Charleston Battery News Release -- www.charlestonbattery.com

Thursday, March 24, 2011

CHARLESTON, S.C. --  Veteran midfielder Stephen Armstrong has re-signed with the Charleston Battery for the 2011 season. Armstrong’s role with the Club will be expanded as he takes on assistant coach responsibilities in addition to his playing role. This will be Armstrong’s sixth season with the Battery; he has played 113 games (sixth all-time), scoring 24 goals (fifth all-time) and adding 11 assists (fifth all-time).

Armstrong joined Charleston in 2006 and was a member of the Battery’s 2010 championship winning side. Armstrong also featured in the 2008 team that advanced to the final of US Soccer’s national championship the Lamar Hunt U.S. Op-en Cup.

“Stephen brings us a wealth of experience on and off the field; he has been an important part of the club for the past six years. This experience will be more beneficially this season as Stephen has assumed the role of player/assistant along with keeping his high level of play on the field” Battery coach Mike Anhaeuser said.

A native of Cape Town, South Africa, the 5-foot-10 Armstrong played four years in Major League Soccer with D.C. United, the Kansas City Wizards and the Columbus Crew. Prior to turning pro Armstrong was a four-year starter at Butler University.

The Battery kicks off their USL campaign on Saturday, April 9 with a 7:30 PM match against long-time rival the Charlotte Eagles. To purchase tickets or for more information please visit www.charlestonbattery.com or call (843) 971-GOAL (4625).

Wilmington Hammerheads News Release -- www.wilmingtonhammerheads.com

Thursday, March 24, 2011

WILMINGTON, N.C. – With their season opener quickly approaching, the Wilmington Hammerheads are beginning to finalize their roster for 2011 with the addition of three more players. The most recent additions to the team are midfielders Tanner Wolfe and Diego Barrera, and returning Hammerheads goalkeeper Kyle Polak.

Originally from Huntington Beach, California, Polak returns to the Hammerheads after playing for Coach David Irving from 2007 to 2009. Polak earned 1.22 goals against average in 2009 when the Hammerheads were USL-2 regular season champions.

Polak began his collegiate career at California State University Fullerton in 2002 and later transferred to California State University Dominguez Hills in 2004. He posted 24 career shutouts and was named First Team All-California Collegiate Athletic Association in 2006. The same year, Polak was also named Dominguez Hills Male Athlete of the Year.

A Florida native, Wolfe had a successful collegiate career at Stetson University from 2004 to 2008. Wolfe played in every game for the Hatters in that span, 75 in all, and posted 33 career goals, 18 assists, and 84 total points.

In 2007 and 2008, Wolfe played for the USL Premier Development League's Central Florida Kraze, appearing in all 31 games. Wolfe tallied nine goals and eight assists, and also helped the Kraze qualify for the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup in 2007.

Barrera is the fifth player added to the 2011 Hammerheads squad from the PDL’s Ventura County Fusion. Barrera has played for three different PDL teams including the Fusion in 2007 and 2010, the San Fernando Valley Quakes in 2008, and the Hollywood United Hitman in 2009.

After three years at Loyola Marymount University, Barrera transferred to the University of New Mexico where he was named Second Team All-MPSF selection after finishing third on the team in scoring with 12 points. Barrera also played for the U-18 National Team in 2005 where he helped the U.S. win its first ever Milk Cup trophy in Northern Ireland.

The Hammerheads begin their season at home on April 16, 2011 against the Rochester Rhinos. Ticket prices for games are $10 of adults, $8 for seniors (65+), and $6 for children 12 & under. Special group ticket rates are available. Contact the Hammerhead office for more information.

Richmond Kickers News Release -- www.richmondkickers.com

Thursday, March 24, 2011

RICHMOND, Va. – The Richmond Kickers are pleased to announce the signing of goalkeeper Ryan Jones. At age 18, Jones is the youngest player to sign with the Kickers professional team and will be available immediately upon visa approval.

"Ryan is another historic signing for the Kickers and certainly a player to watch this season," said Leigh Cowlishaw, Richmond Kickers Head Coach and Director of Soccer. "Although still relatively young, Ryan possesses significant professional experience and clearly has a tremendous upside. I know he is looking forward to the challenge of igniting his professional career with the Kickers and we look forward to his arrival in the States."

The 6-foot-6 native of Liverpool, England brings a wealth of professional playing experience to Richmond, having begun his career at the Liverpool Academy, winner of the FA Youth Cup in 2006 and 2007. Signing with Leeds United of the English NPower Championship for the 2008-09 season, Jones featured several times for the first team as a substitute before being released as a second year apprentice. Most recently, he played with NPower League 1 side Rochdale AFC before making three appearances with Northwich Victoria of the Evo-Stik Premier League.

Current Philadelphia Union and former USA National Team midfielder, Justin Mapp, still holds the record as the youngest player to represent the Kickers, when he made one appearance on loan from D.C. United in 2002 at the age of 17.

Reserve your 2011 Season Passes and join the Richmond Kickers when they open the USL PRO campaign, hosting Orlando City on Saturday, April 2 at 5:00 p.m. at Richmond City Stadium. Taking the field for their 19th season, the Kickers will compete alongside American Division rivals Charlotte Eagles, Charleston Battery, Orlando City and Wilmington Hammerheads and will also face National and International opponents Dayton Dutch Lions, Harrisburg City Islanders, FC New York, Pittsburgh Riverhounds, Rochester Rhinos, Antigua Barracuda FC, Los Angeles Blues, Puerto Rico United and Sevilla FC Puerto Rico during the 24-game season. Visit RichmondKickers.com for schedules and ticket information.

Rochester Rhinos News Release -- www.rhinossoccer.com

Thursday, March 24, 2011

ROCHESTER, N.Y. – Adirondack Sports Club LLC, owner of the Rochester Rhinos soccer team (USL PRO) and operator of Sahlen’s Stadium in downtown Rochester, is proud to announce a trio of events at the stadium on Saturday that are all free to the public.

The stadium was first called PAETEC Park from 2006 to 2008 and then Marina Auto Stadium from 2009-10. Sahlen’s Packing Co., based in Buffalo, New York bought the naming rights to the 11,500-seat stadium earlier this year and signed a 10-year contract to own the naming rights.

Saturday’s first event is the dedication ceremony of the new Section V Football Hall of Fame. More than 150 plaques are on display on the wall outside of the ticket office for all fans to see when they visit Sahlen’s Stadium, which is home to the Rhinos, Rattlers and Western New York Flash. The ceremony starts at 10 a.m. with representatives from Section V, New York State Public High School Athletic Association and members of the Hall of Fame present.

Next up at noon, it’s the first Syracuse University football scrimmage game ever in Rochester, as coach Doug Marrone brings the Orange in for a free event that will include a post-practice autograph session. SU is coming off a 36-34 win over Kansas State in the Pinstripe Bowl in December. The Orange finished 8-5. It was their first bowl game appearance in six years and first bowl game win since 2001. Marrone grew up in the Bronx, where the bowl game was played.

Finally, the Rochester Rhinos will hold an intrasquad scrimmage that is also free to fans starting at 4 p.m. The Rhinos are 1-0-1 on the preseason. Coach Bob Lilley’s team originally was scheduled to play Saturday in Corning against St. Bonaventure, but snowy weather canceled that match. The Rhinos open the season April 15-16 with matches on back-to-back nights in Richmond, Va., and Wilmington, N.C. Their home opener is May 7 against the Charleston (S.C.) Battery.

All three events at the stadium are free to the public and free parking is available in the Sahlen’s Stadium Club and Broad Street stadium parking lots.

Mississippi Brilla News Release -- www.msbrillafc.org

Thursday, March 24, 2011

JACKSON, Miss. -- After completing an undefeated regular season, but coming up short in the playoffs in 2010, Mississippi Brilla Head Coach Dave Dixon knew the components were already in place to make a deep run in the USL Premier Development League playoffs in 2011.

“We came up short of our goal last season, but most of the pieces were in place to win a PDL championship,” said Dixon. “The task during the offseason was to secure a core group of returning players, while improving our lineup with a few upgrades.”

As is the case each year in the Premier Development League, Mississippi will have many new faces in 2011. However, the fifth-year soccer franchise in Jackson, Miss. will be anchored by a strong group of returning players.

“The turnover in our league is pretty substantial each year,” said President Rusty Bryant. “Bringing back 11 players from a team that won our division last year gives us a great foundation to build a championship season.”

Highlighting the list of returning players is 2010 All-Conference and All-League selection, Moses Aduny. Aduny, one of three finalists for the 2010 Player of the Year, led Mississippi in scoring with 10 goals, and was also tied for the team lead in assists with three. The forward from Kampala, Uganda recently wrapped up a successful college season at Lindsey Wilson College by tallying 10 goals and seven assists. Aduny was also an All-Conference selection.

Joining Aduny for a second season with Mississippi Brilla is fellow Ugandan, Mike Azira. Azira was also an All-Conference selection at Lindsey Wilson College in 2010. The midfielder/defender appeared in 13 games for Mississippi in 2010, contributing an assist.

“Mike is one of the most talented players to ever play for Mississippi,” said Dixon. “We are thrilled to have him back with the team this year.”

Kent, England native, Nick Rich, will be returning to Mississippi for his third season with the team. Rich, currently playing for Virginia Commonwealth University, contributed two goals and two assists during Mississippi’s 2010 season.

Forward Nathaniel Foster from Ontario, Canada will be returning for a second stint with Brilla after a breakout senior season at Montevallo. Foster netted 18 goals and added four assists for Montevallo on his way to Second Team All-American, All-Region, and All-Conference honors.

The Mississippi defense will boast a wealth of experience heading into the 2011 campaign as Richard Dixon, Thomas Shannon, Michael Brown, Carl Sheard, and Alan Hannon return to the team. Dixon (Royal Palm Beach, FL) is coming off an All-Region and All-Conference season at the University of West Florida, while Shannon (Broken Arrow, OK) will be looking to return to form following a season ending injury at the University of Memphis. Fan favorites Brown (Clinton, MS), Sheard (Derby, England), and Hannon (Offaly, Ireland) add depth and experience to Mississippi’s back line.

Memphis native and University of Memphis midfielder, JJ Greer, will also return to the team looking to add to valuable minutes that he saw in his first year with Mississippi. Rounding out the list of returning players is goalkeeper Andy Goellner (Denver, CO) from Tusculum College. Goellner was the starting goalkeeper for much of the second half of Mississippi's 2010 season.

Mississippi kicks off its 2011 season on Friday, May 13 at 7:00 pm at Millsaps College in Jackson, MS. Visit www.msbrillafc.org for ticket information.

USL Feature

Thursday, March 24, 2011

PITTSBURGH RIVERHOUNDS

Coach: Justin Evans
2010 Season: Semifinals, USL-2

The Lowdown – After a preceding pair of disappointing seasons that saw them miss the playoffs, the Pittsburgh Riverhounds appeared to lay the foundation for a strong run of success in the 2010 USL-2 season. Making the playoffs for the first time since 2006, the Riverhounds were led by a strong defense and an impressive home record that saw them lose only twice in the league at Chartiers Valley Stadium.

Key Departures – The Riverhounds had close to a perfect offseason, keeping the core of their squad together. According to Coach Justin Evans, no player of major significance has moved on, giving the club a chance to build on the success it found a season ago.

Key Returnees – At the center of that group is the defensive duo of 2010 USL-2 Goalkeeper of the Year Hunter Gilstrap and 2010 USL-2 Defender of the Year Shintaro Harada. After giving up 20 goals in 20 games a season ago, the Riverhounds could have the ability to lower that figure to less than a goal a game this season.

Key Additions – The signing of Thabiso “Boyzzz” Khumalo is likely to add some additional scoring punch for the Riverhounds, and Khumalo could form a strong partnership with 2010 USL-2 Rookie of the Year Jeremy Deighton, who scored five goals in 13 games a season ago. Khumalo’s experience with D.C. United should pay dividends for the Riverhounds.

The Coach’s Opinion – “We are out to win the championship every single year. We are very hopeful that we have done enough in the off season to prepare ourselves to win the championship, as I expect so are the other teams at this point. It is going to be an exciting USL PRO summer of soccer.” – Justin Evans

If it all goes to plan – The Riverhounds certainly appear to be if not the favorite to win the National Division then certainly the co-favorite alongside the Rochester Rhinos. Pittsburgh does have a tricky start to the season with four of its first five games on the road, including a tasty rematch of last season’s USL-2 semifinal against Richmond to open, but if it can get through that passage in good shape a division title could be there for the taking.

Richmond Kickers News Release -- www.richmondkickers.com

Thursday, March 24, 2011

RICHMOND, Va. – The Richmond Kickers continued preseason training Thursday night with a closed door scrimmage against Virginia Commonwealth University. A flurry of goals by Matthew Delicâte, Bobby Foglesong, Evan Harding and newcomer Ryan Heins lifted the Kickers to a 4-1 victory over their collegiate rivals.

The only goal of the first half occurred in the 15th minute when Kickers defender Sascha Görres played a long ball to Delicâte in the penalty area. The big forward flicked it on to Foglesong, strategically situated at the left side of the box, who fired a determined strike to the top-right corner of the net.

Twenty minutes after the restart, a defensive miscommunication delivered a bouncing ball into the path of VCU's Joey Haboush. The midfielder wasted no time capitalizing on the error and fired with the inside of his foot to the left corner from 15 yards out to level the score.

Soon after, however, the Kickers delivered the knock-out punch with a series of three goals within the last 15 minutes of the match. Midfielder Stanley Nyazamba was instrumental in a pair of tallies, delivering well-placed crosses from the left side of the box on each occasion. First, his inswinger found an unmarked Delicâte, dangerously stationed at the far post, where he easily headed the ball on goal. Then it was Heins, who made no mistake when he fired a first-time volley off a cross to the far post.

With three minutes before the final whistle a Kickers quick counter-attack left Luke Vercollone in scoring position. His attempt was muffled by the Rams' goalkeeper and an onrushing Harding emerged to tap the ball over the goal line.

The Kickers preseason schedule of closed door scrimmages continues this Saturday, March 26 against the Carolina RailHawks (NASL). The 2011 USL PRO regular season commences in just one week, when the Kickers play host to OrlandoCity on Saturday, April 2 at City Stadium.

Scoring Summary

15th minute – Richmond: Bobby Foglesong (Matthew Delicâte)
63rd minute – VCU: Joey Haboush
75th minute – Richmond: Matthew Delicâte (Stanley Nyazamba)
77th minute – Richmond: Ryan Heins (Stanley Nyazamba)
87th minute – Richmond: Evan Harding

Tuesday, March 22, 2011

The 2011 USL Media Guide, containing information about the front office staff, teams and leagues that comprise United Soccer Leagues, is now available online. In addition to information regarding the teams comprising USL PRO, the I-League, the Premier Development League and the W-League, the guide contains the complete history of USL’s system of developmental leagues, USL teams in the U.S. Open Cup, and the Super-20 and Super Y youth development leagues.

Other sections in the 2011 USL Media Guide include the USL Hall of Fame, USL Soccerfest, the Super Y-League North American Finals, and the 2011 rules of play for USL’s leagues.

The 2011 USL Media Guide is completely interactive - just click on the desired page in the Table of Contents to jump the page.

Pittsburgh Riverhounds News Release -- www.riverhounds.com

Friday, March 25, 2011

PITTSBURGH, Pa. -- The Pittsburgh Riverhounds finish their first week of training camp healthy and in high spirits. With two midweek exhibition wins over Robert Morris University (1-0) and Slippery Rock University (5-0), the Riverhounds took Friday afternoon off to rest and rejuvenate.

On Tuesday, the Hounds traveled to the campus of Robert Morris to play against the Colonials. The match was extremely high paced for the first 45 minutes, resulting in minimal scoring opportunities for either side. The only Riverhounds threat came off a set piece taken from midfielder Tommy Gray. The right-footed service from Gray connected with player on trial, Neil Schaffer inside the six-yard box. Schaffer’s first time redirection trickled wide of the far post and out for a goal kick.

The complexion of the match changed when strikers Jeremy Deighton and rookie Matt Fondy entered in the second half. Deighton and Fondy combined well throughout the remaining 45 minutes, providing the Hounds with multiple scoring opportunities. Fondy found himself in the right place at the right time and converted the game winner in the 75th minute. Outside back Mike Seth struck a bouncing clearance by the Colonials from 30 yards out, only to see his shot deflect off of three different players and land at Fondy’s feet. Fondy confidently flicked the ball past the diving Colonial goalkeeper and put the Hounds on top.

The Riverhounds and Slippery Rock University met Thursday for their third consecutive year to raise funds for the Wounded Warriors Fund. The charity exhibition match raised $3,000 for the soldiers wounded in action.

From the opening whistle, the Riverhounds looked more comfortable with each other, by playing simply and moving the ball well against the Rock’s defense. Slippery Rock sat back in a 4-5-1, trying to limit the Hounds from penetrating into their defensive third.

The Riverhounds recorded a first half goal off the head of Chad Severs in the 32nd minute. A quality build-up, started by an overlapping run from Jason Kutney down the right flank, led to Kutney finding Shintaro Harada sliding into the whole behind the tracking defenders. Harada quickly switched the ball to Boyzzz Khumalo streaking down the left side. Khumalo picked his head up and played a bending cross to Severs slashing through the penalty area. Severs rose above the crowd and tucked Khumalo’s service past the Rock’s goalkeeper.

The Riverhounds recorded four second-half goals to put the game away. A strong tackle from Schaffer at midfield allowed him to jump into the attack and slot Gray into the right corner. Gray’s first time cross found Matt Tuttle at the back post, and Tuttle connected on the half-volley with a side scissors and rifled the ball into the top right corner of the goal.

Seth and Fondy connected twice in 10 minutes to increase the lead to four. Seth found Fondy’s head deep inside the Rock’s defense, the first off a left-footed cross and the second from his long throw-in. The fifth and final goal came in the 89th minute when Gray received a service behind the defense and tapped in the rebound off his initial shot.

The Riverhounds return to action on Monday, March 28th against California University of Pennsylvania.

USL Feature

Friday, March 25, 2011

By NICHOLAS MURRAY

When the USL Premier Development League’s Kansas City Brass originally scheduled an exhibition against the reserve team of Major League Soccer’s Sporting Kansas City for Monday, March 28, they couldn’t have been expecting one of the NFL’s biggest names to be participating.

But when Sporting KC decided to extend Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Chad Ochocinco’s tryout with the team so he could take part in Monday’s scrimmage at the SKC training facility, a spotlight was suddenly thrown on the contest.

“We often play against Sporting KC in the offseason,” Brass head coach Lincoln Roblee said by phone. “Usually there’s some local media, Kansas City Star people around, but this one’s probably going to be a little bit different. It’s going to be fun.”

Scrimmages between the two clubs have been commonplace during the past few years, with current and former Kansas City players such as Davy Arnaud, Claudio Lopez, Jimmy Conrad and Josh Wolff having competed against the PDL squad’s up-and-comers. In fact, some of the Brass’ alumni themselves have gone on to MLS careers, most notably current Portland Timbers captain Jack Jewsbury, himself also a former Sporting KC standout.

The fact that his players have competed against some of the best players to come through Kansas City in recent years leads Roblee to expect that his players won’t be overawed by the occasion. In fact, they might be able to take advantage of the opportunity to play in front of the Wizards coaching staff as much as Ochocinco hopes to.

“We always have a number of players that have ambitions to play professional soccer,” Roblee said. “We’ve had a number of players over the past few years get drafted and play professionally and so all of them also have ambitions to also play in MLS.”

Most eyes, though, will be trained on Ochocinco, and not just those at the facility. Sporting KC has announced that they will be streaming live coverage of the scrimmage online on Monday at 3 p.m. at www.sporting85.com, the same site that showed live video of Ochocinco’s training sessions earlier this week.

Certainly, Roblee thinks the attention that Ochocinco is bringing to Sporting KC and to MLS as a whole is going to be beneficial for the club and the league.

“I think that it’s obviously brought a lot more media to MLS because Ochocinco obviously represents a huge fanbase,” Roblee said. “Ochocinco himself, with his name recognition, is a marketable piece, and now that marketable individual has attached himself to Major League Soccer it’s obviously bringing a lot of newer fans who are sports fans and aren’t familiar with Major League Soccer and Sporting KC.”

USL Feature

Friday, March 25, 2011

ROCHESTER RHINOS

Coach: Bob Lilley
2010 Season: Quarterfinals, USSF D-2 Pro League

The Lowdown - Rochester returns many of the players who performed well in the USSF D-2 Pro League last season, and will be a strong contender not only to win the National Division but the USL PRO title. The Rhinos, the last non-MLS team to win the U.S. Open Cup in 1999, are also aiming for a deep run in this year’s edition of the competition.

Key Departures – The biggest hits to the Rhinos’ squad came defensively, where goalkeeper Scott Vallow retired and defenders Aaron Pitchkolan and Frankie Sanfillipo moved on to new teams. Neal Kitson remains an able No.1 goalkeeper for the club, but replacing Pitchkolan, who was named to the USSF D-2 Best XI, and Sanfillipo, who was the club’s captain, will be essential if the Rhinos are to maintain their strong defensive record of a year ago.

Key Returnees – The foundation of that defense will be Troy Roberts, himself a USSF D-2 Best XI selection alongside Pitchkolan. Also returning to the squad is 2010’s leading scorer Isaac Kissi, who finished the season with eight goals, and second-leading scorer Andrew Hoxie, who had six.

Key Additions – Midfielder Tony Donatelli should have a good impact on the Rhinos’ midfield, and could provide a boost offensively after scoring seven goals and three assists for the Montreal Impact a season ago. Also added to fortify the team’s attack is Kendall Jagdeosingh, who has three goals and three assists last season for the Puerto Rico Islanders.

The Coach’s Opinion – “We are hopeful to improve upon last season’s success but know it will be a significant challenge. Our focus will to become more dynamic in the offensive end while maintaining our ability to keep possession and defend effectively as a team. If we get these components right, we feel we have a team that can compete with the top clubs in our league.” – Bob Lilley

If it all goes to plan – Rochester will certainly be a club that is in contention at the end of the season. With the Pittsburgh Riverhounds appearing to be the biggest challenger for the Rhinos in the National Division, the question will be how the club will fare in the playoffs. The last time the Rhinos took a league championship was in 2001 in the USL A-League. Is it time for another piece of hardware in Rochester’s trophy cabinet?

Richmond Kickers News Release -- www.richmondkickers.com

Saturday, March 26, 2011

RICHMOND, Va. – The Richmond Kickers came through a tough test Saturday in their last preseason scrimmage before the USL PRO home opener next Saturday, edging the Carolina RailHawks, 1-0, at Sports Backers Stadium. Midfielder Stanley Nyazamba notched the lone goal for the home side as the Kickers made the final preparations for the start of the season.

The Kickers struck early in the match to take the advantage when Nyazamba found himself in the right place at the right time. Defender Dave Hertel served a cross into the box from the right flank, finding Matthew Delicâte at the near post. The big forward spun around his defender and fired from point-blank range but his attempt was deflected by the RailHawks stout defense. The ball landed at the feet of a wide-open Nyazamba who took one touch to bury the rebound.

Midfielder Ross Mackenzie nearly doubled the score early in the second half when he received the ball at the top of the box. Dribbling through two defenders, he fired a rocket from 13 yards but his attempt was punched away by the RailHawks goalkeeper. Soon after, Mackenzie delivered a corner into the box, finding Hertel, whose acrobatic side volley was cleared off the line by a Carolina defender.

Carolina retaliated in the 79th minute with a close call that could have cost Kickers goalkeeper Ronnie Pascale his clean sheet. A cross from the right side sailed into the box, finding a RailHawks defender in the air, but his header narrowly glanced wide of the far post.

Reserve your 2011 Season Passes and join the Richmond Kickers when they open the USL PRO campaign, hosting OrlandoCity this Saturday, April 2 at 5:00 p.m. at Richmond City Stadium. Taking the field for their 19th season, the Kickers will compete alongside American Division rivals Charlotte Eagles, Charleston Battery, Orlando City and Wilmington Hammerheads and will also face National and International opponents Dayton Dutch Lions, Harrisburg City Islanders, FC New York, Pittsburgh Riverhounds, Rochester Rhinos, Antigua Barracuda FC, Los Angeles Blues, Puerto Rico United and Sevilla FC Puerto Rico during the 24-game season. Visit RichmondKickers.com for schedules and ticket information.

Scoring Summary

18th minute – Richmond: Stanley Nyazamba

Orlando City News Release -- www.orlandocitysoccer.com

Saturday, March 26, 2011

TAMPA, Fla. - Orlando City finished off its preseason as goals by Yordany Alvarez and Jamie Watson gave the Lions a 2-0 victory against the University of South Florida Bulls on Saturday night.

Unlike the team’s last two matches, the Lions took their time to get things going. USF’s strong defense weathered a flurry of Orlando City attacks, bending but not breaking. Several City shots appeared to be scoring chances, but ended up sailing over the crossbar.

“These are the sorts of things we need to improve on,” said Head Coach Adrian Heath. “We must have had eight or nine shots in the box with no pressure on the ball, and every one’s gone over the bar. At this level, those can come back to haunt you. There’s a lot to work on, but there was a lot of good stuff as well.”

City finally found the back of the net in the 30th minute. Devorn Jorsling, playing in a holding forward role, fought off a USF defender before laying off a pass to Yordany Alvarez. Alvarez took one touch to his right and fired low and to the far post, past the outstretched arms of the USF keeper. 

The second half was similar to the first. The Lions controlled possession, but struggled to find a decisive final pass in the final third due in part to the tight Bulls defense. The Lions finally broke through in the 60th minute in a similar fashion to their opening goal.

Jorsling again held the ball up, this time springing Jamie Watson. Seeing the play, the USF keeper came off his line to challenge Watson. As the ’keeper slid, Watson pulled the ball back with his left foot and rounded the keeper, dribbling towards an open net. The Bulls defense scrambled to recover, but Watson struck, his shot hitting a USF defender on the goal line before ricocheting into the net.

After the match, Heath was pleased with his squad’s performance.

“It was a big improvement on the last two or three games," Heath said. "A lot of things we’ve been working on came out tonight. Although it’s only 2-0, I thought it could have been 5-0 or 6-0. I’m pleased with some of the performances. One or two players are starting to get the feel and their touch back. Although it’s probably not the most convincing score line, this is probably the most pleased I’ve been since our last MLS match [a 1-0 win over Toronto FC].”

Next week City opens the USL PRO regular season against the Richmond Kickers. The match in Richmond is set for a 5 p.m. kickoff.

Scoring Summary

30th Minute – Orlando City: Yordany Alvarez (Devorn Jorsling)
60th Minute – Orlando City: Jamie Watson (Devorn Jorsling)

USL Feature

Monday, March 28, 2011

ANTIGUA BARRACUDA FC

Head Coach: Tom Curtis
2010 Season: N/A

The Lowdown – After playing an exhibition schedule in 2010, Antigua Barracuda embarks on its first professional season in USL PRO’s International Division. With a squad primarily made up of players from the Antiguan national team and Antiguan Premier League, the club is hoping to make a good first impression.

Key Departures – The Barracudas were able to retain most of the squad from the exhibition season, which gave them a slight head start on building the club’s first professional squad this offseason. As such, no key figures have departed.

Key Returnees – The team’s captain is always a key figure, and the Barracudas’ George Dublin is no exception. The center back will be a key piece in front of new goalkeeper Miguel Baez. Another important figure will be forward Tamorley Thomas, who has scored five goals in 18 games for the Antiguan national team.

Key Additions – The addition of Antiguan international forward Peter Byers may have been the most important move of the Barracudas’ offseason, with the 26-year-old bringing a wealth of experience to the club. A former USL-1 champion with the Montreal Impact, Byers has also scored 12 goals in 24 games for the Antiguan national team, and more than 100 goals during his professional club career.

The Coach’s Opinion – “We are looking to consolidate our position in this new league. We are quietly confident we can do well this year but realize it’s a new adventure for our franchise. It’s a fantastic opportunity for the players to play on a professional stage and an exciting time for the island and its football fans.” – CEO Bo Matthew

If it all goes to plan – It’s probably too much to ask for the Barracudas to make the playoffs in their first season, but they could certainly manage to spring a surprise along the way. With a fan-base that appears ready to embrace the new team, the Sticky Wicket Stadium could be a tricky venue for opponents to travel to this season.

Rochester Rhinos News Release -- www.rhinossoccer.com

Monday, March 28, 2011

ROCHESTER, N.Y. -- The Rochester Rhinos have announced that they have come to terms with defender Quavas Kirk.  The 22-year-old Kirk brings to Rochester 43 appearances in Major League Soccer with the L.A. Galaxy and D.C. United as well as 33 games with the Minnesota Thunder and Portland Timbers of the USL First Division.

Kirk originally was drafted in the third round (34th overall) of the 2005 MLS SuperDraft by the Los Angeles Galaxy. In 2006, he made his MLS debut tallying his first professional goal in U.S. Open Cup play in a 2-0 win over Dallas Roma.

In February, 2008, the Aurora, Illinois native was traded to D.C. United where he would score his first career league goal on August 23, 2008 in a 3-0 DC win over the Colorado Rapids.

The 6-foot-1, 185-pound player was waived by D.C. United early in 2009 and picked up by the Minnesota Thunder. There he appeared in 15 matches before signing with the Portland Timbers in December, 2009.

In addition to MLS and USL play, Kirk was a standout in the United States' under-17 national team, scoring 22 goals in 53 games. He also played in the 2005 U-17 World Championships.

PRESEASON EXHIBITIONS

The Rhinos host the University of Buffalo in a preseason exhibition this Thursday, March 31 beginning at 4 p.m. They will take the field again on Sunday, April 3 when they host the Pittsburgh Riverhounds at 3 p.m. Both matches are open to the public and admission is free.

Northern Virginia Royals News Release -- www.novafc.org

Tuesday, March 29, 2011

RICHMOND, Va. – With the start of the 2011 United Soccer Leagues season only weeks away, the three Virginia franchises mutually announced today the start of a regional competition to determine the top men’s and women’s amateur teams in the state. The Fredericksburg, Virginia Beach, and Northern Virginia W-League and Premier Development League teams will vie for the annual Commonwealth Cup title.

The Fredericksburg area returns to USL action this summer with the launch of the men’s Hotspurs and the women’s Impact. Established under the banner of the mainstay youth club FASA, the Impact and Hotspurs already show signs of being top contenders in the league.

Historic powerhouse Hampton Roads Piranhas enter their sixteenth year under a slightly different moniker. The Piranhas now specify Virginia Beach as their home, reflecting their long-time commitment and relationship with the vacation community.

The Northern Virginia Majestics (W-League) begin their 2011 campaign following a losing record the previous year. The Majestics hope a new blend of returning players and some international signees will boost their success this year. The Royals (PDL) take the field this summer under new head coach Richie Burke to improve upon their 6-6-4 mark in 2010.

The cup champion from the W-League will be determined by results in both the six game home and away series between the three clubs. Due to an odd number of match-ups scheduled in the South Atlantic Division, the PDL state title will utilize the scores from the first home and away series between each team. The USL tiebreaker ranked system would be implemented if a winner cannot be decided strictly from match result points.

The USL Premier Development League features 64 teams within four conferences across the United States and Canada. The PDL provides elite collegiate players the opportunity to taste a higher level of competition while maintaining their eligibility. In addition to league play, PDL teams compete in the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup as well as various exhibitions. The USL Premier Development League has proven to be an important stepping stone for top professionals now playing throughout the world.

The first and longest-standing women’s league in North America, the W-League is USL’s highest level of women’s soccer in the United States and Canada. In addition to featuring international and professional stars, elite amateur players have the opportunity to compete on amateur teams in the league while maintaining their collegiate eligibility. The league is recognized throughout the world for providing superior competition for female players, while offering affordable family entertainment for fans across North America.

Kansas City Brass News Release

Tuesday, March 29, 2011

KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- While it is not unusual for the USL Premier Development League’s Kansas City Brass to play training matches against the Major League Soccer’s Sporting Kansas City, Monday’s match attracted greater attention when NFL player Chad Ochocinco played for Sporting as part of his trial with the club.

Ochocinco played more than 50 minutes in the match, which was divided into three 30-minute periods. Ochocinco entered the match in the second 30-minute period and played until the end of the final 30-minute period.

The Brass finished on top in the scrimmage, leading 3-2. Ochocinco had a scoring opportunity in the final 30-period when a mistake by the Brass defense left Ochocinco with an opening to shoot in the Brass penalty area, but a Brass defender quickly moved in to disrupt the scoring opportunity without a shot being taken.

“He (Ochocinco) is someone who loves the game and he’s got ability," Brass coach Lincoln Roblee said. "He is trying to pick up a game that he has been away from. Just like any other athlete in any sport, it’s difficult to complete at the level you want to be at when you have been away for so long."

Midfielder Justin Beck, who scored the Brass’ third goal, had a chance to chat with Ochocinco while the Sporting Kansas City trainer was called on to the field to attend to an injured player.

“I told him he was invited over for dinner because my mama wanted to come over for family dinner,” Beck said. “He said he wanted to come, but he said if he liked it he wasn’t going to leave.”

Just as Ochocinco was on trial with Sporting, every player on the field was evaluated, including Brass players. The Brass play about six training matches a season against Sporting.

“All of the players, first and foremost, they want to make an impression on Sporting KC because we have a bunch of ambitious players that are hoping to go to the next level,” Roblee said. “This game was something for Ochocinco to give himself an opportunity, but also for everyone on the Brass to show themselves well.”

Ochocinco is available for the trial because the NFL owners locked out the league’s players in a collective bargaining dispute. Sporting then invited the six-time Pro Bowl selection to try out with the club. Ochocinco, 33, last played in a competitive soccer match while he was in high school.

Sporting recently signed defender Kevin Ellis, who played with the Brass for two seasons. Former Brass players Ryan Raybould and Will John also played for Sporting (when they were known as the Kansas City Wizards). Matt Besler, current Sporting defender, and Jack Jewsbury, a midfielder who played eight seasons for Sporting before a recent trade to the Portland Timbers, also have Brass experience.

Ellis scored one of the two Sporting goals.

The first 30 minutes saw Sporting field a team of players who did not play against the Chicago Fire on Saturday.

Garrett Webb put the Brass ahead about 10 minutes into the match after winning a scramble for the ball in the Sporting penalty area. Ellis put his head on a loose ball on the doorstep of the Brass goal about five minutes later to equalize for Sporting. Webb scored his second before the end of the first 30-minute period when he won a battle for the ball in the area against Sporting goalkeeper Eric Kronberg.

There was no scoring in the second 30 minutes. Sporting inserted a few players from its academy team to mix in with the professional reserves.

Sporting had a nearly all academy line-up plus Ochocinco for the final 30 minutes.

Derek Schrick, who plays for the Under-16 academy side and Rockhurst (Kansas City, Mo.) High School, made a high-quality finish of a long ball played into the penalty area to score Sporting’s second goal.

Beck then polished off a quick attack for the third Brass’ goal, finishing a well-placed pass from inside the Sporting area by former Manchester United trainee Tom Black.

“Everyone I thought represented themselves very well,” Roblee said. “Anytime you get on the field with Sporting KC (and) MLS competition, you have to be at your best. And I thought today, an awful lot of players were at their best.”

Richmond Kickers News Release -- www.richmondkickers.com

Tuesday, March 29, 2010

RICHMOND, Va. – In support of the Virginia Commonwealth University Rams and their historic trip to the NCAA Final Four, the Richmond Kickers are changing the kickoff time of their 2011 USL PRO home opener. This Saturday, April 2, the Kickers pro game against Orlando City will now be played at 4 p.m., resulting from the scheduled tip off time between the VCU Rams and the Butler Bulldogs at 6:09 p.m. (EST). Fans wearing black and gold can purchase tickets for just $4 at the gate and Papa John’s will continue to celebrate the Rams’ success by offering pizzas at the stadium for $4.

“The Kickers are proud to be supported by the great sports fans of Richmond and have made this decision with exactly those same sports fans in mind,” said Shelley Sowers, Richmond Kickers General Manager. “With the change in time, fans will now be able to watch the Kickers home opener in its entirety and can still catch the tip off of the Final Four. Virginia Commonwealth University has given truth to the phrase March Madness and the Richmond Kickers wish all VCU players and coaches good luck as they fight to bring a national championship to Richmond. Go Rams!”

For more information and for all ticket inquiries, please contact Ben Snyder at (804) 644-KICK (5425) ext. 311 or ben@richmondkickers.com.

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

Tuesday, March 29, 2011

LOS ANGELES -- The Los Angeles Blues have announced today that the club will be hosting a charitable match this Saturday, April 2nd, against the Orange County All-Stars. 100 percent of proceeds will go to the American Red Cross of Orange County for relief efforts to assist those affected by the Japan earthquake and Pacific tsunami. Kick-off time will be 6 p.m. at the Blues’ home venue of Titan Stadium, on the campus of Cal-State Fullerton.

“We’re excited to be hosting this match against the OC All Stars,” said Los Angeles Blues General Manager Alyse LaHue. “It gives our fans an opportunity to see us for the first time at Titan Stadium, but more importantly allows our organization and fans to contribute to the charitable efforts of the terrible devastation in Japan via our local Red Cross of Orange County.”

Tickets for the match will be available at the door for a $10 donation. Gates will open at 5pm and parking onsite will be free for the event. If you are unable to attend the match but would like to make a donation, please contact Los Angeles Blues at (310)264-4649 or at info@bluessoccerclub.com.

For more information about the Los Angeles Blues, visit the official team website at www.bluessoccerclub.com. Stay up to date with all the latest team news by visiting the Official Los Angeles Blues facebook page and following the team on twitter @LABLUESPRO.

For more information about the American Red Cross, please call 1 800-797-8022 or email info@usa.redcross.org. Your gift to the American Red Cross will support our disaster relief efforts to help those affected by the earthquake in Japan and tsunami throughout the Pacific. On those rare occasions when donations exceed American Red Cross expenses for a specific disaster, contributions are used to prepare for and serve victims of other disasters.

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

Tuesday, March 29, 2011

DAYTON, Ohio – The Dayton Dutch Lions FC are proud to announce the signing of Joel DeLass for the 2011 USL PRO season. The midfielder is the eighth professional player committed to the DDl FC for the USL PRO season.

DeLass, a Michigan native, signed a one-year contract with the Dutch Lions. Most recently DeLass played for Wheaton College and the Charlotte Eagles.

“I’ve only had a glimpse of the organization thus far, but from what I can tell the organization seems to be very professional and very committed to bringing high-level soccer to the Dayton community," said DeLass.

“This season in particular, I’m really looking forward to playing my part in helping to establish a winning tradition on the field, while also having a positive impact on the Dayton community. I want to be a positive role model both on and off the field, in order to build positive bilateral relationships within the community so that children, teens, and adults are proud to be supporters of the Dayton Dutch Lions,” DeLass continued when asked what he was most looking forward to this season.

For more information and to purchase tickets for the 2011 season visit our official website at www.dutchlionsfc.com. Be sure to stay up to date and receive exclusive deals by following us on Facebook and on Twitter @DaytonDutchlion.