Tag Archives: Metro United SC

This Week In Soccer in Southwest Missouri

Posted on by

I’m drafting this after midnight while mulling the details of my client call in St Louis Monday morning. Probably a sign of things to come this season as my Small Business consulting efforts continue to bear fruit. Do you struggle to manage the technology needs of your firm, and wonder about all these internet technologies that you hear about? I help firms take control and manage technology to achieve their sales and marketing goals. That’s one reason for this website, as a showcase for websites that work, search engine optimization and marketing and community development. If you’d like to learn more, call me at 569-8062 or send me an email. I’d love to learn more about your needs.

High School girls soccer begins today! I’ll be driving back from St Louis in time to take in the inaugural game for two new girls programs this season. The Carthage Tigers are hosting the Logan-Rogersville Wildcats at 5pm and I plan to be there to document it. It’s a Central Ozarks Conference match and I’m looking forward to participating as the game continues to grow here in Southwest Missouri.

Other games being played today include the Pleasant Hope Pirates are hosting District foes Springfield Catholic while the Camdenton Lakers have the Richland Bears coming to town.

Two additional programs will play their inaugural games on Tuesday, weather permitting. The Branson Pirates will play host to the Log-Rog Wildcats and the Carl Junction Bulldogs will host their large school neighbor, the Joplin Eagles. A week of firsts while the majority of the Springfield teams wait until next week to play due to Spring Break. Ozark travels to Harrison, Willard to Pleasant Hope and Waynesville hosts Helias on Tuesday.

West Plains will kick off in Harrison (AR) on Wednesday and Thursday sees a flurry of activity. My schedule Thursday opens with the Hillcrest Hornets hosting the Marshfield Blue Jays. Log-Rog plays their 3rd game in 4 days with their first home game, against Pleasant Hope. Carl Junction hosts Carthage, the Nixa Eagles open their season with a visit to West Plains while Springfield Catholic hosts the Lebanon Yellowjackets. I may be able to catch the Catholic Varsity at 6pm as well.

Rolla opens their season Friday with the Central Federal Tourney, site of Mike Howard’s 500th win last March. Parkview heads for Carthage while Kickapoo and Ozark host a round robin with a pair of KC teams. Blue Springs South and Park Hill South play Kickapoo and Ozark on Friday, while Saturday the visitors will visit Ozark and Kickapoo. I think the round robin games should be great openers for the teams involved and worth a trip out for anyone interested in the girls game. I’ll be in St Louis this weekend so I’ll be trying to get an early peek at potential playoff opponents. Alternately I’ll be able to catch some competitive Club games at the Metro United College Showcase.

Oh, and we can’t forget – the US Men’s team continues their road to South Africa with an away game in El Salvador on Saturday. The rosters have been announced, training began today and the game will be broadcast live at 8 pm on Saturday on ESPN2.

The KC Wizards will also be playing on Saturday night, in this case at the Colorado Rapids. The Rapids lost to Chivas, with Matt Pickens (MSU 2002) getting the start. Did anyone make it to the home opener Saturday? Any plans for attending future games? I’d love to share your game reports with the readers of this website.

2008 Greater Springfield Area Sports Commission Champions Challenge a Success

Posted on by

PRESS RELEASE

Springfield Soccer Club2008 Greater Springfield Area Sports Commission Champions Challenge a Success
The Springfield Soccer Club and Lake Country Soccer hosted the Greater Springfield Area Sports Commission Champions Challenge Soccer Tournament March 8-9, 2008. While the early week weather (snow, rain) made the preparations a difficult task, the weekend weather opened up with sunny skies and great soccer.

Over 140 teams competed in what has become the premier pre-season tournament in the sub-region. “This is two years in a row that Metro United has attended the Champions Challenge and we have been impressed by the facilities, organization and competition. The Springfield Soccer Club has attracted great teams and clubs from throughout the area and Lake Country Soccer has tremendous facilities. said Dale Schilly Program Director for Metro United of Southern Illinois.

The majority of the teams participating in the event came from outside the Springfield area, which meant it was difficult to find a hotel room or an empty table in popular restaurants in town during the weekend. Springfield Soccer Club would like to thank the Springfield Convention & Visitors Bureau as well as the local hotel and motels who served as great hosts for the out of town guests.

On the field there were a few local teams who participated, but the only club to have teams advance out of bracket play into semi-finals and finals was the host Springfield Soccer Club. On the boys side the U11Red, U12Red, U13Red, U14 teams all advanced to the Finals before falling and receiving 2nd Place. The U15 I team captured the Championship by defeating Lou Fusz SC from St. Louis. The Springfield Soccer Club girls’ teams were not to be outdone with the U10 Girls capturing 2nd Place and the U12Red Girls losing in the semi-finals via the dreaded penalty kick shootout.

Big thanks go to all of the parents from the Springfield Soccer Club who volunteered their time to make the weekend a success. “People don’t realize the amount of time it takes from volunteers to make a tournament run successfully. Our parents were outstanding in helping as site coordinators, field marshals, etc. This is two years in a row that teams have commented that they felt welcome and appreciated and they will be back again next year.” said Jeremy Alumbaugh Director of Soccer Operations for the Springfield Soccer Club.

Springfield Soccer Club would also like to recognize the efforts of the Lake Country Soccer staff in making this event happen, despite the less than ideal weather conditions. Also, thanks to the Greater Springfield Area Sports Commission for sponsoring the tournament.

Missouri Science & Technology Miners Sign Seven To Mens Team

Posted on by

Miners Logo headThe Missouri S&T men’s soccer team has added seven individuals to its roster to play for the Miners for the 2008 season.

The newcomers for next season are as follows:
J.J. BILYEUS, a 5-10, 150-pound defender from Christian Brothers College High School in St. Louis, Mo.: Bilyeu earned all-metro honors in the St. Louis area, as well as all-state and all-district laurels following the 2007 season, one where he helped lead the Cadets to a 23-6-1 record where the team allowed less than a goal per game. Bilyeu was a two-year starter at the high school level and played on the Missouri Olympic Development team that won a regional championship in 2006. Bilyeu also plays on the Scott Gallagher team in the St. Louis area.

TRENT DOERNER, a 6-0, 160 pound midfielder from Klein Oak High School in Spring, Texas: Doerner was a four-year letterwinner at the high school level, helping lead Klein Oak the state semifinals in 2005 and 2006. He earned first-team all-conference honors after his junior year when he led the team with 10 goals and nine assists. He as also a first-team academic all-state selection. He has played for the Texas Rush club team and helped that squad finish second at the 2007 Disney Showcase.

JONATHAN GOECKER, a 5-10, 160-pound defender from Lee’s Summit North High School in Lee’s Summit, Mo.: Goecker was a three-year letterwinner at the high school level and helped his team win a conference championship during the 2007 season. He led Lee’s Summit North in assists as a junior. On the club level, he has played for the Blue Valley Stars Grasshoppers, a team that has won six state championships and finished second at the regional level in 2003.

ZACK HAY, a 6-3, 175-pound center back from Kickapoo High School in Springfield, Mo.: Hay had an outstanding senior year at Kickapoo, earning all-state, all-district and all-conference honors as his team finished third at the Missouri Class 3 state tournament. He was also selected as the region’s most valuable player on defense and as a Southwest all-star selection after scoring 11 goals with eight assists. He was also an all-conference and all-district performer as a junior and was part of three district and conference championship teams at the high school level. Hay also played for the Springfield Soccer Club and has played on Olympic Development Program teams in Missouri and Kentucky.

JOE JORDAN, from Priory High School in St. Louis, Mo.: Jordan is a midfielder who captained a Priory team that won the state championship in 2005 with a 26-0 record. He was a first-team all-conference selection as a senior and earned honorable mention all-league laurels in his junior year, while also earning the school’s spirit award for soccer following the 2007 season. His high school team won the St. Dominic Super Cup in 2005 and 2006.

RYAN MUICH, a 5-10, 150-pound mdifielder-sweeper from O’Fallon High School in O’Fallon, Ill.: Muich was a four-year letterwinner and team captain at O’Fallon High School, earning all-state, all-area and honorable mention all-metro honors in the St. Louis area. In addition, he was selected to the Chicago Fire’s all-academic team as a first team member. Muich also plays for the Metro Soccer club which competes in the U.S. Soccer Academy program.

KYLE SNEED, from Atascocita High School in Humble, Texas: Sneed earned three letters at the high school level and also played on the Kingwood Alliance and Texas Heat club teams, both of which play at the Division 1 level in the Houston area.

St Louis Soccer United to Host Quincy Soccer Classic

Posted on by

Plenty of news to get caught up on from both sides of the state but I’m going North East first, to Quincy where the following update came out last week. From the Quincy Soccer Classic website:

St Louis Soccer UnitedAn agreement was recently reached for the Quincy Soccer Classic and St. Louis Soccer United to partner for the 2008 event and beyond. Thus, the Quincy Soccer Classic will take place in Collinsville, IL. in 2008 at the Metro United Soccer Complex and SIU-Edwardsville. In future years, it is the intention to use the new complex once construction is completed. The event will start on October 2, 2008 with 2 games at SIU-Edwardsville. The showcase games will also be at SIU-Edwardsville and will feature 4 elite teams. Local powerhouse Chaminade College Prep will play against Davis High of Davis, CA and against Providence Day School of Charlotte, NC. Here is a list of participants. There are 13 different states represented and still one more team needed to fill out the field.

The Glendale Falcons participated in last years tournament, winning their division, and appear to be included on the list for the event this October as well.

St Louis Soccer United has been making some significant investments, while continuing their quest for a Major League Soccer team. Tied to their move to partner in what has rapidly become a nationally recognized high school soccer tournament is their investment in youth development. From their website:

To further enhance the interest in soccer, St. Louis Soccer United has formed the only true vertical integration youth development model in North America. Based on developmental leagues that are prevalent in European soccer, three of the leading amateur soccer organizations in the St. Louis region – Metro United, Scott Gallagher, and St. Louis Soccer Club – have joined forces to create a single club within the St. Louis youth soccer community designed to enhance the development of players at every level.

I think I need to send my advertising package to our friends in St Louis. What do you think, is Springfield a KC Wizards town or a budding St Louis United fan base?