USL PRO Game Report

Sunday, June 8, 2014

CARSON, Calif. – The LA Galaxy II’s goal rush in the first half helped Los Dos extend their winning streak to two games with a 5-1 victory against the Dayton Dutch Lions on Sunday night at StubHub Center. Jack McBean and Bradford Jamieson IV both scored a brace while Charlie Rugg added a goal before halftime.

The Dutch Lions almost broke the stalemate in the seventh minute as Cameron Vickers found the head of Sebastien Thuriere, who nodded the ball inches above the crossbar. A minute later, Los Dos made Dayton pay as Rugg sprinted down the right side and fired a cross that Jamieson IV side-footed into the back of the net. 

In the 25th minute, Galaxy II tallied again when Dragon Stojkov’s cross fell to McBean. With his back to the goal, the striker agilely spun away from his marker, and buried the left-footed shot into the far corner.

Galaxy II added to their lead approximately 15 minutes later as McBean tapped in a cross to complete his brace and pick up his third goal of the USL PRO season.

With halftime on the horizon, Los Dos scored again as Rugg intercepted the ball and fired a shot into the top right corner. Los Dos got their fifth three minutes later when Rugg slotted a ball behind the Dayton defense that Jamieson IV comfortably put away for his second goal of the game, and his fourth goal of the season.

Dayton earned a consolation goal in the 74th minute when miscommunication between Kofi Opare and goalkeeper Cody Laurendi allowed Aaron Schoenfeld to score his sixth goal of the season, but the finish proved little more than a consolation as the Galaxy moved back into second place in the USL PRO standings.

LA Galaxy II will return to action on Wednesday when they face off against Rochester Rhinos at the StubHub Center Track and Field Stadium at 7:30 p.m. PT.

LA Galaxy II Season Ticket Memberships begin at just $6 per game. For more information on LA Galaxy, LA Galaxy II memberships, or group and single tickets, visit www.lagalaxy.com or call 877-3GALAXY (342-5299).

Orlando City SC News Release -- www.orlandocitysc.com

Monday, June 9, 2014

ORLANDO, Fla. -- Orlando City SC announced today an innovative strategic partnership with Portuguese first-division side SL Benfica, which is one of the largest clubs in Europe. The agreement sets forth cooperation in a variety of areas, including:

- Sharing evaluations regarding professional and youth soccer players.
- Arranging potential friendly matches between the clubs in the U.S. and in Portugal.
- Providing opportunities for both clubs’ players to train with the other team.
- Cooperation to share professional knowledge regarding the business side of the industry (e.g., marketing, sales, etc.).
- Developing of an innovative strategic plan between both clubs to develop and promote access to scholarships for colleges and universities in the United States for not only soccer players, but also to other athletes.

"This partnership is another exciting step in Orlando City’s long-term development plans as it brings us additional knowledge and experience from one of the largest and most successful clubs in the world,” said Orlando City Majority Owner Flavio Augusto da Silva. “Benfica has been one of the most successfully operated soccer clubs in the world by developing talent of all ages, winning titles and reconciling sports performances with a wide variety of modern and professional management components.”

Benfica, which boasts one of the largest fan bases in the world, is a multi-sport club based in Lisbon, Portugal.  Benfica, which is best known for its soccer team, has won more than 70 championships in its history. The reigning Portuguese league soccer champion is also the only club to have won every Portuguese competition, including a record 33 Premeira league championship titles.

“This agreement represents a partnership with a new MLS club with large ambitions led by a widely respected entrepreneur in Flavio Agusto,” said SL Benfica President Luis Filipe Vieira. “It’s also important to note that the agreement is not limited only to football. It also involves a social and educational aspect by enabling high-performance athletes to access scholarships in the U.S. market and the reconciliation of competitive sports with a high quality education level.”

Potential future international matches between Orlando City and Benfica will add to the list of high-profile international friendlies held in the City Beautiful since the arrival of Orlando City in 2011. Throughout the past three years in USL PRO, the Lions have played exhibitions against first-division clubs in England (Bolton Wanderers, Newcastle United & Stoke City), Brazil (Fluminense & Sao Paulo) and Italy (AS Roma).

“Benfica is a club I’ve always had an enormous amount of respect for,” said Head Coach Adrian Heath. “The opportunity for Orlando City to work closely with and to learn from Benfica’s staff will be a great positive for our organization.”

The agreement between the clubs is compliant with (and subject to) all applicable FIFA, UEFA and MLS rules.

For more information, visit www.OrlandoCitySC.com.

USL PRO Goals of the Month

Tuesday, June 10, 2014

Sacramento Republic FC’s Dakota Collins has claimed the USL PRO Goal of the Month award for May for his goal against the Dayton Dutch Lions on May 25.

Collins' finish claimed 43% percent of the vote, beating out the Charlotte Eagles' Ben Newnam, who finished second with 32 percent, and fellow Sacramento Republic FC teammate Thomas Stewart, who took third with 11 percent.
 

USL PRO News Release

Tuesday, June 10, 2014

TAMPA, Fla. – USL PRO named its Team of the Week for Week 12 of the 2014 season on Tuesday as Orlando City midfielder Brian ‘Cobi’ Span was named Player of the Week after his pair of goals led the Lions to a 2-1 victory against the Montreal Impact Reserves on Saturday night at the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex.

With three players absent on international duty, including USL PRO leading scorer Kevin Molino, FC Dallas loanee Span stepped up to provide the scoring punch the Lions needed to remain undefeated. Span opened the scoring in the 12th minute as he tapped home from close range after an excellent cross by Luke Boden, and then added a second at the hour mark with an excellent solo effort that saw him pick up possession in midfield, run at the Impact defense and fire a low finish into the left corner of the net for what proved to be the winning goal.

Span was joined in the Team of the Week midfield by the LA Galaxy II’s Bradford Jamieson IV, who scored twice in Los Dos’ victory against the Dayton Dutch Lions on Sunday night. Pittsburgh’s Danny Earls also earned selection after his two assists helped the Riverhounds claim their first victory in Rochester in club history, while Charlotte’s Wells Thompson was also named after he scored the equalizer for the Eagles in a 1-1 draw with OKC Energy FC.

A pair of two-goal scorers also featured in the forward line as the Orange County Blues FC’s Chris Cortez and LA Galaxy II’s Jack McBean both earned selection for strong attacking performances. Wilmington’s Sammy Ochoa completed the trio, as his fine opening goal helped the Hammerheads extend their undefeated streak against Oklahoma City.

Energy FC’s Jon Kempin took the goalkeeper position after his standout five-save performance helped keep his side in the game against Wilmington on the way to earning a point. In front of him were Arizona’s London Woodberry, who scored and had a strong performance defensively in United’s 1-1 draw against Sacramento. Richmond’s Sascha Görres was also named after his outstanding cross allowed Matt Delicâte to score the only goal in the Kickers’ 1-0 win against Harrisburg, while Orange County’s Josh Suggs rounded out the group after his solo finish helped the Blues take their second consecutive victory.

The 2014 USL PRO season continues on Wednesday night with four midweek games that feature the league’s top two teams in action. Orlando City will try to maintain its undefeated start against an Orange County side that has won back-to-back contests at 7:30 p.m. ET, while the LA Galaxy II host the Rochester Rhinos at 10:30 p.m. ET. Also on Wednesday night is the second edition of this year’s Keystone Derby as the Pittsburgh Riverhounds host the Harrisburg City Islanders at Highmark Stadium, while Arizona United welcomes the Dayton Dutch Lions to the Peoria Sports Complex at 10:30 p.m. ET

Every game of the 2014 USL PRO season can be seen live on YouTube, with live updates also available via Twitter (@USLPRO), Facebook and Google+. Stay up to date with news, previews and match reports from throughout the league via USLPROSoccer.com.

USL PRO Team of the Week

Honorable Mention – Arizona: Scott Morrison, Evan Newton; Charlotte: Fred Sekyere, Matt Gold; Dayton: Matt Walker; Harrisburg: Richie Marquez, Pedro Ribeiro; LA Galaxy II: Charlie Rugg, Andre Auras; Oklahoma City: Kyle Greig, Steven Perry; Orange County: Edgar Santana, Allan Russell; Orlando: Luke Boden, Adama Mbengue; Pittsburgh: Brian Fekete, Jose Angulo; Richmond: Matt Delicâte, Samuel Asante; Rochester: Tony Walls, Minh Vu; Sacramento: Rodrigo Lopez, Chad Bartlome; Wilmington: Paul Nicholson, Andrae Campbell.

USL PRO News Release

Tuesday, June 10, 2014

TAMPA, Fla. – USL PRO is pleased to announce the addition of the Austin Aztex as its 18th franchise, continuing the league’s dramatic growth throughout the central and southwest United States. Joining Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC, Louisville City FC, Saint Louis FC and Tulsa Roughnecks FC, Austin will debut in USL PRO for the 2015 season as the league realizes its blueprint for steady, regionalized growth.

The Aztex are owned and operated by ATX SOCCER LLC, which includes Chairman Rene van de Zande, President and CEO of Emergo Group, a leading medical device consultancy with offices in 25 countries. Additional partners include Austin-based Formula One racing track Circuit of the Americas Founder and Chairman Bobby Epstein, and Paul Thornton, president of TAG Presents, Circuit of America’s events management company. The strong, local ownership group is rounded out byDavid Markley, VP of Technology Development for Fallbrook Technologies, the founder of ATX SOCCER LLC.

“USL PRO is extremely pleased to welcome Austin, Texas, the fastest-growing city in the United States, to our league for the 2015 season,” USL CEO Alec Papadakis said. “Austin’s ownership group, under the leadership of Rene van de Zande, will offer the local fans a strong, dynamic sports and entertainment experience.

“Today’s announcement represents yet another important milestone in our continued objective of expanding USL PRO into emergent cities that are primed to support professional soccer in a significant way.  This ‘next generation’ of ambitious professional soccer markets joining USL PRO serves to further define the league’s importance in providing the most vibrant domestic professional soccer league model in support of and in cooperation with MLS. Further exciting expansion plans and major announcements are upcoming.”       

Founded in 2011 as a member of the PDL, the Aztex made an immediate impact and reached the post-season in 2012 representing the Mid-South Division. The Aztex continued their remarkable ascent in 2013, defeating the Thunder Bay Chill in front of 4,253 fans at House Park to capture the PDL Championship.

“After two very successful seasons on the field in the PDL - which included a 2013 national championship and a steadily growing fan base - we are ready to move to the USL PRO level,” van de Zande said. "We have a clear vision for what we want to achieve with our club in Austin and joining USL PRO is part of this. We commend USL PRO for developing a strong and high quality league as well as for the relationship it has established with Major League Soccer.

“The Austin Aztex are proud to be a member of this prestigious league and we look forward to contributing to its continued success. We are also very excited about the recent formation of a strong Aztex owners group which will allow us to continue building our franchise in a city that deserves professional soccer at the highest levels. Our ambition is to turn the Austin Aztex into a 'house of excellence' geared towards nurturing and developing the best professional players on and off the field.”

USL PRO features 14 teams in 2014 with new teams in Colorado Springs, Colorado, Louisville, Kentucky, St. Louis, Missouri and Tulsa, Oklahoma already announced for 2015. As part of the league’s expansion west of the Mississippi, the LA Galaxy II, OKC Energy FC and Sacramento Republic FC began USL PRO play in 2014.

For the past several years USL PRO has been part of a groundbreaking partnership with MLS that has further elevated the quality and stature of USL PRO, strengthened the competition in both leagues, and established a solid foundation for future collaboration.

Pittsburgh Riverhounds News Release - www.riverhounds.com

Tuesday, June 10, 2014 

PITTSBURGH, Pa. - The Pittsburgh Riverhounds return home looking for their second consecutive win as they face off against the Harrisburg City Islanders at 7 p.m. ET Wednesday at Highmark Stadium in the second leg of the Keystone Derby.

The Riverhounds are looking to build off of a 3-2 win against the Rochester Rhinos on Saturday night as they picked up their first USL PRO regular-season win and won for the first time at the Rhinos' Sahlen's Stadium. The Riverhounds had never taken victory in 18 previous visits to Rochester.

Brian Fekete scored his second goal in as many games as he put away a perfectly placed corner kick by Danny Earls with 17 minutes remaining in the first half. Rob Vincent put the Riverhounds ahead 2-1 in the 75th minute when he put home a header on a corner kick - again serviced by Earls.  Jose Angulo added what proved to be the game winner for the Riverhounds in the 84th minute. 

The City Islanders are looking to bounce back from a 1-0 road loss at Richmond on June 6.  

Pittsburgh and Harrisburg played to a 1-1 draw on June 1 at Highmark Stadium.   The Riverhounds led the majority of the match on Fekete's first goal of the season, but the City Islanders pulled even to deny the home squad their first USL PRO win of the 2014 campaign when Jimmy McLaughlin played the spoiler, dancing through the 'Hounds defenders to give the City Islanders the draw in the 85th minute.

Wednesday's match is the first of a home-and-home series between the two teams in four days.  They will square off Saturday in Harrisburg at 7 p.m. at the Skyline Sports Complex.

NOTES

• Earls was named to the USL PRO Team of the Week for his two-assist effort against Rochester. Fekete and Angulo were honorable mentions.  Earls' spot in week 12 follows Fekete who received the honor last week for his performance against Harrisburg.
• Fans will be treated to a fireworks show presented by Highmark immediately after the match.
• After the Saturday match at Harrisburg, the Riverhounds return home before heading to the Windy City to take on the Chicago Fire of MLS Wednesday, June 18 at 7:30 p.m. CT at Toyota Park for a fourth-round matchup in the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup.

LA Blues News Release - www.bluessoccerclub.com

Tuesday, June 10, 2014

LOS ANGELES, Calif. -  The LA Blues (5-0-0) will host the Bay Area Breeze (3-0-1) on Wednesday night in a battle between the top two teams in the W-League's Western Conference. The Blues are coming off a dominant 6-0 victory against the Colorado Storm while the Breeze defeated the Santa Clarita Blue Heat 2-0 on Sunday.

On Sunday, Blues midfielder Paige Nielsen opened the scoring in the 13th minute of the game before extending the lead to 2-0 in the 21st. Nine minutes later forward Kandace Love scored twice in two minutes, and Brooke Elby ended that half with a goal of her own to make it 5-0.

In the second half, the Blues were able to score once more off the foot of Lauren Lazo in the 65th minute. The Blues improved to five consecutive wins with zero goals allowed this season. They also lead the W-League with 27 goals scored while limiting opponents to 11 shots on goal.

The Breeze kicked off their two-game road trip to Southern California with a victory against the Blue Heat on Sunday night. Samantha Brand scored the first goal in the 26th minute and Anisa Guajardo, who led the Pali Blues in points in 2011, secured the win in the 90th minute of the game.

To end their trip, the Breeze will visit the Blues on Wednesday night at the StubHub Center's Track and Field Stadium. Kickoff is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. PT. As always, fans can get updates online by following @LABluesSC on twitter or on facebook.com/LABluesSC.

Laredo Heat News Release -- www.laredoheatsc.com

Monday, June 9, 2014

LAREDO, Texas – The Laredo Heat’s next opponent in the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup avoids all clichés, except one: David versus Goliath. Laredo will line up and kick off against history in the form of the Houston Dynamo on June 11 in Houston for a fourth round Lamar Hunt U.S. Open cup match at 9 p.m. CT.

The Dynamo compete in Major League Soccer, the nation’s highest level of professional soccer, and feature a lineup with world-class athletes like Brad Davis (USA) and Boniek Garcia (Honduras) – who are headed to the FIFA World Cup. The Heat are a fourth-tier development team with just five former professionals on the 23-man team sheet.

The Dynamo boast a 2014 salary of more than $3.2 million; The Heat are made up of primarily NCAA – only one currently at the Division I level – and other collegiate level athletes, who receive a $500 housing and food stipend each month.

Houston has appeared in four MLS Cup finals, claiming two championships, and have advanced as far as the Open Cup semifinals. Laredo, nor any other PDL side, have ever advanced beyond the fourth round in the domestic cup.

Those are just the differences; the competitor’s similarities are significantly more staggering.

Houston (5-9-2, 16 points) sits sixth in the Eastern Conference, having left goals for the wanting – blasting 65 shots on goal in just 16 matches with only a goal per game to show for it. The Dynamo have dominated possession as well, especially in their last contest, a 2-0 defeat to the defending MLS champion Sporting Kansas City on June 6. In that match alone, Houston held the ball for nearly 70 percent of the time (66.9).

The Dynamo completed 82 percent of their passes – including 70 percent in their opponent’s half and 68 percent inside the final third of the pitch. They won the corner kick battle (7-3), tackles (13-7) and 50-50 ball duels (57-48) against Kansas City, but failed where it counts – in the back of the net.

If those numbers were presented without a team affiliation, one could safely guess that they belong to the Heat. Through five matches, Laredo just clawed from fourth place to second in the Mid South Division table with a 2-1-2 (8 points). They lead the Mississippi Brilla (2-2-2, 8 points) on a plus-5 goal differential.

But until recently – as recent as June 3, in fact – the Heat have constructed an abundance of scoring chances, minus the scoring. Before hanging a 4-0 defeat on the Houston Dutch Lions on June 3, Laredo had peppered opponents with 54 shots in four games, with only three ruffling the net.

The scoring scarcity was oversaturated in that breakthrough four-goal success, as homegrown forward Felix Garcia braced his way to his first two goals. Last season’s scoring leader, team captain Juan de Dios Ibarra, broke through as well.

The Heat will need a performance of almost perfect quality by both Garcia and Ibarra to dispel the Dynamo, but it isn’t impossible. The Dynamo failed to qualify beyond the fourth round in 2013’s campaign – falling to lower-division competition – and they bowed out of the 2012 tournament in the fifth round.

The Heat are just the 11th PDL team to advance beyond the third round, while none has advanced beyond the fourth round in the modern professional era. The stage is set as the Heat will travel to play in the Dynamo’s two-year-old soccer-specific BBVA Compass Stadium with a capacity of 22,000 screaming supporters.

The Heat face Houston on Wednesday night at 9 p.m. at the BBVA Compass Stadium in Houston in the fourth round. The draw for the fifth round decided the winner of the Dynamo-Heat match up will host the winner between FC Dallas and the San Antonio Scorpions.

The fourth round match will be streamed live and for free at www.YouTube.com/LaredoHeatSC and 8:55 p.m.

Each home game will see the Heat offer four fans a chance at winning $500. If the randomly selected fans can bury an undefended penalty kick at halftime, they will win $400 for themselves and $100 to the evening’s selected benefactor. 

Sacramento Republic FC News Release - www.sacrepublicfc.com

Tuesday, June 10, 2014

SACRAMENTO, Calif. - Sacramento Republic FC will travel to Kezar Stadium in San Francisco on Wednesday to take on their MLS affiliate, the San Jose Earthquakes, in the fourth round of the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup.  Kickoff is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. PT.

The match will be the second matchup between the two sides this season.  The first meeting, a preseason friendly played at CSU Stanislaus in Turlock, Cali., ended with a 2-0 victory for San Jose. San Jose’s second team scored both of the goals after the 85th minute. The Earthquakes’ first team, that played 75 minutes, was held scoreless by Republic FC.

Republic FC enters the match after defeating the Fresno Fuego 6-0 in the third round of the U.S. Open Cup.  Nemanja Vuković, Justin Braun, Thomas Stewart, Rodrigo Lopez, Emrah Klimenta and Steven Evans all scored in the match.

Republic FC extended its unbeaten streak to seven after drawing with Arizona United SC on Saturday.  Substitute forward Chad Bartlomé headed home a Lopez corner kick to equalize in stoppage time.  With the assist Lopez has either scored or assisted in five of his last six appearances.

Dominik Jakubek continued to play well, allowing just the one goal against Arizona.  Jakubek has given up two goals in his past five appearances, including shutout performances against Fresno and the Rochester Rhinos.

Despite being without their leading scorer - Chris Wondolowski - due to World Cup call-up, San Jose has played well, winning three of its past five matches.  The Earthquakes are led by their goalkeeper Jon Busch, who has allowed just three goals in the past five matches.

As Republic FC’s MLS affiliate, San Jose, has loaned three players to Republic FC throughout the year.  Forwards Mike Fucito and Adam Jahn combined for three goals for Republic FC in five combined appearances.  Goalkeeper Billy Knutsen was also with Republic FC although he did not make an appearance.  All of the loan players have been recalled by San Jose.

The winner of the match will take on the winner of the Seattle Sounders vs. PSA Elite match that will also be played Wednesday.  The match between the winners is scheduled for June 24.

The match will be streamed live via the San Jose Earthquakes. Updates of the match will also be provided via Twitter @SacRepublicFC and by using #SJvSRFC.

W-League News Release

Wednesday, June 11, 2014

TAMPA, Fla. – The W-League announced its Team of the Week for Week 5 of the 2014 season today, with Ottawa Fury FC midfielder Lydia Hastings named Player of the Week. The former University of Maryland star tallied a goal and an assist in a 4-0 win at London Friday, then followed up with the game-winner Saturday at K-W United as the Fury maintained their perfect start to the season.

Hastings is joined in the Team of the Week midfield by Tommi Goodman, who tallied the tying goal and an assist in a 2-2 draw against the Colorado Pride, and New York’s Serina Kashimoto, who scored the late game-winner as the Magic claimed their first victory of the season, 2-1 vs. the North Jersey Valkyries.

Laval keeper Genevieve Richard earned her second Team of the Week honors of the season after making 10 saves in a scores draw against Toronto to earn her fourth consecutive shutout to start the season. North Carolina star Satara Murray leads the defensive trio after helping the Washington Spirit Reserves earn their third consecutive shutout against the New Jersey Wildcats. She is joined by Gulf Coast’s Jessica Oram, who helped the Texans shut out Dayton, and Toronto’s Melanie Pickert, who scored in a 3-2 win at Quebec and was crucial for the Lady Lynx in the scoreless tie at Laval.

Australian Women’s National Team star Chloe Logarzo leads the forward selections this week after recording three goals and two assists as the Colorado Pride enjoyed a 1-0-1 week. Also earning selection is Gulf Coast’s Florence Dadson, a member of Ghana’s Women’s National Team who recorded two goals and an assist against Dayton, and University of Virginia star Morgan Reuther, who tallied a first-half hat trick against the Wildcats. Rounding out the squad is Atlanta forward Ashley Nagy, whose hat trick helped the Silverbacks earn their first win of the season, 4-0 vs. Dayton.

W-League action continues this week with 19 games on the schedule, including a pair of matches tonight that will go a long way in determining regular-season conference champions. The Ottawa Fury (4-0-0) travel to face the Laval Comets (2-0-2) in a rematch of 2013’s Central Conference Championship, while the LA Blues (5-0-0) welcome the Bay Area Breeze (3-0-1) in a meeting of the Western Conference’s only remaining undefeated squads.

 Select W-League games can be seen live on YouTube, with live updates also available via Twitter (@USLWLEAGUE) and Facebook. Stay up to date with news, previews and match reports from throughout the league via WLEAGUEsoccer.com.

W-League Team of the Week

Honorable Mention – Braddock Road – Allie Wisner; Carolina Elite – Rose Hull; Charlotte – Robyn Jones; Colorado Pride – Sarah Schweiss; Colorado Rush – Carson Pickett; K-W United – Stephanie Bukovec, Kelly Cook; LA – Shawna Gordon, Kandace Love; London – Alice Palmer; New Jersey – Laylla da Cruz; North Jersey – Jen Andresen; Quebec – Melissande Guy; Santa Clarita – Melanie Fox; Natasa Radosavljevic; Toronto – Shauna Gilpin; Washington – Kara Wilson.

USL PRO Game Report

Wednesday, June 11, 2014

LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. – Orlando City SC extended its USL PRO unbeaten streak to 14 matches at ESPN Wide World of Sports on Wednesday night with a 4-1 win against the Orange County Blues, tying the club’s all-time record for consecutive matches without a loss. After conceding late in the first half, City scored four unanswered goals to move nine points clear of LA Galaxy II at the top of the table and send 4,206 fans home happy.

Orlando City improved to 11-0-3 while Orange County fell to 5-8-0, good for seventh in the USL PRO table.

“In the first half, we gave the ball away far too much in the midfield, and we needed to pick up our quality of play,” said Assistant Coach Ian Fuller after the match. “But the guys performed well in the second half, particularly in midfield and the final third.”

Orlando City and Orange County both had a slow start to the match in the first 10 minutes as the two sides attempted to adjust to the wet conditions due to the torrential downpour that took place prior to kickoff.

In the 11th minute, Adama Mbengue nearly opened up the scoring with a low driven effort across the box that skipped just past the far post. Only one minute later, Mbengue was once again involved when Kevin Molino connected with the Senegalese midfielder for a one-two inside the area, before blasting a powerful left-footed effort toward the near post. Fortunately for the Blues, Molino, who has been in clinical form so far this season, uncharacteristically missed the frame.

In the 13th minute, Molino weaved through the Orange County defense inside the box and laid the ball off for Corey Hertzog, but the striker’s effort was deflected away by the Orange County defense. Moments later, in the 25th minute, Molino created space for himself and blasted a powerful effort from the edge of the area, forcing Goalkeeper Josh Ford to make a nervous save.

However, despite Orlando controlling the run of play, the Blues managed to provide the first goal of the match in the 39th minute after capitalizing on the counter. After a City corner kick, Ford did well to quickly throw the ball to Sean Okoli at the half line. With only two City players in the defensive third, the powerful striker ventured on a 40-yard run before rolling the ball into space for Midfielder Jiovanni Santana, who placed his final effort past Gallardo to give the California-based side the 1-0 lead.

Orlando didn't spend much time trailing as striker Corey Hertzog leveled the score in first-half stoppage time. Hertzog was able to force his way to the near post and get on the end of a driven cross from Darwin Ceren before re-directing it into the back of the net.

Adrian Heath’s half-time rally seemed to provide the spark needed for Lions, as Orlando scored within the first four minutes of the second half when Bryan Burke played a well-placed ball to Austin da Luz, who was unmarked in the box. Da Luz’s header went directly between the goalkeeper’s legs, giving City a well-deserved 2-1 advantage.

As the half progressed, City continued to put Ford under pressure and fire away at the Blues’ goal, resulting in two additional goals toward the end of the second 45. The two final goals of the match were provided by Brad Rusin, marking his first league goals in purple and white. In the 78th minute, Mbengue found Rusin on the back post from a corner, and the imposing defender placed a comfortable header back across the goal.

Less than 10 minutes later Rusin found himself in a fortuitous position when Tyler Turner’s header from a corner found him for an easy tap-in from less than two yards away in the 87th minute.

City’s efficient attacking play slightly overshadowed the increased intensity on the defensive end, as Miguel Gallardo faced zero shots in the second half.

K-W United FC News Release - www.kwunitedfc.com

Thursday, June 12, 2014

WATERLOO, Ont. - Despite being down two goals, K-W United scored four unanswered goals in 18 minutes to defeat FC London 4-2 Wednesday night.

After a dreadful 6-0 loss to Michigan earlier in the week, United needed a bounce-back night at home. United fell behind in the first half off two goals from James Pucci, but an inspirational halftime from head coach Stuart Neely and a regroup from the squad pushed it to a dominant second half. 

"At half, Stu had a go at us," assistant captain Sergio Camargo said. "He wasn't happy and none of us were happy. We felt like we could have taken over that game early, but we let them get into it.

"We knew all knew that we could win this game, and we played well [after]."

The first half started off rough for United, as it struggled to find its shape and put pressure on London. Fourteen minutes in, Pucci beat goalkeeper Nathan Ingham for his first of the night. 

London and K-W battled for the next half hour before Pucci beat Ingham for his second of the night on a head ball to put FC London up 2-0 going into the half. 

"We were too scared at the beginning. We kept going backwards when we should have gone forwards when we had the chance and off the ball we [needed to] defend better," Camargo said.

But the game was far from over. Stefan Vukovic, who was playing in his first game with K-W United, was subbed in and became a dominating presence up front. 

Like United's other two wins, a quick goal happened at the beginning of the half when Camargo finished off some pretty passing initiated by Vukovic to split the lead. 

Ten minutes later, Jay Chapman finished another great set up by Vukovic to tie London. But United wasn't done there, as three minutes later, Chapman would send defender Jordan Murrell in on net, and he made no mistake to put the home team up 3-2.

Vukovic finished off the night putting one of his own behind FC London keeper Mark Haynes to seal London's fate and United's victory. 

"Needless to say, there was a lot of frustration in the dressing room, but that's good because it shows you that they care. That was an important aspect to take note of ... There was good discussion back and forth, but the psychology of half time needs to be used wisely," Neely explained . "We were coming off an ugly defeat down in Michigan, so there were still remnants of that in there. But the big part was to get the players listening in stride and put their best foot forward."

Neely chose Chapman, Murrell and Vukovic as his men of the match for their performances. 

"The biggest part is the players coming out and executing the game plan," Neely said. "And they did that, so the credit is on them. They listened and did their job, and I'm very happy for them."

United's next game is Sunday afternoon against the Pittsburgh Riverhounds U23. This is the first match against Pittsburgh in K-W's history, and United will look to extend its win streak and claim some much-needed points in the hunt for a strong spot in the division. 

USL PRO Game Report

Wednesday, June 11, 2014

PITTSBURGH, Pa. - The Harrisburg City Islanders took a 3-1 victory in the second leg of the Keystone Derby at Highmark Stadium Wednesday night. After a 45-minute rain delay, second-half goals from Clesio Bauque and Yann Ekra proved to be the difference as the City Islanders claimed their third win of the USL PRO season.

Pittsburgh's Joseph Ngwenya was one of the first players to make a strong offensive move in the game, with a wide shot from a Rob Vincent cross in the second minute. Ngwenya was called upon again in the fifth minute. This time, Matthew Dallman crossed it to Ngwenya in the box, but after controlling the ball he was taken down and awarded a penalty. Collins John stepped up to the spot and fired it low and to the right past diving Harrisburg goalkeeper Nick Noble to make it 1-0 in the seventh minute.

The remainder of the half was back and forth between the teams and while the score remained 1-0 in the Riverhounds' favor, the City Islanders led in shots (7-3) and corners (3-1) after the first 45 minutes.

It didn’t take long after the intermission for the City Islanders to get their offense going. In the 46th minute Ngwenya involved in another penalty, but this time he gave it to Harrisburg. Bauque was taken down from behind in the box and Jimmy McLaughlin took the shot from the spot. Michael Lisch made the initial save for Pittsburgh, but the rebound went straight back to McLaughlin for an easy tap-in to draw the game even at 1-1.

Harrisburg took the lead just after the hour mark and didn’t look back. Bauque took a shot from outside the box and Lisch was not able to extend far enough to make the save in the 63rd minute.

Yann Ekra added the insurance goal in the 82nd minute with a shot that Lisch was able to get hands to, but not enough to hold onto the ball as it slipped between his legs and into the back of the net.

Harrisburg improves to 3-2-6 with 11 points, while the Riverhounds fall to 1-7-4 with seven points. The teams will meet again for the third and final leg of the Keystone Derby on Saturday at Skyline Sports Complex.

LA Blues News Release - www.bluessoccerclub.com

Thursday, June 12, 2014

LOS ANGELES, Calif. - Mele French scored the lone goal as the LA Blues (6-0-0) handed the Bay Area Breeze (3-1-1) their first loss of the season on Wednesday night at the StubHub Center. It was a battle between the top two teams in the Western Conference and with the three points, the Blues further separated themselves from the rest of the table.

The game-winner came in the 38th minute when Jamie Bell dribbled the ball down to the end line, then played it back toward the top of the six-yard area where French attacked it to put it in the back of the net.

The goal came after numerous attempts by the Blues. Just nine minutes in, Brooke Elby made an attempt from outside the penalty area. Goalkeeper Emily Kruger was preparing to make the save but was put off when one of her defenders deflected Elby's shot, forcing her to quickly change direction and pick up the ball.

A few minutes later, Paige Nielsen played French through the penalty area but Kruger tapped away her shot, and the Breeze began a counter attack, which led to a corner kick. Blues goalkeeper Sammy Jo Prudhomme was there the get her fist on the ball and send it out of bounds.

The Blues created an exciting play in the 23rd minute with Bell finding Shawna Gordon near the top of the box. Gordon then played the ball for French, who was making a diagonal run, but it was redirected by a defender towards the end line. French was able to use her momentum to beat the next Breeze player to the ball, and played it back out wide to Bell, who crossed the ball in for Nielsen whose shot sailed high of the goal.

One minute later, Guajardo unleashed a shot in what was the Breeze's first significant opportunity, but Prudhomme came up with the save. In the 33rd minute, Gordon tried to score the opening goal with a long-distance shot, but it went just wide left of the goal.

Half-time substitute Cheyna Williams got her first shot on goal in the 75th minute, but Kruger got just enough on the ball to push it wide for a corner kick. Three minutes later, Rachel Mercik tried for the equalizer but her shot went straight to Prudhomme.

The Blues had two more noteworthy opportunities before the match ended. In the 84th minute they earned a free kick just outside the penalty area. It was French who took it, but the kick went wide right. In the 89th minute, Gordon eyed Williams on the right side of the field and set her up with a great one-on-one opportunity but the assistant referee waived it off as an offside play.

With the victory, the Blues now stand at the top of the Western Conference table with 18 points, while the Breeze remain in second place, tied the with the Colorado Pride, with 10 points. 

The Blues will hit the road for their next two games in Colorado. They'll face the Rush on Friday, June 20 at 6 p.m. PT at Trailblazer Stadium, and the Storm at 1 pm PT on Sunday at Legend High School.

USL PRO Game Report

Wednesday, June 11, 2014

CARSON, Calif. – The LA Galaxy II saw their three-game winning streak come to an end on Wednesday with a 2-1 loss to the Rochester Rhinos at the StubHub Center. Jonny Mendoza and Alex Dixon scored in the first half for the Rhinos while Rafael Garcia tallied the lone goal for Los Dos. The defeat was the first at home since April 15 for LA, which dropped to 8-3-3 in its inaugural USL PRO campaign. The Rhinos improved to 5-3-5.

The match started poorly for Los Dos as a defensive breakdown in the ninth minute allowed Mendoza to slip in behind the Galaxy II defense and tap a shot past goalkeeper Cody Laurendi at the near post.  Immediately after the goal, the home side pushed forward in search of an equalizer, but yet another mistake in the back led to a second goal for Rochester.

In the 29th minute, Los Dos center back Bradley Diallo coughed up the ball in the penalty area which was subsequently picked up by Dixon who slotted a shot past a helpless Laurendi to double Rochester’s lead.

Galaxy II appeared to have scored in the 71st minute when Charlie Rugg had the ball in the back of the net but assistant referee Eduardo Mariscal had his flag up for offside.

Los Dos cut the Rhinos’ lead in half just four minutes later. After a foul on Homegrown Player Raul Mendiola at the top of the penalty area, Garcia stepped up and curled a lovely free kick into the near post past Rhinos goalkeeper John McCarthy.

Following the goal, Los Dos pushed forward but could not find an equalizer despite dominating possession. Garcia came closest to leveling the score late, but his stoppage time blast from beyond the 18-yard-box sailed narrowly wide as Rochester held on for the victory.

LA Galaxy II will return to action when they face the Charleston Battery at Blackbaud Stadium on Saturday, June 14 at 4:30 p.m. PT. The match against the Battery will be the start of a three-game road swing for Los Dos. Rochester continues its two-game western swing at Arizona United on Saturday.

PDL News Release

Thursday, June 12, 2014

TAMPA, Fla. – The PDL announced its Team of the Week for the sixth week of the 2014 season on Thursday, with Western Mass Pioneers forward Alencar Junior leaving no doubt about the Player of the Week honors after tallying six goals in a pair of wins.

Junior was unstoppable last Wednesday against GPS Portland, scoring all five goals in a 5-1 Pioneers victory. He added another goal in 3-0 win against Vermont Saturday to move atop the PDL goal leaders with eight in only three games played. Junior was joined on the Team of the Week forward line by Seacoast forward Anthony Grant, who scored all four goals in a 4-1 win for the Phantoms, and Ocala’s Ilija Ilic, who netted three goals in a win against SW Florida.

Paul Islas of Fresno and Yannis Becker of FC London each recorded hat-tricks to lead the midfield selections, and they were joined by Bryan De La Fuenta of the LA Misioneros (2 goals in 4-2 win at Orange County) and Midland/Odessa’s Rory Knibbs (2 goals, assist in 4-2 win vs. Houston).

Austin’s Michael Ambrose leads the defensive trio after leading the Aztex to consecutive shutouts against Mississippi. He was joined by Des Moines’ Brandon Fricke, who scored in a 3-0 win against the Chicago Inferno, and Kitsap’s Cory Keitz, who was solid in a 1-0 win against Puget Sound. The Mississippi Brilla’s Carl Blundell rounded out the Team of the Week, earning the goalkeeper selection after making several crucial saves in a scoreless draw at Austin.

The PDL season continues this weekend with 38 games on the schedule between tonight and Sunday. Follow all of the action from the 2014 PDL season via twitter (@USLPDL), and also on Facebook and Instagram as the league’s 20th season shines the spotlight on some of the top college and academy prospects from across the country.

PDL Team of the Week

Honorable Mention – Austin Aztex: Andres Cuero; Baltimore Bohemians: Joshua Yaro, Melvin Snoh; Chicago Fire U23: Charlie Lyon; Cincinnati Dutch Lions: Jordan Grant; FC London: Sam Orritt; FC Tucson: Billy Thompson; Fresno Fuego: Gustavo Silva, Jose Cuevas; Houston Dutch Lions: Javier Vasquez; Jersey Express: Brayan Martinez, Otto Ansger, Noah Sadaoui; LA Misioneros: Vincent Paldino; Laredo Heat: Felix Garcia, Francisco Lara; Long Island Rough Riders: Dominic Sarle; Michigan Bucks: Dzenan Catic, Ken Tribbett; Midland/Odessa Sockers: Fabio Pena; Ocean City Nor’easters: Aaron Dennis, Zoncher Dennis; Real Boston Rams: Zeiko Lewis; San Jose Earthquakes: Luis Martinez; Seacoast United Phantoms: Adrian Dubois; Southern WV King’s Warriors: Elijah Ukpong, Gideon Asante; St. Louis Lions: Carson Pryor; Toronto Lynx: Leigh Viedman; West Virginia Chaos: Nick McDonald.

USL PRO Feature

Friday, June 13, 2014

The opening of Highmark Stadium in 2013 was a landmark achievement for the Pittsburgh Riverhounds. The outstanding facility brought a brighter spotlight to the club, and the team played to packed houses throughout the season as an entertaining side led by USL PRO Most Valuable Player Jose Angulo reached the playoffs before bowing out to eventual champion Orlando City.

As big an impact as Highmark’s opening had for the Riverhounds, the impact was also greatly felt among the club’s biggest supporters, the Steel Army.

“We figured we would grow with the stadium, but were unprepared for how much we grew during the course of the 2013 season,” said Kyle McHenry. “The home opener in was absolutely nuts – we ended up shutting down traffic on the main road in Station Square on our march to Highmark Stadium. The section was out of control, in a good way. For those of us who toughed it out the previous years it was a dream come true.”

Toughed it out is certainly an apt description of life before Highmark for both the Riverhounds and the Steel Army. Formed in 2008 upon the club’s return to action, founding members such as McHenry, Bryan Seybert, Michael Johnson, Chris Esposito, Phil Anderson, and Maria Petrillo worked to try and help the group grow, but with the club situated in a high school stadium well outside the city, it was difficult to generate the same enthusiasm among their friends.

“It was tough to get people to come out,” said Seybert. “Also, it may seem minor but not being able to enjoy a beer while watching the game, or even just tailgating, because they played in a high school turned a lot of people away.

“Soccer has a bit of an uphill battle around here, and a lot of people looked down on the team due to the location. Our numbers fluctuated a lot over the first few years. Sometimes we would have 20-to-30. Sometimes we were lucky to get 10. It was extremely difficult to build strength in numbers while at Chartiers Valley, but those of us who toughed it out became a tight-knit group that has given the Steel Army a solid leadership core as we moved forward.”

That leadership proved invaluable last season as the Steel Army’s membership grew by leaps and bounds. This year the group began charging dues for membership, to facilitate pre-game tailgates and tifo displays, and they were overwhelmed by the number who were eager to sign up.

“We ended up doubling our projections for the season before the 2014 home opener,” said McHenry. “Despite the Hounds being at the bottom of the table this season, so far the Steel Army has surpassed all expectations. There’s been numerous occasions where people who weren’t that big into soccer came to check out the stadium and end up having an amazing time in the supporters section. When the next home game rolls around they’re back and they brought some friends. Highmark Stadium has forever changed the Steel Army.”

Judging by the tifos that are regularly on display at Highmark, the dues are being put to good use. At this season’s home opener, the image of Montgomery Burns from ‘The Simpsons’ loomed over the Steel Army’s section with the message ‘Evans, Release The Hounds’. According to Seybert, there is active discussion before each tifo is made within the group, and the process of creation offers a chance for the group’s members to bond away from the stadium.

“Bobby Zebrasky -- our vice president -- had pitched the ‘Mr. Burns’ idea since last season, but we wanted to wait until we had the resources to do it right,” he said. “After we decide on a design our webmaster/graphic artist Kyle McHenry will do a scale mock-up in Photoshop. After the design has been approved we gather all of the necessary fabric and paint, and Maria Petrillo gets to work sewing our giant canvas.

“We usually send out an e-mail or invite through social media 1-2 weeks before TIFO day to inform membership. Participation in the creation of the tifo is entirely voluntary, and we usually don’t know how much help that we’ll have until the day of. The ‘Mr. Burns’ tifo took about half a day and around 20 people to paint it. Tifo days are a great time to bond with fellow Steel Army members over a couple beers and cans of paint.”

Social media, and the group’s website, has been an invaluable tool for the group, as it has been for supporters groups across the league, in getting the message out about the Steel Army, and the Riverhounds themselves. The group also has an active website, which provides news on not only the Riverhounds but the league as a whole in an effort to make an impression on the local audience.

“What inspired the growth of our website was the success of local sports blogs in galvanizing groups of sports fans in the city of Pittsburgh,” said McHenry. “From the Pirates to the Penguins, sports franchises in Pittsburgh greatly benefited from the power-house lineup of sports blogs that memed, criticized, and supported our local sports teams.

“We saw a chance to help generate local buzz about the team when the team clearly need any viral marketing it could get. Not only did we see this as a way to support the club, but also to help “get the word out” about the Steel Army and show Pittsburghers that the supporter’s culture was strongly represented in our city.”

Both McHenry and Seybert have high hopes for not only the group, but also the team’s potential to grow. The Riverhounds’ results this season haven’t been the best, but after a historic victory against Rochester last weekend, the chance still remains for the club to get its season on track and push for a playoff place in September. Winning certainly helps when it comes to building support for a team that has recently landed in the public eye.

“Pittsburghers can be some of the worst bandwagon fans in major sports,” Seybert said. “With the Penguins consistently in the playoffs and the Pirates season beginning in April, it definitely makes it hard for the Riverhounds to get coverage through local media outlets.”

Whether witness to wins or losses in rain or shine, however, the Steel Army will remain as resolute in its support as it has since its inception.

“We view the responsibility of the Steel Army to tend to the bandwagon until the rest of the city is ready to jump back on,” said Seybert. “We’re going to continue to creating an amazing atmosphere at Highmark Stadium that makes people want to come back, but the biggest thing that is going to help the Steel Army grow and flourish is a winning soccer team.”

“As the late Al Davis would say, ‘Just win, baby’,” added McHenry. “And yes, it really is quite simple. Put the ball into the net, and we’ll go bloody mental.”

Richmond Kickers News Release -- www.richmondkickers.com

Friday, June 12, 2014

RICHMOND, Va. – The Richmond Kickers (7-1-5, 26 points) return to City Stadium Saturday to host the Wilmington Hammerheads (5-1-3, 18 points)

The Kickers and the Hammerheads meet at City Stadium for the first time in just more than a year, having last battled to a 1-1 draw in Richmond on June 8, 2013.  Earlier that season the Kickers edged the Hammerheads 2-0 at Legion Stadium to avenge a dramatic 3-2 loss in the 2012 USL PRO Quarterfinals, bringing the club’s all-time series record advantage to 11-6-6 against its long-time rivals.

The Kickers enter Saturday’s match following a 1-0 win against the Harrisburg City Islanders last weekend.  Kickers all-time leading scorer Matthew Delicâte notched his seventh goal of the season while goalkeeper Joe Willis posted his league-leading fifth shutout to extend the Kickers' unbeaten streak to 12 games overall.

Meanwhile, the Hammerheads are undefeated in six USL PRO games and head to City Stadium on the heels of a 2-2 draw against the expansion OKC Energy FC last week.  The back-and-forth affair kicked off with a Samuel Ochoa goal just before halftime, but the Hammerheads conceded the lead just after the break.  A second-half goal by defender Tom Parratt gave Wilmington another short-lived advantage before OKC rallied for a late equalizer.

Thunder Bay Chill News Release - - www.thunderbaychill.com

Thursday, June 12, 2014

THUNDER BAY, Ont. – Since 2007 the Thunder Bay Chill (2-2-0) have had the upper hand on the Des Moines Menace (3-0-0) in PDL play.  Last year the teams met three times, once in Thunder Bay and twice in Des Moines.  The results were consistent as the Chill took all three contests by the same 2-0 score.  Since 2007 the Chill hold a 15-6-4 record against Des Moines.

It may not be the same this year, with the Menace coming to town for matches tonight and Saturday sporting a perfect record while the Chill have struggled and sit at .500. 

“This will definitely be a huge weekend for us”, Chill Head Coach Tony Colistro said.  “We need to win both games to stay in contention for a playoff spot.”

At the moment St. Louis leads the Heartland division after taking 6 points on their Canadian swing last weekend.  The Lions have only lost once. 

The Menace have had three clean sheets to start the season beating Springfield and St. Louis by 2-0 results and the Chicago Inferno by 3-0 with goalkeeper David Meves picking up all three wins.  The Chill, on the other hand, have two clean sheets and have had difficulty in developing the chemistry they will need in order to stave off the Menace.

Look for striker Simone Cote-Kougnima to make his debut on Friday night, having missed all four games so far.  Still out of the line is 2012 PDL MVP Sullivan Silva.  

“The Menace are perfect and carry a lot of momentum into this weekend,  we are going to need a strong performance from our whole team in order to stop them,” Colistro said.

Both games are scheduled for Chapples Park, but consistent rain may force a change of venue again.  It will be up to city officials to decide if the field will be playable on Friday, otherwise, it may be another move to the Fort William Stadium.  The Chill were forced to move last Saturday’s game against the Demize to the stadium after a downpour Saturday morning made Chapples unplayable.

Charlotte Eagles Press Release - charlotteeagles.com

Wednesday, June 11, 2014

CHARLOTTE, N.C. – The Charlotte Eagles take on Orange County Blues FC this Friday at 8 p.m. to kick off this weekend’s USL PRO action.

The clubs last met when the Eagles traveled to Irvine, California and defeated the Blues 2-0 on goals from Drew Yates and Ben Newnam. Charlotte's most recent game saw them face the Oklahoma City Energy FC, where the game ended in a 1-1 draw. It snapped the Eagles' three-game losing streak.

Charlotte's equalizer came from Wells Thompson, who received a through-ball from Fred Sekyere and slotted it by OKC's goalkeeper. Fresh in from Chicago, Alec Kann stood tall after the Eagles evened the score and helped the hosts to a well-earned point at home.

The Blues will make a stop in Wilmington Friday before coming to Charlotte. They will face the Hammerheads, who two weeks ago who defeated the Eagles 2-1.