U.S. Soccer Names Cheryl Bailey as Executive Director of New Women’s Soccer League

CHICAGO (Nov. 29, 2012) - U.S. Soccer president Sunil Gulati announced today that Cheryl Bailey has been named the Executive Director for the new U.S. Soccer-led women's soccer league that will begin play in the spring of 2013.

Bailey served as General Manager of the U.S. Women's National Team for five years from 2007 through 2011. A long-time athletics administrator who led the support staff for the U.S. team during the 2007 and 2011 FIFA Women's World Cups and the 2008 Olympics, she was in charge of all areas of Women's National Team administration including team travel, payroll, liaising with clubs, and working with FIFA, CONCACAF and other Federations.

"Cheryl was a highly regarded employee for U.S. Soccer during her time with the Women's National Team and she has the perfect skill set and experience to help get this league up and running," said Gulati. "Cheryl was one of the many pioneers for intercollegiate women's athletics and was immersed in the inner works of elite women's soccer for five years. We're excited to have her on board."

(credit ISIphotos.com)

"It was a wonderful experience to be a part of the bWomen's National Team for five years and see first-hand the impact that women's soccer players can have as role models," said Bailey. "The new league is another extension of that and a vitally important part of the continued growth of the sport in the United States. I am dedicated to ensuring that this league is set up with the best possible business model that emphasizes sustainability above all else while giving players a competitive environment in which to play and creating something special for young girls to aspire to."


Bailey was the Senior Associate Athletic Director and the Senior Woman Administrator at the University of Wisconsin for 15 years from 1990 to 2005. At Wisconsin, she was the sport administrator for 22 different teams, including men's and women's basketball, men's and women's soccer and men's and women's ice hockey. Bailey developed strategic plans, set policies, oversaw a multi-million dollar budget and fundraising campaigns. She also was involved in the planning and decision-making with the Athletic Board and its committees, which included gender equity/diversity issues, academic, compliance, finance and facility development.
Bailey served on numerous committees while at Wisconsin, including stints as the chairs of the NCAA Division I Women's Basketball Committee from 2001-2004 and the Women's Soccer Committee from 1989-1993.
Before moving to Madison, she was the Athletic Director at Denison University (Ohio) from 1979-1990, where she oversaw 12 women's sports and was the head track and field coach (1981-1988), the head soccer coach (1979-1990) and was an assistant professor, teaching History of Sports, Psychology/Sociology of Sports, Ethics of Sports, Lifetime skills & Activity Classes.
U.S. Soccer will serve as the main organizational body for the new league and will subsidize the salaries of up to 24 U.S. Women's National Team players while the Canadian Soccer Association will do the same for up to 16 Canadian players and the Federation of Mexican Football will do the same for up to 12 Mexican players.

UVA's Caroline Miller named Hermann Trophy semifinalist

CHARLOTTESVILLE – Virginia senior forward Caroline Miller (Rockville, Md.) was named a semifinalist for the 2012 Missouri Athletic Club’s Hermann Trophy, the most prestigious individual award in college soccer. Miller is one of 15 candidates announced Wednesday by the National Soccer Coaches Association of America.

The 2012 ACC Offensive Player of the Year, Miller set single-season school records with 20 goals and 47 points this season. The conference leader in goals and points in 2012, she is one of just four players nationally to reach the 20-goal mark this season, and the first from the ACC in four years to accomplish the feat. Miller ended her season on a school-record eight-game goal scoring streak, tallying 11 goals against those eight opponents, all of which made the NCAA Tournament. A two-time ACC Player of the Week, she was named first-team All-ACC for the second consecutive season and was selected to the ACC All-Tournament Team as Virginia won the 2012 ACC Championship.

This year, fans will be able to vote for the award along with NSCAA member coaches. Fans can make their choice by visiting http://machermanntrophy.lockerdome.com. The three finalists for the award will be announced on December 6. The winners will be announced at the awards banquet at the Missouri Athletic Club in St. Louis on January 11.

On Wednesday, Miller was also recognized by TopDrawerSoccer.com as that website announced its 2012 Team of the Season awards. Miller and sophomore midfielder Morgan Brian (St. Simons Island, Ga.) were named to the 2nd Team, while forward Makenzy Doniak (Chino Hills, Calif.) was named to the Freshman 1st Team. 

D.C. United President/CEO, Kevin Payne, Steps Down

Kevin Payne steps down as President and CEO

 

 

Washington, D.C. (November 27, 2012) - D.C. United, the most successful club in United States professional soccer history, announced today that Kevin Payne has stepped down as president and CEO, marking an end to nearly two decades with the organization.

“Kevin’s lengthy list of accomplishments speaks to his strong acumen as a leader,” said owner Jason Levien. “His dedication to the organization deserves deep admiration and appreciation. As D.C. United begins a new chapter, Kevin's leadership has helped to prepare us for this important and potential-filled inflection point in the club’s history.”

“As we thank Kevin for his service and wish him well, we look to the future with tremendous optimism,” added owner Erick Thohir.
Since D.C. United’s inception in 1996, Payne has served as the club’s lead executive. In addition to the club’s honors during his tenure, Payne’s resume at United is filled with individual League honors and awards and, for his efforts to promote soccer in the United States, he was awarded the prestigious Werner Fricker Builder Award by U.S. Soccer in February 2011.

“They say the only constant in life is change,” said Payne. “For me, D.C. United has been like my child. We brought the team into the D.C. and national sports world 17 years ago and every day since – good and bad – has been a labor of love. This team has provided many great memories of championships and historic accomplishments, but I will best remember the people I've had the chance to meet, to work with, strive with, celebrate with, and sometimes to share disappointment with.
“To the players, coaches, co-workers and fans, I can only say thank you so much for the great privilege of having been part of the D.C. United family. It’s very difficult for me to express how I have felt, and still feel, about all of you. I will forward a longer statement in the weeks to come to try to do a better job of thanking everyone for all they have meant to me.
“I'm very excited about the next phase of my life, and very excited about the next phase for D.C. United, as well. I know the leadership of the team will take it to new heights on, and off, the field. I look forward to returning to RFK and wish everyone in the D.C. United family the best of luck.”
D.C. United finished the 2012 MLS campaign 17-10-7 (58 points), placing third in the overall League table. The club finished the regular season with a seven-game unbeaten streak before a dramatic playoff run ended in the Eastern Conference Finals.
“Very few people in American soccer have put their stamp on a club as Kevin has with D.C. United,” said United Head Coach Ben Olsen. “His loyalty to the team and me is something for which I’ll always be indebted.”

VIDEO: VCU Men Ousted by Syracuse in NCAA tournament

via vcuathletics YouTube:

Rams fall short against the Orange in the 2nd round of the NCAA Tournament.

NASL Virginia asking fans to name new team

NASL VIRGINIA: ONE MONTH LEFT TO SUBMIT NAMES FOR NEW SOCCER TEAM

 

Phase 2 begins December 19 and will culminate February 6, 2013

Ashburn, VA – November 19, 2012 – With hundreds of names pouring in during the first phase of NASL Virginia’s Name The Team contest, the organization has announced that we will extend the deadline for submission until noon on Wednesday, December 19. NASL Virginia will then initiate ‘Phase 2’ of the contest, whereby fans will choose from one of three finalists.

“The volume and quality of names we are receiving is overwhelming,” said Bob Farren, President and CEO of VIP Sports & Entertainment, the parent company of NASL VIrginia. “We will have some very difficult work to do to cull the list down to three final choices for fans on December 19. It is a great problem to have.”

Fans are encouraged to submit names for their new soccer team at NASLvirginia.com, at Facebook.com/NASLVirginia and at various locations across Northern Virginia. The contest is presented by Edelman Financial Services, Buffalo Wing Factory & Pub, Mountcastle Plastic Surgery and Sonak Family Chiropractic.

By 2014, the NASL will consist of 11 teams and their split-season format will run from Spring to July 4 and then Summer to early November, with the champion determined by the winner of the Spring Championship hosting the winner of the Fall Championship. The NASL Virginia franchise will host at least 16 regular season home games.

NASL Virginia’s Name The Team contest will conclude with a fan celebration on Wednesday, February 6, 2013 at a location to be announced. This event will be in conjunction with a watch party during the United States Men’s Team World Cup Qualifier verses Honduras. At this celebration and party we will unveil the soccer team’s name, logo and home jersey.

# # #

About the NASL: The North American Soccer League (NASL) is sanctioned as America’s Second Division of Professional Soccer by the United States Soccer Federation, just below Major League Soccer. The NASL is a professional men’s soccer league with eight current teams in the United States, Canada, and Puerto Rico.

The NASL’s history reaches back to the late 1960’s and the original inception of a professional soccer league in the United States. The NASL was best known for great teams like the New York Cosmos, the Washington Diplomats, the Fort Lauderdale Strikers and the Tampa Bay Rowdies and world-class players like Pelé, Franz Beckenbauer and Giorgio Chinaglia.

The league was reestablished in late 2009 and began league play on April 9, 2011 and the Minnesota Stars were the inaugural season’s champions and the Tampa Bay Rowdies recently won this year’s NASL Championship. The league will expand to nine teams with the return of the NY Cosmos in 2013 and to 12 teams with the introduction of Virginia and Ottawa for 2014.

About VIP Sports & Entertainment: The mission of VIP S&E is to provide the families of Northern Virginia with an unprecedented level of affordable entertainment all year long, for generations to come. The centerpiece of VIP’s community-focused endeavor is a stunning, innovative 5,500-general admission ballpark complex in the One Loudoun multi-purpose development near Dulles International Airport. The state-of-the-art facility will be designed to comfortably host Loudoun Hounds professional baseball, NASL professional soccer, high school and other amateur sports, as well as premium concerts, festivals, fairs and community events. With a range of unique amenities and distinctive features, VIP’s venue will truly be a place of “Universal Appeal With a Neighborhood Feel™.”

UVA Men Eliminated from NCAA Tournament

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – The Virginia men’s soccer team saw its season come to a close with a 3-1 defeat to 13th-seeded New Mexico Sunday evening in a second-round NCAA tournament match at the UNM Sports Complex. Virginia, which wraps its season with a 10-7-4 mark, had its seven-match unbeaten streak snapped, while New Mexico (17-3-1) advances to face fourth-seeded Connecticut next Sunday in Storrs, Conn.

 

“Obviously it’s always tough to end a season,” Virginia head coach George Gelnovatch said. “I’m really proud of them. It’s a young group that handled itself very well in a really tough environment. This is going to be a very good team in the future and playing this team in this environment is going to do us a lot of good.”

 

New Mexico pressured from the start and struck quickly with a goal in the fifth minute. Following a Michael Calderon corner kick, Kyle Venter charged in and headed the ball in from just outside the near post for the score.

 

UNM dominated possession in the first half and owned a 14-4 shots edge in the half, although the Cavaliers seemed to gather themselves and find their footing as the half neared its conclusion.

 

The Cavaliers came out as the aggressors in the second half. UVa took consecutive corner kicks; the second was deflected back out where Scott Thomsen (Fr., Brick, N.J.) served it back into the box, where a charging Matt Brown (So., Charlotte, N.C.) put a head on it and found the back of the net. It marked Brown’s first career score, while Thomsen was credited with his team-high eighth assist of the year.

 

New Mexico took the lead back in the 61st minute on a counter when Calderon quickly drove down the field to the top of the box, where he a slid a through ball toward the far post to James Rogers, who then flipped a shot inside the other post for the score.

“Our response in the first five minutes of the first half was fantastic,” Gelnovatch said. “If it wasn’t for a slip-up on a counter, this game would have gone down the stretch 1-1 and we would have been in a great position.”

Virginia brought in midfielder Brian James (Fr., Sunrise, Fla.) for Brown in the 81st minute to add to the Cavaliers’ forward push, but Virginia could not find the equalizer, and Calderon added an insurance goal with just 19 seconds remaining on a breakaway off a counter.

 

The chippy game featured 38 fouls (19 on each team) as well as five yellow cards. UNM out-shot the Cavaliers, 20-11, with UVa holding a 7-6 edge in the second half.

Virginia goalkeeper Spencer LaCivita (So., Raleigh, N.C.) made four saves, while UNM keeper Patrick Poblete was credited with one save.

 

Virginia had just one senior in the starting lineup – two-time All-ACC forward Will Bates (Chester, Va.), who finished with a team-high 12 goals this year. The Cavaliers started six freshmen as well as four sophomores, all of whom will be back for 2013.

Game Notes

• Virginia played in its 32nd-consecutive NCAA tournament, dating to 1981 – the longest active streak in the nation. UVa has an all-time record of 53-28-4 in the NCAA tournament.

• Virginia has a 2-7 record in true road matches in the NCAA tournament; the Cavaliers played their first true road game in the NCAA tournament since a 1-0 second-round loss at West Virginia on Nov. 28, 2007.

• UVa and UNM met for the second time; the teams played to a 1-1 draw on Nov. 27, 2004, in the third round of the NCAA tournament in Charlottesville, with UVa advancing 6-5 on PKs.

• Thomsen’s eight assists are the most by a Cavalier since Nico Colaluca recorded 10 in 2006.

• Will Bates finished his UVa career with 46 career goals (seventh in program history), 102 points (ninth in school history) and 15 game-winning goals (third in school history).

VIDEO: Nick DeLeon, D.C. United confident at RFK

via MLS YouTube:

D.C. United head coach Ben Olsen, midfielders Nick DeLeon & Perry Kitchen, defender Brandon McDonald and goalkeeper Bill Hamid preview Sunday's Eastern Conference Championship second leg against the Houston Dynamo.

D.C. United Trio named as finalists in MLS year end awards

Washington, D.C. (November 15, 2012) - Major League Soccer today announced today the finalists for its 2012 year-end awards. Among the finalists are D.C. United midfielder Nick DeLeon, up for Rookie of the Year, United Head Coach Ben Olsen, up for Coach of the Year, and midfielder/forward Chris Pontius, up for Comeback Player of the Year. 

The Black-and-Red’s first selection in the 2012 MLS SuperDraft (7th overall) Nick DeLeon has continued the club’s recent string of rookies making an immediate impact. Playing in 28 games (25 starts) in his first professional season, DeLeon broke United’s rookie goal-scoring record with six tallies in 2012, also contributing four assists in the process. Previous record-holders included Santino Quaranta (2001), Freddy Adu (2004) and Andy Najar (2010), who all notched five goals in their inaugural MLS campaigns. DeLeon joins teammates Chris Pontius (2009 finalist), Andy Najar (2010 Rookie of the Year) and Perry Kitchen (2011 finalist) as the fourth consecutive Rookie of the Year finalist from D.C. United. 

Olsen, in his second full season at the helm of D.C. United, led the club to a second-place finish in the Eastern Conference (17-10-7; 58 points) and its first post-season berth since 2007. After captain and 2011 MLS MVP Dwayne De Rosario was sidelined with an MCL injury in September, Olsen guided the club to a nine-match unbeaten streak (6-0-3), including playoffs, the League’s second-longest undefeated span in 2012. At the time Olsen was hired permanently as head coach on November 29, 2010, he was - at 33-years old - the youngest coach in the League.

Pontius, United’s longest tenured player, had a career campaign in 2012. After suffering season-ending injuries in 2010 and 2011, Pontius set highs in goals (12), games played (31), games started (26), minutes (2,339), shots (71) and shots on goal (29). Six of Pontius’ 12 goals this season were game-winners, tied for the club record set in 1996 by Steve Rammel and tied for third in MLS in 2012. Pontius also earned team accolades as the 2012 Volkswagen Most Valuable Player Award, Volkswagen Fans’ Choice Award, Volkswagen Goal of the Year and the club’s Golden Boot. 

The Rookie of the Year award will be announced on November 19, while Coach of the Year and Comeback Player of the Year accolades will be revealed on November 27. The list of finalists for the aforementioned honors, as well as the full announcement schedule follows. 

Rookie of the Year Finalists
Austin Berry (Chicago Fire)
Nick DeLeon (D.C. United)
Darren Mattocks (Vancouver Whitecaps FC)
 
Coach of the Year Finalists
Ben Olsen (D.C. United)
Peter Vermes (Sporting Kansas City)
Frank Yallop (San Jose Earthquakes)
 
Comeback Player of the Year
Alan Gordon (San Jose Earthquakes)
Eddie Johnson (Seattle Sounders FC)
Chris Pontius (D.C. United)
 
Awards Announcements Schedule:
Schedule subject to change

November 19: MLS Rookie of the Year, Xbox Fair Play Individual & Team of the Year
November 20: MLS Defender of the Year, MLS W.O.R.K.S. Humanitarian of the Year, and Referee/Assistant Referee of the Year
November 26: 2012 MLS Best XI
November 27: MLS Coach of the Year and Comeback Player of the Year
November 28: Allstate Goalkeeper of the Year and Newcomer of the Year
November 29: AT&T Goal of the Year, MLS Save of the Year and Volkswagen MLS MVP

UVA Women Face Rutgers in NCAA 2nd Round

Virginia and Rutgers Meet in NCAA 2nd Round Friday
ACC Champion Cavaliers look for eighth consecutive trip to NCAA Round of 16

CHARLOTTESVILLE – The ACC Champion Virginia women's soccer team will host a doubleheader of second round NCAA Tournament games on Friday at Klöckner Stadium. Duke and Miami (Ohio) will meet in the first game at 4 p.m. and the Cavaliers will face Rutgers in the second game at 7 p.m. 

Tickets for the doubleheader are $9 for reserved seats, $7 for adult general admission and $5 for youth/student/senior citizen general admission. Fans can order tickets for the tournament online at VirginiaSports.com and by phone through the Virginia Athletics Ticket Office at 800-542-UVA1 (8821) or 434-924-UVA1 (8821). Tickets will also be available at the gate beginning one hour prior to the start of play.

On Friday, cash parking will be available for $5 in the University Hall, McCue Center and John Paul Jones Arena lots, and free parking will be available in the Emmet/Ivy Parking Garage.

This season marks the 15th time in the past 19 years that the Cavaliers have hosted NCAA Tournament play at Klöckner Stadium. Overall, Virginia has a 20-10-3 record in home NCAA Tournament games.

Virginia is making its 19th consecutive NCAA Tournament appearance and 25th overall appearance. Only North Carolina and Notre Dame have longer active streaks of tournament appearances.

The Cavaliers are 17-4-1 this season after a 4-1 first-round win over La Salle last week. Virginia has advanced past the first round every year since the tournament went to 64 teams in 2001, joining North Carolina, Portland, Texas A&M and UCLA as the only teams to accomplish that feat. With a win against the Scarlet Knights, Virginia would match the school record for wins in a season with 18, and would advance to the NCAA Round of 16 for the eighth consecutive year.

Rutgers is 13-7-1 and reached the second round after a 1-0 win at Colgate last week in the opening round. The Scarlet Knights are looking to reach the NCAA Round of 16 for the fourth time in school history (1987, 2001, 2008).

Friday’s game is the fifth all-time meeting between Virginia and Rutgers, but the first in 17 years. The Scarlet Knights lead the all-time series 3-1. The first three meetings, all at neutral sites, were won by Rutgers from 1986-88 before the Cavaliers won the last meeting, 1-0, in 1995 at Klöckner Stadium.

The Virginia-Rutgers winner will meet the Duke-Miami (Ohio) winner in the third round. That game is scheduled for Sunday at 4 p.m. at Klöckner Stadium.

Kickers Legendary Goalkeeper, Pascale to Retire

PASCALE ANNOUNCES RETIREMENT

Kickers Veteran Goalkeeper Bows Out After Legendary Career

RICHMOND, VA – (Thursday, November 15, 2012) – Veteran goalkeeper Ronnie Pascale officially announced his retirement today, concluding a legendary 13-year career with the Richmond Kickers.

Ronnie Pascale | photo © Brian L. Zimmerman

"It's been an incredible 13 years with the Richmond Kickers, so much more than I ever could have dreamed, but it's time for me to officially announce my retirement,” stated Pascale.  “I am very proud of the success we have had as a team and as an organization over the past 13 years, and I feel truly lucky to have been able to do what I love to do for as long as I have.”

“I'd like to thank the Kickers organization, staff, coaches, fans, and friends for all the support throughout my career,” he added.  “It has been an honor to be a part of such an extraordinary organization, to have played in front of such great fans, and to have played with so many great players and friends.  I would especially like to thank my family, Stacy, Tabatha, and Brayden, who sacrificed and supported me more than anyone could ever know, and I couldn't have done it without them."

“We are going to miss a truly unbelievable individual,” commented Leigh Cowlishaw, Richmond Kickers Head Coach and Director of Soccer.  “Ronnie has served the Kickers admirably over the last thirteen years. He is a top class goalkeeper, an inspirational role model to our youth players and a dedicated advocate for our club in the community.  We wish Ronnie well in all of his future endeavors and look forward to him being an important part of the Kickers family for years to come.”

Making more appearances than any other Kickers player in club history, Pascale reached the 300 games played milestone on July 27, 2012 against the Charlotte Eagles and has logged over 27,000 minutes in a Kickers uniform.  Since becoming the club’s starting goalkeeper in 2002, the franchise player has led the team to six Championship appearances and two league titles.  Most recently, he played every minute of every game in during his final season in 2012, adding eight clean sheets, for a total of 98 career shutouts.

Consistently one of the top netminders in the league, the three-time USL Goalkeeper of the Year backstopped the team to historic USL PRO and U.S. Open Cup Semifinals in 2011, ending the campaign with a miniscule 0.960 goals against average in 30 games played. Shoring up one of the best defensive units in the league, the experienced goalkeeper led the back line to a career-best 11 shutouts in 2011, while allowing just 29 goals on the season.  Pascale posted his career-best goals against average (0.740) in 2007, en route to his third consecutive USL title match.

Prior to signing with the Kickers, Pascale spent his rookie season with the Atlanta Silverbacks out of Furman University where he was named Southern Conference Rookie of the Year in 1995. A four-year starter at Furman University, he was named to the Southern All-Conference team four times, Conference Goalkeeper of the year three times, and was twice named to the Second Team All-South. After his senior season, Pascale was named the Furman Male Athlete of the Year (1998/99).

VIDEO: USMNT Comeback, De Rosoario Returns - The Daily 11/14

via mls YouTube:

Jason and Greg break down the US game versus Russia and Dwayne De Rosario's potential roll in Sunday's Eastern Conference Final.

VIDEO: U.S. MNT Ready for Test in Krasnodar, Russia

via ussoccerdotcom YouTube

The U.S. Men's National Team wraps up 2012 with an international friendly in Krasnodar, Russia. With big road wins already this year against Italy and Mexico, Jurgen Klinsmann's team will hope to finish the year on a high. Carlos Bocanegra, Michael Bradley and Herculez Gomez preview the match set for Nov. 14 at 10 a.m. ET on ESPN2, ESPN3 and Univision Deportes. More info: http://www.ussoccer.com

Hokie Women lose in OT to Georgetown in NCAA Tournament

BLACKSBURG, Va. – The Virginia Tech women's soccer team suffered a heartbreaking overtime loss as it fell to Georgetown, 3-2, in the opening round of the NCAA Tournament at Thompson Field Sunday evening. Sarah Adams scored the deciding goal to advance the Hoyas.

Tech wraps up the season with a No.25 ranking and a 13-6-1 record. The six losses for the Hokies were the fewest in a season in program history. Georgetown, ranking 14th in the nation, stays alive and moves to 16-3-3 on the year.

The Hoyas started the first half with an early goal to go up 1-0 three minutes into the game. Daphne Corboz sent a cross into the 18-yard box and Colleen Dinn connected on it about 10 yards out to the lower right corner.

Back-and-forth play continued for the next 30 minutes. Tech received its first chance to put a point on the board in the 27th minute with a Katie Yensen shot that went high. The Hokies took two shots and a corner before notching their first goal.

Kelsey Loupee took a free kick about 35 yards out and found Ashley Meier, who headed it into the far corner to tie the game at one with five minutes left in the half.

Georgetown responded with a shot by Marina Paul, but the midfielder sent it high. Tech got the ball back two minutes later and Anne Lumpkin fed a racing Jazmine Reeves down field who connected on a low shot to the opposite corner at the 43:34 mark.

The two teams went into the break with the Hokies up 2-1. The Hoyas out shot Tech 6-5, while the Hokies took the 2-1 corner advantage in the first. Tech's goalkeeper Dayle Colpitts stopped three Georgetown shots, while Emma Newins notched one save for the Hoyas in the first 45 minutes of play.

Both teams came out of the break trying to create opportunities. Georgetown took the first shot of the half three minutes in, but Colpitts was there to make the stop. The Hokies responded with two from Mayrose in the 50th minute, but both went wide.

At the 65:58 mark, Meier took the ball up field and gave Tech the next opportunity to increase its lead. The midfielder dished the ball to Mayrose who beat the defender and went one on one with the keeper and fired a hard shot but Newins was there to make the grab.

The Hoyas tied the score at two in the 78th minute. Mary Kroening fed the ball from the right sideline, close to the five-yard box and Kaitlin Brenn jumped up and headed it in over Colpitts' head.

The Hokies continued to attack, eager to find the next goal. Tech notched back-to-back corners with the last one coming in the final 20 seconds and Mayrose jumped up for a header but went wide right to end regulation.

The extra period started with a Tech corner kick but the ball was quickly cleared out by the Hoyas. Less than two minutes later Georgetown moved the ball down field and Jessica Clinton crossed it from the left side to Adams, who lifted the ball over Colpitts and into the back of the goal.

Georgetown outshot the Hokies just 10-9 in the game, but Tech took the 5-1 edge in corners. Colpitts finished the game with five saves, while Newins made two saves for the Hoyas.

D.C. United player Andy Najar called up by onduras for National Team duty

Washington D.C. (November 12, 2012) - D.C. United announced today that midfielder Andy Najar has been called up by the Honduras National Team for a November 14 friendly against Peru at BBVA Compass Stadium in Houston, TX at 7:30 p.m. Najar will join the Honduran Federation today.
      
Najar, 19, has had a fantastic third season with D.C. United, playing in 25 regular-season matches, starting 22, and notching four assists. The converted right fullback is a product of D.C. United’s Youth Academy, and was the second homegrown player to sign with the first team on March 22, 2010. That year, he went on to win the 2010 MLS Rookie of the Year award, as well as being named the 2010 D.C. United Volkswagen MVP. In his young, yet illustrious D.C. United career, Andy Najar has tallied 10 goals and 11 assists in the 82 MLS matches (72 starts) in which he has appeared.  

Najar has made two appearances with the senior Honduras National Team and seven for the U-23’s, including a run in the 2012 London Olympics in which the squad advanced to the quarterfinals. He earned his first cap for the country on September 3, 2011 against Colombia at Red Bull Arena in Harrison, NJ.

No. 2 UVA Women open NCAA First Round against No. 21 La Salle

CHARLOTTESVILLE – The ACC Champion Virginia women's soccer team will open play in the 2012 NCAA Tournament on Friday as it hosts Atlantic 10 Champion La Salle. Game time at Klöckner Stadium is set for 6 p.m. The matchup of the No. 2 Cavaliers and No. 21 Explorers is the only NCAA first round match between two teams ranked in the Soccer America Top 25.

2012 NCAA DI Women's Tournament Bracket

Tickets for the game are $9 for reserved seats, $7 for adult general admission and $5 for youth/student/senior citizen general admission. Fans can order tickets for the tournament online at VirginiaSports.com and by phone through the Virginia Athletics Ticket Office at 800-542-UVA1 (8821) or 434-924-UVA1 (8821). Tickets are also available at the gate beginning one hour prior to the start of play.

Free public parking will be available in the University Hall lot and the Emmet/Ivy Garage. The Virginia women's basketball team hosts James Madison at 7 p.m. on Friday, so the John Paul Jones Arena west lot is reserved for women's basketball permit holders.

This season marks the 15th time in the past 19 years that the Cavaliers have hosted NCAA Tournament play at Klöckner Stadium. Overall, Virginia has a 19-10-3 record in home NCAA Tournament games.

Virginia is making its 19th consecutive NCAA Tournament appearance and 25th overall appearance. Only North Carolina and Notre Dame have longer active streaks of tournament appearances. Last year Virginia advanced to the quarterfinals, defeating Long Island, Washington State and Virginia Tech at home before falling at Florida State.

The Cavaliers are 16-4-1 this season and received an automatic selection to the tournament after winning the ACC Tournament last week. Virginia moved up to No. 2 in the Soccer America rankings this week, its highest place in the poll since 2004, after the school’s first ACC title. The Cavaliers enter the game on a five-game winning streak, all against ranked opposition, outscoring foes 19-3 in those contests.

La Salle is 17-4-1 and won the program’s first Atlantic 10 Championship last week. After starting the season 3-3-0, the Explorers are 14-1-1 since mid-September. La Salle is in the field of 64 for the second consecutive year after losing its NCAA debut 5-1 at Maryland last year.

Friday’s game is the first-ever meeting between Virginia and La Salle. It marks the fifth consecutive year that the Cavaliers have met a first-time opponent in the first round of the NCAA Tournament.

The Virginia-La Salle winner will meet the Rutgers-Colgate winner in the second round. That game will be played on Friday, Nov. 16.  

VIDEO: Roanoke vs Emory NCAA Tournament First Round Highlights

via Roanoke Athletics Vimeo:


Highlights from first round NCAA Tournament action between Roanoke Men's soccer and Emory.

Roanoke vs. Emory NCAA Tournament First Round Highlights from Roanoke Athletics on Vimeo.

D.C. United Knock Out NY, Head to Houston for Eastern Conf. Finals

Nick DeLeon celebrates game winning goal with teamates.

Washington, D.C. (November 8, 2012) – Following tonight’s thrilling 1-0 (2-1 aggregate) win over the New York Red Bulls, D.C. United has secured a spot in the Eastern Conference Finals and will face the Houston Dynamo in the two-game, total-goals series. United will play at BBVA Compass Stadium on Sunday, November 11 at 4:00 p.m. ET before hosting the return leg on Sunday, November 18 at 4:00 p.m. ET at RFK Stadium. Tickets are on sale now at dcunited.com. 


Both games will be televised live to a national audience by NBC Sports Network.
 
D.C. United Season Ticket Holders may access the November 18 match using Special Match 3 tickets in their season ticket books. Tickets for MLS Cup playoff matches played at RFK Stadium remain on sale via dcunited.com/tickets with all United plan holders enjoying priority seating options and discounted pricing by calling D.C. United Customer Service at 202-587-5000. 

Individual game tickets are available via dcunited.com/tickets, by calling (202) 432-SEAT or by visiting any TicketMaster outlet. Tickets are priced at $60 for Mezzanine seats, $50 for Midfield, $40 for Sideline and $30 for Endline. Groups of 15 or more may also purchase seats at discounted rates via dcunited.com/tickets or by calling D.C. United Customer Service at 202-587-5000.  

This year, D.C. and Houston met three times during the regular season, with the Dynamo winning twice at BBVA Compass Stadium and United securing a 3-2 win at RFK Stadium back in April. The two teams have never met in MLS Cup playoffs. 

D.C. United finished the 2012 MLS regular season with a 17-10-7 record (58 points).  Ben Olsen’s club entered the post-season on a seven-game unbeaten run, going 5-0-2 (17 points) during that span. United has yet to lose a home game since falling 1-0 to Sporting Kansas City on opening night back on March 10. United closed out the regular season on a 16 game home ubeaten streak – going 12-0-4 en route to the League’s best home points total this year (40). 

For more information on all 2013 D.C. United ticket plans, visit dcunited.com/tickets or call 202-587-5000.
D.C. United is the most successful professional soccer organization in the history of the United States. United is four-time MLS Cup Champions (1996, 1997, 1999 and 2004) and winners of the 1996 and 2008 U.S. Open Cup, the 1998 CONCACAF Champions Cup, the 1998 Interamerican Cup and the 1997, 1999, 2006 and 2007 MLS Supporters Shield.

UVA's Will Bates Named to All-ACC First Team

CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. – Virginia senior Will Bates (Chester, Va.) has been named to the All-ACC First Team as part of the 2012 All-ACC Men’s Soccer Teams, which were announced Thursday by the conference office. UVa’s Darius Madison (Philadelphia, Pa.), Marcus Salandy-Defour (Kensington, Md.) and Todd Wharton (Glen Allen, Va.) also were named to the 2012 All-ACC Freshman Team.

Bates was named First-Team All-ACC for the second straight season; he also was a second-team honoree in 2009. He currently ranks second in the ACC with 11 goals this season and is third in the conference in points with 23. A member of the Hermann Trophy Watch List, Bates is seventh in career goals (45) and 10th in career points (100) at Virginia. 

Three of Bates’ 11 scores this year have been game winners (Duke, Mount St. Mary’s, High Point). The forward has played in 17 of the Cavaliers’ matches, with 14 consecutive starts, after returning from a knee injury suffered late in the 2011 season.

Madison has played in 14 matches and owns a pair of goals this year. The speedy forward scored his first goal against Mount St. Mary’s and recorded the golden goal in double overtime in the win over NC State on Nov. 1. 

Salandy-Defour has scored two goals and added three assists this year. The midfielder ranks third on the team with seven points this year. He is one of three Cavaliers to have started all 18 matches this season and leads the team’s midfielders in minutes played (1,593).  

Wharton also has played in all 18 matches in the Cavaliers’ midfield, starting the last 15. He owns one goal this year, which was the game winner against Drexel on Sept. 18. Wharton ranks third on the team in minutes played (1,489).

Virginia (9-6-3), the sixth seed in the conference tournament, will play in the ACC semifinals at 5:30 p.m. Friday against second-seeded North Carolina at the Maryland SoccerPlex in Germantown, Md. Top-seeded Maryland and fourth-seeded Clemson will play the second game at 8 p.m. Both matches will air online via ESPN3. The winners advance to play for the conference championship at noon Sunday on ESPNU.

D.C. United-New York Red Bulls match postponed until Thursday, November 8

Washington, D.C. (November 7, 2012) – Major League Soccer has postponed tonight's Eastern Conference Semifinal match between D.C. United and the New York Red Bulls due heavy snow accumulation. The second leg of the two-game, total goals series is now scheduled for Thursday at 7:30pm ET at Red Bull Arena. The game will be broadcast on NBC Sports Network. 


“All the indications we had were for inclement weather, but certainly not a snowfall of this magnitude,” said MLS Executive Vice President Nelson Rodriguez. “We did our best to try and stay ahead of [the snowfall], but unfortunately couldn’t. In the end, you can’t jeopardize the safety of the athletes and the game itself deserves a better field for the magnitude of the game.”

Tickets to Wednesday's match will be honored Thursday. Fans with questions may call 877.RB.SOCCER.
As a result of tonight's postponement, the first leg of the Eastern Conference Championship has been moved to Sunday, Nov. 11 at 4 p.m. ET on NBC Sports Network.  

D.C. and New York are tied 1-1 on aggregate after the first leg on Saturday. The team that advances will play in the Eastern Conference Championship and face the winner of the Houston-Kansas City match taking place this evening. Tickets for United's possible Eastern Conference Championship match at RFK Stadium are on sale now and available by visiting dcunited.com.

U.S. Soccer's Tony Lepore U-13/14 Academy Webinar

via ussoccerdotcom YouTube:

U.S. Soccer's Tony Lepore describes the U-13/14 Development Academy program and provides background on the application process during a public webinar hosted on Nov. 6, 2012. Like the

Development Academy on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/Development Academy

More info: http://www.ussoccer.com

UVA Men Top Wake Forest, Advance to ACC Semis

Virginia Men's Soccer Tops Wake Forest in PKs, Advances to ACC Semifinals 

Cavaliers and Demon Deacons play to 2-2 draw; UVa wins shootout, 5-3 

WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. – After playing third-seeded Wake Forest to a 2-2 draw Tuesday night in a quarterfinal match of the ACC Soccer Championship, the sixth-seeded Virginia men’s soccer team advanced to the ACC semifinals after outlasting the Demon Deacons 5-3 in penalty kicks at Spry Stadium. The Cavaliers (9-6-3) eliminated Wake Forest (11-3-5) from the tournament for the fifth straight season.

Virginia advances to play second-seeded North Carolina at 5:30 p.m. Friday at the Maryland SoccerPlex in Germantown, Md. Top-seeded Maryland and fourth-seeded Clemson will play the second game at 8 p.m. Both games will air online via ESPN3. The winners advance to play for the championship at noon Sunday on ESPNU.

UVa dropped a 1-0 decision to North Carolina on Sept. 21 in Chapel Hill.

The Cavaliers and Demon Deacons played 110 minutes of wildly entertaining soccer, with end-to-end action throughout and numerous scoring chances. The sides combined for 44 shots, with each taking 22. The Cavaliers’ shot total was a season high.

“It was two good teams playing some good soccer,” Virginia head coach George Gelnovatch said. “There wasn’t a whole lot of fouling or stupid stuff. We’ve seen each other before and we knew we had to do a little bit better with how well they move the ball, and I thought we did that, in particular after halftime when we made some adjustments. I thought our second half was better than our first.”

The match went down in the books as a draw, but a penalty-kick shootout was used to determine the team which advanced to the semifinals. Both teams connected on their first three shots – UVa’s Will Bates (Sr., Chester, Va.), Grant Silvester (So., Sacramento, Calif.) and Todd Wharton (Fr., Glen Allen, Va.) and Wake Forest’s Danny Wenzel, Michael Gamble and Luca Gimenez. The Cavaliers’ Zach Carroll (Fr., Grand Blanc, Mich.) buried his attempt, but Wake’s Teddy Mullin stuttered before his try and his kick sailed just outside the left post. UVa’s Shane Cooke (R-Jr., Warrenton, Va.) then fired his shot to the back of the net, clinching the PK win.

“Those were nine high-level PKs; (Mullin) just missed his, and that happens,” Gelnovatch said. “The four that Wake hit were very good and the five that we hit were good ones as well.”

While Virginia controlled the run of play for the majority of the initial 20 minutes of the match, Wake Forest drew first blood with a goal in the 21st minute as Gamble made a long run down the right flank into the box, took a great cross from Sean Okoli and tapped it to the far corner of the net for the goal. 

UVa knotted the score in the 32nd minute. Scott Thomsen (Fr., Brick, N.J.) lofted a long free kick from near midfield, and after the ball caromed around in traffic inside the box, Carroll corralled it and banged the shot home to the far corner for his fourth goal.

Wake took the early lead in the second half when Chris Duvall sent a cross from just outside the box to the far post, where Okoli headed it in for his 11th score of the year. The goal came just over five minutes into the half.

The Cavaliers again tied the score in the 55th minute when Marcus Salandy-Defour (Fr., Kensington, Md.) took a pass just outside the box and delivered it to Eric Bird (So., Virginia Beach, Va.), who one-timed it just inside the right post. The goal was Bird’s second of the season.

After a corner kick and scrum in the box in the 83rd, Wake clanged a shot off the post. The Cavaliers had a flurry with just under 70 seconds remaining in regulation, as Bird’s shot in traffic from 12 yards was deflected by Wake keeper Andrew Harris, and Carroll’s rebound shot in the box was deflected away by the Wake Forest defense. UVa out-shot Wake, 15-9, in the second half.

Wake Forest took the only two shots of the first overtime period as well as the only two of the second overtime. 

UVa goalkeeper Spencer LaCivita (So., Raleigh, N.C.) made three saves, while Harris was credited with five saves for the Demon Deacons. 

Virginia took eight corner kicks (five in the first half), while Wake Forest took seven corners. Both teams were called for a dozen fouls. 

VIDEO: 2012 CAA Men's Championship Preview

via CAASportsProductions YouTube:

2012 CAA Men's Soccer Championship Hosted by Drexel University November 9th & 11th For more CAA Championship information visit http://www.caasports.com.

VIDEO: Highlights Radford vs Gardner-Webb, Big South Quarterfinals

via RadfordAthletics YouTube:

Highlights from Radford's 2-0 Big South Quarterfinal win over Gardner-Webb on Nov. 6, 2012.

Q & A with David D'Onofrio and Mark Simpson of NASL Virginia

via IMSoccer News:


This is a great read to learn even more about the newest professional soccer club that has come to Virginia.


A Q & A with David D’Onofrio, Entertainment Director of Communications and Mark Simpson, Director of Soccer Operations for VIP Sports & Entertainment, on the NASL’s newest club.

Read Full Story: Loudoun County Officially Newest Member of NASL

D.C. United Academy Update - November 5, 2012

Washington, D.C. (November 5, 2012) –D.C. United’s U-18 and U-16 Academy teams continued their winning ways by defeating VA Rush’s U-18 and U-16 squads 7-1 and 3-0, respectively, this past Saturday at Long Bridge Park in Arlington, Va.

Braces from three players – Denis Najar (Alexandria, Va.), Patrick Foss (South Riding, Va.) and Timothy Wilson (Frederick, Md.) – helped the U-18’s cruise to a 7-1 win in which the squad notched the highest goals total in a single match this season. Michael Seaton (Hyattsville, Md.) tallied a goal in the 46th minute to add to the scoring as well.

Najar opened the U-18’s account with a one-time finish from a Nigel Robinson (Woodbridge, Va.) cross in just the 9th minute. First-half goals also came from a Foss long-range shot in the 43rd minute and another Najar strike, a screamer from 25 yards out in the 45th minute. Seaton struck the back of the net less than a minute after the interval, and 18 minutes later, Foss converted a penalty kick. Wilson closed the match with two goals in the final five minutes to put a definitive stamp on the team’s dominant offensive performance. 

"Today's match showcased the number of quality attacking players on this team,・said Head Coach Nolan Sheldon. “Nigel Robinson and Denis Najar were dangerous throughout the match and forced VA Rush to respect their pace and creativity.  We have placed a great emphasis on scoring first and the impact it has on the game.  To the team's credit, they have successfully scored first in each of the past five matches and, as a result, have picked up some good results recently."

Sharp one-touch and two-touch passing, quick attacks and strong defensive play guided the U-16’s to a 3-0 victory over the VA Rush U-16 squad. Julian Cummings (Fredericksburg, Va.) put the U-16’s ahead 1-0 off of a Christophe Koffi (Potomac, Md.) pass across the six-yard box. The two other goals also came in the first half, with Koffi and Gerson Umana (Lorton, Va.) setting each other up for one strike apiece.

The boys played a solid match,・said Tom Torres, head of D.C. United’s U-16 Academy team. They did not give their opponent much room to find a rhythm. Playing in the other team's end is something we continuously demand of the players, and they were very successful in that aspect this week. With two tough northern road matches before the Showcase, we will need to make sure the boys continue to put a lot of work into training.”

The U-18’s and U-16’s will next take on FC DELCO’s U-18 and U-16 teams on Saturday, November 10 at 5 p.m. and 7:30 p.m., respectively, at Radnor High School in Radnor Township, Pa.

VIDEO: VCU Men's A-10 Tournament Preview

via VCUAthletics YouTube:

Men's Soccer A-10 Tourney Preview

VIDEO: Radford Women Selected to NCAA Tournament, Draw UNC

via RadfordAthletics YouTube:

Reactions from head coach Ben Sohrabi, Rachel Conway and Che' Brown following Radford's NCAA Tournament Selection Show viewing party - Radford drew North Carolina for its first round matchup in the 2012 NCAA Women's College Cup.

Virginia Receives a No. 2 Seed in NCAA Women’s Soccer Tournament

CHARLOTTESVILLE – The ACC Champion Virginia women's soccer team received a No. 2 seed in the 2012 NCAA Women's Soccer Tournament and will open play at home on Friday as it hosts LaSalle. Game time at Klöckner Stadium is set for 6 p.m.

"It is always an honor to be in the field of 64 for the NCAA Tournament," said head coach Steve Swanson. "We are excited for the tournament to begin. It is a tough tournament and whoever you get matched up against is going to be a strong opponent. We didn’t have an easy draw in the ACC Tournament and were able to rise to that challenge. We are happy to be opening the tournament at home and be able to play in front of our great fans that support us every game at Klöckner."

This season marks the 15th time in the past 19 years that the Cavaliers have hosted NCAA Tournament play at Klöckner Stadium. Overall, Virginia has a 19-10-3 record in home NCAA Tournament games.

Virginia is making its 19th consecutive NCAA Tournament appearance and 25th overall appearance. Only North Carolina and Notre Dame have longer active streaks of tournament appearances. Last year Virginia advanced to the quarterfinals, defeating Long Island, Washington State and Virginia Tech at home before falling at Florida State.

The Cavaliers are 16-4-1 this season and received an automatic selection to the tournament after winning the ACC Tournament last week. Virginia is a No. 2 seed in the tournament for the third consecutive year and for the fourth time in the past five years. LaSalle is 17-4-1 and champions of the Atlantic-10 Conference. The Explorers are making their second straight NCAA Tournament appearance after making their NCAA debut last season.

Tickets for the game are $9 for reserved seats, $7 for adult general admission and $5 for youth/student/senior citizen general admission. Fans can order tickets for the tournament online at VirginiaSports.com and by phone through the Virginia Athletics Ticket Office at 800-542-UVA1 (8821) or 434-924-UVA1 (8821). Tickets are also available at the gate beginning one hour prior to the start of play.

Free public parking will be available in the University Hall lot. The Virginia women's basketball team hosts James Madison at 7 p.m. on Friday, so the John Paul Jones Arena west lot is reserved for women's basketball permit holders.

VIP Sports and Entertainment bring NASL Soccer to Loudoun County

VIP S&E ADDS SOCCER TO NORTHERN VIRGINIA SPORTS LINEUP

NASL franchise gains footing in Loudoun County

via NASL Virginia Facebook page

Ashburn, VA – November 5, 2012 – Continuing its strategy of delivering exceptional sports and entertainment options to Northern Virginia, VIP Sports & Entertainment announces that it is partnering with Loudoun Professional Soccer, LLC (LPS), who have been awarded a franchise in the North American Soccer League (NASL).  The franchise will debut in 2014 playing its home games at the future Ballpark located at One Loudoun in Ashburn, VA.

“The NASL has a long and glorious tradition as a quality professional league and we are proud to join them in 2014,” said Bob Farren, Chairman & Founder of VIP Sports & Entertainment. “We believe the addition of professional soccer significantly enhances the entertainment options we can offer our fans and we are extraordinarily happy to welcome the NASL to Northern Virginia and the Washington, D.C. region.”

Accompanying this announcement is the launch of a Name The Team contest to have our fans determine the name of the franchise.  Fans are encouraged to submit names for their new soccer team at NASLvirginia.com, presented by Edelman Financial Services, Buffalo Wing Factory & Pub, Mountcastle Plastic Surgery and Sonak Family Chiropractic.

“The NASL is delighted to add Virginia to the league as our 11th team, beginning play in 2014,” said Commissioner David Downs.  “Over the past year we have gotten to know the owners and management group here quite well, and share their strong belief that this team will be successful in every sense of the word in this rapidly growing and vibrant community in Northern Virginia.”

By 2014, the NASL will consist of 11 teams and their split-season format will run from Spring to July 4 and then Summer to early November with the champion determined by the winner of the Spring Championship hosting the winner of the Fall Championship. VIP Sports & Entertainment will host at least 16 home regular season games.

LPS President Joe Travez added his thoughts on the world’s game: “We will work with NASL and its partner Traffic Sports, headquartered in Brazil, to bring the global game home to Loudoun County through various international matches. It is an exciting opportunity to expand Virginia’s role in the world sports market.”

Farren noted, “The opportunity to expand the lineup of professional sports in Loudoun County and Northern Virginia with the quality of an NASL franchise is a tremendous compliment to our plans at the Ballpark. We all look forward to tapping into the power of the youth soccer network of the DC Region and finding fans all across the region to be a part of the future success of this team.”

Among the goals of VIP’s soccer franchise will be the development of an academy system, formed by teaming up with several established youth soccer clubs including Loudoun Soccer, the largest club of its kind in Virginia.  Former DC United Goalkeeper and Coach Mark Simpson will be the club’s Director of Soccer Operations. 

About the NASL: The North American Soccer League (NASL) is sanctioned as America’s Second Division of Professional Soccer by the United States Soccer Federation, just below Major League Soccer. The NASL is a professional men’s soccer league with eight current teams in the United States, Canada, and Puerto Rico.

The NASL’s history reaches back to the late 1960’s and the original inception of a professional soccer league in the United States. The NASL was best known for great teams like the New York Cosmos, the Washington Diplomats, the Fort Lauderdale Strikers and the Tampa Bay Rowdies and world-class players like Pelé, Franz Beckenbauer and Giorgio Chinaglia.

The league was reestablished in late 2009 and began league play on April 9, 2011 and the Minnesota Stars were the inaugural season’s champions and the Tampa Bay Rowdies recently won this year’s NASL Championship. The league will expand to nine teams with the return of the NY Cosmos in 2013 and to 12 teams with the introduction of Virginia and Ottawa for 2014.

About VIP Sports & Entertainment: The mission of VIP S&E is to provide the families of Northern Virginia with an unprecedented level of affordable entertainment all year long, for generations to come.  The centerpiece of VIP’s community-focused endeavor is a stunning, innovative 5,500-general admission ballpark complex in the One Loudoun multi-purpose development near Dulles International Airport.  The state-of-the-art facility will be designed to comfortably host Loudoun Hounds professional baseball, NASL professional soccer, high school and other amateur sports, as well as premium concerts, festivals, fairs and community events.  With a range of unique amenities and distinctive features, VIP’s venue will truly be a place of “Universal Appeal With a Neighborhood Feel™.”