Tribe sign eight for 2012 Recruiting Class

WILLIAMSBURG, Va. - Williamand Mary head women's soccer coach John Daly signed eight student-athletes tonational letters of intent on Wednesday. The eight player recruiting class joins a stout W&M squad, fresh offof a CAA championship, and a NCAA tournament birth last season.  In the national polls, last year the Tribeclimbed to as high as No. 14th last season. When it was all said and done in 2011, the College posted an overallrecord of 17-3-2 and a CAA ledger of 10-1.

Courtesy TribeAthletics.com

Read Complete Story: Tribe Women’s Soccer Announces 2012 Recruiting Class - William & Mary - Athletics at William & Mary

John Daly: NCAA Proposals Damaging to Women's Soccer

United add Hamdi Salihi as DP

Official D.C. United Press Release:

D.C. United acquires forward Hamdi Salihi as Designated Player

28-year old Albanian international has scored 163 goals in 289 professional matches

Washington, D.C. (February 2, 2012) – D.C. United announced today the club has signed 28-year old forward Hamdi Salihi as a Designated Player. The Albanian international has scored 163 goals in 289 professional matches (all competitions), 53% of the matches in which he has played. Per club and League policy, terms of the deal were not disclosed. Salihi will be officially added to the roster following receipt of his International Transfer Certificate, P-1 Visa, and full medical clearance.

“We are thrilled to have completed a deal to bring Hamdi to MLS and D.C. United,” said D.C. United General Manager Dave Kasper. “He has one of the most impressive strike rates you’ll find and has shown he’s capable of scoring goals at every level in which he’s played. We believe strongly he will become another important piece for our team and we look forward to seeing him on the field in March.”

Salihi was most recently with Rapid Vienna of Austria’s top division. During the team’s current campaign, he has scored 11 goals in 15 matches (all competitions). In three total years with Rapid Vienna, he has tallied 53 goals in 90 total matches (all competitions). While at Rapid Vienna, Salihi was a teammate of current D.C. United midfielder Branko Boskovic.

The Albanian forward’s career began with his hometown side KS Vllaznia Shkodër in 2002. Over three campaigns with the team, Salihi tallied 30 goals in 53 matches (all competitions).

In 2005, Salihi moved to Panionios in Athens Greece. He played in just six matches before returning to Albania to join KF Tirana prior to the 2005-06 season. He captured the Golden Boot as the league’s top scorer, helping his team to the National Cup – the Albanian Superliga championship. Two campaigns with Tirana saw Salihi tally an impressive 42 goals in 52 matches (all competitions).

Midway through the 2006-07 campaign, Salihi moved to SV Ried of Austria’s Bundesliga, tallying six goals in 16 games with his new side. During the next two full campaigns, he notched 30 goals in 65 matches (all competitions). Salihi began the 2009-10 campaign with SV Ried and scored two goals in seven matches before a mid-season move to Rapid Vienna. Over 31 total matches (all competitions) with his new side, he scored 17 goals. The 2010-11 season saw Salihi tally 25 goals in 44 matches (all competitions).

Salihi has also been an important part of the Albanian National Team, scoring nine goals in 37 senior team matches. In 2011, he had his best year to date with Albania, tallying three goals in ten international games.

D.C. United’s 17^th MLS season begins on Saturday, March 10 when the Black-and Red host Sporting Kansas City. Kick-off is set for 7:30 p.m. ET. Ticket packages may be purchased at dcunited.com.




Name: Hamdi SalihiHeight: 6’1”
Weight: 170
Jersey: 9
Position: Forward
Birthdate: January 19, 1984
Age: 28
Birthplace:  Shkoder, Albania
Hometown: Shkoder, Albania
Previous Club: Rapid Vienna (Austria)
Acquired: Signed on February 2, 2012

First Annual LLND Memorial Golf Tournament



FIRST ANNUAL NICK FRANCA

MEMORIAL GOLF TOURNAMENT

Monday, April 30th, 2012

Chantilly National Golf and Country Club

14901 Braddock Road, Centerville, VA

Please register (see back) by April 1, 2012

Nick Franca

Format 4 Person, Captain’s Choice (please register as a team)

Program 11:00 AM – Registration, Auction Preview, Raffle Tickets, Putting Contest, Boxed Lunch

12:30 PM – Shotgun

5:30 PM – Live Like Nick Did (LLND) Program, Dinner, Silent Auction, Raffle, Awards

Special Events Closest to the pin, hole-in-one car contest, longest drive (men and women), silent auction*, raffle*

*Please contact Sallie Buben to donate auction and raffle items

Salliebuben@gmail.com  or 202-309-2244


Proceeds will benefit a medically challenged student at Lynchburg College through the Nick Franca Memorial Scholarship as well as the Band of Parents in its mission to fund research for less toxic treatments for the childhood cancer Neuroblastoma.

Contact:

Caryn Franca

7017 Union Mill Road

Clifton, VA 20124

carynfranca@gmail.com

703-830-1141 (h), 703-944-5441 (c)

Band of Parents is a 501(c)3public charity. Your donationsare tax-deductible to the full extent of the law.

www.bandofparents.org

Sponsorship Opportunities

Nick Franca faced cancer head on at age 15. His valiant, six year fight brought many gifts to the world. One of those gifts was Band of Parents, which his mother helped launch in 2007. Band of Parent’s purpose was to fund new, nontoxic treatments for Neuroblastoma, the disease Nick suffered from. The first treatment is now in clinical trial at Memorial-Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center in New York City, which was Nick’s primary hospital. Band of Parents raised 1.5 million dollars to fund this treatment that arrived at the clinic several months after Nick passed. Results are promising so far, and now Band of Parents has committed to fund two more treatments that will help children plagued with this disease.

While in treatment Nick was able to attend college at Lynchburg College in Virginia. Their support of Nick was so special that the Franca family now has a scholarship in honor of Nick at Lynchburg. Each year a student with a special medical need will be the recipient.

Sponsorship is an enormous part of making Nick’s Memorial tournament a success, so that both of these causes will be given vibrant life, in honor of his. Thank you for considering this tax deductible donation. All registrations and donations will be run through the Band of Parents. The scholarship will be funded through that total.

FIRST ANNUAL NICK FRANCA

Job Alert: Commonwealth Soccer Programs Seeking Tournament Director

CSP Seeks Tournament Director

Since 1997, Commonwealth Soccer Programs has been a soccer management company based in Richmond, VA, dealing with club consultation, tournament management, camps, team training, and more. We are currently operating 10-14 tournaments, with several of those being in Florida.

CSP is looking for a qualified candidate to manage a team in the operations of these tournaments.

This is a specific list of duties that will be included in the Tournament Director’s duties:

• Oversee the general operations of the tournament
• Scheduling
• Promotion/Marketing
• Instructing the staff and coordinating internal communication
• Tracking team entries and team checks
• Organization of vendors and obtaining sponsors
• Finalizing game brackets
• Communicating with teams
• Arranging game officials
• Organizing site facilities
• Establish, follow and evaluate tournament budget
• Responsible for the recruitment, scheduling and oversight of event volunteers
• Responsible for all permits necessary for the event
• Ensure all financial obligations are concluded in a timely manner
• Document standard procedures for job position as well as a calendar year timeline of activities
• Implementing the policies and rules of the tournament
• Creating a positive tournament experience for the fans and participants
• Resolving any conflicts amicably
• Meeting predetermined goals that can include finances, attendance and number of participants
• Other duties as assigned

Qualifications

• Experience in running a tournament-type event preferred
• Knowledge of the sport, event planning and marketing experience required
• Good communication skills, strong writing and organizational skills
• Knowledge of computers with data entry, word processing and email capability mandatory
• Pleasant manner, patience, problem-solving ability, dependability and well-spoken
• Self-motivated, require minimal supervision and strong leadership qualities
• Must have initiative!
• Working relationships with current soccer organizations, DOC’s, Technical Directors is a plus.

Qualified applicants should send resumes, with references and cover letters to Steve Lovgren at steve@cspsoccer.net .  If you have further questions, please feel free to email.

United Academy players commit to local Universities

Today D.C. United released the official list of commitments for their Academy players and luckily some of these very promising players are heading to local Virginia Universities.

Jannik Eckenrode , Sam Legg – Radford University 

Ryan Harmouche, Edgar Zepeda – George Mason University

Marcus Salandy-Defour – University of Virginia

See the official Press Release from D.C. United below:

D.C. United Academy officially announces 2012 university commitments

10 players announce intentions to attend eight Division I programs

Washington, D.C. (February 1, 2012) – D.C. United Academy today announced that ten of its U-18 players have committed to play soccer at eight different universities for the 2012 fall season. The list includes commitments to perennial collegiate powerhouses Wake Forest University and the University of Virginia, among others.
       
“We’re proud to announce the ten university commitments our Academy players have made for the coming fall season,” said D.C. United General Manager Dave Kasper. “Playing soccer at the collegiate level is a great accomplishment and a major goal that we pride ourselves in helping our players achieve. We look forward to following their collegiate careers and wish each the very best of luck.”

"We're excited for each of these individuals and are proud of the success they have had, both on the field and in the classroom,” said D.C. United U-18 Head Coach Nolan Sheldon. “This achievement is a culmination of many years of hard work and dedication and we're confident each of them will have terrific collegiate careers."

The following players today announced their official university commitment:

Damilola Adetola – Villanova University
Date of birth: May 31, 1994
Position: M/F
Tenure at D.C. United: Two years
Previous youth clubs: Potomac Academy, Olney Rangers, Freestate Bravehearts
Honors/awards: ESPN Rise mention 2011; captain of high school Maryland State Champion (2011); three-year varsity player.

Jannik Eckenrode – Radford University
Date of birth: December 13, 1993
Position: Forward
Tenure at D.C. United: One year
Previous youth clubs: Annandale United and McLean
Honors/awards: Captained Annandale United to back-to-back state championships in 2010 and 2011; 2011 Patriot District Player of the Year; 2011 First Team All-Met selection.

Ryan Harmouche – George Mason University
Date of birth: November 15, 1993
Position: Midfielder
Tenure at D.C. United: Two years
Previous youth clubs: Annandale United, Arlington Venom, BRYC Boca
Honors/awards: 2010 All-Met honorable mention; Two-year member of Virginia ODP team; 2010 State Cup regional semifinalist.

Peter Lee – U.S. Army
Date of birth: August 30, 1994
Position: Defender
Tenure at D.C. United: Three years
Previous youth clubs: Waldorf MD United

Sam Legg – Radford University
Date of birth: June 11, 1994
Position: Goalkeeper
Tenure at D.C. United: Two years
Previous youth clubs: Herndon FC, Mclean Premier Soccer, Loudoun Soccer
Honors/awards: Member of Virginia ODP team; District and Regional Championship winner in high school.

Robert Maffei – Manhattan College
Date of birth: January 16, 1994
Position: Goalkeeper
Tenure at D.C. United: One year
Previous youth clubs: Team America '93
Honors/awards: 1st Team All-Liberty District

Jalen Robinson – Wake Forest University
Date of birth: May 8, 1994
Position: D/M
Tenure at D.C. United: Three years
Previous youth clubs: Bethesda Arsenal
Honors/awards: Member of U.S. Youth National Teams at U-14, U-15 and U-20 level.

Marcus Salandy-Defour – University of Virginia
Date of birth: December 13, 1993
Position: M/F
Tenure at D.C. United: Three years
Previous youth clubs: MSC Dragons, Crystal Palace USA, Potomac Cougars
Honors/awards: Four caps with U.S. U-18 Men’s National Team; MLS SUM Cup winner; U.S. Development Academy select team; three-time IAC first team; two-time First Team All-Gazette; All-Met honorable mention; three-year member of Maryland ODP team; two-time Region I ODP team.

Michael D. Russo – University of Central Florida
Date of birth: April 5, 1994
Position: Midfielder
Tenure at D.C. United: Three years
Previous youth clubs: McLean Premier Soccer, Olney Rangers
Honors/awards: Four-year letter winner at McLean High School (Liberty District champions, 2010 state qualifier); two-time team captain; Member of Maryland ODP team at District, State, Regional level; member of U.S. U-14 and U-15 Men’s National Team.

Edgar Zepeda – George Mason University
Date of birth: March 3, 1994
Position: Defender
Tenure at D.C. United: Two years
Previous youth clubs: Team America 93
Honors/awards: All-district, all-region, all-area player; U.S. club nationals winner.

Weekend scrimmage recaps: D.C. United’s academy teams were also active this past weekend, as the U-18s defeated McLean Academy 3-0 (goals by Jannik Eckenrode, Edgar Zepeda and OJ Porteria) on Saturday. The U-16s played two scrimmages on the weekend, falling to Vienna 4-0 on Saturday, before beating McLean Academy 3-0 (goals from Chrysthian Najar [2] and Graydon Hester) on Sunday. Both teams are preparing for the upcoming Development Academy season, which begins March 10, in conjunction with the beginning of the MLS regular season. Both the U-16 and U-18 teams will face the New England Revolution in their first games.