Monthly Archives: January 2009

Arkansas Hires Erin Aubry For Women’s Program

Posted on by

Missed this earlier, but Gordon Henderson resigned in November after 5 years as Head Coach of the Razorback program. The school has found what appears to be an excellent replacement in Erin Aubry

Aubry was hired Dec. 23, 2008, to become the seventh head coach in Razorback soccer history after serving the past four seasons at the helm of the Morehead State soccer program. She guided the Eagles to the 2008 Ohio Valley Conference Tournament title and an NCAA Tournament bid. Aubry has prior SEC experience with stints as an assistant coach at Auburn and Ole Miss.

“I want to start by saying how excited I am,” Aubry said. “I want to thank the University of Arkansas, specifically Jeff Long and Jon Fagg. They have given me great confidence to be the next leader of Arkansas soccer.

Aubry is the seventh head coach in school history and will inherit a Razorback team that finished 11-8 last season, after a school-record 9-1 start. Arkansas hasn’t advanced to the SEC Tournament since 2000.

Prior to her coaching career, Aubry had a successful playing career at Northwestern University. As a member of a first-year program in 1994, the midfielder helped the Wildcats advance to four Big Ten Tournaments and two NCAA Tournaments (1996, 1998) during her career. She was co-captain of the 1998 Northwestern squad that posted a 16-5-1 mark and advanced to the third round of the NCAA Tournament before falling 1-0 to eventual national champion Florida. In her senior season (1998), Aubry was selected as the recipient of the Coach’s Award for outstanding leadership.

Matt Pickens Signs With Colorado Rapids

Posted on by

MLS: Chicago Fire vs NE Revolution (Oct 7th)Getting caught up on some comings and goings. Matt Pickens is a 2003 graduate of Missouri State where he was the 1st Team Missouri Valley Conference GK in 2002, and played his High School soccer at Washington, MO. Picken’s returns to the MLS following a short stint in England:

The Fire traded Colorado the rights to Pickens in the trade that saw them swap second-round picks and acquire Baggio Husidic. The Fire also secured an allocation in the trade.

Pickens, who spent part of the 2007/2008 season with Queens Park Rangers, has signed with MLS and is expected to step in and be the Rapids new starter.

The Chicago Tribune interviewed him as well, and we may get a chance to see him this evening for the US Men’s National Team against Sweden, where he’s been training as part of the initial squad called in by Bradley.

The photo is from a game against the NE Revolution in October 2007 I was able to attend at Toyota Park.

2nd Annual Total Shriner Futsal Classic Opens Tonight!

Posted on by

Total Demize SCThis weekend Springfield gets its second taste of Futsal, a form of Brazilian indoor soccer. The 2nd Annual Total Shriner Futsal Classic, will be held at the Shrine Mosque this weekend, Friday January 23rd through Sunday January 25th.

This year 32 teams, competing in six different divisions, will be competing for the right to be called Springfield’s top Futsal team. To highlight the event the Springfield Demize will be playing an exhibition match Saturday night at 8:00 pm against the Rogers State University Hillcats.

Tickets for the Futsal match are one dollar, and with the purchase of a ticket, each individual is eligible to win prizes during the Futsal game, free soccer balls, t-shirts, Puma shoe bags, and free tickets for the next Demize PASL game are all up for grabs.

So come out and catch some of the top youth and adult Futsal action that Springfield has to offer this weekend. Games start Friday night at 5:15 pm and the tournament wraps up Sunday at 8:00 pm

Missouri Southern Eliminates Mens Soccer Program

Posted on by

Just confirmed, Missouri Southern has eliminated their Men’s Soccer program. The initial feedback is a familiar story, with budget and the fact that Men’s Soccer played outside the primary conference, on this case the MIAA.

Immediately affected is Head Coach Kiley Cirillo, who joined the program in 2003 after playing for the Lions in college.

Regional players who may be looking for a new opportunity include Ed Mullholland, Nate Evans and Stuart Ziegler.

UPDATES
Joplin Globe – MSSU Cuts Mens Soccer
MSSU Chart – Spending Cuts Continue
Carthage Press – MSSU To Cut Mens Soccer, Child Care Center

Missouri Youth Soccer Association Seeks Executive Director

Posted on by

Confirmed at the MYSA AGM on Sunday and already posted on their website:

MYSA LogoMissouri Youth Soccer Association is seeking qualified applicants for Executive Director position within Missouri Youth Soccer Association. Applications will be accepted from January 19, 2009 to February 19, 2009.

Applicants please send you resumes to:
Travis C. Ross
President Missouri Youth Soccer Association
1745 Cypress Lane
Sedalia, MO 65301

If you have any questions please contact Travis C. Ross @ 1-314-620-9568 or e-mail at pres@mysa.org.

KC Wizards New Stadium Moves Forward

Posted on by

From the Kansas City Business Journal:

The $1 billion plan to redevelop the Bannister Mall area advanced Wednesday with the start of the former mall’s demolition, Lane4 Property Group Inc. said.

The mall site is part of a 467-acre parcel at Interstate 435 and Bannister Road in Kansas City being redeveloped by Three Trails Redevelopment LLC, a partnership that includes Lane 4 and Kansas City Wizards owner OnGoal LLC.

The mixed-use project, called The Trails, will be anchored by an 18,500-seat stadium to house the Wizards, Kansas City’s Major League Soccer team.

“We are delighted that this moment has arrived,” Robb Heineman, CEO of OnGoal LLC, said in a release. “A lot of hard work by a lot of people has made this possible.”

To see some video of the mall and the development plans, click here.

Saturday – US MNT vs Sweden – Will Jewsbury Be Capped?

Posted on by

US LogoThe US Men’s team is only a few days away from their first game of 2009. Sweden visits for a game Saturday evening at the Home Depot Center. It’s being broadcast live on Fox Soccer Channel at 7:30 pm CST. As is my habit, I’ll be at Coester’s Saturday to enjoy the game, I invite you to come out and join me in cheering on the US and the possibility of local boy Jack Jewsbury earning his first cap.

Soccer By Ives has come out with his “Who Should Start” article and quite frankly, our boy isn’t on his list. In fact, there’s been a dearth of news when compared to the young guns but I’m optimistic. Especially after Tuesday :)

We’ve waited 40 years for a young man from this area to be capped so I’m going to be at Coester’s cheering on the team and hoping Jack get’s the call. Let’s create some positive energy here in Southwest Missouri and enjoy the game.

On a related note, we’ve got four boys going D1 this coming year. We shouldn’t have to wait as long for the second player to earn an opportunity (and a cap). And Major League Soccer will play a role as well. So check out the feel-good story from this draft review and imagine it’s one of our boys. It comes at the 3:55 mark.

KC Wizards Open Preseason Camp

Posted on by

KC Wizards LogoAnd as any regular reader of this site is aware, they begin while Jack Jewsbury is still with the US Men’s National Team. There will be 4 new players in camp, from former New England forward Adam Cristman along with 1st round draft pick, Matt Besler, 2nd round draft pick, Doug DeMartin, and 3rd round pick, Neal Kitson.

According to Down The Byline, They’ll continue training Wednesday and Thursday, before having Friday through Sunday off. Monday and Tuesday they will be back at it at Swope or the Sports Lodge. On Wednesday the 28th the team will leave for Bradenton, FL, where the team will train from the 29th through February 11th.

After the trip to Florida, the team will return to KC for a few days of training before departing for Guadalajara, Mexico on February 18th to train at the home of sister club, Atlas AC until March 4th. That’s the first mention of an activity with the Club in months and good to see. Maybe a game will be a result soon. Hillcrest Road has photos and additional player news.

Springfield Demize Lose First Game at Piasa FC

Posted on by

Springfield DemizeThe Springfield Demize travelled to St. Louis on Saturday night to take on Piasa FC. The game got off to a slow start that saw a scoreless first period. In the second period the Demize were able to kill off two power plays including a 5 v 3 situation. The halftime score was 1-0 in favor of the home team. The second half looked to be more exciting when the Demize cut the lead to 3-2 going into the 4th quarter, but Piasa proved too much on their home field and finished the game 6-2.

The Demize currently sit in second place in the Midwest Division with 9 points and a 3-1 record.

Up Next: The Springfield Demize travel to St. Louis on January 24 to take on the St. Louis Illusion reserve team in a 9:00 PM kick-off.

JB Marine Springfield U13′s Win In Tulsa

Posted on by

jbmarine_u13
The JB Marine Springfield U13 squad won the U13 Gold Bracket of the Blitz United Fall Invitational Tournament held in Tulsa Oklahoma on October 25 and 26, 2008.

The JB girls tied the Claremore Freedom 1-1 and lost to the Highlanders 96 team 0-1 on Saturday, but rebounded with a 2-0 win over the Tulsa Soccer Club 96 Red girls on Sunday morning to qualify for the semi-finals. JB defeated the TSC 97 Black team in the semi’s to advance to the finals.

Bailey Pesek scored a header goal off a corner taken by Whitney Snow late in the second half to seal the 1-0 championship victory for JB Marine Springfield. Congratulations on your success ladies! Way to represent your club!