Sporting KC’s Davy Arnaud out 6 weeks

Sporting KC captain Davy Arnaud is expected to miss the next six weeks after undergoing sports hernia surgery.

“I’m a quick healer and will work hard to get back on the field,” Arnaud said in a press release. “With the new stadium and our commitment to making the playoffs, I will do whatever it takes to return and contribute on the field.”

Arnaud, 31, is the longest-tenured player on the Sporting roster. He has been in the league for 10 seasons.

Arnaud has played in 15 matches this season. He did not play in Sporting KC’s US Open Cup match against Chicago PDL on Tuesday.

This is the second sports hernia injury the team has incurred this year, Omar Bravo was sideline with the same ailment to start the year.

 

US Open Cup – Sporting KC Thru To Quarterfinals

Korede Aiyegbusi, Sporting KC

Korede Aiyegbusi, Sporting KC

June 28, 2011) – Sporting Kansas City defeated the Chicago Fire PDL by a score of 3-0 in the third round of the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup on Tuesday night at LIVESTRONG Sporting Park in Kansas City, Kansas.

Teal Bunbury, Milos Stojcev and Kei Kamara provided the goals and Eric Kronberg made one save for a Sporting Kansas City side that now advances to the quarterfinal round of the tournament for the first time since 2009. Sporting Kansas City will host the Richmond Kickers on July 12th at LIVESTRONG Sporting Park.

The action got going early, as Sporting were able to convert their first chance of the match in just the third minute. A foul at the edge of the area saw a free kick given against the Fire PDL. Standing over the ball, Luke Sassano rolled a quick pass to Teal Bunbury, and the second-year forward smashed a low drive past Fire PDL goalkeeper David Meves.

Catch the whole story on the Sporting KC website, including video

Region 2 Tournament: SSC’s Run Ends In SemiFinals

Springfield SC 94/95 Boys at Region 2 Tournament

Springfield SC 94/95 Boys at Region 2 Tournament by Duane Moses

The Springfield SC 94/95 Boys will play against the Cincinnati Crew Jr’s at 10am today in the U16 Boys semifinals.

There are several other teams from Missouri who have reached the semifinals as well including the U13 Boys Sporting KC Jr’s, U18 Girls Scott Gallagher (Cline & Hatz), U16 Girls JB Marine Wipke, U18 Girls KCFC Intensity (Groom, Clark and other Liberty Jay’s), U15 Girls KCFC Futura Academy and in the U17 Boys, Scott Gallagher will face Lou Fusz Popovic ensuring one Missouri team will reach the Finals.

8:00 am games
U13B Sporting KC Jrs (MO) – 3
Pacesetter Premier (OH) – 1

U16G JB Marine Wipke (MO) – 1
MI Hawks 95 (MI) – 5

U18G St Louis Scott Gallagher – 0
Mockingbird (KY) – 2

U18G KCFC Intensity – 1
FC Milwaukee – 2

10am games
U16B Raiders FC (IL) – 3
MN Thunder Academy 95 (MN) – 4

U16B CUP Crew Juniors Gold (OH-S) – 2 (OT)
Springfield SC (MO) – 1
A goal in the 10th minute by Mitch Moncada (Catholic), assisted by Ismael Serratos (Carthage) provided the team with their 4th straight game holding the lead. Unfortunately their stout defense, which had not surrendered a goal in the 3 group stage games, gave up one in the second half, leading to overtime. The Ohio squad scored again in the 1st OT and held on to win, advancing to the Final tomorrow.

The boys finish 3-1 in reaching the semifinals their first time to Regionals. The three group games were all shutouts, with a 5-0 advantage in goals scored vs surrendered.

Cincinnati United Crew advance to the Regional Final against the MN Thunder Academy who won 4-3 in their semifinal against the Raiders (IL)

12pm games
U17B St Louis Scott Gallagher Gold (MO) -
Lou Fusz Gold Popovic (MO) -

U15G Michigan Hawks (MI) -
KCFC/Futura Academy (MO) –

Sporting Kansas City Host Chicago Fire PDL in U.S. Open Cup Tuesday

I’ll be taking in Livestrong Sporting Park on Tuesday for the US Open Cup match between Sporting KC and the Chicago Fire PDL squad. Look for photos and a game story on Wednesday. Sporting KC offers these notes on the match…

Fresh off a win in MLS play over the weekend, Sporting Kansas City faces a quick turnaround as they host Chicago Fire PDL of the USL Premier Development League Tuesday at 7:30 p.m. CT in the third round of the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup. The match will be held at LIVESTRONG Sporting Park and is the first-ever U.S. Open Cup match to be played at the brand new stadium.

Tickets for the match are just $10 for Sporting Kansas City season ticket members and $15 for the general public. Tickets can be purchased here or at the LIVESTRONG Sporting Park box office.

Sporting Kansas City enter the third round of the tournament by virtue of a 5-0 win over the New England Revolution on May 25th at the Blue Valley District Activities Complex in Overland Park, Kansas. Chance Myers and C.J. Sapong each scored twice while Aurelien Collin got his first competitive goal for Sporting Kansas City in the victory.

The Fire PDL enter Tuesday’s contest after edging the NPSL’s Madison 56ers by a 2-0 scoreline in Madison, Wisconsin on Wednesday, June 22nd. Andrew Ribeiro and Thierry Zahui got the goals in a match that took 24 hours to complete after a lightning delay forced the match to be abandoned the previous night.

The winner of Tuesday’s contest will advance to the quarterfinal round of the tournament, set to be held on July 12th, against the winner of the match between the Columbus Crew and the Richmond Kickers of USL Pro. Should Sporting Kansas City advance, the quarterfinal match will be played at LIVESTRONG Sporting Park.

The U.S. Open Cup has been held annually since 1914 and is named after Lamar Hunt, original owner of Sporting Kansas City from 1995-2006. Kansas City won the U.S. Open Cup in 2004,defeating the Chicago Fire 1-0 on a golden goal by striker Igor Simutenkov off a free kick in the 95th minute at Arrowhead Stadium on September 22nd, 2004. Current Sporting Kansas City captain Davy Arnaud featured in the starting lineup for Kansas City in the final.

Region 2 Championships – Springfield SC to Semifinals!

The final day of group stage and everyone is still in a position to advance. The photos are from the win on Sunday, including the PK goal by Josh McCutcheon, and are provided by Duane Moses who’s son Dallas (Catholic) is a midfielder for SSC. The boys kick off at 8am this morning needing a tie to advance.

U16 Boys Springfield SC – 1
Everest SC Black (OH-N) – 0
A second half goal by Ismael Serratos (Carthage) in the 71st minute has given the boys their third straight shutout win in the group stages and they now advance to the Semifinals tomorrow at 10am. Awaiting word on winner of Carmel United U16 Elite (IN) vs CUP Crew Juniors Gold (OH-S) match. It’s the Crew!

The Cincinnati United Premiere (CUP) Crew Gold squad finished 1st in the Midwest Regional League Premier East this Spring, finishing 6-1. Their sole loss was to the Everest SC Black team, 3-0 on April 10th in Cincinnati. The team is ranked 2nd in the Region according to GotSoccer.

U19 Boys St Louis Scott Gallagher Elite – 0
Javanon 92 (KY) – 2
The loss appears to have finished the teams run at Regionals. A 2-1 finish with six points ties them with the KCFC Spartans (KS) but the Spartans have a +5 GD compared to Gallagher’s +1, meaning the Wild Card spot will elude them.

U17 Girls St. Louis Scott Gallagher – 2
Cincinnati Soccer Alliance U17 Elite (OH-S) – 0
The win was not sufficient to allow Molly Brewer (Glendale) and her teammates to advance as the MN Thunder Academy tied Lexington and advance with a 2-0-1 record and 7 points versus Gallaghers six points from two wins.

U18 Girls St. Louis Scott Gallagher – 3
E Iowa United 92/93 (IA) – 0
The STL representatives, which include Emily Cline (Glendale) and Shelby Hatz (Catholic), advance to the semifinals with a 2-0-1 record and 7 points. They avoid the KCFC Intensity squad that includes Shea Groom and Kaysie Clark of the Liberty Jays who advance with the 3-0 record and 18 goals scored. They will instead play Mockingbird (KY) who advanced via PK’s against Eclipse (IL) when both teams finished 2-0-1 with a +8 GD. Eclipse was the #1 ranked team in the Region while Mockingbird is #10

Region 2 Tournament – Springfield Wins Again!

FCgreenbay by Green Bay Press Gazette

FC Green Bay by Green Bay Press Gazette

Here are updates from today’s group stages. Teams are playing their second of three games and I offer thoughts on their opportunity to advance.

U18 Girls St. Louis Scott Gallagher – 1
Cleveland FC (OH North) – 0
A late first half goal by Jessica Kelley gave Emily Cline, Shelby Hatz and their teammates their first win of the group stage. The team is now 1-1 and tied for first in the group with 4 points but at a disadvantage in goal differential. They face the winless Eastern Iowa United squad tomorrow where a win guarantees they advance.

U17 Girls St. Louis Scott Gallagher – 0
MN Thunder Academy 94 Blue (MN) – 2
A pair of goals in each half for the Minnesota squad means Molly Brewer and her teammates are now 1-1 in the group. They are 3rd of 4 teams based upon points and goal differential. They will play Cincinnati Soccer Alliance tomorrow who are also 1-1 but ahead on goals. A win combined with a loss by MN against the currently winless Lexington FC squad will be needed to advance out of the group.

U19 Boys St Louis Scott Gallagher – 2
FC Green Bay (WI) – 0
The Green Bay squad loses by 2 for the second day in a row and Gallagher (including Drury players Mike Yuede and Matt Hutchinson) now face Javanon for the Group title tomorrow at noon. Both teams are 2-0 and have identical goal differential (+3) although Gallagher have not given up a goal. With three groups, there is a wildcard opportunity but two groups, including Gallaghers, have two teams with 6 points already so a win is best. Javanon is ranked 7th in the Region, well ahead of Gallagher and were Regional Finalists last year.

U16 Boys Springfield SC – 2
Galaxy (IL) – 0
A pair of goals early in the second half propelled the boys to their second straight win, this one over another higher-ranked team in their group and a squad they had lost to in late April 1-2. A penalty kick by Josh McCutcheon (Kickapoo), which included the ejection of the Galaxy goalkeeper with a red card, was the game-winner in the 54th minute. Minutes later McCutcheon assisted on the second goal, scored by Ismael Serratos (Carthage), and the final margin.

Their opponent tomorrow, Everest SC Black (OH), is ranked 5th in the Region and bounced back from their loss yesterday to the Galaxy with a 2-1 win over Waukesha. The Wisconsin squad opened the scoring in the 57th min but Everest came down the field and tied the game in the 58th and got the game-winner in the 83rd.

Springfield needs a tie to advance, providing them with 7 points from a 2-0-1 finish while Everest would finish with 4 points. A win would be better!

Joplin Eagles Featured In Globe – We Have Nothing Left

Ed Miller, Joplin Eagles with 2011 Seniors

Ed Miller, Joplin Eagles with 2011 Seniors

The Joplin Globe offers an update on the High School sports programs with JHS teams face summer of adjustments

“We don’t have anything left,” Miller said. “It was a total loss. Most of our stuff was in the garage/storage shed up by the soccer field and it was wiped out. Even the stuff inside, down in the cage in the high school, we haven’t been able to get in there to see if anything is salvageable.”

That means Miller and the Eagles are borrowing from other schools for the time being. But by the time fall rolls around, they’ll need their own gear.

“We’re very fortunate and blessed that area schools have been so gracious,” Miller said. “But it’s going to be just like starting a program from scratch. We have to make a wish list for uniforms and sweat suits, bags, socks, goals, nets, balls. We have to get up and running.”

What are we going to do about this folks?

The photo was taken May 19 following the District Final. The tornado struck three days later. Neither Ashlea Norman (2nd from left) or Vivien Moreno (1st on left) were able to participate in the All-Star game this year although Parker Maher was able to on the Boys side.

The Tulsa World also did a story on the athletic program – Joplin High School Athletic Programs move forward after devastating tornado

KC climbs out of cellar

Sporting KC knew that it was better than its 1-6-1 start. Saturday night in Kansas City, Sporting finally climbed out of last place in the Eastern Conference with a 2-1 win over the Vancouver Whitecaps.

Vancouver jumped on KC early when Camilo Sanvezzo scored in the 15th minute. But Sporting came right back as Omar Bravo and Julio Santos Correa each scored before halftime to put KC up for good.

With the win, KC (4-6-5) has not lost in its last seven games and remain unbeaten at Sporting Livestrong Park.

Vancouver meanwhile is an MLS worse 2-8-7.

Women’s World Cup Opens Sunday on ESPN/ESPN2

US WNTThis will be the sixth Women’s World Cup that FIFA has staged since the inaugural tournament back in 1991.

ESPN will be broadcasting games, beginning Sunday:
NIGERIA-FRANCE (live) 7:45 am on ESPN2
GERMANY-CANADA (live) 10:30 am on ESPN

MONDAY, June 27
JAPAN-NEW ZEALAND (live) 7:45 am on ESPN
MEXICO-ENGLAND (live) 10:45 am on ESPN

You can download the Women’s World Cup TV Schedule, 2011 and import it into your calendar using the Comma Delimited setting in Outlook, Google, Yahoo or Apple.

As the Wall Street Journal notes, it’s likely the German’s to lose.

The Germans are the class of the sport, thanks to the world’s most sophisticated development program—and they might be unbeatable on their home turf. “It’s just not enough to be athletic and fit anymore,” said U.S. midfielder Carli Lloyd, who scored the gold-medal winning goal in the 2008 Olympics.

ESPN also offers their take on the game with 10 Reasons to Watch the Women’s World Cup:

The U.S. may be the world’s No. 1 according to the FIFA rankings, but the team suffered the indignity of being last to qualify for the World Cup as it was forced to straggle in via playoff. The squad has only occasionally impressed in recent warm-up games, appearing strangely unsyncopated as if all too aware it hasn’t won the tournament since 1999.

The US Group stage games are listed below
June 28 Korea DPR 10:45 a.m. Rudolf-Harbig Stadium; Dresden
July 2 Colombia 10:30 a.m. Rhein-Neckar-Arena; Sinsheim
July 6 Sweden 1:30 p.m. World Cup Stadium Wolfsburg; Wolfsburg
All games will be broadcast live on ESPN, ESPN3.com and Univision

There are 13 players on the U.S. roster who will be participating in their first Women’s World Cup, but eight of them represented the USA in at least one FIFA youth Women’s World Cup Tournament and five of them played in the 2008 Olympic Games. Rachel Buehler played in the 2002 and 2004 FIFA U-19 Women’s World Cups. Amy Rodriguez, Megan Rapinoe and Becky Sauerbrunn played in the 2004 U-19 event. Rodriguez also played in the 2006 FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup along with Lauren Cheney, Kelley O‘Hara and Tobin Heath. Alex Morgan was one of the stars of the 2008 FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup, helping the USA to the title. Heather Mitts, Buehler, Rodriguez, Cheney and Heath were a part of the USA’s 2008 Olympic gold medal team. Mitts was also on the USA’s 2004 Olympic gold medal winning side. Only back-up goalkeeper Jill Loyden, defender Ali Krieger and midfielder Lori Lindsey have never participated in a world championship at any level.

Springfield SC Win Opening Match

Springfield SC 94/95 at Region 2 Championships

Springfield SC 94/95 at Region 2 Championships by JT Adams

Springfield SC - 2
Waukesha Pumas (WI) – 0
A pair of goals in the first half held up for the win in their first Regional game. Goals were scored by Jakob Neidig (Ozark) from Dallas Moses (Catholic) free kick and by Evan Craig (Catholic) from Mitch Moncada’s (Catholic) assist.

The boys will play against Galaxy (IL) on Sunday. Galaxy is the 12th ranked team in Region 2 and they defeated the #5 ranked Everest Black (OH) squad 1-0 this morning. SSC faced the Galaxy May 7th in Muscatine IA. The Galaxy won that game 2-1 enroute to a 1st finish in the Midwest Regional League Premier Blue Division with a 6-1-0 record. Springfield SC finished 3-3-1, finishing 4th. Galaxy’s one loss was to Vardar (MI) in their opening match April 8th. SSC defeated Vardar 2-0 two weeks later at a game in Rockford.

Looking at scenarios (is it ever too early?) would indicate that a tie Sunday and a win over Galaxy could put the boys through to the semifinals. Goal differential would be the key then, a dangerous place but a better alternative then a loss but the same scenario holds true for the Galaxy, a Chicago-area squad that made it to Regionals as a wildcard choice following their 3rd place finish in the MRL.

U17 Girls St. Louis Scott Gallagher – 4
Lexington FC 94 Premier (KY) – 0
Molly Brewer and her teammates had a strong opening game. They face off against the MN Thunder squad tomorrow. The Thunder won 1-0 over Cincinnati United (also known as CUSA).

U18 Girls St. Louis Scott Gallagher –
Carmel United Elite 93 (IN) –
4pm game