Richmond Kickers News Release -- www.richmondkickers.com

Friday, August 15, 2014

RICHMOND, Va. – The Richmond Kickers are pleased to announce the addition of former Orange County Blues midfielder Matheau Hall and Richmond United Academy midfielder, Lyndsey Moreland, prior to the USL PRO roster freeze deadline. Both players will be available for selection immediately.

“Matheau is a player we have admired and followed for the last 12 months,” commented Leigh Cowlishaw, Richmond Kickers Director of Soccer. “He has an abundance of pro experience and will provide us with excellent options on the right side of our formation.”

A regular with the Orange County Blues for two seasons, Hall made 23 appearances and recorded a pair of assists in 2013.  Following a preseason trial stint with Major League Soccer’s LA Galaxy, the Virginia Beach, VA. native signed with the Fort Lauderdale Strikers earlier this year.

In 2005 and 2006, he played college soccer at Tyler Junior College, before transferring to Grand Canyon University for his junior and senior years where he tallied 18 assists in two seasons. While in college, Hall played for the Hampton Roads Piranhas in USL PDL, He also had stints with the Thunder Bay Chill and Vermont Voltage, drawing interest from MLS and Mexican clubs along the way, before signing a professional contract with the Blues.

Moreland joins fellow Richmond United teammates Drew Romig and Will Pulisic on this season’s roster, following in the footsteps of former Academy players Evan Fowler and Vaughn Fowler who both featured for the Kickers’ pro team in 2013.  A rising senior at Spotsylvania High School, the 17-year old played five years on Kickers Elite and Academy teams before being selected to the Richmond United U18 Academy team for the 2014-15 season.

“Lyndsey has really come on over the last year, attracting a lot of interest from colleges across the region,” added Cowlishaw.  “His inclusion in the squad is a just reward for his improved focus, maturity and desire to succeed.”

As of the 2013 season, expanded roster sizes allow teams to carry as many as five Academy players in USL PRO competition. To qualify for an Academy spot, players must be younger than 21 at the start of the current season; they can’t have competed collegiately; they must never have signed as a professional and the player must either be from a club’s region, an affiliate youth team or from an MLS affiliate.

The Richmond Kickers (13-1-9, 48 points) return to City Stadium this Saturday night to host the Dayton Dutch Lions (6-15-3, 21 points) and FAMILY FEST, presented by Union Bank.  With a one-of-a-kind fun zone, presented by Bounce 2 The Moon, the fun begins when the gates open at 5:30 p.m. with games for kids, live music, RVA food trucks, craft beer for adults and fun for the whole family.  Admission is just $10 for the whole family before 6:30 p.m.

W-League Feature

Friday, August 15, 2014

The FIFA U20 Women’s World Cup reaches the knockout stage on Saturday as both the United States and Canada are in action in the tournament’s quarterfinals. The U.S. is set to face North Korea at 5 p.m. ET at BMO Field in Toronto, while the hosts will face Germany at 8 p.m. ET at Commonwealth Stadium in Edmonton.

Both countries received key performances from  current and former W-League standouts in the group stage, with the United States being led through by 2011 All-League selection Lindsey Horan. The former Colorado Rush standout is tied for second in the tournament with three goals, and bagged a pair in the final group game against China that clinched a place in the knockout stage for the U.S.

Another key player has been Dayton Dutch Lions midfielder Rose Lavelle, who was influential in both of the United States’ group-stage victories. An All-Southeastern Conference selection in the W-League this summer, Lavelle will need to be at her best again as former Seattle Sounders Women coach Michelle French’s side looks to move into the semifinals.

One thing the U.S. may be able to gain confidence from was Canada’s 1-0 victory against North Korea in its last group game, which sent the hosts through on goal difference from Group A. Colorado Rush forward Janine Beckie scored the only goal on Tuesday night, while Toronto Lady Lynx goalkeeper Kailen Sheridan recorded a shutout as Canada put in a solid display in Montreal.

In Germany, however, the Canadians will get their biggest test of the tournament. The 2012 runner-up took an impressive 2-0 victory against the United States in its opening game of group play, and has proven the most free-scoring side at the tournament so far, racking up five goals apiece against China and Brazil. Sara Daebritz leads the tournament with five goals in three games, while teammates Pauline Bremer and Theresa Panfil have each scored three times.

Canada will definitely need a big game from Sheridan and defensive standouts Kinley McNicoll and Kadeisha Buchanan, both formerly of the Ottawa Fury, if they are to move into the semifinals, while Beckie, Nichelle Prince (Toronto Lady Lynx) and Valerie Sanderson (Laval Comets) will be charged with finding a way through a German defense that looked susceptible in a 5-5 draw with China in its second game.

Both games will be aired, with the US vs. North Korea set to be shown on ESPNU on Saturday evening and Canada’s game with Germany to be streamed on ESPN3. For more information on the 2014 FIFA U20 Women’s World Cup, visit www.fifa.com/u20womensworldcup.

USL PRO Game Report

Friday, August 15, 2014

NEWARK, N.J. – The New York Red Bulls Reserves got a late goal by Marius Obekop to take a 1-0 victory against the Wilmington Hammerheads at Lubetkin Field on the campus of NJIT on Friday night. The loss was the Hammerheads' fourth in a row, and kept them in 10th place in the USL PRO standings.

In the final minute of regulation, Obekop raced onto a through-ball from Ruben Bover and into the box, cut inside past a defender, and hit a low, well-placed shot into the bottom left corner and past Wilmington keeper Brad Stuver. It was the forward’s lone shot of the match.

The Hammerheads, coming off three straight losses, started the match off in impressive fashion with several scoring opportunities. After the visitors enjoyed more possession in the opening 15 minutes, the remainder of the first half was evenly matched. New York’s Bover had two curling efforts just miss, one a free kick and the other a shot from distance.

The Red Bulls Reserves defense buckled down in the second half and allowed just three shots. At the hour mark, Bover received the ball at midfield, dribbled past two defenders and unleashed a through-ball that would be cleared away for a corner. On the resulting set piece, new Red Bulls signing Damien Perrinelle almost put his team ahead with a header over the far post.

The Red Bulls had two more close chances late in the match; one when 2014 second-round pick Eric Stevenson tried an audacious 50-yard effort with Stuver way off his line and the other on an 89th-minute Bover free kick from the top of the box that Stuver just parried away in time.

With the loss, the Hammerheads move to 6-6-8 but have several games in hand over those around them in the standings. The Red Bulls Reserves next host the Montreal Impact Reserves at Red Bull Training Facility on August 24. 

USL PRO Game Report

Friday, August 15, 2014

CHARLESTON, S.C. — Behind goals from Maikel Chang and Jose Cuevas, the Charleston Battery continued their playoff push with a 2-1 victory against the Rochester Rhinos on Friday night at Blackbaud Stadium in front of a crowd of 4,011. The victory moved the Battery past the Rhinos and into sixth place in the USL PRO standings as they extended their undefeated streak to seven games.

“These guys deserve all the credit, the players have really changed their tempo,” said Battery head coach Mike Anhaeuser. “They’ve done everything they need to do to put themselves in contention and if they keep it up, these guys will be a huge threat in the playoffs.”

Charleston scored its first goal of the game in the 26th minute on the foot of Chang. After a throw-in by midfielder Zach Prince found the head of midfielder Jarad van Schaik, Cuevas fired a shot that was stopped by Rochester keeper John McCarthy. Off the rebound, van Schaik slid the ball across the goal mouth to Chang. The Cuban midfielder shot and McCarthy thought he had made another save, but the referee ruled the ball had crossed the goal line.

Cuevas scored his third goal of the season on a penalty kick in the 41st minute to give the Battery a 2-0 lead going into halftime. Forward Dane Kelly won the penalty call when he was brought down in the area by a cluster of Rochester defenders. Cuevas stepped up calmly and blasted the ball into the left side of the goal before celebrating with a point to the Charleston badge on his jersey.

Rochester made a late push to salvage a point in the second half, but could only complete half of the comeback. After winning a corner in the 86th minute, the ball was played into the Battery penalty area and bounced around between multiple players right in front of goal. After a high bounce, Rochester forward JC Banks tried a bicycle kick from six yards out. Despite a slight mishit, Banks’ attempt slipped past Charleston keeper Odisnel Cooper to make the score 2-1.

Charleston would see out the victory, however, giving it back-to-back wins and moving Charleston a point behind the fifth-placed Harrisburg City Islanders with four games remaining in the regular season.

Charleston hits the road for its next two games, playing at OKC Energy FC on Sunday, Aug. 24, and at Sacramento Republic FC on Wednesday, Aug. 27, before returning home to play the Pittsburgh Riverhounds on Saturday, Aug. 30.

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

Friday, August 15, 2014

ORLANDO, Fla. – Orlando City SC (15-2-4, 49 points) is eagerly anticipating this weekend’s rematch with the Harrisburg City Islanders (9-8-6, 33 points) after suffering its second loss last Saturday. Kickoff is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. ET at the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex.

WATCH LIVE | TICKETS

Entering its final season in the USL PRO, Orlando knew it was a high-value target and would face the very best from each adversary, not only as defending champions, but as a team set to join MLS in 2015. As the Lions faced Harrisburg last weekend, Robbie Derschang was able to put Orlando behind before the halftime break, following the striker’s brace in the first half-hour.

Facing a daunting 3-0 deficit with less than 10 minutes remaining, midfielder Kevin Molino instilled life into the Purple & White as he recorded his league-leading 14th goal of the season, tying Richmond’s Matthew Delicate. Six minutes later, Giuseppe Gentile would score his first goal in Orlando colors, putting the Lions within one, but that was as close as they would come to the equalizer.

Looking ahead to Saturday’s fixture, City could not ask for a more opportune time to return to the City Beautiful and the confines of their home stadium for a rematch with Harrisburg that has Head Coach Adrian Heath’s squad seeking revenge.

Since the club’s inception, Orlando has only lost a total of three contests since 2011 at the Florida Citrus Bowl, and none at ESPN Wide World of Sports. The club also boasts an all-time record of 6-0-2 following a loss. Heath will also regain the services of midfielder Darwin Cerén and defender Luke Boden, who had to serve a one-game suspension for yellow card accumulation after anchoring City’s defense all season long.

For more information on Orlando City SC, 2015 MLS Season Tickets or tickets to the Club’s remaining USL PRO home games, visit www.OrlandoCitySC.com or call 855-ORL-CITY. Also, follow the latest Orlando City news and updates via Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube.

USL PRO Game Report

Saturday, August 16, 2014

RICHMOND, Va. – The Richmond Kickers battled the Dayton Dutch Lions to a 1-1 draw on Saturday night at City Stadium. A pair of free kicks on either side of the field saw the Kickers take the lead when George Davis IV converted one early in the second half, but Dayton defender Shintaro Harada leveled the score in identical fashion to steal a point on the road with 10 minutes to go.

The Kickers tested Dayton goalkeeper Matt Williams early when defender Shane Johnson served a long ball over the defense and found Shay Spitz at the top of the penalty area in the ninth minute. The crafty midfielder eluded defenders and sliced a shot from point-blank range across the goal mouth, but Williams extended to narrowly parry the ball from harm’s way. Forward Matthew Delicâte chased down the rebound, but Williams threw himself into the line of fire to deny the Kickers a second time.

Less than 10 minutes later, Kickers defender Alex Lee lofted a long ball into a crowded box and connected with Spitz, but his nod from the top of the six-yard box dipped just over the crossbar. Sascha Görres intercepted the resulting goal kick and delivered a sliding pass back to Spitz but his subsequent low driven ball curved just wide of the far post.

Just past the half-hour mark, the Kickers pressed again when Görres whipped a cross into the penalty area and found Delicâte in the air, but his marksman’s nod was blocked by a resolute Williams. The big forward battled for the rebound but collided with the right post as Dayton defender Matt Wiet flew onto the scene at the last second to put the ball wide.

The Dutch Lions retaliated two minutes later with their best chance of the first half when defender Taylor Bowlin served a long ball to Karamba Janneh at the right edge of the penalty area. The Dayton newcomer centered the ball for Cameron Vickers, who played it back to Sebastian Thuriere at the top of the penalty area. The midfielder’s shot deflected off a Kickers defender but Vickers latched onto the loose ball and rifled a laser shot that glanced inches over the woodwork.

With the halftime whistle looming, the Kickers nearly took the lead into the break when Spitz evaded his marker at the left edge of the penalty area and played a square ball to Delicâte. With his back to goal, he laid the ball off to an onrushing Davis at the top of the penalty area, and he blasted a low shot that rattled the upright.

Davis picked up where he left off after the restart as he drew a free kick after midfielder Samuel Asante danced through the penalty area and played it back to him at the top of the box only to be tripped up by Harada. Lining up the resulting free kick, he made no mistake when he unleashed a shot that tore through the defensive wall and straight to the upper-right corner to give the home side the lead in the 51st minute.

Dayton nearly pulled a goal back on the hour-mark as they earned a free kick deep in their own territory. Harada scooped up the quick restart and was off to the races, combining with Janneh to spring Vickers at the top of the penalty area, but his determined shot soared skyward.

The visitors’ persistence was rewarded and the Dutch Lions leveled the score, capitalizing on a free kick with 10 minutes remaining.  Thuriere drew the foul inches from the top of the penalty area, and Harada buried a low right-footed slicing shot just inside the left post.

In a last gasp effort to salvage three points, the Kickers saw their final chance rocket over the crossbar in stoppage time. Yeisley and a Dayton defender collided in the Kickers own half, which allowed Görres to pick up the loose ball and carry it through the midfield where he fed a square pass to second half substitute Tishan Hanley rounding the left side of the box. Faced with an open net, the Kickers forward launched a shot high from point blank range to settle for the draw.

The Kickers return to City Stadium on Saturday, August 23 to host Orlando City in the regular season home finale. Kickoff is set for 7 p.m. and tickets are on sale now at RichmondKickers.com.

USL PRO Game Report

Saturday, August 16, 2014

PEORIA, Ariz. – A strong second half by Arizona United Soccer Club gave the home side a much-needed 3-1 victory against the Pittsburgh Riverhounds on Saturday night at the Peoria Sports Complex. Jonathan Top recorded his fifth goal of the season on a beautifully chipped ball from the edge of the box, Jon Okafor recorded his fourth goal, and Brad Stisser hammered home his second goal. Arizona United SC is now tied for ninth in the USL PRO regular-season standings, and sit two points out of a playoff spot with three matches remaining.

United enjoyed a steady first half performance, but were denied a goal by Pittsburgh’s aggressive defense. Head coach Michael Dellorusso made one switch during the halftime break, and brought on Sam Garza for Matt Kassel.

The switch paid off in the 56th minute, when Garza sliced into the box from the right wing, and dribbled through two defenders. The ball took a unfortunate deflection forward, but Garza was able to stretch out his leg and fire a low shot for the far post. Goalkeeper Mike Lisch dove, and was just able to get a hand on the shot, but wasn’t able to clear it. Okafor reacted quickly, and tapped home the loose ball for the opening goal.

Five minutes later, pressure from Top forced a poor Pittsburgh pass to the goalkeeper that was then picked up by Top on the touchline. He dribbled back towards the field of play, stopped, and curled a beautiful shot over Lisch and into the right side-netting to double Arizona’s lead.

Stisser put the match on ice when he intercepted a Pittsburgh clearance in their own half. He dribbled up the middle of the pitch, pushed the ball to his right and placed a perfect shot into the far post.

In the dying minutes of the match, Pittsburgh pushed and cut away at Arizona United SC’s lead in the 87th minute on a cross-and-header from Rob Vincent to second half substitute Mackenzie Pridham.

Dellorusso gave Arizona native George Malki his professional debut when he brought him on the 90th minute. Malki, along with Paolo DelPiccolo helped Arizona United SC close out the match with the 3-1 victory.

Arizona United SC will now host OKC Energy FC on Friday, August 22 in the final home match at the Peoria Sports Complex this season. Kickoff is at 7:30 p.m. PT and tickets are available at arizonaunited.com/tickets or by calling (623) 594-9606.

USL PRO Game Report

Saturday, August 16, 2014

CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- The Charlotte Eagles got a pair of late goals by Zak Boggs as they took a 3-1 victory against the Rochester Rhinos on Satuday night at the Queens Sports Complex. Jorge Herrera gave the Eagles the lead, and Boggs notched his first before Onua Obasi pulled a goal back for the Rhinos, but Boggs added his second to wrap up a vital three points for the Eagles.

The contest opened evenly as both sides kept possession and created some quality chances. It looked as through Rochester would strike first when a Levi Houapeu cross in the 13th minute forced Charlotte goalkeeper Alec Kann into a one-handed punch to keep it out of Charlotte's net.

Right around the half-hour mark, an Eagles throw-in was handled in the Rochester penalty area by Kyle Hoffer, which resulted in an Eagles' penalty kick. Herrera took the kick and sent Rhinos goalkeeper Luis Soffner the wrong way to put the hosts up 1-0.

Kann continued to be a difference-maker in the game and made a number of big saves on some quality Rochester chances. JJ Greer's far post header, in the 64th minute, almost doubled the Eagles' lead, but it was cleared off the line by a Rochester defender.

Charlotte widened the gap in the 82nd minute when Ben Newnam took a through ball and Boggs just got a foot on it to push his shot just past the hands of Soffner to give the Eagles a 2-0 lead.

Two minutes later the Rhinos got on the board when they got a free kick and Johnny Mendoza swung in a dangerous ball to Obasi. Kann came out to challenge, but it went just over his hands to bring Rochester's deficit back to one.

The Eagles restored their two-goal lead when Boggs tallied his second of the night off a pass from Drew Yates that made the score 3-1 in the 89th minute. The assist was Yates' league-leading eighth of the season, and proved enough to move the Eagles into 10th place, two points behind the eighth-placed OKC Energy FC with four games remaining.

The Eagles will return to action at Queens Sports Complex on Wednesday, August 20th as the league-leaders Orlando City come to visit for the only time this season. Be sure to purchase your tickets at a discounted rate until Tuesday night at midnight at CharlotteEagles.com.

USL PRO GameReport

Saturday, August 16, 2014

OKLAHOMA CITY -- The LA Galaxy II handed Energy FC its third consecutive loss, as Los Dos took a 1-0 victory on Saturday night in front of a sellout crowd of 4,089 at Pribil Stadium. Daniel Steres' third goal of the season proved enough to move the Galaxy II into third position ahead of Sacramento Republic FC's visit to Orange County Blues FC on Sunday afternoon.

Steres' goal came in the 19th minute as the center back met an Andre Aurus corner kick in front of the Energy FC net and sent a first-time finish past OKC goalkeeper Samir Badr.

OKC, which remained in eighth position in the USL PRO standings with the defeat, had some late chances to even the score, but LA keeper Brian Perk recorded his second clean sheet of the season in just his third start with two saves. Badr also tallied two saves for OKC.

The Galaxy II were reduced to 10 men in the 90th minute when Bradley Diallo was shown his second yellow card, but Energy FC was unable to take advantage in second-half stoppage time as the Galaxy II held on to take victory.

With the win, the Galaxy II finished the season series against Energy FC with victories in all four contests. With the loss, Energy FC’s record fell to 8-11-5, while LA improved to 13-7-4.

Energy FC is back in action on Friday night when it travels to Peoria, Arizona for a 9:30 p.m. CT start against Arizona United SC.

USL PRO Game Report

Saturday, August 16, 2014

ORLANDO, Fla. – Orlando City SC clinched a home game in the opening round of the USL PRO Playoffs as Darwin Ceren struck twice in a 3-1 victory against the Harrisburg City Islanders in front of a sold-out crowd at the ESPN Wide World of Sports on Saturday night. Kevin Molino also scored for the Lions as he tied the USL PRO single-season goal-scoring record with his 15th goal of the season.

The action started quickly as Harrisburg’s Robbie Derschang was able to slip a shot past Orlando goalkeeper Miguel Gallardo for the game’s opening goal in the sixth minute. The Lions would get back on level terms two minutes later, however, as Cerén’s curling delivery from 40 yards away snuck into the far post.

Orlando then took the lead in the 19th minute as Molino and Corey Hertzog played a crafty 1-2 into the penalty area, where the Trinidadian finished the play by chipping it over oncoming Harrisburg goalkeeper Nick Noble. Molino's goal tied former Lion and current Sporting KC star Dom Dwyer and Jose Angulo of the Pittsburgh Riverhounds for the USL PRO single-season record, with six matches remaining.

Molino was humble when asked about tying the goal scoring record, “What’s most important for me is the team," he said. "If any records come after that, I will accept them but for now I just want to be focused on what we have to do to win the league.”

City created a number of opportunities throughout the game, forcing Noble to come up with a number of saves. However, as Head Coach Adrian Heath addressed, it was a well deserved win for the Lions.

“It would have been a travesty if we had not have taken all three points," Heath said. "We created a lot of chances and we played some really good football.

“If there’s one little thing I can pick at, it’s the fact that we didn’t take enough of the chances. At 2-1, there’s still a game on. The game is never won. You’re one mistake away from dropping a couple of points but fortunately Darwin got the third one and that saw us through.”

Cerén bagged his brace in the 89th minute after receiving a long pass that split two Harrisburg defenders and a diving Noble to secure the match for the Lions. 

The Lions now sit three points ahead of the Richmond Kickers at the top of the USL PRO standings. City is on the road for its next match as it travels to Charlotte to face the Eagles on Wednesday night.

W-League Feature

Sunday, August 17, 2014

Both the United States’ and Canada’s hopes of claiming the 2014 FIFA U20 Women’s World Cup came to an end in the quarterfinals as both sides were eliminated on Saturday night. The United States fell in agonizing fashion in a penalty shootout against North Korea, while the hosts were defeated 2-0 by an impressive German side.

The United States came flying out of the gate in Toronto against North Korea and took the lead in the sixth minute as former LA Blues forward Makenzy Doniak found the back of the net. Mallory Pugh created the chance with a surging run down the right, and her low cross found Doniak eight yards out. After her initial effort was blocked by a defender, Doniak regained possession and put home a low shot to make it 1-0.

After the United States’ strong start, however, North Korea was able to get back into the game. Jon So-Yon had a free kick hit the crossbar before halftime, while Jon Ryon-Hwa forced a good save from Katelyn Rowland to keep the U.S. ahead at the break.

North Korea pulled level in the 53rd minute from the penalty spot as a shot by Ri Un-Sim hit the arm of U.S. defender Stephanie Amick. Rowland came close to making the save as she got a hand to So-Yon’s shot, but the effort found the back of the net to make it 1-1.

Neither the U.S. nor North Korea were able to break the deadlock in the remainder of regulation or extra time, although the Colorado Rush’s Lindsey Horan went close with a volley from 25 yards, as the game went to a penalty shootout. Horan, Savannah Jordan and Rose Lavelle each had their penalties saved by Kim Chol-Ok in the opening three rounds, and North Korea converted three of its first four to advance to the semifinals.

Canada fought hard in front of a crowd of 22,421 fans at Edmonton’s Commonwealth Stadium, and almost opened the scoring in the ninth minute when Emma Fletcher’s shot from 25 yards rang off the crossbar. Germany took the lead in the 24th minute, however, as Pauline Bremer was able to run onto Lena Petermann flick-on at the halfway line, and then showed composure to finish as she was challenged by Toronto Lady Lynx goalkeeper Kailen Sheridan.

Germany doubled its advantage with eight minutes to go as Rebecca Knaak put home a strong header from an in-swinging corner from Sara Dabratz, which put Canada up against it to find a way back in. The Laval Comets’ Amandine Pierre-Louis came close to pulling a goal back in the closing stages, but the Germans closed out the victory and eliminated the hosts as they moved on.

USL PRO Game Report

Sunday, August 17, 2014

IRVINE, Calif. -- Sacramento Republic FC became the third side to clinch a place in the USL PRO Playoffs as it took a 6-1 victory against Orange County Blues FC on Sunday night at Anteater Stadium. Tommy Stewart had a second-half hat trick for the visitors, who moved back into third place in the USL PRO standings ahead of the LA Galaxy II with five games remaining in its inaugural regular season.

A lack of possession in the midfield for the Blues led to what seemed to be a continuous onslaught from Republic FC. Orange County needed to keep up the intensity because the season depended on it, but Sacramento outclassed them. Nemanja Vukovic opened the scoring in the 38th minute with a ferocious volley after Orange County goalkeeper Aaron Perez blocked four shots in succession by Republic FC, but the Blues were unable to clear their lines and the ball popped out for the 30-year-old to smash home his first goal of the season.

The Blues responded in the 48th minute as Allan Russell was taken down after a neat turn in the penalty area. The captain picked himself up and slid the resulting penalty kick past Dominik Jakubek, even though the Republic FC goalkeeper guessed right. It appeared to be game on, but two goals in two minutes put the game to bed.

First Mickey Daly finished a Max Alverez free kick after the Blues were unable to get the ball out of the box in the 54th minute. Two minutes later, the Blues were knocked to the canvas as Emrah Kilmenta crossed the ball for Alvarez to head back across goal for Adam Jahn to knock home his fifth goal of the season.

Stewart then entered the match in the 61st minute and recorded a hat-trick in the final half-hour. The former Shamrock Rovers forward struck in the 68th minute from a tight angle with a vicious effort that caught Perez off guard. Four minutes later, Stewart ghosted through the Blues' defense and smashed the ball beyond Perez into the right side of the net.

On the stroke of full time the 27-year-old completed his hat trick, with a carbon copy of his 72nd-minute strike. The goal took the Northern Irish forward to double digits on the season, and clinched a playoff spot for Sacramento. The defeat kept Orange County on the outside looking in at the top eight, with just three games remaining in the Blues' season. 

The Blues will be back at it next Saturday night at Anteater Stadium against Wilmington Hammerheads FC. Kickoff is slated for 7 p.m. PT.

With only three games remaining, now is the time to come out to Anteater Stadium if you haven’t already, as Orange County makes its final playoff push. For the best pricing on tickets, contact the Blues front office at (714) 738-8011 or email seats@bluessoccerclub.com.

W-League Feature

Monday, August 18, 2014

When the call came, it left former Vancouver Whitecaps Women standout Andrea Neil speechless.

“I was doing a radio interview last week, and I told them I was without words,” Neil said by phone recently. “That’s certainly the way it felt. The Whitecaps were so supportive of our club in the 2000s; it’s something you appreciate getting recognition for.”

Neil was named in April as one of four former Whitecaps to be inducted in the club’s Ring of Honour, established this year as the club celebrates its 40th anniversary. A stalwart for the Whitecaps in the W-League and the captain for championship seasons in 2004 and 2006, Neil was honored on August 10 at BC Place.

Bob Lenarduzzi, now the club’s President, was the first member to be inducted back in May, but prior to the announcement his persistence in trying to contact Neil to pass on the news of her selection threw the normally unflappable defender off. 

“To follow Bobby is an amazing thing, but when he approached me he was quite persistent in doing it and I wondered what was going on,” Neil said. “To get the chance to go in alongside him, and also Carl Valentine and Domenic Mobilio, was such a great honor.”

Already a member of the Canadian Soccer Hall of Fame, which she was inducted into in 2012, Neil was a key figure for the Whitecaps Women and the Canadian National Team. After an accident when she was 19 almost derailed both promising soccer and badminton careers, Neil focused full time on soccer upon her return to action and made 132 appearances for her country, scoring 24 goals.

She also shone for the Whitecaps Women.

“It was an incredibly important time,” Neil said. “The Whitecaps’ focus has moved to the youth side now, and they still have a great girls program, but in the 2000s the focus was just as much on helping build the [women’s] national team as it was the club’s team. They brought in quality players, and getting the chance to train every day was a springboard for us, even though the season was short.”

Neil first played for the Whitecaps Women in 2001, and three years later captained the side that claimed the club’s first W-League championship as it defeated the New Jersey Wildcats 4-2 in a penalty shootout after the teams had played to a 0-0 draw through regulation and extra time.

Two years later the Whitecaps claimed their second championship as a side that included Christine Sinclair, Sophie Schmitt and Tiffeny Milbrett defeated the Ottawa Fury 3-0 on home turf. Getting the chance to win in front of numerous friends and family, and more than 4,000 fans in attendance at Swangard Stadium, was a special experience for the Vancouver native.

“Those were really the peak years for women’s soccer, we were getting thousands of people to our games,” Neil said. “I still get stopped in the street by people who tell me they were there. It offered up an aspirational experience for youngsters to say they were seeing something special, and something special in their own back yard.”

The early 2000s were also a positive time for the Canadian Women’s National Team programs, with the U19 team finishing as runner-up in what is now the FIFA U20 Women’s World Cup, and the senior side reaching the semifinals of the 2003 Women’s World Cup the following year.

The support the national teams received during that era pales in comparison to now, however, with big crowds expected across the country as Canada hosts the FIFA Women’s World Cup next year.

“Now we’re seeing a level of support that is in caps block letters, much bigger than in the past,” Neil said. “People are just excited about good football, and they don’t make a distinction between the U17s, the U20s or the national team, men’s or women’s. They’re just like ‘did you see the Canada game,’ and that support is great to see.”

Neil is now doing what she can to help players follow in her footsteps. A former assistant coach for the Canadian Women’s National Team, Neil recently took on the head coaching position at the University of British Columbia, and is excited for the opportunity to work with some of the top collegiate players in Canada.

“It’s a great experience, a beautiful experience,” Neil said, “to take a program with a solid base and try to build it into what you can envision, and to also help Canada Soccer a little bit along the way.”

Jersey Express News Release -- www.jerseyexpresssoccer.org

Monday, August 18, 2014

NEWARK, N.J. -- Throughout its history, the Jersey Express have been one of the better teams within the PDL. While this year's squad might not have had the talent of its predecessors, the Express experienced unprecedented success this season.

This year, the Express won the PDL Mid Atlantic Division and the Eastern Conference Championship for the first time in team history. The Express' season came to an end when it fell 2-1 to the Michigan Bucks in the semifinals of the PDL Championship on August 1, but not before the side had taken the program to new heights.

"I think this year's team played more as a team," said Jersey Express general manager Gali Maimon. "We've had years before with much better talent, but this year they played together. It's a great tribute and all of the credit goes to the coaches."

For these reasons, head coach Jeff Matteo was selected as one of four finalists for the PDL's Coach of the Year award. Despite an ever-evolving lineup, which saw 32 different players see action this season, Matteo led the Express to a 10-1-3 mark in the regular season.

On the pitch, the Express were led by All-Eastern Conference selections Kouassi Sylvain N'guessan and Walter Hines. Hines, a versatile midfielder, led the team with 17 points this season. His five assists were a team-high and his six goals were the second most. The 5-foot-7, Costa Rican native scored the lone goal in Jersey's division-clinching victory against Baltimore on July 16. He also added a goal in the Eastern Conference Semifinals. N'guessan, who is from Cote d'Ivoire, anchored a strong Express defense, which allowed just 18 goals in 17 games and posted six shutouts.

Sayreville, N.J. native and former Rutgers standout Kene Eze overcame early injuries to become one of the league's elite scorers. Eze, who was held scoreless in his first six matches, finished with a team-high seven goals, all coming in the final four games of the regular season. Eze, who was selected by Toronto FC in this year's MLS SuperDraft, continued his torrid play in the postseason, scoring four goals in three playoff games, including the winning goal in Eastern Conference Championship final.

Hines and Christopher Karcz had six goals apiece, while Ansger Otto and Joseph Ovenseri each added five goals. Hines led the squad in assists with five, Conor Fitzpatrick had four assists while Noah Sadaoui, Andrew Tinari and Nicholas Viaggio added three assists each. Midfielder Juan Correa added a goal and two assists in the playoffs.

On the defensive end, N'guessan, Clint Caso, Christopher Lebo, Matthew Mahoney and Lamin Janneh were key contributors on the backline for the Express. Goalkeeper Matthew Turner had nine wins on the season and at one point, posted four consecutive shutouts.

Maimon knows that next year's squad will see plenty of new faces as the Express continue to produce players who are acquired to play at the next level of professional soccer. But regardless, of the changes that may be in store, the goals will remain high for the organization.

"Every year we strive for the same (goals)," Maimon said. "Our goals never change, we want to win everything."

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

Tuesday, August 19, 2014

SACRAMENTO, Calif. – Sacramento Republic FC announced they have signed midfielder Agustin Cazarez and forward Ismar Tandir prior to the USL PRO Roster Freeze Deadline, pending USL PRO and USSF approval.

The USL PRO Roster Freeze prevents teams from signing, trading or receiving loan players after the deadline. The deadline for the 2014 season passed at 2 p.m. PT on Tuesday afternoon.

Cazarez joins Republic FC after playing the 2014 USL PDL season with Ventura County Fusion. Cazarez appeared in 12 matchs for the Fusion scoring a goal. Cazarez also started and recorded an assist against Republic FC on May 14 during the 2014 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup.

Tandir returns to the United States after playing with French Ligue 1 side FC Sochaux last season. Tandir appeared in 19 matches for FC Sochaux’s B team scoring 11 goals. Prior to playing with FC Sochaux, Tandir played for the New York Red Bulls Academy. Tandir has also appeared in a combined 15 matches for the Bosnian-Herzegovina U-19 and U-21 National Teams.

In conjunction with the signings and USL PRO Roster Freeze, Republic FC also announced that Portland Timbers loan players George Fochive and Alvas Powell have been officially recalled.

The Republic FC roster will be frozen for the remainder of the 2014 USL PRO season.  View the full roster at SacRepublicFC.com.

USL PRO News Release 

Tuesday, August 19, 2014

TAMPA, Fla. – USL PRO named its Team of the Week for Week 22 of the 2014 season on Tuesday as Charleston Battery midfielder Jose Cuevas was named Player of the Week. Cuevas had two goals and added two assists as the Battery defeated both Orange County Blues FC and the Rochester Rhinos to move up to sixth place in the USL PRO standings last week.

The Battery opened Week 22 in ninth place, but behind an outstanding performance by Cuevas jumped past eighth-placed Orange County with a 3-2 victory. Cuevas provided the assists on both of fellow Team of the Week selection Dane Kelly’s goals, and also converted from the penalty spot to lead the Battery to victory. The 2012 USL PRO Rookie of the Year also struck from the penalty spot for what proved to be the game-winning goal in Charleston’s 2-1 win against Rochester on Saturday, as the Battery moved ahead of the Rhinos into sixth.

Another pair of teams had two players selected to the Team of the Week, with Orlando City SC’s midfield duo of Darwin Ceren and Kevin Molino both being named. Ceren had a pair of goals as the Lions defeated Harrisburg, while Molino’s finish in the 3-1 win moved him level with former Lion Dom Dwyer and Pittsburgh’s Jose Angulo for the single-season USL PRO goal-scoring record with 15 this season.

Arizona United SC also had a strong week, led by forward Jonathan Top and goalkeeper Evan Newton. Top scored in both of United’s victories, which moved the side within two points of the top eight, while Newton put in an outstanding eight-save performance to lead his side to a 2-1 win against OKC Energy FC on Thursday night.

Others selected included Sacramento Republic FC forward Tommy Stewart, who came off the bench to score the final three goals in his side’s 6-1 win against Orange County on Sunday, while Richmond’s George Davis IV scored on an outstanding free kick in the Kickers’ 1-1 draw with Dayton.

The Dutch Lions’ Shintaro Harada led the defensive group, as his goal earned Dayton a point in Richmond. He was joined by the LA Galaxy II’s Daniel Steres, who had the only goal in Los Dos’ 1-0 win against OKC, while Ben Newnam had a strong performance that was capped by an assist on Zak Boggs’ opening goal in a 3-1 win against Rochester.

The USL PRO season continues on Wednesday night as the Charlotte Eagles host Orlando City SC and Wilmington Hammerheads FC visits Sacramento Republic FC. Friday night brings a key clash in the race for the USL PRO Playoffs as Arizona United hosts OKC Energy FC, and then Saturday sees the top two teams in the league meet as the Richmond Kickers host Orlando City SC at City Stadium.

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: Sam Garza, Tyler Ruthven; Charleston: Colin Falvey, Justin Portillo; Charlotte: Zak Boggs, Jorge Herrera; Dayton: Matt Williams, Joe Broekhuizen; Harrisburg: Robbie Derschang, Leo Fernandes; LA Galaxy II: Bradford Jamieson IV, Oscar Sorto; Oklahoma City: Adda Djeziri, Dan Delgado; Orange County: Alex Martinez, Ju Seung Kim; Orlando: Luke Boden, Adama Mbengue; Pittsburgh: Mackenzie Pridham, Robert Vincent; Richmond: Matt Delicate, Shay Spitz; Rochester: Onua Obasi, JC Banks; Sacramento: Adam Jahn, Max Alvarez; Wilmington: Marc Godelman.

Richmond Kickers News Release -- www.richmondkickers.com

Wednesday, August 20, 2014

RICHMOND, Va. – The Richmond Kickers are pleased to announce the addition of defender Stephen Basso, prior to the USL PRO roster freeze deadline. He will be available for selection immediately.

“Stephen's signing is a timely addition,” said Leigh Cowlishaw, Richmond Kickers Director of Soccer. “He brings a winning mentality, extensive league experience and a strong desire to help us win a Championship.”

A stalwart on the back line, Basso made more than 60 appearances and amassed nearly 6,000 minutes in three seasons with the Harrisburg City Islanders, contributing to 20 shutouts while adding four goals. The Columbia, Md. native anchored the defensive unit that backstopped the club to the 2011 USL PRO Championship Game, and drew with Orlando City through regulation and overtime before narrowly conceding the title on penalties.

Prior to signing with Harrisburg in 2011, he saw playing time with the Real Maryland Monarchs and Crystal Palace Baltimore, where he made more than 40 appearances combined after spending the 2007-08 season with German side SV Darmstadt 98. Most recently, the former D.C. United youth player spent two seasons with the Rochester Lancers of the Major Indoor Soccer League (MISL), racking up 15 goals and 11 assists in 46 games.

The Kickers (13-1-10, 49 points) return to City Stadium this Saturday night to host league-leading Orlando City (16-2-4, 52 points). The top-of-the-table clash kicks off at 7 p.m. ET and gates open at 5:30 p.m. ET with live music from Common Wealth, RVA food trucks and craft beer on tap.  Join the Red Army in Section O for just $5 or get two tickets and two beers for $20 at RichmondKickers.com.

LA Galaxy II News Release -- www.lagalaxy.com

Wednesday, August 20, 2014

CARSON, Calif. – LA Galaxy II announced today that the club has signed forward Kainoa Bailey from German club Bayer 04 Leverkusen, and French defender Jason Bli on a free transfer. A 19-year-old American forward, Bailey joins Los Dos after signing his first professional contract with the German club last year. Bli, 20, joins the Galaxy II on a free transfer after spending the last season with L'Entente Sannois Saint-Gratien in France’s fourth tier of competition. Additionally, LA Galaxy II also announced on Wednesday that the club has released defender Eder Arreola.

“The addition of Kainoa Bailey to our roster brings a different dimension to our attack,” said LA Galaxy II head coach Curt Onalfo. “Kainoa is a young, talented player who is very fast in the attack and we are excited to strengthen our roster by bringing him to LA.”

“Jason is another great addition to our roster, and we are excited to see him join the team,” said Onalfo. “Bli is a skillful player and we are sure he will add great depth to our backline.”

“Finally, we want to thank Eder for his time with the club,” added Onalfo. “Eder was a hard worker and a good pro during his time with the Galaxy II, and we want to thank him for all of his efforts on and off the field. We wish him the best moving forward in his career.”

Bailey, a Nevada native, joined Bayer Leverkusen’s Under-23 team after signing a professional contract with the club last summer. Additionally, Bailey has past U.S. Soccer Development Academy ties. Before playing abroad, Bailey played for the Academy teams of two MLS clubs – D.C. United and Real Salt Lake.

On the international front, Bailey has represented the United States at the Under-20 level. Most recently, Bailey participated in a U.S. U-20 Men’s National Team training camp at North Carolina State University last May.

A product of the Paris Saint Germain and Atletico Madrid academies, French defender Bli spent the last season with L'Entente Sannois Saint-Gratien in France’s fourth division before joining Los Dos on a free transfer. Before the start of the USL PRO season earlier this year, Bli was on trial with the Galaxy II, playing at left back in the team’s inaugural match against the Fresno Fuego last February.  Before his stint with L'Entente SSG, the French defender spent a season with Paris FC, making 11 appearances for the third division French club.

Arreola, 22, made 11 appearances for the LA Galaxy II this season, playing 492 minutes for the club. Arreola signed with the Galaxy II before the start of the 2014 USL PRO campaign. Before joining Los Dos, Arreola spent the previous year with Mexican Liga de Ascenso side Delfines del Carmen. Drafted by the Houston Dynamo after starring for UCLA during four years, Arreola helped United States Adult Soccer Association club Cal FC reach the fourth round of the U.S. Open Cup in 2012.

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).

PDL Feature

Wednesday, August 20, 2014

How Ricardo Velazco came to play for FC Tucson was somewhat by chance.

“I didn’t really know much about it; I knew that they had started a new PDL team but I didn’t really know what the PDL was because I was playing in the Academy,” Velazco said by phone recently. “We had a scrimmage against them when I was playing with RSL [Arizona], and after the coaches asked what I was going to do in the summer prior to going to college, and I really had no plans, so they asked me if I wanted to go and play with them.”

Two years later, both the player and the club have greatly benefitted. Named the PDL’s Young Player of the Year earlier this month, Velazco had a standout summer as he led Tucson to its first division title and first postseason victory.

“It meant the world,” he said. “It was impressive, with all the fans coming out and the coaching staff was really amazing. It was a good summer for me to prepare to come to Louisville, and hopefully that leads to greater things here and going pro in the future.”

Earning the second PDL Young Player of the Year award was an impressive feather in Velazco’s cap, too. Nominated alongside Laredo Heat standout Yair Hernandez and the San Jose Earthquakes U-23’s Ramon Martin del Campo, a recent call-up to the U.S. U-23 National Team, Velazco’s seven goals and four assists earned him the votes to take victory.

“I really didn’t think much about it [early], I just wanted to have a great season and get results for the team,” Velazco said of the honor. “Once it got further into the season, coach started talking to me about hopefully trying to win an award, to work my butt off to win an award, and when it got to the end of the season I knew it was up for grabs, it was possible. To end up winning it, it was a great achievement, it was fantastic, but it was an even better achievement for FC Tucson, who had never won an award like that.”

Velazco made four appearances for Tucson at the end of the 2012 season, but then gained attention from a wider audience after a standout fall at Cal State San Bernardino that saw him earn All-CCAA First Team honors and its Freshman of the Year award.

That opened up the chance to transfer from the Division II school to one of the top men’s programs in the country, the University of Louisville. Each summer, though, the Arizona native has returned to Tucson to continue his development under the watchful eye of Rick Schantz and his staff, with the club’s attention to detail being the major reason why.

“The professional environment they created for me and for the other guys, it’s really professional,” Velazco said. “You go in, all of your equipment is ready for you before practice, you know what you’re going to do, you know it’s going to be a good training session, and that’s what really grabbed my attention.

“I know I want to go pro, and I wanted to go somewhere where I was going to be challenged, and the coaching staff challenged me every day. They would help me if I needed to stay after practice to work on individual stuff, so that’s really what got me there, the training sessions and how professional they were about everything.”

In its three seasons, Tucson has quickly found success thanks to this approach. The club earned a place in the postseason in two of its first three seasons in the PDL, but the best memory for Velazco is the club’s run to the third round of the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup last year.

“I think the U.S. Open Cup was the [most fun], it was really enjoyable, we had a lot of fun,” he said. “We had a big game versus Phoenix FC, and then we had the Scorpions, and then we went to go play against Houston. Houston finally put us out, but it was a good run, it was really enjoyable, and you got a taste of playing in front of professional fans.”

Velazco has hopes of turning professional next spring after he completes his junior season at Louisville. The Cardinals enter the ACC this fall, and with a beautiful new stadium to call their home, things are looking very positive for Ken Lolla’s No. 14-ranked side.

“The ACC is full of fast-paced, aggressive-going-forward teams,” Velazco said. “I think we can slow it down, keep possession and vice-versa, when we lose the ball we try to win it back as soon as possible. I think we have the right balance, and we have good guys this year, so hopefully it works out for us in the ACC.”

Things are also looking positive for the Louisville soccer community as a whole. In addition to its standout college men’s and women’s programs, the city is also home to its own PDL team in the River City Rovers, and starting next spring a new USL PRO franchise in Louisville City FC.

All in all, it’s a good time to be a soccer fan in the Derby City.

“The local community is getting very into soccer, especially right now getting done with the World Cup, but it’s going to be good for Louisville getting this USL PRO team,” Velazco said. “I know they come out to Louisville games a lot, the university games, hopefully they show the same love for Louisville City, I hope for the best for them.”

It’s also definitely a good time to be Velazco, who has big goals for this fall as he looks to make the jump to the professional ranks.

“It would mean the world to me,” Velazco said. “I want to leave early, so it’s all about having a great season here for Louisville to make sure I can make that jump if the opportunity is given. I’ve just got to play my game and hope for the best for the team. The farther you get, the more looks you get, so I’ve just got to play well.”

W-League Feature

Wednesday, August 20, 2014

TAMPA, Fla. – Top Drawer Soccer released its Top 100 Player Rankings for the upcoming 2014 women’s collegiate season this week, with current and former W-League players featured prominently in the list while claiming eight of the top 10 spots and 40 spots overall.

LA Blues defender Abby Dahlkemper, who helped the Blues take the 2013 and 2014 W-League titles, has moved from No. 14 a year ago to No. 2 on the list as she tries to lead UCLA to consecutive NCAA titles. She is one of eight players on the list who saw time with the 2014 W-League champs, including Championship MVP Sarah Killion (No. 3, UCLA) and Rachel Daly (No. 11, St. John’s). Overall, 13 different W-League teams had players named to the Top Drawer Top 100.

Checking in at No. 5 on the list is 2014 Ottawa Fury defender Kadeisha Buchanan of West Virginia University, an All-Central Conference selection in 2013 and a key performer for Canada at the ongoing FIFA U20 Women’s World Cup.  The No. 6 selection is Georgetown midfielder Daphne Corboz, a member of the Blues’ 2013 championship squad and one of 12 players overall from the Blues and LA Strikers, who merged operations this season.

The Toronto Lady Lynx are also well represented on the list with seven players featured, including No. 7 Sabrina D’Angelo from the University of South Carolina and No. 58 Kailen Sheridan, Canada’s goalkeeper at the U20 World Cup.

Rounding out the top 10 are No. 8 Makenzy Doniak of Virginia (2013 Pali Blues), No. 9 Jaelene Hinkle of Texas Tech (2013 Seattle Sounders Women) and No. 10 Savannah Jordan from the University of Florida (2013 Atlanta Silverbacks), a member of the U.S. squad at the U20 World Cup.

Other notable names in the Top 100 include U.S. U20 star Rose Lavelle of Wisconsin (No. 24, 2014 Dayton Dutch Lions), 2014 All-Central Conference selection Arin Gilliland of Kentucky (No. 14, 2014 Ottawa Fury) and Mallory Weber of Penn State (No. 48, 2014 Colorado Pride), a 2014 All-Western Conference selection.