Month: June 2013

midwest development league logo

Midwest Development League Regional Opens

midwest development league logo
The culminating event of the National Premier Leagues (NPL) season each year is the NPL Champions Cup, where the NPL national champions will be crowned. The NPL Champions Cup will feature qualifiers from all 17 Leagues across the country in a true “champions league” competition. The tournament this year is July 18 – 22, 2013 and will be hosted at Aurora Sports Park near Denver, CO.

There are 24 teams that compete in the Midwest Development League (MDL) that opened their qualifying tournament today (Saturday June 29). The Gateway Division of the MDL includes Springfield SC as well as St Louis Scott Gallagher Metro, St Louis Scott Gallagher Missouri, River City Rovers (Louisville), Sporting BV, Sporting KC and TSC Hurricane (Tulsa). As the largest Division, the Top 2 finishers advanced to the playoffs this year. In addition, two wildcard teams from the League are added based upon Points per Game. That brings eight teams in age groups U-13, U-14, U-15, U-16 and U-18 boys’ to Chicago this weekend.

Springfield SC had a pair of teams qualify. The Springfield SC U18 team that just won the Region II title qualified as a wildcard as did the U16 Boys team.

SLSG Missouri captured two MDL titles in 2012, as the U-16’s defeated the Chicago Fire 1-0 and the U-17/18’s won 2-1 over the Chicago Fire as well. The U16’s went on to win the National Title with a 1-0 win over Massapequa SC (NY).

SCHEDULE AND RESULTS Continue reading “Midwest Development League Regional Opens” →

SpringfieldSC-94-95-Region2-Champions-2013

Springfield SC U18’s Headed to USYSA National Championships

SpringfieldSC-94-95-Region2-Champions-2013

Champions were crowned at the 2013 US Youth Soccer Region II (Midwest) Championships – presented by the National Guard in Des Moines, Iowa. Winners in the Under-13 through Under-19 Boys and Girls matches earned a Regional title and a berth to the 2013 US Youth Soccer National Championships July 22-28, at Overland Park Soccer Complex in Overland Park, Kan.

Springfield SC defeated Grand Rapids Crew Juniors in penalty kicks. Both teams put up a great fight, resulting in a 0-0 score after regulation time. The match was still tied in overtime and ultimately Springfield’s precise kickers and skillful keeper gave them the championship. SSC was lead by Caleb Boston (Hillcrest) in goal.

Video of a portion of the PK shootout and the resulting celebration are part of the highlight video below. Continue reading “Springfield SC U18’s Headed to USYSA National Championships” →

Springfield SC Reach First Ever Region II Final

SpringfieldSC-94-95-Champions-2013
The final teams are set to compete in the 2013 US Youth Soccer Region II (Midwest) Championships – presented by the National Guard in Des Moines, Iowa. Winners in the Under-13 through Under-19 Boys and Girls matches will win a Regional title, and earn a berth to the 2013 US Youth Soccer National Championships July 22-28, at Overland Park Soccer Complex in Overland Park, Kan. Video highlights of the semifinals can be found below.

Three teams from Missouri advanced to the finals. You can read about the two girls teams at SoccerSTL.net

U18 Boys
10:00 AM – Grand Rapids Crew Juniors (MI) vs Springfield SC (MO)

Two years ago Springfield SC missed their shot at the Region II finals by just one goal in overtime. Tuesday, they beat reigning champions Raiders FC Premier 1-0 to move on to the U-18 Boys finals. Nearly the entire match went scoreless, until Jakob Neidig (Missouri State/Ozark) found the back of the net from a free kick with five minutes remaining.

Video of the goal can be seen below at 3:30 elapsed. It includes interviews with both Eric Sorlie and Jacob, and a cameo by Michael Seabolt. Continue reading “Springfield SC Reach First Ever Region II Final” →

Springfield SC 94-95 Advance to Region II Semifinals

SpringfieldSC-94-95-Champions-2013

Congratulations to Springfield SC 94-95 boys, who are one of six teams from Missouri, and the only Boys team, to advance to the Region II semifinals. The are pictured above following their Missouri State Cup championship.

Under-18 Boys – Springfield SC (SC) – SEMIFINALIST
Three wins for the squad who returned to regionals after their first title as U16 Boys. A 2-0 win over Omaha FC (NE) was followed by a 3-0 shutout of Blast FC (OH-S). Having already qualified, they lost 3-4 to Carmel United (IN) who finished bottom of the group. The boys will play #1 regionally-ranked Raiders FC Premier (IL) at 8am Tuesday. Springfield is ranked #9.

Details on all of the programs who competed this weekend at Regionals with a summary of their results can be found at SoccerSTL.net

luis gil, usa

USA Opens U20 World Cup Friday on ESPN2

luis gil, usa
The ESPN networks will present all 52 matches of the 2013 FIFA U-20 World Cup from Turkey (June 21 – July 13) with 21 games on ESPNU including the quarterfinals and semifinals, and the final live from Istanbul on ESPN. The tournament will kick off Friday, June 21, with two matches beginning at 9:45 a.m. CT on ESPN3, and the U.S. National team will begin its campaign on ESPN and WatchESPN at 12:45 p.m. against perennial power Spain.

Head Coach Tab Ramos named the U20 Roster earlier this month which includes Sporting KC’s Mikey Lopez and Real Salt Lakes Luis Gil (pictured). Gil was named to the 2013 CONCACAF U-20 Championship All-Tournament Team.

The 2013 FIFA U-20 World Cup will feature the next crop of international stars from 24 countries, including defending champion Brazil, as well as Mexico and the United States. The U.S. team, coached by former U.S. Men’s National team star Tab Ramos, will make its seventh consecutive appearance in the tournament and is helmed by defender Caleb Stanko, who co-captained the team during the 2013 CONCACAF U-20 Championship. Previous U.S. teams have fielded current USMNT stalwarts Michael Bradley and Jozy Altidore.

[table]
USA & Mexico U20 World Cup TV Schedule
date, time, match, network
Fri Jun 21, 12:45 p.m., United States vs. Spain, ESPN2
Sat Jun 22, 9:45 a.m., Mexico vs. Greece, ESPN
Mon Jun 24, 9:45 a.m., France vs. United States, ESPN2
Tue Jun 25, 9:45 a.m., Mexico vs. Paraguay, ESPN2
Thu Jun 27, 11:45 a.m., Ghana vs. United States, ESPNU
Fri Jun 28, 9:45 a.m., Mali vs. Mexico, ESPNU
[/table]

All games can be found on my Soccer on TV calendar page or in the footer of this website. All games will also be available live and on replay on computers, smartphones and tablets via WatchESPN.