Washington University Women’s Soccer Notches 3-1 Win Over Birmingham Southern in 2007 Season Opener

Christopher Mitchell
Director, Sports Information

Memphis, Tenn., August 31, 2007

The No. 11 Washington University women’s soccer team opened the 2007 season with a 3-1 win over Birmingham Southern College on Friday night at the Rhodes College Classic in Memphis, Tenn.

Sophomore Therese Fox, St. Louis, Mo. (Cor Jesu Academy), a transfer from the United States Military Academy, netted the game-winner for the Bears in the 49th minute driving a shot to the back corner of the net.

Sophomore Caryn Rosoff, Beverly Hills, Calif. (Harvard-Westlake), who led the Bears in scoring a year ago with 12 goals, scored the first goal of the season on a corner kick in the 19th minute to put WU up 1-0. Birmingham Southern, which competed at the Division I level last season, answered back just before halftime as Caitlin Gordon slid a shot past WU goalkeeper Carrie Sear, Evanston, Ill. (Evanston Township) to knot the score at 1-1.

After Fox gave the Bears the 2-1 lead, sophomore Kristina Noll, St. Louis, Mo. (Ursuline Academy) netted an insurance goal at 68:07 to make it 3-1. Sear made three saves in the nets picking up her 18th career victory. Washington U. outshot Birmingham Southern 20-4, and had a 6-1 advantage in corner kicks.

Washington University (1-0) will have Saturday off before returning to action on Sunday, Sept. 2 at Noon against the host Rhodes College.

Washington University Men’s Soccer Picked 1st in University Athletic Association Preseason Coaches Poll, Women Chosen 2nd

Christopher Mitchell
Director Sports Information


St. Louis, Mo., August 28, 2007

Washington University in St. Louis’ men’s soccer team was picked first and the women’s team was chosen second in the 2007 University Athletic Association (UAA) Preseason Conference Coaches’ Polls, as announced by the conference office.

The men’s team, who won its final three games to come within a game of claiming the UAA title last fall, garnered four first-place votes in earning top honors with 43 points. New York University, which advanced to their first NCAA Division III final four in 2006, is the coaches' choice to finish second in the standings, earning a pair of first-place votes in tallying 40 points.

Case Western Reserve University, which won its last four UAA contest en route to claiming its first UAA championship in 2006, garnered a first-place vote in being picked to finish third with 38 points. The University of Rochester was picked fourth in the standings, getting one first-place vote in totaling 36 points. Rounding out the remaining teams in the poll, in order, are the University of Chicago (27 points), Carnegie Mellon University (20), Emory University (12), and Brandeis University (nine).

The men’s squad finished the 2006 UAA season tied for second place, with a 4-2-1 conference record. Washington U. recovered from a slow 1-2-1 start to league play to end the regular season on a three-game winning streak. The Bears’ 12-3-2 overall record resulted in the team’s first postseason berth since 1999.

Rochester, winners of 11 UAA titles since the formation of the league, is the preseason favorite to claim the women's championship. The Yellowjackets, who finished second in the standings last fall with a 5-1-1 record, edged defending Association champion Washington U. for the top spot, garnering five first-place votes en route to 46 points. The Bears, winners of three of the last four UAA titles (co-champion with Emory in 2004), claimed the remaining three first-place votes for 44 points.

Chicago is the coaches’ pick to finish third, collecting 38 points, while Emory was picked to finish fourth with 32 points. Carnegie Mellon (23 points), Brandeis (18), New York (13) and Case Western Reserve (10) rounded out the eight teams.

The women’s team finished the 2006 season with a program-best 17-3 overall record and advanced to NCAA Sectionals. The Bears posted a 7-0 record in UAA play, capturing their fourth conference championship in school history. Head coach Wendy Dillinger has guided Washington U. to a 69-21-8 overall record in five seasons on the Danforth Campus.

The women take the field for their 2007 season opener Fri., August 31 at 3 p.m., against Birmingham Southern at the Rhodes College Classic in Memphis, Tenn. The men also begin the season on Fri., August 31 in Memphis, Tenn., facing Rhodes at 5:30 p.m.

Washington University Men's and Women's Soccer Ranked in Preseason Top-25

Christopher Mitchell
Director, Sports Information

Washington University's women's soccer team is ranked No. 11, while the men's team was tabbed 23rd in the NSCAA/adidas preseason top-25 poll, as announced Monday by the web site. http://bearsports.wustl.edu

The women's team finished the 2006 season with a program-best 17-3 overall record and advanced to NCAA Sectionals. The Bears posted a 7-0 record in University Athletic Association (UAA) play, capturing their fourth UAA championship in school history. Sixth-year head coach Wendy Dillinger has guided the Bears to a 69-21-8 overall record, ranking 14th among active Division III coaches with a 74.5 winning percentage.

WU returns 24 letterwinners and eight starters from last year's squad, including sophomore forward Caryn Rosoff and senior goalkeeper Carrie Sear.

Rosoff, a first-team all-UAA selection and the 2006 UAA Rookie of the Year, led the Bears in goals (12) and points (27) in her first year with the Red and Green. Sear, also a first-team all-UAA honoree, started 20 games in goal, posting a 17-3 overall record with a school-record 0.34 goals against average. She also recorded eight shutouts and was sixth in Division III in goals against average (0.337) and ninth in save percentage (0.90).
Washington University's men's team posted a 12-4-2 overall record in 2006, and finished third in the UAA with a 4-2-1 mark. The Bears fell to Wheaton College (Ill.), 1-0, in the opening round of the NCAA Tournament. It was the first postseason action for the Red and Green since advancing to the NCAA Second Round in 1999.

Washington U. returns all 11 starters from the 2006 squad, including senior defender Elie Zenner, sophomore forward John Hengel and sophomore goalkeeper John Smelcer.

Zenner, a first-team all-UAA honoree, bolstered a WU defense that allowed just nine goals all year. Smelcer earned UAA Rookie of the Year honors after posting an 11-4-2 record in net and boasting a 0.53 goals against average, the fourth lowest in team history. Hengel, an honorable mention all-UAA selection, led the Bears offensively, tallying 15 points on five goals and five assists.

The women take the field for its 2007 season opener Fri., August 31 at 3 p.m. against Birmingham Southern at the Rhodes College Classic in Memphis, Tenn. The men also begin the season on Fri., August 31 in Memphis, Tenn., facing Rhodes at 5:30 p

Nike/US Club Soccer Coming to STL

Nike & US Club Soccer Announce

2007 id2 Regional Training Camp Locations


MYRTLE BEACH, S.C. (Aug. 13, 2007) – Nike and US Club Soccer announced today the dates and locations of three id2 Regional Training Camps to be held in the Fall of 2007. Boys born in '94/'95 and girls born in '93/'94 will be invited to attend one of the following four-day id2



Regional Training Camps:


Sept. 20-23 in Germantown, Md.


Sept. 27-30 in St. Louis, Mo.


Oct. 5-8 in Irvine, Calif.


US Soccer Youth Development Program staff will be on site at each id2 Regional Training Camp to scout players for possible inclusion in the National Team Programs.


“The locations of the id2 Regional Training Camps allow us to achieve geographical diversity while utilizing some of the nations top facilities,” said id2 Director Gerry McKeown. "Participating players will benefit by showcasing their skills against high-level competition on quality fields.”


“Nike Soccer is proud and honored to support the id2 Program,” said Joe Elsmore, Nike’s Director of US Soccer Marketing. “Our strategic partnership with US Club Soccer continues to provide elite players with innovative and integrated opportunities to showcase their talents to the some of the best scouts and coaches in the country.”


Scouting is well underway for the 2007 id2 program. Players are identified for inclusion in the id2 Regional Training Camps as they compete in their own environment with their club teams. id2 scouts have already evaluated players at all eight 2007 US Club Soccer National Cup VI Regionals and the 2007 National Cup VI Finals, as well as matches and tournaments staged throughout the summer.


The id2 selection process is apolitical as players are identified regardless of their affiliation (i.e. US Club Soccer, USYSA, AYSO, non-affiliated, etc.). Parents do not have to pay fees and travel costs to multiple expensive tryout camps to insure their players are seen by id2 scouts.
Once players arrive at the id2 Regional Training Camps, US Club Soccer covers all player expenses. Nike, the Official Equipment Supplier of US Club Soccer, will provide players with training uniforms, balls, bags and other equipment. Top club, collegiate and national team staff coaches will conduct the id2 Regional Training Camps.


More information regarding the id2 Regional Training Camps can be found online at http://www.usclubsoccer.org/.


About US Club SoccerUS Club Soccer is a non-profit organization whose mission is to develop competitive club soccer in the United States. It has been a member of the United States Soccer Federation since July 2001, and has grown to over 2,300 member clubs and league teams in 48 states. In addition to sanctioning tournaments, leagues, and other competitions and conducting a range of programs for its members, it annually conducts the US Club Soccer National Cup, the Champions Cup and several Youth World Series events. US Club Soccer also conducts its own annual player identification and development program, id2. For more information, visit http://www.usclubsoccer.org/.


Web: 2007 id2 Regional Training Camps

Reprinted with permission from US Club Soccer

If You Build it They will Come

Pro-Soccer Returning to St. Louis
By Roger Cole
Publisher

A famous quote from an equally famous movie (Field of Dreams, 1989, Ray Kinsella) may soon become a reality in the greater St. Louis Metropolitan Area. Thanks, in part to Jeff Cooper and the St. Louis United Soccer LLC, the beautiful game will be returning to our area. Play is scheduled to kick off in April of 2008. Teams will play a 20 game schedule. This time around they are pulling no punches. The team will most likely find its home in its own stadium located of I-255 near Horseshoe Lake Road in Collinsville. Ultimately the Stadium will double as the home to a new MLS franchise. Wheels have been set in motion and details are being worked out. Local Club teams like Metro United of Southern Illinois have joined in the effort by gathering names of supporters through the petition process. The official numbers on these documents has not been released.

St. Louis has long been thought of as the Soccer Capital of the U.S. Support from the soccer community at large will play a huge role in the success of this venture. Recent trends are a good indication of the backing for these teams. The St. Louis Lions and River Cities F.C. – also owned by Jeff Cooper -- are two amateur teams in the area sanctioned by the United States Adult Soccer Association (USASA) as an affiliate of the United States Soccer Federation (USSF), and FIFA. Both teams are achieving great results as they help local St. Louis talent make the transition to the next level.

The new league will begin play with a minimum of Six organizations. The initial members of the new league include:
Jeff Cooper, St. Louis United Soccer LLC - Territory: St. Louis, Mo.; AEG - Territory: Greater Los Angeles, Calif.; John Hendricks, Freedom Soccer LLC - Territory: Washington, D.C.; Soccer Initiative, LLC - Territory: TBD, pending its final decision to select a market; Jack Hanks and Brent Coralli, Dallas Franchise Group - Territory: Greater Dallas area, Texas; and WGLSI, LLC and an additional investor TBD - Territory: Chicago and Bridgeview, Ill..

Rising to the Top

Becky Sauerbrunn
By Roger Cole
Publisher
7/30/07

St. Louis native and former Ladue alumni, Becky Sauerbrunn has been selected to represent the Under 21 Womens National Team as they prepare travel to Vassa Finland to participate in the Nordic Cup. Sauerbrunn has been climbing the ladder with the U.S. developmental program. Locally she was a member of the JB Marine soccer club and a four year letter winner for Ladue High School. This fall Becky will return to Virginia to for her senior season with the Coach Steve Swanson and the Cavaliers. She is the third player in Virginia history to receive All American honors.

"It would be extremely difficult to find a better student, athlete and person anywhere then Becky Sauerbrunn. She competes at everything she undertakes, is a consummate team player, and is one of the hardest workers I have ever seen. As great as she has been for us at Virginia both on and off the field, I feel her soccer career is just beginning and am excited for her as she continues to grow in the sport." -- Coach Swanson

Becky has been recognized as a top player by the on a annual basis, In 2003 she was named freshman year the following year she opted to play with the Woman’s’ National Team in the world cup in Tiland. She has returned to finish her senior year as a Cavalier

In 2006 she again received All-American honors from both the NSCAA and Soccer Buzz Magazine. Sauerbrunn played every minute of the 2006 season as a central defender.


She will help the WNT reclaim the Nordic Cup Title from Germany - A title that the US has held the prior eight years.

A Sorber-ing Reality

Congratulations to St. Louis native Mike Sorber on his appointment to the Men's national team as the new Assistant Coach. Coach Sorber's carrier began here in St Louis and continued on to the Professional, International and National Team ranks. Coach Sorber will still be involved with St Louis University Soccer as a volunteer coach while he ramps up his duties with the National Team.

For full article on his appointment visit the Biliken web site through the link.

http://slubillikens.cstv.com/sports/m-soccer/spec-rel/073007aaa.html

LEAGUE PREREVIEW

Are you looking for a league to play in? This section is for you. We will explore the many leagues that are available for your young budding soccer superstars to participate in.

Upward Soccer

Roger Cole

Publisher


SSLM sat down with Jeff Wells, Co- Director of the Greater St. Louis Upward Soccer Association, to discuss the leagues growth and impact on the soccer community. The Greater St. Louis Upward Soccer Association is in its third year of play. Practices and games are held at SportPort of Maryland Heights [12525 Sportport Rd. Maryland Heights, MO 63043(314) 434-1919]. Their mission: to introduce children to Jesus Christ by creating opportunities to serve through sports. Values are important to us all. Through Upward Soccer your child will be taught universal values that span a multitude of faiths. Their number one priority of the all-volunteer staff is the Children. Through building healthy relationships, the participants develop self-confidence and an understanding of the world around them. Servant Leadership through a life of integrity and faith is also taught. But most of all your children will be taught that how you live your life is more important than what you say about it. Weather you are a Christian or not; it doesn’t matter - all are welcome. The values learned by the children in this league would make any parent proud. To find out more information and how to participate visit the Greater St. Louis Upward Soccer Association web site at http://www.stlupward.com/index.html. Jeff Wells is Associate Pastor at Parkway Baptist Church located at 12465 Olive Boulevard St. Louis, MO.
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