River City Rovers News Release -- www.roverssoccer.com

Thursday, May 30, 2013

LOUISVILLE, Ky. -- The River City Rovers return to PDL Great Lakes Division play against the Chicago Fire on Saturday, looking to claim first place in the standings with the club's second win of the season. The Rovers (1-1-1) currently sit in second place, two points behind league leaders Forest City London. The Fire are one point behind the Rovers, having only played one game (1-0-0).

The Rovers will rely on its defensive tandem of goalkeeper Taylor Hafling and reigning Rover of the Week defender Peter May. Hafling and May combined well to anchor the defense last week in the Rovers’ 2-1 triumph over the Bucks and 0-0 draw with K-W United. May and Hafling have been supported by defenders Luis Ramirez and Robbe Tarver, creating the Rovers most consistent line. The defense will also be bolstered by the addition of veteran Rover Hezekiah Weiss. In the first appearance of his third season with the Rovers, Weiss contributed 75 quality minutes of hard work against the Bucks.

On the offensive end, the Rovers will look to forward John Manga and midfielder Dylan Terry, who continue to be the Rovers’ most dangerous attacking options. Manga has done well all season as a holding forward, routinely keeping the ball up top allowing his teammates to get forward. He’s also one of three Rovers goal scorers, finding the net in the Rovers’ 3-1 loss to FC London. Terry has impressed well in limited minutes. He was kept to 45 minutes against KW-United due to injury after threatening the goal on multiple occasions. Terry played an integral role off the bench against the Bucks, providing the game-tying assist in the 87th minute after entering and changing the game in the 59th.

The Fire are coming off of a 1-0 defeat of league newcomer K-W United. They are led by forward and lone goal scorer Tyler Engel of Southern Methodist University. All-Big 10 goalkeeper Tyler Miller of Northwestern University holds down the Fire defense, but has yet to face a shot in the young season. The Rovers will hope to use their match experience to their advantage in facing the relatively untested Chicagoans.

The game kicks off at 7 p.m. on Saturday at Shelby County Athletics Complex, 1270 Burks Branch Road. Tickets are available at the gate for $7. Fans can also follow the action live on Twitter @ROVERSSOCCER.

Saturday, June 1, 2013

AUSTIN, Texas -- The Austin Aztex (4-0-0) and Oklahoma City FC (3-3-0) met at House Park on Saturday evening looking to make a statement to the USL PDL and the Mid South Division.

Austin’s statement rang louder.

The Aztex scored late in the first half, added two more goals in the second half, and held off a OKCFC rally to take a 3-2 victory. The win gave the Aztex sole possession of the Mid South Division lead with 12 points and adds a cushion over the chasing pack below them in the standings.

“Oklahoma City FC has a really good team,” Aztex forward Sito Seoane said. “They play direct so we had to play as we play. It was a hard game.”

The Aztex’s attack was relentless from the beginning of the game, forcing multiple corners, outshooting their opponent 11-to-1 during the first half. Eddy Campbell and Kris Tyrpak formed a fearsome duo on the flanks, and nearly connected on multiple scoring opportunities.

The Aztex were unable to score until the waning seconds of first-half stoppage time. Seoane took a loose ball from the middle of the field and navigated his way through the Oklahoma City defense. Once clear in front of goal, Seoane shot left past OKCFC goalkeeper Ray Clark.

The Aztex were able to score quickly once the second half began. Tyrpak received the ball along the right side of the field and worked his way toward the middle. He then proceeded to rip a left-footed shot from about 23 yards away for the second goal of the evening.

OKlahoma City would not go down without a fight, and answered back with a goal of its own two minutes later when Niall Crick hit a volleyed shot past Aztex goalkeeper Devin Cook.

The Aztex third goal would not have happened without the hustle of Tyrpak. Campbell maneuvered his way into space along the left side of the field and sent a cross to the middle of the field. However, nobody was near the ball and all players gave up on the ball to let it roll out of bounds, except Tyrpak, who hustled to the ball and was able to move down the line, forcing a shot that was parried out of bounds.

Tyrpak would score the game-winning goal in the 60th minute on the ensuing corner kick. Seoane sent the corner kick into the near post and Tyrpak connected for a strong header. Oklahoma City FC pulled within one goal when Black scored in the 73rd minute, but was unable to pull the game even. The two-goal game got the monkey off of Tyrpak’s back in terms of goals and points.

“I just happened to be at the right place at the right time,” Tyrpak said. “I got lucky and I redeemed myself for that one the goalkeeper saved right before that. It all worked out.”

“We knew it would be difficult in the last ten minutes,” Aztex Head Coach Paul Dalglish said. “We knew they would throw everything at us. Fair play to them, they made it very difficult for us in the end, but we found a way to win.”

The Austin Aztex will travel to face the Houston Dutch Lions on Saturday, June 8 at WoodForest Stadium in Houston.

Proceeds from Saturday night’s game will go to directly to the Oklahoma Soccer Association’s Tornado Relief Fund and will assist OSA club members who have been impacted by recent disastrous tornadoes in the Oklahoma City area.

Saturday, June 1, 2013

CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- The Harrisburg City Islanders started quickly against the Charlotte Eagles with three goals in the first 22 minutes on their way to a 4-0 victory on Saturday night at Queens Sports Complex. The City Islanders got a pair of goals from Aaron Wheeler as they won both games in their trip to the Carolinas to move into second place in the USL PRO standings.

Harrisburg took an early 1-0 lead thanks to a Chris Hernandez goal off a curling free kick from just outside the penalty area. The Eagles created their first chance in the 16th minute as Juan Guzman found Christian Ramirez inside the penalty area but Ramirez’s shot was smothered by Nick Noble. Harrisburg countered in the 18th minute as Wheeler’s left-footed shot hit the right post and glanced in around goalkeeper Eric Reed to give the City Islanders a 2-0 lead in the first 20 minutes.

Four minutes later, Harrisburg received a penalty kick and Wheeler doubled his tally by converting from the spot to make it 3-0. The City Islanders and Eagles then traded possession and shots in the final 20 minutes but neither team finished their chances and Harrisburg took a 3-0 lead into halftime.

Evan Harding made his debut for the Eagles, coming on in relief of Ben Newnam as the Eagles made a quartet of changes in the 60th minute. The Eagles were able to put some pressure on the City Islanders' goal, Noble being forced into a good save that saw him tip a shot onto the post and away for a corner, but late on Samuel Asante’s chipped cross was the Eagles' last effort, and Noble claimed easily.

Harrisburg capped the scoring as it caught Charlotte with a counter-attack in the 89th minute and Jimmy McLaughlin added the fourth goal of the night for the City Islanders. The 4-0 victory in Charlotte combined with the 2-1 victory against the Charleston Battery on Friday moved Harrisburg into second place in the league standings, four point behind Orlando with a game in hand.

The Eagles' next league match comes on Wednesday night as they visit the Charleston Battery at Blackbaud Stadium. In the previous matchup against the Battery, Shaun Francis’ free kick was the decisive goal of the night in a 1-0 Eagles' victory. Be sure to log on to USLNation.com to catch the stream of the match against the Battery.

Charlotte’s next home match will be against the Chicago Fire Reserves on Friday, June 14th at Queens Sports Complex.

Charlotte Lady Eagles News Release - www.charlotteeagles.com

Saturday, June 1, 2013

CHARLOTTE, NC - Leah Fortune's 80th minute goal completed the comeback for the Lady Eagles as Charlotte defeated the Atlanta Silverbacks 2-1 on Saturday evening at Queens University Stadium.

Saturday, June 1, 2013

THUNDER BAY, Ontario – It was a wet and drizzly evening, but the Thunder Bay Chill continued their winning ways with a 2-0 defeat of the Des Moines Menace at the Fort William Stadium on Saturday night. The win was the Chill’s third in a row to start the PDL season.

The game was determined on set plays as Pedro Adan headed home the first goal of the match off a Paul Dillon corner kick in the 31st minute. Dillon himself sealed the deal with a great free kick from 20 yds in the 78th minte that cleared the wall and eluded goalkeeper Scott Angevine in the Menace net.

All six Chill goals in the first three games this year have come from either midfielders or defenders. Out with injuries are 2012 PDL MVP Sullivan Silva and Sunny Omoregie, although Zephania Thomas did get 18 minutes in his first appearance with the Chill.

“It’s good to see we are getting the job done in spite of missing some key players” said Chill head coach Tony Colistro. “Set plays are an important part of the game” said Chill defender Paul Dillon, whose goal and assist put the Chill back into first place in the Heartland division.

The Chill have owned the Menace at home over the last four years with a 6-0-1 record and have outscored them 21-4. The Menace will find their home confines a much kinder place when they meet the Chill in Des Moines on June 14th and 15th, where they have had some success against Thunder Bay.

The Chill 3-0-0 will face the St. Louis Lions 1-2-1 next Friday and Saturday at home, and hopefully at tbaytel field at Chapples Park. Saturday night’s game had to be played at the Fort William Stadium due to the significant amount of rain over the last few days.

Dayton Dutch Lions News Release -- www.dutchlionsfc.com

Saturday, June 1, 2013

DAYTON, Ohio – The Dayton Dutch Lions had a good run in the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup, but were eliminated in the third round by the Columbus Crew by a final of 2-1. Although Dayton played down a man for the majority of the contest, Columbus didn’t score the game-winning goal until the 84th minute. The exit from the Open Cup tournament means that the Dutch Lions can give their full focus to the next USL PRO matchup against the Los Angeles Blues at home on Sunday evening.

“I think the biggest thing the team needs to realize from the Columbus match is the potential we have,” said Dutch Lions captain Joel DeLass. “Obviously, we didn’t get the result we wanted, but the mentality, the focus, and the heart that we showed throughout that game was at a higher level than it’s been all season. If we can find a way to play at that level within our league, I think we will set ourselves up for a lot of success.”

This will be the first meeting between Dayton and Los Angeles this season, but the teams are quite familiar with one another. Until the addition of Phoenix FC, the Dutch Lions were the Blues’ closest neighbor in USL PRO. The teams met three times in 2012. Los Angeles prevailed in all three contests by a score of 1-0. Dayton will be looking to turn the tables in 2013.

“Last season we came out really flat [against Los Angeles] during both of our games on the road," DeLass said. "I think the most important thing for us this weekend is to make sure we don’t have any hangover or let downs from the level we just played against the Crew. We need to come out focused on getting a win and play like this is the most important game of the season.”

The team that will welcome the Blues to Dayton on Sunday is much improved over last year’s squad. With a record of 4-2-1, the Dutch Lions have already equaled the number of wins from 2012. Improved depth in the midfield and on the front line has resulted in Dayton scoring goals at twice the pace that they averaged last season.

Los Angeles has also improved. At 5-5-2, the Blues sit in fourth place in the league standings before beginning the upcoming road trip that starts with a stop in Rochester prior to the visit to Dayton. George Davis has made significant contributions to the Blues’ success. The former Dutch Lions forward has scored three goals in ten appearances for Los Angeles this season.

The match between the Dayton and Los Angeles will be played at Beavercreek High School at 6:30 p.m. on Sunday night. To purchase tickets, please visit www.daytondutchlionsfc.com.

Washington Spirit Reserves News Release - www.washingtonspirit.com

Sunday, June 2, 2013

BEALETON, Virg. – The Washington Spirit Reserves notched their third consecutive victory Saturday, knocking off the visiting North Jersey Valkyries 7-0 in Bealeton, Virginia. Washington scored early and often in a bursting offense while goalkeeper DiDi Haracic and the stout Spirit defense recorded their third consecutive shutout.

The victory, coupled with the New York Magic’s 2-1 loss against Long Island, put the Spirit Reserves alone atop the Northeastern Conference standings.

Keeping her goal-scoring stride from the previous week, Washington midfielder Katie Yensen blasted home a feed from teammate Jenn Skogerboe in the 12th minute to get the Spirit Reserves on the scoreboard. Portuguese National Team member Monica Mendes punished the visiting Valkyries in the 21st minute, driving home a cross from fellow international Amber Stobbs (Chelsea).

The Yensen/Skogerboe connection proved effective again just before halftime, as the two linked up to grab a third Washington goal in the 40th minute.

Washington forward Stobbs made her presence known throughout the second half, recording a goal and three assists to factor in on each Spirit Reserves goal. In the 55th minute, Stobbs split the North Jersey defense on a crisp through ball allowing forward Tiffany Brown to fire untouched into the Valkyrie net.

Stobbs notched her first goal of the season 10 minutes later, rocketing a shot past North Jersey keeper Kate Courter for the 5-0 advantage.

Spirit Reserves substitute Jessica Van Dyke scored the final two goals for the home side in the span of less than a minute, both assisted by some nifty passing from Stobbs. Van Dyke deftly chipped a bouncing Stobbs ball over Courter before finishing another cross from the London native 40 seconds later.

“It was tremendous to hear so much positivity today,” Head Coach Mark Parsons beamed. “There will be times when things don’t go so well, that is when we will need to be even more positive and supportive.

“It has been a very exciting start to the season, and we will only get better, stronger, and more exciting as we continue to work extremely hard together.”

The Spirit Reserves return home in two weeks to host the New Jersey Wildcats on Saturday, June 15. Match time is set for 4 p.m. at the Maryland SoccerPlex and is the first in a special doubleheader. The Washington Spirit professional side face Abby Wambach and the Western New York Flash at 7 p.m.

Sunday, June 2, 2013

DAYTON, Ohio -- Matt Williams earned a shutout as the Dayton Dutch Lions (4-4-2) finished with a 0-0 draw against the Los Angeles Blues (5-5-4) on their home turf. Neither team could capitalize on the numerous opportunities that presented themselves, and when desperation kicked in, Williams and the Dutch Lions defense were there to prevent defeat, keeping Dayton solidly in seventh place in the USL PRO standings.

Facing their former teammate, the formidable George Davis IV, Dayton found itself starting with a slower than usual tempo as the first half opened. Los Angeles burst right out of the gate, playing with a much quicker pace which soon saw the Blues’ Allan Russell firing early efforts high of the goal in the seventh and 16th minutes. Between those two attempts, Blues goalkeeper Mohammad Mohammadi weighed in when Irakli Khutsidze’s corner to just outside the penalty area connected with Shintaro Harada, whose shot went wide of the goal.

Matt Williams kept the the Dutch Lions out of trouble for most of the game with some standout goalkeeping, and his defense had his back. Twenty-five minutes into the game, the Blues’ Shay Spitz had a chance to take the lead as he beat the offside trap and flicked his finish over an advancing Williams, only for Greg Preciado to head the ball away for a corner.

Blues coach Jesus Rico-Sanz started with a second-half substitution, Duach Jock popping in for Spitz. The substitution almost paid immediate dividends, Jock announcing his arrival immediately. His vicious shot on Williams was saved magnificently in the 48th minute, but rolled back out and Jock found it again, forcing Williams into a second standout save to keep the game scoreless. Los Angeles continued with several substitutions, beginning with a 53rd-minute exchange, Aaron Horton coming on for Mehrshad Momeni, and later Juan Perez came on for Chris Cortez, beefing up the Blues' offense.

Davis made his presence felt again in the 56th minute, sending an arching shot on goal which Williams grabbed at the crossbar just as it appeared to soar out of reach. Dutch Lions coach Patrick Bal then made an important change as he brought on Gibson Bardsley for Joey Madigan, and the Dutch Lions began to get back into the game.  Bardsley sent a through-ball from the left to the back post to Remco Klaasse, who was closed down by Russell, who tangled him up just enough for Mohammadi to sneak in behind and grab the ball.

Both teams grew frustrated in attack as the game wore on, and both took many wild turns as they found themselves with missed or denied opportunities. An 84th-minute free kick by the Blues’ Russell rocketed from 25 yards out, only for Williams to punch clear as Eli Garner picked up possesion and sprinted down the right side and came close to opening an opportunity, but the Blues’ defense eventually caught him to deny any threat to Mohammedi's goal. A minute later, Dayton’s Tjeerd Westdijk found Klaasse in the middle, who flicked on to Bardsley, whose bicycle kick hit the post. That would prove the final scoring opportunity as the game finished scoreless.

“I think overall, a tie is a fair score for this game," Bal said. "The first half, LA had a little more control then we took over. We were more even in the second half, and for big period of time we were the stronger team. We could have won it at the end with Bardsley hitting it off the post and soon after the chance with the Westdijk layoff, but on the other hand, they could have scored also.”

Next up, the Dayton Dutch face Columbus Crew Reserves at Beavercreek Stadium on Saturday, June 8 at 7:30 p.m. ET.  The Dutch Lions then face VSI Tampa Bay FC (5-3-1) on Sunday, June 16 at 6:30 p.m. ET. For season and individual game tickets, visit the Dutch Lions website. 

Sunday, June 2, 2013

TACOMA, Wash. – The Sounders FC U-23 defeated the Vancouver Whitecaps FC U-23 1-0 on Sunday afternoon at Sunset Stadium. After heading to the locker room scoreless, an opportunistic second-half goal from Luis Esteves put the Sounders U-23 ahead for good.

The side from Vancouver had plenty of chances to equalize, out-shooting the Sounders U-23 in the second half six shots to three. However, a nice performance from Sounders U-23 defenders kept the Whitecaps attackers off the score sheet, earning their second straight shutout.

The first real chance of the match didn’t come until the 23rd minute as Whitecaps forward Niall Cousens broke loose in the Sounders U-23 box. Cousens angled his shot toward the far post, but Sounders U-23 keeper Earl Edwards was able to block the shot with an outstretched left glove.

The Sounders U-23 put together a nice run of attacking play in the 35th minute. Aodhan Quinn hit a left-footed cross into the box off a free kick just outside the area. Sounders U-23 midfielder and long-throw specialist Michael Harris had the best look to head the ball on goal, but the Whitecaps' defenders were up to the task. The Sounders were able to corral the ball and stay on the attack, but could not find the final pass to break through for a goal.

As the half came to a close, the pace of play quickened as both sides pushed for an opening-half goal. The Whitecaps earned a corner kick in the 44th minute, and the ball was played sharply on the ground toward the top of the box where Marco Visintin was running on. Visintin stuck the ball pure, but with so much traffic in the box, the Sounders U-23 defense was able to head the dangerous shot away.

The Sounders U-23 used the opportunity to counter-attack, pushing men up the field, and ultimately earned a corner of their own. However, as was the case for the whole first half, the defense won the battle and cleared the danger. The two sides headed into their locker rooms knotted at 0-0.

The Sounders U-23 broke the tie on a corner kick opportunity in the 65th minute. Quinn sent a curling ball into the box from the corner that was deflected across the goal toward the other side of the box. Whitecaps midfielder Aminu Abdallah tried an acrobatic clearance, but instead sent the ball right back across the face of the goal. The opportunistic Esteves was in perfect position and headed the ball into the net, putting the Sounders U-23 on the board.

After the Sounders U-23 goal, the Whitecaps U-23 went on the offensive looking to equalize. The Sounders U-23 defense survived a nearly 10-minute attack from the Whitecaps, and settled back into the match. Opportunities for counter-attacks were prevalent for the Sounders U-23 side, but the Whitecaps' defense was able to recover in time to thwart any scoring chances from Sounders attackers.

The Whitecaps again looked to equalize in the 83rd minute off of a corner kick opportunity. The ball was swung in toward goal and knocked down into the mixer. With eager feet flying everywhere just in front of the Sounders U-23 goal, the ball finally ended up in the sure hands of Edwards and the threat was averted.

Vancouver’s best chance to equalize came late in the second half in the 88th minute. Whitecaps U-23 substitute Sasa Plavsic pounded a free kick from 20 yards out that curled on frame and struck the crossbar squarely. The ball shot more than 10 feet in the air in front of the goal, but when it came down Edwards was able to punch it away.

As the match came to a close, Sounders U-23 second-half substitute Miles Byass almost added a second goal. After taking the ball to the corner he slipped through two defenders and sped up the end line toward goal. He tried his luck from a tough angle, but his shot hit into the side netting for a goal kick.

With the win, the Sounders U-23 have put together a mini-winning streak of two straight matches. Next up is a midweek matchup against the North Sound SeaWolves FC. The match is set for Wednesday night at 7:30 p.m. at Sunset Stadium. For tickets to the match, and all Sounders U-23 information including rosters, schedules, and league standings visit SoundersU23.com. For live updates from every match, follow us on Twitter: @SoundersU23 and ‘Like’ us on Facebook.

Ottawa Fury News Release - www.ottawafury.com

Sunday, June 2, 2013

WATERLOO, Ont. - The reigning W-League Champion Ottawa Fury continued their perfect start to the 2013 season with a 2-0 victory against K-W United Sunday afternoon at Laurier's University Stadium.

Amanda Fancher opened the scoring for Ottawa in the 21st minute, heading home a Holly Hein free kick - a lead the Fury took into halftime. It remained a one-goal game until Emily Gielnik scored in her third consecutive game 10 minutes from time as Ottawa improved to 3-0-0 this season with Jasmine Phillips collecting her 28th career shutout with Ottawa.

With less than 24 hours to recover from their 4-1 victory against the London Gryphons, Coach Dom Oliveri's squad came out with plenty of energy to start the match against K-W United, which ended the Fury's 17-game unbeaten streak early last season.

The Fury opened the scoring thanks to Hein's free kick to Fancher. Gielnik produced a scoring opportunity late in the first half, but her 40-yard free kick was knocked off the crossbar and out as Ottawa carried a one-goal lead into the half.

In the second half the Fury looked to extend their lead, but were unable to find an insurance marker in the early stages thanks to a defense-first approach from K-W United. Ottawa eventually found the breathing room it was looking for 10 minutes from time thanks to Gielnik.

For the fourth time in five years the Fury have opened the W-League season with three wins and currently sit atop the Central Conference standings at 3-0-0. Gielnik now sits tied for first among league scorers with three goals and second in points with six. Phillips collected her second clean sheet of the season and is now tied for first in the league in shutouts.

The Fury will next take to the field on June 8 when they travel down the 401 to face their rivals - the Toronto Lady Lynx. The Fury will return home for the home opener on June 12 against the Laval Comets, where they will unveil the 2012 W-League Championship banner in a special pre-game ceremony.

PDL Feature

Monday, June 3, 2013

The Baltimore Bohemians’ Pete Caringi III has spent most of his life around a soccer field. The son of former professional player and current UMBC coach Pete Caringi, Jr., Caringi was a standout for the Baltimore Bays in the youth ranks, while also starring in high school.

After becoming a Retriever, and playing for his father in the process, Caringi’s success has continued. Last fall he had 14 goals and four assists, helping his side win the America East title as he was named the conference’s Striker of the Year.

Caringi has also found success for the Bohemians this season, earning PDL Player of the Week honors last week after a four-goal game lifted his side to victory against the NJ LUSO Rangers. With the Bohs now 2-0-1 this season, the second-year club could be a threat to make the playoffs in the Mid Atlantic Division.

Whether they will find a place in the postseason could be determined soon. The Bohemians face big games with defending division champion Ocean City this Saturday night, and perennial playoff contender the Jersey Express on Monday. Ahead of those games, USLSoccer.com caught up with Caringi to talk about the Bohs, his father’s influence, and playing alongside teammates from his youth soccer and college days.

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USL: As far as the game against the Rangers was concerned, what was it that clicked into gear in the second half for you guys?

Caringi: We showed a little bit up front in the first half with being fluid overall, but when the second half came around we decided that we had tied the first game before that and we needed to get these league points, especially with Reading and Ocean City and all of them ahead of us. We’ve all played together before, so it all kind of clicked, and we started rolling after that.

USL: What was it that got you involved with the Bohemians? Had you been part of the Baltimore Bays growing up?

Caringi: Most of us have been part of the Baltimore Bays growing up, and then after we all got to college and separated we all came back and join the Bohemians. There are other players in there as well, obviously, but the base of our group is from our Baltimore Bays U18 academy teams, U16 academy teams.

USL: Does that give you guys a certain amount of chemistry because a lot of you will have played together before?

Caringi: I’ve played with some of these guys on the team for three, four years now in a row, including last year with the Bohemians. A lot of us won the U19 National Championship with the Bays two years ago, so for a lot of us we’ve been together three or four years now, some of us have been even longer, and now I have four UMBC teammates and some other UMBC guys who have graduated, so coming into it right away it wasn’t like I had to learn a lot of people, the chemistry was already there, there were only a couple of people here and there who I had to learn their names and learn how to play with.

USL: As far as UMBC is concerned, you obviously had a great fall last year. What was that like to go through, and what was it like to pick up all of those accolades, particularly from America East?

Caringi: It was great, especially because the year before, I didn’t have my best year overall in my sophomore year. We came in together, and we tried to turn it on, and with the team’s success came my success with UMBC. I was just doing my job last year to score, and it was a great feeling to pick up all those accolades, obviously.

USL: What’s it like having your dad as your coach?

Caringi: Honestly, it’s normal. Growing up with my dad being there all the time, helping me here and there, he was never the dad who would get too involved, I would always know what I did wrong or did right, and I would talk to him and he would help when I’d ask him to, but it’s obviously been a good father-son relationship. Now when we’re on the field it’s not completely like that, because we have to be serious, but there haven’t been any negatives to it.

USL: He played professionally back in the 1970s, what did he tell you about that experience and how have you tried to apply that in the way you’ve grown in the youth ranks, and now in college and the PDL?

Caringi: I learned from him more about the journey to get there. He was there for a short tenure, but he showed me how you’ve got to work and how you need to rely on your teammates, and how you need to go. He showed me everything I need to get to that point, especially since we’re in the same position, so he showed me how to play forward, just from a young age to now, and I’m still learning things from him, the fitness, all the little things that add up to get to that level and get yourself prepared for the games at the level of the PDL and college ranks.

USL: You’re about to go into your senior season, do you feel as though you’re on the right track to be able to turn pro once you graduate and leave UMBC?

Caringi: Right now I do feel like I’m on the right track for all that. I think with the way our UMBC team is looking next season, the whole team, not just me, and for our PDL team, we already started 2-0-1, I think as our team success grows, for both those teams, I think mine does as well. Of course, you’re only as good as your teammates, so I think with them helping me out and me developing as a player to this age, I think I’m capable enough and ready enough to take that next step.

USL: You mentioned some of the teams in the Mid Atlantic Division, the Jersey Express, Reading United, Ocean City, who are all very powerful teams. As a second-year club, what’s the biggest thing the Bohemians have to accomplish to break into the top three and find a way to make the playoffs for the first time?

Caringi: I think it’s just taking care of every game, one game at a time. I know those clubs over there have been very successful for the last couple of years, and what they do is bring in the best players from around the country, or most of them do, and every single game they have an amazing team out there to take care of business. We have a group of guys, and a lot of us have played together for three to four years, so I see our team as being a little bit different, and honestly even though we’re a second-year club, we don’t see ourselves as that. We see ourselves as a club that can go as far as possible, because a lot of us have won national championships, college conference championships, and went as far as we can in college, so I think our next step is to just take it a game at a time, we shouldn’t look over and look at what they’re doing, we should just focus on what we’re doing. 

Laredo Heat News Release -- www.laredoheatsc.com

Tuesday, June 4, 2013

LAREDO, Texas -- The Laredo Heat Soccer Club (1-1-1, 4 points) will host the Midland / Odessa Sockers FC (1-3-1, 4 points) for the second time this season at the Texas A&M International University (TAMIU) Soccer Complex on Wednesday night. Kickoff is set for 8:15 p.m. CT.

The Heat opened their 2013 Premier Development League (PDL) Regular Season home schedule with a 2-0 win against the Sockers on May 17th with goals from Daniel Garza (United High School / TAMIU) and newcomer Alejandro de la Garza (University of the Incarnate Word).

Laredo will be trying to get back to their winning ways against the Sockers at the friendly confines of TAMIU after back-to-back losses to close out May. The Heat lost in the Second Round of the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup to the Ft. Lauderdale Strikers in penalty kicks (7-6) after playing 120 minutes to a 1-1 tie on May 21st in Florida and then on May 25th the Gateway City team fell 1-0 in regulation to division rival the Austin Aztex.

“Every divisional game is a challenge in the PDL and this one versus Midland / Odessa will be no different” said Heat Head Coach Fernando Hernandez. “Though we have faced this team already, injuries to key players have made us (the coaching staff) re-evaluate our formations and more importantly, how to incorporate our new players into our system of play, so our approach this time around versus Midland / Odessa will be different from what we did when we played them in May.

“I expect the team to be ready to play since it has been 10 days from when we last faced a real opponent (Austin) and we have had some really solid practice sessions. Hopefully this 10-day break has been enough time for our injured players to recover and I can have at least a few of them ready to see action on Wednesday”.

The Laredo Heat SC continues to offer great family entertainment at very affordable pricing. General Admission Tickets are $5 for adults and $1 for all kids 12 years of age and under. VIP Admission, for both adults and children is $20. 

Long Island Rough Riders News Release -- www.liroughriders.com

Tuesday, June 4, 2013

PLAINVIEW, N.Y. -- The Long Island Rough Riders will host Reading United AC on Wednesday night at Cy Donnelly Stadium, South Huntington. Kickoff is set for 7 p.m. The Rough Riders look forward to a tough match-up against the Mid Atlantic Division leaders after gaining confidence following a 1-0 last minute win against the F.A. Euro - New York Magic last weekend.

Saturday's game saw two evenly matched sides battling for the upper hand throughout the entire match. In the final seconds of the game, Rough Riders midfielder Tyler Botte had headed the ball into the net off a free kick, leading the team to a 1-0 victory. Long Island is currently sitting in fifth place of the Mid Atlantic Division with four points. The Rough Riders seek to maintain their undefeated home record on Wednesday against Reading, one of the preeminent PDL clubs in the league.

“Looking at Reading’s impressive start to the season, we have to be at the top of our game to take home some points,” said Rough Riders head coach Paul Roderick. "The late goals in our two recent games show that we are mentally strong and never stop believing in our abilities."

Reading United started the PDL season off strongly, collecting nine points in their first three games. As United earned a 14-0 goal differential over the first three games, Long Island is eager to be the first team to score on them in the 2013 PDL season.

United faced F.A. Euro - New York Magic in their last game, beating them 4-0 with goals scored by Jason Plumhoff, Patrick Slogic and two by Kadeem Dacres. Mario Pinto leads Reading with three goals in the last four games.

While United has a very versatile offense (nine different players recorded goals for the season), they have also been known for one of the most solid defensive lines in the division. Goalkeepers Alexander Bono and John McCarthy anchor the back and have not allowed any goals so far.

The Rough Riders and Reading United AC met twice last year in the 2012 season. On May 22nd, the Rough Riders were defeated 1-0 on a second-half goal by current LA Galaxy player Greg Cochrane. Both teams played strong defense which made it difficult to put the ball in the back of the net. On June 24th, the Rough Riders and Reading United tied 1-1, when both teams played a fast-paced game creating many opportunities.

The Long Island Rough Riders invite all soccer fans to watch this exciting match up on Wednesday night. Tickets are available for purchase online at www.liroughriders.com/tickets/ or at the Rough Riders ticket box on game day (box opens 60 minutes before kick-off).

Charleston Battery News Release -- www.charlestonbattery.com

Tuesday, June 4, 2013

CHARLESTON, S.C. -- The Charleston Battery (6-3-1) are back at Blackbaud Stadium on Wednesday night to take on the Charlotte Eagles (3-2-4). The Battery are coming off a 2-1 loss on Friday night against the Harrisburg City Islanders. Wednesday’s game is a ‘Paws at the Baud’ promotion presented by the Rick Hendrick Automotive Group to benefit Pet Helpers. Fans can bring their soccer-loving dogs to the stadium for this one special evening.

Rookie midfielder Ben Fisk scored early for the Battery last Friday with a nice first-time finish, but Harrisburg responded with a goal just one minute later and another early in the second half to overcome the Battery’s lead.

The Eagles handed the Battery their second loss of the season in mid-May, defeating Charleston 1-0 behind a goal by Shaun Francis. The game was played in Charlotte at the Queens University Sports Complex.

Both teams are among the oldest franchises in the USL each entering their 21st season. The Eagles have experienced considerable success with playoff runs in 15 of their last 20 seasons, seven trips to the finals, and two USL Second Division Championships. Charlotte is coached by Mark Steffens, who is in his 17th season with the team.

With 13 points, the Eagles currently sit in the eighth position of the USL PRO standings while the Battery maintains a share of fourth place with the LA Blues on 19 points.

‘Paws at the Baud’ presented by the Rick Hendrick Automotive Group
It's ‘Paws at the Baud’ on Wednesday night at Blackbaud Stadium presented by the Rick Hendrick Automotive Group to benefit Pet Helpers. Gates open at 6 p.m. with kickoff set for 7:30 p.m. ($10 - $18, 971-GOAL / charlestonbattery.com).

For this special game only the East side of Blackbaud Stadium will be designated as the Dog Friendly section. All fans attending with dogs will be asked to enter the stadium at the East Main gate.

All dogs will remain on a leash at all times to prevent any particularly enthusiastic hounds from joining in the action on the field.

In addition

• Water bowls will be located at specific locations on the East side.

• Doggy Treats will be available at the gate for each pup!

• Tent space and shade will be available at the North end of stadium in case any dogs get a little hot under the collar.

For more information or to purchase tickets please call the Charleston Battery at (843) 971-GOAL (4625) or visit www.charlestonbattery.com.

About Pet Helpers
Pet Helpers is a private, nonprofit 501(c)3 rescue and adoption center and low cost spay/neuter clinic, whose mission is to end the euthanasia of adoptable cats and dogs by sheltering rescued animals until adopted; providing low-cost spay/neuter; offering humane education programs; and pursuing animal cruelty prosecution.

Live Broadcast Information
Wednesday’s match will be broadcast live on SportsRadio 1450 AM WQNT presented by the Angie Gainey Bailey Real Estate Team, the match will also be streamed live on www.uslnation.com.

Super Y-League News Release
 
Tuesday, June 4, 2013

TAMPA, Fla. – United Soccer Leagues released the U12 age group qualification allotments today for the 2013 Super Y-League North American Finals, presented by Nike. Once again a total of 12 boys’ teams and eight girls’ teams from the Mid Atlantic, North Atlantic, South Atlantic, Midwest and Southeast divisions will meet at IMG Academy in Bradenton, Florida, from December 5-9 to compete for the Super Y-League championship.

On the boys side, the Alpharetta Ambush (Georgia) fell just short of capturing the Super Y-League title in 2012, and the club is back in 2013 with a team set to compete for the lone South Atlantic bid. Orlando City SC (Florida) and Match Fit Academy (New Jersey) reached the semifinals in Bradenton in 2012, and both will have teams competing for spots from the Southeast Division and North Atlantic Division, respectively.

Three of the U12 Girls divisions will receive two bids each for the finals and two divisions will receive one spot, as a total of eight teams will participate at IMG Academy. FC America (Florida), which captured the 2012 title with a 2-0 win against the Kalamazoo Kingdom (Michigan), will be back looking to earn the lone Southeast Division finals bid.

IMG Academy, a division of IMG Worldwide, the global sports, fashion and media company, is the world’s largest and most advanced multi-sport training and education complex. IMG Academy hosted a myriad of soccer team training camps in 2012, including clubs such as the Seattle Sounders, D.C. United, Columbus Crew, Sweden’s Malmö FF, and the U.S. Women’s National Team preparing for the London Olympic Games.

For more than 30 years, IMG Academy has helped countless youth, adult, collegiate and professional athletes reach their full potential in and out of sport, by providing world-class coaching, tailored programs and professional facilities within an energetic environment across a 450-acre campus.

The remaining bid allocations for the U13-U17 age groups will be released during the next week.

Boys

Girls

Sounders FC U-23 Feature -- www.soundersu23.com

Tuesday, June 4, 2013

TACOMA, Wash. – The youngest of six children and the son of a former United States international soccer player, one has to work incredibly hard to standout. Aodhan Quinn can be described as a late-bloomer. He wasn’t highly recruited out of high school and spent a year at Bradley before arriving at college soccer powerhouse, University of Akron. Like most things in life, the best things are worth waiting for; so is the case with the soccer prowess of this extremely talented midfielder.

Quinn grew up in idyllic San Diego where he played club soccer for his father’s team, which ultimately became FC San Diego. He also played four years of varsity soccer for Mt. Carmel High School. During that time, Quinn tallied some impressive stats and accolade. However, due in part to his late growth-spurt, he wasn’t highly recruited.

As a freshman at Bradley, Quinn started 22 games and was named Freshman All-American Second Team by Goal.com. At that point, the college world finally knew the name Aodhan Quinn, and coaches around the country realized the quality of player they may have been able to sign.

Aodhan’s father, Brian, a NASL and MISL soccer great, also coached MLS’ San Jose Clash. During his tenure with San Jose, he drafted a talented midfielder from Indiana University, Caleb Porter. Porter, now the head coach for Portland Timbers, was previously the head coach for University of Akron, where he built the program into a national powerhouse and a became renowned for producing excellent professional players.

Quinn transferred to University of Akron for the 2011 season, where he started 23 games for the Zips and was named All-MAC First Team selection.

Entering his senior season with Akron, Quinn is universally recognized as one of the top ten collegiate midfielders in the country.

“The experience at Akron has been amazing. I have improved so much as a player--it’s just unbelievable,” said Quinn on his growth as a player with the Zips.

As one of the team’s captains, Quinn’s growth and maturity on and off the field has been significant. His current Akron head coach, Jared Embick, has noticed the growth in the midfielder’s game following a successful 2012 summer run with the Sounders U-23.

“He came back with confidence,"  Embick said. "At this age, a lot of times you may have the ability but you’ve got to have that belief. When he went to Seattle last year he had a great summer in terms of performance and development and came back a much more confident player. That made a huge difference in what he brought to our season.”

It’s not just Embick that appreciates the value of the PDL, Quinn, too is quick to praise the league and the Sounders organization for their part in player development.

“Being with an MLS affiliate is really good because you get the opportunity to train with the first team on occasion, you get to see professionals play and train," Quinn said. "It’s helpful to see what they do and how to get better. We have good coaches with the U-23s and they help you develop here during the summer, which is the best thing you can ask for."

In returning for his second season with the Sounders U-23s, Quinn has shown a lot of growth from the previous season. The attacking midfielder’s ability is unquestioned. He is a threat to score or make a lethal pass from most parts of the pitch. In becoming more assertive in his leadership, Quinn has begun elevating his game to the next level.

“Aodhan Quinn is a special player with the ball at his feet. He can change a game with one pass or shot and has the quality needed to get to the next level if he keeps improving,” said Sounders FC U-23 manager, Darren Sawatzky. “The leadership qualities we see in him this year are a testament to his hard work and growth as a player. It will be fun to watch him through the PDL season and through the fall at Akron.”

Both Sounders and Zips fans are expecting a lot from Quinn this summer and fall seasons. If he stays healthy and plays to his ability, he will undoubtedly become one of the next Akron Zip players to make their way into professional soccer.

Fans can watch Aodhan and the Sounders U-23 play twice this week. On Wednesday night, the Sounders U-23 play at Sunset Stadium in Sumner against the North Sound SeaWolves. Then, on Sunday at 2pm they host the Portland Timbers U-23 at Tumwater High School. Tickets are currently available on SoundersU23.com

Stay connected with all things Sounders FC U-23: Follow us on Twitter @SoundersU23 and ’Like’ us on Facebook www.Facebook.com/SoundersU23.

USL PRO News Release 

Tuesday, June 4, 2013

TAMPA, Fla. – USL PRO named its Team of the Week for Week 11 of the season on Tuesday, with the Harrisburg City Islanders’ Nick Noble earning Player of the Week honors after helping his side earn victories in both of its contests this weekend in the Carolinas. Noble made key saves in both the City Islanders’ wins against Charleston and Charlotte as they moved into second place in the USL PRO standings.

Noble, who has played every minute for the City Islanders this season, helped Harrisburg stay in the game early against Charleston as he made a pair of good saves in the first half on Friday night. He then marshaled his defense well as the City Islanders protected a lead for the final 35 minutes, with the Battery mustering only three shots in the final 45 minutes.

The former Chicago Fire goalkeeper’s job was made easier by fellow Team of the Week selection Aaron Wheeler’s performance on Saturday as the City Islanders took an early 3-0 lead through the loanee from the Philadelphia Union’s pair of goals. He was called upon to make a key save in the second half, however, pushing a shot by Stephen Okai onto the post to record his third shutout of the season. Noble’s seven wins lead USL PRO, while his two strong performances evened his goals-against average for the season as he has now conceded 10 goals in 10 games.

Harrisburg’s Stephen Basso was the third member of the team to be honored on the Team of the Week, after he added the game-winning goal against the Battery to a pair of solid defensive displays. Also selected on the Team of the Week defense was Pittsburgh’s Rich Costanzo, who had a consistent performance as the Riverhounds shut out Rochester 3-0. Los Angeles’ Duach Jock was selected after helping the Blues earn two draw on their trip to the east coast, while Richmond’s William Yomby was named after leading Richmond to a shutout victory against Phoenix.

The Kickers’ Nate Robinson also earned selection after his standout game-winning goal against the Wolves allowed Richmond to remain undefeated nine games into the regular season. Wilmington’s Daniel Roberts, who scored the game-winning goal - and his first for the Hammerheads - in his side’s victory against Phoenix was also selected, as was Tyler Rosenlund, who was influential in Rochester’s rally to earn a 2-2 draw with Los Angeles.

Joining Wheeler in attack were Tampa Bay’s Andriy Budnyy, who scored a pair of goals as VSI took a 4-4 draw with the Portland Timbers Reserves, and Pittsburgh’s Jose Angulo, who had a goal and an assist in the Riverhounds’ victory against Rochester.

The USL PRO season continues on Wednesday night as the Harrisburg City Islanders try to maintain their winning streak as they return home to the Skyline Sports Complex to host the Wilmington hammerheads at 7 p.m. ET. Also that night, the Charleston Battery and Charlotte Eagles meet at Blackbaud Stadium at 7:30 p.m. ET with both teams looking to bounce back from defeat during the weekend.

Friday night brings four contests, including a pair of interleague games in Pittsburgh and Rochester. One of the most storied rivalries in USL history resumes as the Montreal Impact Reserves visit Sahlen’s Stadium to face the Rhinos at 7:35 p.m. ET, while the Pittsburgh Riverhounds host the Toronto FC Reserves at 7 p.m. ET Highmark Stadium. Florida also hosts two games, with Phoenix FC visiting Orlando City and Antigua Barracuda FC visiting VSI Tampa Bay FC, both games kicking off at 7:30 p.m. ET.

Interleague action continues on Saturday night as the Houston Dynamo Reserves visit the Charleston Battery at Blackbaud Stadium at 7:30 p.m. ET, the Battery having taken a 1-0 win in the return fixture two weeks ago. The Colorado Rapids Reserves also visit the Harrisburg City Islanders at 7 p.m. ET, while the Dayton Dutch Lions host the Columbus Crew Reserves at 7:30 p.m. ET. Also on Saturday night, the Wilmington Hammerheads visit the Richmond Kickers in a rematch from the last two USL PRO postseasons at City Stadium at 7 p.m. ET.

Sunday sees more action in Florida, with Phoenix completing its trip to the Sunshine State by visiting VSI Tampa Bay FC at 7 p.m. ET, and Antigua Barracuda FC facing Orlando City at 7:30 p.m. ET. Every game of the USL PRO season can be seen on USLNation.com, with live updates also available via Twitter (@USLPRO), Facebook and Google+.

USL PRO Team of the Week

Honorable Mention: Charleston – Ben Fisk, Michael Azira; Dayton – Greg Preciado; Harrisburg – Cristhian Hernandez, Jason Pelletier; Los Angeles – Chris Cortez, George Davis IV; Pittsburgh –Jhonny Arteaga, Hunter Gilstrap; Phoenix – Donny Toia, Devon Grousis; Richmond –Ryan Jones, Luke Vercollone; Rochester – Blake Brettschneider, Danny Earls; Tampa Bay – Shawn Chin, Douglas Dos Santos; Wilmington – Jamel Wallace, Uriah Bentick.

NEXT GENERATION SERIES NEWS RELEASE

Tuesday, June 4, 2013

NextGen will focus on providing players, coaches, and clubs the unique opportunity to take part in an eight month national league. 

W-League News Release

Wednesday, June 5, 2013

TAMPA, Fla. – The W-League announced its Team of the Week for Week 4 of the 2013 season today, honoring Toronto Lady Lynx goalkeeper Kailen Sheridan as Player of the Week after the Canadian youth international posted a trio of shutouts on the road as Toronto was 2-0-1 during the week to move within a point of the Central Conference lead.

Sheridan, headed to Clemson University in the fall, started the week with a scoreless draw at K-W United last Wednesday, and followed up with a 3-0 win at Quebec City on Saturday and a 1-0 win at Laval on Sunday. She is joined on the Team of the Week by teammate Rachel Melhado, who earned a defender slot for her work in the three games. Joining Melhado on defense are Seattle’s Jaelene Hinkle, who score the game-tying goal vs. the Colorado Rush, and Pali’s Satara Murray, who marshaled a defensive unit that allowed one goal in a pair of wins.

Long Island midfielder Kim DeCesare leads the midfield after scoring both second-half goals in a 2-1 comeback win against New York, and she is joined by Washington’s Amber Stobbs, who tallied a goal and four assists in a 7-0 win against North Jersey. Charlotte’s Leah Fortune dominated in wins at Atlanta and Carolina, scoring the game-winner against the Silverbacks, while Santa Clarita’s Stacey Rodwell recorded a goal and an assist in a 3-2 win vs. Los Angeles.

Dayton’s Emily Fillion leads a trio of forwards chosen after her highlight-reel bicycle kick equalizer against Carolina made SportsCenter’s Top 10. She is joined by New Jersey’s Jessica Fuccello, who scored a late equalizer at Virginia Beach and the game-winner at Fredericksburg, and Ottawa’s Emily Gielnik, who scored and recorded a game-high six shots in a 4-1 win at London.

W-League Team of the Week

Honorable Mention – Bay Area – Jordan Roseboro; Charlotte - Robyn Jones, Amanda Naeher, Macky Wingo; Colorado Rush – Danica Evans; K-W United - Emma Kruse, Diamond Simpson; Los Angeles - Kristy Moore; Pali – Sarah Killion, Samantha Mewis, Lynn Williams; Santa Clarita - Cynthia Jacobo; Seattle - Melissa Busque, Brigit Reder, M’ily Reiter; Toronto - Ashley Campbell; Washington - DiDi Haracic, Ashley Herndon, Katie Yenson.