Sacramento Pro Soccer News Release -- www.sacprosoccer.com

Monday, July 15, 2013

SACRAMENTO, Calif. -- Sacramento Professional Soccer, LLC (Sac Pro Soccer), today announced signing Predrag Radosavlijevic, better known as Preki, as head coach for the team’s 2014 inaugural season. Best known for scoring a game-winning goal for the United States Men’s National Team (USMNT) over world power Brazil in 1998, Preki has more than 15 years of experience as a national and international player.

Preki is one of the most notable U.S. professional soccer players of his generation as he made a total of 28 international appearances for the USMNT. At the club level, he spent time playing for Everton and Portsmouth, both of the English Premier League (EPL). Making his U.S. debut in 1985 with the Tacoma Stars of the Major Indoor Soccer League (MISL), Preki was awarded the MISL MVP in 1989. When Major League Soccer (MLS) launched in 1996, Preki began what would become an illustrious career with Sporting Kansas City, formerly known as the Kansas City Wizards. He is the only MLS player to have won the MLS MVP Award and MLS Scoring Champion Award twice. Preki was named to the MLS All-Time Best XI in 2005.

“I am very pleased to have been appointed head coach for Sacramento Professional Soccer,” said Radosavlijevic (Preki). “I am excited to build a strong and lasting squad of players that will entertain Sacramento soccer fans and win. My decision to come to Sacramento was easy, as the professionalism and enthusiasm displayed by Warren Smith and his team instilled confidence in me that their support will take us forward. With the help of my coaching staff, I will give every opportunity to aspiring and established players from both Sacramento and the national and international soccer community to join our franchise.”

Following retirement from playing, Preki became an assistant under former USMNT coach Bob Bradley with Chivas USA. In 2007, Preki was named head coach of Chivas USA and honored as MLS Coach of the Year. In 2010, Toronto FC hired Preki as head coach and won the 2010 Canadian Championship.

“For Sac Pro Soccer to have appointed a person of Preki’s caliber is indicative of our serious intent to establish the best organization not only in the USL PRO, but looking beyond to the future with MLS,” says Graham Smith, technical director for Sacramento Professional Soccer.

On July 18, 2013, Sac Pro Soccer is partnering with UC Davis Children’s Hospital to bring world-class soccer to Sacramento, CA. Sacramento Soccer Day will feature the Norwich City Football Club of the English Premier League taking on Mexico’s Dorados de Sinaloa in an exhibition match. The first match of the day will feature an exhibition match in which an MLS Reserve Team will face the Sacramento All-Stars, a team including former and future MLS players from the Sacramento Region.

For more information about Sacramento Professional Soccer, visit SacProSoccer.com and signup for the team’s newsletter. Supporters can also “Like” the team on Facebook at Facebook.com/SacProSoccer or follow them on Twitter @SacProSoccer.

Super-20 League News Release

Tuesday, July 16, 2013

TAMPA, Fla. – The Super-20 League announced the teams that will participate in the 2013 Super-20 League Championship presented by Nike today, with the event set to open Thursday at IMG Academy in Bradenton, Florida. A blind draw was conducted and the 16 qualifying teams have been drawn into four groups of four for the group stage.

The 16 teams have endured a tough season against the top U20 teams from throughout North America and will have the chance to claim the title of champion on Sunday, July 21. For the first time, all Super-20 League Championship matches will be available on video through Tourbeau Sports as group stage matches will be available live and on-demand with audio commentary and the semifinals and final will also be available for free on USLNation.

The defending champion Chicago Fire lead Group D after finishing second to St. Louis Scott Gallagher in the Midwest’s Western Division, and they will be joined by Alamo SC from the Mid South Division. Force Football Club makes its first appearance from the Midwest’s Eastern Division, with fellow newcomer the Western United Pioneers completing the group.

Scott Gallagher, meanwhile, is in Group A, which also includes the host, IMG Academy, which won the Southeast Division to earn its berth at the championships. A pair of newcomers complete the group, with Mid Atlantic Division winners Junior Lone Star FC and North Atlantic East champions Beachside SC both making their first appearance at IMG Academy.

Group B includes four familiar names, with the Toronto Lynx Jrs. and Ottawa Fury making their return to the championships after finishing top of the Midwest East and New England Divisions, respectively. They will be joined by a pair of returning sides, with the Laredo Heat advancing again as champion of the Mid South Division, and Potomac SC finishing second in the Mid Atlantic.

Three returnees highlight Group C, with newcomer Pacesetter SC being joined by the Fredericksburg Area Soccer Association, Ironbound SC and Texas FC. Both FASA and Texas FC reached the semifinals a season ago, and will hope to go at least one better this season as they return to Florida.

Teams will check in on Wednesday, July 17 with group play beginning Thursday morning and running through Saturday. All participants will enjoy an interactive presentation by Game On Thursday from 3:30-5:30, providing them with a one-of-a-kind communication and leadership “jam session.”

Group stage games will kick off at 9 and 11:30 a.m. Thursday through Saturday, with the semifinals set for 3 p.m. and 5:30 p.m. Saturday. The Super-20 League Championship final will take place on Sunday, July 21 at the IMG Academy Soccer Complex.

The 2013 Super-20 League Championship will also serve as an important player identification event for the PDL, as well as for U.S. National Teams. PDL coaches will be in attendance to scout talent, along with USL National Technical Director Peter Mellor, a longtime USSF Staff Coach.

The Super-20 League Championship found a new home in 2012 at the world’s largest and most advanced sports training institution, IMG Academy. For the next several years, the Super-20 League Championship and Super Y-League North American Finals will both be held at the Bradenton, Fla.-based campus, providing an amazing opportunity for some of the best talent on the continent.

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. IMG Academy alumni have collectively won more than 900 tournaments, 107 major championships, 63 MVP awards, 131 All-Star honors, 32 Olympic gold medals, 29 world championships, 5 national titles, and 3 Heisman trophies.

Super-20 League Championship 

Tuesday, July 16, 2013

CLEARWATER, Fla. - The Clearwater Major Beach Soccer Tournament concluded on Sunday with championships claimed in 11 age groups. This year’s edition of Florida’s original beach soccer tournament featured 75 teams and the largest Co-ed Open division in the tournament’s history.

Clearwater Beach is considered the flagship tournament of Major Beach Soccer and will also be the site of the MBS National Championships in December.

In the Co-Ed Open division Juve FC took down Team Bud to secure the crown. Juve FC finished second after a heartbreaking overtime loss in Daytona Beach earlier this year.

“It feels good to be able to win it; feels like it’s long overdue. Clearwater has always been my favorite of the tournaments,” player/coach Jay Cortes said. “Some people might not have liked the weather but personally, as a player, I liked it.”

Juve FC and 18-year Major Beach soccer veteran Cortes will look to repeat their title from last year in December at the national championships.

In the Men’s Open Team Bud took home the title 6-1 against Daytona champions La “U” after an explosive first period of action.

“We went up 5-0 and the first period and after that we had it,” Team Bud captain Sean Hapseys said. “It was a bit lucky, but we know La “U” is a hard team to beat. The last few years we always seem to be meeting in the finals and it’s great to get the win.

“It’s cool because four or five of us from each team play together on the Tampa Bay Marauders. So it’s bittersweet having to beat your friends.”

Sunday’s title marked Team Bud’s seventh Men’s Open championship in its 12 years of competition.

In the Women’s Open IABS-Pink was crowned champions after a 7-3 battle, in large part thanks to Haley Klemczak’s hat trick.

“When the whistle blew and we knew we won, it was awesome,” Klemczak said.

“It was a great weekend. People always expect a good show at Clearwater and that’s what they got,” Major Beach Soccer Director Peter Mellor said. “With this year’s expansive Co-Ed we got to see a great mixture of action and teamwork. The weather could have been better but we were thankful it wasn’t any worse!”

Registration for the MBS Ft. Myers qualifier is still open at www.majorbeachsoccer.com.

Austin Aztex News Release -- www.austinaztex.com

Tuesday, July 16, 2013

AUSTIN, Texas -- The Austin Aztex have been named hosts of the Southern Conference Championships, set to take place at House Park on Friday, July 26 and Saturday, July 27.

The Aztex (10-1-1, 31 points) clinched the Mid South Division title after a 4-0 victory over Oklahoma City FC on Saturday night and finished their regular season with a perfect home record of 7-0-0. The Aztex outscored their opponents at home by a margin of 23 to 3.

The Southern Conference Championships are a single elimination playoff consisting of the top two teams from the Mid South Division and the Southeast Division. The Austin Aztex will represent the Mid South Division along either the Laredo Heat or Oklahoma City FC, pending results of games this week. The Southeast Division will be represented by Panama City Beach Pirates and the Ocala Stampede. Matchups and kickoff times will be announced at a later date.

“The Aztex are excited to host the Southern Conference playoffs in front of our home fans and to welcome the other finalists to Austin,” said Rene van de Zande, who joined the team as an owner prior to the season. “Being from Europe originally, I have been impressed with the quality of play. Our guests all feature talented players on well-coached teams, so regardless of the final pairings, fans can expect to see three great matches.”

“The players have earned this opportunity to play in front of the home fans,” said Aztex Head Coach Paul Dalglish. “With so many of them being from Central Texas, it is fitting that they will be able to play the opening games of the playoffs in front of their friends and families.”

To thank fans for their support throughout the season, playoff tickets will remain at $10 per adult with children 10 and under admitted free. Fans that have unused tickets from the regular season may also redeem those tickets for admission, and one ticket is good for both matches on Friday.

“We’ve always had a goal of providing affordable entertainment to our supporters, and we believe the Southern Conference playoffs will provide great value,” said Aztex Founder and CEO, David Markley. “We do things like providing free parking and including tax in the price of each ticket because we want to make it easy for our fans to come cheer for Austin’s soccer team. Their support has played a major role in our success so far this season, and we need them more than ever in the playoffs."

Pittsburgh Riverhounds News Release -- www.riverhounds.com

Tuesday, July 16, 2013

PITTSBURGH — Following an 11-day break in USL PRO play, the Pittsburgh Riverhounds play three games in five days at Highmark Stadium. On Wednesday night, the Riverhounds will square-off with Orlando City, which currently leads the USL PRO standings. Then on Friday night, the Riverhounds welcome 2013 F.A. Cup Champions, Wigan Athletic FC of England, for the Frank B. Fuhrer International Friendly and Fireworks presented by KEYTEX Energy. Both games are slated for a 7 p.m. kickoff. The Riverhounds wrap up the home-stand with a game against the Wilmington Hammerheads on Sunday. The game is scheduled for a 3 p.m. start.

The Riverhounds are 2-2 in the second half of the USL PRO season and currently sit in 10th place, just six points short of a playoff berth. With only nine games remaining in the regular season, every point is critical in order to receive a ticket into the coveted post-season. With the top eight teams advancing into the playoffs, the Riverhounds must focus on the task at hand, earning three points.

This will be the first meeting between the Riverhounds and Lions in the season. In the four previous meetings between the two clubs, the Lions hold a 2-0-2 record against the Riverhounds.

Friday night will be a historic night at Highmark Stadium, for the first-ever international friendly held at the nation’s newest soccer stadium. Current F.A. Cup Champions, Wigan Athletic FC will travel to Pittsburgh and bring international soccer to the City of Champions once again. The last international friendly held in Pittsburgh was in the summer of 2004 when AS Roma fell to Chelsea at Heinz Field.

The Riverhounds and Hammerheads will meet for the first time this season and are currently tied on points (21) on the year. Sunday’s match will have a playoff atmosphere, as each club is looking to improve their position within the league heading into the final month of the season.

International soccer is coming to Highmark Stadium! Tickets are on sale now for the Frank B. Fuhrer International Friendly and Fireworks featuring Wigan Athletic FC presented by KEYTEX Energy. Don’t miss your chance to see the current FA Cup Champions take on the Riverhounds. To purchase tickets, visit Riverhounds.com or call (800) 745-3000.

W-League News Release

Tuesday, July 16, 2013

TAMPA, Fla. – The W-League announced its 2013 regular season honors today, with Virginia Beach Piranhas striker Shan Jones leading the honorees.

Jones, who captured the Scoring Champion and Goal Scoring Champion titles thanks to her 11 goals and 24 points in 11 games, led the Piranhas (10-1-1) to the W-League’s regular season title and the top overall seed entering playoff action. Jones and her teammates will welcome the Washington Spirit Reserves (7-3-2) when they host the Northeastern Conference Championship, which is set for 8 p.m. ET Friday at the Virginia Beach Sportsplex.

The four conference champions that emerge from next weekend’s action will travel to IMG Academy in Bradenton, Florida July 26-28 to compete at the 2013 W-League Championship presented by Nike.

Jones, a Wales international who played four award-filled seasons at Middle Tennessee State University, finished four points clear of Jessica Fuccello of the New Jersey Wildcats and Kristen Hamilton of the Colorado Rapids Women in the scoring race, and two goals clear of Fuccello in the goal-scoring race.

A pair of standouts readying for playoff action shared Assist Champion honors this season, with Amber Stobbs of the Washington Spirit Reserves and Juliana Libertin of the Dayton Dutch Lions each recording nine helpers this season. Stobbs, a native of England preparing for her senior season at Hofstra University, will be key in Washington’s attack as it tries to duplicate its 2-0 win against the Piranhas in May, which was the only loss for Virginia Beach.

Libertin, who is prepping for her senior season at the University of Dayton, will lead the Dutch Lions (5-2-3) as they welcome the Carolina Elite Cobras (5-4-1) for the Southeastern Conference Championship Friday night at 8 p.m. ET.

Kailen Sheridan of the Toronto Lady Lynx (5-2-5) is the Goals-Against Average Champion this season after posting five shutouts in seven starts for a miniscule 0.428 GAA. Sheridan, a Canadian youth international who is headed to Clemson University in the fall, allowed only three goals in 630 minutes to edge Genevieve Richard of the Laval Comets (0.545 GAA) for the honor.

Sheridan’s Lady Lynx teammates travel to face the Ottawa Fury (7-3-2) in the Central Conference play-in game Wednesday night, with the winner set to face Laval (8-1-3) Saturday for the conference title. Sunday’s Western Conference Championship will feature the LA Strikers (8-4-0) and Pali Blues (8-2-2).

The W-League All-Conference Teams will be announced on Monday, July 22, followed by the All-League Team on Tuesday, July 23. The finalists for Coach of the Year, Defender of the Year, Rookie of the Year and Most Valuable Player will be announced on Wednesday, July 24, with the awards presented at the W-League Championship Awards Banquet in Bradenton on Saturday, July 27. Goalkeeper of the Year will also be presented at the banquet.

Baltimore Bohemians News Release -- www.baltimorebohemians.com

Wednesday, July 17, 2013

BALTIMORE -- The Baltimore Bohemians are proud to announce that the club has signed a partnership agreement with Bohemian Football Club of the League of Ireland Premier Division.

The partnership will allow for an exchange of talent between the two teams both on and off the pitch. Exceptional players from both clubs will have the opportunity to go on trial at the opposite team, providing the athletes an opportunity to gain recognition on either side of the Atlantic. The coaching staffs of each club will also cooperate to identify outstanding talent who may flourish in either the League of Ireland or the Premier Development League here in the United States.

The two clubs will also provide exposure for one another in their respective countries leading to a possible friendly between the two sides.

The Dublin-based club is the oldest Irish club in continuous existence and the oldest fan-owned club in Ireland. Founded in 1890, the Bohs have won the League of Ireland title 11 times, the FAI Cup seven times, the League of Ireland Shield six times and the League of Ireland Cup three times. The club has also competed in the Champions League/European Cup, the Europa League/UEFA Cup, the UEFA Cup Winners’ Cup and the Intertoto Cup.

The Baltimore Bohemians compete in the PDL, the top developmental league in the United States.

For more information on the partnership, please contact the Baltimore Bohemians’ Director of Marketing Joe Tirabassi at joe@baltimorebohemians.com.

Prodigal LLC News Release -- www.prodigal.com

Tuesday, July 16, 2013

OKLAHOMA CITY – Today, Prodigal LLC announced a partnership with locally owned ADG, Inc. to design and build a soccer-specific stadium in Oklahoma City to be the home of Prodigal’s USL PRO franchise.

Beginning in Spring 2014, Prodigal will operate a USL PRO franchise in Oklahoma City. Several stadiums for game play for the first season are currently under consideration. USL’s PRO division is the strongest, best operated and most experienced North American men’s professional soccer league outside of MLS. The league not only serves as a springboard to the MLS for players, but also for franchises. Four of the last five clubs to enter MLS have moved up from the USL’s top professional division, including teams in Vancouver, Seattle, Portland and Montreal.

Prodigal and ADG are exploring sites to build the stadium and are engaged in discussions about long-term strategy, location and design. Initial plans for the stadium call for it to seat 7,000, with the ability to expand to 20,000, the minimum size for a franchise to be considered to earn an expansion team in North America’s best soccer league, Major League Soccer (MLS).

“Part of the three-year long process to bring a USL PRO team to Oklahoma City was to explore the opportunity to build a soccer specific stadium in the metro area,” said Prodigal CEO Bob Funk Jr. “ADG has proven itself to be a company that can design and service award winning work. We look forward to working with ADG to design a stadium that can serve the needs of our USL PRO team, and also expand based on our long-term goal of bringing and MLS team to Oklahoma City.”

"We are privileged to be a part of this important project for Oklahoma City," said Scott Dedmon, Design Director and principal at ADG, Inc. "When we designed the Chickasaw Bricktown Ballpark it set a new standard for Triple-A Baseball. We expect to do the same for USL PRO Soccer. This will be an exciting new sports venue for Oklahoma City and will express the growth of our city."

ADG provides design and program management services to clients throughout the country from its base in Oklahoma City. The firm’s award-winning design work can be seen throughout downtown Oklahoma City. The firm designed the Chickasaw Bricktown Ballpark, now in its 15th year of operation. ADG is also responsible for the new Dean McGee Eye Institute at OU Medical Center, Nonna’s Ristorante, the City Center Parking Garage north of Devon’s tower and multiple projects at Saint Anthony Hospital, including Saints Medical Plaza, the east campus expansion and the twin beacons atop the ADG-designed surgery center.

Sports and recreation design work beyond the ballpark has included multiple projects for schools and churches throughout Central Oklahoma. Founded in 1975, the firm has called Bricktown home since 1987—before the sports and entertainment district was established. ADG has a staff of more then 50 employees, including architects, interior designers, engineers and program managers. Program management contracts include overseeing all the MAPS for Kids projects as well as the MAPS 3 program.

Prodigal LLC is a full service event management company based in Oklahoma City. Prodigal operates the Oklahoma City Barons professional hockey team, co-promotes Professional Bull Riders (PBR) events in Oklahoma City and Tulsa, operates the Ram National Circuit Finals Rodeo (RNCFR), serves as the co-organizer for the March of Dimes Sports Headliner Banquet and produces the Bricktown 4th Fest and is sales and marketing partner with All College and World Cup of Softball. 

Prodigal is engaging the local community to assist in naming the team with an online contest at www.okcusl.com. Tickets may be reserved by calling (405) 232-KICK.

W-League News Release

Wednesday, July 17, 2013

TAMPA, Fla. – The W-League announced its Team of the Week for Week 10 of the 2013 season today, honoring Los Angeles midfielder Kristy Moore as Player of the Week after she led the Strikers to their first playoff berth.

Moore, who has earned caps with both the Australia and England national teams and has played professionally in England and Norway for more than a decade, scored the game-winner in the 85th minute as the Strikers defeated the Colorado Rapids 2-1 Thursday to keep their playoff hopes alive. She then tallied the go-ahead goal as Los Angeles came back to defeat the Colorado Rush 3-2 on Sunday.

The pair of victories, combined with Seattle’s loss at Bay Area Sunday, gave the Strikers the right to play for the Western Conference Championship at Pali on Sunday. The winner will advance to the W-League Championship presented by Nike July 26-28 at IMG Academy in Bradenton, Florida.

Also coming up with a playoff-clinching performance this past week was Carolina Elite forward Taylor Parker, who scored a stoppage-time goal at Charlotte that propelled the Cobras into the Southeastern Conference Championship in only their second season. With seconds remaining in their season, Savannah McCaskill found Parker alone at the top of the penalty area, and her low shot beat Robyn Jones to the corner to set up a meeting with the Dayton Dutch Lions on Friday for the conference title.

Atlanta’s Savannah Jordan joins Parker at forward for the Team of the Week after tallying a hat trick and recording an assist in an emphatic 6-0 win against VSI Tampa Bay. Santa Clarita midfielder Stacey Rodwell also had a strong offensive performance, recording a goal and two assists in a 4-3 win against the Colorado Rush.

W-League Scoring Champion Shan Jones tallied two more goals in her squad’s 2-1 victory against the Washington Spirit Reserves, and Ottawa’s Lisa-Marie Woods completes the midfield after scoring the game-winner against Toronto in an important Central Conference matchup.

Fredericksburg goalkeeper Jesse McGinley earned her spot on the Team of the Week with one of the more impressive performances of the season, stopping 14 of 15 shots she faced as the Impact closed their season with a 1-1 draw against the Spirit Reserves, who fired a total of 34 shots in the match.

Leading the defensive trio is Laval’s Kelsey Wilson, who scored a goal in the Comets’ 2-1 win at Ottawa that clinched the Central Conference’s top spot and the right to host the championship Saturday. She is joined by Toronto’s Olivis Lukasewich, who had a goal and an assist in a 5-2 win at London, and New York’s Hikari sato, who assisted on the game-winner in a shutout win vs. North Jersey.

W-League Team of the Week
 

Honorable Mention – Atlanta - Jamie Simmons; Bay Area - Yianna Dimmitt, Brandi Vega; Carolina Elite - Rose Hull; Colorado Rush - Danica Evans, Sidny Szabo; Laval - Christina Julien, Sarah Robbins; Long Island - Grace Hawkins; Los Angeles - Lo'eau LaBonta; New Jersey - Jessica Fuccello; North Jersey - Stefanie Scholz; Ottawa - Shelina Zadorsky; Pali - Caprice Dydasco; Elizabeth Eddy; Quebec City - Cynthia Leblanc; Santa Clarita - Ana Borges, Alexa Ngo; Toronto - Nichelle Prince; Virginia Beach - Lauren Vetock; VSI Tampa Bay - Che Brown, Tori Abnathy.

Super-20 League Feature

Wednesday, July 17, 2013

BRADENTON, Fla. – The Super-20 League Championship kicks off on Thursday morning at the world-class facilities of IMG Academy with 16 teams taking aim at claiming the championship. In addition to the challenge of the competition they will face, though, the players will also be under the watchful eye of scouts from not only teams within the PDL, but also this year from USL PRO, Major League Soccer and the English Premier League.

The Super-20 League Championships have frequently been populated by some of the top young players in the country, with players such as current New England Revolution rookie Andrew Farrell, the No. 1 selection the 2013 MLS SuperDraft, and Columbus Crew homegrown product Ben Speas just two players who have taken their turn in the spotlight at the event in recent years. Farrell was named the 2011 Super-20 League Championship Most Valuable Player after leading the Crew Juniors to a title.

Other players to feature at the championship in recent seasons have included Montreal’s Andrew Wenger, the LA Galaxy’s Tommy Meyer and Sporting Kansas City’s Teal Bunbury, all of whom are now featuring in Major League Soccer.

That level of talent is what has brought Everton scout Jim Barron to IMG Academy, with the accomplished former player and manager hoping to see the traits of a top player among the teams headed to Florida.

“A lot depends on the position, but I think just their natural ability and touch if they’re outfield players,” Barron said on what he looks for in a potential pro. “Good touch, good vision, can they see a pass, is it a short pass, a long pass? Stamina comes into it now, because it’s a physical game, they need to be strong, and then the big, big plus at the moment is pace. Everybody is looking for somebody who has got pace.”

Everton as a club already has ties to the United States, through former USL standout and current U.S. Men’s National Team goalkeeper Tim Howard, while USMNT goalkeeping coach Chris Woods was recently added to new manager Roberto Martinez’s staff at the club. Barron believes that the U.S. will start seeing more players get the opportunity to make the jump to England, and Europe, as the game continues to grow and players become more developed at a younger age.

“With the Pacesetters, they’ve got a camp where they’ve got 200 boys one week, and 200 girls in another week, so out of those 400, you’ve got a chance of finding a player,” Barron said. “I think it’s brilliant. I’ve been helping the camp with the Pacesetters, and there’s some tremendous talent. You look at one or two of the young boys at eight, nine, and they have great ability, so if they can keep developing that ability, by the time they’re 12, 14, you’re looking at some very, very good players.”

Everton won’t be the only professional club represented at the event, with Sporting Kansas City also expected to have a presence at the tournament, while USL PRO’s VSI Tampa Bay FC and Orlando City will also be present. Coaches from local PDL teams, including the playoff-bound Ocala Stampede, are also expected to be in attendance as they look for players that could carry their clubs to success next summer.

Fans unable to make their way to Bradenton will also be able to check out the action online thanks to Tourbeau Sports, which will offer pay-per-view games on each of the opening three days during the group stage, while the semifinals and championship game will be available live and free on uslnation.com.

As the battle for a championship gets set to commence, both the teams and players, and the scouts that will have their eye on them, will be hoping their trip to Florida this weekend is a productive one. 

Wednesday, July17, 2013

PITTSBURGH — On a humid night in Station Square, the Pittsburgh Riverhounds and Orlando City played to a 0-0 draw at Highmark Stadium. Despite receiving consistent pressure inside their penalty areas, Riverhounds goalkeeper Hunter Gilstrap and Lions goalkeeper Jon Kempin would not concede a goal in the match, resulting in standout performances by both. The Riverhounds outshot the Lions 13-12, while the Lions tallied 12 corners to the Riverhounds' three.

The Lions opened the game with high pressure and maintained possession inside the Riverhounds defensive third for the first ten minutes of play. The Lions played into their target striker, C.J. Sapong, Major League Soccer’s Rookie of the Year in 2011, who held the ball and linked up with the Lions midfielders.

Withstanding the early pressure from the Lions, the Riverhounds would begin to threaten the Lions in the 17th minute. Center back, Andrew Marshall played a ball down the left flank for Darren Amoo. Out-pacing his marker to the end line, Amoo played a ball back towards the penalty spot for his trailing counterpart, Jose Angulo. As the ball squirted through the scrum, Angulo took a first-time shot with his right foot that sailed just over the crossbar.

The Lions responded quickly with a combination between Sapong and midfielders Jamie Watson and Adama Mbengue in the 20th minute. Sapong set a ball back for Watson at the edge of the penalty, seeing Watson touch to his left and slot a pass for Mbengue. A quality first touch by Mbengue split two Riverhounds defenders allowing him to travel one-on-one with Gilstrap. As Gilstrap stepped off of his line to close the ball, Mbengue struck a left-footed shot that trickled wide of the right post.

Four minutes later, Amoo showed a flash of brilliance off a throw-in. Receiving the throw from Matt Dallman on the corner of the right eighteen-yard box, Amoo turned the ball inside to his left foot. As the ball was coming down on his turn, Amoo rifled a side-volley with his left foot that was headed into the top left corner of the Lions goal. Reacting quickly to the shot, Kempin sprung quickly his right and got just enough of a touch to parry the ball off of the upright.

As the Lions cleared their lines with a long ball up the field, Gilstrap collected the ball and distributed to Dallman on the right flank. Picking his head up to see Angulo racing across the field, Dallman played the ball over the Lions defense. Running one-on-one with Kempin, Angulo lofted the ball over the goalkeeper only to see his shot ricochet off the crossbar.

The Riverhounds best chance of the first half came when Marshall found Dallman on a diagonal ball inside the Lions penalty area. Inside-outing his defender on his run, Dallman was brought down inside the penalty area, resulting in a penalty kick. Angulo stepped up to take the penalty, but Kempin would dive to his left to deny the striker of his 12th goal of the season in the 37th minute.

In the first minute of the second half, Angulo would find the back of the net, but the striker was called offside to deny the Riverhounds the lead. The action continued throughout the entire second half, seeing constant nail biting moments for both the Riverhounds and Lions, only to see each opportunity turned away by the net-minders.

The Lions best opportunity to find the back of the net came in the final minute of play. Full back Luke Boden traveled down the left with pace. As his marker closed the ball just before the end line, Boden cut the ball back for Sapong at the edge of the penalty area. Sapong struck a hard first-time header towards the near post, but Gilstrap made a spectacular save to push the ball over the crossbar and thwart the striker’s attempt.

The Riverhounds return to action on Friday for the Frank B. Fuhrer International Friendly and Fireworks presented by KEYTEX Energy against current FA Cup Champions, Wigan Athletic FC. The game is scheduled for a 7 p.m. start. The Lions return to sunshine state to host the Harrisburg City Islanders on Saturday. Their game will kickoff at 7:30 p.m. at the Florida Citrus Bowl. 

Wednesday, July 17, 2013

OTTAWA, Ontario -- Despite finishing second in their division for the first time in 10 years, the Fury Women seemed unfazed having to take a longer route through the post-season and put up five goals en route to a 5-1 victory over rivals the Toronto Lady Lynx. Ottawa advances to Saturday’s Central Conference Championship against the Laval Comets at 4 p.m. ET, with the winner advancing to the 2013 W-League Championships, presented by Nike.

The Fury came out a determined side on Wednesday night and despite the intense temperature they boasted a high tempo to start. Taylor Uhl missed a chance early after Emily Gielnik’s cross took an odd deflection across the face of goal. On the ensuing corner Karen Gurnon’s header was parried off the goal line and the rebound was cleared away.

After play settled for a brief period of time, Lisa-Marie Woods made a run through the midfield beating six Lady Lynx players before smashing a shot past Hope Sabadash to open the scoring for the home side. Ottawa’s pressure continued and 10 minutes later Tessa Gavilsky found a loose ball off a Lisa-Marie Woods corner and poked the Fury into a 2-0 lead after 28 minutes.

The goal gave the Fury attackers a massive boost of confidence, forcing Sabadash to remain sharp as she robbed Gielnik on a breakaway and stopped a header from Uhl at close range. With halftime looming the Lady Lynx found some life with several chances in front of goal which eventually led to a penalty kick after a Fury defender was judged to have handled the ball in the area. Lady Lynx leading scorer Furtuna Velaj beat Jasmine Phillips to pull the visitors within one at halftime.

After pulling a goal back just before half, the Lady Lynx did themselves no favors to start the second as Woods produced another individual effort as she blew past three defenders at the top of the box before hammering home her second of the game to restore the two-goal Fury lead. Gielnik would then produce another two chances in quick succession, but remained snake-bitten. In the 73rd minute the drought finally endED for her, however, as Gielnik took a great feed from Karen Gurnon before smashing a shot past Sabadash to put the game out of reach with Ottawa leading 4-1.

The goal would lead to a fury of substitutes from Ottawa with Youth Academy alums Lauren Hughes, Emma Donnelly and Kayla Adamek all getting into the game. In the 86th minute Kinley McNicoll’s speed forced a turnover and after she rounded the keeper she tucked the ball back across the face of goal where Hughes netted her first goal of the season. Ottawa out-shot the visitors 15-2 en route to a 5-1 win as they advance to Saturday’s Central Conference Championship in Laval. Ottawa, which is 0-2-1 against the Comets this season, will look to avenge its regular season results against the team that ended their run of division championships.

PDL News Release

Thursday, July 18, 2013

TAMPA, Fla. – The PDL announced its Team of the Week for the 11th week of the season today, with Ocean City Nor’easters forward Dwayne Reid being honored as the Player of the Week. Reid, who attended college at Bloomfield University, had seven goals in two games, including both goals in the Nor’easters’ division-clinching 2-1 victory against Reading United on Sunday night.

Reid opened the week by breaking Ocean City’s record for goals in a single game as he had five goals and an assist in the Nor’easters’ 6-1 win against the F.A. Euro – New York Magic Friday night. Reid opened the scoring in the sixth minute, and the assisted on Nick Perea’s goal midway through the half. He added another three goals before the halftime break as Ocean City cruised toward victory, and he added a fifth at the hour mark before being substituted.

Reid continued his strong run of form against Reading as he scored twice in seven minutes to give the Nor’easters the goals they needed to get past their fierce rival. Reid struck first in the 18th minute as he put away a chance created by Frank Tweneboa. Six minutes later he added a second, this time finishing off an opportunity set up by Shawn McLaws.

Joining Reid in the Team of the Week attack is the Austin Aztex’s Kris Trypak, who scored a hat trick in his side’s 4-0 win against Oklahoma City. The win sealed the Mid South Division for Austin, which will host the Southern Conference Championships next weekend. FC London’s Aaron Boyd completed the trio after he scored three goals in two games as his side claimed the Great Lakes Division. Boyd had a pair of goals in London’s crucial 4-3 victory against Michigan, and added another in a 3-0 win against the Chicago Fire PDL.

Vancouver Whitecaps FC U-23 standout Marco Carducci took goalkeeping honors after conceding one goal in two appearances, making nine saves, as Vancouver claimed a place in the playoffs. He is joined by a trio of defenders, led by Carolina’s Jonathan Campbell, who played a key role in a pair of shutout victories for the Dynamo as they claimed the South Atlantic Division title, Portland’s Mark Daus, who scored the winning goal as the Timbers U-23s defeated the Victoria Highlanders, and Northern Virginia’s A.J. Sheta, who helped keep his side alive in the South Atlantic Division playoff race with the game-winning goal against the Southern West Virginia.

Ottawa’s Eddie Jones led a quartet of midfielders as he had two goals and two assists to lead the Fury to victory against the Seacoast United Phantoms, which allowed them to claim the Northeast Division. FC Tucson’s Ricardo Velazco was also selected after playing a role in three of his side’s goals in a 4-0 win against the LA Misioneros, as was the Fresno Fuego’s Alex Caceres, who had a goal and two assists as his side claimed the Southwest Division. The Chicago Fire PDL’s Felipe Cortez rounds out the group after his two goals, including a stoppage-time game-winner, lifted his side past the Chicago Inferno 3-2.

PDL Team of the Week 

Honorable Mention –Austin: Walker Hume, Tony Rocha; Baltimore: Pete Caringi, Mamadou Kansaye; Carolina: Mamadee Nyepon, Kevin Durand; CFC Azul: Luke Perry, Drew Esposito; Fresno: Cesar Castillo, Tyler Reinhart; Kansas City: Jordan Green; Kitsap: Brandon Scott; K-W United: Justin Portillo; Laredo: Daniel Garza; London: Jordan Ayris, Rory Winters; Michigan: Sebastian Harris, Tom Catalano; Mississippi: Cedric Muteshi; Ocala: Amaury Nunes, Kenny Hogg; Ocean City: Michael O’Keeffe, Ken Tribbett; Oklahoma City: Danny Frid, Stephen Owusu; Orlando: Tyler Blackwood, Itode Fubara; Ottawa: Chad Bush, Will Beauge SC United: Ryan Freiburger; So. California: Mark Hope, Geoff Bowman; St. Louis: Jai Maw, Carson Pryor; Tampa Bay: Ricardo Webb, Jack McVey; Tucson: Saeed Robinson, Travis Campbell; Virginia Beach: Luis Mota, JerJer Gibson.

Super-20 League Feature

Thursday, July 18, 2013

BRADENTON, Fla. – The Chicago Fire knew they’d have a target on their backs at the 2013 Super-20 League Championship presented by Nike, coming in as the defending champions and representing one of the strongest soccer brands in the country. The Fire has a lot of work to do if it hopes to defend its title after a 1-0 loss against Alamo SC on the opening day of Group D play.

San Antonio, Texas-based Alamo SC, which qualified as the No. 2 team from the Mid South (South) Division with a 5-1-2 record, pulled off the upset thanks to an opportune play by Ruben Dominguez and some stout defending down the stretch. Dominguez found his way behind the Chicago defense in the 29th minute, and defender Cristian Sanchez had no choice but to bring him down, giving Alamo a penalty and ending the day for Sanchez, who received a red card on the play.

Dominguez tucked home the penalty to give Alamo the lead, but playing a man down had the opposite of the expected effect on the Fire. Chicago seemed to come into the game more following the goal, and had its best chance of the half late when Luis Medina had a clear shot from the top of the box that he hit just wide.

Chicago came out of halftime a different team, and Alamo suddenly found itself backed in on defense despite the man advantage. Chicago’s high-pressure style forced Alamo turnovers, and the forward pair of Medina and Alex Underwood worked well to keep the pressure on.

The Fire came close on several occasions but couldn’t get the last pass to connect, and the Alamo defense held firm down the stretch to earn a huge victory in group play.

“I’m very happy with the performance,” Alamo SC Head Coach John Dicks said. “These boys have worked hard all season, and to be able to come in and to play the Chicago Fire in the first game of the tournament was an honor on our part, and we’ve been preparing for this all season.

“Chicago is a very good team and very disciplined, but our defense is strong and they’ve worked hard all season together. We play in a hard division, the Mid South, and we worked very hard. We have a lot of people not returning next season, so they came to leave it all here.”

Chicago will need a victory against Force FC Academy on Friday to stay alive in group play, while Alamo will hope to move to 2-0-0 when it faces the Western United Pioneers.

Force FC Academy 2, Western United Pioneers 1

In the second game of Group D play, Force FC Academy of Michigan almost saw victory slip away against Western United, only to find a last-minute winner.

Force FC played a strong tactical game against Massachusetts-based Western United, maintaining possession for long stretches. The final pass to break down Western United’s defense remained elusive throughout the first half, resulting in many long-distance attempts that were well off target.

Western United had two of the best chances early, with Luke Alvaro coming closest when he hit the post after the Force keeper spilled a rebound in the 18th minute.

Force FC finally found the breakthrough it was looking for in the 52nd minute on a long free kick to the back post that was headed across the goalmouth by center back Phillip Piper right to Joseph Tinnion, who flicked in a header to give his side the lead.

Force FC was energized by the goal and produced several more chances, mostly through the work of Tinnion, but couldn’t find the second goal. It came back to haunt them in the 85th minute when Western United took advantage of a rare free kick in the Force FC end to find the equalizer from the head of Luke Alvaro.

It appeared that Force FC had wasted their opportunity for the victory until a corner kick in the 90th minute produced the game-winner. Gregory Timmer hit a low ball to the top of the box that Gambian-born Bubacarr Jobe hit with a first-time volley into the top corner for the winning margin.

“I thought we possessed really well, we just didn’t want to go to goal today for some reason,” Force FC Head Coach Chris Edwards said. “I had a feeling [Western United] were going to get one form any set piece, that just shows you the joy of soccer, it’s exciting stuff.

“It was frustrating, I thought we controlled the game but we didn’t impose ourselves like I thought we could. It was an amazing goal by Buba at the end. He’s got a lot of talent and he’s fun to coach.”

Friday, July 19, 2013

PLANT CITY, Fla. – An early goal set the Harrisburg City Islanders up as they took a 2-0 victory against VSI Tampa Bay FC in Plant City Stadium on Friday night. Lucky Mkosana and Jimmy McLaughlin scored in either half as the City Islanders moved back into third place in the USL PRO standings.

After rain showers cleared VSI and Harrisburg began play 20 minutes later than originally intended. Mkosana showed his aggression early as he and VSI defender Bitielo Jean-Jacques flew into one another on a hard 50-50 ball. Moments later Mkosana flicked home a header past VSI keeper Alex Horwath, transforming a lofted free kick into the opening goal of the match in the 12th minute.

Only a moment later it seemed as if Mkosana might find a second goal, only for VSI captain Kyle Hoffer to make an important challenge to clear the danger. Tampa Bay's best chance of the half came when Shawn Chin tapped a ball across to fellow midfielder Tony Donatelli, who directed a shot into the top-right corner that was blocked by a Harrisburg defender.

VSI entered the halftime breack down 1-0, but were on the front foot for much of the second half. Harrisburg goalkeeper Nick Noble and his defenders were difficult to break down, however, as Noble made a handful of good saves, and his defenders remained well organized, as the City Islanders held onto their lead. 

Harrisburg would add to its lead with three minutes to go as a cross from a counter-attack down the right found McLaughlin on the left side of the penalty area, and the on-loan Philadelphia Union midfielder curled a good shot into the right corner of the net. Tampa Bay tried to find a way back into the game, but the City Islanders held on to claim their first win in the month of July.

Harrisburg moves on to Orlando on Saturday night to battle Orlando City at the Citrus Bowl. VSI Tampa Bay FC (8-7-3) turns its attention attention to a difficult road trip ahead where the side travels to Legion Stadium on Friday, July 26 to face the Wilmington Hammerheads (6-9-3) for a 7:30 p.m. ET kickoff. Then VSI enter City Stadium on Sunday, July 28 for a 5 p.m. ET kick off against Richmond Kickers (10-0-7). Both games will be live online at www.ulsnation.com. For more information on the team visit www.vsi-fc.com.

W-League News Release

Thursday, July 18, 2013

TAMPA, Fla. – The schedule for the four W-League conference championship games is set after the Ottawa Fury defeated the Toronto Lady Lynx 5-1 Wednesday night, moving on to meet the Laval Comets in Saturday’s Central Conference Championship.

The Dayton Dutch Lions, Pali Blues and Virginia Beach Piranhas have also earned the right to host championships beginning this Friday. The four conference champions that emerge from this weekend’s action will travel to IMG Academy in Bradenton, Florida July 26-28 to compete at the 2013 W-League Championship presented by Nike.

Virginia Beach (10-1-1) is the regular season champion and earned the right to host the Northeastern Conference Championship, which is set for 8 p.m. ET Friday at the Virginia Beach Sportsplex. The Piranhas will face the Washington Spirit Reserves (7-3-2). In the Western Conference Championship Pali (8-2-2) will face the LA Strikers (8-4-0) at 3:30 p.m. ET Sunday at Cal State Fullerton’s Titan Stadium.

Laval (8-1-3) captured its first Central Conference regular season crown and will host the Fury (7-3-2) at 4 p.m. ET Saturday at Bois-de-Boulogne Sports Center. The Dutch Lions (5-2-3) completed a remarkable worst-to-first turnaround to capture the regular season Southeastern Conference crown and will host the Carolina Elite Cobras at 8 p.m. ET Friday at Beavercreek High School (live on USLnation.com).

W-League Playoff Seeds
1. Virginia Beach Piranhas
2. Laval Comets
3. Pali Blues
4. LA Strikers
5. Washington Spirit Reserves
6. Ottawa Fury
7. Dayton Dutch Lions
8. Carolina Elite Cobras

Central Conference Championship
Saturday, July 20 - Bois-de-Boulogne Sports Center, Laval, Quebec
Ottawa Fury vs. Laval Comets, 4 p.m. ET

Northeastern Conference Championship
Friday, July 19 - Virginia Beach Sportsplex, Virginia Beach, Virginia
Washington Spirit Reserves vs. Virginia Beach Piranhas, 8 p.m.

Southeastern Conference Championship
Friday, July 19 - Beavercreek High School, Beavercreek, Ohio
Carolina Elite Cobras vs. Dayton Dutch Lions, 8 p.m.

Western Conference Championship
Sunday, July 21 - Titan Stadium, Fullerton, California
LA Strikers vs. Pali Blues, 12:30 p.m.

PDL News Release

Thursday, July 18, 2013

TAMPA, Fla. – The Premier Development League is pleased to announce the addition of Lane United FC for the 2014 season. Lane United FC began as a community-based non-profit organization created with the aim of bringing high-level soccer to the city of Eugene, Ore. The club is in the process of being transferred to the ownership of Redside Sports, LLC, led by Frank Nakatsuma and Joseph Hawes, and will now make the transition into the PDL.

“We are very excited to join one of the elite divisions of the PDL,” said Hawes. “Cascadia is a special place for soccer and we are proud to be officially part of it. We can think of no better way to celebrate the accomplishment than by playing a friendly against the Portland Timbers U-23s on Thursday night. We know the community will support the team like it has it's University and minor league baseball teams, and make Lane United FC another point of pride for our wonderful fans who made this all happen.”

Lane United FC will compete in the Northwest Division in 2014, which includes three teams affiliated with MLS sides – the Portland Timbers U-23s, Vancouver Whitecaps FC U-23 and Sounders FC U-23 – and a number of other traditional powers. United will face the Timbers U-23s on Thursday night in an exhibition contest as the two clubs begin a new rivalry in the state of Oregon.

“We are delighted to welcome Lane United FC to the PDL and look forward to having them compete in one of the league’s strongest divisions starting with the 2014 season,” USL President Tim Holt said. “The Pacific Northwest has become one of the biggest hotbeds of American soccer, and we believe that with the outstanding leadership provided by Redside Sports, Lane United FC will be another success story in a region filled with them.”

The PDL has been the destination league for young college players to continue their development toward the professional ranks, with clubs from across North America not only competing for a championship each summer, but also providing the opportunity for top-level competition for the best players in the college ranks.

More than 150 former PDL players have been selected in the MLS SuperDraft in the past five seasons, including each of the past two No. 1 picks – Andrew Wenger (Carolina Dynamo) in 2012, and Andrew Farrell (River City Rovers) in 2013. One player from the 2012 PDL season, Kekuta Manneh, earned a Generation adidas contract from MLS, given to a handful of underclassmen each season, without stepping onto a college campus in part thanks to his standout play for the Austin Aztex. The 18-year-old was then selected with the No. 4 pick of this year’s SuperDraft by the Vancouver Whitecaps FC.

In addition to the MLS SuperDraft, a number of former PDL alumni have also been signed to Home Grown Player contracts by MLS clubs, with those such as the Los Angeles Galaxy’s Gyasi Zardes (Ventura County Fusion), New England Revolution’s Scott Caldwell (Michigan Bucks), FC Dallas’ London Woodberry (Baltimore Bohemians) and the Seattle Sounders FC’s DeAndre Yedlin (Sounders FC U23) all continuing their development in the PDL after leaving their MLS club’s academy to play college soccer.

For more information, and to stay up to date with news and tryout information, please visit the club’s website at www.laneunitedfc.org. 

Sacramento Republic FC News Release  -- www.sacrepublicfc.com

Thursday, July 18, 2013

SACRAMENTO, Calif. – Sacramento Professional Soccer, LLC (Sac Pro Soccer) today announced the official name, crest, and color palette for the new Sacramento Professional United Soccer Leagues Pro (USL Pro) team. The USL Pro team will be named Sacramento Republic Football Club (FC). Sacramento Republic FC will host a series of exhibition matches throughout the remainder of 2013 and play its inaugural season in 2014.

The following explains the meaning behind the name and all components of the Sacramento Republic FC crest:

• Why Sacramento Republic FC? First and foremost, “Republic” represents the theme that the community selected through the Supercuts “Name the Team” contest. It signifies the spirit and intent of the great “American experiment” where our country fought for freedom and set up a system of government where power and control of the country reside with the people and their elected leaders. As the capital of California, Sacramento is the home of the people’s representation of this great state. With "Republic" as the overall theme, the California State Flag is next in line as inspiration. The flag is a symbol of strength, freedom, courage and honor.

• The star is two-fold in its symbolism. The star signifies Sacramento’s place on the map as the state capital. The addition of the beveled look is consistent with that of a United States Military general insignia, which pays tribute to the Republic reference. The color is the same as the star in the California State Flag.

• The crest is simple yet bold, powerful and distinct. Republic FC sits in a place of honor in the bold banner representative of the banners worn by those battling for freedom. The font and the colors are true to those used in the state flag and demonstrate a rich connection to California’s rich history.

• The bear represents a symbol of "strength and unyielding resistance." The bear is the official state animal and the centerpiece of the flag.

• Soccer teams are well known for their battle cries. “Urbs Indomita” is Sacramento’s city motto, which translates as “the Indomitable City,” a reference to the City of Sacramento in its infancy and its citizens’ refusal to back down despite fire, floods and disease. They desired and were destined to thrive, literally moving the American River and raising their city above it to create a vibrant community. Today, that fighting spirit lives on with Sacramento Republic FC and is also highlighted on the crest.

“We are proud to present the Sacramento Republic FC branding to the Sacramento community and soccer fans everywhere,” said Warren Smith, president of Sac Pro Soccer. “We spent significant time conducting research, hosting focus groups and talking to many community members and fans to learn just what soccer means to Sacramento and the Republic name captures this spirit entirely. It represents a team effort that fans in this region and everywhere can get behind. We are thrilled officially transition and become known as the Sacramento Republic and look forward to an exciting inaugural 2014 season. I would like to thank the Sacramento community for their input and for helping us develop this strong brand and representation of our community.”

Sacramento Republic FC was inspired by thousands of entries collected by Sac Pro Soccer during the Supercuts “Name the Team” Contest. Regional soccer fans and members of the Sacramento community submitted team names and color palette suggestions and Sacramento Republic FC was by far the most popular entry.

This past Monday, the team announced signing Predrag Radosavlijevic, better known as Preki, as head coach for the 2014 inaugural season. Best known for scoring a game-winning goal for the United States Men’s National Team over world power Brazil in 1998, Preki has more than 15 years of experience as a national and international player. He is the only MLS player to have won the MLS MVP Award and MLS Scoring Champion Award twice. Preki was named to the MLS All-Time Best XI in 2005.

Sacramento Professional Soccer, LLC hosted “Sac Soccer Day” yesterday at Raley Field where the community enjoyed two matches celebrating soccer at the highest level and the sport’s place in the region. The featured games highlighted Norwich City FC versus Club Dorados from Mexico. The warm-up match featured the San Jose Earthquakes reserve squad versus an All-Star team of Sacramento talent, which included former MLS and USL PRO players from the Sacramento region as well as up and coming players that have a chance to play in these leagues.

Between matches, the Sacramento Republic (FC) introduced the brand and team crest to those in attendance, which included the Tower Bridge Battalion, a group of 200 people that was started to support the team. Sacramento Republic FC will host additional soccer events, supporter events, soccer clinics and player appearances will be scheduled leading up to the 2014 inaugural season. For updates, follow the team on Twitter at @SacRepublic, “Like” them on Facebook or visit SacRepublicFC.com.

Friday, July 19, 2013

TEMPE, Ariz. --  Tommy Ramos netted goals in the 23rd and 45th minutes, giving Phoenix FC a two-goal lead at halftime and the club's first two-goal lead since April 28 against Wilmington. But the Richmond Kickers scored twice, including the equalizer in stoppage time of the second half, to earn a 2-2 draw and leave Sun Devil Soccer Stadium with a point on Friday night.

The Wolves were that close to giving the Kickers their first loss of the season, and moving to six points out of USL PRO's final playoff spot. But goals from William Yomby in the 67th minute and Shane Johnson in the 90th forced the draw before 1,097 fans.

Things looked quite promising for the home side after Ramos took a pass from Reid Schmitt in the 23rd minute and managed a shot under pressure from two defenders. The shot got past Richmond goalkeeper Ryan Jones, who was injured on the play and had to leave the match.

Phoenix FC went up 2-0 when Ramos headed in a service from Cameron Vickers, who'd come in as a first-half sub after an injury to starting midfielder Jose Ramos, in the 45th minute.

Ramos scored the winner in the July 11 match against Antigua. He now leads the Wolves in goals in USL PRO games with four.

Phoenix FC is in need of wins over their remaining five matches to give themselves a chance at the playoffs. The club sits at 19 points in the standings with a 4-10-7 record.

The second half was almost all Kickers. They had a goal wiped out for illegal contact with goalkeeper Neal Kitson, who was making his debut for the Wolves after arriving via transfer two days ago.

Kitson was strong in goal for much of the match and was credited with three saves, but the Wolves defense, with clean sheets in five of their previous six matches, struggled to contain the Kickers' attack. Kitson's save total didn't include the numerous times he thwarted chances with his aggressiveness in net.

Starting around the 60th minute, Richmond got more active on offense. Phoenix FC couldn't clear Yomby's goal to make it 2-1, but somehow escaped until stoppage time. A 90th-minute goal was wiped out due to an offside call, and the Wolves needed to hold on for three minutes of extra time to win.

It wasn't to be, as Johnson got a solid touch on a ball in traffic in front of Kitson and sent it past him.

Phoenix FC takes its final road trip of the season July 24 and 27 at Charleston and Charlotte, then returns home for a July 31 match against Harrisburg City in a game moved up due to the Real Madrid-L.A. Galaxy match in the Phoenix area on Aug. 1.

Super-20 League Feature

Friday, July 19, 2013

BRADENTON, Fla. – The Toronto Lynx scored late in either half to take a 2-0 victory against the Laredo Heat and seal a place in the semifinals of the Super-20 League Championship on Friday morning at IMG Academy. Tremane Grant and Anthony Novak both scored for the Lynx in a physical contest against the Heat.

Both teams entered having won their opening game in Group B, but the game was a little choppy from the outside. Toronto was able to have the better of possession, knocking the ball around well to try and build through the midfield, but they were unable to find much incisiveness in the early going. Blake Jones’ effort from distance was saved comfortable in the 13th minute, and would prove the only real scoring opportunity in the opening half-hour.

The Lynx pushed more strongly as the half went on, and Grant went close to giving his side the lead in the 37th minute as a good move opened up space in the left channel, only for his shot to go wide of the right post. Six minutes later, however, Grant would give his side the lead as his diving header off a good cross from the right put Toronto up at the halftime break.

Toronto came close to adding to its lead four minutes into the second half as a counter-attack came to Darnelle Parris on the right, and his cross was met by Novak, who sent his volley over the crossbar. Ten minutes later the Lynx again threatened as a cross from the right was controlled and laid back for Christian Moncrief, only for his shot to curl over the crossbar.

Laredo would start to gain momentum midway through the second half, and forced its first good scoring opportunity in the 71st minute as a header by Rolando Flores was comfortably saved by Toronto goalkeeper Triston Henry. The Heat were then given a lifeline two minutes later as Moncreif was sent off after earning a second yellow card, reducing the Lynx to 10 men.

Despite having the extra man, though, Laredo was unable to threaten Henry’s goal much in the final 15 minutes. It would be Toronto, in fact, that would carve out the better chances in the closing stages, with Sebastian Arangio sending a shot high after a good flick of Henry’s long clearance put him in on the left side of the penalty area in the 86th minute.

A minute later, Toronto would put the game away, and seal a place in the semifinals. The Lynx again drove forward, and while Arangio’s run into the penalty area was broken up, a poor clearance came to Novak, who blasted a finish in the bottom-left corner. The goal clinched victory, and a contest with the winner of Saturday’s Group D game between Alamo SC and Force Football Club in the semifinals.

POTOMAC 2, ORLANDO 1: Potomac had been eliminated before taking the field due to Toronto’s win, but they didn’t play like a side with nothing to play for as they rallied behind a pair of goals by Abdel Fonkako for a late victory against Orlando City SC.

Potomac went behind midway through the first half, but came close to tying the game just before the halftime break as a header by Nick Breitsameter flashed just wide of the left post. Potomac continued to build momentum in the second half, as a long-range effort by Stephen Hauschild went over the crossbar. Pilawe Pato also went close, shooting just over the top-right corner of the net after weaving run took him past a pair of defenders.

Fonkako would pull his side level with 20 minutes to go as he picked up a good pass Hauschild in the right channel and moved in on goal before he shot low at the near post to pull his side level. Fonkako had a chance to give his side the lead three minutes later, but he was unable to get the full purchase on his header and it was comfortably saved.

Breitsameter also threatened for Potomac, a fiercely-struck volley parried away well, but they would finally grab a winning goal with three minutes to go as Fonkako held off his marker as they battled for a long clearance by goalkeeper Santos Castillo and shot over the advancing goalkeeper from just inside the penalty area.

Orlando had opened the game well, and the Lions were rewarded with the opening goal in the 20th minute as Christian Bores timed his run into the left channel well to get onto the end of a through-ball by Felipe Oliveira before he shot home at the near post. Oliveira would also go close to adding to its lead five minutes before the break as Oliveira shot just over the top-left corner of the net, but as the game went on the Lions would fade, allowing Potomac to rally to take victory.