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Third Times The Charm For Flagler EVANS, GA – After reaching the Peach Belt Conference
Tournament title game twice in the past two years and not coming away
with the crown, the top-seeded Flagler Saints made the third time the
charm as they rallied to beat second-seeded Montevallo 3-1 for their first
tournament championship. Silverbacks Win W-League Championship SEATTLE --- The Atlanta Silverbacks captured their first W-League championship Sunday evening with five of the team’s six goals coming by way of University of Georgia players, including two from rising junior Susannah Dennis. The Silverbacks won the title with a 6-1 decision over the Ottawa Fury at Seattle’s Starfire Sports Complex after a semifinal victory over former Bulldog Carrie Patterson and the Vancouver Whitecaps FC on Friday. The Silverbacks’ first goal in the final came from rising senior Jamie Pollock off a corner. The lead became 2-0 on a strike from the left side from Dennis, while sophomore Alexa Newfield added the third tally on a free kick to close the first half scoring. Ottawa pulled it to 3-1 just four minutes into the second, before Dennis added her second goal just five minutes later. Bulldog alum Megan Tomlinson had the next one as she used her speed to beat the Fury defense and finished past the keeper to make it 5-1. The Silverbacks added a sixth with just one minute left to secure the championship after falling in the final in 2010. Tomlinson earned championship game MVP honors. Kennesaw Gets 2011 Women’s College Cup Final KENNESAW, Ga.---KSU Soccer Stadium will host the 2011 NCAA Women’s College Cup, the NCAA Division I Women’s Soccer Committee announced. The $16 million soccer stadium is shared by Kennesaw State University and the Atlanta Beat of Women’s Professional Soccer. “The committee is confident in Kennesaw State’s ability to elevate the championship and student-athlete experience, which is a priority in the selection of a championship site,” said Lisa Campos, chair of the NCAA Division I Women’s Soccer Committee and senior associate athletic director at the University of Texas at El Paso. The Women’s College Cup, which consists of the two national semifinals and the championship game for Division I women’s soccer, will be played Dec. 2-4, 2011. The stadium opened earlier this year and hosted the WPS All-Star Game. The facility will host it’s first U.S. Women’s National Team game on October 2 against China. “This is a world class stadium built specifically to host these types of high-level, important events, which will help put soccer on the map in the Southeast,” said Beat General Manager Shawn McGee. This year’s Women’s College Cup will be held December 3 and
5 at Wake Med Soccer Park in Cary, NC. Silverbacks Finish Fourth In W-League The Atlanta Silverbacks have concluded the 2010 campaign
with a fourth place finish in the W-League out of 29 teams. The ‘Backs
fell to the Hudson Valley Quickstrike Lady Blues by a score of 3-0 in
the consolation game. Hudson Valley was the regular season champion and
had received an automatic berth to the Final Four before falling to the
Vancouver Whitecaps in the national semifinals. Georgia
Boys Dominate U.S. Youth Soccer’s Georgia led all state associations with four teams in the boys finals at the U.S. Youth Soccer Region III Championships in Baton Rouge, La. Concorde Fire Elite captured the under-15 title and finished second in the under-16 division. In the U-17 age group, Alpharetta Ambush Red beat GSA Phoenix Red, 4-1, in an all-Georgia final, scoring three times in the overtime. GSA Phoenix Red is headed to the National Championships as the National League champion. Concorde's big forward, Cameron Moseley, drove in the winner in the 54th minute to lead it past Mexicas (S-TX), 1-0l in the under-15 final. Concorde fell to RSL Florida, 2-1 in overtime in the U-16 final. North Carolina’s Triangle United SA Gold was the only team to repeat as champions as they knocked off Edmond OFC, 4-1. Lonestars Red won the under-14 championship without conceding a goal during the entire tournament. Under-14 Boys Lonestar Red (S-TX) 1, Charlotte SA Predator (NC) 0 Goal Scorer: Andrew Lopez (52) Under-15 Boys Concorde Fire Elite (GA) 1, Mexicas (S-TX) 0 Goal Scorer: Cameron Moseley (54) Under-16 Boys RSL Florida (FL) 2, Concorde Fire Elite (GA) 1 Goals: RSL - Lakota Thomas (42), Travis Jehs (102) Concorde - Adrian Alabi (68) Under-17 Boys Alpharetta Ambush Elite Red (GA) 4, GSA Phoenix Red (GA) 1 Goals: Ambush - Alhagi Toure (76, 117), Karl Chester (95), Jaime Sanclemente (120); GSA - Iain Smith (90) Under-18 Boys TUSA Gold (NC) 4, Edmond OFC (OK) 1 Goals: TUSA - Sebastian Garner (45), Robert Lovejoy, III (53, 78), Zabarle Kollie (84) OFC - Andrew Hall (63) Under-19 Boys Andromeda Navy (N-TX) 1, Black Rebels (S-TX) 0 Goal: Alexei Reyes (36) Texas Girls Enjoy Success At Region III Championships Texas teams won five of the six U.S. Youth Soccer Region
III girls championships in Baton Rouge, LA with North Texas teams sweeping
the U14, U15, U16 and U17 titles. The Dallas Sting won the two youngest
age groups. The only non-Texas winner came in the U18 girls where the title was won by the AFC Lightning 92 White from Georgia. Under-14 Girls (N-TX) Sting 96 The Atlanta Beat Gets First Victory Atlanta defender Tina Ellertson scored
the game’s only goal as the Beat defeated the Chicatgo Red Stars,
1-0, for their first-ever Women’s Professional Soccer win in franchise
history. The victory came at home at Kennesaw State University Stadium. The University of Georgia has announced that Steve
Holeman, head coach at the University of Mississippi, had been
hired as the Bulldogs’ new women’s head soccer coach. Young Georgia Star Signs MLS Contract Jack McInerney has wanted to be a professional soccer player ever since he joined Coach Steve Gummer’s Under-12 boys team at Cobb FC in suburban Atlanta. He has realized the first steps in fulfilling that dream by becoming one of the top forwards in the U.S. national player pool system, and by signing a Generation adidas contract with Major League Soccer. He’s spent the last two years in Bradenton, FL in the U.S. U17 Residency program, and was the leading scorer for the U.S. team in both the CONCCAF qualifying last spring and the FIFA U17 World Cup during the summer. He’s always seemed to have a knack of scoring goals, even in the 12s. “I noticed I was scoring the goals and the way people would talk to me after games,” he told Robert Ziegler, for a Top Drawer Soccer article. “I guess I was standing out. (Gummer) pushed me and he always talked about me needing to be a complete player. I kept pushing toward that and then I made residency.” He tested the professional waters in Europe with a one-week trail with the Dutch club Vitesse Arnhem, but when the offer came from MLS he signed. The experience in Holland only strengthened his resolve to began a professional career right away. “My goal the whole time was to play in Europe, and I still want to go there someday,” he told Ziegler. “I wanted to go there and show myself and play the best that I can. “Coming back I knew how it was to play against professionals over there. Even though I’m not going to play in Europe I would still like to go there.” Even though going to Bradenton meant leaving home at age 14, he credits the U.S. U17 Residency program for his continued development and the cornerstone of realizing his dream of being able to turn professional. “Going to residency is probably the best decision I ever made,” he said. “There’s nowhere else in the U.S. you can play those tough games at that speed of play. It meant some sacrifices but it was definitely worth it.” He’s well aware that he’ll need to step up his growth and development as a player to have a successful professional career. Numerous young players have struggled to get playing time after turning professional, especially now that there is no longer a reserve system within MLS. He says he’s willing to do whatever it takes. “I couldn’t tell you that (I’ll start), but I know myself and I push myself every day,” he said. “Even if I don’t start for the first 20 games I’ll still push myself in practice to earn a spot. It may not come right away but eventually it will.” He and a number of his U17 teammates recently completed a U.S. Under-20
Men’s National Team training camp with Coach Thomas Rongen
in California. He’ll also find out where he’ll begin his professional career when he is selected in the 2010 MLS SuperDraft, which will be held January ? at the NSCAA Convention in Philadelphia. Georgia High School Championships The Parkview Panthers won their third consecutive Class
AAAAA girls state championship in a penalty kick shootout, and Collins
Hill HS won the AAAAA boys title 1-0 over Centennial. Parkview Perfect On PKs The Panthers and Harrison played to a 1-1 draw through
overtime, forcing the game to be decided on kicks. Parkview took nine
kicks, and made every one of them. Harrison took nine kicks and Panthers’
senior goalkeeper Chelsea Ramsey got her hands on the
last one and the game was over. Win One For The Coach The Collins Hill Eagles gave their coach, Stan
Carpenter, the best going away present he could have had. Junior
Malcolm Miller got the game’s only goal late in
the first half. A Nightmare For McIntosh McIntosh came into the championship game unbeaten and ranked
#1 nationally in the NSCAA spring prep poll. They were favored in the
boys Class AAAA final, but Marist shattered the dream with a 2-1 upset. Seven Goals In The Final Marist captured the Class AAAA girls state title with a
4-3 win over Whitewater. Senior Mary Coffed, who is headed
to Auburn in the fall, was a dominant force in her last game as a Marist
Eagle. St. Pius Girls Nationally Ranked The Golden Lions were the Golden Girls as they shutout
the North Hall Trojans 3-0 for the Class AAA state title. Hat Trick Drives GAC Victory Chris Thomas scored three goals in his
final game in a Greater Atlanta Christian uniform, as the Spartans won
their second state title in four years with a 4-1 win over Westminster. Two Straight For Walker Girls Two second-half goals by Nicole Locandro
were all that Walker needed. That and a stout defense as the Lady Wolverines
blanked rival Lovett 2-0 for the Class AA/A girls state title. Blackhawks Take Flight In Atlanta FC Atlanta Blackhawks have announced the launch of a United Soccer Leagues Premier Development League (PDL) franchise for the 2009 season. The Blackhawks will begin league play in May. “With the number of quality college players coming out of the state of Georgia every year, a PDL team is a necessary part of the soccer landscape in this state. Our team will be a preview of the type of teams that they could put together if schools like UGA or Georgia Tech offered men’s NCAA Division I soccer,” stated Massoud Roushandel, Head Coach and Executive Director of the Blackhawks. No stranger to the PDL, Roushandel is the current Executive Director of FC Atlanta youth soccer club and was the head coach of the PDL’s Augusta Fireballs in 2005 and assistant coach in 2006. In their first official season, Roushandel helped lead the team into the playoffs with a roster that included a majority of the players from his 2002 USYSA National Champion Atlanta Fire youth team. The Augusta Fireballs ceased operation after the 2006 season due to the difficulty of attracting Atlanta-based players who would need to commute to Augusta. “The city of Augusta was great and the fan support was tremendous, but it was really difficult having to travel five hours round trip to play.” The Blackhawks will unveil their new website and logo, as well as their home venue, in the coming weeks. The website will announce tryout dates along with other news and information including information on their reserve team/college prep program, summer camps, sponsorship opportunities, ticket sales, etc. The team will compete in the Southeast division of the PDL along with the Baton Rouge Capitols, the Bradenton Academics, the Central Florida Kraze, the Mississippi Brilla, the Nashville Metros, the New Orleans Jesters and the Panama City Pirates. Roushandel also states, “Without a current professional team in Atlanta, we hope to fill a void for the soccer enthusiasts that are looking for some good quality, entertaining men’s soccer during the summer months. The team will be a who’s who of top college players from throughout the Southeast along with several foreign players and ex-professionals. For all of the area youth players that aspire to play college soccer, watching PDL games will give them a good idea of what it takes to be an impact player at the collegiate level” Single game tickets to Blackhawks games will cost $5 for adults and youth 4 and above. All others including senior citizens (65+) will be admitted for free. In addition, the Blackhawks will offer season tickets for $25 which will be good for all 8 home games. Season tickets can be ordered immediately by calling the FC Atlanta Blackhawks office at 404-372-8700 or by e-mailing Massoud Roushandel at massoud@fcatlanta.org. Silverbacks Women Re-sign Four The Silverbacks Women signed four key players from the 2007 season that saw the women advance to the W-League final. The signings are the first for the 2008 squad. Returning are forward Sarah Steinmann, midfielders Tara Minnax and Melanie Schneider, and defender Monica Buff. “Last year was a crucial building year for our program,” said Silverbacks W-League executive director Laura Fedrigo. “We saw where we need to improve in order to bring home the W-league title. Sarah, Tara, Mel and Monica have been with the team from the beginning and will be key in helping us reach that next level.” Steinman’s 19 career goals in three years with the Silverbacks is a club best. She finished second in scoring in 2007 with six goals in eight appearances—one goal behind leading scorer Christine Lanham. In 2006 Steinman led the Silverbacks in scoring with eight goals and two assists in 13 appearances. She tallied five goals and one assist her rookie season (2005) after a four year career at Auburn University (2001-2005) where she was the SEC coaches selection for Player of the Year in 2002 and garnered All-SEC First Team honors in 2003. Minnax leads the Silverbacks in appearances with 38 in three years with the club. In 2007 she featured 11 times, netting two goals. In 2006 she made 13 appearances, and 14 in 2005, tallying one goal and one assist. Prior to joining the Silverbacks Minnax played for the WUSL Atlanta Beat in the 2003 season and 2004 festivals. Minnax played collegiate soccer at the University of Tennessee from 1998 to 2002, winning the SEC Championship her senior year. Schneider returns for her third year with the Silverbacks. In 2007 she featured in six games, tallying one goal, joining to the Silverbacks midseason after playing for the Swedish professional side FFC Brauweiler. In 2006 Schneider appeared in all 14 games for the Silverbacks recording two goals and two assists. In 2005 she appeared 12 times, adding one goal and one assist. Schneider was a four-year starter at Wake Forest from 2002 to 2005, earning NCAA All-Region honors in 2005. Buff tallied once for the Silverbacks in 14 appearances for the Silverbacks in 2007. She is tied with Steinman for second in career appearances with 33 in her three years with the club. In 2006 she netted one goal in 12 appearances, and featured 14 times for the Silverbacks her rookie year after captaining her Vanderbilt University (2003-2006) her senior year. The Silverbacks will continue to build the roster up until preseason begins on April 15. The annual player combine is being held March 28 and 29. Per NCAA regulations, a separate combine will be held for underclassmen on or after May 1. Details for the second combine have not been finalized. The Silverbacks Women kick off the 2008 season against the Hampton Roads Piranhas May 10 at Silverbacks Park. Silverbacks Re-sign Three Players The Atlanta Silverbacks have signed defender David Hayes, midfielder Macoumba Kandji, and goalkeeper Ryan McIntosh to contract extensions. “We are excited to be able reward these three players for their commitment to the club,” said head coach Jason Smith. “They will all play important roles as we continue to build a championship team.” Hayes, 31, signed a contract extension keeping the 2007 All-League and USL-1 Defender of the Year selection with the club through the 2010 season. Last season Hayes made 34 appearances in all competitions, netting seven goals and five assists, earning him USL-1 Team of the Week honors four times. In 2006 Hayes appeared 27 times for the Silverbacks, scoring twice and adding four assists. Hayes featured 28 times for the Silverbacks in 2005, providing three goals and four assists, earning USL-1 Team of the Week honors twice. In 2004 Hayes made 26 appearances for the Richmond Kickers, where he also played the 2002 season, before moving to the Rochester Raging Rhinos for the 2003 season. Hayes played with the Milwaukee Rampage in 2001 after a three-year stint in MLS, with Chicago in 2001, and DC United. He was drafted out of Wingate University by United in the third round (28th overall) of the 1999 MLS SuperDraft. Kandji, 23, also signed a three-year extension, keeping the midfielder in the fold through 2010. Kandji made his professional debut on August 4 against Charleston. In 12 appearances he netted two goals, and was once named to the USL-1 Team of the Week. Kandji is a product of the Silverbacks U23 PDL side. McIntosh’s contract extension will keep him with the club through the 2009 season. Last season was the 24-year-old goalkeeper’s first with the Silverbacks and second as a professional. He won the starting spot midway through the season, making a total of 23 appearances with a goal against average of 0.913 in all competitions with nine clean sheets. McIntosh began his professional career in MLS with D.C. United, where he featured in seven reserve games. Hudson, Liendo released, Smith signs with Wilmington, Millwood on the market The Silverbacks parted ways with defender Alvin Hudson, defender Luis Liendo, midfielder Josh Smith, and forward Machel Millwood. Hudson and Liendo were released. Smith, who missed all of 2007 due to injury, was not resigned by the Silverbacks and signed with USL-2 Wilmington Hammerheads. Millwood opted not to re-sign with the club and is pursuing other options. Hudson made nine appearances for the Silverbacks in 2007, his only season with the club. He played for the Minnesota Thunder in 2003 and the Milwaukee Rampage in 2002, and was a member of the Canadian Under-20 and Under-17 National teams. Liendo featured 27 times for the Silverbacks in his only season with the club, producing three assists. He joined the Silverbacks from Serie C side Novara Calcio, where he spent three of his six seasons in Serie C. Capped 13 times for the Bolivian National Team, he played for Bolivar and The Strongest in the Bolivian First Division from 1998-2001. He began his professional career in Argentina in 1996 in the Boca Junior system. Smith did not feature for the Silverback in 2007 due to a torn ACL. In 2006 he appeared 25 times, scoring twice and adding one assist, and was named to the USL Team of the Week twice. Smith made his professional debut for the Charleston Battery in 2004, and appeared 32 times in two seasons with the Battery. Smith signed with the USL-2 Wilmington Hammerheads for the 2008 season. Millwood joined the Silverbacks midway through the 2005 season, making
a total of 49 appearances for the club. In 2006 he netted a team-best
six goals in 21 appearances. In 2005 he featured 10 times. Millwood came
to Atlanta from the Syracuse Salty Dogs, where he played in 45 games in
the 2003 and 2004 seasons, tallying 12 goals and six assists. Silverbacks Sign Local Standout The Atlanta Silverbacks have signed Justin Moore, a Lilburn, Ga. native and former U-16 U.S. National Team member will for the 2007 season. Moore, 6-0, 175, comes to the Silverbacks after spending one season with FC Dallas in the MLS. “I’ve watched Justin develop as a soccer player since the first time I met him when he was four years old, up through his time at Clemson and FC Dallas. He’s a very composed and knowledgeable player; I look forward to working with him and hopefully he’ll be able to make an immediate impact,” said Head Coach Jason Smith. The 23-year-old Moore began his professional soccer career in 2006 after being selected in the second round, 15th overall, in the MLS SuperDraft by FC Dallas. Moore played in two games for FC Dallas, recording 159 minutes during the 2006 season. Prior to being drafted, Moore spent four seasons in the starting line-up at Clemson University (2002-2005). During his time with the Tigers, Moore was named to the NCAA All-Tournament Team (2005), the All-ACC second-team (2004), and the ACC Honor Roll (2004). In addition to playing for the U-16 U.S. National Team, Moore went on to become a member of the U-18 and U-20 National Team pools. A graduate of soccer powerhouse Parkview High School in Lilburn, Moore led the Panthers to the Georgia state championship match in 2000 and 2001; his team took home the title in 2001. He was named the 2002 Georgia Player of the Year in addition to being named to the All-County and All-State teams. “Returning home and playing in Atlanta gives me a great opportunity
all around. I’ll be able to continue to develop my skills while
playing in front of friends and family. I’m looking forward to working
with the great team Coach Smith has put together and working towards winning
a championship,” offered Moore. Marshall Leonard’s Season Over Georgia native Marshall Leonard saw his fifth professional season in Major League Soccer come to an end when he suffered a torn Achilles tendon in his left leg on April 24. He was officially played on the league’s season-ending injury list on May 24. Marshall, who was a high school All-America at Shaw High School, also earned collegiate All-America honors at the University of Virginia before being selected in the fourth round of the 2002 MLS SuperDraft by the New England Revolution. Last season he was a regular starter for the Revs on the left side of
midfield, and scored his first MLS career goal last year against D.C.
United. By placing Leonard on the season-ending injury list, the Revolution is
now allowed to sign another player to fill his spot on the 18-player senior
roster. Georgia Perimeter Wins National JUCO Title It was a heart-and-soul effort for the Georgia Perimeter
College men’s soccer team that shocked five-time champion Yavapai
College of Arizona, 3-1, to capture the National Junior College Athletic
Association Division I men’s soccer national championship in Tyler,
Texas. Ayure put the game away for the Jaguars with a header off
a kick from all-tournament selection Jamarr Miller for
two-point advantage, 3-1, with one minute remaining to end the first half.
Georgia Perimeter held the lead, with neither team scoring in the second
half, to claim the championship. Goalkeeper Aaron Ingham
recorded seven saves in the game for the Jaguars. Cardoso, the tournament's most valuable player, was also named to the
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