualities with quality facilities for our membership.

Well after hearing the news from the blog Second Touch about how the parents and club representatives of Chesterfield United FC stepped up big time to support a great cause,  they are definately living up to their mission and more.



Equipment collected by Chesterfield United FC for Kenya.



Have a read and if you want to get involved contact Pat McStay - pmcstay@chesterfield​united.com

A huge THANK YOU to Chesterfield United FC and Parents!

Richmond Spiders preseason Training Video

Led by head coach Clint Peay the University of Richmond Spiders are preparing for the upcoming 2011-2012 campaing in the A-10.
 
Coach Peay on the A-10 conference schedule:
 
"Our A-10 schedule is tough as always," Peay said. "Starting out well is important as we go on the road for several games during the middle of our A-10 schedule. Our guys are excited about the schedule next year and are looking forward to the opportunity to match up with so many quality programs."
 
 

Virginia senior defender Hunter Jumper Named Candidate for Lowe's Senior CLASS Award

The University of Virginia announced that senior defender Hunter Jumper has been named one of 30 candidates for the 2011 Lowe's Senior CLASS Award for Men's Soccer, as announced Wednesday.

To be eligible for the award, a student-athlete must be classified as an NCAA Division I senior and have notable achievements in four areas of excellence - community, classroom, character and competition.
Jumper has started 62 games during his three seasons with the Cavaliers. He has three goals and nine assists for 15 points. A three-time All-ACC Academic Team honoree, Jumper also has been named to each of the last two ACC All-Tournament teams. He was selected to the CoSIDA/ESPN Academic All-District second team in 2010.

An acronym for Celebrating Loyalty and Achievement for Staying in School®, the Lowe's Senior CLASS Award focuses on the total student-athlete and encourages students to use their platform in athletics to make a positive impact as leaders in their communities.

Lowe's, an official Corporate Partner of the NCAA, will announce the Senior CLASS Award® winner during the 2011 NCAA Men's and College Cup championship, Dec. 9-11, in Hoover, Ala.
The 30 candidates will be narrowed to 10 finalists midway through the regular season, and those 10 names will be placed on the official ballot. Ballots will be distributed through a nationwide voting system to media, coaches and fans, who will select one male candidate and one female candidate who best exemplify excellence in the four Cs of community, classroom, character and competition.

The women's soccer program has also received recognition:

Virginia Freshman Morgan Brian named one of Ten freshmen of influence

Virginia senior goalkeeper Chantel Jones named to Preseason Hermann Trophy List

For more information on all the candidates, visit seniorCLASSaward.com.

Ranked 22nd in the preseason NSCAA poll, the Cavaliers will play their final exhibition at 5 p.m. Friday (Aug. 19) against George Mason. UVa kicks off its regular season Aug. 26 against West Virginia in Germantown, Md.

Radford Men's Soccer Player Video Profile: Luis Grande

Check out this video profile of Radford University player Luis Grande. Grande is a sophomore midfielder from Caracas, Venezuela.

Virginia Freshman Morgan Brian named one of Ten freshmen of influence



property of ESPN.com

University of Virginia Freshman player Morgan Brian has been named to the Soccer America 'Ten freshmen of influence'.

Currently UVA is ranked No. 10 in the NSCAA National Preseason Rankings.

Brian is joined on the UVA roster by Preseason Herman Trophy Candidate senior goalkeeper Chantel Jones.

The University of Virginia women kick of the 2011 season on Friday August, 19 in Charlotteseville, VA. against West Virginia.



OurGameMagazine.com conducted the following interview with Morgan Brian:

By: Kaeley McEvoy

Age: 18
High School: Frederica Academy
College: University of Virginia
Position: Attacking midfielder
Hometown: St. Simons Island, Ga.
Club: Ponte Vedra Soccer Club (Fla.)

1. Why did you choose to attend UVA? How has preseason been so far?

UVA has everything I could ever want.  A beautiful campus, excellent academics, and an outstanding soccer program.  Preseason has been a great experience for our team, and has helped our team develop on and off the field.

2. Your resume of credentials is far too long to list. In your mind, which of these awards has been the most important for you to receive.
Any of the player of the year awards are the most important, but for me the Gatorade Athlete of the Year has been the most important one that I have received.  It is not only based on athletic ability, but it is also based on character and academic achievements.

3. You were awarded the Gatorade Athlete of the Year at the ESPYs. What were the ESPYs like? (Side note- how did you decide what to wear!)
The ESPYs was an amazing event to attend.  I enjoyed being surrounded by so many famous athletes that I have admired throughout my childhood years.   I shopped at numerous stores until I found the right dress the day before we left!

4. Cat Whitehill came to your school to present you with the Gatorade National Girls Soccer Player of the Year award. What was it like to have such an influential women’s soccer player at your high school? If you could have any athlete present you with an award who would it be and why?

I always watched Cat Whitehill play with the Women’s National Team, and I have admired her ever since.  When she came to my school, it was great to meet her and get to know her as a person.  I would have been honored by any athlete who presented me with the award.

5. You had a 3.8  GPA in high school. What an amazing feat with all of your soccer commitments. What was your favorite subject in high school and why? Do you have any idea of potential majors in at UVA?

My favorite subject in high school was Calculus because I love math, I loved my teacher, and I understand the subject well.  I am going to try to take a variety of classes offered here at UVA to explore my interests.  I love science and math.

6. Community service seems to be an important aspect of your life outside soccer. What has been your most memorable community service experience throughout high school?

My most memorable community service experience was last summer when my friends and I from the U-17 Women’s National Team traveled to Orlando to raise money for the Many Hearts, One Goal Foundation.  We spent a week in Orlando spending time with the Haitian girls whose homes had been destroyed by the earthquake in January 2010.

7. Who is your favorite player on the National Team right now and why?

Lauren Cheney and Megan Rapinoe are my favorite players on the National Team right now because they are technical players who have great vision and have a true soccer brain.

8. What is your advice for any younger girls playing the game? What are your favorite drills to do when you’re training alone?

My advice for any younger girls playing the game would be to believe in yourself and hard work does not take talent.  Growing up I have always been told to never let anyone tell you you can’t do something.  My favorite drills are technical ladders and dribbling through cones.

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Kaeley currently plays soccer at Gettysburg College.  She played club for FSA SoccerPlus and CFC in Connecticut. She is a religious studies and english double major. Aspires to pursue journalism or public relations writing for ideally a non-profit organization.