USL Feature

Monday, October 11, 2010

By NICHOLAS MURRAY

TAMPA, Fla. – Before the Rochester Rhinos and Carolina RailHawks, for Chris Economides, there was the Kansas City Attack.

“I actually got my start in professional soccer in the indoor game,” Economides said, speaking at the USL offices. “I was one of the owners of the old Kansas City Attack in the NPSL in the early nineties. One of my early claims to fame was winning an indoor championship in my second season in Kansas City with the Attack beating some of my soon-to-be Rhino players that were members of the Cleveland Crunch.”

Now the Senior Director of USL PRO is getting back to his indoor roots as the leader of the USL’s I-League, scheduled to begin play in November, 2011. With just over a year until the league’s launch, Economides is confident of finding success both on and off the field for the franchises that make up the league’s inaugural season.

“I think just as you’ve seen with USL PRO, we’re trying to have a business model that makes sense,” Economides said. “The days of operating with multi-million dollar operating budgets, it just doesn’t make any sense from a financial perspective, from an operational perspective, so I think just as we’ve done with USL PRO, we’re trying to create a business model with the I-League that makes sense, which preaches financial prudence, which preaches income versus expenses.

“It’s a pretty simple, common sense aspect where your expenses shouldn’t outweigh your income. We’re preaching financial prudence when it comes to the I-League, it will be a very structured budget, not with a lot of high costs.”

The Rochester Lancers are, as yet, the only confirmed member of the I-League, but Economides expects to have at least eight, and even as many as 12, teams playing in regional competition. The main focus of the league in terms of franchises is currently the Northeast, Mid Atlantic and Midwest regions, but Economides believes that in the long-term, the league could grow across the country.

“The sky is the limit. If the business model makes sense, if the franchises are profitable, as we grow this it will grow regionally,” Economides said. “As this thing grows, as we build the entire indoor pyramid structure of the USL, we hope to be in over 100 markets in the PDL, W-League and USL PRO perspective.”

While building a pyramid similar to the one USL currently uses for the outdoor game, incorporating indoor youth leagues and potentially divisions that mirror the PDL and W-League, is part of the long-term strategy, Economides is also aiming to have I-League and USL PRO franchises develop partnerships that would offer the ability to build the brand with year-round exposure from the indoor and outdoor game.

“As we looked at the overall model of the I-League, I think that’s one of the common synergies that needs to take place,” Economides said. “As we talk to potential I-League markets, we’re hoping that an I-League market will either have a relationship with a USL PRO team or even take it one step further, if a USL PRO market wants to take on and have what I call year-round exposure and year-round opportunity, that’s an ideal scenario to have both the indoor and outdoor operators own the franchises themselves.”

It would also have a benefit for the players, who would have the ability to move between the two franchises and play year-round.

“I think it allows players to make soccer more of a year-round opportunity,” Economides said, “a year-round job to let them focus on their playing career, to let them focus on honing their skills, indoor and outdoor. As we look to build the sport in this country, I think it could be a key aspect that will provide players with year-round employment opportunities.”

What Economides hopes most of all, though, is that the I-League can bring back the type of entertainment and excitement the sport saw in its heyday.

“We’re in the entertainment business,” Economides said. “We’re competing with high school sports, we’re competing with movies, we’re competing with a whole host of things, so I think it has to be something that’s family-oriented, that’s family-affordable fun. I envision our ticket prices being very affordable for a family of four to go to a match and then make it an experience for the kids, for mom and dad to have a good time.”

All this week, look for video conversations with USL Senior Director of USL PRO Chris Economides on the I-League on USLSoccer.com.
 

USL News Release

Monday, January 24, 2011

TAMPA, Fla. – United Soccer Leagues unveiled the postseason format for the 2011 USL PRO season today. The format, approved by a vote of the USL PRO Board of Governors, will see eight clubs advancing to the postseason in 2011. USL released the divisional alignment and schedule for USL PRO last week, with the 180-game regular season opening on Saturday, April 2.

The first round of the 2011 USL Pro Playoffs will feature four single-game quarterfinals taking place Friday-Sunday, August 19-21. The semifinals will be played a week later, with the 2011 USL PRO Championship, hosted by the highest remaining seed, to be played between September 2-4. Remaining teams will be re-seeded following the Quarterfinals.
Matchups will be set as follows:

Quarterfinals - August 19-21
International Division #2 at International Division #1
National Division #3 at National Division #1
American Division #3 at American Division #1
National Division #2 vs. American Division #2 (team with most points to host)

Semifinals – August 26-28
#4 Seed at #1 Seed
#3 Seed at #2 Seed

Championship – September 2-4
#2 Seed at #1 Seed

“We are pleased with the competitive makeup of the 2011 USL PRO postseason as well as the time frame in which the playoffs will take place,” USL PRO Senior Director Chris Economides said. “With eight of the 15 teams set to qualify for the playoffs, this format not only makes regular season games that much more meaningful, it increases the excitement level for the fans as the season progresses.”

Teams will play 24 games in the 2011 season, facing each team in their division at least once at home and once on the road. The schedule for teams in the American and National Divisions sees each of the 10 teams play a home-and-home series with the other. In addition, each team also makes one trip to either the Caribbean or Los Angeles for a pair of games, and each team will host two games against competition from the International Division. The final two games that complete the schedule will match traditional rivals.

For the five teams in the International Division, each team will play each other four times, twice home and twice away, with four games apiece at home and away against competition from the American and National Divisions. The final weekend of the regular season is set for Friday-Saturday August 12-13, with 12 of the 15 teams in action as the race for playoff spots winds down.

USL PRO is the strongest, best operated and most sophisticated North American men’s professional soccer league below MLS, both on and off the field. Focused on franchise stability and longevity, USL PRO will feature an unprecedented six teams with more than a decade of operational experience in 2011, and more than 100 years of combined operational experience. It will also benefit from national television and online broadcast packages.

2011 USL PRO Schedule
 

USL News Release

Thursday, January 27, 2011

TAMPA, Fla. – United Soccer Leagues welcomed owners and executives from USL PRO teams to its Tampa headquarters Thursday for a full-day workshop designed to enhance revenue opportunities for the 2011 season and beyond.

USL management and team services staff provided the 15 USL PRO teams with the latest industry standards and best practices in the areas of ticket sales, sponsorship sales, marketing, promotions, communications and new media during the seven-hour seminar. Teams also received ticket sales, marketing, sponsorship and best practices operational manuals during the seminar.

“We are dedicated to providing our teams with all the necessary tools to operate at a high level for the long term,” USL CEO Alec Papadakis said. “Our team services staff has been expanded greatly during the past year, and its sole purpose is to assist all USL teams in raising the level for all areas of their operations, both on and off the field. Today was just an early step in a process that will continue year-round in the form of site visits, conference calls and additional seminars.”

Leading the day’s activities were USL PRO Senior Director Chris Economides and USL PRO Operations Manager Jason Arnold, with contributions from Director of Corporate Partnerships Chris Barno, Sales Coordinator Steven Short, Communications Director Jay Preble and New Media Director Seth Witkowicz.

“I’ve been off the walls with all of this information, especially ticket sales,” Wilmington Hammerheads owner Bill Rudisill said. “The new USL group has really taken this league to another level. I really feel a lot of support and resources, and I’m real impressed to this point.

“We’ve been gone a year, but we’re seeing it as an opportunity to take our club to another level and after today’s information, especially in the ticket sales angle – that’s where I’ve gotten most out of – I’m extremely excited.”

“It’s just great that the league has taken the initiative to oversee the teams off the field, and you have to be a part of it,” Los Angeles Blues Vice President Charlie Naimo said following the seminar. “You never stop learning and you’ve got to learn from the best franchises like Rochester, Orlando City and Charleston. There are so many good franchises to learn from that when the league puts everybody together, it’s a good thing.”

USL PRO is the strongest, best operated and most sophisticated North American men’s professional soccer league below MLS, both on and off the field. Focused on franchise stability and longevity, USL PRO will feature an unprecedented six teams with more than a decade of operational experience in 2011, and more than 100 years of combined operational experience. It will also benefit from national television and online broadcast packages.

The 2011 USL PRO season will open on Saturday, April 2, with the postseason slated to kick off August 19 following the 180-game regular season.
 

USL Feature

Friday, January 28, 2011

By NICHOLAS MURRAY

Every story has to start somewhere.

For the Charlotte Eagles and owner Brian Davidson, it began with a conversation in a bagel shop in Charlotte with the Wilmington Hammerheads’ David Irving.

“David mentioned that the franchise rights for the Charlotte area were open for this new league that USISL was forming,” recalled Eagles General Manager Tom Engstrom. “That really intrigued Brian and he looked into it and we had a team.”

That was 19 years ago. Since then the Eagles have grown into an integral part of the Charlotte community. The same has been true for clubs such as the Rochester Rhinos, Charleston Battery, Richmond Kickers, Wilmington Hammerheads and Pittsburgh Riverhounds, all of whom have operated for more than a decade and all of whom have built strong followings in their cities through smart decision-making and dedication to the community.

For Richmond, and Coach Leigh Cowlishaw, the path to the franchise the Kickers have become began six years into the club’s existence. While having built a successful club on the field, reaching the third round of the U.S. Open Cup in 1997 and being the USL A-League Atlantic Division Champions in 1998, the club was looking for a way to make bigger inroads into the community on a year-round basis.

“We recognized that to just be a professional soccer team for, at that stage, only four months was just not going to be viable long-term,” Cowlishaw said. “What we recognized was that our summer soccer camps were popular and growing like wildfire, and we felt the model of having professional players embedded in the community year-round was something that would make sense, and that’s how we started it.

“We had the vision of the model of the future of American soccer before MLS had any youth components, before any organization had that youth-to-pro model, and we set about accomplishing that.”

Now the Kickers not only have their professional team, but also teams in the USL Super Y-League. The opening of Ukrop Park in 2003 was a major accomplishment for the club and owner Rob Ukrop and has set the organization up for continued success.

While Richmond effectively built from scratch, the Rochester Rhinos had a legacy to uphold. After the success of the Rochester Lancers, many were eager for a strong franchise to bring back professional soccer to the city. As current Rhinos President Pat Ercoli pointed out, the team couldn’t have arrived at a much better time.

“It think just having the right venue and the right following, the timing of it,” Ercoli said about the reasons for the Rhinos’ success. “The timing for us was pretty much during the inception of MLS and I think we have a following that’s family-oriented, and we’ve maintained that throughout our years.”

The only non-Major League Soccer side to win the U.S. Open Cup since MLS began in 1996, the victory against the Colorado Rapids remains Ercoli’s proudest moment in the organization’s history. But the backbone of the team’s success and sustainability has been as much about the characters that have come and stayed in Rochester, even after their playing days were over, providing links to the club that have remained in the area.

“We have people that have stayed within our community,” Ercoli said. “Even today we have Scott Vallow retire and he’s been with the organization for over 10 years, he’s been involved within the community, actually living here and running several businesses here, and now he’s staying involved in soccer in this community.

“Doug Miller is another example, Craig Demmin, there’s a list of people who have made the attempt to stay here, Tommy Tanner is not that far away in Syracuse and I’m sure there are more who have stayed within the community and stayed involved and made the difference.”

Building a sense of community has been important for the Eagles as well. As a non-profit organization, the club hasn’t always had the biggest budget to work with, but have always found a way to fulfill the mission of the club.

“There have been a few different things [that have contributed],” Engstrom said. “First of all, and this isn’t meant to be a cliché or anything, but God’s provision. For a non-profit organization, we feel that it’s God’s provision that keeps us around.

“I think there’s also been a really high commitment level from the people within the organization and the players that they are really committed to the cause. There’s a really strong group of fans and donors who really believe in the organization.”

And commitment levels like that are what are going to give each of the six teams that could be called the backbone of USL PRO a chance to build even bigger legacies in the future.

“It was clear just sitting there in 1999 and having a team of 20 players and a summer camp … that we could become what we are now,” Cowlishaw said. “Now I’d just like to see us grow the fan base, that’s the final piece. If we can get 4,000, 5,000 a game, that’s going to be our goal in the next 10 years and if we do that then I think you’re going to see the Kickers be around for the next 100 years.”
 

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

Friday, January 28, 2011

DAYTON, Ohio -- The Dayton Dutch Lions FC officially announce Cor van Hoeven as the new Technical Director. He signed a four-year contract with the club as of January 1 2011. Due to the delay of the necessary visa paperwork which was received on Wednesday, he will start in Dayton on February 5.

Van Hoeven will be responsible for all the five Business Units in the Soccer Operations Department: Men’s Pro team, Women’s team, Super-20 team, Camps and Clinics and the Youth Academy. He  will also coach one or two teams in the youth academy as well as the Super-20 team in 2011.

Van Hoeven has been Head Coach for several second Division clubs in Holland as well as Assistant Coach with Premier Division club Sparta in Holland and FC Jokerit in Finland. In addition, he has set up a Youth Academy for three different clubs, two in Holland and one in Finland (FC Jokerit). He also owns one of the best soccer schools (Winning Skills) in Holland, which is focused on the technical
development of players.

Van Hoeven holds the UEFA A, B and C coaching license and has also served as teacher in the prestigious Royal Dutch National Soccer Association (KNVB). As part of his role and the growth of the Youth Academy, Cor will set up a (unlicensed) UEFA C and B coaching course to several Dutch Lions FC players of the Men’s and Women’s team that will start coaching in the Fall of 2011.

“I am glad to finally start today as the new Technical Director of the DDL," van Hoeven said. "A fantastic new ‘orange’ club. It is a great job with many challenges: first to play in the USL Pro Division, then starting a new Women’s team as well as the Super20 ’s. But overall, in my view, the biggest challenge for me is to build the best and most professional Youth Academy in Ohio and the surrounding area. This is what my staff and I will start working on.”

“The Technical Director is a critical position for us since he is responsible for the performance of all our soccer operations," Dutch Lions President Mike Mossel said. "Looking at how fast we are growing and the quality we want to present to our customers, we needed a person that is experienced in putting a solid structure in an organization to built from. Cor is not only a great person to work with, he has more than 10 years of experience in building a top professional soccer operation.

"The Masterplan he is making for the Academy already looks impressive and soon he will start training our own coaches for the youth
academy in the ‘Dutch way.’ I am very confident he will bring our club to a next level." 

USL Feature

Thursday, February 3, 2011

By NICHOLAS MURRAY

To say one person was responsible for the return of the Wilmington Hammerheads could easily be thought of as overly simplistic. After all, it took an ownership group led by Bill Rudisill and other investors to have the team preparing for the 2011 USL PRO season.

But talk to those around the club and the name of head coach David Irving invariably comes up as the man who was the driving force behind the club’s re-emergence from a collapse that might have sunk a lesser franchise.

“He kept coming by to see me in those months, and another couple of my ownership partners contacted him through one of his players and that’s how all of this got started,” Rudisill said in a recent phone interview. “He was the driving force behind me getting back into this.”

“From what I understand, talking to him and talking to other people, if it wasn’t for him, I don’t think the team would exist,” Eric Conklin, President of the Hammerheads’ supporters club the Port City Firm, said. “His heart is 100 percent behind it, and I know there are other people that were involved in helping and there are other people that definitely deserve thanks like Bill Rudisill - without him they wouldn’t be here - but I think the driving force to make it happen was David Irving.”

Irving has lived his life in soccer, playing and managing both in England and the United States. He became the Hammerheads head coach in 1998 and oversaw the club’s 2003 USL Pro Soccer League championship. The passion he has for the game, and the following and history the club had developed since its inaugural season in 1996, was what drove Irving to find a way to get the club back on the field.

“I’m passionate about what we had here in Wilmington,” Irving said. “We had tradition, we had over 2,000 people coming to games over the length of the team’s history, great support from the local community and it was a big part of the community.”

Bringing the club back was far from an easy task, though.

“There were several other investors where it was looking like it was going to come to fruition and then they would back out,” Conklin said. “It was kind of heart-wrenching because it would seem like it was going to exist, and then would be dead again, and then it was going to exist, then it was dead again, that just kept happening.”

But Irving’s efforts were gaining Rudisill’s attention. Good friends away from the Hammerheads, Irving would remind his friend of the opportunity they had to bring the Hammerheads back. Then after a public meeting on September 21, 2010, Rudisill had resisted as long as he could.

“I pushed back as long as I could,” Rudisill said, “but I just felt like the town and David had worked hard to get it going back and it was all good.

“Soccer has always done really well [here], and in that meeting it was pretty clear that the town wanted it back. We had been hearing it, so I guess at that point I said we would get it back. I love Wilmington, North Carolina. It’s my home, I’ve done alright here and it’s just something I love, the Hammerheads. I’ve got a lot of energy and a lot of time and it’s a great thing, we’ve heard so many compliments, ‘thank you for doing this’, ‘we’re so excited’.”

That led to the press conference on November 9 which saw the Hammerheads’ return.

“It was pretty emotional for myself,” Irving said of the press conference, “and I’ve got to say without Bill Rudisill’s involvement I don’t think this would have happened. He was passionate about his Hammerheads and he was so about the community, he and his family, he was the key to bringing it together.”

Now the challenge is for the Hammerheads to rebuild a side that can compete in USL PRO. With players like Jamie Watson, who was USL-2 MVP for Wilmington in 2009, Colin Falvey and Mark Briggs having moved on to other clubs, Irving is having to build his squad from scratch. The signings of forward Chris Banks, defender Chris Spendlove and midfielders Richard Jata and Tom Taylor have started that process, but there’s still a lot to do in the coming two months before the Hammerheads host the Rochester Rhinos on April 16 to open the season.

But after coming this far, Irving is looking forward to conquering another challenge.

“It’s a challenge, but a great challenge,” Irving said. “We’re just happy to be back and we’ve got a great flag to fly for the Wilmington Hammerheads.”
 

Charleston Battery News Release -- www.charlestonbattery.com

Friday, February 4, 2011

CHARLESTON S.C. -- The Charleston Battery has switched the dates of its final 2011 invitation trial from February 18-19 to February 24-27. The Charleston Battery has consistently used its trials as a source for identifying new players and in recent years has signed numerous players through this process including – Tsuyoshi Yoshitake, Brandon Massie, Zach Prince, Aaron King, Mike Richardson, and Louie Rolko.

Players attending the trials will be assessed by the Charleston Battery coaching staff during training games played at Blackbaud Stadium, Daniel Island, SC and the Charleston Battery Practice Facility.

Registration
This is an invitation only pre-season camp and is only available to those invited by the battery coaching staff. More than 12 players have already been invited back from our open trials, USL combine and recruited players. These players will compete along side Battery players with pre-season camp starting the following week. Players interested should send in a request via coach or resume to the coaching staff and if accepted will be informed of the registration process for the weekend of February 24th – 27th.

Formed in 1993 the Charleston Battery has won USL Championships on three occasions; 1996, 2003 & 2010. The Battery plays at Blackbaud Stadium, Daniel Island, the first privately-financed soccer-specific stadium in the United States. In addition to USL PRO, the Battery also competes in the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup and is the host each spring of the premier pre-season tournament in the United States, the Carolina Challenge Cup.
 

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

Monday, February 7, 2011

DAYTON, Ohio -- In their search of a new Head Coach the Dayton Dutch Lions FC have signed Ivar van Dinteren as their new coach for the Men’s professional team. The team will play in the prestigious USL PRO Division, one level under the Major League Soccer. Van Dinteren will be assisted by Jack Hermans and Cor van Hoeven.

Van Dinteren was a player for the team that finished third in the 2010 season in the Premier Development League of the United Soccer Leagues. After the season he turned to coaching for the new Dutch Lions FC Youth Academy. Ivar coached both of his two teams (U12 Boys and U14 Boys) to their Division Championship for the Fall season.

Van Dinteren played over 300 games in the Premier League and First Division in the Netherlands. He also played for the Dutch National Youth teams up to U23. In 2009/2010 he went through the coaching courses UEFA C and B at the well recognized Royal Dutch National Soccer Association (KNVB) in the Netherlands.

"In our search we had three key aspects we were looking for in our new Head Coach," Dutch Lions President Mike Mossel said. "A Dutch coach that played at the highest level himself (and preferably with coaching experience), someone that understands our mission as a club here in the USA as well as American soccer and someone that is on the same page as how we want to play as a club and Academy.

"After talking to several experienced coaches from the Netherlands the last month we more and more came to the conclusion that we already had the person we were looking for in our organization. Ivar did a great job coaching his two teams and fully understands what we are trying to build as an organization. He has been a valuable asset for us in the transition from the first team to the youth academy. He is still young but very hungry and ambitious, same as our club. And very important, we are exactly on the same page as far as our desired style of play. We noticed this already during the UEFA C and B courses co owner Erik Tammer, myself and Ivar went through in 2009 and 2010, as well as last season and while setting up the Youth Academy.

"He also combines well with Jack Hermans, who is very experienced in the local soccer scene and will get a bigger role than last year, and new Technical Director Cor van Hoeven. I am convinced Ivar will do very well for the club in his new position and I am pleased we can give him the opportunity to make a big step in his coaching career."

"Setting up the Dutch Lions FC Youth Academy as Director of coaching was a huge experience," van Dinteren said. "My teams and I ended up being Fall 2010 Champions, which had a very positive impact on our Academy children, parents and the Dayton Area. Becoming Head Coach of the Men’s USL Pro Team is another challenge that I want to take up full of energy and great passion. Having Jack Hermans beside me is an honor. I am very happy to work with somebody with that kind of experience in
American soccer, and we have had a great working relationship so far.

"I have always pushed myself to achieve new goals, and this is a tremendous opportunity to develop myself as a coach, and to apply my US player’s experience, my coaching experience and my Dutch national professional soccer experience. I will prepare myself the best I can for the coming season. I know the objectives and goals of the organization, as well as the American culture and the people in the Dayton Area. This will be an advantage, together with my soccer comprehension and dedicated effort."

Pittsburgh Riverhounds News Release -- www.riverhounds.com

Tuesday, February 8, 2011

PITTSBURGH, Pa. -- The highly anticipated start of the USL PRO’s inaugural season is quickly approaching, with opening day less than two months away. Through the merger of the United Soccer League’s First and Second Divisions, along with the introduction of new North American markets and four clubs from the Caribbean, USL PRO trails only Major League Soccer in the USSF pyramid of sanctioned professional soccer leagues.

With this movement up the ladder in the landscape of North American soccer, USL PRO will introduce three regional divisions (American, National and International) to bolster the competition within each club’s market. The Pittsburgh Riverhounds will compete in the National Division comprised of their regional foe the Rochester Rhinos, intra-state rival the Harrisburg City Islanders, and two new professional clubs, the Dayton Dutch Lions and FC New York.

The Riverhounds are excited to begin the 2011 season as a core of impact players will return to compete in the 24-match schedule. Fourteen players are set to return from last season’s third-place squad and will provide a solid foundation for Head Coach Justin Evans to build upon.

“This year I will take a little different approach to the season," Evans said. "We are moving up in classification and this will force me to instill competition in every training session so the squad can be molded and prepared for each game.”

Don’t miss out on any of the excitement!! Purchase your Season Tickets now by calling the Riverhounds Office at (412) 539-1191.

Wilmington Hammerheads News Release -- www.wilmingtonhammerheads.com

Tuesday, February 8, 2011

WILMINGTON, N.C. – The Wilmington Hammerheads are pleased to announce English midfielder Paul Nicholson as the latest player to sign with the team.

Nicholson played for The University of Rio Grande between 2005 and 2008. He was selected as an NAIA First Team All-American in 2008 and First Team All-American Midwest Conference. Nicholson was named in the All-Tournament team for the 2008 NAIA Tournament and was tabbed the tournament’s Most Valuable Defensive Player. He was honorable mention All-AMC in 2007 and was on the second team in 2006.

Nicholson scored 17 goals and registered seven assists (41 points) in 83 career games. He was the only NAIA player to make the Major League Soccer (MLS) Combine List for 2009 in Fort Lauderdale, Fla. Nicholson, a native of Whitehaven, England, is the second player in Rio Grande history to make this illustrious list.

Nicholson played in the PDL in 2009 for the West Virginia Chaos and in 2010 for MPS Portland Phoenix where he played every minute and was named the club’s Player’s Player of the Year.
 

J.T. Noone went undrafted in the 2010 MLS SuperDraft. But that hardly fazed him.

Noone didn’t see one minute of league action in a Union uniform last season. But that only motivated him to work harder.

As Philadelphia continue their preseason training in Florida, Noone is right in the middle of the action.
He doesn’t know where that path will lead when the season begins. All Noone knows is this: he will work like crazy to prove his mettle to the technical staff.

“I really think that the experience I gained last year training with the club has helped me so much,” said Noone, the first local product to sign with Philadelphia. “I think I’ve been able to raise my level of play, and I think the technical staff here has been awesome. I like to push myself as it is. My goal now is to continue to progress and improve in every training session.”

Noone, who played for the Harrisburg City Islanders much of last season, was previously a standout at Temple.

FULL STORY

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

Wednesday, January 9, 2011

DAYTON, Ohio -- The Dayton Dutch Lions FC are proud to announce Mark Batman as head coach of the women’s W-League team. The women’s team will begin their inaugural season in May, 2011, competing in the Eastern Atlantic Conference of the USL W-League, the second highest women’s league in the United States. The Dutch Lions selected Batman after a comprehensive application process with technical director Cor van Hoeven and owner Erik Tammer.

“Mark is a young, up-and-coming trainer who has great ambitions," Tammer said. "He has shown us he is very capable with this position and is committed to the Dutch Lions organization and the philosophy we have put forward. We are very excited to have Mark join us and can’t wait to see the women’s team have a successful first season.”

Batman, the current women’s head coach at Ohio Northern University, was raised in Dayton, Ohio where he began his soccer career playing for Team Dayton and Carroll High School. Batman then attended Wilmington College, and lead his team to two NCAA Sweet 16 appearances. Prior to his seven-year reign as head coach at Ohio Northern, Batman was an assistant coach at Wilmington College, University of Dubuque, IA, and Savannah College of Art and Design. At Ohio Northern, Batman has coached the Polar Bears to seven consecutive winning seasons, holding an overall record of 89-39-11.

In addition to his NCAA coaching experience, Batman has coached at all levels of U.S. Soccer’s Olympic Development Program and is currently on the Ohio North Region II coaching staff. Passionate about youth soccer development, he is excited to assist the Dayton Dutch Lions FC in bringing superior women’s soccer to the community. A mentor program between the W-League players and the Dutch Lions FC Youth Academy will provide a team of role models, developing and encouraging young girls to follow their dreams of playing professional soccer.

"I'm extremely happy to have been given this opportunity with the Dayton Dutch Lions," Batman said. "The DDL have a great vision and I was thankful they wanted me to be a part of it. It is a fantastic opportunity to be able to work with everyone involved and I'm looking forward to our inaugural season this summer."

The Dayton Dutch Lions FC were pleased with the result of the first ever open tryout for the women’s W-League, held this past weekend at Town and Country Sports Complex in Northern Kentucky. Despite the extreme weather conditions, over forty women set foot on the field for an opportunity to join the Dutch-American professional soccer club. Head Coach Mark Batman and Cor van Hoeven are likely to commit the first ever lady Dutch Lions players in the coming weeks.

Richmond Kickers News Release -- www.richmondkickers.com

Wednesday, February 9, 2011

RICHMOND, Va. – The Richmond Kickers are pleased to host University of Maryland and the second annual Pro-Am Challenge on Saturday, March 12. Kickoff is set for 5:00 p.m. at the Kickers state-of-the-art sports complex Ukrop Park. Just 500 tickets are available for $5.00 each, youth and adult, and are on sale now at RichmondKickers.com.

"Maryland has consistently been one of the top college programs in the country and the Pro-Am Challenge creates an added edge to our regular pre-season game,” Richmond Kickers Head Coach and Director of Soccer Leigh Cowlishaw said. “We have played Maryland several times over the last 15 years and the contests always produce great soccer and highly spirited affairs. The match-up will be an ideal pre-season test for our squad."

The Kickers welcome the 2010 ACC Champions University of Maryland Terrapins to open their 19th season. Finishing the regular season on a 13-game winning streak with a 17-2-1 record, the Terps garnered the second overall seed into the NCAA Tournament before falling 3-2 to Michigan in the Quarterfinals. NCAA National Champions in 2005 and 2008, the Terps have produced 17 straight winning seasons, with 2010 marking their 30th appearance in the NCAA Tournament.

“We are looking forward to facing Richmond in the Pro-Am Challenge,” Maryland Head Coach Sasho Cirovski said. “The Kickers are a tremendous franchise and we have a great deal of respect for Leigh and his staff. All of our friendlies have been of high quality and I expect this to be no different. Even though we lost seven starters, with five going to MLS and two others to graduation, we have a lot of talent returning. It will be an exciting match.”

In addition to the Pro-Am Challenge on March 12, the Kickers will face an intense lineup of closed door preseason scrimmages including matches against Longwood University, Old Dominion University, Virginia Commonwealth University and Carolina RailHawks (NASL). The 2011 USL PRO regular season commences three weeks later, when the Kickers play host to Orlando City on Saturday, April 2.

Established in 1993, the Richmond Kickers have consistently been one of the most successful professional soccer clubs in America. Over the past 18 seasons, Richmond has qualified for postseason play 16 times, and reached the title match in 2010 for the sixth time in the past nine campaigns, falling just short of the Championship title following a 2-1 loss to the Charleston Battery. Richmond's seven previous league Championship appearances (1995, 1996, 2002, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009) include winning the Premier League title in 1995, a shoot-out loss to Seattle in the USL First Division final in 2005 and taking the USL Second Division crown twice against Charlotte in 2006 and 2009.

Goalkeeper Tomer Chencinski has signed with VPS of the Finnish Veikausliiga. The excellent player and fan favorite will be missed on City Island in 2011 but an opportunity came up for him that was just too good to pass.

After finishing the 2010 USL-2 season on a high note with multiple solid performances Tomer joined the Philadelphia Union after the Isles Guys season ended. He trained with the MLS club for a lengthy period and planned on being back in Harrisburg for 2011 when he was approached by a team in Finland. After a successful one week trial they offered him a deal and he took it. VPS coach Tommi Pikkarainen had this to say about Tomer, "We saw things fall into place with Tomer very quickly". Chencinski will compete for the #1 GK position on the team. "He has brought in needed competition within the team" says Pikkarainen.

It will be sad to see him leave. As a player on the field and as a person off the field he is a great guy. Tomer has taken time out of his busy and well traveled schedule to fill us in on the details of the transaction and deliver a special message to the fans of the City Islanders. I think the text below shows what a class act he is and I hope we can see him return one day to Skyline Sports Complex.

FULL STORY 

Pittsburgh Riverhounds News Release --  www.riverhounds.com

Wednesday, February 9, 2011

PITTSBURGH, Pa. --  The Pittsburgh Riverhounds are pleased to announce the re-signing of the USL-2 Goalkeeper of the Year Hunter Gilstrap to a two-year contract. Gilstap will rejoin the Riverhounds for the 2011 and 2012 seasons pending USL and USSF approval.

The Riverhounds produced the stingiest defense in the USL-2 during the 2010 campaign, allowing the fewest goals in the league. This defensive prowess on the field was spearheaded by Gilstrap’s play and communication between the pipes. Gilstrap led the league in minutes (1620) and matches played (18), and was second in shutouts (6), saves (74) and goals against average (1.0).

“Hunter’s professionalism and work ethic on and off the field is the exact mold we are looking for in our current and future players," Riverhounds coach Justin Evans said. "With the completion of the deal, this will ensure that we have secured a big-time goalkeeper for the next couple of years here in Pittsburgh.”

“I'm very excited that I've been given the chance to play with the Riverhounds for the next couple of seasons," Gilstrap said. "I had offers from other teams in USL PRO and the NASL, but I decided to re-sign with the 'Hounds because I really like the direction that the club is heading. Since I arrived in Pittsburgh last season, I have continued to be impressed with this club's vision for the future, not just the pro team, but the youth academy too. There's a real opportunity here, and I want to be on board.”

During the off-season, Gilstrap returned to Pittsburgh in November and was introduced to The Riverhounds Academy. Upon his return, Gilstrap implemented a Goalkeeper Academy curriculum and was the Head Instructor for an introductory six-week course. The response from the young players and parents that were involved in the Goalkeeper Academy was extremely positive. The Riverhounds and Gilstrap are developing future training opportunities for young goalkeepers within The Riverhounds Academy.

Charleston Battery News Release - www.charlestonbattery.com  

Thursday, February 10, 2011

CHARLESTON, S.C. - The Charleston Battery has agreed to terms with defender Colin Falvey, midfielder Zach Prince and goalkeeper Keith Wiggans for the upcoming USL PRO season. All three players were members of the Battery’s 2010 championship-winning team and sign subject to USSF approval.

Battery Head Coach Michael Anhaeuser commented “Getting Colin, Keith and Zach for the 2011 season is very important as all three players were with us last season during our championship run. Colin and Keith bring back our experience and understanding and Zach will look to build on his rookie season performances. It is great to get all three back as the 2011 squad starts to take shape.”

A native of Cork, Ireland, Falvey played 20 games for the Battery in 2010; he was shown a red card in the USL-2 championship match after tangling with Richmond striker Matt Delicate. Falvey spent the off-season with New Zealand’s YoungHeart Manawatu. He has also played professionally with Cobh Ramblers and Kilkenny City in the League of Ireland and in the US with the Wilmington Hammerheads.

Midfielder Zach Prince returns to the Battery for a second pro season after appearing in 16 games and scoring one goal in 2010. A native of Columbia, S.C., Prince was a four-year starter with the College of Charleston. The 24-year-old, 6-foot-0 and 175 pounds, attended Irmo High School.

Veteran goalkeeper Keith Wiggans returns to the Battery for a sixth season. Wiggans has now played 41 games for the Battery with a GAA of 1.08. A native of Athens, Georgia, Wiggans played at the College of Charleston where he also now serves as an assistant coach.

Carolina Challenge Cup tickets on sale now
Tickets for the 2011 Carolina Challenge Cup featuring Major League Soccer are on sale now with prices frozen at 2010 levels. The USL Champion Charleston Battery will be joined by Major League Soccer’s Chicago Fire, D.C. United & Toronto FC for the week-long tournament, March 5-12, 2011. To purchase tickets visit www.charlestonbattery.com or call (843) 971-GOAL (4625).

 

Rochester Rhinos News Release -- www.rhinossoccer.com

Friday, February 11, 2011

ROCHESTER, N.Y. -- Adirondack Sports Club Chairman Robert Clark announced at a press conference on Thursday that the organization has secured a new naming rights sponsor for the downtown multi-use stadium.

Sahlen’s Packing Company, which owns the Western New York Flash of the WPS has agreed to a 10-year commitment to call the home of the Rochester Rhinos, Rattlers and Flash – Sahlen’s Stadium. The agreement features an initial five-year commitment, followed by a renewal for another five years beginning in 2016.

“This is an exciting day for our organization” said Rhinos Chairman Rob Clark. “Sahlen’s long-term commitment gives stability to the stadium and our franchises. We also believe our partnership as it pertains to the WNY Flash brings economic value to the community” said Clark.

The Rhinos begin their 16th season of play in April, while the Flash play their first of nine home games of their inaugural season in May. Major League Lacrosse will also make its return in 2011 as the Rattlers will host six home games at the stadium beginning in May.

In addition to professional soccer and lacrosse, Sahlen’s Stadium will also be home to the Drum Corps Associates (DCA) World Championships for a sixth consecutive year in 2011. In addition the Courage Bowl, the annual football game between the St. John Fisher Cardinals and University of Rochester Yellowjackets will return for a second straight season. Sahlen’s Stadium will continue to be the home of Section V football championship games and other high school athletic events.

“The entire Sahlen organization is thrilled to be partnering with the Rochester Rhinos to contribute to the promotion of soccer and the Sahlen brand in the Western New York region” said Sahlen’s Packing Company President Joe Sahlen. “Sahlen’s Stadium is “state of the art” among soccer venues and the Flash is proud and excited to call it home and be part of the soccer community in Rochester” said Sahlen.

Sahlen’s Packing Company is a Buffalo, New York based company specializing in Meat Products since 1869.

USL News Release

Friday, February 11, 2011

TAMPA, Fla. – United Soccer Leagues announced that it has entered into an agreement to affiliate the Super-20 League with the United States Adult Soccer Association (USASA), the only adult National Association member of the United States Soccer Federation.

The partnership will provide the USL Super-20 League with an excellent opportunity to increase its growth throughout the country working together with USASA and the 54 state associations. The partnership also aligns the Super-20 League with the USL’s Premier Development League, which is currently affiliated with USASA as its highest recognized men’s national league.

“Not only does this partnership open doors for the growth of the Super-20 League, it will provide current Super-20 teams with the opportunity to compete in USASA National Cup competitions,” USL President Tim Holt said. “This is a positive step for this league and further solidifies the role of the Super-20 League as the leader in player development for elite players in this age division.”

By joining with USASA, the Super-20 League aligns with the organization’s national initiative of developing and affiliating local and state-level U20 development leagues. As the first and only national U20 league, the Super-20 League sits atop this pyramid.

“US Adult Soccer has a core mission to grow U20 competitions as the perfect transition from competitive youth soccer to elite adult soccer,” US Adult Soccer Association President Richard Groff said. “The affiliation of the USL Super-20 League with USASA is a very important first step in developing competitive U20 teams for both men and women in every soccer club in the United States.”

The United States Adult Soccer Association is the premier national soccer organization dedicated to participation in, enjoyment and growth of adult soccer across America. It is recognized for providing leadership and valued programs, resources and services to support its member organizations, making "Soccer - your game for life."

As the only U20 men’s and women’s North American amateur league, the USL Super-20 League provides the platform for top 17- to 20-year-olds in the United States and Canada to compete at the elite level. While serving as a reserve team system for many W-League and Premier Development League teams, the USL Super-20 League features teams competing in regional divisions, consisting of 8-10 regular season matches throughout the summer months.

Santa Clarita Blue Heat News Release – www.scblueheat.com

Friday, February 11, 2011

SANTA CLARITA, Calif. – The Santa Clarita Blue Heat are proud to announce the signing of Portuguese national team captain Edite Fernandes for the 2011 season, pending USL and USSF approval. Fernandes has made 81 appearances for the Portuguese national team in a 14-year career.

Fernandes began her career with Boavista in Portugal, and between her time there and with fellow Portuguese First Division club 1º Dezembro earned nine league title and three Portuguese Cup titles. Since then, Fernandes has played in China, England and Spain, most recently playing for Atletico Madrid.

Speaking to Portuguese soccer website MaisFutebol, Fernandes said she was excited to have the opportunity to come the play in the United States.

“I want to represent the best of Portuguese women’s football and show that the Portuguese have the ability to play in the top leagues in the world,” Fernandes said. “My goal is to play in the European or World Cup, and I believe we are very close to getting it.”

Blue Heat Owner and President Carlos Marroquin said he was delighted to have Fernandes join his club, and paid tribute to Portuguese national team coach Monica Jorge for her help in bringing Fernandes to Santa Clarita.

Marroquin added he hoped he would be able to add more players of Fernandes’ caliber to the side before the season began.

“When I took over the club a year ago, my goal was to bring quality to the league,” Marroquin said. “My goal is to have three or four good players similar to Edite playing for the side this season.”
 

LAREDO, Texas -- The Laredo Heat have gotten the ball rolling on their 2011 campaign.

Front office officials met with Jose de Jesus “Chucho” Ramirez on Thursday about possibly consulting the team’s young athletes on training and lifestyle.

Ramirez was the head coach of the Mexico Under-17 World Cup champion in 2005 and is respected in professional soccer.

“We are talking about having a joint venture with the Heat, so that we can prepare the players in the same way that I did with the young men on the Mexican national team. The U20 national team played the Heat in 2008, so there has always been a sense of familiarity between us and Laredo soccer,” Ramirez said via a translator. “The whole idea is to train these players in a complete fashion. They already have talent, but we need to teach the values and respect and discipline, both on the field and off.”

The significance of the meeting carries implications that are directly related to Ramirez’s success on the pitch. He began as a talented footballer and seasoned into a stoic patroller of the sidelines. His successes, and lack of success throughout his career, whether it be with the various Mexican league teams like his most recent stop at Club America in 2008 or his tenure within the national team circuit, have chiseled his mind and perfected his protocol for victory.

“My major way of doing things is to not only attack the soccer aspect of things, but to actually try to work with each individual player and to work with them on how to reach the highest potential in all of life,” Ramirez said. “Individual and personalized communication is the key to our success.”

As the manager of the Under-17 Mexico team in 2005, Ramirez led the Mexican superstars of tomorrow to the only World Cup title in the history of Mexican soccer at any level. At the helm of that championship squad, Ramirez guided many of the world’s top footballers that are dominating professional soccer today.

“I value the (Cup) victory a lot. It was the product of all the hard work, but it most showed that the players that played for me and were champions are now successful by themselves all over the world,” Ramirez said. “That’s the best accomplishment for me.”

The English Premier League, arguably the most competitive professional soccer league in the world, lays claim to Carlos Vela – sharpshooting striker and the 2005 U17 World Cup’s Golden Boot recipient – while Spain’s La Liga features Giovanni dos Santos, the attacking midfielder that sealed Mexico’s 5-0 victory over the USA in the 2009 CONCACAF Gold Cup.

Although he wasn’t a member of the ’05 World Cup team, Ramirez also coached Manchester United’s phenom, Javier “Chicharito” Hérnandez.

“‘Chicharito,’ dos Santos, Vela, Héctor Moreno … all of the team members make me so proud,” Ramirez said. “There were maybe 14 of (his players) playing in (Wednesday’s) international friendly between Mexico and Bosnia-Herzegovina. I feel 'Chicharito' is the most complete player and shows Mexican values. I still have connections and text all of my former players to keep up with them.”

Ramirez was in town on Thursday to meet with team officials as a preliminary meeting that may potentially lead to his consultation with the team. Ramirez presented his proposal and outlined his plan to assist in training the Heat and preparing them to not only be fit on the pitch, but also in everyday life.

“We would like to see Mr. Ramirez help us in structuring our youth leagues all the way up to the Laredo Heat,” Heat President Shashi Vaswani said. “He will be working as a consultant to help us properly help our players reach the goals that they want to reach through his expertise. This was our first meeting and there will be more. We are currently talking about an agreement, and now we have to sit down with the plan he has devised. We both absolutely want to work together. Nothing is set in stone just yet, but the ball is rolling.”

There has been speculation that Ramirez’s role with the team may soon grow from a consulting role into the coaching position, but team officials shot down that notion, saying that current coach Israel Collazo’s job is secure. Collazo is said to be completely comfortable with Ramirez’s role and he embraces it, as the two know each other from their days within Mexican soccer.

For additional information on the Laredo Heat Soccer Club, please visit our website at www.laredoheatsc.com or call the Heat office at 723 – 4700.