Re: Minor League Soccer - Division III Orlando City Claims Championship Lions take second title in front of USL-record crowd of 20,886 Saturday, September 7, 2013 ORLANDO, Fla. – Orlando City SC captured its second USL PRO Championship as Dom Dwyer claimed Most Valuable Player honors after a four-goal performance earned his side a 7-4 victory against the Charlotte Eagles on Saturday night. The victory came in front of a USL-record crowd of 20,886 at the Florida Citrus Bowl, with the Sporting Kansas City loanee sending the Lions’ fans into wild celebrations at the end of a wild contest. The Lions came out strongly in front of their raucous support, and forced a pair of corners in the opening three minutes, the second of which saw Renan Boufleur send a shot over the crossbar. Charlotte was able to withstand the early pressure, however, and grabbed the lead in the 20th minute as a corner from the left by Jorge Herrera went to the back post, where Fejiro Okiomah was on hand to head home and momentarily silence the Citrus Bowl. http://uslpro.uslsoccer.com/home/754162.html
Re: Minor League Soccer - Division III USL Pro team in St. Louis? MISL's Ambush, PDL's Lions working on it Friday, September 13, 2013 If all goes well, the next step on the long road to Major League Soccer in St. Louis will be a United Soccer Leagues Pro outdoor soccer franchise in St. Louis for the 2014 season. Andrew Haines, principal owner of the St. Louis Ambush in the USL’s Major Indoor Soccer League, and Tony Glavin, owner of St. Louis Lions in the USL’s Premier Development League, are working together to start a USL Pro team in St. Louis. Although they have not formally applied for ownership, they are optimistic about having a team in operation in 2014. The USL declined to comment. The team would become part of a year-round soccer operation with the Ambush. The Ambush begin their first season in November. The Ambush-USL Pro teams would share the front office, and perhaps some players. Training would start in February or March for the opening of the regular season in April. Glavin will be head coach, and will work together with Ambush head coach Daryl Doran on players who would be candidates to play on both teams. The Lions will continue in St. Louis under Glavin’s ownership but under a new head coach. The USL Pro and Lions teams will train at the Tony Glavin Soccer Complex, which also is headquarters for Glavin’s youth soccer organization. Home matches probably will be played at Lindenwood University’s Harlen C. Hunter Stadium in St. Charles, Glavin said. The stadium’s capacity is about 7,500. The playing surface is Enviroturf. Lindenwood is considered a temporary home. “Our long-term goal is to build a permanent stadium,” Glavin said. http://www.soccermadeinstlouis.com/..._MISLs_Ambush,_PDLs_Glavin_working_on_it.html
Re: Minor League Soccer - Division III USL PRO Awards Winners Announced Kickers, Battery, Riverhounds take individual awards Most Valuable Player – Jose Angulo, Pittsburgh Riverhounds Angulo had a standout season for the Riverhounds as he led the league with 34 points and finished tied for the league lead with 15 goals. The first player to score at Pittsburgh’s new Highmark Stadium, Angulo had a role in more than half the Riverhounds’ 36 regular-season goals as he led the side to the USL PRO Playoffs. Rookie of the Year - Nate Robinson, Richmond Kickers A trialist at the Kickers’ preseason combine, Robinson quickly became a key figure in the regular-season champions’ success as he finished his rookie season with four goals and a team-high nine assists. Robinson’s delivery from the flanks and on set pieces provided outstanding service to Richmond’s front-runners as the Kickers scored 50 goals in a regular season for the first time since 2006. Defender of the Year - Colin Falvey, Charleston Battery The Battery’s captain was instrumental in Charleston’s strong performances in USL PRO, with the club conceding just 29 goals in 26 games. Named the team’s Most Valuable Player, Falvey appeared in every game of the season, missing just 34 minutes of action, while also scoring two goals and adding an assist. He also scored the game-winning goal in the Battery’s victory against defending MLS Supporter’s Shield holder the San Jose Earthquakes in the U.S. Open Cup. Goalkeeper of the Year - Andrew Dykstra, Richmond Kickers Dykstra was at the heart of a Kickers defense that conceded the fewest goals in USL PRO throughout the season. The league-leader in goals-against average and shutouts, Dykstra made 75 saves in 21 appearances on loan from D.C. United, with a number of them allowing the Kickers’ historic 22-game undefeated streak to continue as Richmond won the USL PRO Regular Season Championship. Coach of the Year - Leigh Cowlishaw, Richmond Kickers In the first season of the club’s partnership with D.C. United, Cowlishaw did a masterful job of combining a veteran core with a new crop of youngsters that shone throughout the season. The Kickers set a new USL PRO record by going 22 games without defeat, with contributions coming from all over the field. Richmond scored more than twice the number of goals it conceded, and clinched the club’s sixth regular-season championship with a game to spare. http://uslpro.uslsoccer.com/home/753911.html
Re: Minor League Soccer - Division III USL PRO elated with year one of MLS partnership: "This is as exciting a season as we've had" “This is as exciting a season as we've had, in every possible way. Undoubtedly the level of play on the field for us got better this year ... any team that didn't improve drastically from 2012 to 2013 went backwards in the standings.” After years of informal exchanges, last winter the two leagues formalized an arrangement in which MLS Reserve League teams were integrated into USL PRO competition, and in subsequent months D.C. United, the New England Revolution, Philadelphia Union and Sporting KC inked player-loan partnerships with their lower-division counterparts in Richmond, Rochester, Harrisburg and Orlando MLS wants all clubs fielding reserve teams in USL PRO or affiliating by 2015 http://www.mlssoccer.com/news/artic...-one-mls-partnership-exciting-season-weve-had
Re: Minor League Soccer - Division III OC Soccer stadium Q&A: As deal emerges, we have the details Whether Orlando becomes the next Major League Soccer city will likely be decided in the next few weeks, as the minor-league Orlando City Soccer Club negotiates with local politicians for a new stadium. In the works is a deal for an $85 million stadium, with $30 million coming from the team. The Orlando Sentinel obtained a draft copy of the proposed agreement that offers many details of the plan . http://www.reddit.com/tb/1ng108 Architect releases, then pulls, unofficial renderings of Orlando's proposed soccer stadium http://www.reddit.com/tb/1ng67o
Re: Minor League Soccer - Division III Sacramento Adds Sasaki to Front Office Named Vice President of Corporate Partnerships Republic FC News Release - www.SacRepublicFC.com SACRAMENTO, Calif. – Sacramento Republic FC (Republic FC) has hired Brent Sasaki as Vice President of Corporate Partnerships. Sasaki comes to Republic FC after working for the Sacramento Kings. As VP of Corporate Partnerships, Sasaki will be responsible for providing strategic direction for the corporate partnership department and ensuring maximum sales volumes, efficiency and profitability. Sacramento Makes Front Office Hires Matthes named VP of Ticket Sales and Service Sacramento Republic FC News Release -- www.sacrepublicfc.com SACRAMENTO, Calif. – Sacramento Republic FC (Republic FC) has hired Fred Matthes as Vice President of Ticket Sales and Service. Matthes joins Republic FC after working for D.C. United in Major League Soccer since the league's inaugural season in 1996, and was also recently involved with the International Champions Cup in San Francisco as well as part of Sacramento Soccer Day in July 2013.
Re: Minor League Soccer - Division III Battery Announce Challenge Cup Field Sounders make first appearance at event, join United, Dynamo Charleston Battery News Release -- www.charlestonbattery.com Friday, October 11, 2013 CHARLESTON, S.C. -- Major League Soccer’s Seattle Sounders FC will make a first appearance in the Carolina Challenge Cup at Blackbaud Stadium, Charleston, S.C., from February 22 – March 1, 2014. The Sounders will be joined by current U.S. Open Cup champions D.C. United, MLS’s Houston Dynamo and USL PRO’s Charleston Battery for the 11th edition of the prestigious week-long round-robin tournament. Carolina Challenge Cup tickets are included in all 2014 Charleston Battery season ticket http://uslpro.uslsoccer.com/home/762772.html
Re: Minor League Soccer - Division III Orange County approves funding for Orlando soccer stadium Orlando is one step closer to having a downtown soccer stadium. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WSaVAiNHsvk&feature=player_embedded On Tuesday afternoon, the Orange County Board of Commissioners voted through the approval of funds for a new multi-purpose soccer stadium for Orlando City SC, who currently play in the USL PRO. Per a release from the club, with the funding plan now complete, Orlando City executives will now enter into final negotiations with Major League Soccer (MLS) to bring a franchise to Orlando. http://www.mlssoccer.com/news/artic...roves-funding-downtown-orlando-soccer-stadium
Re: Minor League Soccer - Division III Prodigal Files For Possible USL Pro Soccer Team Names a quick search on the US Patent and Trademark Office, I ran across two names that had been filed by Prodigal for “Entertainment services, namely, organizing, providing and conducting professional soccer exhibitions and games.” Those two names are “OKC Energy FC” and “OKC Spirit FC.” Neither really invoke any feeling from me as far as a team name. In a league such as USL PRO, with team names such as “Barracuda,” “Rhinos,” and “Hammerheads,” both names seem to fall short of the bar already set. Energy doesn’t roll off the tongue when cheering, and anytime I see Spirit, I’m only going to think of cheerleaders chanting “We’ve got spirit, yes we do; We’ve got spirit, how ’bout you?” But I digress, what say you about the possible team names? Leave a comment or send me a tweet at @ericrsports. UPDATE: I also found that Prodigal filed for the use of “Tulsa Roughnecks FC” as well. Tulsa has been mentioned before by the NASL group as another possible location for a soccer team. Interesting to see if Tulsa may turn into another battleground between Prodigal and the NASL group. http://www.reddit.com/tb/1oekxa
Re: Minor League Soccer - Division III MLS hopefuls Orlando City SC to play at the ESPN Wide World of Sports complex for 2014 season Orlando City SC may be planning to build a soccer-specific stadium in the near future, but in the meantime, they will make a temporary move to a new venue. The club announced Tuesday it will play its home games at ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex at Walt Disney World for the 2014 USL PRO season. The move is expected to last one season, before the club moves back to the Florida Citrus Bowl for the 2015 season following a planned $200 million in renovations. “We hope our fans are as thrilled as we are to call ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex our home field for the 2014 season,” Orlando City president Phil Rawlins said in a statement. “With professional sporting event experience, premier soccer fields and world-class amenities, this facility will enable us to play all of our home games in one location and in a venue where our fans will be closer to our players than ever before. We look forward to next year’s possibilities before hopefully heading into MLS for the 2015 season.” http://www.mlssoccer.com/news/artic...ay-espn-wide-world-sports-complex-2014-season
Re: Minor League Soccer - Division III Announcement on Orlando's MLS expansion team just weeks away 'Celebration with our fans' planned Major League Soccer executives are expected to announce Nov. 19 that Orlando will be its 21st franchise. The announcement would be held in downtown Orlando, with an open invitation to fans of Orlando City Soccer Club to attend and celebrate the team they've supported since it came to town three years ago. Local leaders are now quietly working with Orlando City Soccer Club officials on a Nov. 19 public event set to include MLS executives; Gov. Rick Scott; Mayors Buddy Dyer and Teresa Jacobs; and fans, according to records obtained by the Orlando Sentinel. http://www.reddit.com/tb/1q1anp
Re: Minor League Soccer - Division III Last week, the brand new Oklahoma City-based USL PRO franchise unveiled its final five options for team name and logo. On Thursday of this week, the club announced its ultimate identity — Oklahoma City Energy FC — through a brand new Twitter account launched that same day. OKC Energy FC will begin their third-division existence at the start of the 2014 season. For further explanation of the club logo and 2014 home and away kits, check out their official site: http://energyfc.com/en/okc-energy-fc.html http://www.mlssoccer.com/sideline/n...-fc-okcs-brand-new-usl-pro-franchise-sideline
Re: Minor League Soccer - Division III 104.1 To Broadcast Live From Major Event Tuesday Jack Bradshaw of the Phillips Phile broadcasting live from the Cheyenne Saloon Real Radio’s Jack Bradshaw will be broadcasting live at Orlando City’s major announcement on Tuesday inside the Cheyenne Saloon! Beginning at 6 p.m., fans are encouraged to come and hangout with Bradshaw and 104.1 as they cover all the festivities before the major event! The club announced yesterday a major announcement on Tuesday, November 19, will occur at the Cheyenne Saloon in downtown Orlando. Open to the public, Orlando City is inviting all supporters to join the exciting event, with festivities on Church Street beginning at 5 p.m. The program official begins at 6 p.m. http://www.orlandocitysoccer.com/news/?article_id=1651
Re: Minor League Soccer - Division III Orlando Health & Orlando City SC Announce Historic Agreement ORLANDO, Fla. — In the first of two major announcements this week regarding the future of Orlando City SC, the Club and Orlando Health announced today an extension of their existing partnership. The announcement ensures that Orlando Health’s will remain the official healthcare partner to Orlando City SC, the Club’s proposed new downtown soccer stadium and Orlando City Youth Soccer (OCYS). “There is no partner we’d rather have. Orlando Health has always shared our vision of bringing Major League Soccer to Orlando since day one,” said Orlando City President Phil Rawlins. “Not only are we securing a world-class healthcare partner, but we are solidifying a true partnership between two organizations committed to making Central Florida a better place.” “We’re excited about this agreement and what it means for us as an organization and this community, which has rallied fervently around Orlando City SC,” said George Haidukewych, M.D., academic chairman and chief of orthopedic trauma at Orlando Health. “It will showcase the unique abilities of our medical team to provide high-quality care for these professional athletes, and help ensure successful, winning seasons for the Lions.” Under the agreement, Orlando Health will be the exclusive provider of medical care to Orlando City SC players, and provide athletic trainers who will perform training services for players, including on-site, in-stadium medical services as required on game days. In addition, the athletic trainers will provide services to participants at Orlando City Youth Soccer during practices, games, and tournaments. http://www.reddit.com/tb/1qwzn3
Richmond Kickers and Richmond Strikers to combine Development Academies; new program will be called Richmond United The Richmond Kickers announced today that they will be merging their US Soccer Development Academy with the Richmond Strikers, creating one Development Academy for central Virginia and ending years of amicable conflict between the two. This deal has been rumored for over a year, and the consummation of it will create a new Development Academy, properly named Richmond United. Since the academies are now year-round this merger will take place for the start of the 2014-2015 season. The Richmond United academy will remain cost-free, which the Kickers academy has been for the past year (and which D.C. United's academy is not). There will also be a U-23 team, but its league affiliation, if any, is not yet known. All in all, this deal makes sense. It leaves one US Soccer Development Academy for the Richmond, where the previous two were overkill for the area's population base. It leaves two USSDAs for Virginia, with the other being in Virginia Beach, and two in the Greater D.C. area that can also service Northern Virginia. It also makes sense from the viewpoint of developing the best players from this region, allowing them all to practice together and to play against other high-quality opposition. http://www.reddit.com/tb/1ro9f4 http://www.richmondkickers.com/home/772654.html
USL soccer franchise coming to Colorado Springs A professional men's soccer franchise is coming to Colorado Springs, and a proposed multi-use downtown stadium could be its eventual home. Nicholas Ragain, president of Ragain Sports LLC, confirmed a United Soccer Leagues PRO team will move to the city. The team, which does not yet have a name, would begin play in March 2015. A news conference is scheduled for 3 p.m. Thursday at the Penrose House, 1661 Mesa Ave. That event was organized by the Colorado Springs Sports Corp., said its chief executive officer Tom Osborne. Others scheduled to attend include Mayor Steve Bach, franchise owner Martin Ragain and league president Tim Holt. http://www.reddit.com/tb/1rz4k8
Six Kickers Join D.C. On Tour Headed to Indonesia alongside former Kickers loanees D.C. United News Release -- www.dcunited.com Monday, December 2, 2013 WASHINGTON, D.C. – D.C. United today announced the roster for its post-season tour in Southeast Asia. Six members of United’s USL PRO affiliate, the Richmond Kickers, will join the 15-man roster in Indonesia from December 3 through December 9. While there, the squad will participate in two friendlies - one against Persib Bandung (Indonesia Super League) on December 6 at 6:30 p.m. local time and one against Arema FC (Indonesia Super League) on December 8 at 7 p.m. local time. Both friendly matches will be televised on SCTV, the largest free-to-air TV station in Indonesia. The Black-and-Red and the Richmond Kickers announced their affiliation on January 24, and during the 2013 season six members of United saw action with the Kickers throughout the USL PRO season including Andrew Dykstra who was named USL PRO Goalkeeper of the Year. Homegrown players Michael Seaton and Conor Shanosky were key contributors for the Kickers, who claimed the 2013 USL PRO Regular Season Championship while Collin Martin, Taylor Kemp and Casey Townsend saw action as well. http://uslpro.uslsoccer.com/home/773315.html
Sacramento Republic FC unveil inaugural kits, plans for stadium Sacramento Republic FC are making more and more noise each week as they inch closer to a spring 2014 debut in USL PRO. The upstart expansion franchise based in Northern California unveiled on Thursday the primary and secondary kits for its inaugural season competing in the third-flight league. Sponsored by UC Davis Children's Hospital for the next three years, the primary kit features the team’s signature “Old Glory Red” as the kit’s dominant color with an always popular sash across the front. As far as third-division soccer team kits go, these strips from Sacramento Republic FC come out near the top in terms of design and overall look. The Cal Expo Board of Directors also unanimously adopted a recommendation to develop an 8,000-seat multi-use facility that would include a full grass pitch for soccer. The facility will serve as Sacramento Republic's home stadium in its first season, if built. http://www.mlssoccer.com/sideline/n...to-republic-fc-unveil-inaugural-kits-and-plan
Tulsa to field USL PRO franchise in 2015 as league continues its expansion campaign High-level professional soccer will return to Tulsa, Okla., for the first time since the Roughnecks played their final NASL season in 1984. The city on Wednesday became the latest to jump aboard the USL PRO expansion bandwagon. The third-tier league announced Wednesday that a Tulsa franchise will join the league in 2015, joining Sacramento, Oklahoma City – which will field teams in 2014 – and Colorado Springs (2015) as the latest cities to link up with the fledgling league. The Tulsa Drillers minor league baseball team will be the new club’s majority owner. They will play at the Drillers’ stadium, ONEOK Field. http://www.mlssoccer.com/news/artic...-2015-league-continues-its-expansion-campaign
Former Sporting KC captain Nielsen in talks to be first coach of OKC Energy FC While Jimmy Nielsen ended his playing career following Sporting Kansas City’s MLS Cup title victory on Dec. 7, it seems that he could still be involved in soccer in America as soon as next season. Oklahoma City Energy FC were announced as an expansion franchise in USL Pro last July, and according to a report in Sports Illustrated, Nielsen could become the club’s first head coach ahead of their inaugural season in 2014. The report also asserts that with Orlando City SC moving to Major League Soccer in 2015, Sporting KC would likely make Energy FC their USL Pro affiliated club in the future, starting with a partnership next season before a full switch in two years. Both Sporting KC and Energy FC have not yet publicly commented on the report http://www.soccerbyives.net/2013/12/report-sporting-nielsen.html
