St. Louis Lions travel north for weekend matches in Des Moines and Rochester

 

 

 

 

 

NEWS RELEASE

Media Contact:

Colin Pennington

(314)505-5285

colin.pennington@brightonusa.com

 

St. Louis Lions travel north for weekend matches in Des Moines and Rochester

 

St. Louis, Mo. (May 27, 2009)-  After playing the Des Moines Menace to a 2-2 draw this past Saturday and earning a spot in the 2009 U.S. Open Cup, the St. Louis Lions will travel to Des Moines, Iowa on Saturday, May 30 for a 6:30 p.m. match at Valley Stadium against the Menace and then to Rochester, Minn. for a 6:00 p.m. match Sunday against the Rochester Thunder.

 

Saturday's match against Des Moines will be the second of three meetings between the Lions and Menace this season with the first having ended in a 2-2 draw on Saturday, May 23 in St. Louis.  St. Louis leads the all-time series against Des Moines 3-1-4 and the Menace have not beat the Lions since their first ever meeting on May 13, 2006, but the last three matches dating back to last season have all ended in a draw.

 

"So many of our matches against Des Moines have been so close that we've really built up a great rivalry," said Lions Head Coach Tony Glavin.  "Casey (Mann) always has his guys ready to play and we have no reason to believe that won't be the case again this weekend."

 

Both clubs have a record of 3-0-1 on the season and are tied for second in the Heartland Division behind Real Colorado, who has played two more games than St. Louis and Des Moines so far.  The Lions are lead by forwards Steven Beattie and Stephen Brocks who have nine points each through four matches this season and are tied for fourth in the league lead in that category.  Meanwhile, Des Moines will look to get another solid performance from goalkeeper Sean Molony who is 3-0-1 on the season with a 1.00 GAA.

 

"If there's been one constant on both sides in all our meetings with Des Moines it has been goaltending," said Glavin.  "We've done a great job so far this season creating chances offensively and we need to continue to get better at capitalizing on those chances.  Additionally, we need Brenton (Saylor) to continue his solid play in net."

 

After leaving Des Moines, St. Louis will make its first ever trip to Rochester, Minn. for a 6:00 p.m. match against the Rochester Thunder on Sunday, May 31 at Rochester Community Technical College.  The match will be the final of two meetings between the two clubs this season with St. Louis winning the first meeting 2-1 on May 10 in St. Louis. 

 

Rochester is 2-2-0 thus far in its inaugural season and is coming off a 2-0 shutout victory at home against the Kansas City Brass last Saturday.  Rochester is 2-0-0 on its home field so far this season, while St. Louis is 2-0-0 on the road.

 

Following the current road trip, St. Louis will return home to play six of its next seven matches at the Tony Glavin Soccer Complex.

 

For more information about the Lions and upcoming matches, visit www.stllions.com.

 

The St. Louis Lions are playing their fourth season as a member of the United Soccer League's (USL) Premier Development League (PDL) where players have the ability to compete throughout the summer months in a professionalized setting while maintaining their collegiate eligibility. The league is the proving ground for players that aspire to reach the highest-levels of the game, while providing affordable family entertainment within their city.  The PDL consistently sends players into the professional ranks with several playing in the USL First and Second Professional Divisions as well as 39 players with PDL experience chosen in the 2009 Major League Soccer SuperDraft.  In just three prior seasons the Lions have competed in the U.S. Open Cup(2008), PDL playoffs(2007), won the Rookie Franchise of the Year Award(2006) and currently have five former players playing professional soccer.

U.S. Women Score Twice in Each Half to Defeat Canada 4-0 at BMO Field in Toronto

From the U.S. Soccer Communications Center:

U.S. WOMEN SCORE TWICE IN EACH HALF TO DEFEAT CANADA 4-0
AT BMO FIELD IN TORONTO

• Boxx Opens Scoring 93 Seconds Into Match
• Rapinoe, Tapley and Cheney Add Goals
• Nairn Earns First WNT Cap

TORONTO, Canada (May 25, 2009) – The U.S. Women's National Team scored twice in each half, getting goals from four different players to defeat Canada 4-0 in front of 10,255 fans at BMO Field. It was the USA's first match in Canada since 2001.

Midfielder Shannon Boxx opened the scoring just 93 seconds into the match and midfielder Megan Rapinoe added a second just before the halftime. The USA put two more in the net during a four-minute span late in the game. Both second-half goals came from substitutes, as Lindsay Tarpley scored her 30th career goal in the 77th minute and 21-year-old Lauren Cheney knocked in a fantastic header in the 80th minute.

The USA dominated possession in a match played on the artificial surface at BMO Field and put together some excellent attacking soccer while out-shooting its northern neighbor by a 19-6 margin.

"I am happy about the performance and I am happy that we scored a goal on a corner kick," said U.S. WNT head coach Pia Sundhage. "That's something we are starting to work on and I believe that come 2011, when the games are so tight, that set plays will be very, very important. So, four nice goals and a pretty good game on turf."

Boxx's strike, which was the USA's first shot of the game, was her second goal of the year after scoring just once in 2008 and it came against her club teammate on the Los Angeles Sol in Canadian goalkeeper Karina LeBlanc. It was also Boxx's 20th international goal as she became the 16th female player in U.S. history to score 20 or more goals in her career.

The goal was created on the USA's first piece of possession as right back Heather Mitts played a penetrating pass forward to Boxx from the right side of the field. Boxx dribbled hard toward the edge of the penalty area, and when no Canadian defender stepped up to challenge, unleashed a 20-yard shot from 10 yards right of the penalty arc that skidded into the lower left side netting.

Canada's only good chance of the first half came in the 43rd minute on a long free kick from Kara Lang, but the shot flew wide right of Hope Solo's goal.

The USA got a huge score just seconds before the halftime whistle after Heather O'Reilly fed Rapinoe above the penalty area on the left side. Rapinoe collected and dribbled toward her defender before cutting hard inside, losing Canadian back Brittany Timko. The nifty dribble created a sliver of space for her bending 16-yard shot that actually curved around Abby Wambach and her defender, who were screening LeBlanc, and then spun perfectly into the lower right corner. It was Rapinoe's fourth international goal in just nine career caps.

The USA struggled to find its rhythm early in the second half as Canada picked up the pressure, but settled down and regained control before putting the match away in the 77th minute after Wambach earned a corner kick on the right side. It was Wambach who jumped over two defenders to get a head on the ball, sending it powerfully toward goal. The ball hit Canadian captain Christine Sinclair near the goal line, but Tarpley pounced on the loose ball to force it over the line and into the open net.

Wambach, who came into the match with 99 goals, will now have the chance to bag her historic 100th goal in her hometown of Rochester, N.Y., where the USA will play Canada in its next match on July 19. Canadian forward Christine Sinclair, who also came into the game with 99 goals, failed to hit the century mark as the U.S. defense did a fine job of keeping the star striker out of dangerous positions.

The final goal came after O'Reilly ran down a long pass on the right flank and struck a hard cross from the wing that deflected off a Canadian defender's foot, but it had enough steam on it to sail towards the near post. Cheney was making a hard near post run and deftly re-directed the ball with a superbly angled header into the upper right corner from about five yards outside the post. It was Cheney's fourth international goal in 17 career caps.

Amy LePeilbet got the start in the center defense with team captain Christie Rampone and played an excellent first half in her first cap since Sept. 13, 2006. She was replaced at halftime by Rachel Buehler, who also played an extremely solid 45 minutes, highlighted by a thunderous tackle on Canadian Melissa Tancredi in the waning minutes.

Canada's best chance of the second half came in the 54th minute as the USA lost a ball in the back, but the Maple Leafs couldn't capitalize as Jodi-Ann Robinson launched her shot over the goal from 25 yards out.

Besides the header off the corner kick that led to Tarpley's goal, Wambach didn't get too many clear chances for her 100th goal, but she did take a good swipe at a loose ball in the 62nd minute that fell close to her after a long free kick.

The USA hit a flurry of shots in the second half, highlighted by an O'Reilly blast from the top of the penalty area on the right side, but couldn't bust through until Tarpley's 77th minute score effectively put the game away.

U.S. goalkeepers Solo and Nicole Barnhart split the match, with Solo hitting some booming punts in the first half that caused some danger for the Canadian backline. Barnhart had a bit more to do in the second half in tidying up her penalty area, but was not forced to make a save.

Eighteen-year-old midfielder Christine Nairn became the first member of the USA's 2008 U-20 Women's World Cup championship team to earn a senior team cap, coming on for Angela Hucles in the 83rd minute. Nairn was the eighth player to be given her first cap by U.S. head coach Pia Sundhage.

The U.S. players now head back to join their WPS clubs and will not coming together against until mid-July for two more matches against Canada, on Sunday, July 19, at Rochester Rhinos Stadium in Rochester, N.Y., and then again three days later on Wednesday, July 22, at Blackbaud Stadium in Charleston, S.C. These will be the USA's first domestic matches of the year after playing the first five on the road and compiling a record of 4-0-1.

The game in Rochester kicks off at 3 p.m. ET and will be broadcast live on ESPN. The match in Charleston kicks off at 8 p.m. ET and will be broadcast live on Fox Soccer Channel and Fox Sports en Español. Both matches will be available online via ussoccer.com's MatchTracker.

Match: U.S. Women's National Team vs. Canada
Date: May 25, 2009
Competition: International Friendly
Venue: BMO Field; Toronto, Canada
Kickoff: 7 p.m. ET
Attendance: 10,255
Weather: 61 degrees, breezy, party cloudy

Scoring Summary: 1 2 F
USA                            2 2 4
CAN                            0 0 0

USA – Shannon Boxx (Heather Mitts)              2nd minute
USA – Megan Rapinoe (Heather O'Reilly)     46
USA – Lindsay Tarpley                                       77
USA – Lauren Cheney (Heather O'Reilly)      80

Lineups:
USA: 1-Hope Solo (18-Nicole Barnhart, 46); 2-Heather Mitts (19-Marian Dalmy, 61), 3-Christie Rampone – Capt., 6-Amy LePeilbet (4-Rachel Buehler, 46), 17-Lori Chalupny, 9-Heather O'Reilly, 16-Angela Hucles (13-Christine Nairn, 83), 7-Shannon Boxx, 15-Megan Rapinoe (5-Lindsay Tarpley, 61), 8-Amy Rodriguez (12-Lauren Cheney, 77), 20-Abby Wambach
Subs not used: 11-Casey Nogueira, 14-Brittany Bock, 24-Kelsey Davis
Injured: 10-Carli Lloyd
Head Coach: Pia Sundhage

CAN: 1-Karina LeBlanc; 3-Melanie Booth (14-Melissa Tancredi, 46), 9-Candace Chapman (23-Carmelina Moscato 84), 10-Martina Franko, 17-Brittany Timko (20-Marie-Eve Nault, 64); 15-Kara Lang, 19-Kelly Parker, 8-Diana Matheson, 7-Rhian Wilkinson, 21-Jodi-Ann Robinson (4-Alyssa Lagonia, 83), 12-Christine Sinclair – Capt.
Subs not used: 2-Emily Zurrer, 5-Chelsea Stewart, 6-Kaylyn Kyle, 11-Christina Julien, 16-Jonelle Filigno, 22-Stephanie Labbé
Head Coach: Carolina Morace

Statistical Summary: USA / CAN
Shots: 19 / 6
Shots on Goal: 7 / 1
Saves: 1 / 3
Corner Kicks: 8 / 3
Fouls: 6 / 10
Offside: 1 / 5

Misconduct Summary:
CAN – Candace Chapman (caution)       57th minute

Official:
Referee: Darci Kruse (CAN)
Asst. Referee: Suzanne Morisset (CAN)
Asst. Referee: Shauna Poirer (CAN)
Fourth Official: Carol Anne Chenard (CAN)

ussoccer.com Woman of the Match:
Shannon Boxx

- ussoccer.com -

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St. Louis Lions qualify for 2009 US Open Cup with 2-2 draw against Menace

NEWS RELEASE Media Contact: Colin Pennington Colin.pennington@brightonusa.com (314)505-5285 St. Louis Lions qualify for 2009 US Open Cup with 2-2 draw against Menace St. Louis, Mo. (May 25, 2009) – The St. Louis Lions continued their unbeaten ways in 2009 with a 2-2 draw against the Des Moines Menace on Saturday night. The draw also secured a spot for the Lions in the 2009 US Open Cup. This is the second consecutive year that the Lions have qualified for the Open Cup. St Louis was first to get on the board in the 17th minute with a goal by forward Stephen Brocks. The Lions were slowly working the ball out of the backfield deep in their own end when midfielder Stuart Wark spotted a an opening in the Des Moines defense and rifled a ball to a streaking Brocks who settled the ball, pushed it to the right side of the diving Menace keeper then placing the ball into the back of the net. The goal was the fourth of the season for Brocks. Des Moines tied the game in the 68th minute on a one-timer from Darryl Odom who drilled one in off the post. The Menace then took the lead in the 69th minute on an unassisted head ball goal from Jack Pearson. As with any St Louis and Des Moines rivalry game, the two teams don't quit and St Louis charged back and tied the game on a corner. David Mueller served up a cross that found Olly Dyson on the far side of the box who drove the ball into the back of the net to tie the game and send the Lions into the US open Cup. "Our first goal of the season was to qualify for the cup. We have done that and now we must wait to see who we will face in the first round on June 9th," said Lions Head Coach Tony Glavin. "Our next goal is to stay at the top of the tables and we have to go to Des Moines next Saturday and play this same team. It is never an easy game against them." The Lions will find out later this week who their first round opponent will be in the US Open Cup. The first round match is to be played on June 9th with the site and opponent to be determined. Next up for the Lions is a trip to Des Moines to play the Menace on the return leg Saturday, May 30 at 7:30 p.m. at Valley Stadium in Des Moines. The Lions will continue the road trip with a game the following day when they take on the Rochester Thunder. For more information please visit www.stllions.com. Photo: Lions defender David Mueller battles with Menace player Brian Beckford late in Saturday's match. The St. Louis Lions are in their fourth season as a member of the United Soccer League's (USL) Premier Development League (PDL) where players have the ability to compete throughout the summer months in a professionalized setting while maintaining their collegiate eligibility. The league is the proving ground for players that aspire to reach the highest-levels of the game, while providing affordable family entertainment within their city. The PDL consistently sends players into the professional ranks with several playing in the USL First and Second Professional Divisions as well as 39 players with PDL experience chosen in the 2009 Major League Soccer SuperDraft. In just three prior seasons the Lions have competed in the U.S. Open Cup(2008), PDL playoffs(2007), won the Rookie Franchise of the Year Award(2006) and currently have five former players playing professional soccer.

St. Louis Lions earn weekend victories on the road in Springfield and Kansas City: Lions improve to 3-0-0 and move within one victory of the 2009 U.S. Open Cup

 

 

St. Louis Lions earn weekend victories on the road in Springfield and Kansas City

Lions improve to 3-0-0 and move within one victory of the 2009 U.S. Open Cup

 

St. Louis, Mo. (May 19, 2009) – The St. Louis Lions cruised to 5-0 and 4-2 victories on the road against the Springfield Demize and Kansas City Brass this weekend to improve to 3-0-0 on the season and move within one victory of qualifying for the 2009 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup.

 

St. Louis got its two-game road trip off to a fast start Friday night in Springfield, netting two goals in the first eight minutes of the match in route to a 5-0 victory over the Springfield Demize.  Forward Steven Beattie led the Lions on offense with two goals and an assist while teammate Stephen Brocks added a goal and an assist.  Additionally, midfielder Martin Clayes and defender Alan Bradaric both scored on penalty kicks for the Lions, who have now defeated Springfield six times in seven all-time meetings.

 

"We played a quality game and had a huge effort from Beattie and Brocks," said Lions Head Coach Tony Glavin. "The two of them created a lot of havoc in the Springfield defense early which allowed for plays to open up and chances to develop."

 

After Friday's victory, St. Louis traveled to Kansas City on Sunday afternoon for a match against the Kansas City Brass.  In a total reversal of Friday night, St. Louis trailed Kansas City at halftime by a score of 1-0 despite out shooting the Brass 11-6 in the half.  However, the shots eventually turned to goals as the Lions netted four goals in the second half and won the match 4-2.

 

Forward Steven Beattie started the scoring for St. Louis in the 55^th minute with his third goal of the season.  Just one minute later the Lions struck again, this time forward Stephen Brocks netted his third of the season off a pass from Martin Clayes to give the Lions a 2-1 lead.

 

Kansas City tied the match right away in the 57^th minute on a misplay by St. Louis goalkeeper Brenton Saylor.  A Brass player was able to get a piece of the clearing attempt by Saylor and collided with him, resulting in the ball finding the back of the net.

 

Unfazed by the mistake, St. Louis proceeded to control play in the second half and generated numerous chances while wearing down the Brass defense. The effort paid off in the 80th minute when Stephen Beattie sent a cross to the back post to find the head of midfielder Stuart Wark who placed the ball in the near post netting for his second goal of the season making the score 3-2 in favor of St. Louis.

The Lions replaced forwards Steven Beattie and Stephen Brocks in the 86th minute with Mike Utley and Brian Harris in an attempt to keep up the sustained pressure in the final minutes. The two continued the relentless offensive attack and Harris one-timed a great ball to Utley who took the touch and blasted a shot past the diving Kansas City goalkeeper in the 88^th minute to give the Lions a 4-2 lead and the victory.

 

St. Louis is now 3-0-0 on the season and in U.S. Open cup qualifying.  The Lions next match will be at 5 p.m. on Saturday, May 23 at the Tony Glavin Soccer Complex in Cottleville, Mo. against the Des Moines Menace.  The Lions and Menace are tied atop the standings for the division's one U.S. Open Cup berth with St. Louis leading in goal differential.  A win or draw for St. Louis would put the Lions into the Cup for the second consecutive year.

 

For more information please visit www.stllions.com.

 

The St. Louis Lions are in their fourth season as a member of the United Soccer League's (USL) Premier Development League (PDL) where players have the ability to compete throughout the summer months in a professionalized setting while maintaining their collegiate eligibility. The league is the proving ground for players that aspire to reach the highest-levels of the game, while providing affordable family entertainment within their city.  The PDL consistently sends players into the professional ranks with several playing in the USL First and Second Professional Divisions as well as 39 players with PDL experience chosen in the 2009 Major League Soccer SuperDraft.  In just three prior seasons the Lions have competed in the U.S. Open Cup(2008), PDL playoffs(2007), won the Rookie Franchise of the Year Award(2006) and currently have five former players playing professional soccer. 

 

NEWS RELEASE

Media Contact:

Colin Pennington

Colin.pennington@brightonusa.com

(314)505-5285

Newcomers help St. Louis Lions Defeat Rochester Thunder in Home Opener

Newcomers help St. Louis Lions Defeat Rochester Thunder in Home Opener

St. Louis, Mo. (May 11, 2009)- Newcomers scored both goals for St. Louis as the Lions defeated the Rochester Thunder 2-1 on Sunday night in their home opener at the Tony Glavin Soccer Complex in Cottleville, Mo.

St. Louis came out and pressured Rochester early, earning four corner kicks in the first six minutes of the match. The sustained pressure paid off when the Lions got on the board first with a header from newcomer and midfielder Stuart Wark that came off a cross from Olly Dyson.

Following the goal, the pressure from St. Louis continued and the Lions scored again in the 36^th minute on their 10^th shot of the half when forward Steven Beattie set-up newcomer Stephen Brocks to make it 2-0 in favor of St. Louis.

"We're counting on a lot of new players (Wark, Beattie & Brocks) to play key roles on the team this year and I'm very pleased with they way they stepped up today," said Lions Head Coach Tony Glavin.

Rochester added a goal off a corner kick in the 47^th minute when, but it was their only score of the match and St. Louis went on to win the match 2-1.

With the victory, the Lions improve to 1-0-0 on the season and in U.S. Open Cup qualifying. Meanwhile, the Thunder, who are in their first season in the Premier Development League, fall to 0-2-0. The Lions' next match will be Friday, May 15 at 7:30 p.m. in Springfield, Mo. against the Springfield Demize.

For more information about the Lions and upcoming matches, visit www.stllions.com.

The St. Louis Lions are set to begin their fourth season as a member of the United Soccer League's (USL) Premier Development League (PDL) where players have the ability to compete throughout the summer months in a professionalized setting while maintaining their collegiate eligibility. The league is the proving ground for players that aspire to reach the highest-levels of the game, while providing affordable family entertainment within their city. The PDL consistently sends players into the professional ranks with several playing in the USL First and Second Professional Divisions as well as 39 players with PDL experience chosen in the 2009 Major League Soccer SuperDraft. In just three prior seasons the Lions have competed in the U.S. Open Cup(2008), PDL playoffs(2007), won the Rookie Franchise of the Year Award(2006) and currently have five former players playing professional soccer.

###

NEWS RELEASE

Media Contact:

Colin Pennington

(314)505-5285

colin.pennington@brightonusa.com

U.S. U-17 Men's National Team Clinches Top Spot in Group A with 3-0 Victory Against Honduras

From the U.S. Soccer Communications Center:

U.S. U-17 MEN'S NATIONAL TEAM CLINCHES TOP SPOT IN GROUP A WITH 3-0 VICTORY AGAINST HONDURAS

Palodichuck Scores Twice While McInerney Adds Fifth Goal In Three Games of the Tournament U.S. Defense Earns Second Shutout, Finishes Group Play With Only Two Goals Allowed Honduras Also Advances to FIFA U-17 World Cup With Canada's Improbable Loss to Cuba U.S. Will Learn Semifinal Opponent When Group B Concludes on Sunday Afternoon

TIJUANA, Mexico (April 25, 2009) – The U.S. Under-17 Men's National Team defeated Honduras 3-0 to take the top place in Group A of the CONCACAF U-17 Championship. The win gave Wilmer Cabrera's team a perfect three wins from three games. Nicholas Palodichuck, who had not played in either of the first two games, scored the first and third goals for the U.S. Jack McInerney added a goal in the 28th minute, bringing his total to a tournament-high five goals in three games.

With a berth to the 2009 FIFA U-17 World Cup in Nigeria locked up on Thursday, Cabrera was able to change his lineup and six new starters took the field against Honduras. With Dustin Corea and Emilio Orozco both entering the game at the start of the second half, all 20 players on the U.S. roster saw action during the group phase.

"It was a pretty match," said Cabrera. "We had six players play who were not starters and with the other five players, we confronted a Honduran team who knew they had qualified already and that probably changed their perspective of the game."

"Our first objective was to qualify for the World Cup. Our second objective was to play the greatest number of players possible. We have accomplished our tasks and we have done it by winning." (More Quotes)

Honduras sealed its place in Nigeria before even taking the field, as Canada's loss to Cuba was enough to give the Central American nation one of the top two places in Group A. Despite both teams' assured progression to the next round, the two sides had much to play for. The winner would take the group title and play the second place finisher from Group B in the semifinals on Wednesday, April 29.

Palodichuk's first goal came in the 28th minute after a good buildup from the American attack. The ball started in the back line before moving to Juan Agudelo and eventually Joseph Gyau in the box. Gyau, who scored in the team's win against Canada on Thursday, hit a hard shot that skipped to Honduras goalkeeper Jesus Rivera. Rivera did well to make the save, but he gave up a big rebound. Palodichuk timed his run perfectly to pounce on the rebound and made sure his effort would go in, firing it high into the net from close range.

Eight minutes later, McInerney doubled the U.S. lead. He received the ball from Gyau on the left side of the penalty area, took two touches to get inside the box and curled his shot around Rivera and inside the far post. The strike brought McInerney's impressive scoring rate to five in the past three games and nine in six international games in 2009.

Honduras coach Eugenio Umanzor was ejected from the sideline for calling a team meeting following McInerney's goal, leaving Honduras' assistant coaches at the helm of the team's comeback attempt. Umanzor will also miss his squad's semifinal match while serving a one-game suspension.

Palodichuk struck again in stoppage time of the first half. The U.S. had moved upfield quickly, with McInerney receiving the ball in the center of the field. He brought the ball down as Palodichuk was coming toward him, and with two defenders closing in, Palodichuk struck the ball with the outside of his left foot. He caught both the defenders and the Honduras 'keeper off guard, curling the ball nicely inside the far post from 25 yards out.

The Battleground, Wash. native became the sixth different goalscorer for the U.S. in the team's first three games. He is also the third player to score more than one goal, joining McInerney and Sebastian Lletget (2).

Perry Kitchen and Tyler Polak were once again stalwarts on the back line, going the full 90 minutes for the third-straight game. Kitchen and Polak are the only players on any team at the CONCACAF U-17 Championship to have played all 270 minutes of the tournament so far. Goalkeeper Spencer Richey got his first start of the event, picking up the shutout by making three saves.

The U.S. brought its perfect record against Honduras at the U-17 level to 6-0-0, dating back to the regional championship in 1983.

Cabrera's young side will learn its semifinal opponent on Sunday when Group B concludes play. Hosts Mexico and Costa Rica are battling for the top place in Group B with the winner of that game taking the group crown and the right to meet Honduras in the semifinal. Guatemala has a chance to advance to the World Cup with a win against Trinidad & Tobago and a Costa Rica loss.

Honduras became the 12th team to qualify for the 2009 FIFA U-17 World Cup in Nigeria from Oct. 24-Nov. 15. They joined the U.S. and Mexico in representing CONCACAF, with one bid from the region still outstanding. New Zealand won the Oceania bid on Friday afternoon. Nigeria has an automatic bid as host of the tournament, joining Algeria, Burkina Faso, Gambia and Malawi in representing Africa. Asia has also completed qualifying with Iran, Japan, Korea Republic and Uzbekistan slated to represent the continent in Nigeria. The South American tournament is currently underway in Inquique, Chile.

Match: U.S. Under-17 Men's National Team vs. Honduras
Date: April 25, 2009
Competition: CONCACAF Under-17 Championship
Venue: Estadio Caliente; Tijuana, Mexico
Kickoff: 4 p.m. PT
Weather: 70 degrees, clear

Scoring Summary:      1   2    F
USA                            3    0    0
HON                           0    0    0

USA – Nicholas Palodichuk (Joseph Gyau)          28th minute
USA – Jack McInerney (Joseph Gyau)                    36
USA – Nicholas Palodichuk (Jack McInerney)      45+

Lineups:
USA: 18-Spencer Richey; 3-Tyler Polak, 2-Eriq Zavaleta (12-Emilio Orozco, 46), 14-Zachary Herold, 4-Perry Kitchen (capt.); 15-Carlos Martinez, 5-Marlon Duran (7-Stefan Jerome, 65), 17-Juan Agudelo, 16-Nicholas Palodichuk; 9-Jack McInerney (11-Dustin Corea, 46), 13-Joseph Gyau
Subs not used: 1-Earl Edwards, 20-Sebastian Lletget, 10-Luis Gil, 19-Andrew Craven
Subs not available: 8-Alex Shinksy, 6-Jared Watts
Head Coach: Wilmer Cabrera

HON: 1-Jesus Rivera Coto; 3-John Rivera Reyes, 4-Ever Alvarado, 5-Helder Martinez Reyes, 7-Wilmer Fuentes (9-Diego Rodriguez, 66), 10-Alexander Agustin Lopez, 11-Antony Lozano Colon (capt.) (17-Jose Sanchez Paz, 80), 13-Jose Tobias Chavez, 14-Allan Rivas Flores, 16-Jair Aragon Castellon (8-Roberto Lopez Mejia, 46), 18-Nestor Martinez
Subs not used: 6-Allan Gutierrez, 12-Harold Fonseca, 15-Rosendo Gonzalez, 19-Hector Matute Lopez
Subs not available: 2-Nixon Duarte Duarte
Head Coach: Eugenio Umanzor

Stats Summary: USA / HON
Shots: 12 / 4
Shots on Goal: 7 / 3
Saves: 3 / 4
Corner Kicks: 2 / 2

Misconduct Summary:
HON – Antony Lozano Colon (caution)          33rd minute

Officials:
Referee: Stanley Lancaster (GUY)
Assistant Referee 1: Dieon Neil (TRI)
Assistant Referee 2: William Rocha (NIC)
Fourth Official: Raymond Bogle (JAM)

ussoccer.com Man of the Match:
Nicholas Palodichuk

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Soccer Mom, Lynne Thompson, on Weekend Magazine with Dr. Bill Meier

Don't miss Weekend Magazine with Dr. Bill Meier in the month of May. Soccer Mom, Lynne Thompson, will be featured each weekend. Check your station for times or listen on the web at Family.org

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St. Louis Lions forward Tommy Heinemann signs professional contract with the Charleston Battery of the USL First Division

 

Former St. Louis Lions forward Tommy Heinemann signs professional contract

With the Charleston Battery of the USL First Division

 

St. Louis, Mo. (April 13, 2009) – The St. Louis Lions Soccer Club announced Monday that former forward and franchise all-time leading scorer Tommy Heinemann has signed a professional contract with the Charleston Battery of the United Soccer Leagues (USL) First Division.  The contract is a one-year deal with a club option for a second.

 

Heinemann, a St. Louis native and graduate of CBC High School, played parts of three seasons with the Lions.  Over the course of those three seasons Heinemann became the club's all-time leading scorer with 35 goals and four assists in 36 games played.  Additionally, Heinemann played his collegiate soccer at Rockhurst University where he earned NSCAA Second Team All-America honors.

 

"I'm just thankful for God and my family for all of their support.  Without them none of my success in soccer would be possible," said Heinemann.  "Right now I'm living a dream and am really looking forward to contributing in Charleston."

 

Heinemann joins former Lion midfielders Jarius 'Juice' Holmes and Kyle Patterson as the third member from the club's 2008 roster to enter the professional ranks.  Currently, Holmes in under contract with the Austin Aztex, also of the USL First Division and Patterson is under contract with the LA Galaxy of the MLS.

 

"Tommy is a great athlete and an even better young man," said Lions Head Coach Tony Glavin.  "Tommy will certainly be missed this season but he's worked very hard to make it to the professional level and I couldn't be happier for him.

 

The St. Louis Lions Soccer Club will begin its fourth season in the USL Premier Development League (PDL) on Sunday, May 10, 2009 when it hosts the Rochester Thunder in a 5:00 p.m. match at the Tony Glavin Soccer Complex in Cottleville, Mo.

 

For more information about the Lions upcoming season, visit www.stllions.com.

 

Photo By Bill Barrett

 

The St. Louis Lions are set to begin their fourth season as a member of the United Soccer League's (USL) Premier Development League (PDL) where players have the ability to compete throughout the summer months in a professionalized setting while maintaining their collegiate eligibility. The league is the proving ground for players that aspire to reach the highest-levels of the game, while providing affordable family entertainment within their city.  The PDL consistently sends players into the professional ranks with several playing in the USL First and Second Professional Divisions as well as 39 players with PDL experience chosen in the 2009 Major League Soccer SuperDraft.  In just three prior seasons the Lions have competed in the U.S. Open Cup(2008), PDL playoffs(2007), won the Rookie Franchise of the Year Award(2006) and currently have four former players playing professional soccer. 

 

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Media Contact:
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Fw: Hartman Donates Record-Setting Gloves to Hall of Fame

Hartman Donates Record-Setting Gloves to Hall of Fame

ONEONTA, NY (April 8, 2009) – Kevin Hartman of the Kansas City Wizards set the new MLS standard for career goalkeeper saves on Saturday, March 28th, recording his 1,137 save in a match against the Colorado Rapids.

Hartman presented Hall of Fame Director of Museum and Archives Jack Huckel his game-worn jersey and gloves from the record setting match following the Sunday, April 5 Wizards' shutout victory over San Jose, where Hartman extended his own record for career shutouts to a higher level. "I am excited that the Hall of Fame will place this jersey and these gloves on display," Hartman said. "Every player dreams of being in the Hall of Fame. I don't know if I'll get elected, but a piece of my history is there and that's very special to me. I look forward to visiting Oneonta in the future and seeing all the displays at the Museum."

In regard to setting the record, Hartman said: "I've been able to stay healthy, and it comes down to great training staffs and fitness coaches and goalkeeper coaches...so many people have gone into helping me with it. Looking beyond the game, it is something I will look back and look really, really fondly on, just like the wins record and shutouts record."

"The Hall of Fame is pleased that Kevin has thought of us at this signature career moment," Hall of Fame President Steve Baumann said. "We know he will continue to set a high standard for goalkeeping performance. His three MLS records, saves, shutouts, and victories, speak clearly for the quality of his play. We wish him continued success as he moves the record bar higher and higher."

Hartman joined Major League Soccer in the 1997 season when he was drafted in the 3rd Round of the MLS College Draft by the Los Angeles Galaxy. After ten seasons at Los Angeles, he was traded to Kansas City prior to the 2007 season. Through the match with the Rapids when he set the record, he has played in 305 MLS regular season matches, has an MLS record 77 shutouts and an MLS record 138 wins. His career goals against average is 1.24 goals/game, placing him 5th in the current career rankings. In 1999 he was named MLS Pepsi Goalkeeper of the Year and earned a championship ring with the Los Angeles Galaxy in 2005.

Hartman's jersey and gloves will go on exhibition in the Hall of Fame MLS Display during the month of April.

About the Hall of Fame

The Mission of the National Soccer Hall of Fame and Museum is to Celebrate the History, Honor the Heroes,

Inspire the Youth and Preserve the Legacy of Soccer in the United States.

The Hall of Fame is a private, non-profit institution.

Located in Oneonta, NY, the National Soccer Hall of Fame opened a new 30,000 sq.ft., state-of-the-art multimedia museum in 1999. The Hall of Fame tells the story of soccer in America through artifacts, photographs, video and written narratives. The main VideoWall portrays some of the greatest moments and the greatest goals in soccer history as well as live soccer action from the World Cup, MLS, WPS, and U.S. Soccer matches. The Hall features an extensive interactive, youth oriented Kicks Zone, including a kid-sized indoor field, where visitors have fun kicking, heading the ball along with playing soccer video games. Unique and rare artifacts on exhibit range from the Dewar Challenge Cup, the oldest team trophy in U.S. sport, to the Women's World Cup won by the USA in 1999, the uniforms of Pele and Mia Hamm, Kristine Lilly's golden shoes, and NASL championship rings. In addition to the interactive Museum, the National Soccer Hall of Fame's 61-acre complex boasts the Kicks Hall of Fame Museum Store, a research library, four world-class soccer fields and office/meeting facilities. Visit the Hall of Fame at www.soccerhall.org

Soccer St. Louis Magazine
Soccer Mom of the Year
Official Rules



NO PURCHASE NECESSARY. Open to Moms or Moms-to-be 21 years or older. The “Soccer Mom of the Year” contest begins April 1, 2009. Entries will be taken until Mother’s Day May 10, 2009 ("Promotion Period").

HOW TO PARTICIPATE: The promotion is strictly a web-based contest. All entries must be submitted via email to askmom@soccerstlmag.com. Title each entry “SSLM MOM 2009 last name”. For example; Mrs. Smith would title her entry “SSLM MOM 2009 SMITH”. Include 3 photos of the candidate: One (1) headshot and two (2) soccer related (soccer mom in action: watching a game, with kids, playing soccer, etc.). NOTE: DO NOT send photos with swimsuit, risqué, pornographic or depicting any other questionable activities. Photos to be provided by person who submitted the entry as an attachment (jpeg format 300+dpi). Also provide a contact phone number to be notified in the event your entry is selected as a finalist/winner.

CONTEST. Enter by submitting your email essay on why your mom is (or you are) St. Louis’ top Soccer Mom. Six finalists will be chosen based on the story submitted and printed in the June issue of SSLM. Finalists will be notified by email on May 24, 2009. A grand prizewinner will be selected by popular online vote to be held June 1, 2009 – July 10, 2009. Each finalist will submit 2 articles to be printed in future issues of SSLM. Article length: 300 – 400 words

All prize winners will be required to sign and return an affidavit of eligibility, liability release, and publicity release. The prize winner will be required to complete and return all required documents after being notified that she is a winner. Failure to return all documents in the time and manner specified may result in disqualification. Any winner who does not comply with the Official Rules will be disqualified. Return of any prize or prize notification as "undeliverable" will result in disqualification and selection of an alternate winner.

ODDS OF WINNING: The total number of eligible entries received will determine Odds of winning.

NOTIFICATION: The person who entered the winning form (not the winner) will be notified by phone on May 8, 2009. If he/she cannot be reached after a reasonable effort has been made during that day, such person will be disqualified and an alternate winner selected.

INDEMNIFICATION LANGUAGE: By entering, entrant agrees to hold harmless and indemnify Full Time Dad, LLC, Soccer St. Louis Magazine, <
> and their respective parents, subsidiaries, affiliates, directors, officers, governors, employees and agents against any and all liability, damages or causes of action (however named or described), with respect to or arising out of either (i) entrant’s participation, or (ii) the receipt or use of the prizes awarded in the promotion.

RELEASE LANGUAGE: Entrant hereby releases, waives and discharges any and all claims of damages or causes of action, including but not limited to, death, personal injury or loss or damage to property, which the entrant or any of the entrant’s representatives, heirs, next of kin or assignees may have or which may hereinafter accrue to the entrant or Entrant’s Representatives as a result of the entrant’s participation in the promotion or the receipt or use of the prizes awarded therein and which may be asserted by the entrant, or Entrant’s Representatives against Full Time Dad, LLC, Soccer St. Louis Magazine, <
> and their respective parents, subsidiaries, affiliates, directors, officers, governors, employees and agents.

ELIGIBILITY: All legal residents of Missouri or Illinois who are 21 years or older may participate. By entering, you represent to the Soccer St. Louis Magazine that you are at least 21 years of age. By submitting an entry form, the entrant grants Soccer St. Louis Magazine permission to use entrant’s name, likeness, and story for advertising and promotion purposes without notice or additional compensation (except where prohibited by law) and agrees, without additional compensation, to appear for any presentation or other activity which may include filming/audio/video/electronic or other recordings and/or interviews, as may be determined from time to time by Soccer St. Louis Magazine. This Promotion is subject to these Official Rules.

CONDITIONS: Soccer St. Louis Magazine and Full Time Dad, LLC are not responsible for issues that may arise due to contest. Soccer St. Louis Magazine and its agencies are not responsible for any injury or damage to entrants’ or any other person's state due to participation in this contest. All entries become the sole property of Soccer St. Louis Magazine and will not be returned. This Contest is subject to all applicable federal, state, local and municipal laws and regulations. By participating, entrants agree to be bound by these Official Rules and the decisions of the judges, which are final and binding in all respects.

RULES/WINNERS LIST: Official Rules will be posted on the Soccer St. Louis Magazine web site, www.soccerstlmag.com during the Promotion Period (April 1 – Aug 1, 2009). The finalists selected will be featured in upcoming issues of Soccer St. Louis Magazine and online at www.soccerstlmag.com (photos to be provided by winner/person who submitted the entry).

IMPORTANT DATES

APRIL 1, 2009 – Promotion Period - Contest Begins
May 10, 2009 – Last day to submit entries – Promotion Period ends
May 24, 2009 - Finalist notified
June 1, 2009 – Online Voting begins to select Soccer Mom of the Year
July 10, 2009 – Voting ends
August 1, 2009 - Grand Prize Winner Announced

Possible Dates and Venues Set for 2008 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup Final

 

POSSIBLE DATES AND VENUES SET FOR
2008 LAMAR HUNT U.S. OPEN CUP FINAL   From the U.S. Soccer Communications Center:

Semifinals to be Played Aug. 12;
U.S. Open Cup Final to be Broadcast Live on Fox Soccer Channel

CHICAGO (Aug. 7, 2008) – The possible sites and venues for the 2008 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup Final have been announced as four teams prepare for the semifinal matches that will take place Tuesday, Aug. 12. Once again, the U.S. Open Cup final will be broadcast live on Fox Soccer Channel.

The semifinalists include a pair of teams from MLS and another from the USL First Division. D.C. United welcomes defending champion New England Revolution to RFK Stadium in Washington D.C., while the Seattle Sounders travel across the country to face Charleston Battery at Blackbaud Stadium in Charleston, S.C. Both games will take place on August 12 at 7:30 p.m. local time.

The winner between the Sounders and Battery will become the just the second-ever non-MLS team to play in an Open Cup final since the top professional league entered the tournament in 1996.

U.S. Open Cup Final

Date	Potential Matchups	Venue; City, State	Time (local)
Sept. 3	D.C. United (MLS) at Seattle Sounders (USL1)	Qwest Field; Seattle, Wash.	8 p.m.
	-- or --
Sept. 3	Charleston Battery (USL1) at D.C. United (MLS)	RFK Stadium; Washington, D.C.	7:30 p.m.
	-- or --
Sept. 15	New England Revolution (MLS) at Seattle Sounders (USL1)	Qwest Field; Seattle, Wash.	7 p.m.
	-- or --
Sept. 22	New England Revolution (MLS) at Charleston Battery (USL1)	Blackbaud Stadium; Charleston, S.C.	7 p.m.

Preview: New England Revolution (MLS) at D.C. United (MLS)
New England enters the semifinals in search of their second straight U.S. Open Cup title. The defending champions won their first U.S. Open Cup last year after beating rival F.C. Dallas 3-2 in the Championship match. This is New England's ninth appearance in the U.S. Open Cup. The team holds a 10-6-2 all-time record in tournament play.

They enter the semifinal match as the leading team in the MLS Eastern Conference with 33 points.

D.C. United advanced to their sixth Open Cup Semifinal appearance after defeating rival Chicago Fire in a quarterfinal match on July 8 at Maryland Soccerplex. The 2-1 win was United's first -ever win in the tournament against Chicago. United holds one U.S. Open Cup title, winning the 1996 tournament title to complete the "Double" after capturing the inaugural MLS Cup crown.

The teams have met once before in Open Cup competition and at the same stage of the event, the Revolution capturing a 2-0 victory in the semifinal of the 2001 edition of the tournament on Aug. 21, 2001 at Foxboro Stadium.

Preview: Seattle Sounders (USL1) at Charleston Battery (USL1)
The Charleston Battery is currently atop the United Soccer Leagues First Division, tied with the Vancouver Whitecaps at 34 points.

This is the Battery's third-ever appearance in the Open Cup semifinals. In 2004, the Battery advanced to the semifinals before falling 1-0 to the Chicago Fire. The Sounders return to the semifinals for their second consecutive year, losing to eventual runner-up FC Dallas in 2007.

On Saturday, July 25, the Seattle Sounders faced the division-leading Charleston Battery in what became a preview match for the U.S. Open Cup semifinals. The Sounders won the game 1-0 with a second half goal from Striker Sebastien Le Toux at Starfire Sports Complex in Tukwila, Washington. Le Toux finished as top scorer of the 2007 Open Cup, recording five goals and two assists.

Open Cup Composition of Participating Teams:
8 Major League Soccer (MLS)
8 United Soccer Leagues First Division (USL1)
8 United Soccer Leagues Second Division (USL2)
16 Amateur (8 USL Premier Development League, 8 USASA regional qualifiers)
Total Number of Teams: 40
Total Number of Games: 39

The Lamar Hunt Open Cup tournament is the oldest 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.

- ussoccer.com -

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U.S. Soccer Federation, 1801 S. Prairie Ave, Chicago IL 60616
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Soccer St. Louis Magazine: Brandon Manzonelli NE Rvolution

SSLM and Young Writer Kyle C. sat down with St. Louis' youngest soccer star Brandon Manzonelli to catch up fast track to the professional level both in the states and overseas. (Signed at age 16 with Villareal FC of Spain and then with the New England Revolution.)

UMSL Names Bobby Lessentine as Head Women's Soccer Coach

 

UMSL Names Bobby Lessentine as Head Women's Soccer Coach

 

February 23, 2009 - ST. LOUIS, MO. – University of Missouri-St. Louis Director of Athletics Lori Flanagan has named Bobby Lessentine as the Tritons' head women's soccer coach. Lessentine arrives on the UMSL campus after spending four seasons as the head coach at Rhodes College in Memphis, Tenn. He becomes the third full-time women's soccer coach in UMSL history. 

 

"We are excited to have Bobby take over as head coach of the UMSL women's soccer program," said Flanagan. "He is fully committed to our vision of the student-athlete and has a proven track record of success that will benefit UMSL Athletics and Tritons Women's Soccer."

 

During his four seasons at Rhodes, Lessentine compiled a 50-17-8 (.720) record, coaching his teams to top-10 regional and top-25 national rankings in each year.

 

"I am very excited about the opportunity to begin a new era in women's soccer at the University of Missouri-St. Louis," said Lessentine. "There is a strong soccer history in St. Louis and an even brighter future ahead. I believe the UMSL women's soccer program can be built into something special and can compete year after year for conference and national recognition."

 

Lessentine's most successful season came in 2008 when he guided the program to its first Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference (SCAC) championship in 17 years and earned the program's first-ever berth to the NCAA Division III Tournament. For his efforts, Lessentine earned his second SCAC Coach of the Year award in four years and was also named the NSCAA Division III South Region Coach of the Year. The team finished with a 14-4-2 overall record and earned the highest rankings in program history of No. 2 in the South Region  and No. 10 in the NSCAA/adidas poll.

 

In 2007, he guided Rhodes to an 11-6-2 record and a No. 17 ranking in the national poll.

 

In his second year at the helm of the program during the 2006 season, the Lynx posted a 14-3-2 record.

 

After recruiting his first class of players to Rhodes, Lessentine promptly led the program to their best record in a decade and was named the 2005 SCAC Coach of the Year. The Lynx finished tied for second in the conference en route to an overall record of 11-4-2 and returned to the NSCAA/adidas National Poll for the first time since 1995.

 

In his four seasons at Rhodes, Lessentine coached one NSCAA/adidas All-American (the first in program's history), six NSCAA/adidas all-South Region selections, one SCAC Defensive Player of the Year, one SCAC Offensive Player of the Year, one SCAC Newcomer of the Year and 22 all-SCAC selections. His teams have also produced 55 SCAC Honor Roll recipients, four NSCAA/adidas team academic awards and one NSCAA/adidas Academic All-American.

 

Lessentine is a product of soccer in the Memphis area. He grew up playing for the Memphis Kickers, Rangers, and Memphis Futbol Club (MFC), and attended Kirby High School. He played and trained alongside former Major League Soccer (MLS) standouts Ross Paule (Columbus Crew), Carey Talley (Real Salt Lake), Richard Mulrooney (Houston Dynamo), Tony Kuhn (Chicago Fire), and Jonny Walker (NY/NJ Metrostars) while playing for MFC '76 under the direction of Richard Bute.

Lessentine graduated from Rhodes in 1998 with a degree in art and architecture studies. He played four seasons for the Lynx where he made three NCAA Tournament appearances, captaining the team to its first win in NCAA post-season play during his senior season in 1997. Lessentine was a three-time all-SCAC selection, a first team all-South Region selection, and was also named Most Valuable Player of the men's team during his senior year.

 

He will begin his duties on March 9.

 

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Mary Ann Mitchell

Director of Sports Information

University of Missouri-St. Louis

225 Mark Twain Building

St. Louis, MO 63121

Phone: 314-516-5660

Fax: 314-516-5635

E-mail: tierneym@umsl.edu