Video Interveiw: Sepp Blatter insults MLS, American Soccer

Sepp Blatter

Here are a couple of great  reactions to FIFA president Sepp Blatter recently insulting the progress of MLS in America.

The Four Stars: Sepp Blatter said WHAT?: (This article is not quite about D.C. United, but I figured since it was referring to the league DC plays in, I can write about this.) ...

Examiner.com: FIFA president Sepp Blatter takes swing at MLS

In a long Al Jazeera interview with FIFA president Sepp Blatter on December 28, the leader of world football took an undeniable swing at Major League Soccer (MLS), the first division of pro soccer in the United States.

Open The Doors And Celebrate Our Successes – Time To Reopen ‘Our’ Hall Of Fame

The National Soccer Hall of Fame contains a number of famous names and memorabilia (over 80,000 to be exact), but since February 2010, has had no home to call its own.

While inductions continue -the USSF announced this year the inductions of Tony Meola, Claudio Reyna, Tony DiCicco, and Desmond Armstrong – a physical location where fans can share in their successes and stories ceases to exist.

However, a dedicated group of soccer supporters from St Louis are focused on changing that. Through the Rally St Louis project, these members of the St Louis Soccer Alliance are fighting hard to have the Hall Of Fame built in their city and help put Missouri’s second largest city back on the soccer map.

Read Complete Story: Open The Doors And Celebrate Our Successes – Time To Reopen ‘Our’ Hall Of Fame

United re-sign defender Robbie Russell

Washington, D.C. (December 19, 2012) – +D.C. United  today announced that the club has re-signed veteran defender  Robbie Russell. Russell made 19 appearances (16 starts) and tallied a goal in the 2012 campaign, his first season with United. Per club and League policy, exact terms of the deal were not disclosed. 

“We are pleased that Robbie will return to United for the 2013 season,” said D.C. United General Manager Dave Kasper. “Robbie brings a wealth of experience and veteran leadership to our locker room, and we are pleased to have reached an agreement to bring him back,” continued Kasper.

photo credit: Tony Quinn

Russell, who was part of the 2009 MLS Cup Champions Real Salt Lake, has made 97 Major League Soccer appearances (84 starts), tallying two goals and assisting on nine others. In five MLS seasons, the defender has logged over 7,000 minutes. Prior to making the move to MLS, Russell spent time with Icelandic First Division side Breidablik (2000), Norwegian First Division clubs Sogndal I.L. (2001-04) and Rosenborg BK (2004-06), and Danish Superligaen (First Division) side Viborg FF (2006-08).

Name:                          Robbie Russell  
Height:                          6’2”
Weight:                         205
Number:                       3
Position:                        Defender 
Birthdate:                      07/16/1979
Birthplace:                    Accra, Ghana
Previous Club:               Real Salt Lake
Acquired:                      Acquired on 11/29/11 from Real Salt Lake in exchange for a 2013 MLS SuperDraft third-round selection.

Tribe midfielder Mallory Schaffer named NSCAA Scholar All-America First-Team

WILLIAMSBURG, Va. - William and Mary women's soccer senior midfielder Mallory Schaffer earned National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA) Scholar All-America First-Team accolades on Monday.  Schaffer garners the first-team distinction for the second straight season.  Additionally, she becomes the 14th academic All-America selection from the College and the first to repeat since Tara Flint '03 accomplished the feat in 2002 and 2003.

courtesy TribeAthletics.com

 The Allison Park, Pa., native capped an impressive 2012 campaign being named the Colonial Athletic Association Player of the Year, for the second consecutive season, while earning All-CAA First Team distinctions.  Schaffer also earned second-team NSCAA and Senior Class All-America honors.  She finished her final campaign in a Green and Gold uniform with 23 points on 10 goals and three assists. 

A two-time All-America and three-time All-CAA First-Team honoree, Schaffer finished her impressive career netting 41 goals and 96 points, which rank sixth and seventh, respectively, all-time in school history.

National Women's Soccer League (NWSL) set for Spring 2013 start

CHICAGO (Dec. 15, 2012) - The new eight-team women's soccer league will be called the National Women's Soccer League (NWSL). The league, which will be administered by U.S. Soccer, will begin in the spring of 2013.
The new league logo is appropriately red, white and blue and features the silhouette of a female soccer player about to strike a shot.

With the confirmation of the league name and logo, the National Women's Soccer League has also launched its official pages on Facebook and Twitter. Fans are encouraged to like the league at facebook.com/NWSLsoccer and follow on Twitter @NWSL_soccer. A league website will be launched in the near future.

U.S. Soccer President Sunil Gulati announced on Nov. 29 that former U.S. Women's National Team General Manager Cheryl Bailey had been named the Executive Director for the new league.

"We are working on finalizing a number of league items, but we now have a name and a logo that we think the fans will identify with and enjoy," said Bailey. "This is a league we have to build from the bottom up and we have a group of dedicated owners and talented support staff at U.S. Soccer to keep this process moving in a positive direction while slowly growing the brand."

U.S. Soccer will subsidize the salaries of up to 24 U.S. Women's National Team players while the Canadian Soccer Association and Federation of Mexican Football will each do the same for up to 16 players.

The eight teams in the league are: Boston Breakers, Chicago Red Stars, FC Kansas City, Portland Thorns FC, Sky Blue FC, Washington Spirit, Western New York Flash and Seattle, which has yet to announce its team name.

More information on the details of the league will be released as they become finalized.

2013 Disney Pro Soccer Classic Schedule Released

The schedule has been announced for the 2013 Disney Pro Soccer Classic, which will open with a matchup between the Columbus Crew and Toronto Football Club on Saturday, February 9 at 1 p.m.

The six Major League Soccer (MLS) teams participating in Central Florida Soccer Spring Training, as well as Orlando City Soccer Club (USL) and the Tampa Bay Rowdies (NASL), will compete in two weeks of group play, with Group A consisting of Orlando City, Philadelphia Union, Toronto Football Club and Columbus Crew. Teams in Group B will include the Tampa Bay Rowdies, D.C. United, Montreal Impact and Sporting Kansas City. All games will be played at the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex at Walt Disney World.

Saturday, February 9, 2013:

1:00 p.m.: Columbus Crew vs. Toronto Football Club

3:00 p.m.: Montreal Impact vs. Sporting Kansas City

6:00 p.m.: Orlando City Soccer Club vs. Philadelphia Union

8:00 p.m.: D.C. United vs. Tampa Bay Rowdies

Wednesday, February 13, 2013:

1:00 p.m.: Philadelphia Union vs. Columbus Crew

3:00 p.m.: Tampa Bay Rowdies vs. Montreal Impact

6:00 p.m.: Sporting Kansas City vs. D.C. United

8:00 p.m.: Toronto Football Club vs. Orlando City Soccer Club

Saturday, February 16, 2013:

1:00 p.m.: Montreal Impact vs. D.C. United

3:00 p.m.: Philadelphia Union vs. Toronto Football Club

6:00 p.m.: Orlando City Soccer Club vs. Columbus Crew

8:00 p.m.: Tampa Bay Rowdies vs. Sporting Kansas City

Pro Soccer Classic Championship Day – Saturday, February 23, 2013:

1:00 p.m.: Group A Fourth Place vs. Group B Fourth Place

3:00 p.m.: Group A Third Place vs. Group B Third Place

6:00 p.m.: Group A Second Place vs. Group B Second Place

8:00 p.m.: Group A First Place vs. Group B First Place

Travel packages are available that include lodging, Disney Pro Soccer Classic game tickets, attraction tickets and exclusive VIP experiences. Additionally, Soccer Spring Training will include a number of events aimed at increasing excitement for soccer in Central Florida, including a College Combine, International Trials and amateur soccer tournaments.

For more information about Central Florida Soccer Spring Training and to book a travel package, please visit www.SoccerSpringTraining.com or call the official travel provider, GET Travel, at 888-877-4445, option 3.   Central Florida Spring Training is sponsored by the State of Florida.

About CFSC: The Central Florida Sports Commission strategically solicits, creates and supports marquee sports-related events and businesses that enhance our community’s economy. The Sports Commission represents the counties of Lake, Orange, Osceola, Seminole and Volusia, as well as the City of Orlando. The Sports Commission also produces sports-related programs for the residents of Central Florida including the Celebrity Mascot Games, the SPORTYS, Breakfast of Champions and the Daytona Beach Half Marathon. For more information, please visit www.centralfloridasports.org.

Tryouts announced for new NPSL club, Chesterfield United

NPSL Tryouts are Coming! Mark your Calendar February 9th

The newest club in the NPSL, Chesterfield United, will hold tryouts on Saturday February 9th for all eligible players. This is the first step towards building a team for the upcoming inaugural season in the fourth tier of US Soccer. The squad will be face some quality competition and will be eligible to take part in the Lamar Hunt US Open Cup.

Chesterfield are looking to players that are currently holding amateur status as well as former players looking to be competitive or even looking for a setting where they can get exposure and have the opportunity to play at the professional level.

The NPSL season will take place during the summer months of May through July, with regional playoffs that will result in a national champion.  The teams will play against other regional franchises based in Virginia, North Carolina, and South Carolina during an 8 game regular season.

Joe Farrell will take the reigns as the team’s head coach and has high hopes for what will be a special first year.  “I am tremendously excited about the upcoming NPSL season. This is a huge step for our club as it shows that we have not only drive and ambition but the quality of staff to achieve something great.  My hope is that our NPSL team will be extremely competitive with some outstanding talent on show. I expect us to do well and compete with all the teams in our division.”

2013 TRY-OUT

WHAT: NPSL Tryouts (Men’s team)
WHEN Saturday February 9th, 2pm-4pm
WHERE: United Training Center (2610 Weir Place, Chester, VA 23831)
REGISTRATION: $20 on Site or register directly here   https://ssl.demosphere.com/scripts/runisa.dll?s7:gp::73244+regis/guidelines

For more information about tryouts, player selection, Chesterfield United’s NPSL team, NPSL Reserves and Women, please email our Director of Operations, Miquel Casajuana at mcasajuana@chesterfielduntied.com  or follow this link to register https://ssl.demosphere.com/scripts/runisa.dll?s7:gp::73244+regis/guidelines

ABOUT CHESTERFIELD UNITED:  The Chesterfield United Football Club is a result of 28 years of club development and evolution. The club debuted in 1980 as Dale Youth Soccer and in 1995 became Chesterfield Soccer Club. In 2002 Chesterfield Soccer Club merged with James River United to form Chesterfield United Soccer Club. On May 1st of 2008 Chesterfield United Soccer Club made a subtle name change from “Soccer Club” to “Football Club” and is now known as Chesterfield United Football Club, Chesterfield United FC, CUFC or “United FC”. For more information visitwww.chesterfieldunited.com.

ABOUT THE NPSL:  The National Premier Soccer League (NPSL) is the successor to the Men’s Premier Soccer League (MPSL), which was formed in 2002.  By 2005 it became necessary for the league to expand to a national format in order to accommodate teams from the Midwest region.  The NPSL expanded further in 2007 by adding a Northeastern region.  In 2011, with the addition of a Southeastern region, the National Premier Soccer League has truly become a nationwide league.  

The NPSL is sanctioned by the United States Soccer Federation (USSF), the governing body of soccer in the United States. The NPSL operates and is managed as a team-run league. The structure of the league allows each team to have one vote on the executive committee.  Each team is individually owned and operated, and is responsible for maintaining league minimum standards.  New teams seeking membership into the NPSL are subject to approval from an executive committee comprised of existing team owners.

Longwood junior Pardue named to NSCAA All-Southeast Region Third Team

Junior Kelsey Pardue

FARMVILLE, Va. – Longwood University junior Kelsey Pardue|Henrico (Hermitage) has been selected to the National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA) 2012 All-Southeast Region Third Team.  The midfielder started all 21 matches and led the Lancers in goals (7), assists (6), points (20) and game-winning goals (5).  She ranked 17th nationally in game-winning goals (5) and 144th in assists (6), while among the Big South Conference leaders in both categories, as well, including first in game-winning goals.  Pardue was an All-Big South First Team honoree this fall, and ranks fourth in career assists (19) and seventh in points (51).  She is the Lancers’ first NSCAA Division I All-Region choice since the program became DI-eligible in 2007.
    
“Kelsey is a special player and deserves this type of recognition with the performance she had this past fall season,” said 19th-year head coach Todd Dyer '93.  “She'd also be the first to give credit to her teammates for their hard work and support, which has enabled her to have so much individual success.  An added bonus is that she's still capable of so much more as she heads into her senior year and I know she's eager to lead this team.”
    
Longwood finished 2012 with a final record of 13-6-2, including 8-2-1 in its first season of Big South competition, tying for second place during the regular season and advancing to the conference tournament semifinals.  The Lancers posted their highest win total as a Division I program while enjoying their finest season since 2002 (15-3-1), also equaling the sixth-highest win total in the 19-year history of the program.

2013 MLS Combine Invites include three from Virginia Schools

MLS released their list of players invited to the 2013 MLS Combine which consists of 54 players. Of those, three are from Virginia schools:

• Will Bates, University of Virginia (F)
• Yannik Smith, Old Dominion (F)
• Paul Wyatt, James Madison (M/F)

See complete list of 2013 MLS Combine invitees: click here

New Women's Professional Soccer League team for D.C. Identified today

GERMANTOWN, Md. (Dec. 11, 2012) – The Washington, D.C. area’s entry in the new U.S. women’s professional soccer league revealed its identity, home venue and head coach on Tuesday afternoon, the latest step in the exciting return of top-flight women’s pro soccer to the nation’s capital.

Continuing a proud tradition that began with the Washington Freedom of the Women’s United Soccer Association and Women’s Professional Soccer and continued over the past two years with D.C. United Women of the W-League, the new club’s name embodies the passion and dedication of the region’s soccer community and evokes the hopes of a bright new future for the women’s game.


Read Original Story from WashingtonSpirit.com.

Follow Washington Spirit on Twitter: @WashSpirit

UVA's Caroline Miller Named Finalist for MAC Hermann Trophy

Senior forward becomes the first finalist in program history

ST. LOUIS, Mo. – Virginia senior forward Caroline Miller (Rockville, Md.) was named one of the three women’s finalists for the 2012 Missouri Athletic Club’s Hermann Trophy, the National Soccer Coaches Association of America announced on Thursday. Miller is the first Cavalier women’s player to be named a finalist for the award, which is the most prestigious accolade in collegiate soccer.

Miller joins Crystal Dunn of North Carolina and Christine Nairn of Penn State as this year’s women’s finalists. Ryan Finley of Notre Dame, Jose Gomez of Creighton and Patrick Mullins of Maryland are the three men’s finalists.

The finalists will be honored and the men’s and women’s winners will be announced at the Hermann Trophy banquet on January 11 at the Missouri Athletic Club in St. Louis.

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. A 2012 NSCAA first-team All-American, 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.

The Hermann Trophy is voted upon by NCAA Division I coaches who are NSCAA members. In addition, this season marked the first time an online fan vote contributed to the selection process. Miller received the most votes in the online fan balloting, which took place over the last week.

Alex Morgan U.S. Soccer 2012 Female Athlete of the Year

Alex Morgan at 2011 Mia Hamm Celebrity Soccer Match (photo by Chris Wimmer)

CHICAGO (Dec. 3, 2012) - For their excellence at the highest levels of the sport, U.S. Soccer announced U.S. Women's National Team forward Alex Morgan as the 2012 Female Athlete of the Year and U.S. Under-20 WNT defender Julie Johnston as the 2012 Young Female Athlete of the Year.

• Watch ussoccer.com's highlight video of 2012 Female Athlete of the Year Alex Morgan
• Read ussoccer.com's Q&A with Alex Morgan 
• Watch Julie Johnston meet her role model, U.S. captain Christie Rampone, on ussoccer.com.
• Read ussoccer.com's Q&A with Julie Johnston

The U.S. Soccer Athlete of the Year award is the highest honor awarded to soccer players in the United States. Online votes registered on U.S. Soccer's Facebook Page counted for 50 percent of the total votes, while the other 50 percent was represented by votes compiled from members of the national media and U.S. Soccer representatives, including National Team coaches and members of the U.S. Soccer Board of Directors.

The Female Athlete of the Year award is the first for Morgan and it comes in the Diamond Bar, Calif. native's first time on the ballot. The forward leads all U.S. scorers in 2012 with 28 goals which is good for third-best all time in a calendar year behind Abby Wambach (31 in 2004) and Michelle Akers (39 in 1991). Morgan has also compiled a team-leading 19 assists in 2012, the fourth-most in a single year. She still has three matches left to play as the USA finishes the Fan tribute Tour, presented by Panasonic, which matches against China on Dec. 8 in Detroit, Dec. 12 in Houston and Dec. 15 in Boca Raton, Fla.

Morgan's exploits have also earned her a place on the FIFA Ballon d'Or shortlist. The winner for FIFA's top honor will be announced on Jan. 7, 2013.

U-20 WNT defender Julie Johnston took home the Young Female Athlete of the Year award in one of the tightest races in the award's history, just edging out her U-20 teammates Kealia Ohai, who scored the winning goal in the U-20 Women's World Cup Final, and midfielder Vanessa DiBernardo.

The U-20 WNT captain was instrumental in helping the team win the FIFA U-20 Women's World Cup in Japan, starting all six games on the backline and earning the Bronze Ball as the tournament's third-best player, an extremely rare feat for a defender. The Mesa, Ariz. native also made an impact with Santa Clara, where the junior was the team's leading scorer with eight goals and five assists in 14 appearances.

Morgan and Johnston complete this year's list of winners for U.S. Soccer Athletes of the Year in 2012. Last month Clint Dempsey was announced as the Male Athlete of the year, Rubio Rubin the Young Male Athlete of the Year, and Felicia Schroeder the Disabled Athlete of the Year.

FEMALE ATHLETE OF THE YEAR
1985: Sharon Remer
1986: April Heinrichs
1987: Carin Jennings
1988: Joy Biefeld
1989: April Heinrichs
1990: Michelle Akers
1991: Michelle Akers
1992: Carin Gabarra
1993: Kristine Lilly
1994: Mia Hamm
1995: Mia Hamm
1996: Mia Hamm
1997: Mia Hamm
1998: Mia Hamm
1999: Michelle Akers
2000: Tiffeny Milbrett
2001: Tiffeny Milbrett
2002: Shannon MacMillan
2003: Abby Wambach
2004: Abby Wambach
2005: Kristine Lilly
2006: Kristine Lilly
2007: Abby Wambach
2008: Carli Lloyd
2009: Hope Solo
2010: Abby Wambach
2011: Abby Wambach
2012: Alex Morgan

YOUNG FEMALE ATHLETE OF THE YEAR
1998: Cindy Parlow
1999: Lorrie Fair
2000: Aly Wagner
2001: Aleisha Cramer
2002: Lindsay Tarpley
2003: Cat Reddick
2004: Heather O'Reilly
2005: Lori Chalupny
2006: Danesha Adams
2007: Lauren Cheney
2008: Kristie Mewis
2009: Tobin Heath
2010: Bianca Henninger
2011: Sydney Leroux
2012: Julie Johnston

Longwood Women Receive NSCAA Team Academic Award

FARMVILLE, Va. – The Longwood University women's soccer team has once again been named as a recipient of the National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA) Team Academic Award.  This is the fourth consecutive year that the Lancers have attained this prestigious team academic honor with their overall team GPA of 3.41 attained during the 2011-12 academic year, as recognized by the NSCAA.  The NSCAA recently honored 504 intercollegiate women's programs from all Divisions that posted team grade point averages of 3.0 or higher for the most recent academic year.  Longwood was just outside the Top 40 in Division I that was led by Western Michigan University (3.65), along with Lafayette College, Providence College and the University of Idaho tying in the 39th spot at 3.45.
   
“This award is not only a reflection of the importance that our team places on academics, but it is a credit to the commitment and hard work our student-athletes demonstrate on a daily basis inside the classroom,” said 19th-year head coach Todd Dyer '93.  “Our teaching faculty and academic support staff also deserve recognition for enabling and empowering our student-athletes to achieve so much in the academic environment.  It is only fitting that our success on the soccer field this year is accompanied by such an important team honor.”
   
Longwood finished 2012 with a final record of 13-6-2, including 8-2-1 in its first season of Big South competition, tying for second place during the regular season, and advancing to the conference tournament semifinals.  The Lancers posted their highest win total as a Division I program while enjoying their finest season since 2002 (15-3-1), also equaling the sixth-highest win total in the 19-year history of the program.

Tribe Goalkeeper Caroline Casey U.S. National Team Camp

Courtesy TribeAthletics.com

Mon, December 03, 2012 

 

WILLIAMSBURG, Va. - William and Mary freshman goalkeeper Caroline Casey will part take in the first annual U.S. Women's National Team Youth Goalkeeper Identification Camp on Dec. 7-10 in Chula Vista, Calif., which is home to the Olympic Training Center for U.S. Soccer.

The Chesapeake, Va., native is one of 16 goalies from around the country who will travel to the Olympic Training Center for the four-day camp.  The camp coaching staff, led by U.S. Women's Soccer Technical Director April Heinrichs, will identify the best keepers for spots on the 2014 U-20 and U-17 Women's World Cup Teams.

Casey capped an impressive freshman campaign by earning Colonial Athletic Association All-Rookie Team accolades.  Casey started all 20 contests between the posts for the College and finished the year with a goals against average of 0.71.  Additionally, she made 82 saves and only allowed 14 goals in 1771:58 minutes of action, while posting seven shutouts.