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MLS Announces NYC FC, Manchester City Owners

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Via MLS Soccer – NEW YORK – And just like that, “NYC2” is a reality.

After three years of development and planning for a second team in New York, Major League Soccer Commissioner Don Garber announced on Tuesday that English Premier League powerhouse Manchester City FC and Major League Baseball’s legendary New York Yankees have teamed up to bring it to fruition and acquire MLS’s 20th expansion club.

The new team will be named New York City Football Club (NYCFC) and is expected to begin play in 2015. Read more

Follow @NYCFC

Via Manchester City FC = The new team will be named New York City Football Club (NYCFC) and expects to begin play in 2015. “We proudly welcome two of the most prestigious professional global sports organizations to Major League Soccer,” said MLS Commissioner Don Garber.

Diversity Carries “Captain Jack” to Stability in MLS

Jack Jewsbury, April 2008
Jack Jewsbury, April 2008
Anyone who saw Jack Jewsbury score goals during his high school and collegiate career would have laughed at the idea of the prolific finisher having a decade-plus long career in Major League Soccer as a defender.

But that’s exactly what has developed for the versatile Springfield Kickapoo (’99) and St. Louis University (’99-’02) product.

During his time at Kickapoo Jewsbury gained lots of attention by putting up scoring records for both season (59 his senior year) and career (124) that were among the best in the state.

Jack Jewsbury, SLU Billikens
Jack Jewsbury, SLU Billikens
He was a key part of the SLU offense playing as a forward for the first three years of his time there. It wasn’t until mid-way through his senior year, as the team struggled to score and attack, that he was dropped back into more of an attacking midfielder role. He graduated from SLU tied for 10th all-time on the school’s career scoring list with 101 points.

But a chance encounter during the MLS combine that winter ended up changing the course of Jewsbury’s professional career forever.

When he showed up for the MLS combine, still with an offense-first mind about him, there was a spot on his team for a defensive midfielder, even though he had never played the position he decided to give it a shot.

“My options were to start as a defender and be guaranteed playing time or to take the chance of sitting the bench and waiting to get my time to play.”

The then coaching staff of the Kansas City Wizards were in charge of is combine squad and quickly took notice that Jewsbury had ability to play defense at the next level. “It is funny how it all changed over a month. I went from being a forward to attacking mid, to a holding midfielder so they drafted me in that position.”

[Read more…] about Diversity Carries “Captain Jack” to Stability in MLS

Missouri Major League Soccer Player Update

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We are one-fourth of the way through the Major League Soccer season and our intrepid writer Kevin Smith tore himself away from the ultrasounds (38 weeks, yikes!) to give us an update on who’s representing Missouri in MLS. Who is your favorite?

Game information this weekend included so players are listed in the order of the games. If you are unfamiliar with a player, check out our individual pages on each player for their background. If you have something you’d like to see added, use the Contact Page or leave a comment. This is an abreviated version of the complete story that can be found on SoccerSTL.net.

Portland vs. New England, Thursday May 2 at 9:30 pm CT on Univision Desportes

Jack Jewsbury, Portland Timbers vs Chivas
Jack Jewsbury, Portland Timbers vs Chivas, Photo: Gary Sheldon | ProstAmerika.com
Jack Jewsbury, Portland Timbers
Jewsbury has been the steady veteran for the Portland Timbers backline. He has started in six matches at left back for the team which has been getting results on the road and if that keeps up could end up being a major contender for a title by season’s end. Portland has one of the best home-field advantages in the league but the difference in 2013 has been points in all of their road games during this early part of the season. Portland’s most recent result, a 3-2 win on the road in Kansas City, gained attention from observers in the league and Jewsbury was instrumental in preserving the lead with his play on the backline. If the Timbers continue to get results on the road look for Jewsbury’s veteran experience to key the run.

BTW, if you haven’t read about how the Timbers made Atticus’ Dream Come True, grab some tissues and make some time to watch this wonderful story.

Luis Soffner, New England Revolution (via Indiana, SLUH and SLSG)
Soffner has yet to make his MLS debut in the net for New England but he also hasn’t be relegated to the squads full-time reserve unit either. Head coach Jay Heaps has kept Soffner with the main club during trainings as he is on record as saying he prefers having three keepers with the first unit. This is a good sign for Soffner once New England gets into U.S. Open Cup play in late May. Of course any back-up goalie knows they are an injury (or two) away from being called into action at any moment as well.

Saturday May 4th, Columbus vs. New York at 3 pm CT on NBC Sports
Brandon Barklage, New York Red Bulls (via SLU and CBC)

Saturday May 4th, Colorado vs. Toronto 8 pm CT on Direct Kick/MLS Live
Matt Pickens, Colorado Rapids (via Missouri State and Washington MO)

Saturday May 4th, Real Salt Lake vs. Vancouver 8 pm CT on Direct Kick/MLS Live
Tom Heinemann, Vancouver Whitecaps (via Rockhurst and )
Cole Grossman, Real Salt Lake (via Duke and SLUH)
Chris Schuler, Real Salt Lake (via Creighton, AC St Louis and father is in Springfield)

Sunday May 5, Sporting KC vs. Chivas USA 4 pm CT on UniMas (formerly Univision)

A rematch of the 2012 MLS Cup Sunday May 5th, 10 p.m. – LA Galaxy vs. Houston Dynamo on ESPN2
Tommy Meyer, LA Galaxy (via Indiana, SLUH and US Residency Program)
Will Bruin, Houston Dynamo (via Indiana, DeSmet and SLSG)
Brad Davis, Houston Dynamo (via SLU and Chaminade)

Fox Sports Announces NWSL TV Package

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Opening Day, vs Portland Thorns.

You have to love competition. Well done Fox Sports!

The National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL) and FOX Sports Media Group (FSMG) announced today a one-year agreement to televise nine games this year, the NWSL’s inaugural season. As part of the agreement, FSMG will air six regular-season matches and all three playoff matches, which include the two semifinal games on August 24 and 25, and the championship game on August 31.

“We are very pleased to announce this media agreement with FSMG,” said NWSL Executive Director Cheryl Bailey. “The opportunity to highlight the race for the playoffs and the three biggest games of the season that will decide the first league champion on national television is important for the growth of the league. Our fans will get the chance to see the high caliber of women’s soccer, and we also hope to create many new fans who will appreciate the amazing athletes and personalities in the league.”

Beginning July 8, FOX Soccer will televise one game per week over the final six weeks of the season, leading up to the NWSL Playoffs. The schedule will be unveiled in the coming weeks.

“The agreement with the NWSL showcases our support of women’s soccer and the growing popularity it’s experiencing in the country,” said David Nathanson, General Manager of FOX Soccer. “We are excited to be the network home for the sport’s top level players, many of whom will be featured on FOX Sports at the 2015 FIFA Women’s World Cup.”

The National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL) is an eight-team Division-I women’s professional soccer league featuring players from Canada, Mexico and U.S. The founding clubs are the Boston Breakers, Chicago Red Stars, FC Kansas City, Portland Thorns FC, Seattle Reign FC, Sky Blue FC, the Washington Spirit and the Western New York Flash. Based in Chicago, the NWSL is supported by the United States Soccer Federation, Canadian Soccer Association and Federation of Mexican Football.

Sporting KC Face New York Red Bull

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Sporting Kansas City meets the New York Red Bulls for a mid-week match-up at Red Bull Arena at 6:30 p.m. CT on Wednesday. The Eastern Conference showdown will be broadcast live locally on KSMO with additional coverage in Wichita, Topeka and the Columbia/Jefferson City area. The game will also be aired live on Sports Radio 810 WHB and La Gran D 1340 AM. Rumor has it that Mediacom Channel 22 has also added Sporting KC games. Are they live or delayed?

For the rest of us, it’s the primary reason I spend $60 for MLS Live.

Sporting Kansas City currently holds an 18-17-11 advantage over the New York Red Bulls and earned four points in the team’s two matches at Red Bull Arena last season. Sporting Kansas City secured a 2-0 road victory in September, notching both goals in the first 30 minutes of play, before returning one month later for a scoreless draw.

Wednesday marks the first of two meetings between the clubs during the 2013 regular season and the lone contest at Red Bull Arena. Read more at Sporting KC

They continue their road trip with a flight to LA for a game Saturday night that will be broadcast nationally on NBC Sports.

Saturday, April 20, 9:30 PM CT
LA Galaxy vs. Kansas City
NBC Sports

Two Kansas City stories of note, in case you missed them:
Matt Besler’s Year of Change, Love of Kansas City remains about the local boy doing good, including recent US MNT play

Sporting Club and U.S. Soccer to study Kansas City, Kan. for National Training and Coaching Development Center on a major development for Kansas City and US Soccer.

Here’s the rest of the MLS schedule for the weekend as well. It includes to Nationally broadcast games on Sunday, featuring DC United vs Philadelphia on ESPN2 and the rematch between San Jose and Portland at 10pm on UniMas (was Univision).

Saturday, April 20, 3PM CT
Toronto vs. Houston
Direct Kick (USA)

Saturday, April 20, 5PM CT
Colorado vs. Seattle
Direct Kick (USA)

Saturday, April 20, 6PM CT
New York vs. New England
Direct Kick (USA)

Saturday, April 20, 7:30 PM CT
Chicago vs. Columbus
Direct Kick (USA)

Dallas vs. Vancouver
Saturday, April 20, 7:30 PM CT
Direct Kick (USA)

Saturday, April 20, 8PM CT
Salt Lake vs. Chivas USA
Direct Kick (USA)

Sunday, April 21, 4 PM CT
D.C. United vs. Philadelphia
ESPN2

Sunday, April 21, 10 PM CT
San Jose vs. Portland
UniMas