Harrisburg City Islanders News Release -- www.cityislanders.com

Friday, June 3, 2011

HARRISBURG, Pa. -- The Harrisburg City Islanders will host the Charleston Battery this Saturday night at the Skyline Sports Complex on City Island. The City Islanders will be looking to win consecutive games for the first time this season after coming off a 4-2 win over the Pittsburgh Riverhounds on Tuesday night. This will be the second match of the season between the two clubs.

Harrisburg City Islanders (2-3-2, 8 points)

The City Islanders are currently in fifth place in the National Division. They're nine points behind first place (Los Angeles Blues) and three points behind second place (Rochester Rhinos). This will be the Islanders fifth home game of the season, where they have posted a 2-1-1 home record, scoring seven goals and allowing six goals.

This past Tuesday, the City Islanders hosted the Pittsburgh Riverhounds in the second edition of the 2011 Keystone Derby, winning 4-2. Goals by City Islanders Jose Angulo, Morgan Langley, Jason Hotchkin and Sainey Touray led Harrisburg to their second win of the season. Both wins have come at home.

"It was important to get a win on Tuesday night," said City Islanders cBill Becher, Harrisburg City Islanders Head Coach. "We need to continue to take care of our home games."

Harrisburg Players to Watch

Geoff Bloes

The Middletown native started his first game of the season on Tuesday and played the full 90 minutes. Bloes is a versatile player who has played outside back and forward already this season. He is the Islanders all time leading scorer in U.S. Open Cup play.

Brian Ombiji

The Kenyan footballer and Lindsey Wilson alum leads the City Islanders in assists this season with two. Last game, he assisted on Sainey Touray's goal. With his speed and fancy footwork, look for Ombiji to create goal scoring opportunities for the City Islanders Saturday night.

Charleston Battery (5-4-2, 17 points)

The Charleston Battery are currently in fourth place of USL PRO's American Division. They're six points behind first place (Orlando City) and three points behind second place (Richmond Kickers). This will be the Battery's seventh away game of the season, recording a 2-3-1 record, scoring just five goals and allowing eight goals.

This past Saturday night the Battery hosted the City Islanders. The City Islanders broke the ice in the sixth minute as forward Jose Angulo headed the ball into the goal off of a David Schofield delivery. The goal earned Angulo his third goal of the season, tying him for seventh place for goals scored in USL PRO. In the 60th minute, the Battery were awarded a penalty kick and midfielder Stephen Armstrong stepped up to score it. The Battery would score their second and what proved to be the game-winning goal in the 86th minute as former City Islander Nicki Paterson finished a ball laid off by Seedy Bah. The goal earned the Battery their fifth win of the season.

"Last Saturday was a difficult loss for us," said Becher. "We look forward to playing Charleston again on Saturday."

Charleston Players to Watch

Nicki Paterson

The former Harrisburg City Islander currently leads Charleston in points (9), goals (3), and is tied for the league lead in assists (3). The Scottish footballer also has the second most shots on the team (16).

Seedy Bah

The 18-year-old Gambian footballer has been impressive so far this season. Signing with the Battery after trialing with the MLS's Seattle Sounders, he has the second most points on his team with four, comprising of one goal and two assists.

Saturday's kickoff is scheduled for 7 p.m. at the Skyline Sports Complex on City Island. The first 1,000 fans will receive a FREE soccer beach ball courtesy of Deloitte! The game will also be available online at usllive.com. For more information on the City Islanders or to order tickets, contact the team at 717-441-GOAL, or visit www.cityislanders.com.

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

Friday, June 3, 2011

DAYTON, Ohio -- The Dayton Dutch Lions FC are set to take on the Pittsburgh Riverhounds this Saturday at 7:30 p.m. at Miami Valley South Stadium. Currently coming off back-to-back draws in USL PRO, the Lions continue to search for their first win of their seven-game home stand. The match will be broadcast live at USLlive.com.

“We need a result this week,” said Head Coach Ivar van Dinteren. “Winning this match will push us forward if we have any hope to contend in the USL PRO. Another tie or a loss will not be good enough, we need to start earning points. Playing good soccer needs to start translating into wins.”

The Dutch Lions PRO team went down a goal early last Saturday against the Charlotte Eagles in the 10th minute, a free kick lofted into the box brought down by forward Sallieu Bundu the Eagles on the board. But midway through the second half, Dutch native and returning midfielder Julius Willie equalized, putting away a penalty kick that was awarded to the Dutch Lions for a foul in the penalty area. The Dutch Lions are now 0-4-2 and sit below Pittsburgh in the National Division standings.

The Riverhounds are coming off a 4-2 loss against Harrisburg on Tuesday night. After going down a man and a goal in the 4th minute from a straight red card for a handball in the box, the Riverhounds were unable to recover. Fighting desparetely to tie the game in the second half after rallying back from a three-goal deficit to make the score 3-2 through Jason Yeisley, the City Islanders solidified their win as Sainey Touray scored through a fierce shot with only a minute remaining.

Saturday's match is Social Media Appreciation Night sponsored by ScoutForAll. We will be rewarding our loyal Facebook and Twitter followers with prizes and recognizing selected followers throughout the match. Fans connected to our social media have been randomly picked this week for Facebook and Twitter followers of the Day and have received free tickets for this Saturday’s match.

In an effort to engage with our social media supporters we will be posting comments from this weeks Facebook contest around the stadium and will have an interactive Facebook Wall for fans to “post” comment.

Wilmington Hammerheads News Release – www.wilmingtonhammerheads.com

June 3, 2011

WILMINGTON, NC – After a long weekend on the road, the Wilmington Hammerheads will take the field at Legion Stadium on Saturday night at 7:30 p.m. as they play host to USL PRO American Division leader Orlando City.

Wilmington Hammerheads (4-1-2, 14 points)

Following two ties on the road last weekend, the Hammerheads enter Saturday night’s game eager to maintain their undefeated home record. Their only loss of the season came from their first game on the road, when they fell 2-1 to the Richmond Kickers.

Last weekend was the Hammerhead’s first doubleheader of the season. While the team didn’t come home with a win, head coach David Irving was pleased with his team’s efforts against Rochester and Pittsburgh.

“Based on the team’s good showing we should have racked up more than two points, but I have no complaints from the weekend. We will move forward and focus on the goal ahead of us - beating Orlando,” Irving said.

Based on their performance last weekend, several Hammerhead players are bound to give Orlando a tough game on Saturday night. Defender Gareth Evans’ physical play has been a force in the Hammerheads' back line, and midfielders Luke Mulholland and Paul Nicholson are continuing to be a dominant aspect of the Hammers' attack. Forwards Chris Banks and Jyler Noviello both had missed unlucky opportunities against Pittsburgh last weekend and are sure to be hungry for a goal against Orlando.

Orlando City (7-1-3, 24 points)

Orlando City is currently sitting in first place in the American Division and is leading all USL PRO teams in total points. With seven wins and only one loss all season, Orlando certainly doesn’t lack confidence entering Saturday night’s game against the Hammerheads.

Orlando is also approaching Saturday’s match coming off a tie with Charlotte. Thursday night the Charlotte Eagles and Orlando City played out a scoreless draw, stretching their undefeated streak to 10 games. Orlando’s only loss of the season came against the Richmond Kickers.

Orlando forwards Maxwell Griffin and Jamie Watson are sure to pose a threat to the Hammerheads’ defense. Scoring six goals and posting 17 shots on goal so far this season, Griffin will hope to finish his chances against the Hammers. Former Hammerhead Jamie Watson has recorded 12 shots on goal this season and will look to cause problems for the Hammers' defence.

Despite the fact that Orlando has played 11 games and the Hammerheads have only played seven, both team’s records are very similar. If the Hammerheads could defeat Orlando and their remaining games in hand, the standings could shift at the top of the American Division.

Des Moines Menace News Release -- www.menacesoccer.com

Friday, June 3, 2011

WEST DES MOINES, Ia. – The Des Moines Menace will play an exhibition tomorrow as the final preparation for a weeklong road trip.
The Menace (4-1-0) takes on Des Moines International tomorrow night at 7:30p.m. at Valley Stadium. The team heads to Canada on Monday for a trip that includes four Premier Development League matches in five days. The Menace will face Heartland Division foes WSA Winnipeg (June 7-8) and the Thunder Bay Chill (June 10-11).

“The hope (in Canada) is to go 4-0 and stay on top of the league. It would build great momentum for the Open Cup game on Tuesday (June 14). With a 16-game schedule you can’t lose a game and make the playoffs,” head coach Laurie Calloway said.

Calloway’s squad has momentum on its side, coming off a 5-2 win Wednesday night over the Kansas City Brass. Des Moines raced to a 4-0 lead after only 32 minutes.

“The team played incredibly well in the first 30 minutes of the game. We kept the ball out of our half for the most part the second half. We got back on track with the results; it was good for their spirits,” Calloway said.

Tomorrow’s exhibition gives Calloway the chance to play some of his underutilized players who are vying for time in the lineup. Fans can expect to see a mix of youth and experience in the starting 11.

“Now we’re gearing up for to Canada trip and trying to figure out our line-up. We need to keep our momentum. I’m looking at players that we haven’t been featuring to see if they can stake a claim on the bus for Canada,” Calloway said.

Upon returning to the United States, the team will have only one day to prepare for their Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup match on Tuesday, June 14. The Menace hosts the Chicago Fire PDL team at 7:30p.m. at Valley Stadium.

RECAPPING WEDNESDAY:

Des Moines came out firing against the Kansas City Brass on Wednesday at Overland Park Soccer Complex.
Four goals in a twenty minute span were scored in the first half. Deshorn Brown scored twice, first in the 15th minute and another in the 32nd. Diego Marroquin scored in the 18th minute off a ricocheted ball in the box and Bryan Perez tallied his first goal of the season during the 25th minute with an assist from Lebogang Moloto.

Des Moines entered halftime with a 4-2 lead. The lone second-half goal came from Uriah Polley in the 67th. The Brass kept the Menace from qualifying two teams in the Open Cup after handing Des Moines their only loss (2-1) of the season on May 25.

SCOUTING DES MOINES INTERNATIONAL: Saturday’s opponent goes by the name Ecuador Des Moines. The team is coached by Roberto Triana and features local players from Colombia, Ecuador, El Salvador, Honduras, Mexico, Sudan and Zambia.

MENACE PLAYERS AMONG LEAGUE LEADERS: John Sosa is second in the league with six assists; Deshorn Brown is tied for second in goals (six), tied for third in points (13) and listed fifth in shots (19).

SATURDAY’S PROMOTIONS: Saturday is Youth Soccer Night, presented by Powerade and Vitamin Water. All youth-soccer players and coaches receive free admission at the gate, when they wear their team’s jersey or present a coach’s pass.

The Menace welcomes special guest Alberto Garcia Aspe, a former captain for the Mexican National Team who played in three FIFA World Cups (1994, 1998 and 2002). Garcia Aspe will sign autographs at Valley Stadium from 7p.m. until 7:45p.m. His appearance is sponsored by Coca-Cola and Kum & Go.

UPCOMING HOME ACTION: Des Moines is back at Valley Stadium on Tuesday, June 14 hosting the Chicago Fire PDL in the first round of the U.S. Open Cup. Fans can save $2 by purchasing advance tickets at tomorrow’s game, or by purchasing online.
 

Portland Timbers U-23s News Release -- www.portlandtimbers.com

Friday, June 3, 2011

PORTLAND, Ore. – Forward Brent Richards and midfielder Nick Palodichuk each scored in the second half, but two goals from forward Robbie Christner lifted the Kitsap Pumas to a 3-2 victory over the Portland Timbers U-23s before 4,754 at JELD-WEN Field on Friday afternoon.

On a special Health and Fitness School Day, presented by Providence Health & Services, the crowd of 4,754 set a new Timbers U-23s single-game attendance record.

The regular-season match between Portland and Kitsap doubled as a final tiebreaker for qualification in to the 2011 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup; the two sides had finished qualification tied through three tiebreakers. For a second straight season, the Pumas edged the Timbers U-23s on tiebreakers to earn a berth into the U.S. Open Cup.

Down by two goals at halftime, the Timbers U-23s were able to fight their way back into the match as Richards pulled one back at 2-1 with a goal in the 54th minute. Kitsap built a 3-1 lead on Christner’s second goal of the day six minutes after the hour mark, but then had forward Brian Burke sent off with a straight red card in the 72nd minute. The Timbers U-23s took advantage of the extra man and were able to again cut the deficit back down to one at 3-2 on Palodichuk’s goal in the 80th minute, but Kitsap was able to escape with their first win in Portland.

The Timbers U-23s had a chance to chip away at the Pumas’ lead in the 75th minute when the team was awarded a penalty kick after forward Ricky Abrego was taken down inside the box. Forward Miles Byass had his attempt from the spot stopped by goalkeeper Bryan Meredith, and on the rebound, Byass knocked a shot back into the midsection of Meredith, keeping the score in Kitsap’s favor 3-1.

Christner scored his second and third goals of the season, Meredith finished with three saves, midfielder Nik Besagno scored his first on the campaign and defender Daniel Scott recorded an assist to push the Pumas’ (6-0-1, 19pts) season-opening unbeaten streak to seven games.

Richards tallied his fourth goal of the season, Palodichuk scored his first goal as a member of the Timbers U-23s and defender Steven Evans recorded his first assist for the Timbers U-23s (3-2-1, 10pts). Portland had a four-game unbeaten and shutout streak come to an end in the loss.

The Pumas jumped out a 2-0 lead before halftime, receiving the go-ahead goal on Christner’s header in the 20th minute as he finished a cross from deep in the right corner by midfielder David Gray. On a scrambled play in the 32nd minute, Besagno put a side-winding shot off the bottom of the crossbar, which deflected down and just crossed over the goal line before the Timbers U-23s could clear it out, giving Kitsap a two-goal advantage before the break.

Evans, playing on the backline against Kitsap, connected with Richards in the 54th minute as the Timbers U-23s pulled to within one at 2-1. From the left side, Evans served in a long cross for Richards on the back post. Falling away from his defender, Richards headed the ball through traffic and by Meredith for his team-leading fourth goal of the season.

The Pumas regained their two-goal advantage at 3-1 in the 66th minute, when Christner punched in a shot from inside the box. Off a free kick, Scott was able to control a deflection and passed the ball out to Christner on the right side 12 yards out from goal. The forward slotted the ball inside the near post between Timbers U-23s goalkeeper Jason Dodson and defender Ryan Kawulok, both racing back to the post.

Kitsap’s Burke was sent off in the 72nd minute as a result of a hard challenge on Kawulok and the Timbers U-23s responded with a goal eight minutes later. Palodichuk took control of a loose ball and charged up field 15 yards before ripping a shot off from the top of the box. His low drive sailed past Meredith and into the back of the net and pulling the Timbers U-23s back to within a goal at 3-2.

The Timbers U-23s had a handful of last-minute efforts fall short. Byass has a cross roll along the top of the six yard box, just missing two runners crashing through the box in the 85th minute. Four minutes later, forward Erik Hurtado had a header from six yards out bounce into the hands of Meredith.

Dodson made a great save in second-half stoppage time to keep the Timbers U-23s within a goal, coming off his line to make a sliding stop on an attack by Kitsap.

After three straight matches at home, the Timbers U-23s face a three-game road stretch, starting Wednesday, June 8, at the Tacoma Tide at 7 p.m. The team then travels to British Columbia to take on the Abbotsford Mariners on June 11 and Vancouver Whitecaps Residency on June 12.

F.C. New York News Release -- www.fcnewyorksoccer.com

Friday, June 3, 2011

QUEENS, N.Y. – F.C. New York continued its undefeated streak on Friday night at Belson Stadium thanks to a 58th-minute header from striker Graciano Brito, who scored his third goal in as many games to earn his side a 1-1 draw against the Charleston Battery. Nicki Paterson scored in first-half stoppage time for the Battery on a free kick.

After an uneventful start to the game, New York almost opened the scoring in the 20th minute. Striker Jhonny Arteaga beat his man down the left side and whipped in a cross for Brito, whose looping header left Charleston goalkeeper Keith Wiggans stranded as it struck the right post.

Midfielder Tadeu Terra led New York in the midfield, providing the creative spark to create multiple opportunities for the home side. Brito was the focal point of the offense, winning several free kicks with his aerial presence as well as seeing a volley deflected behind for a corner kick.

Despite a strong opening period, New York found itself trailing at halftime thanks to Paterson. The Charleston midfielder stepped up to bend a 20-yard strike into the bottom right corner of the net over the outstretched hand of New York goalkeeper Tim Melia, leaving New York down 1-0.

The home side looked to rebound in the second half, and found its answer through Terra. The Brazilian streaked down the left side on a counter-attack and floated in a cross to Brito, whose towering header rocketed into the right side of the net past Wiggans to even the score.

The goal sprung New York into life as they began to dominate proceedings, keeping Charleston locked in their own end as they spread the ball across the field. Their best opportunity came in the 87th minute as Qwame Holder worked a give and go with Sam Stockley, beating his man and sending a cross into the area. David Reed got on the end of it, skipping past a defender and ripping a shot destined for the top corner only to see Wiggans palm it over for a corner kick.

The tie kept Shaw’s troops undefeated since his appointment, having won one and drawn two. New York now sits in third place in the National Division with 10 points via 2-4-4 record. Charleston finds itself in third in the American Division with 18 points thanks to a 5-4-3 mark.

F.C. New York’s next home game is Friday, June 10 at 7:30 p.m. at Belson Stadium on the campus of St. John’s University. For tickets and information please call 866-827-0154 or email tickets@fcnewyorksoccer.com. 

Antigua Barracuda FC News Release -- www.antiguabarracudafc.com

Friday, June 3, 2011

ST. JOHN’S, Antigua -- Defensive errors in the 20th and 33rd minutes gifted the visiting Rochester Rhinos three valuable points as they stunned the Antigua Barracuda FC’s support into a silence at the Sticky Wicket Stadium with a 2-1 victory on Friday night. The ’Cudas responded in the 55th minute of play but it was all too late and the small crowd left disappointed.

Under clear conditions in front of a small but expectant crowd, the Barracuda FC went into this game determined to exact revenge on the visiting Rhinos who defeated the ’Cudas in their previous encounter.

Both teams were quite content to feel each other out and employed the use of long balls into the box with pressure to force errors. In the 20th minute, a long ball over the top found the Barracuda defense wanting and the physical presence of Andrew Hoxie was enough to steal the ball from Karanja Mack and slip the ball through the legs of advancing Barracuda FC goalkeeper Molvin James.

The predatory instincts of Hoxie were again evident 13 minutes later when he pounced on a uncharacteristic error by Barracuda FC captain George Dublin, who completely miskicked and allowed the impressive Rhino to complete his brace.

For the Barracuda FC the end of the first half could not come fast enough. But the Rhinos came out in the second seemingly determined to sit back and absorb the pressure of the local team. Barracuda FC accepted the challenge and responded with an impressive array of passing and moving that eventually led to the breakthrough in the 55th minute after Randolph Burton dribbled his way pass a static Rhino defence to stab home.

A series of attacks followed as the tired legs of the visitors, clearly struggling to maintain their physical presence, wilted in the tropical conditions. To the credit of the Rhinos, they held on for dear life and to the all-important three points to secure the victory.

“We will be disappointed with our first half display and the soft goals we gave away, but the team we saw in the second half was the Barracuda FC that we have accustomed too," Antigua coach Tom Curtis said. "We will take that into our game on Sunday, and I can tell you we are confident we can overturn this result.”

But Hoxie was glad his side was able to earn all three points on the road.

“I am happy we were able to hold on to this win," Hoxie said. "Antigua is a good team and we were getting really tired out there. We are not quite accustomed to the weather but we are happy to get all the points.”

Vancouver Whitecaps Women News Release -- www.whitecapsfc.com

Friday, June 3, 2011

LOS ANGELES -- Vancouver Whitecaps FC women rolled to a 4-2 win away to Los Angeles Strikers FC on Friday night in United Soccer Leagues W-League action.

Whitecaps FC jumped to a 2-0 first-half lead on goals by Jen Stoltenberg and Tiffany Weimer. Sydney Leroux then scored twice in the second half to end the home side's comeback bid and make sure of the maximum three points for the Blue and White. The win keeps Vancouver in top spot in the W-League Western Conference.

Facing their second match in three days, and with a third fixture on Sunday, coach Hubert Busby Jr. changed things around, inserting Tina Romagnuolo and Ranee Premji back into the starting XI.

Los Angeles did well over the first twenty minutes, with the Whitecaps coming out a little flat as players needed time to get up to speed. Vancouver did have one good early chance though, as six minutes in captain Kelsey Hood fired just wide following a corner kick.

The opening goal came just before the half-hour mark after Stoltenberg was taken down by Strikers goalkeeper Amanda Robles and a penalty kick was awarded. Stoltenberg took it herself, firing home her first goal of the season.

Six minutes later, the Whitecaps doubled their lead. Amber Brooks fed a nicely weighted through-ball to top scorer Weimer, who finished calmly for her fifth tally in as many matches. The goal moves Weimer into the league scoring lead.

Hopes were raised for the home side moments after the restart as the Strikers capitalized on a defensive lapse. Republic of Ireland international Cherelle Khassal was the first to react to a loose ball in front following a free kick, and she fired in to make it 2-1.

Leroux restored the two-goal margin near the hour mark, using her speed to get behind the L.A. defence and fire in her second of the season.

"We brought Sydney off the bench to provide some spark," said Busby after the match. "Her pace is frightening, and she definitely stretches the defence every time she is on the ball."

Vancouver's fourth goal involved some superbly worked combination play between Leroux and Alysha Bonnick. Leroux's shot came back off the ‘keeper, but she got her own rebound and made no mistake to increase the lead to 4-1.

The home side did not give up, however, and in the 82nd minute, Whitecaps FC goalkeeper Kristen Funk was called upon to save a penalty kick from Samantha Johnson. However, with time running out, Funk could do little about a rising 23-yard rocket from Laura Coombs that flew into the net.

Busby wasn't happy with the lapses that allowed Los Angeles to score at both the start and end of the second half, but he was pleased with the end result.

"We take pride at not conceding silly goals and being solid at the back," Busby said. "Today we let ourselves down at times. But those things happen, and we were resilient enough to push on and make sure we left with three points."

The 'Caps record improves to 4-0-1, putting Vancouver a point up on the Colorado Rush atop the Western Conference standing. The win also runs Vancouver's regular season undefeated streak to 15 matches over two seasons. L.A. drops to 2-4-0.

The 'Caps conclude their three-match California trip on Sunday at Santa Clarita Blue Heat in a 1 p.m. PT kick-off. The next Whitecaps FC women’s home match is Friday, June 10, against the L.A. Strikers at Surrey's Newton Athletic Park. Note that the start time for that match is now 8 p.m. PT. The match is part of the Whitecaps Women's Soccer Series presented by Kia - in partnership with the Girls Metro Soccer League, and is being hosted by Surrey FC Pegasus. Tickets for all home games are available online at www.whitecapsfc.com/wtickets.

Reading United AC News Release -- www.readingunitedac.com

Friday, June 3, 2011

READING, Pa. – After being tested early and often by an ambitious Central Jersey Spartans squad, Reading United finally broke through with a flurry of second half goals in a 5-1 victory on Friday night. Lasse Sohrweide led the way for the United, having a hand in three of Reading’s four second half goals, tallying a goal and two assists in a 15-minute period before the final whistle.

Reading started the scoring in the 27th minute, as a Matt Baker blast from 20 yards out found the net. Central Jersey would tally the equalizer a minute before the halftime whistle as Spartan forward Ryan Finley was able to dance around Matt Hedges and placed a well struck ball that pinged off the inside of the near post and over the goal line.

Reading took the lead for good after Stephen Okai tallied his second goal of the season in the 55th minute. After Christian Barreiro chest-trapped a cross in the box he dropped it to his left foot and crossed to a waiting Okai on the opposite side of the box.

After Central Jersey’s Brayan Martinez was dismissed from the game for violent conduct a minute later, United forward Will Bates put the nail in the coffin with his sixth goal in his last five games in the 74th minute thanks to a Sohrweide cross. Sohrweide then struck in the 83rd minute, displaying his deft touch with the left foot in placing his shot inside the near post from a tough angle following a Josh Rice through-ball. Matt Sanner finished off the scoring in the 89th minute on Sohrweide’s second assist, punching in a line-drive cross for his fourth goal in 100 minutes of play with United.

With the victory, Reading remains undefeated in PDL play with a perfect 6-0-0 record while Central Jersey drops to 0-4-0.  United will now play the New Jersey Rangers on the road on Sunday.  United has already defeated the Rangers once this season, a 4-0 victory in their home opener on May 15th. The last time Reading travelled to Morris Catholic High, they came away with a division clinching 7-1 victory.

Los Angeles Blues News Release -- www.bluessoccerclub.com

Saturday, June 4, 2011

LOS ANGELES – The Los Angeles Blues are excited to announce the signing of Peter Byers for the remainder of the 2011 USL PRO campaign, pending USSF and USL approval. The Antigua and Barbuda international forward comes to Southern California with an impressive track record of attacking success following a brief, yet successful stint with fellow USL PRO club Antigua Barracuda FC.

“After the game at Antigua in mid-April, some of our players told me about him,” Blues Head Coach Charlie Naimo said. “I guess he had spoken to them and mentioned that he was interested in joining the team. I reached out to him the next day, but before I heard back I saw a press release that he had signed with Antigua. So we figured that would be his club for the whole season.

“Then, a couple of days after we played Antigua at home in early May, I got an e-mail from his agent telling me that it was only a one-month contract. Of course, we immediately responded that we were interested, and after pursuing him for a little while we came to an agreement. We’re extremely excited about his acquisition because we think Peter is a great fit for the team.”

Byers’ career statistics speak for themselves. The 26-year-old started out with Antigua and Barbuda Premier Division outfit SAP FC, where he played nearly 80 matches between 2003 and 2007 and averaged just under a goal per game. He then moved on to San Juan Jabloteh of Trinidad and Tobago’s first division, the TT Pro League, and registered 21 tallies in 38 matches.

Byers’ performances soon drew the attention of the Montreal Impact, then of the USL First Division, who acquired his services in 2008. In a span of two years, the Antigua and Barbuda international earned nearly 40 appearances and found the back of the net nine times for the storied Canadian club.

Byers contributed to Montreal’s run in the 2008/09 edition of the CONCACAF Champions League that saw the team win its group ahead of eventual champions Atlante, only to suffer a heartbreaking 5-4 aggregate loss in the quarterfinals to another Mexican side, Santos Laguna.

In early 2009, the striker’s strong play earned him a trial with MLS club San Jose Earthquakes. However, Byers would return to the Impact, and in October of the same year he scored the opening goal in the first leg of the USL First Division final against the Vancouver Whitecaps, which Montreal would go on to win 6-3 on aggregate.

The crafty attacking player made full use of his seven-game stint with Antigua Barracuda FC in 2011 by catapulting himself into the top ten of USL PRO stats leaders in both points registered (9) and goals scored (4). He has earned nearly 30 caps with the Antigua and Barbuda national team and averages just under a goal per every two games for his country.

Charlie Naimo explained what factors, besides the impressive numbers, made Byers such an attractive addition to the Blues roster.

“If you think about our team right now, we have almost all the pieces we wanted,” the Los Angeles Head Coach said. “The one type of player we haven’t had so far is a big, strong, fast forward that could stretch defenses and be a high target for us. Peter is that kind of player. He’s the type of guy who, even if we’re playing poorly, can operate in very tight spaces and handle two or three defenders at a time. That should be a tremendous help as we try to launch counter-attacks.

“That being said, his skills also make him a fantastic asset in terms of our possession game. He really adds another dimension to it. We can probably be a little more direct now in pushing players up the field because Peter will be able to hold the ball for us. Having him here will just make our attack that much more diverse.”

Ottawa Fury News Release - www.ottawafury.com

Saturday, June 4, 2011

OTTAWA, Ont. - The Ottawa Fury Women continued their perfect start to the 2011 W-League season with a 4-0 victory over the Rochester Ravens in their home opener at the Algonquin College Soccer Complex. It was the second time in less than a week that Ottawa handed the Ravens a defeat after the Fury opened the season with a 2-0 win in Rochester. With the win the Fury not only remain perfect with three wins in three games, but they have also yet to surrender a goal this season as captain Jasmine Phillips and Audrey Bernier Larose combined for the clean sheet.

Under perfect conditions for soccer the Fury took control from the get go quickly putting to work their trademark possession-based attack. Tabitha Padgett would get the first opportunity for Ottawa after Lydia Hastings shot was deflected right into her path, but Ravens keeper Jessica Sexton, who was very impressive against Ottawa last weekend, against was equal to the challenge turning the Fury away inside the first ten minutes of play. The clean sheet for Rochester was short-lived as Mallory Outerbridge was picked out by Lydia Hastings and tucked away her second goal of the season in the 13th minute to put the Fury ahead. Rochester would counter with some pressure of their own, but were unable to find an opportunity on target. The Fury would again go on the attack and Julie Hubbard was robbed by Sexton on a rocket from outside the 18 yard box. Hubbard’s persistence would pay off as she converted on a Teresa Rynier corner to give the Fury a two-goal lead through 26 minutes. Ottawa would put the game out of reach two minutes later when Lydia Hastings netted her second of the season to put the Fury in the drivers seat ahead of halftime.

With a three goal cushion through 45 minutes of play head coach Dom Oliveri was able to use his bench and brought in Audrey Bernier-Larose in for the second half replacing Jasmine Phillips to give Bernier-Larose her first career minutes in the W-League. Mallory Outerbridge would cap off a successful home opener netting her second of the game and third of the season in the 61st minute converting on a great through ball from Shay Eskridge. As the final whistle blew the reigning 7-time Great Lakes division champions put themselves clear on top of the division with 9 points going into Sunday’s matinee against divisional foes Laval.

The Fury host the Laval Comets Sunday at 12pm which will mark their last game before a 13-day break that is sure to give head coach Dom Oliveri plenty of prep-time before the team hits the heart of the W-League season.
 

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

Saturday, June 4, 2011

DAYTON, Ohio -- The Dayton Dutch Lions FC earned their first win in the 2011 USL PRO season with a 2-1 victory against the Pittsburgh Riverhounds on Saturday night at Miami Valley South Stadium. Coming back from a one-goal deficit at halftime, George Davis scored both goals for the Dutch Lions, first notching the equalizer in the 75th minute and then what proved to be the game-winner five minutes later.

“Our seventh game and we finally got a win,” said Head Coach Ivar van Dinteren. “The second half was everything or nothing. The mentality of the group was unbelievable; we had two marvelous goals tonight.”

The Dutch Lions started out strong, beginning the match with a shot off the Rivershounds crossbar in the opening minutes by Dutch native Marvin van der Pluijm. The Riverhounds answered by testing Dutch keeper Jesper Leerdam on two breakaways. The Riverhounds opportunity came in the 31st minute as forward Jason Yeisley was able to capitalize on a defensive mishap in the Dutch Lions penalty area to put the Riverhounds up 1-0. The Dutch Lions were unable to answer in the final minutes of the first half and went into the locker room down a goal.

Coming into the second half the Dutch Lions needed to convert one of their many offensive attacks, and controlling the outsides the Dutch Lions wingers were a continual offensive threat to the Riverhounds defense.

The equalizer came with 15 minutes to go as Davis put away the Dutch Lions first goal. Dutch native Lucien Seymour beat the defender from the left side and sent a lofted ball into the six-yard box; Davis IV sent a rocket into the back of the net after settling Seymour’s cross to his feet. Then within five minutes the Dutch Lions' momentum continued as Davis sent another one past Riverhound keeper Hunter Gilstrap. Davis latched onto a ball played in from forward Kolby Lacrone on the run to finish on his second touch for a beautiful goal. The Riverhounds were unable to find an equalizer and the Dutch Lions earned their first victory as a professional side.

The Dutch Lions will travel away for their next match to face Harrisburg on Wednesday June 8th at 7 p.m. Visit www.dutchlionsfc.com for more information; follow the Dutch Lions on Twitter @Daytondutchlion.

Wilmington Hammerheads News Release -- www.wilmingtonhammerheads.com

Saturday, June 4, 2011

WILMINGTON, N.C. – USL PRO leader Orlando City proved too much for the Wilmington Hammerheads on Saturday night as they rode two second-half goals to a 4-2 victory against the Hammerheads at Legion Stadium. Losing their undefeated home record, the Hammerheads dropped to 4-2-2 in the league while the Lions moved to 8-1-3.

Orlando attacked early on with a shot on goal in the opening two minutes of the first half. Both teams pressured each end of the pitch but the Hammerheads got in gear with a series of four shots starting in the 19th minute.

The Hammerheads would take the lead in the 31st minute after the side launched three shots on goal from midfielder Alex Grendi, midfielder Luke Mulholland and finally forward Andres Cuero, who would not be denied as he tucked away his shot, low and hard, into the back of the net. Minutes later Wilmington goalkeeper Brock Duckworth came off his line to save a dangerous deflection, only for the ball to drop to when Orlando midfielder Kevin Molino, who found Jamie Watson to score into the open net, tying the game in the 41st minute.

The Hammerheads regained the lead quickly as three minutes later forward Chris Banks trapped the ball and pushed one past Orlando City goalkeeper Miguel Gallardo to give Wilmington a 2-1 halftime lead. But minutes into the second half the Hammerheads committed a foul in the penalty area allowing Watson to score his second of the game on a penalty kick and tie the game again.

The Hammerheads struggled to find their rhythm after the break and in the 64th minute Orlando defender Demar Stewart scored, giving the Lions their first lead of the game. They then close the game out in the 90th minute when Maxwell Griffin fired a hard shot to the net to deliver a 4-2 lead. Hammerheads defender Ivan Becerra delivered one last effort for Wilmington but it ricocheted off the near post.

The Hammerheads will play to host the Pittsburgh Riverhounds at Legion Stadium on Friday night at 7:30 p.m. Also next Friday, Orlando City will take on the Antigua Barracuda in a 7:35 p.m. match at the Florida Citrus Bowl.

Charleston Battery News Release -- www.charlestonbattery.com

Saturday, June 4, 2011

HARRISBURG, Pa. --  Harrisburg City Islanders substitute Sainey Touray headed in an 89th-minute winner to deny the Charleston Battery a share of the points Saturday night at the Skyline Sports Complex as Harrisburg took a 1-0 victory.

Playing a second game in as many days after Friday night's 1-1 tie against F.C. New York, the Battery looked to have earned a second road point with a solid performance but Touray’s late goal settled the match. Despite the loss Charleston (5-5-3) remains in third position in USL PRO’s American Division.

Both sides had goals disallowed in the first 45 minutes for offsides. The City Islanders thought they had broken the deadlock in the 11th minute but Jose Angulo’s close range effort was flagged back by the assistant referee on the far side.

The situation was reversed in the 40th minute as Battery forward Dane Kelly slipped in behind the Harrisburg defense. Kelly flicked the ball past Harrisburg goalkeeper Phil Tuttle and into the goal but his celebrations were cut short as the official on the near side raised his flag for offside.

Kelly was involved again on the hour mark after an excellent through-ball from midfielder Evan Taylor. Kelly sprinted into the box then cut the ball back onto his left foot but his shot was blocked behind for a corner kick.

Harrisburg managed to clear the corner but the ball was whipped back in quickly from the far side. Defender Sean Flatley met the cross and snapped a powerful header at the goal forcing an excellent reaction save from Tuttle who just managed to tip the ball over the crossbar.

With time running out it appeared as if both sides would settle for the 0-0 tie but with less than a minute remaining Harrisburg worked the ball across from the right side. Touray judged the flight of the ball perfectly and his angled header evaded the outstretched hand of Charleston goalkeeper Andrew Dykstra.

The Battery’s next match is a home game on Tuesday, June 14 against Texan USASA side Regals FC in the first round of the U.S. Open Cup. Charleston returns to league action at Blackbaud Stadium on Friday, June 17 with a game against the Dayton Dutch Lions.

St. Louis Lions News Release -- www.stllions.com

Saturday, June 4, 2011

OVERLAND PARK, Kan. -- The St Louis Lions earned a hard-fought 3-2 victory against cross-state rivals the Kansas City Brass on a steamy evening at the Overland Park Soccer Complex. Dan Meagher scored what proved to be the game-winning goal for the Lions in the 75th minute.

The Lions stormed out of the gates early andscored in the first five minutes of the game when forward Henrique Suosa chased down a ball on the right side and found Pat Kelly at the near post. Kelly’s goal was his first of the season.

Later in the half the Lions went up 2-0 when Suosa buried a driven cross by Gavin Smith. Smith stole the ball from the Brass midfield and charged past the defender leading to the cross. The Lions continued to put pressure and had numerous opportunities in the first half but failed to add to their lead. Kelly was denied on a point-blank header late in the half and Smith missed the goal by inches late in the half.

In the second half the Lions continued to attack, but the Brass would not give up and pulled a goal back when Brian Harris scored from a free kick just outside the Lions penalty area in the 67th minute. The Brass would then find an equalizer six minutes later when Ricardo Yeverino outpaced the Lions defense on a through-ball from Ryan Hunter.

But the Lions retook the lead thanks to the scrappy play of Kelly, who controlled on the right side of the midfield and beat his defender one-on-one. Kelly then served the ball to the back post to a camped out Meagher who headed home to give the Lions a 3-2 victory. 

The Lions return home next weekend to face theKansas City Brass on June 11thon St Louis Soccer Day. For Tickets visitwww.stllions.com or call 636-939-5151.

Mississippi Brilla FC News Release -- www.brillasoccer.org

Saturday, June 4, 2011

JACKSON, Miss. -- In a match-up of the two remaining undefeated teams of the Southeastern Division of the Premier Development League, the Mississippi Brilla earned a convincing 3-0 victory against the Central Florida Kraze on Saturday night. Mike Azira scored twice for the Brilla, once in either half, while Moses Aduny had a goal and an assist.

The Kraze (4-1-1) had began the night holding a two-point advantage over the Brilla (4-0-2), but Mississippi jumped into first place with the victory.

Mississippi opened the scoring in the 26th minute when Aduny found Azira open at the top of the Kraze penalty area. Azira’s powerful shot left Kraze goalkeeper Keneil Baker helpless as he got a hand to it, but couldn’t keep it out of the net. Aduny doubled the score for Brilla 10 minutes later when Anteneh Lemma’s pass left him all alone except for Baker. Aduny touched the ball around the Kraze ‘keeper and slotted the ball in the empty net.

Azira scored again in the 64th minute with an exquisite chip that caught Baker just off his line. The goal effectively ended the contest as the Kraze just could not muster any semblance of a comeback. The goal also secured Man of the Match honors for Azira, who has proven to be a perfect choice as captain for Mississippi so far this season.

“It was good the see the team bounce back from the disappointment of missing out on qualifying for (U.S.) Open Cup on Monday," Brilla coach David Dixon said. "They played a strong Central Florida team tonight and completely shut them down. I’m excited to see what kind of soccer we can play for the rest of the season.”

The win extends Mississippi Brilla’s regular season unbeaten streak to 31 matches dating back to a 2-1 away loss to the Bradenton Academics on May 25, 2009.

Brilla now goes on the road to face the New Orleans Jesters in a cross-divisional matchup next Wednesday night at Pan American Stadium at 7 p.m.

Des Moines Menace News Release -- www.menacesoccer.com

Tuesday, June 7, 2011

WEST DES MOINES, Iowa – The Des Moines Menace are putting on the miles – or, should we say, kilometers – during their annual Canadian tour.

After crossing the border last night, the team plays four Premier Development League matches in the next five days, taking on Heartland Division newcomer WSA Winnipeg (Tuesday and Wednesday) and the arch-rival Thunder Bay Chill (Friday and Saturday).

“The hope is to go 4-0 and stay on top of the league. With a 16-game schedule, you can’t lose a game and make the playoffs,” said head coach Laurie Calloway, whose team is 4-1-0.

The trip’s first stop is new territory for the Menace. WSA Winnipeg is 1-1 after defeating Thunder Bay 3-0 for its inaugural win on May 29. Winnipeg Indoor Soccer Complex is the site for a pair of 7 p.m. matches the next two nights.

“I expect (WSA Winnipeg) to be experienced and for it to be a tough game,” said Calloway. “They split with Thunder Bay.”

The Menace departs Manitoba’s capital on Thursday, heading east to Ontario. Friday’s match – the first of back-to-back 6:30 CDT kick-offs at Chapples Park – is Thunder Bay’s home opener.

The history between the Menace and Thunder Bay dates back to 2000. The Menace leads the all-time series 20-14-3 and will be in search of its win against the Chill since a road victory on June 13, 2009.

“Thunder Bay has been very strong the past five or six years,” said Calloway. “It’s always a tough a difficult place to play. They’re very physical.”

The Chill finished second in the PDL last year, falling to the Portland Timbers U-23s in the final. Thunder Bay was crowned the PDL champion in 2008, when the Menace was the only team to defeat or tie the Chill on their way to the crown (1-1-2 against Des Moines).

Calloway’s crew will travel roughly 1,800 miles – or nearly 3,000 kilometers, to use Canada’s standard measure of distance – before arriving home on Sunday. The road warriors will spend 32 hours in the motor coach, with the longest leg of the trek (12 hours from Des Moines to Winnipeg) behind them.

RECAPPING LAST WEEK: Des Moines gained momentum last week with a redeeming 5-2 win Wednesday at Kansas City and a 14-0 exhibition win over Des Moines International at Valley Stadium on Saturday.

SCOUTING WSA WINNIPEG: WSA Winnipeg (1-1-0) has a roster loaded with local players, ranging in age of 16-32 years. WSA Winnipeg originates from the World Soccer Academy of Manitoba, Canada, established in 2001. Head coach Eduardo Badescu, also the club’s president, leads the team.

The team picked up its first-ever win on May 29, thanks to goals from Amos Ganyea, Ivan Garcia and Kenny Sacramento in the shutout win over Thunder Bay. The Chill won the previous day, 1-0.

WSA Winnipeg makes its first appearance in Des Moines, when the Menace hosts a Friday-Saturday doubleheader at Valley Stadium on July 1-2.

SCOUTING THUNDER BAY: The Chill (1-1-0) returns many of last year’s PDL finalists, including veterans Sicelo Buthelezi, Nolan Intermoia, Anthony Putrus, Wilson Neto and Brandon Swartzendruber.

Thunder Bay has won the Heartland Division crown three of the last four years, including last year’s 12-2-2 finish. The Chill handed the Menace a 7-2 defeat a year ago at Chapples Park, and Des Moines bounced back for a 1-1 draw the next day. Thunder Bay won 3-1 at Valley Stadium last July.

Tony Colistro is in his seventh season with Thunder Bay, holding an overall record of 62-37-15. His team comes to Valley Stadium on July 8-9.

MENACE PLAYERS AMONG LEAGUE LEADERS: John Sosa is tied for fifth in assists in the PDL league with six; Deshorn Brown is tied for third in goals (six) and fifth in both points (13) and shots (19).

Harrisburg City Islanders News Release -- www.cityislanders.com

Tuesday, June 7, 2011

HARRISBURG, Pa. -- The Harrisburg City Islanders will be hosting the Dayton Dutch Lions this Wednesday night at the Skyline Sports Complex on City Island. The City Islanders will be looking to extend their two-game winning streak, coming off a 1-0 win over the Charleston Battery this past Saturday night. This will be the first ever match between the two clubs.

Harrisburg City Islanders (3-3-2, 11 points)

The City Islanders are currently in third place of the USL PRO National Division. They're six points behind first place (Los Angeles Blues) and four points behind second place (Rochester Rhinos). This will be the Islanders sixth home game of the season, recording a National Division best 3-1-1 home record, scoring eight goals and allowing six goals.

This past Saturday night, the City Islanders defeated the Charleston Battery in a thrilling 1-0 win in front of a season-high crowd of 2,038. An 89th-minute goal by forward Sainey Touray, assisted by midfielder J.T. Noone, gave the City Islanders their second win in a row and third win of the season. The win pushed the City Islanders up to third place of the National Division.

"That was a huge win for us on Saturday night," said Head Coach Bill Becher. "We have been on the wrong side of a couple late goals earlier in the season, and it was nice to finally get one."

Harrisburg Players to Watch

J.T. Noone

The Temple University alum has been stellar in the short amount of time he has played for the City Islanders so far this season. The former Philadelphia Union midfielder has a two-game assist streak. This past Saturday, Noone assisted on the 89th minute game-winning goal by Sainey Touray. With his fancy foot skills and awareness on the field, look for Noone to extend his point-streak to three.

Sainey Touray

The 21-year-old Gambian footballer has been a major scoring threat for the City Islanders recently. The former New York Red Bull has a two-game goal streak. One of those goals was last Saturday's game-winning goal against the Charleston Battery.

Dayton Dutch Lions (1-4-2, 5 points)

The Dayton Dutch Lions are currently in sixth place of the National Division. They're twelve points behind first place (Los Angeles Blue) and ten points behind second place (Rochester Rhinos). This will be the Dutch Lions' first away game of the season.

This past Saturday night, the Dayton Dutch Lions hosted the Pittsburgh Riverhounds, winning 2-1. The Riverhounds scored the first goal of the game in the 31st minute as forward Jason Yeisley took advantage of a Dutch Lions mistake inside the penalty area. In the 75th minute, the Dutch Lions tied the game at 1-1 with a goal by midfielder George Davis. Davis wasn't done there as he slipped the ball past goalkeeper Hunter Gilstrap for the 2-1 lead five minutes later. The Dutch Lions would hold onto the lead for the rest of the game to earn their first victory of the season.

"Dayton is undefeated in their last three and are coming off a big win this past weekend," said Becher. "We look forward to the game, and hope to extend our winning streak to three."

Dayton Players to Watch

George Davis

The former Kentucky Wildcat leads the Dutch Lions in goals (3) and shots (14). Coming off a two-goal game against the Pittsburgh Riverhounds, look for the Lima, Ohio native to continue his recent scoring spree.

Kolby LaCrone

The first Dayton Dutch Lion to ever score a goal for the club's professional team, LaCrone has two goals so far this season. LaCrone was the first ever Ohio state high school player in history to score 100 goals and 100 assists in the same career.
Look for the West Virginia alum to provide the Dutch Lions with goal scoring opportunities.

Wednesday's kick-off is scheduled for 7 p.m. at the Skyline Sports Complex on City Island. Fans can enjoy a visit from Turkey Hill's giant cow and free Turkey Hill ice cream samples. Still hungry? Snickers will provide candy giveaways. The Philadelphia Union's mobile marketing tour will be there with giant inflatables and giveaways. Harrisburg Young Professionals will enjoy their Second Wednesday Social in the Surf City Party Zone. And finally, fans will leave with a free light bulb courtesy of PPL. You won't want to miss this game!

The game will also be televised live on WHTM abc27's Weather Channel by Gregg Mace and Invica Sports, sponsored by Snickers. Invica Sports will also bring it to you live on usllive.com.

For more information on the City Islanders, or to order tickets, contact the team at 717-441-GOAL, or visit www.cityislanders.com.

Laredo Heat News Release -- www.laredoheatsc.com

Tuesday, June 7, 2011

LAREDO, Texas -- For anyone that has ever said that there is nothing to do in Laredo during the summer, the Laredo Heat Soccer Club has some really entertaining plans for you in the middle of June.

Mexican soccer coaching icon Jesus “Chucho” Ramirez will be in the Gateway City on Wednesday, June 15th and Thursday, June 16th.

“Chucho”, as he is known to his fans around the world, will be speaking at the Texas A&M International University Center for the Fine and Performing Arts on Wednesday, June 15th. The speaking engagement is scheduled to start at 7:30 p.m.

Then on Thursday, June 16th, “Chucho” will be the Honorary Heat Head Coach when Laredo takes on the West Texas United Sockers at the TAMIU Soccer Complex as well as being present for a luncheon and a Meet and Greet Session for a few select fans prior to and after the game. Kick-off is set for 8:00 p.m.

Outside from his coaching exploits, Mr. Ramirez is also the President and CEO of his company, CARE (Centro de Alto Rendimiento Empresarial). CARE’s primary theme is “Transforming Minds to Create Champions” for both athletes and companies. “Chucho” is a renowned speaker in his native Mexico and he has given motivational talks to major corporations such as Coca-Cola, Nissan, Nike, Banamex, among others.

In the athletic arena, “Chucho” tasted victory at the highest level of the soccer world when he directed a group of young men from Mexico to the FIFA 2005 Under-17 World Cup Championship. From that group of players, some of Mexico’s current best and brightest soccer stars have emerged, such as Carlos Vela, Giovanni Dos Santos, Cesar Villaluz and Patricio Araujo.

“Chucho” also coached Mexico’s Under-20 squad in 2007 U-20 World Cup in Canada when it placed fifth in the world. On that team, current Mexican soccer megastar Javier “Chicharito” Hernandez, now of Manchester United fame, was under the coaching guidance of “Chucho”.

In 2008, “Chucho” was in charge of the Mexican Men’s National Team during the eliminatory phases for qualification to the FIFA 2010 World Cup. In addition to stints with Mexico’s National Teams, “Chucho” has also coached in the Mexican Soccer Federation professional ranks with what is notably the country’s most famous franchise, the Aguilas of America based in Mexico City.

While coaching with America, “Chucho” directed his team to a second place finish in the World Football Challenge which included soccer powerhouses AC Milan (Italy), Internazionale (Italy) and Chelsea (England).

“Chucho” also played professionally in Mexico from 1974 to 1989 with such clubs as UNAM, Cruz Azul, Club Neza, Club Atlante and Club Veracruz. In 1980 and 1981, while he was also a member of the Mexican National Team prior to heading to the 1982 FIFA World Cup.

“This visit to Laredo by Chucho is unique in that the insight he will provide during the conference will not only motivate but because he is so personable, he will make all his topics easy to understand and most importantly, allow his audience to apply it to their daily lives”, said Heat Owner and President Shashi Vaswani.

“I have met with him several times now over the past few months and I can guarantee that anyone who attends his conference or decides to meet with him at either the luncheon or Meet and Greet sessions, will walk away with a very unique perspective into the world of soccer at an international level plus a very personable view into Mr. Ramirez’s own life as a player, coach and motivator”.

Ticket Pricing Information

June 15, 2011 Conference at the TAMIU Center for the Fine and Performing Arts:

- $20.00 Adult Individual Tickets
- $15.00 Children Individual Tickets (12 to 18, children under 12 will not be admitted)
- $12.00 Heat Club Members (must present card to purchase ticket)
- $15.00 for Group Sales (50 plus tickets)

June 16, 2011 Luncheon, location to be announced:

- $150.00 Individual Tickets (limited amount of tickets will be sold)

June 16, 2011 Meet and Greet Event after Heat and West Texas United Match, location to be announced:

- $100.00 Individual Tickets (limited amount of tickets will be sold)

All event tickets can be purchased during regular business hours (10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.) at the Laredo Heat Soccer Club office located at 7220A Bob Bullock Loop, Suite 3A (Third Floor), brown building next to the La Quinta Inn and Suites from Wednesday, June 8th to Thursday, June 16th.

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.

USL News Release

Tuesday, June 7, 2011

TAMPA, Fla. - “USL Breakaway Magazine,” the fast-paced 30-minute highlight and feature show chronicling United Soccer Leagues and its system of elite-level amateur and professional leagues, makes its 2011 debut at 7 p.m. ET Wednesday on FOX Soccer.

With its season debut, “USL Breakaway Magazine,” hosted by the voice of USL, Kenn Tomasch, charts a new course in 2011. The show, in its sixth season, has become a year-round fixture featuring 12 monthly episodes thanks to an exciting new three-year broadcast deal between USL and FOX Soccer.

In this month’s episode, which originates from USL’s spacious new headquarters in Tampa, “USL Breakaway Magazine” previews the 2011 USL PRO season with a look at the 12 teams comprising the league’s American and National Divisions. Our cameras caught up with Los Angeles Blues Head Coach Charlie Naimo, who discussed the high level of competition his first-year squad is facing in USL PRO.

USL President Tim Holt kicks off the episode with a look at how “USL Breakaway Magazine” has grown into what it is today. Later in the show fans get a comprehensive preview of the 2011 Premier Development League, W-League, Super-20 League and Super Y-League seasons.

Another major aspect of the broadcast deal with FOX Soccer is the USL PRO Game of the Week, with the Rochester Rhinos hosting the Harrisburg City Islanders this Saturday (June 11) at 5:30 p.m. ET in the first of 10 national broadcasts. The first replay of “USL Breakaway Magazine” airs at 5 p.m. ET Saturday, leading into the USL PRO Game of the Week, which is followed by the U.S. vs. Panama CONCACAF Gold Cup live telecast.

“USL Breakaway Magazine” Episode 1 Schedule

Debut
Wednesday June 8 7 p.m. ET
Replays
Saturday June 11 5 p.m. ET
Wednesday June 15 5 a.m. ET

Episode 2 of “USL Breakaway Magazine” is scheduled to debut in July and will look at the latest USL news and highlights and a special community program led by USL PRO’s Charlotte Eagles. “USL Breakaway Magazine” is produced by Cultural Videos and Sports Communications Inc.