Orlando City News Release -- www.orlandocitysoccer.com

Saturday, June 18, 2011

ORLANDO, Fla. – Tough weather and tough luck led to a 1-1 draw in Orlando City’s first ever nationally televised game against the Wilmington Hammerheads. 6,923 fans braved the nearly 30 mile-per-hour winds to see the third-largest crowd of the season, but Wilmington’s Andriy Budnyy scored with six minutes to go to earn the Hammerheads a point after Devorn Jorsling had opened the scoring for the home side.

Orlando kicked off the match hesitant in their play due to severe winds but settled after the opening 10 minutes. The Lions were also playing with an altered line-up as they were missing several key starters due to suspensions and visa issues. This gave reserves Charlie Campbell, Wes Allen, and Dennis Chin a chance for playing time with the rest of the regular starters. Allen’s time was unfortunately short-lived as he suffered a leg injury in the 36th minute, opening up an opportunity for fellow defender Kieron Bernard, who replaced him.

The Lions attacked hard but came up short trying to find Max Griffin and Jorsling. The wind continued to cause havoc with City’s playing style, knocking the ball around in unpredictable ways. The two forwards made a number of good runs, Griffin curling a shot just over the bar, but were continually shut down by the wind and Wilmington defense for most of the half.

The Lions appeared to be one touch shy of a goal as the offense became frustrated in their attack. Griffin, Jorsling, Kevin Molino, and Erik Ustruck all took shots on goal that flew just wide or soared barely over the crossbar. Orlando and Wilmington battled back and forth for the remainder of the half and demonstrated aggressive play that resulted in a collection of fouls for each team. The half concluded scoreless.

The Lions sprang to life to start the second half and really began to threaten the Hammerheada’ defense. Celebration erupted in the 54th minute as Jorsling scored his first goal of the regular season. Jorsling struck a powerful shot from about 25 yards outside the goal, capitalizing on the momentum from his two-goal performance in Tuesday’s U.S. Open Cup match.

The Lions continued to press forward as they gained momentum from Jorsling’s spectacular goal. Campbell, Yordany Alvarez and Lawrence Olum controlled the midfield while Griffin and Jorsling worked together with them in the attack. Dennis Chin also brought a spark off the bench in the 74th minute when he replace Griffin. 

But the Hammerheads also created chances of their own, and Budnyy capitalized to pull his side even in the 84th minute. Luke Mulholland’s cross from the right was deflected by Bernard and came to Budnyy in the 18-yard box, who promptly blasted the ball through the legs of Orlando City defender Jack Traynor and the diving hands of Miguel Gallardo. Both sides fought hard for a go-ahead goal, but could not find a decisive finish, leaving the match to end in a 1-1 draw.

“I think we played well but we got too comfortable with the lead at the end of the game,” said Charlie Campbell. “We had a couple mental lapses at the end and broke down defensively and I think that’s what cost us the goal and cost us the two points for that game. I’m disappointed that we lost the other point due to mental errors. There’s always going to be adversity in the season and it’s how you overcome that adversity. It takes a whole team effort.”

Next up for the Lions is the second round of the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup. City travels to Charleston to face fellow USL PRO side the Charleston Battery. The winner of Tuesday night’s match will face a trip to Major League Soccer’s FC Dallas in the third round.

Western Mass Pioneers News Release -- www.wmpioneers.com

Sunday, June 19, 2011

PORTLAND, Maine – The Western Mass Pioneers and MPS Portland Phoenix played to a 1-1 draw on Sunday in Portland. Midfielder Sam DeMello scored the game-tying goal for Western Mass in the 84th minute off a feed from Ludlow native Jesse Pereira.

MPS took the lead five minutes before halftime as Joel Thiessen found the back of the net as the Phoenix outshot the Pioneers 12-6 in the first half, but the Pioneers nearly equalized in the 75th minute when Christopher Roswess beat Portland’s center backs only for Portland goalkeeper Matt Williams to make the save to keep the home team in the lead.

However, the Pioneers continued to press for the equalizer in the final 15 minutes and DeMello delivered it in style, beating Williams at his near post.

“Portland had us on our heels during the first half, but we managed to weather the storm,” Pioneers Head Coach Joe Calabrese said. “In the second half our guys played with a great amount of urgency and emotion. We are pleased to take away a point from this match on the road.”

The draw keeps both Western Mass and Portland deadlocked at the top of the PDL Northeast Division standings. Both teams sit on 14 points with 4-1-2 records, but Western Mass owns the tie-breaker having beaten Portland at home on May 27. The two teams will face off three times in July. Western Mass returns home to Lusitano Stadium on Saturday at 7 p.m. to take on the Ottawa Fury.

Richmond Kickers News Release -- www.richmondkickers.com

Monday, June 20, 2011

RICHMOND, Va. – The Richmond Kickers host the U.S. Open Cup second round on Tuesday night, taking on the Pittsburgh Riverhounds at Richmond City Stadium at 7 p.m. Should the Kickers advance past their USL PRO opponents, they will face the Columbus Crew of Major League Soccer at Columbus Crew Stadium on Tuesday, June 28. Wear red and purchase tickets for just $5 at the gate. Richmond Kickers Season Passes, Coach Passes and Youth Pro Passes will be accepted at this match.

The Kickers advanced to the second round after handing USL PRO rivals the Dayton Dutch Lions a 4-1 defeat in the first round last Tuesday. Kickers midfielder David Bulow recorded his second career hat trick, while midfielder Shaka Bangura contributed a pair of assists before adding a tally of his own in the 89th minute. The Riverhounds narrowly avoided penalty kicks in the first round when a nail-biting overtime tally by Jeremy Deighton in the 99th minute boosted Pittsburgh to a 3-2 win against Chattanooga FC.

Both the Kickers and the Riverhounds were held scoreless during regular season action last weekend, dropping three points on their home turf. The Kickers suffered their first home loss of the season to the Harrisburg City Islanders, who blanked Richmond 1-0. Holding a narrow edge over Antigua Barracuda FC for second place in the USL PRO American Division standings, the Kickers post a regular season record of 7-3-2 and 23 points. Meanwhile, Pittsburgh suffered a 3-0 loss to National Division rivals Rochester Rhinos and reside in fifth place in the National Division standings with a 2-8-3 record and nine points.

The Kickers meet Pittsburgh for the second time this season, after coming away with a 2-1 win against the Riverhounds on April 9. Overall, the Kickers hold a record of 13-7-3 against the Riverhounds, with a rivalry dating back to 1999 when the two franchises competed in the USL First Division. Pittsburgh edged Richmond 2-1-1 during the 2010 regular season with the Kickers earning their eighth league championship bid in nine years after a decisive 2-0 win over the Riverhounds during last year’s semifinals.

The 2011 season marks the 13th time the Richmond Kickers have qualified for the U.S. Open Cup over the past 19 seasons and hold an overall record of 20-11 during tournament play. The Kickers claimed the U.S. Open Cup title the first year of the “Professional Era” in 1995 and have since made it to the quarterfinal round four times (1995, 2001, 2004, 2007), ousting three Major League Soccer teams along the way including Colorado Rapids in 2000, D.C. United in 2004 and LA Galaxy in 2007. With 68 total goals scored during the Open Cup, the Kickers set several franchise records, as well as a Professional Era U.S. Open Cup record, for most goals (12) during the 8-4 rout over the Ocean City Barons in 2005.

The Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup has crowned a champion for 97 consecutive years beginning in 1914. Like recent editions, the U.S. Open Cup is a single-elimination tournament, with games tied after regulation extended by two 15-minute overtime halves. If a winner is not determined in overtime, advancement will be determined by kicks from the penalty spot. The 2011 champion will earn a $100,000 cash prize, while the runner-up will collect $50,000. The top Division III and Amateur Division clubs will each receive a $10,000 prize.

Tickets

Richmond Kickers regular admission prices will apply for the U.S. Open Cup Second Round match. Tickets are $12 for adults and $7 for youth ages 3-17. Avoid lines at the gate and click and print your tickets in advance at RichmondKickers.com. Richmond Kickers Season Passes, Coach Passes and Youth Pro Passes will be accepted for this match.

Charleston Battery News Release -- www.charlestonbattery.com

Monday, June 20, 2011

CHARLESTON, S.C. -- The Charleston Battery takes on Orlando City on Tuesday night at Blackbaud Stadium in the second round of the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup; gates open at 6 p.m. with kickoff set for 7:30 p.m. The winner will advance to face Major League Soccer’s FC Dallas next Tuesday night at Pizza Hut Park in Frisco, Texas.

Tickets for Tuesday’s match against Orlando are on sale now starting at just $10 with discounts available for 2011 Season Ticket holders and groups of 10 or more; Three Lions Club members receive complimentary tickets to all USOC matches. To purchase tickets or for more information please call (843) 971-GOAL (4625) or visit www.charlestonbattery.com.

The Battery advanced to the second round with a 2-0 victory against Regals FC behind goals from Nicki Paterson and Dane Kelly. Orlando topped ASC New Stars 4-0 in its first round match.

Tuesday’s game will be the Battery’s 40th in the U.S Open Cup; Charleston has a 28-11 record with one final appearance (2008) and three semifinal appearances (1999, 2004, and 2008).

The Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup, the U.S. Soccer Federation’s National Championship, is an annual competition open to all amateur and professional soccer teams affiliated with U.S. Soccer. It is the oldest annual team tournament in U.S. sports history and among the oldest soccer tournaments of its type in the world. In 1999, the competition was renamed to honor long-time soccer pioneer Lamar Hunt.

The tournament has crowned a champion for 97 consecutive years beginning in 1914. Every winning team’s name is engraved on the base of the Dewar Challenge Trophy which dates to the first year of the tournament and currently resides at U.S. Soccer House in Chicago. This year’s final will take place on Oct. 4.

At stake in the tournament is $180,000 in prize money broken down as follows: $100,000 to the champion, $50,000 to the runner up and $10,000 to the team that advances deepest into the tournament from each of the Division II, Division III and amateur levels. The winner of the U.S. Open Cup also receives an automatic berth into the CONCACAF Champions League. 

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

Monday, June 20, 2011

QUEENS, N.Y. -- F.C. New York will battle the N.Y. Pancyprian Freedoms, an amateur team and member of the United States Adult Soccer Association, in the second round of the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup on Tuesday night at 7:30 p.m. at Belson stadium on the campus of St. John's University. The winner will play in the third round on June 28 against New York Red Bulls at Red Bull Arena in Harrison, N.J. on Tuesday, June 28.

In its first round game, New York defeated the Western Mass Pioneers of the USL Premier Development League 3-0 at the Met Oval in Queens thanks to a hat trick from Jhonny Arteaga. The Pancyprian Freedoms advanced by eliminating fellow USASA side the Brooklyn Italians 2-1.

The Pancyprian Freedoms have a long history on the New York soccer scene, having been founded in 1974. They won three U.S. Open Cups in the all-amateur pre-Major League Soccer era, in 1980, 1982, and 1983.

All 32 lower division teams were randomly drawn against each other after clubs were divided into eight groups of four based on location. The eight second round winners will play for the chance to face one of eight Major League Soccer teams in the third round.

After the MLS teams enter the tournament on June 28, the quarterfinals will take place on July 12 and the semifinals will be played on August 30.

Wilmington Hammerheads News Release -- www.wilmingtonhammerheads.com

Monday, June 20, 2011

WILMINGTON, N.C. – The Wilmington Hammerheads are excited and proud to announce that their next USL PRO home game on Friday night will be nationally televised on Fox Soccer.

The Hammerheads will take on their rivals from South Carolina, the Charleston Battery, in the live broadcast at 7:30 p.m. The Hammerhead organization is asking all fans who are planning to attend the game to participate in a “Blue Out” by wearing a blue t-shirt to the game and help create a mass of Hammerhead blue in the stands for the nation to see.

The Hammerheads organization is asking all fans who are planning to attend the game to participate in a “Blue Out” by wearing a blue t-shirt to the game and help create a mass of Hammerhead blue in the stands for the nation to see.

Leading up to the June 24th game, the Hammerheads will be selling blue Hammerhead t-shirts made specifically for the “Blue Out” for only $10! This is a savings of $8.

“Blue Out” t-shirts can be purchased online at www.wilmingtonhammerheadsmerchandise.com or at the stadium on game day! The merchandise booth at the stadium will open at 6 p.m. on Tuesday night during the Hammerheads' Open Cup game against the Charlotte Eagles.

Fox Soccer’s cameras will be set up on the main stand side, shooting the game with the visitor side in the background, therefore the Hammerhead’s are urging fans to consider sitting on the opposite side of the stadium to show their support on national television.

Announcing the play-by-play for Fox Soccer will be Kenn Tomasch, the voice of United Soccer Leagues. Tomasch also serves as host of USL’s 30-minute monthly highlight and feature show, “USL Breakaway Magazine.”

Earlier this year, USL and Fox Soccer Network agreed on a deal that includes a total of 15 live game broadcasts – 10 USL PRO regular season games as well as a USL PRO quarterfinal and semifinal, the USL PRO championship game and the championship games for the Premier Development League and W-League.

Ventura County Fusion News Release -- www.vcfusion.com

Monday, June 20, 2011

VENTURA, Calif. — The Ventura County Fusion, the region’s first and only world-class, championship-caliber soccer franchise, the 2010 Southwest Division title holder and the 2009 champion of the Premier Development League, today announced it will play an international exhibition match against five-time F.A. Cup winner and Barclays Premier League side West Bromwich Albion Football Club at 3 p.m. PDT on Sunday, July 17, 2011, at Oxnard College Stadium in Oxnard, Calif. The game will take place during Albion’s 10-day training camp in Ventura.

The game, also known as a “friendly,” is one of three exciting contests the English club will play in July as part of its month-long North American promotional tour. In addition to the Fusion, the renowned squad affectionately known to its fans as the “Baggies” or the “Throstles,” will also face the San Jose Earthquakes and Portland Timbers of Major League Soccer. Today’s announcement was jointly made by Fusion General Manager Ranbir Shergill and Fusion Director of Soccer Graham Smith, a former Albion goalkeeper who also serves as president of First Wave Sports Marketing, the organizers of the tour.

The Albion exhibition represents the first-ever meeting between the teams and the Fusion’s fourth match against Premier League sides during its five-year history. Most recently the Fusion challenged Portsmouth F.C. on July 17, 2010, at Oxnard College, and faced Burnley F.C. on July 21, 2009, on its former home turf at Buena High School’s Bulldog Stadium. The team also played Everton F.C. on July 24, 2007, at Home Depot Center in Carson, Calif. during its inaugural season. Prior to the start of the 2011 PDL campaign, the Fusion hosted and played against five MLS clubs as part of those organizations’ respective pre-season training: the Earthquakes, Timbers, Vancouver Whitecaps, Colorado Rapids and D.C. United.

“This friendly with Albion, one of the United Kingdom’s most storied and well-known clubs, marks the thrilling return of Premier League action to Ventura County for the third consecutive year, and represents another formidable test for Fusion players from high-quality professional opposition,” said Shergill. “For soccer fans, the match offers a rare opportunity to see Albion striker Peter Osaze Odemwingie, a top-five Premier League scorer, and other international stars in person from one of the most watched and highly-followed sports leagues in the world. Finally, the match continues our mission of competing against top professional clubs from across the globe.”

About West Bromwich Albion

Founded in 1878, Albion is one of the founding members of The Football League, the predecessor of the Premier League, and a five-time winner of the FA Cup. Originally known as the West Bromwich Strollers, the Midlands club has long-standing rivalries with Aston Villa and Wolverhampton Wanderers, with whom they compete in the famous Black Country derby.

Led by legendary manager (head coach) and former Liverpool FC player and Fulham coach Roy Hodgson, Albion’s powerful roster is fueled by Nigerian international Odemwingie, who scored a career-best 15 goals this past season. The side is captained by Chris Brunt, a Northern Ireland national team member who scored 13 goals during the club’s 2009-10 campaign and added four more this year. Brunt and Odemwingie, along with Congo native Youssouf Mulumbu and Swedish midfielder Jonas Olsson, led Albion to an 11th-place finish for the 2010-11 season, during which the club defeated Premier League powerhouses Everton (1-0) and Liverpool (2-1) on the road. The club also triumphed over Arsenal (3-2) at home, and played Manchester United to a 2-2 draw away.

Additionally, Albion is stocked with a plethora of international stars, including Marek Cech (Slovakia), Scott Carson (England), Somen Tchoyi (Cameroon), James Morrison (Scotland), Gonzalo Jara (Chile), Steven Reid (Republic of Ireland), Pablo Ibáñez (Spain), Gabriel Tamas (Romania) and Dean Kiely (Republic of Ireland). Ibáñez was a starter for Spain’s national team, alongside Carlos Puyol at center back, during the 2006 FIFA™ World Cup.

Ticket Pricing and Availability

Tickets for the Fusion-Albion match are now on sale and immediately available by contacting Fusion headquarters at (805) 277-9742, or by ordering online at http://www.vcfusion.com. Ticket prices are $15.00 each for adults, and $8.00 each for children under the age of 17, if purchased in advance through VCFusion.com. A family four-pack, which includes two adult and two youth tickets, is also available for advance purchase for $40. At the gate, ticket prices are $20 each for adults, and $12 each for youths. All Fusion season ticket holders will be admitted free. Located at 4000 South Rose Avenue in Oxnard (93033), Oxnard College Stadium will open at 2:15 p.m. PDT, with kickoff set for 3 p.m. PDT.

USL Feature

Tuesday, June 21, 2011

By NICHOLAS MURRAY

On Sunday night as Kitsap Pumas coach Pete Fewing was watching the Major League Soccer game between the Portland Timbers and New York Red Bulls, his mind drifted back.

“It really brought back some fun memories,” Fewing said by phone on Monday.

Fewing’s side had been on the same field against the Portland Timbers U-23s a little more than two weeks earlier, earning a berth in the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup with a 3-2 victory thanks in part to a pair of goals by Robby Christner.

Now Fewing’s side is set to face fellow Premier Development League side the Real Colorado Foxes in tonight’s second round at Bremerton Memorial Stadium at 7 p.m. PDT. Still undefeated in all competitions this season, it’s been a remarkable season so far for the side accentuated by the first-of-its-kind play-in game against the Timbers.

“I happened to have the team over for dinner after our game against North Sound,” Fewing said. “I was on the phone with [Pumas executive director] Ben Pecora and I just said while I was in the middle of our team, I said ‘can we play the game Friday and the winner goes?’ We had already tied Portland, and granted we were going to their place and we’d lost to them three times last year, but all the guys wanted to do it. I was pleased Ben was able to make it happen, I was pleased the federation agreed to that, so to go down and beat them in that environment was a lot of fun.”

The Pumas had another memorable contest in the first round proper of the tournament, getting past the Chivas El Paso Patriots in a penalty shootout after heroics by 6-foot-6 back-up goalkeeper Zac Lubin. Trailing 2-0 in the shootout, Lubin made a save and forced another miss to send the shootout to sudden death, where he made another save in the ninth round to allow Bryan Burke to send the Pumas home victorious.

Lubin was making his first start for the club after an injury to regular starter Bryan Meredith, but came through with flying colors.

“He did well,” Fewing said. “He came up with some big saves, he held onto the ball in traffic, on the penalty kicks we said to him before, ‘save two’ and we went down 0-2 which was alarming to say the least in five rounds, but he came up and made a big save and cut the deficit and forced their fourth shooter to shoot wide, so he pulled us back into it and did very well.”

Now the Pumas have a chance to go further in the Open Cup than they have before in the club’s three-year history. After falling in the second round to the senior Portland Timbers side that now resides in MLS, the Pumas have got a game they believe is more manageable against the Foxes. That said, Real Colorado is also undefeated this season and Fewing believes they will be a challenge for his side’s defense with a number of capable goal-scorers leading the way. Among them are Lorne Donaldson, who leads the team with five goals, and Kyle Christensen and Drew Beckie, who each have four.

“I know they score a lot of goals,” Fewing said. “I’ve seen their results and I’ve seen their stats and I see they’ve got a number of guys, a couple of brothers, the Christensen brothers, who can score, it’s not one guy. El Paso had one guy who scored the goals, their No. 10, and then they had a bunch of other guys with one, but this team has a bunch of guys who can score goals. Many of the guys come from Denver University and that’s a very good program, so I expect them to be attacking the entire time and we want to counter that.”

But Fewing adds that facing a fellow PDL side instead of a professional opponent at this stage will give both teams aspirations of moving on to face defending Open Cup champions the Seattle Sounders next week.

“I think both teams come in with a very similar experience playing in two different PDL leagues, but I agree that it’s different than playing against the Portland team last year,” Fewing said. “They were just bigger, faster and stronger, but I think we line up much closer to each other this time around and there is that motivation to go further than we’ve gone before and I think the guys are comfortable and excited about the opportunity. If we are to advance, then things psychologically take a bit of a different twist, but we’ll manage that as it comes.” 

USL Feature

Tuesday, June 21, 2011

By NICHOLAS MURRAY

At the start of the USL PRO season, things just weren’t falling the Charlotte Eagles’ way.

Goals were short in supply, the side didn’t score until its fourth game and sat with just one point from its first five outings.

Since their sixth game of the season, though, things have certainly turned around. After earning their first victory of the season against the Los Angeles Blues on May 14, the Eagles are undefeated, going 5-0-2 in all competitions during that time. It’s a run that has allowed the side to claw its way back into the picture in the USL PRO American Division and has it facing the Wilmington Hammerheads tonight in the second round of the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup.

“I just think it’s a number of things,” Eagles coach Mark Steffens said. “A couple of guys getting healthy, the new players jelling with last year’s guys, a whole lot of little things that are coming together for us at the right time. We’re still not scoring a bunch of great goals, but it seems to be coming along a lot better than it was early on.”

At the center of the resurgence has been an excellent defense that has allowed only three goals during this seven-game run, recording four shutouts. The addition of goalkeeper Eric Reed to the side has helped, as has the adjustment of players to their new roles, in forming a base for the Eagles’ success.

“It’s also Josh Rife’s second year with us and he’s played in MLS and I think part of it is him just getting used to the league; he’s a great organizer back there,” Steffens said. ”There’s a lot of communication going on back there and that’s been pretty good all year. Josh Rife we’ve moved to holding midfielder; he’s really a back, but he’s done really well there and I think it’s taken him a few games to get comfortable there, so with all those things jelling there I think it’s helped us be stronger at the back than we have been.”

The Eagles have even been getting some offensive production from their defense. Right back Cheyne Roberts was named USL PRO Player of the Week for his two-goal performance against Wilmington in a league game just over a week ago, a testament to how far he has come since moving outside from center back at the start of the season.

“I think that took some time also for him to get figured out when to go into the attack and when not to,” Steffens said of Roberts. “Things like that, it’s taken a little while, but he’s been a big asset to the team, he’s got good speed, serves a good ball, very good in the air, so he’s got what it takes to play out there.”

Now the question is whether the Eagles have what it takes to continue their run of success. In a tough division, Steffens believes the biggest key to his side maintaining its form will be its health as the side doesn’t have as much depth as some of its rivals. However, he’s optimistic his team will be in the mix until the end.

“I’m real happy with how hard the team works at training,” Steffens said. “I don’t fear a let-up, but in this league there’s so much parity and there’s so many good teams that anybody can get hot and anybody can get on a losing streak, so it’s just going to be a game-in and game-out battle, and I think that’s the way it should be.”

As for tonight’s game, the opportunity to play Real Salt Lake in the third round is certainly an attractive one for both sides, which should make the contest a classic North Carolina derby.

“With Wilmington, even if one team’s up and one team’s down it doesn’t matter,” Steffens said. “It’s always [a battle] between Charlotte and Wilmington, a good clean battle, but a hard battle and usually a tight game that gets decided late a lot of times so we expect another one like that tomorrow. I think it’s going to be a good one, I think it’s going to be a good one for the fans to see.” 

USL News Release

Tuesday, June 21, 2011

TAMPA, Fla. – United Soccer Leagues announced the USL PRO Team of the Week for Week 12 of the 2011 season today, honoring Rochester Rhinos forward Andrew Hoxie, pictured right, as Player of the Week after he had a goal and an assist to lead his side to a 3-0 victory against the Pittsburgh Riverhounds on Friday night. The victory allowed the Rhinos to extend their lead at the top of the USL PRO National Division to four points from the Los Angeles Blues and Harrisburg City Islanders.

Hoxie assisted on fellow Team of the Week selection Rich Constanzo’s opening goal of the game in the eighth minute before firing home a stunning 35-yard drive in the 17th for his team-leading third goal of the season.

The Harrisburg City Islanders saw goalkeeper Chase Harrison named to the Team of the Week after he pulled off four great saves to help his side earn a 1-0 victory on the road against Richmond. He is joined by teammate Jason Hotchkin, who scored the game-winning goal for the City Islanders, while the Kickers’ Jamel Wallace was also honored after a strong performance in midfield in his first professional start.

The Charlotte Eagles extended their undefeated streak to seven games in all competitions with a 2-0 win against the Dayton Dutch Lions, and the creators of their first goal on Saturday were both named to the team as forward Darren Toby scored his third goal of the season from Eagles points-leader Cheyne Roberts’ assist.

Charleston was the other team to have a pair of players selected as the duo of defender Colin Falvey and midfielder Evan Taylor were picked. Falvey played a strong game at the back as the Battery earned their fourth shutout of the season and also played a key role in their winning goal as his pass released Taylor through the Dutch Lions defense before Taylor drew the goalkeeper and found Levi Coleman to finish into an empty net.

USL PRO Team of the Week 

Honorable Mention: Charleston – Levi Coleman, Dane Kelly; Dayton – George Davis IV; Harrisburg – Jason Pelletier; Orlando – Devorn Jorsling; Pittsburgh – Matt Fondy, Jason Yeisley; Richmond – Luke Vercollone; Rochester – Neal Kitson, Drew Cost; Wilmington – Jack Avesyan, Tom Parratt.

USL Feature

Tuesday, June 21, 2011

Daytona Beach, Fla. - Upon the conclusion of the Major Beach Soccer’s kickoff event for 2011 this past weekend in Daytona Beach, two teams had secured their place at the MBS National Finals in Clearwater, Florida. The Dirty Sand and Lakeland United qualified for the finals by winning their respective open divisions on Sunday afternoon. The MBS Championship event will be held December 17-18 on scenic Clearwater beach.

The Dirty Sand were crowned the men’s open champions and celebrated their exciting victory on Sunday afternoon at the stadium complex.

“I had a great time, we played on these great facilities… it turned out great and I really enjoyed it,” Stewart McCroy said.

Daytona Beach was McCroy’s first beach soccer experience. Playing goalkeeper for the Dirty Sand, he was surprised at how difficult it was to read bounces and keep the ball out of the net. However, he adjusted to the surface and kept the opposition at bay.

McCroy was also used as an outlet that transitioned defense into attack. The Dirty Sand defenders would pass McCroy the ball once pressure was applied from opposing forwards, and then McCroy would throw the ball to attackers and create scoring opportunities. This transition game utilized the Dirty Sand goalkeeper to the fullest and played a big part in the championship game.

McCroy and the Dirty Sand now move onto the MBS National Championships, where they look to be competitive against other MBS men’s open qualifiers. It’s an exciting opportunity for the goalkeeper, who is thrilled his team is among the best beach soccer teams in the country.

“It’s awesome, to be the champions of beach soccer could be unreal,” McCroy said.

Lakeland United topped the women’s division and claimed their spot in Clearwater. After seven tournament appearances, Lakeland United can now celebrate their qualification to the National Championships.

“It feels awesome, I hope we represent,” Coach Mindy Diamond said.

Coaching Lakeland United all the way to the finals in Clearwater is an incredible achievement. However win or lose, Diamond claims she would have been happy.

“My other team didn’t win a game and we still had a great time,” Diamond said.

After a weekend of beach soccer action that saw over 75 teams battle for two spots in Clearwater, only The Dirty Sand and Lakeland United were left standing. Many highly competitive teams took part in the tournament and others that were content to kick around and soak up the Florida sunshine. There also was an international team on hand.

Team Energie competed in the 18 and Over women’s division and qualified for the knockout rounds before bowing out of the competition. The remarkable run ended came to an end for the team that travelled more than 1,500 miles from Quebec, Canada to compete in this year’s Daytona MBS event.

Andre-Anne Trudel and Team Energie have played club soccer in Canada for several years and decided to try something different. After searching the web for tournaments, Trudel and eight teammates decided on playing at the Daytona MBS event, despite not having any beach soccer experience.

“After searching on the internet for something exotic to play soccer, we found this tournament and decided,” Trudel said.

Due to work and school, the rest of Team Energie’s club team couldn’t make the trip, but Trudel said playing in future MBS tournaments is a possibility, despite the distance from Quebec to Daytona Beach.

“ We expect the Clearwater Beach Qualifying Event to be the biggest of the three tournaments and foresee some great competition in the Men’s and Women’s Open Divisions, where the champion qualifies directly for the USL Major Beach Soccer National Championship 2011 in December,” USL Director of Beach Soccer, Eddie Loewen said.
 

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

Tuesday, June 21, 2011

HARRISBURG, Pa. – The Harrisburg City Islanders were defeated by the Rochester Rhinos on Tuesday night in a 1-0 loss in the second round of the 2011 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup. A 90th-minute penalty kick by midfielder Tony Donatelli advanced the Rhinos to the third round of the U.S. Open Cup against Major League Soccer’s Chicago Fire.

In the first half, there was no dominant team as both sides had chances throughout the half. The City Islanders were the first to take a crack at goal in the seventh minute as midfielder J.T. Noone struck the ball 30 yards out, just missing the left upper 90 of the goal. The Rhinos would retaliate just one minute later as defender Troy Roberts served a ball behind the Islanders defense into the box to Donatelli for the volley, but City Islanders goalkeeper Phil Tuttle made the save.

The City Islanders almost received a little luck in the 13th minute as defender Geoff Bloes blasted a ball 25 yards out, redirecting off of a Rhinos’ player and catching goalkeeper Neal Kitson off guard, forcing him to make a last second save. Former Philadelphia Union midfielder Noone would try from distance again in the 34th minute, making Kitson go at full stretch for the save.

Rochester midfielder Tyler Rosenlund made a nice run to receive a ball from defender Quavas Kirk for the breakaway shot in the 39th minute, but once again Tuttle came up big with the save. At the end of the first half, the City Islanders outshot the Rhinos 9-3 and recorded nine corner kicks.

The first 35 minutes of the second half consisted of little chances from both clubs with shots from Angulo and Jagdeosingh, respectively.
Approaching the 81st minute, the City Islanders almost put the ball in the back of the net off a set piece starting with midfielder Jason Pelletier who quickly fed the ball to Angulo for the one timer but Kitson got a hand on the ball, directing it onto the left post before the Rhinos were able to clear.

The Rhinos then took the lead when Donatelli delivered a ball to forward Kendall Jagdeosingh, who received the ball and went one-on-one with Tuttle, who missed the ball and instead took out Jagdeosingh’s legs, giving the Rhinos a penalty kick. Donatelli stepped up and converted to give the Rhinos a 1-0 lead.

In four minutes of stoppage time, the City Islanders almost found the back of the net and shots by Sainey Touray and Jose Angulo were cleared off the goal line by the Rhinos backline. The 1-0 win was good enough to knock out the Harrisburg City Islanders of the 2011 U.S. Open Cup.

The City Islanders’ next home game of the season is scheduled for 7:00pm Saturday, July, 2nd at Skyline Sports Complex on City Island against the Charlotte Eagles. The first 1,000 fans will receive a FREE t-shirt and bread courtesy of Bimbo Bakeries. For more information on the City Islanders, or to order tickets, contact the team at 717-441-GOAL, or visit www.cityislanders.com.

Richmond Kickers News Release -- www.richmondkickers.com

Tuesday, June 21, 2011

RICHMOND, Va. – David Bulow provided the heroics again as he scored two vital goals for the Richmond Kickers in their 4-1 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup victory over the Pittsburgh Riverhounds on Tuesday night.

The striker’s first came in the 17th minute when Luke Vercollone freed Edson Elcock with a through-ball down the right flank. Elcock sprinted to the byline and sent a low ball across the face of goal and beyond Pittsburgh goalkeeper Hunter Gilstrap. Bulow was on hand inside the six-yard box to drive the ball into the roof of the net. Bulow was nearly on target again two minutes later when he attempted an audacious diving header from Shaka Bangura’s cross. Bulow’s shot beat Gilstrap, but bounced just wide of the far post.

The Riverhounds looked lively in the opening stages and were rewarded for their effort in the 30th minute when Jason Yeisley won an aerial challenge with Richmond goalkeeper Ronnie Pascale. Yeisley’s headed flick fell to his strike partner Chad Severs, who placed his header into the empty net to knot the score at 1-1.

The energetic Richmond side was on the front foot again quickly, however, and Bulow notched his second goal of the evening in the 41st minute. Bangura dropped the ball for Sascha Goerres, who sent in another low cross beyond Gilstrap and into the stride of Bulow, who once again finished from inside six yards. With his first-half brace, Bulow brought his scoring tally in U.S. Open Cup play to 13 overall, tying him with Jaime Moreno and Johnny Menyongar for first place all-time in the scoring chart for the modern era.

Goerres added another assist after the halftime break when he sent a high ball towards the Pittsburgh penalty area. Matthew Delicâte arrived ahead of the onrushing goalkeeper and looped a headed shot into the net from the top of the box. Delicâte added a fourth goal in the 81st minute with an unstoppable blast into the upper corner from 20 yards out to put the game out of sight.

“It was overall a very good performance,” Richmond Coach Leigh Cowlishaw said. “We scored some very good goals.”

Richmond will travel to face F.C. New York for its USL PRO match on Friday before the Kickers head to Ohio for the U.S. Open Cup third round match against Major League Soccer side the Columbus Crew on Tuesday.

“The games are coming thick and fast,” Cowlishaw said. “Fortunately we didn’t have to push the issue too much and were able to make it comfortably into the next round.”

For more information, visit www.richmondkickers.com.

Charleston Battery News Release -- www.charlestonbattery.com

Tuesday, June 21, 2011

CHARLESTON S.C. -- The Charleston Battery lost 1-0 to Orlando City in the second round of the U.S. Open Cup Tuesday night at Blackbaud Stadium. Defender Rob Valentino scored the crucial goal in the 39th minute heading past Battery goalkeeper Andrew Dykstra to send Orlando into the third round. Orlando City will head to Major League Soccer’s FC Dallas for the third round fixture next Tuesday night in Frisco, Texas.

“You don’t ever want to lose; especially with a chance to go to Texas and play MLS’s FC Dallas. It’s something every player wants to experience and something every coach wants to move on to,” said Battery Head Coach Mike Anhaeuser.

The Charleston Battery started brightly and had a chance in the eighth minute with a close range shot from midfielder Stephen Armstrong. The play started from a deflection from the Orlando defense, which was met by Nicki Patterson. Paterson slipped the ball through to Armstrong who was well placed for the shot, which soared just over the crossbar.

Just following in the 12th minute, midfielder Evan Taylor struck a cross to the far right side of the box. The cross was met with a diving header by fellow teammate Brandon Massie whose efforts left a shot just skimming the crossbar. The Battery’s best chance of the half fell to forward Levi Coleman from a whipped cross in the 34th minute. Coleman met the ball but his point-blank header was parried clear by Orlando goalkeeper Miguel Gallardo.

In the 39th minute, Orlando City scored the lone goal of the evening. After the ball was cleared from a corner Andrew Dykstra came off his goal line as the ball was played back into the box. Rob Valentino just beat Dykstra to the ball and headed over him into the back of the net.

Charleston fought back and came close to equalizing in the 45th as forward Levi Coleman beat the Orlando defense with a quick cut to the inside of the field leaving forward Nicki Paterson alone at the top of the box. Coleman’s pass split two defenders giving Paterson a shot that missed the net by inches.

In the 57th minute, substitute Battery forward Dane Kelly found some room inside the Orlando half. Kelly managed to slip between the defenders but Gallardo stepped up quickly and scooped the ball from Kelly’s feet before he could strike the ball.

The Battery heads to Wilmington, N.C. on Friday night for an 8 p.m. match against the Hammerheads that will be broadcast live on FOX Soccer. Charleston returns to Blackbaud Stadium Saturday night for a 7:30 p.m. match against the Pittsburgh Riverhounds.

Wilmington Hammerheads News Release -- www.wilmingtonhammerheads.com

Tuesday, June 21, 2011

WILMINGTON, N.C. – The Wilmington Hammerheads fought a fierce battle back from a two-goal deficit to triumph, 3-2, against the Charlotte Eagles in a second round match of the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup on Tuesday night at Legion Stadium.

The Hammerheads will take on Real Salt Lake of Major League Soccer in the third round next Tuesday, June 28, at the Rio Tinto Stadium in Sandy, Utah for a 7 p.m. MDT kick-off.

Charlotte attacked early on pressuring Wilmington inside of the box and firing two shots on goal in the opening 15 minutes of the first half. Minutes later the Hammerheads had their first attack on goal by midfielder Luke Mulholland who pushed the ball just out of reach and out of bounds before he could make a cross.

In the 44th minute, Charlotte defender Cheyne Roberts drew first blood off a run down the sideline to receive a speedy free kick and tuck the ball just inside the far post for a 1-0 lead into halftime.

After the break Wilmington came out fast on their feet when Noviello gave a quick give and go to Mulholland beating Charlotte defenders but ultimately denied by goalkeeper Eric Reed in the 46th minute.

The Eagles quickly fell back into form when midfielder Darren Toby put a second goal in the back of the net and on the board in the 53rd minute to increase their lead to 2-0.

However, the 2-0 lead would be short lived as the Hammerheads rallied back in the 61st minute when forward Andryi Budnyy fired a low shot to score off an assist from forward Chris Banks.

In the 78th minute the Hammerheads received a free kick just outside the penalty area, which was sent high across the box for a header from Banks to score and tie the game 2-2. Midfielder Jack Avesyan was credited with the assist on the play.

The Hammerheads continued to carry the momentum, outshooting Charlotte 4-3 in the second half, and in the 81st minute Banks connected with a long cross and drilled a diving header just off the crossbar.

The score remained tied 2-2 in the 90th minute and the game went to overtime to decide who would advance to the next round.

For the first 13 minutes of overtime both teams struggled to find the back of the net but Mulholland would not be denied as he fired a long shot into the far, side net for a 3-2 lead.

After the quick break of the overtime period, Hammerheads forward Andrews Cuero raced down the field to take on Eagles keeper one-on-one but shot the ball high over the crossbar. In stoppage time, Charlotte midfielder Jorge Herrera blasted one final attempt on goal that flew well over the crossbar to leave Wilmington fans on their feet as their side closed out the tie.

This Friday, June 24, the Hammerheads will return to USL PRO regular season action as they play to host the Charleston Battery in an 8 p.m. game at Legion Stadium that will be televised by Fox Soccer. The Eagles will also play this Friday at the Charlotte Christian Stadium for a 7 p.m. kick off against the Pittsburgh Riverhounds.
 

Richmond Kickers News Release -- www.richmondkickers.com

Thursday, June 23, 2011

RICHMOND, Va. – The Richmond Kickers return to regular season action this Friday, June 24 when they travel to Motamed Field on the campus of Adelphi University to face F.C. New York at 7:30 p.m. The Kickers take on the Columbus Crew of Major League Soccer four days later in the U.S. Open Cup third round on Tuesday night at Columbus Crew Stadium.

“Three road games in eight days is clearly the toughest stage of our season so far,” said Leigh Cowlishaw, Richmond Kickers Head Coach and Director of Soccer. “Although we have won three of our last four games, we do need to regain our USL form and strengthen our playoff position. Three points on Friday versus F.C. New York will go a long way toward that goal and allow us to field a different formation versus the Columbus Crew.”

The Kickers and F.C. New York last met on June 12 when a pair of first half goals by forwards Edson Elcock and Matthew Delicâte boosted the Kickers to a 2-0 win at St. John’s University. Kickers goalkeeper Ronnie Pascale posted four saves to preserve his fourth shutout of the season as the Kickers reclaimed second place in the American Division standings.

Two weeks prior, the Kickers hosted FC New York, battling the National Division team to a 2-2 draw. Despite leading on two occasions, the Kickers were unable to seal a victory over their northern rivals, who rallied behind a pair of Graciano Brito tallies to earn a 2-2 draw. With a 3-5-4 record and 13 points, FC New York resides in fourth place in the National Division.

The Kickers are coming off their first loss at Richmond City Stadium this season, dropping a 1-0 decision to the Harrisburg City Islanders on June 17. Rookie Jamel Wallace earned his first professional start, and USL PRO Team of the Week honors for his efforts in the midfield.

U.S. Open Cup Update

Both teams have found success in the 2011 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup, each advancing to the third round this Tuesday. The Kickers ousted USL PRO rivals Dayton Dutch Lions and Pittsburgh Riverhounds in the first two rounds and face the Columbus Crew of Major League Soccer next week. Midfielder David Bulow notched a hat trick in the first round before adding a pair of tallies in the second round to bring his scoring tally in U.S. Open Cup play to 13 overall, tying him with Jaime Moreno and Johnny Menyongar for first place all-time in the scoring chart for the modern era.

Meanwhile, F.C. New York survived a 22nd minute red card in round two against the N.Y. Pancyprian Freedoms, going nearly 100 minutes down a player in a scoreless draw against a fierce amateur side with veteran ex-professionals before advancing in seven rounds of penalties on a pair of surprising failed attempts from two Freedoms stars. F.C. New York travel to Red Bull Arena next week for a third round match up against the New York Red Bulls.

Fourth of July Fest

Kick off your Independence Day celebrations at the Richmond Kickers Third Annual Fourth of July Fest, presented by Northwestern Mutual. Festivities begin at 11:00 a.m. on Monday, July 4 at Richmond City Stadium and will feature a Splash Zone, inflatables, delicious food, music, games and fun. The Kickers professional soccer game will highlight the event as the Kickers host the Dayton Dutch Lions at 1:00 p.m. Admission is just $4 per ticket before 12:00 p.m. and parking is free. Visit RichmondKickers.com for more information.

Antigua Barracuda News Release -- www.antiguabarracudafc.com

Thursday, June 23, 2011

ST JOHN’S, Antigua – Antigua Barracuda FC tackle USL PRO league leaders Orlando City at the Sticky Wicket Stadium in a highly anticipated doubleheader on Friday 24th and Sunday 26th June. The game on Friday will begin at 8 p.m., while Sundays’ clash has been rescheduled for 5 p.m. Sunday afternoon.

When both teams last met, the 'Cudas broke the unbeaten streak of Orlando in a contest that can best be best described as the toughest of the season, with a robust and energetic display by Barracuda FC, resulting in a number of cautions, ejections and subsequent suspensions for both teams.

Manager Fernando Abraham in a candid assessment of the game in Orlando said, “The game was a tough examination of our level of play right to the final whistle, but we showed our true grit to hold on for that important victory. They threw everything at us and we prevailed.

“As an organisation, we fully understand and accept our responsibility to fair play in the game and we will continue to strive for best practices in this regard, but rest assured, we will be ready for this doubleheader and will be putting on a good show for our fans; they deserve it.”

The results of these matches are likely to set the tone for both teams as the important second half of the season commences with first place Orlando City meeting third place Antigua Barracuda FC in the USL PRO American Division.

“This is an important time to make our intentions clear,” said Tom Curtis, Head Coach of Barracuda FC.  "Looking back at some of our home games, we deserved better but this really gives us another opportunity to make our fans happy. They really want to see us succeed, to make the country proud, and we will be doing our best to do just that. This team has responded well to every adversity thrown at us, these games will be no different and our best response will be to win.”

Both games will be carried live on www.antiguabarracudafc.com and www.usllive.com.

Wilmington Hammerheads News Release -- www.wilmingtonhammerheads.com

Thursday, June 23, 2011

WILMINGTON, N.C. -- The Wilmington Hammerheads return to USL PRO action hosting the Charleston Battery this Friday night in their second 2011 appearance on Fox Soccer. Last week, the Hammerheads made their national television debut for the 2011 season at Orlando when the two teams finished with a 1-1 draw.

The Hammerheads enter Friday night’s game off a hard-earned second round Open Cup victory against the Charlotte Eagles on Tuesday night. Their come-from-behind overtime win advanced the Hammers into the third round of the Cup where they will travel to take on Major League Soccer’s Real Salt Lake at Rio Tinto Stadium in Sandy, Utah.

The Battery travel to Wilmington after a second round Open Cup loss on Tuesday to USL PRO leader Orlando City. In league play, the Battery enters Friday’s game off of a 1-0 win over Dayton last Friday night at Blackbaud Stadium. Overall, Charleston sits right in front of the Hammerheads in points with 21, while the Hammerheads are only three points behind with 18.

The Hammerheads and the Battery met previously this season on May 21 at Legion Stadium. This Hammerheads took a 3-0 victory in that contest, led by two goals scored by midfielder Luke Mulholland and the final goal scored by midfielder Jack Avesyan.

The Hammerheads have become notorious this season for their late attacks. In their most recent Open Cup match against the Eagles, the Hammerheads came back to win in overtime from being down two goals in the second half. Forwards Andryi Budnyy and Chris Banks have been a constant in the Hammerhead attack with their crucial game changing goals and Mulholland continues to lead the team with his presence in the midfield and attack.

The Hammerheads and the Battery meet for the third and final time of the 2011 regular season at Blackbaud Stadium on July 14.

The Hammerheads are encouraging fans to wear blue to Friday night’s game to participate in a “Blue Out” to be seen on National television. Tickets can be purchased ahead of time through www.wilmingtontickets.com or by calling the Hammerheads office at 910-777-2111 ext. 10.

USL News Release

Thursday, June 23, 2011

TAMPA, Fla. – The USL PRO Game of the Week heads to Legion Stadium in Wilmington, N.C. Friday when the Wilmington Hammerheads play host to the Charleston Battery live at 8 p.m. ET on FOX Soccer. The Hammerheads, only three points back of the Battery in the tightly packed USL PRO American Division, own one of the league’s best home records at 5-1-0.

Charleston currently sits two points back of second place in the American Division with a 6-5-3 record. The Battery earned a 1-0 victory against the Dayton Dutch Lions in their last league outing, but suffered a 3-0 defeat to the Hammerheads in their first visit to Legion Stadium this season on May 21.

Since then the Battery are 3-1-1, including victories against Richmond and Harrisburg. Nicki Paterson has led the way for the side offensively with four goals and three assists.

The Hammerheads have been led by the rookie duo of Luke Mulholland and Chris Banks, both of whom have scored four goals in league play this season. Mulholland has also scored twice in the U.S. Open Cup, helping the Hammerheads to a third-round berth against Major League Soccer’s Real Salt Lake next week with an overtime game-winner against the Charlotte Eagles this past Tuesday night.

Kenn Tomasch will call the action from Wilmington, and he will be joined in the booth by former Georgetown University men’s coach Keith Tabatznik, who will provide color commentary for the remainder of the USL PRO season. Tabatznik, who led the Hoyas from 1984 to 2005, also serves as a color analyst for the NSCAA Men’s College Game of the Week on FOX Soccer. Also reprising his role as sideline reporter is former University of Maryland standout Jason Arnold.

USL’s broadcast package with FOX Soccer in 2011 includes a total of 15 live game broadcasts – 10 USL PRO regular season games as well as a USL PRO quarterfinal and semifinal, the USL PRO championship game and the championship games for the Premier Development League and W-League. The USL PRO Game of the Week is produced by Cultural Global Media Inc.

The next USL PRO Game of the Week broadcast is set for Friday, July 1 when FC New York welcomes Antigua Barracuda FC. Kickoff is set for 8 p.m. ET from Belson Stadium in Queens, N.Y.
 

USL Feature - www.uslsoccer.com

Thursday, June 23, 2011

TAMPA, Fla. – The 2011 FIFA Women’s World Cup will pit some of the world’s best athletes against each other beginning this month in Germany, but many of the matches will have a distinctly North American flavor to them.

This year more than 60 players in the World Cup will have W-League experience. Many of those stars have another thing in common as well - they have all played for Charlie Naimo.

Naimo, currently the Head Coach of USL PRO’s LA Blues, established himself in the women’s game coaching the likes of the New Jersey Wildcats and the Pali Blues.

Throughout his years coaching in the W-League, Naimo has helped shaped the games of some of the world’s brightest stars. Heather O’Reilly (USA), Amy LePeilbet (USA), Lauren Cheney (USA), Alex Morgan (USA), Tobin Heath (USA), Ali Riley (New Zealand), Collete McCallum (Australia), Karina LeBlanc (Canada), Formiga (Brazil), Kelly Smith (England), Rachel Yankey (England), and Karen Bardsley (England) are just some of the players Naimo has coached.

Naimo had high praise for all of his former players, and with the quality of talent formerly under his tutelage, that comes as no surprise.

Chief among the players receiving praise are Naimo’s former players on the USA roster. The team is stocked again for the World Cup, as it seeks its first title since 1999. The team is made up of a mix of veteran and young talent and despite a number of indifferent results in 2010 and 2011; the side is poised for a run at another crown.
One the veterans of the side is Heather O’Reilly, who will be playing in her second World Cup.

“[Heather O’Reilly] is the epitome of a winner,” Naimo said. “She made me a better coach; she made me want to work hard. This could be her tournament.”

O’Reilly’s drive and ability to push herself and her team in practice can be integral to a team’s success. Naimo had similar praise for Lauren Cheney and the effect she can have on a team.

“I always knew Cheney was a great soccer player, but not until she was on Pali that I realized what a great teammate she was,” Naimo said.

The intangible elements that O’Reilly and Cheney bring to a team are essential to chemistry, but raw talent is also necessary to hoist the World Cup trophy. That’s where former Pali standout Alex Morgan comes in.

“You can’t watch the national team play and not think we need to get [Alex Morgan] more minutes,” Naimo said. “She is instant offense.”

Naimo has also worked with a large core of the English national team. England invented the game of soccer, but its women’s side has long lagged behind the men’s. Now, English women’s soccer has begun to catch up and current side is looking to make an impact in Germany this summer.

Leading the way for the Three Lions is Kelly Smith. Smith has been a dominant factor on the world stage for women’s soccer during the past 15 years and Naimo was witness to her skill when she played for the New Jersey Wildcats.

“For years Kelly Smith was the best player in the world, hands down,” Naimo said. “The best all around soccer player I’ve come across is Kelly Smith.”

Smith is the perfect example of the type of elite-level talent that has made its home in the W-League. Through the years it’s been the combination of internationals, domestic veterans, and young players that has allowed the W-League to foster talent.

“Having a platform where you’re bringing players in from all over the world and putting together a roster where players can make each other better, that’s development at its best,” Naimo said. “Many of these programs in the W-League have done it right over the years; it’s no surprise why a lot of these clubs have so many players in this competition.”