Wilmington Hammerheads FC News Release -- www.wilmingtonhammerheads.com

Thursday, December 18, 2014

WILMINGTON, N.C. – Wilmington Hammerheads FC announced today the return of three players to their 2015 USL PRO regular season roster. The club has exercised options for Andrae Campbell, Drew Ruggles, and Marc Godelman to return for a second a season.

“I am elated to be back with the Hammerheads for 2015,” said Campbell. “The ambition of this wonderful organization is amazing and as a player you want to be a part of anything that will make you better as a player and as a person in general. I want to be a part of the coming success of this organization and I am excited about the 2015 season. I cannot wait to be back in front of the wonderful fans and the Port City Firm in particular.”

Campbell joined the Hammerheads following a one-year stint with Norwegian First Division’s Notodden FK. The defender began his international career representing Jamaica at the 2009 CONCACAF Championship for the FIFA U20 World Cup qualifiers. He also represented the Jamaica U23 National Team competing in Olympic qualifying in 2011.

“Andrae [Campbell] had some injuries that slowed his season down at the end of last year, but his qualities and experience make him a player we are very excited to have back and I know Andrae will be working and competing for a place in the team," said Wilmington Hammerheads FC Technical Director and Head Coach Carson Porter.

Godelman began his USL PRO career with the Hammerheads upon his return from TSV Germania Windeck of Oberliga Mittelrhein (Premier League of the Middle Rhine) in Germany.

“I am super excited and very happy to be returning to the Wilmington Hammerheads for the 2015 season,” said Godelman. “I love the team, the environment, and the amazing fans. With all the changes that happened at the end of the last season, I believe that we can win the USL PRO Championship and I am ready to help to achieve that. It is a privilege to be a part of a great organization and I cannot wait for the season to start.”

Prior to being signed to the squad during the final stretch of the season, the midfielder found minutes with the Hammerheads during an exhibition match against Major League Soccer’s Toronto FC in June, scoring the lone goal of the night for Wilmington.

“Marc [Godelman] is an attacking wide player that has great attacking qualities. We are excited to have him back,” said Porter.

Ruggles also made his USL PRO debut with the Hammerheads last season following his time in the PDL with the Michigan Bucks. The defender appeared in 21 matches during the 2014 USL PRO regular season, scoring one goal and tallying one assist.

“Drew [Ruggles] has a lot of the technical qualities we are looking for in a left sided player,” said Porter. “He finished the year strong and has the ability and potential to be an important player for us.” 

The addition of Campbell, Godelman, and Ruggles brings the Hammerheads’ current roster to 14 players for the upcoming season.

For more information regarding Wilmington Hammerheads FC or to purchase season tickets, please contact (910)777-2111 or visit www.wilmingtonhammerheads.com.

Southern West Virginia King's Warriors News Release -- www.wvkingswarriors.org

Thursday, December 18, 2014

BLUEFIELD, W.Va. – The Southern West Virginia King's  Warriors are pleased to announce today the appointment of John Miglarese as Head Coach for the 2015 season. The announcement is made today by Dr. James Blume, the President and Founder of the Nehemiah Group which serves as the ownership group of the King's Warriors.

Miglarese served as an assistant coach for the King's Warriors this past season, and this fall completed his second season as Head Coach for the NCAA Division II King University Tornado (Bristol, Tenn.).

Scott Reitnour, who served as Head Coach for Southern West Virginia in its first three seasons in the PDL, has stepped down to spend more time with his family and his North Carolina soccer ventures. Reitnour is the highly successful Head Soccer Coach of Wesleyan Christian Academy in High Point, N.C., where the Trojans have won three of the last four North Carolina Independent School Athletic Association State Championships.

"First I want to thank Scott Reitnour for all of his hard work and efforts in helping to launch our PDL franchise four years ago," said Blume. "It was Scott's initial desire to help begin the coaching, player personnel and ministry sides of the team for a few years, and then at some point turn the reigns over to another. We understand his desire to now spend more time with his family and his other coaching ventures in North Carolina. We are also delighted that Scott will remain with the team as a technical advisor, and we welcome his input in the future.

"The team grew in all phases the past three seasons under Scott's leadership, and I can't thank him enough for the blood, sweat and tears he has poured into the organization. He will always be a part of the King's Warriors family and I wish him well in all of his future endeavors.

"Now we welcome John Miglarese as the new coach for the King's Warriors in 2015. He was strongly recommended by Scott and I believe he will pick right up where Scott left off. John is very well-respected in the national soccer community. Under Scott's mentoring and as an assistant coach for us last season, John is well prepared for this new challenge."

In 2014 the King's Warriors coaching staff of Reitnour, Miglarese, Andrew Dailey and Paul Cox led Southern West Virginia to its best record since its inception in 2012, going 6-4-4 and finishing in a tie with the Cincinnati Dutch Lions for second place in the very competitive South Atlantic Division. 

The King's Warriors also were unbeaten at home at 4-0-3, and defeated the longtime-division powerhouse Carolina Dynamo for the first time in team history at home on June 28 by a score of 2-1.

"I am extremely honored and excited to be the new head coach for the Southern West Virginia King's Warriors," Miglarese said. "I am humbled that Dr. Blume and Scott Reitnour felt that I was the right man for the job, and Iam deeply grateful to both of them for their confidence in me.

"My goal as the coach is to keep the forward momentum of the franchise. We want to be in the U.S. Open Cup and we want to be in the playoffs. The organization has high expectations and I will do my best to establish the King's Warriors as a legitimate contender for the division championship and a deep run in the playoffs.

“As last season's first-team coach, I was able to familiarize myself with the league, our organization, and what the recipe for success in the PDL is. We were one goal away from being in the playoffs last year. I am really looking forward to next spring and summer.

"My intention is to develop a team that plays an attractive brand of soccer while displaying a very strong winning mentality. We want the community to respect who we are and how we play.

"However, that is not my primary reason for coming back. The Christ honoring, servant leadership culture in the team is truly special. The life-on-life opportunities and accountability our team culture provides allows for young men to be challenged in their world views, their character, and in their values. I saw lives change last summer through our dynamic house cultures and opportunities to serve the local community. I intend to build a team that honors the mission of the organization, which is to glorify God and serve others."

"I am thrilled with our decision to hire John Miglarese as the Head Coach for the 2015 campaign," Reitnour said. "John's character, leadership skills and coaching expertise will serve the club well, as the organization looks to move our franchise to a new level.

"John will accelerate the level of soccer excellence and player development in West Virginia, while simultaneously modeling and instilling Godly character traits into the men in his charge. Across all relevant soccer and sports-ministry metrics, John Miglarese is an exceptionally qualified mentor-coach. The Kings Warriors have chosen one of the most talented coaches in the country to lead the franchise forward."

In his first season at King University in 2013, Miglarese brought the Tornado back to the postseason, earning a Conference Carolinas Tournament berth a season after missing out. King went 3-5 in league play to earn the seventh seed in the conference tournament, drawing 15th-ranked Limestone College in the first round of the tournament. The Tornado dropped a narrow 1-0 decision on a goal in the 83rd minute. Zachary Clark and Ryan Murphy were both named second team All-Conference Carolinas while six players earned academic all-conference honors.

Miglarese joined King University after spending four seasons at John Brown University (Ark.), a member of the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) where he rebuilt the men's soccer program and was named Coach of the Year with the Golden Eagles. He brought with him a wealth of coaching experience at various levels of competition, including two stops with NCAA Division I programs.

Miglarese helped restore prominence at John Brown University in Siloam Springs, Ark. in just four seasons at the helm of the Golden Eagles. In 2012, Miglarese tied for most wins in a season in his tenure at JBU with 11. Behind the dual offensive threat of Eli Simonsen (7g, 2a) and Zari Prescod (6g, 4a) and strong goaltending from Pablo Garcia (.817, 89 saves), the Golden Eagles marched all the way to the Sooner Athletic Conference (SAC) title match and finished runners up following a loss in penalty kicks to Oklahoma Baptist.

In 2011, Miglarese was crowned SAC Coach of the Year following a third place finish by JBU behind a 5-3-2 conference record, the team's best SAC mark in his four-year stay. He led the team to a remarkable rebound, recovering from a 0-5 start to the season by winning or tying 10 of their next 12 matches.

In his first year with JBU in 2009, he created a three-match improvement from the previous season and helped the team to a top-4 finish in the SAC. Miglarese posted his second 10-plus win season the following year, finishing 11-8-1 overall and a winning conference record, and took the team to the SAC Tournament semi-final match. The Golden Eagles began gaining national recognition when the team received votes in the NAIA national rankings over the course of the year.

In his four seasons with John Brown University, Miglarese placed 12 student-athletes on the All-Conference team, including three last season alone. Prior to the start of the 2012 season, Golden Eagle Men's Soccer was one of seven JBU athletic teams named to the 2011-12 NAIA Scholar Team list for team academic success.

Prior to joining JBU, Miglarese spent four seasons at Covenant College (Lookout Mountain, Ga.) as head coach of the Scots. Covenant enjoyed its best season under Miglarese in 2007 when they finished the year 14-5-1 overall and went 5-1-1 in the Appalachian Athletic Conference (AAC). The Scots battled through the playoffs and were crowned conference champions, Region XII Champions, and sported a top-25 national ranking heading into the NAIA National Tournament. Following the success of the team, Miglarese was named AAC and Region XII Coach of the Year and was a candidate for NAIA National Coach of the Year.

In 2008, Miglarese once again took his team to the AAC Conference Tournament championship match where the Scots finished runners up behind a second straight 10-win season and a 4-2-0 conference record. Between the 2007 and 2008 seasons, the Scots combined for a 9-3-1 record in AAC play. In three of the four years he was head coach at Covenant, Miglarese's teams were awarded the Champions of Character Award (2006, '07, '08).

Miglarese began his coaching career as an intern assistant coach for the men's and women's soccer programs at nearby Milligan College following a four-year career as a player at NCAA DI Georgia Southern University. In 2000, he was a part of the Milligan coaching staff that was an AAC Tournament finalist and advanced to the Region XII tournament. In 2001, he rejoined his alma mater for his first Division I coaching stint with the Eagles. There Miglarese served as recruiting coordinator and goalkeeper trainer, helping GSU to a semifinal appearance at the Southern Conference Tournament.

He joined the Gardener-Webb University (Boiling Springs, N.C.) men's soccer staff as association head coach in 2003 where he spent two seasons with the Runnin' Bulldogs (NCAA DI). In 2003, Miglarese was a part of a staff that turned a winless program from the year prior into the Division I Most Improved Team behind a 10-9-0 overall ledger. In his time with G-W, he trained three-time All-Conference and former Major League Soccer goalkeeper, Tyler Kettering, of the Wilmington Hammerheads.

As a player Miglarese was a starter at Georgia Southern University (Statesboro, Ga.) where he was a goaltender and graduated fifth all-time in career saves (161). He is currently tied for eighth all-time for saves in a single game when he made 12 against VMI during his senior season. As a junior in 1997, Miglarese and the Eagles finished with the second-most wins in a single season (14) and were ranked 14th nationally by Soccer America. That year, Miglarese was part of a squad that tallied the fourth-most saves in a season (130) and had the second-highest single season win percentage (.750). In 1996, he was part of a GSU team that was a finalist in the SoCon Tournament.

The Charleston, S.C. native graduated from Georgia Southern in 2000 with a bachelor's degree in Sport Management. He returned to his alma mater and earned a master's degree in Sport Management in 2002 while serving as a graduate assistant.

Miglarese is certified by the NSCAA with his National Diploma, Advanced National Diploma, and Premiere Diploma. While residing in Arkansas, he also worked with the Arkansas Olympic Development program staff as a coach.

Reitnour took on the tough assignment of starting the King's Warriors team totally from scratch after being hired on January 1, 2012. Scott quickly assembled a solid coaching staff and led Southern West Virginia to a respectable 4-10-2 record for a first-year franchise in the tough South Atlantic Division. The King's Warriors were very competitive in almost every game. In 2012 seven of Southern West Virginia's 10 losses were by one goal.

In 2013 the PDL dropped to 14 regular-season games as the King's Warriors finished 4-10. The building of the foundation of the franchise continued and blossomed with last season's 6-4-4 record.

Austin Aztex News Release -- www.austinaztex.com

Thursday, December 18, 2014

AUSTIN, Texas — The Austin Aztex are pleased to announce the signing of the four newest additions to the 2015 roster which will compete in the team’s debut USL PRO season. The new signings include former Aztex PDL players Devin Perales and Max Gunderson as well as Brian Fekete, who holds a proven track record in USL PRO, and Brendan King, formerly with the Chicago Fire of MLS.

“I'm delighted to welcome these players to the club,” Aztex Head Coach Paul Dalglish said. “We are very proud of our style of play that we have developed over the past three years, of which Devin and Max have played a huge part. Brendan and Brian are new to the Aztex and both possess the on and off the field attributes that make an ideal Aztex player.”

Perales, a 21-year-old goalkeeper, has played a pivotal role for the Aztex PDL squad since 2012. He was the starting goalkeeper for the team starting in 2013, where he excelled and was nominated for PDL Goalkeeper of the Year. A hometown product from Stony Point High School, Perales was named to the 2014 All-Southern Conference Team after leading the PDL in minutes, posting a 0.793 goals-against average and finishing tied for the league lead with 11 wins. He also provided a boost on offense by recording three assists on the season. Perales was named team MVP as voted by his teammates at the conclusion of the 2014 season.

Gunderson, a 25-year-old right-back, was part of the Austin Aztex squad that brought the PDL National Championship to Austin in 2013. Gunderson, started at right back for the Aztex and was named to the 2013 PDL Southern All-Conference Team. After that run, he was signed by OKC Energy FC in USL PRO, where he spent their 2014 inaugural season totaling 11 appearances. Originally from Nevada, Gunderson played collegiate soccer with the University of Incarnate Word while also defending the backline of the Laredo Heat in the PDL.

Fekete, a 24-year-old left-back, adds to the backline of the Aztex by bringing additional USL PRO experience to the squad. He began his professional career with Orlando City Soccer Club before signing with the Pittsburgh Riverhounds in 2014, where he scored two goals during the season while playing at left back. Fekete was born in Florida, and he spent his collegiate soccer career playing for the University of Tampa.

King, a 24-year-old midfielder, joins the Aztex after spending 2013 with the Chicago Fire, where he featured 15 times for the club’s Reserve Team. An Illinois native, King was selected by the Portland Timbers in the second round (27th overall) of the 2012 MLS SuperDraft. In 2013, he also spent time gaining valuable experience in Norway and Ireland. Before turning pro, Brendan spent four years with collegiate side Notre Dame. There, King made more than 80 appearances notching team highs in goals and assists. The Aztex coaching staff spotted King during the Austin Aztex Invitational Tryout that took place at Kelly Reeves Athletics Complex during October 2014.

With these signings, the Austin Aztex have now announced eight players to the 2015 roster. The coaching staff continues their evaluation and assessment of numerous players on their way to assemble the best team possible for the Aztex USL PRO inaugural season.

Fans are still able to purchase Early Bird Season tickets for the 2015 season until December 31, 2014. Starting as low as $99, Early Bird Season tickets allow fans access to every home game at House Park for Austin’s professional soccer team.

Portland Timbers 2 News Release -- www.portlandtimbers.com

Thursday, December 18, 2014

PORTLAND, Ore. – The Portland Timbers 2 today named Jay Vidovich as the club’s first head coach for the 2015 USL PRO season. Vidovich will lead T2 after 21 seasons as head coach at Wake Forest University, where he has become one of the most successful coaches in NCAA history.

Vidovich, who also will serve as an assistant coach for the Portland Timbers first team, joins T2 as one of the most widely regarded soccer coaches at the collegiate level in the United States and an astute developer of talent. The 54-year-old, Detroit native has seen many of his players at Wake Forest advance to the professional ranks, including 11 first-round MLS SuperDraft selections since 2005. In total, 29 of Vidovich’s Wake Forest players have been selected by MLS clubs during the MLS SuperDraft since 2000, including U.S. Men’s National Team defenderMichael Parkhurst and longtime MLS mainstays Brian Carroll and James Riley. Recently, Vidovich has helped develop players that have made the jump to MLS including Sam Cronin, Ike Opara and former U.S. U-17 National Team captain Jared Watts.

“Signing a coach of Jay’s considerable caliber and pedigree is both reflective of our commitment to the T2 team and his desire to coach at a higher level,” said Gavin Wilkinson, general manager of the Timbers. “We view this as a major investment in the program and a vital step in the development of our young players coming through the club. Jay brings a wealth of knowledge and experience and is a tremendous addition to our coaching staff. While Jay’s primary responsibility is as head coach of the T2 team, he will work closely with Caleb Porter and implement the same style and system as the first team.”

Joining the Demon Deacons as an assistant coach in 1986, Vidovich accepted the role of head coach in 1994 and has built Wake Forest into an Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) soccer powerhouse. Under Vidovich’s guidance, Wake Forest reached the NCAA Tournament in 13 of the past 14 seasons and captured five ACC regular-season championships. The program made four consecutive NCAA College Cup appearances from 2006-2009 and won its first NCAA National Championship in 2007.

“I couldn't pass up the opportunity to join the Portland Timbers organization as it is evident across the entire organization and the fan base that the Timbers strive to be successful at all levels,” Vidovich said. “I will take great pride in leading T2 and helping the Timbers to achieve success.

“It has been an honor to lead the Wake Forest men’s soccer program for the last 21 years, and I am thankful for everyone who has made this a special experience for me.”

Vidovich, who was named NSCAA National Coach of the Year in consecutive seasons (2007, 2008), compiled a 272-121-50 (.670) overall record in 21 years as head coach at Wake Forest. He earned five ACC Coach of the Year Awards (2002, 2004, 2006, 2008, 2009), while also logging a 76-52-22 (.580) overall conference record. Outside of the Demon Deacons program, Vidovich also spent time as an assistant coach with the U.S. U-18 National Team in 2009 and as a scout for the U.S. U-23 National Team under Timbers head coach Caleb Porter.

“After having the opportunity to work with Jay for the national team program and coaching against him for many years in college, I can say without hesitation we have found the ideal fit to serve as our head coach of T2,” Porter said. “For the past two decades Jay has been able to win games while doing it in a way that is conducive for the development of his players for the professional level. This type of pedigree as a head coach and his overall vision of the game will allow Jay to lead T2 seamlessly while working cooperatively with the first team to benefit the club as a whole.

“I look forward to having him on our technical team and no doubt his appointment will be of immense benefit to the entire organization from top to bottom.”

As a player, Vidovich spent one season at Indiana University in 1978 before transferring to Ohio Wesleyan where he was a three-year starter and captained the team to the NCAA semifinals in 1982. Vidovich received a bachelor's degree in physical education from Ohio Wesleyan, before proceeding to the University of Denver where he earned a master's degree in sports sciences in 1983.

While at Denver, he began his coaching career as an assistant on the Pioneers' 1982 team that won the NAIA Division II district and regional championships. In 1983, Vidovich moved to Regis College as an assistant coach, helping guide a team that included two NAIA All-Americans. Prior to earning a job as an assistant at Wake Forest under head coach Walt Chyzowych in 1986, Vidovich returned to his alma mater, Ohio Wesleyan, as an assistant coach from 1984-1985.

Vidovich holds a USSF “A” license and a NSCAA Advanced National Diploma.

He and his wife, Julie, have two daughters, Zoe and Tess.

FC Miami City Champions News Release - www.fcmiamicity.com

Friday, December 19, 2014

MIAMI, Fla. - FC Miami City Champions announced today that Wagneau Eloi has been appointed Head Coach.

Eloi is a former Haitian international footballer, playing as a striker during his career. He is the co-founder and technical director of US Champions Soccer Academy and now head coach of FC Miami City Champions, the new PDL expansion franchise in the Miami, Florida metropolitan area.

“We are thrilled to have Wagneau Eloi as the head coach of FC Miami City Champions. He is an internationally renowned soccer player and leader who has proven his qualities of mentor throughout his career,” FC Miami City Champions Founder Ravy Truchot said.

Eloi moved to Paris, France during his early childhood, and upon his arrival he enrolled in the youth program at Red Star FC where he played for four seasons.

Eloi continued his training at the Paris Football Club before joining the Racing Club de Lens in 1991, where he played for four years and became a professional player for the first time. He then joined AS Nancy Lorraine, where he met his Roger Lemerre - a well-known French soccer coach - who became Eloi’s main coaching mentor.

Lemerre coached Eloi to his first professional championship title at the Military World Championships with the French club Joinville Battalion. Eloi returned to the Racing Club de Lens stronger than ever, and with his leadership, the team was able to win its first championship during the 1997-98 season.

In 1999, the President of AS Monaco FC invited Eloi to join his team. During his four year stint in Monaco, Eloi won numerous titles, before joining Guingamp in 2002, and later rejoining Lens for the third time. Late in his playing career, he moved to Belgium, where he played for both Roeselaere and La Louvière.

Upon his retirement, Eloi returned to his native country, Haiti, and on April 8, 2008, he was named the new head coach of the Haiti National Team, where he was in charge of preparing for 2010 World Cup Qualifying.

After coaching in Haiti, Eloi became co-founder & technical director of the US Champions Soccer Academy, before being named head coach of FC Miami City Champions in the PDL.

“I am sincerely honored to serve as Head Coach for the FC Miami City Champions” Eloi said. “I believe in the high potential of the team and I know we will achieve our goals – and beyond – as part of the PDL. I would like to thank Ravy Truchot and the FC Miami team for this amazing opportunity and for their trust.”

Important note: FC Miami City Champions will conduct tryouts on January 9, 17 and 18 at Kendall Soccer Park from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Austin Aztex News Release -- www.austinaztex.com

Monday, December 22, 2014

AUSTIN, Texas – Major League Soccer is coming to Austin as the Austin Aztex present the inaugural ATX Pro Challenge, a four team competition bracket. The tournament will be held Friday, February 13 through Sunday, February 15, 2015 at University of Texas at Austin’s Mike A. Myers Stadium and will feature three MLS teams.

This marks the first time at least three MLS squads will visit Austin to participate in a tournament.

“We are on a mission to turn Austin into a soccer city and why not kick off the Austin Aztex preseason big by hosting three top MLS clubs in its inaugural tournament,” said Aztex CEO Rene van de Zande. “This is a great opportunity for Austin to witness four high-level soccer games over the course of three days in the heart of the city. We hope that many fans will come out and see their own Austin Aztex compete with the best of the best in U.S. soccer. ”

D.C. United, Columbus Crew SC, and FC Dallas will join USL PRO’s Austin Aztex in a four-team, single elimination tournament. On Friday, Crew SC and FC Dallas will play in the first semifinal followed by the hometown Aztex making their professional debut versus D.C. United in the second semifinal. Sunday will feature both consolation and championship matches.

Austin Aztex Present: ATX Pro Challenge
Mike A. Myers Stadium
Friday, February 13
Columbus Crew SC vs. FC Dallas, 5:45 p.m. CT
Austin Aztex vs. D.C. United, 8 p.m. CT

Sunday, February 15
Third-place Game, 1 p.m. CT
Championship Game, 3:15 p.m. CT

General Admission tickets for the ATX Pro Challenge start as low as $20 for a Friday Pass, $30 for a Sunday Pass, or $40 for the full, four game Weekend Pass. Tickets for the ATX Showdown will go on sale on Friday, January 9 and can be purchased online at www.TexasSports.com or through Texas Box Office.

“This tournament is a bold testimony to our commitment—to bring the highest levels of soccer to Central Texas,” said Aztex Board Member Bobby Epstein. “February 13 will introduce the professional Aztex to the community and will introduce the community to the largest major league competition ever to contend in our area.”

Columbus Crew SC will travel to Austin for the first time since announcing its affiliation agreement with the Aztex in November. Evolving to Columbus Crew SC (Soccer Club) in 2015 ahead of the organization’s 20th season, Crew SC is Ohio’s Major League Soccer club. Owned and operated by Precourt Sports Ventures (PSV), and the League’s first club, it won its first MLS Cup championship in 2008, and has also won the 2002 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup and MLS Supporters’ Shield titles in 2004, 2008 and 2009. 2014 is the Crew’s 16th season at first-of-its-kind Crew Stadium, the first topflight soccer-specific facility built in the United States.

FC Dallas is owned and operated by Hunt Sports Group. The professional team plays from March to November at Toyota Stadium in Frisco, Texas. One of the first soccer-specific stadiums built in the United States, the venue plays host to Major League Soccer matches, concerts, international soccer matches and high school football. The 145-acre Toyota Soccer Center also includes 17 regulation-sized, tournament-grade soccer fields and is also home to the organization’s nationally-renowned youth development system.

D.C. United one of the most successful professional soccer organizations in the history of the United States. United is four-time MLS Cup Champions (1996, 1997, 1999 and 2004) and winners of the 1996, 2008 and 2013 U.S. Open Cup, the 1998 CONCACAF Champions Cup, the 1998 Interamerican Cup and the 1997, 1999, 2006 and 2007 MLS Supporters Shield.

PDL Feature

Monday, December 22, 2014

TAMPA, Fla. - Top-level soccer has been in and out of Calgary, Alberta during recent decades, but the city’s soccer prospects received a significant boost when longtime youth soccer power Calgary Foothills Soccer Club announced it would be creating a team to compete in the PDL for the 2015 season.

Foothills has been a constant in the Alberta soccer scene, dating back to its origins as a youth club in 1972. The club boasts impressive participation numbers – more than 2,500 local youths are enrolled in their program – and is aiming to build on to that success with the addition of the PDL side.

Foothills Technical Director Tommy Wheeldon is a longtime member of the Calgary soccer community, having played for the Calgary Storm in USL PRO’s predecessor, the A-League, 10 years ago. The veteran of the English Football League is excited to bring the game back to the region at a high level.

“We’re starved of soccer in terms of the high-profile game, and our ambition was always to bring it back to Calgary,” Wheeldon said. “We last had it in 2004, so we’ve had a 10-year absence of high-level soccer, and we’re proud to bring that back to the community.”

Foothills has been preparing for the move to PDL for some time, and played an exhibition season with a U-23 squad last summer to get acclimated to the level of soccer and the demands on the squad and club staff. Wheeldon believes the PDL side will offer an excellent opportunity to further develop top young players at the club.

“Absolutely, they’re going to be an extension of our pyramid,” he said. “We’ve changed our model slightly from the previous teams that were in Calgary. We’ve built from the ground up, so we’ve developed the grassroots, we’ve developed the 10s [age group], 12s, and all the way up to the 18s, when we’ve then started graduating them on to colleges. And now we’ve got a big player depth pool, and we want to add that extra layer to our pyramid, so a PDL franchise fits our bill perfectly.”

The Calgary club already has an excellent track record for using its program to develop top players, with notable alumni including former Barclays Premier League standout Owen Hargreaves and ex-captain of the Canadian national team, Kevin McKenna. In recent years, the club has developed current Vancouver Whitecaps FC defender Sam Adekugbe and the highly-touted Whitecaps Residency prospect Mitch Piraux.

“We’ve felt as we have another platform to play in, we can start plugging in 16-, 17-, 18-year-olds now,” Wheeldon said. “Give them the [experience] of playing in a high-level league and expose them to a broader audience, and then they’re ready for their next move. Absolutely, that’s what we want to do. That’s our mission.”

The Canadian Soccer Association has also pledged support for the move with Canada U-20 coach Robert Gale reaching out to Wheeldon on Twitter following the formal announcement. Wheeldon himself is an assistant on the U-17 Canadian National Team, and believes that adding a seventh Canadian PDL club to the existing three USL PRO and MLS clubs will only improve the Canadians’ prospects in international play.

“Our mandate is to try to produce homegrown players,” Wheeldon said. “We will, of course, welcome outside players of good caliber that will make a difference for us, but our premise is we want to develop homegrown players and be a talent pool for, and hold that flagship in Canada.”

As for the club’s overall ambition, Wheeldon isn’t necessarily done with taking the club forward.

“Our success on the PDL front will then determine where we go next,” he said. “Our ambition is to go to USL PRO and we’d like to do that in a three-to-five-year window. If we now start to draw fans and start to produce players and get the attention that we believe it will, then that is our next step.”

USL PRO Feature

Monday, December 22, 2014

BRADENTON, Fla. – Sitting in the clubhouse at IMG Academy during a break from this month’s U.S. U20 Men’s National Team fitness camp, the LA Galaxy II’s Bradford Jamieson IV took a moment to reflect.

“It’s definitely been, obviously, a change in my life,” he said. “Day to day, things have been changing, all the little things that are so different to how it was 12 months ago, but really, a lot of things have changed for the better. I’m starting to adjust to this lifestyle a lot better, and I’m happy overall.”

Certainly, there’s a lot to reflect on. There was signing as a Homegrown Player with the Galaxy last February, making his professional debut for the Galaxy II in the club’s inaugural contest in USL PRO, his first professional goal for Los Dos, and his first MLS appearance and assist against Sporting Kansas City.

Add on top of that, regular call-ups to the U20 National Team and a potential berth in the squad for next month’s CONCACAF U20 Championship, with the FIFA U20 World Cup in sight, there’s been a lot to take in.

And yet, the youngster who turned 18 in October appears to have taken it all in stride. A nominee for Rookie of the Year in USL PRO after scoring six goals, the latest prodigy to emerge from the Galaxy Academy appears appreciative of what his first season as a professional has brought.

“It’s definitely something I learned a lot from,” Jamieson said. “A lot of things that have never happened before, and things that I’ve never seen before, have happened this year, and I will definitely be a lot better from that stuff coming into next season.”

The thing Jamieson might be most appreciative of? That the Galaxy II exist. The establishment of the first USL PRO club to be owned and operated by an MLS club was, according to Jamieson, an important factor in his decision to sign with the team this past offseason.

“It definitely pushed me toward signing with the Galaxy a lot more,” he said. “Getting games is something that was a big part of what signing with the Galaxy was going to be, and where I was going to go. I needed to go somewhere where I would get games and where I would be able to develop as quickly as possible.”

It also allowed him to play alongside a number of familiar faces, as fellow Homegrown Players Raul Mendiola, Jack McBean and Oscar Sorto all featured prominently for the side in 2014. Combined, the quartet appeared in 92 regular season and postseason contests, racking up more than 6,000 minutes of action in the process.

While the side regularly saw changes week to week, the chemistry and continuity the quartet was able to build alongside Galaxy II regulars such as Andre Auras, Daniel Steres and Rafael Garcia helped the side achieve a successful first season.

“It was great, and you can see off the field and on the field we were building relationships very well,” Jamieson said. “I think all four of us have made strides forward for our game, and you can definitely give credit to Los Dos for that.”

The strides taken by Jamieson were evident as the season went on, as he became more aware and more defensively responsible. The biggest moment of his season, however, came against OKC Energy FC on May 25, when he scored the first two goals of his career. Both excellent finishes, the goals provided a breakthrough for the young forward.

“That was a huge moment,” Jamieson said. “Not only had I been making strides forward about doing better defensively, but it had an impact with me doing well offensively. I had been getting assists, and I had been intercepting plays and making plays, but now I needed to start scoring goals and having more end product, and once I scored those first two goals it really kind of lit up.”

2015 promises more of those moments for Jamieson, who will aim to establish himself in the Galaxy’s game-day squad on a more frequent basis, and earn consistent minutes in Major League Soccer while also continuing to help Los Dos in USL PRO.

His biggest opportunity next year, though, may come internationally, with his next goal being one of the players in Tab Ramos’ squad for next month’s CONCACAF U20 Championship in Jamaica. A former U17 international, getting the chance to continue his progress in the national team program has been an exciting addition to his duties for the Galaxy II.

“The first one I was at was in Argentina, and that was an eye-opener because I hadn’t been with the national team since I was in the U17 cycle,” Jamieson said. “Being back here again, being back in the groove, because it’s obviously a whole ‘nother level. It’s kind of like you’re scratching the roof, and you’re almost there, and then it’s a whole different [level] when you’re up with the national team. With the qualifiers around the corner, definitely every camp and every day is very important.”

The day-in and day-out work of a professional athlete might have been the biggest adjustment facing Jamieson in his first year. With the Galaxy being joined in USL PRO by a number of MLS clubs establishing their owns second teams, the attitude the next crop of rookies brings to the table will be key as they look to launch their professional careers in the manner that Jamieson did.

“A lot of players want to come out of the academy and they think that so many things are just granted,” Jamieson said. “They think that, ‘I’m going to go play with this team, and I don’t need a stepping-stone before I get up there’, and the USL now, especially as more teams are getting second teams, it’s a great place for young players to have that gap between the academy and the first team.”

Having bridged that gap successfully, the future now appears bright for Jamieson as he builds for the future. If his cameo appearance against Sporting Kansas City last July was anything to go by, the kid who grew up watching the Galaxy from the stands will soon become a fixture on the field at StubHub Center.

Charleston Battery News Release -- www.charlestonbattery.com

Monday, December 22, 2014

CHARLESTON, S.C. – The Charleston Battery of USL PRO will affiliate with the Houston Dynamo of Major League Soccer in a one-year deal for the 2015 season, the clubs announced Monday.

The arrangement is unique in that both clubs were affiliated with other teams in 2014, and Houston is pursuing plans to launch its own USL PRO club before the 2016 season.

Affiliation deals commit MLS clubs to loan at least four players from their first-team roster to their USL PRO partner.

Top-league participation in USL PRO -- either via affiliation or by an MLS team creating its own USL PRO club -- becomes mandatory with the start of the 2015 season and the demise of the old MLS Reserve League. But not all USL PRO teams will have an MLS affiliate.

Battery President Andrew Bell said Battery officials spoke to several MLS clubs and weighed not seeking an affiliate. His discussions with Houston ultimately convinced him both clubs would benefit from a one-year deal. The Dynamo, who return to Charleston in February for a third consecutive and sixth all-time appearance in the Carolina Challenge Cup, have been one of the league's most successful clubs.

“We’ve had a great relationship with the Dynamo since their inception and have played them multiple times in preseason and in the US Open Cup,” Bell said. “They do things the right way and have got a great management structure in place.”

Houston won two MLS Cup championships and four conference championships in its first nine seasons of play and has qualified to represent the United States in international competition six times. The team began play in 2006 when the staff and roster of the original San Jose Earthquakes -- including former head coach Dom Kinnear -- relocated to Houston.

Kinnear resigned from the Dynamo in October to return to the Earthquakes, making way for the club to hire former English Premier League manager Owen Coyle as his replacement. Coyle brought then-EPL side Bolton Wanderers to Charleston's Blackbuad Stadium in July 2010 for a friendly against the Battery.

Matt Jordan, Houston's vice president and general manager, said his club was pleased with the outcome. "(Charleston Battery) are one of the most respected clubs in USL with a proven track record of success and professionalism. We feel this affiliation will provide our players the opportunity to grow in a quality environment, with a staff that is very dedicated.”

The MLS mandate is driving an unprecedented off-season expansion in USL PRO, which has grown from 14 teams in 2014 to more than 20 in 2015. Seven of the league's clubs are now owned by MLS franchises, up from one club in 2014. An eighth club, MLS expansion side and former USL PRO team Orlando City S.C., sold its USL PRO rights to a new ownership group in Louisville, Ky.

The offseason shuffle leaves eight USL PRO clubs (Pittsburgh Riverhounds, Wilmington Hammerheads, Arizona United, Orange County Blues and expansion franchises St. Louis F.C., Austin Aztecs, Colorado Springs Switchbacks and Tulsa Roughnecks) at least momentarily without MLS affiliates, while five MLS teams have yet to announce their plans.

Bell signed the Battery's first affiliation deal in December 2013, linking the club to the Vancouver Whitecaps. Both clubs initially viewed the one-year deal as the beginning of a long-term relationship. But the Whitecaps began investigating the option of starting their own USL PRO team in Canada before the season ended and elected to go that route in September.

“The partnership with Vancouver was great, but I think we were probably both a bit naive about how much impact the distance and the international transfer restrictions would have on the success of the affiliation,” Bell said. “It’s a shame, really, because from the ownership down we have great respect and friendship with the club.”

Houston's first affiliation lacked the complexities of an international border, but suffered from the same issues of distance. The Dynamo sent five players to Pittsburgh in 2014, but signaled this fall that the team was interested in creating its own lower-division team. The club is investigating a deal that would place its USL PRO team in McAllen, Texas -- a border town 350 miles south of Houston.

Real Monarchs News Release -- www.realmonarchs.com

Wednesday, December 23, 2014

SANDY, Utah – Real Monarchs announced on Tuesday that former RSL-Arizona Academy coach Freddy Juarez will be the USL Pro club’s inaugural head coach, as appointed by recently-named Real Salt Lake Technical Director Craig Waibel. Juarez will be joined on his coaching staff by David “Bingy” Lara.

Juarez makes the move to the professional ranks after four seasons coaching the RSL-Arizona Academy. There, he coached the U-16 team to its first U-16 USSDA National Championship in the 2012-13 season.

“We are excited to have Freddy and David join our coaching staff,” Real Monarchs President Rob Zarkos said. “Freddy has been integral in developing current RSL players and we look forward to continued excellence in his role as head coach of the Monarchs.”

With the Casa Grande, Arizona-based team, Juarez guided and developed more than 70 players who later moved onto the collegiate and professional ranks. During his tenure, both the U-18 and U-16 teams reached the USSDA playoff every year since the inception of the soccer academy in 2010. That included a third-place finish for the U-16 team in 2010-11 and the national championship in 2012-13. During his tenure, he developed future RSL signings Sebastian Saucedo, Justen Glad and Jordan Allen, as well as players that succeeded at the college level like Phanuel Kavita – a four-year starter at Clemson – and 2014 NCAA champion Riggs Lennon.

“Freddy has done a great job developing young players in Arizona and we are confident that he will continue to do that in our organization at the USL level,” Waibel said. “We look forward to working closely with him as we launch the Monarchs.”

Along with his work in Arizona, Juarez also completed a 16-month long course for Major League Soccer representatives in conjunction with the French Football Federation to earn his Elite Formation Coaching License.

Juarez, 36, played professionally for the El Paso Patriots from 1998-2003 and the Minnesota Thunder from 2004-2007 in the USL A-League and USL First Division. Juarez helped the Patriots earn four postseason berths and in the process he was named the club’s Defensive Player of the Year twice. While with the Thunder, Juarez helped the team earn two postseason appearances in three seasons and reached the quarterfinal of the U.S. Open Cup. In total, he played in over 200 matches in the A-League and was called to participate in U.S. National Team camp in 2005. In addition, he played the 1999-2000 season with the Wichita Wings and for the U.S. National Futsal Team in 2007.

He will be joined on the coaching staff by Lara, who spent the last four seasons as an assistant coach for the women’s soccer team at Morehead State University in Kentucky. Lara, 28, also coached two years with the University of Kentucky men's soccer program where he played from 2005-08.

Real Monarchs will open their inaugural USL Pro season in March, 2015, in Sandy, Utah. Season ticket packages for the inaugural season, which start at just $112 for lower bowl seating, allow extraordinary access to Rio Tinto Stadium, home of Major League Soccer's Real Salt Lake, the Monarch's parent club. For ticketing, visit www.RealMonarchs.com.

USL PRO Feature

Monday, December 29, 2014

What began as a series of minor affiliation agreements continued to evolve into a fully-formed pyramid of top-level North American soccer in 2014, as USL PRO and MLS reached official partnership agreements, bringing the two leagues closer together than ever.

USL PRO clubs benefited from a fresh crop of talented players, as MLS looked to increase playing opportunities for young players and returning veterans. Many MLS clubs formed direct affiliations with USL PRO sides, and the LA Galaxy became the first MLS club to establish its own team in USL PRO as the LA Galaxy II took the field for the 2014 season.

READ MORE: Jamieson IV on his growth with Galaxy II

The partnership continues to expand and grow stronger as all MLS clubs are expected to have either an affiliation agreement, or their own independently-operated team in USL PRO for 2015.

The Galaxy won its fifth MLS Cup title in 2014, and a number of competing MLS clubs have decided to follow the club’s model and field their own USL PRO teams next season. Montreal, Portland, Seattle, Salt Lake, Toronto, and Vancouver are also creating their own teams in 2015, with other affiliation agreements in place across the league.

Orlando City SC became one of the first clubs in USL PRO to take full advantage of an affiliation agreement when the club partnered with Sporting Kansas City in 2013, and now that the Lions are set to begin play in MLS, they will be forging their own partnership with USL PRO expansion side Louisville City FC.

With the leagues working together, fans of the beautiful game are the biggest beneficiary, with more soccer and better players on display across the U.S. and Canada.

Top 5 USL PRO storylines of 2015:

No. 5: Orlando City begins new era as former Lion Dwyer excels in MLS
No. 4: USL PRO clubs help stoke U.S. World Cup fever
No. 3: USL PRO and MLS continue to expand partnership
No. 2: Announced Tuesday, December 30, 2014
No. 1: Announced Wednesday, December 31, 2014

Seattle Sounders Women News Release - www.sounderswomen.com

Monday, December 29, 2014

SEATTLE, Wash. - The Seattle Sounders Women are proud to announce that Hubert Busby will return as the head coach for the Sounders Women in 2015.  Busby has had great success in developing players for the next level and his 2014 Sounders Women team finished with a 7-4-1 record, just behind the Colorado Pride and eventual W-League champion the LA Blues in the Western Conference. 

Busby’s squad, along with the Sounders U23 PDL team, will work with Washington Youth Soccer to further the soccer development footprint in Washington State.

"The game of soccer continues to grow throughout the State of Washington. The Sounders Women organization will continue to provide a pathway for players to reach their full potential in the sport," Busby said. "I'm excited to work with community clubs, Washington Youth Soccer, and the Seattle Reign to make this happen. With the Women's World Cup months away, it will be another thrilling summer of soccer.”

As the Landscape of soccer evolves, Busby and the Sounders Women will work to give players the developmental opportunity to further their dreams through youth, college, semi-professional, and professional soccer. 

“Hubie represents a mainstay in the women’s game and we are happy to have him back leading our team," Co-Owner Cliff McElroy said.  "With the opportunity to identify and develop players from the youth level through the professional team here in Seattle, Hubie is the right guy to lead our young players.”

The Sounders Women will open pre-season in April.  Stay tuned for announcements as we head into 2015.

USL PRO Feature

Tuesday, December 30, 2014

As the game continues to grow in North America and the pyramid of competition comes into focus, USL PRO has become an increasingly popular destination for those looking to get into the professional soccer business.

The 2014 season saw the introduction of four new clubs to USL PRO: Arizona United SC, Oklahoma City Energy FC, Sacramento Republic FC and LA Galaxy II. Following the success of these teams on and off the field, a number of additional markets are joining the league in 2015, with both MLS clubs and independent organizations climbing aboard.

With 12 new clubs set to begin play, league membership has risen to more than 20 teams. The Austin Aztex are moving from the PDL to USL PRO in 2015, while the Charlotte Independence are taking the reins from the Charlotte Eagles in the Queen City. Other new clubs include Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC, Louisville City SC, Saint Louis FC and Tulsa Roughnecks FC.

(Read More: Louisville City FC aim to hit the ground running)

MLS clubs will also be joining the Galaxy II with their own sides beginning play in USL PRO next year. FC Montreal (Montreal Impact), Real Monarchs (Real Salt Lake), Portland Timbers 2, Seattle Sounders FC 2, Vancouver Whitecaps FC 2, and Toronto are also confirmed as participants for 2015, adding an extra injection of talent into the league.

As the league continues to expand its footprint across North America, the number of professional opportunities for soccer players in the U.S. and Canada will only increase. The unprecedented growth of the league leads it to its most anticipated campaign ever in 2015.

Top 5 USL PRO storylines of 2015:
No. 5: Orlando City begins new era as former Lion Dwyer excels in MLS
No. 4: USL PRO clubs help stoke U.S. World Cup fever
No. 3: USL PRO and MLS continue to expand partnership
No. 2: Expansion, expansion, expansion: USL PRO membership explodes
No. 1: Announced Wednesday, December 31, 2014

USL PRO Feature

Tuesday, December 30, 2014

CLEARWATER BEACH, Fla. – When USL PRO’s Board of Governors first came together, a plan was set in place that would boost the league’s teams and provide an attractive platform for players, coaches and clubs to reach their potential and provide a pathway for success.

As the league prepares to begin its fifth season, those who have been part of the evolution of the league are delighted with its current direction, and what the future is set to bring.

“The Kickers have always been a strong advocate of the current vision that’s being implemented by the league,” said Richmond Kickers head coach Leigh Cowlishaw. “Having been involved for 20 years this is clearly a very positive time for USL PRO and what’s even more exciting is that it’s just beginning.”

Cowlishaw’s side has remained among the most consistent in the league, helped in part by its affiliation with D.C. United. Alongside fellow historic clubs like the Charleston Battery and Rochester Rhinos, Richmond represents the old guard of USL franchises, with Rochester set to join its counterparts as it celebrates its 20th season in 2015.

While their longevity is testament to the manner in which the clubs have operated on and off the field, the historic clubs have also been strongly in the foreground when it has come to the league’s evolution in recent years. Battery President Andrew Bell, speaking with the club’s website following the Battery’s recent affiliation with the Houston Dynamo, stands in the same camp as Cowlishaw.

“I think philosophically as a club we are supportive of the affiliation concept,” Bell said. “It’s something we had advocated for going all the way back to the early 2000s. Selfishly you hope that the players that come from Houston will help us achieve more success in the competitions we participate in.”

Certainly, the partnership with MLS has been beneficial to USL PRO both on and off the field. The Kickers in particular have been perennial contenders on the field thanks to standout loanees from D.C. United such as Andrew Dykstra, Joe Willis and Conor Shanosky, while Chandler Hoffman (LA Galaxy II) and Aaron Schoenfeld (Dayton Dutch Lions) earned All-League recognition for their efforts, following in the footsteps of players such as Dom Dwyer, Bright Dike and Corey Hertzog.

The partnership with MLS, and the overall philosophy of the league, has also benefitted USL PRO off the field. Strong, new ownership groups have been able to look at the league’s history of helping teams reach North America’s top flight, and also the league’s structural plans that will bring regionalized play to the fore in coming years.

“The MLS partnership was one component of that plan,” Cowlishaw said. “The partnership has created added player development credibility while creating optimal travel distances between clubs. It’s still a work in progress but clearly the success of the LA Galaxy II has been a shining example of what can happen when you vertically integrate your club, and I would also add that our affiliation with D.C. United has proved very beneficial for both clubs.”

For the Rhinos, who have been partners with the New England Revolution for the past two seasons, the ability to count on quality players from their MLS affiliate has also affected the way they have been able to shop for players and put a quality product on the field that this year included Goalkeeper of the Year John McCarthy and All-League forward J.C. Banks.

“It will allow us to use our budgets for fewer players, which will allow us to maybe get a better-end player combined with the developmental that they’re providing, and continue to grow the sport in that aspect,” said Rhinos President Pat Ercoli. “Before we had to spread our budget over 26 players, now we can maybe spread it over 16-18 players, so now we’re able to go after that higher-end player that we weren’t able to do before.”

Maximizing the club’s resources has also been a priority for the Kickers when it comes to player recruitment. This offseason, while the club has seen Luke Vercollone depart for the Colorado Springs Switchbacks, Richmond has retained a strong core of players that have bought into what the club offers as a whole, and Cowlishaw is excited by the players that are beginning to emerge from the Kickers’ Youth Academy.

“We always focus on what we can control and how we can maximize our own resources and talents,” Cowlishaw said. “There is no question, however, that with the rapid increase in new clubs and stronger financially viable ownership groups, our ability to attract players will no doubt evolve in the coming years. However, we do currently have several exciting youth national team prospects so our future talent pool is an exciting one.”

As someone who has been involved in soccer as both a player and administrator, Ercoli is certainly excited by the sport’s upswing across the country, which in turn has seen new clubs established in cities where professional soccer previously thrived. Saint Louis and Tulsa are set to join USL PRO this season, while the addition of clubs controlled by Toronto FC and the Montreal Impact will rekindle long-term rivalries for Rhinos fans.

“That’s another exciting part to us,” Ercoli said. “When you look at Montreal, Toronto, those are markets we played against over 30, 40 years, so it’s good for our media, good for our sponsors and good for our fan base. They can associate with that.”

With more than 20 teams set to participate in USL PRO in 2015, the stalwarts that have helped shape the league to this point have good reason to be bullish on its future.

“USL PRO has a wonderful opportunity to create a unique professional league below MLS,” Cowlishaw said. “The Kickers look forward to being a part of that journey.”

“I think it’s safe to say that we are still very energized by the partnership,” said Bell. “It’s an exciting time for USL PRO.”

PDL Feature

Wednesday, December 31, 2014

TAMPA, Fla. – 2014 PDL Most Valuable Player Dzenan Catic was among nine players added to the 2015 Major League Soccer Combine on Wednesday, with a number of fellow PDL standouts set to head to Fort Lauderdale, Fla. from January 8-13.

Catic scored 16 goals in 14 regular-season contests for the Michigan Bucks, and then proved crucial in his side’s run to a second PDL Championship. Catic went on to be named the NAIA Player of the Year for Davenport University, and will look to prove his worth against some of the top defenders in the country.

Catic’s Bucks teammate Zach Steinberger, who scored the game-winner in Michigan’s semifinal victory against the Jersey Express en route to the championship, will join him in Fort Lauderdale. Steinberger earned a second consecutive All-Central Conference selection this past summer for the Bucks, and his first All-League selection as he played a key role in the side’s midfield throughout the summer.

Axel Sjoberg, who earned All-League selection in 2013 for the Thunder Bay Chill, also earned selection after another strong season for Marquette. The 6-foot-7 center back helped the Chill claim the regular season championship a year ago, and this past fall was named to the Big East First Team as the Golden Eagles only conceded 14 goals in 18 games.

Former Ocean City Nor’easters standout Markhus ‘Duke’ Lacroix will also be in attendance after another good season for the University of Pennsylvania. Lacroix helped the Nor’easters’ resurgence as the club earned back-to-back Mid Atlantic Division titles in 2012 and 2013, and was part of the side that battled strongly against the Philadelphia Union in the third round of the 2013 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup.

Other former PDL standouts to earn an invitation included goalkeeper Spencer Richey, who spent this past summer with the Puget Sound Gunners after stints with the Washington Crossfire and Portland Timbers U-23s in previous years. Baltimore Bohemians forward Kay Banjo and K-W United midfielder Ricardo Garbanzo were also selected after standout seasons for UMBC and Coastal Carolina.

The seven additions to the MLS Combine bring the total of former PDL players to 48 of the 64 players invited, three-quarters of the players selected to compete in front of scouts from throughout Major League Soccer and USL PRO.

W-League Feature

Wednesday, December 31, 2014

NEW YORK, N.Y. - It’s not uncommon for players to go from a successful summer in the W-League to a key role in the fall in women’s college soccer.

For a trio of New York Magic players, however, the college season concluded with the thrill of a national championship.

Midfielder Hikaru Murakami led the way with Florida State as the Seminoles claimed their first national championship with victory against Virginia. She was joined by fellow Japanese standout Ayaki Shinada, who went from captaining the Magic this summer to leading Lindsay Wilson College to the NAIA Championship, and defender Lorina White, who helped Monroe College claim the Junior College Division I National Championship in New Rochelle, N.Y.

For White, who also claimed the 2014 NSCAA Junior College Player of the Year Award, the season couldn’t have ended on a higher note. After earning All-Northeastern Conference honors in the summer for the Magic, the sophomore helped the Mustangs finish 18-1-1 and record 11 shutouts in 20 contests on their way to the championship.

Murukami started eight games for the Seminoles this fall, but proved a key player off the bench as she appeared in 25 games overall as Florida State only lost once throughout the season. The holding midfielder had three assists during the season, but more importantly helped restrict opposing attacks to nine goals in 26 games during the season.

Shinada, meanwhile, had a standout offensive season with 13 goals and five assists for the Blue Raiders. Shinada’s standout season was capped by the opening goal in Lindsay Wilson’s 3-0 victory against Northwestern Ohio in the NAIA Championship Game on December 6.

"We are very proud of this group,” Magic coach Nino DePasquali said. “To have one Magic player on a National Championship college team is an honor and to have three Magic players win a National Championship in three different women's college divisions is a true testament to the depth and diversity of the Magic's player recruitment and roster selection.”

The success of their players have confirmed the Magic’s belief that a varied and diverse player pool from many countries in the women's soccer community enhances the visibility, exposure and the overall soccer knowledge and development of the W-League and U.S. soccer. The make-up of the 2014 Magic squad – which included players from the U.S. and 10 other countries, including 2015 FIFA Women’s World Cup participants Japan, England, Spain, Brazil and Mexico – will make the 2015 Women's World Cup very interesting for the club and its followers.

PDL Feature

Wednesday, December 31, 2014

CLEARWATER, Fla. – When Lane United FC’s leadership first began making plans for what their club would represent, one overriding goal lay at the heart of the decision-making process.

“We started this project with the idea that we were going to create what we would like to see as fans, so we built everything with that goal,” said Managing Director David Galas recently. “I took the game day experience I would like to see as a fan, and tried to create that for our fans, and to be honest, the community really stepped up and showed their support from the beginning.

“We came up with a logo, a name and passed the hat, and our supporters honestly took it from Ground Zero, threw in a few bucks, showed their support and that’s how we got investors to move forward, and we didn’t lose that ethos of building off the community and the game day experience.”

Eighteen months after the club’s foundation, and a successful first season that saw United named the PDL’s Rookie Franchise of the Year at the recent league AGM, the club’s primary goals have more than been accomplished. While the results on the field didn’t quite meet the mark, the manner in which the club has grown and become part of the Eugene community has been impressive.

One of the biggest boosts to the club, in addition to its fanbase, has been the support of local business, in particular that of Oakshire Brewing, who became the club’s first jersey and title sponsor.

“We went after local businesses that represented our community best, and we’re trying to find the best of the best in and around Eugene and Springfield, and Oakshire was one of them,” Galas said. “They stepped in, and quite honestly I didn’t expect them to be our title sponsor, I didn’t expect them to be our kit sponsor, but when I talked to them, the ownership all said, ‘I want that. I want to be the title sponsor,’ and so it was great for me.”

Embracing United didn’t just happen off the field, either. As Head Coach John Galas looked to put together his inaugural squad, the club was able to foster a strong relationship with Oregon State University’s men’s soccer program, which in turn brought them their highest-profile player for the 2014 season. Khiry Shelton, a top MLS prospect who helped the Austin Aztex claim the PDL Championship in 2013, was eager to come aboard as he continued his development in Eugene.

“We didn’t think we were going to get him, and he came to us and said he wanted to play,” Dave Galas said. “He liked the style of soccer we were playing, and he’s been a great player, but even more than that he’s been a great kid. Really nice, strong head, grounded, he’s been a great influence on the locker room as well as on the field.”

Galas is hopeful more like Shelton will join the club from OSU in the future, and the club is also looking overseas to bring in talent for the new season. After partnering with a Spanish group for a tryout that drew 208 players to Valencia last year, the Galas brothers will head to Spain in the new year for a series of tryouts that they hope will bring quality players to Oregon this summer.

After near-misses against playoff sides Kitsap and Vancouver a year ago, United believes it was a better team on the field than its record indicated. And while the margins between victory and defeat are narrow in the Northwest Division, Galas is excited to go up against the strong competition his club will face year-in and year-out.

“We wouldn’t want it any other way,” Galas said. “This is our passion, we want to provide the best fan game day experience, and we want to put the best soccer on the field, so if we’re not getting tested, we’re not as happy as we could be. Going up against the best teams week-in and week-out is what we want. We’re up for the challenge.”

While results certainly matter, the continued growth of the club off the field remains an important one for Galas. The ideal of the game day experience was fomented for both David and his brother John during their childhoods, when their father became a professor at the University of Geneva in Switzerland. It was then, in the late 1970s and early 1980s, the brothers fell in love with the game as they supported local club Servette FC.

“Liverpool won their first European Cup when we first arrived, and they won their third European Cup right before we left,” Galas said, “so they did a tour as they used to do, and we got to see Liverpool come to Servette, and they oversold what they should have by about 2-to-1. It was packed.”

Now, with the help of the Red Aces supporter’s group, United hopes to grow its presence in the community. The club held its first charity soccer-golf tournament, which raised more than $1,000 for KidSports, and is actively looking for other opportunities to engage a soccer-savvy fan-base in the Northwest.

“You look at what Seattle has done with their MLS team, at what Portland has done, there’s a culture in the Northwest that is very much like Europe in terms of soccer, and we keyed into that,” Galas said. “The best part about living in the Northwest is you don’t have educate anyone on that front anymore. They get it, it’s already ingrained in people.”

Galas also sits on the board of the Eugene Civic Alliance, which is in the process of trying to repurpose Civic Stadium to a soccer-specific stadium and community field house. Should those plans come to fruition, a higher level of soccer could soon arrive in the community.

“As soon as we get hold of that stadium, we have the capacity to go to USL PRO, and that’s the plan,” Galas said. “The ownership is behind it, all of the pieces are in place to make that move, so that’s our goal.”

There is, of course, work to be done to reach that goal. With the way United has grown in its brief existence, however, there is good reason to impressed by the ambition that is behind the club, and the people who have brought it this far in such a small span of time.

And, who knows, if things go as expected, maybe Galas will even get to enjoy the game day experience he is helping to create.

“My ultimate goal is to get the game day operations running well enough that I don’t have to be walking around with a walkie-talkie, and dealing with issues, so I can actually go and stand on the terraces with our fans,” he said, smiling.

USL PRO Feature

Wednesday, December 31, 2014

When Warren Smith announced the founding of Sacramento Republic FC in late 2012, the news was greeted with enthusiasm in Sacramento, but nobody could have foreseen how the club’s fate would play out during the next two years.

As the team’s opening game in USL PRO drew closer, so too did the anticipation, and on April 26, 2014 a capacity crowd of more than 20,000 fans filed into Hughes Stadium to welcome professional soccer to Sacramento. The team lost 2-1, but the fans continued to come back as they filled the club’s primary home, Bonney Field, for the rest of the 2014 season.

The team reversed course quickly following the 2-1 defeat in the home opener, and Sacramento went on to win the USL PRO Championship in its inaugural season. For all the on-field success, the club’s accomplishments off the field were just as impressive as Republic FC fans continued to demonstrate a fantastic level of interest and enthusiasm for the club throughout the season, eventually leading the league in attendance in 2014 with an average crowd of more than 11,000 - a USL PRO record.

At the championship game in late September, another sellout crowd was on hand to watch Republic FC defeat the Harrisburg City Islanders 2-0, and put a perfect cap on a terrific first season. (WATCH: Sacramento claims USL PRO Championship.) The success of the Sacramento club set the bar for new expansion sides and helped elevate the league on the Pacific Coast, where it will have clubs in southern California, Portland, Seattle and Vancouver in 2015.

It will be a challenge for Sacramento to follow up on such a successful debut season, but with a stadium expansion already approved and a growing front office staff, the future looks even brighter in The Indomitable City.

Top 5 USL PRO storylines of 2015:

No. 5: Orlando City begins new era as former Lion Dwyer excels in MLS
No. 4: USL PRO clubs help stoke U.S. World Cup fever
No. 3: USL PRO and MLS continue to expand partnership
No. 2: Expansion, expansion, expansion: USL PRO membership explodes
No. 1: Sacramento Republic FC takes the league by storm

PDL Feature

Friday, January 2, 2015

CLEARWATER, Fla. – Quick, name the team that’s won the PDL’s Southeast Division each of the past three years.

Remarkably, in a division that has boasted numerous standout organizations, the Ocala Stampede have become rulers of the roost, this past summer adding their first conference championship to a remarkable three-year run that has seen the club earn success on and off the field.

Cheyne Roberts, the club’s head coach for the past two seasons, gives a lot of credit for the team’s success to the Stampede’s ownership group. Led by co-owners Ted Strawbridge and Bill Reed, the Stampede have attracted quality players - drawn by the club’s community involvement and strong off-field structure - to central Florida during the past three years.

“I think it’s unique,” Roberts said. “Their mission-minded approach to providing everything they possibly can for the players, which in turn lets them come in and feel comfortable, and give them an opportunity to succeed. Everything possible is [done] to find success, so that makes the coach’s role easy.

“When I don’t have to worry about certain things, I know my players are taken care of, so I think that in turn allows my guys freedom not to worry about things. They can just come, play, perform, develop. We really stress performance, and the results will come.”

The results have come in a division that has also included top programs at Orlando City U23, IMG Academy, and recent additions the Panama City Beach Pirates and SW Florida Adrenaline, all of whom have contended for the division title during the past three years. The Stampede have held off their challengers, however, with just seven losses in 44 regular-season contests.

That included a sparkling 9-1-4 record this past summer, when Ilija Ilic led the side to a conference championship and earned All-Southern Conference honors alongside Karamba Janneh and Ben Knight. Ilic has gone from strength to strength this fall, as he earned NSCAA Division II Player of the Year honors for Young Harris University.

Allied with players from Division I schools such as Creighton and Central Florida, and more non-DI talent, the Stampede have provided a platform that has allowed players to return to their college programs improved and ready to produce.

“I think there’s tons of talent at the DII level,” Roberts said. “There’s tons of talent at all the levels in college, but I think it’s great that the PDL in general, when players get done in the spring they come to us and then they can go on and perform well in their fall seasons at their respective colleges.

“I think it speaks to the development process, the development model with the PDL. If they go on and get a pro contract that’s fantastic, but for them to come to us at one point and when they leave us be at a better point, and then go back to college and perform well I think is really necessary for their development, and results usually show that.”

That improvement was also reflected in last summer’s playoffs when the Stampede first avenged a defeat against the Laredo Heat in the conference semifinals in 2012, and then defeated the defending champion Austin Aztex to claim the Southern Conference title. After falling at the first hurdle in his first season as coach, the victories were rewarding for Roberts, and the club.

“We felt like the year before we didn’t play well in the playoffs, but we got over that first hurdle and that kind of freed us up,” Roberts said. “I thought we performed really well. I thought we played better in the second game than we did the first game, but that being said, it was fun, it was exciting, it was a great moment for the organization.”

With Roberts at the coaching helm and the club’s ownership group continuing the lead the way, the Stampede have become a model other clubs could look to emulate in future years. With the success the club has had so far, Roberts is looking forward to the challenge the 2015 season and beyond will bring.

“It’s great,” Roberts said. “It’s been fun. It’s exciting to try and spearhead some things, and at the same time I think it’s dangerous, it puts more pressure on us, but I think this ownership group invites that. They know that they never preach results, just performance, and I think that’s the same motto, we’re going to try and be excellent on the field and off the field. I don’t think there’s a target. Every year is a new year, and every year we can continue to perform well.”

USL PRO Feature

Friday, January 2, 2015

CLEARWATER, Fla. – The hiring of Tom Engstrom as the first General Manager for the Charlotte Independence was, in reality, a simple move.

Often, though, it’s simple moves like this that place a team on firm footing for the future, which Engstrom believes is bright for the Queen City’s new club.

“It’s really exciting, and fun,” Engstrom said recently. “I think the office setup - the staff that they have in place have really good experience in marketing and running sports teams, and now we’re putting the soccer aspect into it, so I’m real excited.”

Engstrom’s first move as GM certainly should excite the club’s fans, with the addition of Mike Jeffries as the club’s first head coach. A veteran of the professional ranks including a stint as head coach of FC Dallas in Major League Soccer, Jeffries’ most recent experience saw him lead the Des Moines Menace to the PDL’s regular season championship, and his eye for talent will be a boon as he and Engstrom look to build a strong roster.

“The feedback we’ve gotten from around the country has really confirmed that Mike is a really good hire,” Engstrom said. “He’s got the respect as a person in the way he conducts himself, and he’s got the respect for what he’s done in the world of soccer. We feel combined with the relationship with the Colorado Rapids - Mike has the experience of being a head coach in Major League Soccer, being an assistant coach on Bob Bradley’s staff, the player personnel aspect with the Chicago Fire, being a highly successful coach with the Des Moines Menace in the PDL, and also being a college coach - he’s got a wealth of experience, and on top of that he has great playing experience.”

As for what that roster will look like, Engstrom said that while he has been in touch with players who played for the Eagles with the chance that some of those signings will be announced soon, the Independence went into the process with an open mind as to who would make up their inaugural roster. Some former Eagles, meanwhile, have already signed elsewhere with expansion clubs, with Drew Yates headed to Austin and Juan Guzman to Louisville for the 2015 season.

“I think we’ve taken an approach that we’re not necessarily going out of our way to sign Eagles players, and we’re not going out of our way not to,” Engstrom said. “I think for the most part, it’s a clean sheet of paper. There will be a couple Eagles players who are great players, excellent as far as their professionalism in a team environment who are very happy to be a part of it, but at the same time it’s a new sheet of paper so everyone is a candidate that’s available.”

There are characteristics that Engstrom hopes will be carried forward from the Eagles’ philosophy, particularly in the togetherness the team showed throughout its history. Engstrom is proud of what the club accomplished on the field - particularly its remarkable run to the 2013 USL PRO Championship Game - but he said the bigger reward has been seeing the way the community within the club has grown and the influence it has had on the players who have competed in the team’s colors.

“I think it was a real blessing to work with the Eagles,” Engstrom said. “There’s so many really good people to work together with, and I think to see a lot of the players who have retired and are really doing well in their lives - being good husbands and fathers, and making a good impact in whatever they’re doing, whether it’s coaching or working in another business - that’s been rewarding.”

While the club will maintain a relationship with the Eagles as they move to the PDL in 2015, the partnership with the Colorado Rapids has the potential to help Charlotte become a force in USL PRO. Engstrom has been in regular dialogue with the Rapids’ Senior Director of Soccer Development Brian Crookham on the makeup of the roster and the players the Rapids may send to compete with the Independence, both from their current roster and others the Rapids may be interested in signing in the future.

“The partnership with the Colorado Rapids has been fantastic,” Engstrom said. “This team is really important to them, as far as giving probably four players a year - generally younger players - a chance to develop, and it will also hopefully be an avenue where they can identify other players that could start here but go up to their team.”

All of which plays into the club’s long-term plan, which would see the Independence make their bid to join North America’s top flight.

“I think the first three years, we really want to develop a solid soccer club that’s really excellent on the field and really part of a community that has developed a strong, loyal following,” Engstrom said. “Charlotte is a great city - it would be a great MLS city - and we want to be positioned for that next run of expansion teams as a realistic place to be from a Major League Soccer perspective.”