Tag Archives: Major League Soccer

Alex Riggs Signed By Columbus Crew

Posted on by

Missouri State, Alex Riggs (2011)

Missouri State, Alex Riggs (2011)

Congratulations to Missouri State University goalkeeping standout Alex Riggs on turning professional. Following a tryout in Arizona with the team, Alex has signed a contract with the Columbus Crew of the MLS.

The conversation leading up to the signing, according to the Crew Extra Blog went along these lines:

The Crew continues to mull its backup goalkeeping options. It would prefer to sign a young No. 3 who would be roster and cap exempt. But with starter William Hesmer still recovering from a shoulder fracture and No. 2 Andy Gruenebaum out indefinitely with a hip injury the Crew doesn’t want to chance having to rely on an inexperienced No. 3 in its upcoming CCL series. Former Ohio State and FC Dallas keeper Ray Burse is an option but his former experience would command a senior roster spot and a guaranteed contract.

Riggs was named the 2010 Missouri Valley Conference Goalkeeper of the Year after leading the league in goals against average (0.73), save percentage (.857) and shutouts (9) among full-time starting keepers. He was also named to the All-MVC first team and MVC All-Tournament team. Riggs ended his career second on the MSU career list in start in net (62), minutes played in net (5,934), goals against average (0.93), shutouts (23) and saves (279). He was selected as the MVC Defensive Player of the Week six times in his career including twice this season (Oct. 11 and Oct. 25).

Jack Jewsbury Interview

Posted on by

The Kansas City Wizards began training in Phoenix, Arizona late last month, signaling the start of a five-week preseason camp to prepare the team for the 2010 MLS season. Jack Jewsbury is not with the team however, but rather has begun his recovery from surgery for a tear in his hip. It’s been three months of recovery and the Wizards offered this video interview recently.

Note that there are nine teams from across Major League Soccer are participating with the Wizards in the Arizona capital, part of an effort by the organization to create a consistent preseason base for multiple MLS teams.

KC Wizards Break Ground On New Kansas Complex

Posted on by

KC Wizards Stadium renderings, Jan 2010

KC Wizards Stadium renderings, Jan 2010

Kansas City Wizards ownership group OnGoal, LLC announced Tuesday that approval has been granted for a state-of-the-art soccer-centric stadium for the Wizards and a nearby youth-soccer complex. Construction is set to begin tomorrow at the stadium site, located across from Nebraska Furniture Mart and The Legends in the Village West district of Kansas City, Kansas. The Wizards, a founding member of Major League Soccer (MLS), will become the first Major League professional sports team to play its home games in the State of Kansas and the 12th MLS team to play in a venue built for specifically for soccer. Kansas City is preparing for its 15th MLS season, with the League expanding to include 16 teams.

“This is a great day for soccer in Kansas City,” OnGoal CEO Robb Heineman said. “After a lengthy process to keep the team in the metropolitan area, OnGoal and the Kansas City Wizards are thrilled to receive final approval for our stadium and fields complex. There are so many people to thank, including Mayor Reardon and the Unified Government, Governor Parkinson and countless others. Our vision will now become reality for our supporters and organization. We have designed the first authentic American soccer stadium that will showcase and help grow the beautiful game of soccer, while providing all of the modern amenities expected from a modern American sports facility. The stadium has been designed to deliver the highest-level guest experience in an intimate, loud and intimidating atmosphere to build a true home field advantage for the Wizards.”

The Wizards stadium is part of a larger $400+ million project developed by OnGoal and LANE4 Property Group that will help fulfill the initial vision of the Village West project. Additions will include a world-class tournament field complex with 18-24 fields for major youth sporting events and an office complex for Cerner Corporation expansion. The soccer facilities are projected to host more than 300 event dates with over 800 events annually, drawing more than 2.5 million attendees to the area. The Wizards stadium would also play host to concerts, international soccer matches, American football games, rugby matches, lacrosse games, field hockey events and more. The field complex would be an attractive host to major national and regional soccer tournaments due to Kansas City’s central location in the United States and the surrounding development at Village West. The complex will also host other tournaments and sporting events for men, women and children and in multiple sports.

More details can be found here!

Cody Reinberg And Harrisburg City Islanders Surprise NE Revolution

Posted on by

us open cup logoCongratulations to Drury grad Cody Reinberg who was part of the upset win over the MLS New England Revolution in the US Open Cup last night.

Geoff Bloes’ sitter with time winding down in the first overtime — off a David Schofield corner that fluttered off goalkeeper Brad Knighton’s fingers — lifted the Harrisburg City Islanders to a 2-1 victory over the New England Revolution in Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup round-of-16 action Tuesday night at Veterans Memorial Stadium in New Britain, Conn.

Moffat Oduor also connected for the USL Second Division leaders, nodding in a Jason Pelletier restart that pulled Harrisburg even in the 67th minute. Jeff Larentowicz buried a 19-yard direct in the 38th minute, staking the Major League Soccer side to a 1-0 halftime lead.

It was a game with several twists and turns but wasn’t the only upset of the evening. The underdogs of the USL ruled the day in the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup Third Round on Tuesday night, taking four of the six matches, and assuring themselves of at least one team in the semifinals.

Reblog this post [with Zemanta]

Represent SGFsoccer in Major League Soccer

Posted on by

With the opening of the Major League Soccer season coming this weekend, it’s time for me to get caught up with the comings and goings on the MLS rosters. In particular, what’s up with the goalkeepers that Missouri State has sent to the major leagues. But before I dive into those details, a quick update on a new prospect.

Justin Alford (Poplar Bluff/Springfield SC) has been invited to tryout with Chivas USA for five days next week. It’s Spring Break for Justin and he’s ready to measure himself at the next level. I was fortunate to catch up with him Sunday after the Bear’s late afternoon practice.

I neglected to ask him but I’m guessing he has former Poplar Bluff classmate Tyler Hansbrough’s UNC team at the top of his March Madness brackets. How about you?

Lance Parker – Lance is now officially a member of the Senior Roster at Chivas USA, albeit with 0 years of experience. You may recall the Reserve League was eliminated which meant 100 players across 15 clubs were not re-signed. Lance played in the preseason game against the Fire, winning a 1v1 battle with Blanco I understand, and has also found a new place in LA that’s a mile from the beach. All excellent signs for the #3 keeper behind Zach Thornton and Dan Kennedy.

Matt Pickens – Matt returns to the MLS to play for the Colorado Rapids. We last saw him at the Chicago Fire before his short stint with Queens Park Rangers in England. The Rapids website notes that he’ll battle for the 1st team position with Preston Burpo who was 3-0-1 in September 2008.

Matt’s joined on the roster by another St Louis native, John DiRaimondo, who begins his second year on the senior roster after two years on the Reserve roster. DiRaimondo played at SLU/SLUH.

St Louis, Major League Soccer And Anheuser Busch

Posted on by

St Louis Soccer UnitedIn case you haven’t seen this…

MLS expansion race reaches final stretch

The race to MLS expansion in 2011 is in the homestretch and the race still looks too close to call even though two favorites have emerged.

Vancouver and Portland look like the most likely candidates for expansion, but St. Louis hasn’t given up hope, making for a final stretch so tough to call that MLS appears ready to extend its own deadline for a decision to buy itself some time.

A-B gives Fenton soccer park to St. Louis Soccer United
By Tom Timmermann ST. LOUIS POST-DISPATCH

Anheuser-Busch InBev is giving the Anheuser-Busch Center in Fenton to St. Louis Soccer United, opening the possibility a Major League Soccer team could play on the Missouri side of the river.

Thoughts about MLS and the Soccer Park
By Tom Timmermann, St. Louis Post-Dispatch

Though the league has never said it publically, the “distance” of Collinsville has hung over the Cooper bid from Day One. This takes it out of the equation, assuming they can build on the site. They’re going to have to do a lot of building along the river to make the site work. Plus, they’ll need a new offramp off 44 (to do one off 270 would require a bridge, I’m pretty sure, which would get pretty expensive, I would think) and some place to put the cars. The site will still be used as a youth soccer facility, so they can’t just pave over the outer fields. Cooper seems optimistic that can be worked out.

My initial thoughts? “The rich get richer” as the St Louis United “club” now controls the primary pitches on both sides of the river, while St Louis Youth Soccer continues to try to resolve the lack of fields following last years devastating floods.

As a “solution” to the MLS bid, I find it hard to believe it will make the difference. If InBev wants to become an owner, with Jeff Cooper, than St Louis will have a team. As noted in one article, AB is now the lone remaining sponsor from the 1st year of MLS (1996). We are about to find out where Sports Marketing fits for InBev in the new financial environment we find ourselves in.