North Carolina

Lipscomb Hires Davidson Assistant (02/15/12)

Gunn Leaves Charlotte For Stanford (12/21/11)

UNC Tar Heels Are National Champs! (12/13/11)

Stanford Beats Duke For First Women’s Soccer Title (12/13/11)

Mancino Goal Leads Samford To SoCon Title (11/09/11)

Late Goal Sinks RailHawks in Semifinal’s First Leg (10/10/11)

UNC’s Billy Schuler Named National POW (09/07/11)

Dynmo Game With U.S. U-17s Cancelled (05/07/11)

Somoano Replaces Bolowich At UNC (05/04/11)

Dynamo Host U.S. U-17 Men (05/04/11)

Five Deacons In Starting Lineups (03/23/11)

Twenty Tar Heels On MLS Rosters (03/23/11)

Watts Living His Dream at WFU (03/23/11)

Top Field Set For Manchester Cup (03/23/11)

RailHawks To Host U.S. National Teams (03/23/11)

Anson Dorrance Receives NSCAA’s Highest Honor (02/24/11)

RailHawks Down To Last Game (10/27/10)

Wood Recovers, Returns To Tar Heels (09/30/10)

UNC, Dorrance Get Win #700 (09/08/10)

RailHawks Win On Last-Second Goal (05/27/10)

UNC’s Whitney Engen is ACC Women’s Soccer Scholar-Athlete of the Year (02/24/10)

Seven Tar Heels Drafted By WPS (01/21/10)

DAVIDSON, N.C. – Following three seasons as a men’s soccer recruiting coordinator and coach for Davidson College, Kevin O’Brien has been named the head women’s soccer coach at Lipscomb University in Nashville, Tenn.

O’Brien is the third women’s coach of the NCAA Division I era at Lipscomb. The Bison compete in the Atlantic Sun.

During O'Brien's three-year tenure at Davidson, the Wildcats cracked the Top 25, defeated four nationally ranked teams and signed three top-150 recruits.

“I can’t thank the administration and (head coach) Matt Spear enough for the opportunity to impact the program at Davidson, “ said O’Brien. “My relationships with the players and staff will be longstanding, and I will carry many great memories from my time here.”

Davidson defeated two nationally ranked teams in the same season twice in his three seasons. In 2009, #25 South Carolina and #6 Duke fell by 4-1 scores, and in 2011, #19 Denver and eventual NCAA National Champion, #2 North Carolina both suffered defeats to Davidson. A strong start in 2009 pushed Davidson into the Soccer America Top 25 in 2009, and the ‘Cats received top-25 votes in 2010. Serving as the program’s recruiting point-person, O’Brien helped assemble a strong incoming class for the 2011 season that included three College Soccer News Top-150 recruits, with one ranking in the Top 50 nationally.

“Kevin has been a wonderful contributor to Davidson,” said Spear. “We thank him and we wish him the very best. He’s ready for this next transition, and it makes me happy when good things happen to good people.”

Just two weeks after leading the Charlotte 49ers to the College Cup championship game, men’s coach Jeremy Gunn has resigned in order to accept the head coaching position at Stanford.

Gunn leaves Charlotte after five seasons at the helm of the 49ers men's soccer program. Gunn steps down after leading the 49ers to 64 wins, a College Cup Finals appearance, an Atlantic 10 regular-season title and two NCAA Tournament appearances in his tenure as head coach.

"The Chancellor and I made a competitive, substantial offer to Jeremy to try to keep him as our coach," said Director of Athletics Judy Rose. "We are disappointed in Jeremy's decision but understand the appeal of Stanford and wish him well."

In his five seasons, Gunn guided the 49ers to a 64-26-14 record. The 49ers won at least 11 games in each of his five seasons including 16 games this season. The 49ers have been nationally-ranked in each of the last four seasons including finishing a school-record #2 in the final NSCAA Coaches Poll this season.

"I want to thank everybody involved at Charlotte, including the staff, the administration and the players for the incredible five years that I've been able to enjoy here," Gunn said. "The support from the university has been a major factor in the wonderful success we've had and the incredible endeavors of the fine student-athletes that I've had the pleasure and privilege to coach here."

In 2007, Charlotte won 12 games and reached the Atlantic 10 Tournament Championship game in his Gunn's first season with the 49ers. In 2008, the 49ers won 12 games and captured three regular-season tournament titles.

In 2009, Gunn guided the 49ers to their first appearance in the NCAA Tournament since 1997. Charlotte won 11 games including ending #3 Wake Forest's nation's best 46-game unbeaten streak against non-conference opponents. In 2010, Charlotte won 13 games and captured the program's first-ever Atlantic 10 regular-season title.

Then, in 2011, Charlotte reached the College Cup for the second time in school history and advanced to the College Cup finals for the first time. The 49ers won 16 games which is tied for the second most wins in the program's history.

"I am truly honored to accept the position as the new head men's soccer coach at Stanford University," said Gunn. "I am excited to begin a new era of Stanford men's soccer, and am thrilled to be given the opportunity to become a part of one of the most prestigious universities in the world.”

HOOVER, Ala. -- Ben Speas lofted a 25-yard shot over goalkeeper Klay Davis midway through the second half to give North Carolina a 1-0 victory against Charlotte in the NCAA men’s championship game.

The Tar Heels (22-2-2) earned their first men’s soccer title in 10 years. They lost in the semifinals each of the previous two seasons and fell in the final in 2008.

UNC reached the title game by beating UCLA in a penalty kick shootout in the national semifinals after playing the Bruins to a 2-2 draw. In the game the Tar Heels twice rallied from one-goal deficits.

Charlotte, unseeded in the tournament, advanced to its first championship final by winning as 4-1 shootout over second-seeded Creighton in the other semifinal game. That game had ended in a 0-0 draw.

Speas, who had an assist in North Carolina’s semifinal victory against UCLA, worked the ball toward the middle of the field just outside the Charlotte box and hit a left-footer that barely cleared the outstretched arm of Davis.

Speas, who played for 2010 NCAA champion Akron University, transferred to Chapel Hill for his senior season.

The unseeded 49ers (17-5-3) outshot North Carolina 14-3 in the second half, including a flurry of four shots during a quick burst with about four minutes l

KENNESAW, Ga. -- After all the wins, after all the consecutive undefeated regular seasons, Stanford finally got the one victory that had eluded it for three years: a win in the national championship game.

Capping one of the best three-year runs in women’s soccer history, Stanford defeated Duke (22-4-1) 1-0 on Sunday before 9,241 for its first national championship in Division I women’s soccer. It capped an undefeated season for Stanford (25-0-1), which had made it to the two previous College Cup finals and lost.

The Cardinals reached the championship game with a 3-0 victory over Florida State, while Duke knocked off Wake Forest (18-4-4), 4-1, in an All-ACC semifinal. Sophomore Molly Pathman led the Blue Devils with a pair of goals.
As the celebration ended on the field, Stanford coach Paul Ratcliffe gathered his team for one final time. The previous two years, he had watched as the other team celebrated. The team circled around the Ratcliffe and the national championship trophy.

Stanford had won 101 national championships in its history, but never one in women’s soccer. “Stanford has a tradition of excellence in athletics and academics,” Ratcliffe said. “We want to keep that going on the soccer stage.”
That’s what Ratcliffe told his players to remember about Sunday. “I told them they are going to go down in history as the first team to ever win a national championship for women’s soccer at Stanford.”

The players broke into the loudest cheer of their prolonged on-field celebration. It was a celebration that had been a long time coming.

For three years Stanford had been nearly unbeatable. Three years they never lost a regular season game. The four seniors -- Camille Levin, Teresa Noyola, Lindsay Taylor and Kristy Zurmuhlen -- never lost a home game and advanced to the College Cup four times.

After losing in the semifinal game three years ago, they lost tough 1-0 games in the national finals each of the past two years.

So it was only fitting that two of the seniors, Levin and Noyola, would combine for Stanford’s only goal in a national championship game -- and the game winner.

The goal epitomized Stanford’s perseverance: Levin got the ball on the right side of the box, saw Noyola breaking toward the back post and tried to cross the ball. The attempt was blocked, Levin fell to the ground and the ball trickled toward the end line. Levin got up, scrambled to the ball and delivered a perfect cross to Noyola, who was alone for an easy header into the back of the net.
The goal was a bad omen for Duke. Stanford has not lost in more than five years when they score a goal, posting a record of 123-0-5 that dates to 2006. They also have not given up a lead in 147 games.

A team that had to deal with the bitter disappointment of coming so close twice was not about to relinquish the lead. And those disappointments made Sunday’s victory that much better, Noyola said.

“To get over those two heartbreaks and keep our nose to the grindstone and be able to come back -- that is something special,” Noyola said.

Ratcliffe understood what his seniors had gone through. During that postgame celebration, he sought out Levin, the team’s sparkplug who was relentless in her play during the College Cup. “I had a private word with her and I said it seems that much sweeter to finally do it in her senior year because we really had to earn this.” he said.

“This win caps off four tremendous years at Stanford. They showed such great character to have all those setbacks and then come back and fight through and finally achieve our ultimate goal of winning a national championship.”

The Stanford players were in no hurry to leave the field. They jumped into the stands to hug family and friends. They dove into the pile of confetti that had showered them and made confetti angels. They posed with the national championship trophy.

Ratcliffe, joined by his wife and two young daughters, watched it all. “Now the pressure is on,” he said later. “We have to keep this rolling.”

GREENSBORO, N.C. - The Samford University soccer team advanced to the NCAA Tournament for the third time in seven seasons Sunday as the top-seeded Bulldogs earned a thrilling 1-0 victory against the College of Charleston Cougars in the championship match of the 2011 Southern Conference Tournament.

"This was a huge win for us today and I am so proud of our players," said Samford head coach Todd Yelton. "I also want to thank the volleyball team for sticking around in Greensboro and cheering on our team. They were the 12th man for us and I think it really lifted our spirits throughout the match. This is a special team and I'm just glad that we get to represent Samford University in the NCAA Tournament."

Junior Adrianne Mancino scored the game-winning goal in the 88th minute to secure the Bulldogs' win and Samford's first SoCon Tournament title. The score was Mancino's third of the 2011 campaign.

With the victory, Samford (14-5-2) extended its winning streak to a school-record 10 straight matches. The Bulldogs also increased their school-record undefeated streak to 14-consecutive contests. Samford has not been defeated since a hard-fought 2-0 setback at Vanderbilt on Sept. 18.

"Anytime you go 14 matches without a loss, it is really something special," Yelton said. "We've won a lot of tight games throughout the stretch and today was no different. I'm so proud of our players for how resilient and hard-working they have been this season."

The Bulldogs advanced to the 2011 NCAA Tournament, which begins Friday at sites around the country. The selection show will air Monday at 3:30 p.m. (CDT) on NCAA.com.

Mancino's blast from 25 yards out with less than three minutes remaining in regulation proved to be the winning tally as No. 1-seed Samford defeated No. 3 College of Charleston (13-8-1), 1-0, in Sunday's championship match held at the UNCG Soccer Stadium.

On the decisive score, Mancino collected the ball and dribbled into space before launching her shot just above the outstretched arms of Charleston goalkeeper Cricket Wise at the 87:29 mark. The goal spoiled an exceptional effort by Wise who recorded five saves and kept the Bulldogs at bay for much of the match.

"On Mancino's goal, you could sort of see it developing, especially from our vantage point where our bench was located," said Yelton. "She found an opening in the defense and struck the ball well. She's a special player and even as a defender, she has the ability to find the back of the net. I told her earlier that if she had a chance to charge to goal then she should do it, and she really made a huge play for us."

Samford goalkeeper Alyssa Whitehead notched her eighth shutout of the season, and second of the weekend, while corralling four shots. The clean sheet was the 34th of Whitehead's career, moving her into a tie with UNCG's Kelsey Kearney for the second-most in conference history and the most among active players.

The Bulldogs' Shanika Thomas was named the Most Outstanding Player of the SoCon Tournament, while Samford's Mancino, Sarah Wilkinson and Whitehead were also named to the all-tournament team.

All-Tournament Team Alyssa Althoff, Furman Caitlin Shelton, Furman Katie Merson, Georgia Southern Sara Oland, Georgia Southern Hope Atkinson, College of Charleston Hannah Gmerek, College of Charleston Sarah Schaidle, College of Charleston Adrianne Mancino, Samford Shanika Thomas, Samford Alyssa Whitehead, Samford Sarah Wilkinson, Samford
Most Outstanding Player - Shanika Thomas, Samford

BLAINE, Minn. – Like their last trip to the National Sports Center, the Carolina RailHawks were moments away from a scoreless draw only to see Minnesota score in the dying moments and deal them a heartbreaking defeat.

Minnesota’s Andrei Gotsmanov stole a goal in the 90th minute Saturday night to hand the RailHawks a 1-0 loss in the first leg of their NASL Semifinal series. They’ll meet in the return leg next Saturday at WakeMed Soccer Park, where the RailHawks will need to win by two goals in order to win the series.

“I’m proud of the performance tonight. We did really well and dominated large parts of the game,” said RailHawks coach Martin Rennie. “It’s so disappointing to lose a goal at the end like that. But it’s 1-0 at halftime. We’re looking forward to taking the series back to WakeMed, and playing in front of our fans and having a chance to move on to the final.”

Gotsmanov’s goal came out of nowhere. The ball came in from the left side and the RailHawks won the first ball, but they were unable to clear it away. It fell to Gotsmanov, and with the sliver of space he had, he took a clever poke at the ball, sending it looping toward the far post, deftly over the outstretched arm of Carolina goalkeeper Brad Knighton.

On July 9, the last time the RailHawks visited the Stars, Minnesota forward Amani Walker poked the ball into the goal in stoppage time to give the RailHawks a 1-0 loss.

As is typically the case when the RailHawks and Stars meet, goals were not easy to come by, a testament to superlative efforts from both teams’ goalkeepers. Knighton had six saves, while Minnesota counterpart Joe Warren finished with seven.

Warren made two saves in the second half whose importance only intensified with the final result.

In the 67th minute, Carolina forward Pablo Campos dispossessed Minnesota defender Kyle Altman near midfield and played Jonny Steele into space. Steele broke in one-on-one with Warren, who charged off his line and turned away Steele’s try at goal.

In the 80th minute, Knighton’s punt got a boost from a gust of wind. When it came down, Matt Watson collected it behind the Minnesota defense and found himself one-on-one with Warren. But again, Warren flew off his line, eliminated the angle and kicked away Watson’s shot.

The RailHawks attacked with a flurry in the first half. In the 20th minute, Steele tried to curl in a shot from 18 yards, but it was just high.

In the 29th minute, Etienne Barbara’s cross found its way to Campos in front of the goal. Warren somehow got a hand on Campos’ point-blank try to keep the match scoreless.

Two minutes later, Barbara’s work on the right flank again nearly led to a goal. Barbara spotted Floyd Franks unmarked at the edge of the six-yard box, but Franks’ header went high.

Minnesota had its chances in the first half, too. In the fourth minute, Altman redirected Luke Mullholland’s free kick off the crossbar. In the 12th minute, Cristiano Dias’ header went high. In the 17th minute, Lucas Rodrigues’ one-time effort from 10-yards went high.

In the 75th minute, Knighton got low on Brian Cvilikas' header from point-blank range to keep the match scoreless.

If the RailHawks are going to return to the championship final for a second straight season, they’ll have to beat Minnesota next weekend at WakeMed Soccer Park by two goals in order to win the aggregate goal series. A tall order, considering the RailHawks are now 0-2-3 against the Stars in 2011. However, en route to last season’s championship, they came back from Minnesota in the quarterfinals needing a win to advance. Despite an 0-1-2 record against the Stars prior to the return leg in 2010, the RailHawks got the job done with a 4-0 victory.

MINNESOTA 1, CAROLINA 0

LINEUPS
CAR: GK Brad Knighton, D Kupono Low (c), D Devon McKenney, D Gareth Evans, D Tyler Lassiter, M Floyd Franks, M Tony McManus, M Matt Watson, M Jonny Steele, F Pablo Campos, F Etienne Barbara
MIN: GK Joe Warren, D Just Davis, D Cristiano Dias, D Kyle Altman, D Brian Kallman, M Lucas Rodriguez, M Andrei Gotsmanov, M Neil Hlavaty, F Jeff Cosgriff (Simone Bracalello, 64), F Luke Mulholland (Anthony Hamilton, 85), F Brian Cvilikas

SCORING SUMMARY
MIN: Andrei Gotsmanov, 90

CAUTIONS
CAR: Devon McKenney, 45; Pablo Campos 67; Tony McManus, 76
MIN: Brian Cvilikas, 38; Andrei Gotsman, 56; Luke Mulholland, 76

SHOTS
CAR: 14
MIN: 12

FOULS
CAR: 18
MIN: 14

Attendance: 2,512

UNC junior forward Billy Schuler and Krista Lopez, a senior forward at Oklahoma State, have been named the NSCAA Players of the Week.

Schuler led the Tar Heels to two victories last week, including a 2-1 win over top-ranked Louisville in which he scored the game-wining goal. Schuler found the back of the net in the 74th minute for the tie-breaking goal against the Cardinals on Sunday.

Two days earlier on Friday, Schuler had scored a pair of goals to key a 5-1 win over Oregon State. Schuler has scored in all three games this season, all three of which have been game winners for UNC. Schuler is tied for the ACC lead with four goals on the year and is averaging 1.33 per contest.

The Allentown, N.J., native played just two games in 2010 and has made an immediate impact for the Tar Heels since returning from injury.

Lopez set an OSU record Sunday when she recorded four goals against Arkansas-Little Rock to become the first Cowgirl in history to score four goals in a single game. Lopez broke the previous mark of three, which she held with nine other players.

Lopez notched a hat trick in the opening half with three goals, then added her record-setting fourth just over five minutes into the second half. Lopez also set an OSU single-game record by collecting eight points. Lopez took seven shots in the match, with five of those on goal.

The senior is the first Big 12 player to have four goals in a game since Nikki Marshall had four for Colorado on Oct. 2, 2009. With the four goals, Lopez vaulted to the top of the Big 12 in goals this season with five.

Due to unforeseen circumstances the Carolina Dynamo Exhibition Match vs. The U.S. Soccer U-17 Men's National Team has been canceled. Anyone who has purchased tickets for the event will either have the opportunity to trade in tickets for any other 2011 Carolina Dynamo game or will be issued a full refund.

“Certainly we are disappointed to hear of the U-17 MNT trip to NC has been canceled at least for the time being, that certainly doesn't mean the opportunity wont arise again in the future,” said Dynamo GM Scott Zapko.

The Dynamo will open the 2011 season at home on Saturday, May 14th vs the West Virginia Chaos. All games kick off at 7:00 PM.

The Dynamo also announced the signing of additional players for the 2011 USL Premier Development League season.

Those include three players from Duke, five players from High Point University, five from UNC Greensboro, and two from South Carolina.

The Dynamo returns both Karo & Fejiro Okiomah for their third season from High Point University, along with newcomers, Kendall Lawson, Adam Sewell. Michael Chesler returns having played with the Dynamo two season ago.

The three players from Duke include ACC Defender of the Year, Andrew Wenger and current U.S. U-20 Men's National Team Member, Sebastien Ilbegha, along with Chris Tweed-Kent.

Kris Byrd and Peyton Ford both return from UNC Greensboro, along with Hakan Ilhan, Will Mack & Jonathan Leonard. Alex Long and Kevin Stam return for a second season for the Dynamo from the South Carolina Gamecocks.

University of North Carolina Athletic Director Dick Baddour has announced the hiring of Carlos Somoano as the fifth head coach in men’s soccer program history.

Somoano, the 2011 National Soccer Coaches Association of America South Region Assistant Coach of the Year, has served as the top assistant at North Carolina for the last nine seasons helping lead the Tar Heels to eight NCAA Tournament appearances, including three straight NCAA College Cup showings.

"We are thrilled to hire a coach of Carlos' pedigree to lead our men's soccer program," Baddour said. "Carlos has worked alongside Elmar Bolowich for the last nine years and has been an integral part of building this program into one of the nation's best. He has consistently proven to be one of the sport's finest recruiters as well as a great teacher of the game and I have the utmost confidence in his ability to continue the tradition of excellence that we have seen from our men's soccer program."

“It is an honor to be able to represent the University of North Carolina and its’ tradition of excellence. I want to thank Mr. Dick Baddour for offering me the opportunity to lead the men’s soccer program,” Somoano said. “When I came to Carolina nine years ago I was immediately welcomed into the Carolina family and I am excited that I will continue to be a part of this great institution.”

“I would also like to thank Elmar Bolowich for his guidance and trust. He gave me the opportunity to be a Tar Heel and He he was a great mentor to me,” Somoano said.

While at Carolina, Somoano (pronounced Some-WAH-no) has helped recruit six top 10 recruiting classes and has watched over one of the most successful periods in school history. The Tar Heels have advanced to three consecutive NCAA College Cups, including the 2008 National Championship game, and have amassed a 118-52-27 record under Somoano’s watch.

Somoano has helped lead the Tar Heels to nine All-America honors and 41 All-Atlantic Coast Conference honors, including the 2003 ACC Rookie of the Year, Jamie Watson. Twelve different Tar Heels have been named to the All-ACC Academic Team for their work in the classroom and on the field, including 2010 ACC Men’s Soccer Academic Athlete of the Year Kirk Urso.

Somoano has also played a key part in developing the Tar Heels into professional soccer players helping lead 20 former players into Major League Soccer. David Stokes, Dax McCarty, Michael Harrington, Zach Loyd, Jalil Anibaba and Eddie Ababio have all been MLS SuperDraft selections under the tutelage of Somoano.

Three former Tar Heels who played under Somoano have represented the United States in the past year as McCarty, Logan Pause and Loyd have all been called upon to represent their country.

Somoano has been named a Top 20 Assistant Coach by College Soccer News six times in his career as well as the NSCAA South Region Assistant Coach of the Year in 2010.

In addition to his work with the Tar Heels, Somoano has coached 16-to-18-year old boys with Raleigh's Capital Area Soccer League since 2002. He has guided three different teams within this age group to a total of five straight state titles and three Disney Soccer Showcase championships.

Somoano also served as the United States Youth Soccer Region III Staff Coach in 2004, 2006 and 2007 and was responsible for selecting and coaching ODP state team players. He also served in a similar position in Region I from 1999-2002.

Additionally, Somoano serves as a scout for the U.S. Soccer Development Academy. In 2009, Somoano was the head coach for the U-16 CASL Chelsea Academy, where he led his team to the National Championship week. He was named the 2009 US Soccer U-15/16 Development Academy Southern Conference and National Coach of the Year.

Somoano came to Carolina from Virginia Commonwealth University, where he was an assistant coach for six seasons. Prior to his stint in Richmond, he was an assistant coach at Eckerd College from 1992-95.

Somoano received a Bachelor of Science in biology (concentration in pre-medicine) from Eckerd College in 1992. He then earned a Master's of Sport Management degree from the University of Richmond in August of 2000. Somoano earned four letters in soccer at Eckerd College and was a two-year team captain.

Somoano is married to the former Martina Nedelkova, and the couple has two daughters and a son: Sofia Kathleen, born May 6, 2006, Gabriela Martina, born Dec. 24, 2007, and Alexander Luis, born April 24, 2011.

The USL Carolina Dynamo will host the U.S. Soccer Under-17 Men’s National Team on Wednesday, May 11 at Macpherson Stadium at Bryan Park. The game, a preseason contest for the Premier Development League Dynamo, kicks off at

The U.S. U-17s, based at IMG Academy in Bradenton, FL, is preparing to compete in the 2011 FIFA Under-17 Men’s World Cup later this year. The young Americans qualified for the world championship in March by winning the CONCACAF U-17 regional championship.

The Dynamo rtecently announced the first list of collegiate players who will play for the team this summer. Five play for the UNC Tar Heels, while three are Wake Forest Demon Deacons.

The Carolina players including former High Point Wesleyan Academy standout Matt Rose, who returns from last year, along with former Greensboro Page HS All-America Rovvie Lovejoy. Joining Rose and Lovejoy from Chapel Hill are goalkeeper Scott Goodwin, along with Alex Waters and Martin Murphy.

Wake Forst midfielder Luciano Delbono returns from last season and will be joined by forward Andy Lubahn and Sam Redmond, both with PDL experience.

WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. – Five Demon Deacons earned starts on the opening weekend of the MLS season. Here’s a look at all of the Wake Forest players in the MLS and how they did.

Forward Cody Arnoux did not dress for Real Salt Lake’s two matches last week. RSL defeated Saprissa (Costa Rica) 2-0 in the first leg of the semifinals of the CONCACAF Champions League and then topped the San Jose Earthquakes 1-0 in its MLS opener.

Midfielder Corben Bone did not dress in the Chicago Fire’s 1-1 draw with FC Dallas.

Midfielder Brian Carroll started and played the full 90 minutes for the Philadelphia Union in its 1-0 win over the Houston Dynamo.

Midfielder Sam Cronin started and played the full 90 minutes for San Jose as the Earthquakes fell 1-0 to Real Salt Lake.

Midfielder Austin da Luz did not dress for the New York Red Bulls in their 1-0 win over Seattle.

Goalkeeper Will Hesmer played the full 90 minutes for the Columbus Crew, allowing three goals, two of them by national team forward Charlie Davies, in a 3-1 loss to DC United. Hesmer made five saves in the game.

Defender Stephen Keel did not dress for the New York Red Bulls in their 1-0 win over Seattle.

Midfielder Michael Lahoud was an unused substitute in Chivas USA’s 3-2 loss to Kansas City.

Defender Ike Opara was an unused substitute for San Jose as the Earthquakes fell 1-0 to Real Salt Lake.

Midfielder Pat Phelan played the full 90 minutes for New England, as the Revolution drew 1-1 with the LA Galaxy.

Defender James Riley played the full 90 minutes for Seattle and was credited with a save in the Sounders’ 1-0 loss to the New York Red Bulls.

Forward Zach Schilawski started for New England and played 73 minutes, recording two shots, as the Revolution drew 1-1 with the LA Galaxy.

Forward Scott Sealy did not dress for the San Jose Earthquakes in their 1-0 loss to Real Salt Lake.

Midfielder Wells Thompson subbed in for the final two minutes of the Colorado Rapids’ 3-1 win over the expansion Portland Timbers.

CHAPEL HILL, N.C. - As the 2011 Major League Soccer season kicked off Tuesday with the First Kick matchup between the Seattle Sounders and LA Galaxy the North Carolina men's soccer program was well represented with 20 former players on MLS rosters to open the year. A pair of Tar Heels will serve as team captains for their respective squads as Logan Pause was named captain of the Chicago Fire and one of the newest members of D.C. United, Dax McCarty, was selected team captain.

McCarty has a familiar face on the sideline in the country's capital, as former Tar Heel Chad Ashton is one of the assistant coaches for D.C. United.

Pause, who saw time with the U.S. Men's National Team at the beginning of the year, will have the opportunity to provide guidance to a rookie with the Chicago Fire as 2011 MLS SuperDraft First Round pick Jalil Anibaba will be a member of the Fire as well.

Five other members of the 2010 Carolina soccer team will be part of MLS squad lists in 2011 as fellow defender and first round pick Eddie Ababio agreed to terms with Colorado Rapids. Second round draft picks Stephen McCarthy (New England Revolution) and Michael Farfan (Philadelphia Union) went into the draft with signed contracts, while the LA Galaxy in the supplemental draft selected Dustin McCarty. Junior Alex Dixon signed a homegrown deal with Houston Dynamo who the Humble, Texas, native starred for during his academy days.

Dixon will have the help of several former Tar Heels in Houston as the club boasts five former Tar Heels on its squad. Veterans Corey Ashe and Eddie Robinson along with relative newcomers Tyler Deric and Jordan Graye are part of the Dynamo roster.

Other Tar Heels in MLS include: Zach Loyd (FC Dallas/USMNT), Gregg Berhalter (LA Galaxy), Sheanon Williams (Philadelphia Union), Chris Leitch (San Jose Earthquakes) and Michael Harrington (Sporting KC). In addition to Ashton manning a sideline, former Tar Heels Marco Feruzzi (FC Dallas) and Kerry Zavagnin (Sporting KC) are also MLS assistant coaches, while Gregg Berhalter will serve in a player-coach role in 2011.

Tar Heels in MLS 2011
Chicago Fire
Logan Pause - Captain
Jalil Anibaba

Colorado Rapids
Eddie Ababio

D.C. United
Dax McCarty - Captain
Chad Ashton - Assistant Coach

FC Dallas
Zach Loyd
Marco Feruzzi - Assistant Coach

Houston Dynamo
Corey Ashe
Tyler Deric
Alex Dixon
Jordan Graye
Eddie Robinson

LA Galaxy
Gregg Berhalter
Dustin McCarty

New England Revolution
Stephen McCarthy

Philadelphia Union
Michael Farfan
Sheanon Williams

San Jose Earthquakes
Chris Leitch

Sporting KC
Michael Harrington
Kerry Zavagnin - Assistant Coach

Both the U.S. men’s and women’s national teams are scheduled to train at Cary’s WakeMed Soccer Park prior to upcoming international games. The agreement was struck with the Carolina RailHawks, who are based at the Cary facility.

Coach Bob Bradley’s Men’s National Team will use the facility prior to pair of international friendlies against Argentina and Paraguay on March 26 and March 29, respectively.

The U.S. Women’s National Team will train there before a pair of games against Japan, the #5 ranked women’s team in the world rankings. The first of those two games will be played May 14 at Columbus Crew Stadium in Columbus, OH, and the second will be played on May 18 at WakeMed Park.

The U.S. women have previously played four times in Cary, the most recent coming in 2008 in a 3-2 win over Australia on a dramatic 91st-minute goal by Carli Lloyd.

“Hosting the U.S. Men’s National Team and U.S. Women’s National team here in the Triangle within a two-month span shows the high regard U.S. Soccer has for the home of the RailHawks, WakeMed Soccer Park,” said RailHawks’ President Curt Johnson.

Bradley has called 24 players into training camp for the two upcoming games, and has selected a blend of veterans, 16 of whom were on the 2010 World Cup team, and several young players.

Among the youngsters are three Americans who were raised in Europe, including 20-year-old defender Timothy Chandler, who has been sensational for German club Nuremberg since joining its first team. Also getting their first callups are MSV Duisburg goalkeeper David Yelldell and Norwich City defender Zak Whitbread.

Ever since Jared Watts could remember, Wake Forest was his destination of choice.

Whether it was watching hometown hero Justin Moose play for the Demon Deacons or honing his skills at the regional and national levels of youth soccer, the opportunity to play for WFU motivated Watts.

Now Watts wants to help the Demon Deacons get back to the top of soccer’s pecking order.

One year after the program suffered its first losing season since 1993, Watts is focused on growing his game and fueling a resurgence in Winston-Salem.

“We didn’t have as much success as we wanted last year,” Watts said of Wake Forest’s 8-9-3 finish. “We had a young team. I’m not using that as an excuse, but I feel like we’re still progressing and making good steps in the right direction.”

Watts, a 6-foot-1, 155-pound midfielder/forward, also is working hard to elevate his game. On March 8, Watts received clearance to resume full-contact drills with his teammates. He was sidelined for three weeks after he suffered a second concussion on Feb. 2 — his birthday — in a span of a week and a half.

Watts spent his first few days back after being cleared in Wilmington, N.C. enjoying his spring break, but he said he was eager to return to school to get back to training for the 2011 season.

“He was a mainstay in the center of the park,” Wake Forest coach Jay Vidovich said. “He loves the game, he is competitive, and I am just excited to see him on the field and how he continues to progress.”

Wake Forest’s finish last season snapped a string of four straight trips to the Men’s College Cup. Vidovich, who took over the program before the 1994 season, has had only one season (1997, 10-10) when the team finished at .500. Since then, Vidovich has built one of the nation’s premier soccer programs thanks in part to players like Watts.

Watts, who like Moose (a two-time All-American from 2002-05 at WFU) is from Statesville, NC, enrolled at Wake Forest in 2010. He arrived with extensive international experience thanks to stints with the Under-17 and the U-20 U.S. National Teams.

He played and was captain of the U.S. U-17 team that competed at the FIFA U-17 World Cup in Nigeria. He also was named a NSCAA/adidas Youth All-American in 2008 and ’09.

“When you’re in residency it really helps you get exposed to what your weaknesses are and what you need to work on in your game,” Watts said. “You really don’t have a choice. You get better because of the environment around you, not because of the pressure of what is expected of you.

“That helped me not mature my game, but it helped me become better as a player. Without residency I wouldn’t be same player I am today, but I don’t think residency makes you or breaks you.”

Watts said it was an “honor” to play with the U.S. U-17 team at the end of 2009, and that he still follows the team and the players to see who is coming up.

Despite that high level of experience, Watts admitted he had to transition to college soccer, where he typically competed against older and stronger players in a more physical brand of soccer.

Vidovich said Watts, who started 16 games, held up well to the physical and the psychological “grind” of college soccer, which included training, travel, and schoolwork. He said that “grind” is even more taxing when a team doesn’t get the results it wants.

But Watts didn’t let the first season get him down. He said playing in the residency program with the U.S. National Team helped prepare him for college soccer. He said his biggest challenge was figuring out how college soccer works and finding a way to build chemistry with his teammates

As a holding midfielder, Watts also said he had to adjust to playing in Vidovich’s system. He said he enjoys playing a role on a team that enjoys playing attractive soccer by dictating tempo and controlling possession. He said Vidovich has made his adjustment so much easier by communicating with him and making it easy to move from center back, where he played with the U.S. National Team, to holding midfielder.

Watts believes he will be back at holding midfielder this season, but he will wait to see how the team takes shape in the offseason.

This season, Watts hopes to set the tone in the “preseason.” He said he and his teammates talked about not wasting any opportunities in training to get better. He said the Demon Deacons know they “underperformed” in 2010 and are hungry to reverse their fortunes.

“We don’t like the taste we had in our mouth after last season and we’re working on getting better not taking any games for granted,” Vidovich said. “We have a better focus right now that eventually will help us in the fall.”

Like the team, Watts said he also wants to hone his skills. He said he will try to soak up as much knowledge from Vidovich because he knows so much about the game that it is bound to help him.

“The big thing for me is to take in all his information to make it better for me at my position and to help the team,” Watts said.

Vidovich is confident Watts, who was a member of the All-Atlantic Coast Conference Freshman Team, will do that and more. He has watched Watts at soccer camps and on state and regional teams and knows how much he has grown as a soccer player. He said it was a “no-brainer” to step in and contribute in a big way last season, and he expects even more this season.

“He handled it as well as any 17-year-old in the country,” Vidovich said of Watts’ transition into a key role as a freshman. He is growing into a leadership position and emerging as one of our leaders and to be one of our more inspiring players who will help dictate where the team will be next fall.”

Final plans have been completed for Winthrop University’s 2011 Manchester Cup, which now has a corporate sponsor.

Lowe’s Home Improvement has signed on to be the major sponsor of the Manchester Cup for the next two years. The Manchester Cup will be held Friday, Mar. 25 and Saturday, Mar. 26 at the Manchester Meadows Soccer Complex.

The Lowe’s Manchester Cup has grown into one of the best college soccer showcases in the spring as teams from all over the region come to Rock Hill, SC to face quality competition. The Manchester Cup was originated in 2007 and will once again feature some of the best collegiate teams from the South Region.

There is an addition to the Lowe’s Manchester Cup this season as there will be a women’s session for the first time. The women’s session will be held on Friday, Mar. 25 with games starting at 4 p.m. The session will include two college games followed by two high schools games and ending at night with two college games.

The field for the women will be Winthrop, Belmont Abbey, Gardner-Webb and Appalachian State. The high school matchups will be South Pointe facing Fort Mill and Northwestern squaring off against Rock Hill.

This year’s field of men’s teams includes Winthrop, UNC Wilmington, Old Dominion, South Carolina, North Carolina State, Charlotte, East Tennessee State, College of Charleston, Furman and Kentucky.

ODU, ETSU, South Carolina and College of Charleston were all in the NCAA College Cup this past fall. College of Charleston and ODU both advanced out of the first round while South Carolina had a first round bye and advanced to the Sweet 16.Charlotte finished the 2010 season ranked #16 nationally in the NSCAA poll.

The boy’s high school games will be Rock Hill vs. South Pointe and Northwestern facing Fort Mill.

“The Lowe’s Manchester Cup has continued to grow each of the five years since it started in 2007,” said Winthrop men’s coach Rich Posipanko.

“We feel this year’s field of teams is the best that we’ve ever had. Nine of the 10 teams have played in the NCAA College Cup over the previous two years and have all been nationally or regionally ranked during that same time period. Our goal has always been to bring the best college soccer to the Rock Hill community.”

BALTIMORE, MD. - Anson Dorrance, the women's soccer coach at the University of North Carolina, is the recipient of the National Soccer Coaches Association of America's Honor Award for 2010. Dorrance was presented the award at the Association's annual Awards Banquet, held at the Hilton Baltimore on Friday evening, January 14, in conjunction with the 2011 NSCAA Convention.

Dorrance has achieved unparalleled success at the collegiate level, where he has coached some of the greatest names in the women's game. Mia Hamm, April Heinrichs, Kristine Lilly, Cindy Parlow, Carla Overbeck and Heather O'Reilly are just a few of the outstanding players who have helped Dorrance and the Tar Heels win 20 NCAA national championships, along with one AIAW national title.

His success also extends to the international game. He was the coach of the U.S. Women's National Team that won the inaugural Women's World Cup in 1991, laying a foundation for the success that the United States women continue to enjoy on the world stage.

In addition to being a coach of players, Dorrance also takes great pride in being a coach of coaches. A member of the NSCAA Coaching Academy's Senior National staff, he has instructed countless coaches in the art of coaching soccer, helping elevate the level of coaching, and thereby the level of play, in the United States.

"I've always loved coaching coaches," said Dorrance. "I've always tried to share what has worked for me with my colleagues. That's something that's always been part of my DNA."
Born on April 9,1951, in Bombay, India, Dorrance's family lived throughout the world because of his father's career as an oil executive. He developed his passion for soccer while living in Kenya. While attending law school at North Carolina, he was persuaded by then-men's coach Marvin Allen to succeed him as the Tar Heels coach. He led that team from 1977-88, compiling a 175-65-21 (.708) record. In 1979, he added responsibilities for the newly-formed women's program and within two years had captured his first national championship.

In his 32 years at North Carolina, he has compiled a career record of 715-39-24, a .934 winning percentage. He has earned NSCAA National Coach of the Year honors five times and is the only coach to claim that honor for both men's and women's play. He received the NSCAA's Bill Jeffrey Award, presented to honor long-term service to intercollegiate soccer, in 2006.

The Carolina RailHawks fell to the Puerto Rico Islanders 2-0 in the first leg of the USSF Division 2 championship series. The RailHawks were unable to solve the Islanders defensive puzzle, and goalkeeper Bill Gaudette earned the clean sheet for Puerto Rico.

The RailHawks will return to WakeMed Soccer Park on Saturday, Oct. 30 at 7 p.m., down 2-0 on aggregate. If the RailHawks are up by 2 after 90 minutes on Saturday, the game will head into a 30 minute overtime period, and if necessary, penalty kicks.

After a scoreless first half, Sandy Gbandi put the Islanders on top 1-0 in the 49th minute. Gbandi gained possession of a long throw-in from Marco Velez and fired the ball past Eric Reed. Tom Heinemann nearly evened the score a minute later, but his header deflected off the post and wide.

The Carolina RailHawks opened the home-and-home semifinals of the USSF Division-2 playoffs by dropping a 1-0 decision in Montreal.

No cause for panic. What they would need in the return match at WakeMed Soccer Park in Cary was a 2-0 win to clinch the series.

“I’m just really proud of the players, the way they’ve battled over the two legs,” said RailHawks head coach Martin Rennie. “Montreal is such a tough opponent to play and we’re just so excited to get the RailHawks into their first final.

The game in Cary was scoreless at halftime, which left the RailHawks down 1-0 on aggregate with 45 minutes left to play.

In the 72nd minute Daniel Paladini served in a free kick from the left midfield that created a chaotic flurry. The ball fell to Floyd Franks who field a quick shot that Matt Jordan initially turned away. Matt Watson gained control of the rebound and played a low cross to Rusin, who finished the goal.

With little time left on the clock and the game looking at sudden death overtime, Heinemann slammed the ball into the upper right corner of the goal in the 89th minute.

Game over and the RailHawks advance
.
Interesting to note that this is not Heinemann’s first run at a postseason championship this year. He was a key player for the Charleston Battery in its 2010 USL-2 championship, and was picked up by the RailHawks after the Battery’s season was concluded.

Carolina is likely to take some satisfaction from the win in that it came against the Impact, which are the defending 2009 USL First Division champions. The teams met four times during the regular season, none of which turned out to be what you might call “friendly.”

Carolina and Puerto Rico will meet in the first leg of the Championship Series on Oct. 24 in Bayamon, PR. The RailHawks host the second leg on Oct. 30.

The Islanders were the eighth seeds in postseason play. They played Vancouver to two scoreless games, forcing a 30-minute extra period, which the Islanders won 2-0.

Puerto Rico got out of the first round with a 2-0 win and a 1-0 loss to the Rochester Rhinos, giving them a 2-1 aggregate victory.

The RailHawks opened with a 0-0 draw with NSC Minnesota Stars, but advanced to the semifinals by beating the Stars, 4-0, in the second leg.

When Rachel Wood’s name was called over the loudspeaker prior to the start of North Carolina women’s soccer’s first home game this season, the sophomore center back joined the rest of the UNC starting lineup on Fetzer Field.

To many, her short trip across the familiar terrain was merely a pre-game ritual.

But as Wood took her place among the Tar Heel elite that evening, her return represented a triumph over a yearlong struggle and the end of a journey that brought her back to where she belonged.

She takes 25 pills a day, receives medicine by injection once a week and has received an IV three times this season.

And no one, especially the athlete herself, thought she’d see the day that she returned to form.

After a slow recovery from knee surgery and intense joint pains in the spring of 2009, Wood knew something just wasn’t right.

“I was having problems turning a doorknob and squeezing my toothpaste,” she said. “It was really debilitating.”

A trip to the doctor in her hometown of Laguna Niguel, Calif. proved just how sick she was. That April, Wood was diagnosed with ulcerative colitis, an autoimmune disease that affects the lining of the digestive tract.

She went back to UNC to finish the school year before returning home for the 2009 summer, but that July, she realized she would not be returning to Chapel Hill in the fall.

In and out of the hospital and unable to eat, Wood was bedridden for four months. Though rail-thin after losing 30 pounds from her 6-foot frame, the athlete inside her was aching to come out.

“To not be able to do something athletically was terrible,” Wood said. “To be able to shut your mind down and let your body heal is something that an athlete doesn’t really know how to do.”

Despite being more than 2,000 miles away, Wood remained in the thoughts and hearts of her teammates and coaches back in Chapel Hill during her absence.

Regular correspondence with the fellow players and letters from coach Anson Dorrance, who offered Wood a medical redshirt, kept the dream of returning to the game in the forefront of her mind.

“Her only goal through that whole time was to be able to get back,” Rachel’s mother Cindy Wood said. “Even on her darkest days, hanging on to that dream was what made it possible for her to not just give up.”

The 2009 season was a success for the UNC women’s soccer program, and on Dec. 6, UNC defeated Stanford 1-0 for its 20th NCAA title.

Though not on the field to help her teammates take the crown, Wood felt right there with them during their moment of glory.

“It was really hard to sit there and have to watch it on TV and not be able to be there,” she said. “But I would get e-mails and text messages. I always felt a part of it.”

While continuing to recover during the next six months, Wood wasn’t able to consistently train until June 2010—just six weeks before the soccer preseason.

Though out of commission for more than a year, Wood arrived in Chapel Hill to take part in a fitness test with the rest of the team.

“Honestly, a healthy player fails this test on a regular basis,” Dorrance said. “So I knew right then she was going to have a huge impact for us this fall.”

Though nervous to be returning to the intensity of North Carolina women’s soccer after a year away from the game, Wood was ecstatic to be back in Chapel Hill—she had no expectations of receiving much playing time.

“She couldn’t have timed her return any better....and it bodes incredibly well for our future,” Dorrance said. “She came back not only a better payer, but a better leader and an inspiration.”

After losing all-ACC center back Whitney Engen to the pros last year, there was a large hole on UNC’s roster for a leading defender. A new and improved Wood was the right person to fill the space.

“Just to be able to be back and playing is more than a dream come true,” Wood said. “And then to be able to start and give significant minutes and to be able to contribute—I don’t think anyone could have imagined it.”

In Saturday’s 7-2 victory against Tennessee, the defender’s powerful leg sent two free kicks into the box that UNC drove in for goals. Thanks to an online live stream of the game, Wood’s parents were able to see their daughter play the game she loves for the first time since her return—even from the West Coast.

“What I loved was that I saw her smiling and laughing, and I saw her really enjoying the game,” she said. “I think now, having been sick, she just thinks, ‘I’ve got nothing to lose.”

Because ulcerative colitis is a chronic illness, Wood will live with it for life. A self-proclaimed perfectionist, Wood said the experience of having her dream ripped from her has put everything in perspective.

Knowing she could get sick again at any time, Wood said she’s not hesitating to soak all the experiences in, and she thinks her new found outlook has made her a better player.

“(I learned) to just live in the present moment,” she said. “When I’m given a good day, it feels like a gift. When you have more bad days than good and you get a good day, it’s like, ‘go out and celebrate.”

When a coach picks up his/her 100th coaching win it is usually considered to be a career milestone.

The UNC Tar Heels gave the women’s program, and their head coach, victory number 700 with a 7-2 thumping of the University of Tennessee.

As difficult 700 wins might be to comprehend, the number of losses over the 32-year history of the UNC women’s soccer program, is even more challenging.

The Tar Heels have lost only 36 games in more than three decades. There have been 23 ties.

Seven different players scored, including the top six goalscorers, against the Lady Vols. That’s the way the scoring has gone as UNC has gotten off to a 4-0-1 start this fall.

The Tar Heels have scored 21 goals, with 10 different players finding the back of the net. The Tar Heels have yet to have a player record a two-goal game.

Sophomore Amber Brooks, who has three goals all in different games, scored one against UT. Kealia Ohai, a freshman forward from Draper, Utah, leads the UNC scoring with four goals.

The Tar Heels broke out on top early, scoring three goals in a 10-minute span. By halftime, it was 5-0.

“Honestly, we didn’t work very hard this past week, and as a result, I think the players were incredibly fresh,” said Dorrance. “I think what you saw in the first 15 minutes was just a very fresh forward line, a very fresh midfield.

The 700th win came on alumni weekend for the UNC women’s soccer program. The game with the Vols had been scheduled on that weekend specifically so one of its alums, UT head coach Angela Kelly, could be on hand for the festivities.

No doubt Kelly enjoyed seeing old friends and teammates, but as far as the game went, she’s probably just as soon the Tar Heels would schedule someone else for alumni weekend games.

The #1 ranked Tar Heels opened the season at Texas A&M, site of their 2009 NCAA D-I College Cup national champion, with 3-0 wins over the host Aggies and Michigan State.

The tie was a 2-2 deadlock with #2 ranked Stanford in the Carolina Nike Classic, after which UNC rebounded with a 6-1 win over Missouri.

BAYAMON, PR (Wednesday, May 26, 2010) – The Carolina RailHawks (2-2-2, 8 pts) defeated the Puerto Rico Islanders(2-2-0, 6 pts) 2-1 at Ramon Loubriel Stadium in Bayamon Puerto Rico for the first time in franchise history on Wednesday night.

An early goal by Sallieu Bundu in the 5th minute held the RailHawks on top until Dave Foley drew the score even in the 73rd minute. The RailHawks had a chance to win the game in the 84th minute with a Gregory Richardson penalty that was saved by Islanders keeper Bill Gaudette.

Daniel Paladini scored the game winner in stoppage time with a free kick to give the RailHawks three important points.

“The team showed a lot of character and determination,” said RailHawks head coach Martin Rennie. “They showed great unity and confidence and created some very clear chances. This has been the most exciting game I have been involved in since I started coaching the RailHawks. Both teams were very good and it was great to come away with the win in Puerto Rico”

Next the RailHawks continue their road trip on Sunday, May 30 in Montreal where they face the Impact before continuing on to Portland and Vancouver on June 6 and 9. Their next regular season home game will be on Saturday, June 19 at 7 p.m. when they host Crystal Palace Baltimore. <Carolina Railhawks Website>

North Carolina senior defender Whitney Engen (Rolling Hills Estates, CA) has been named the 2009 Atlantic Coast Conference Women’s Soccer Scholar-Athlete of the Year and heads up the sport’s ACC All-Academic team, as announced by Commissioner John D. Swofford.

All 11 league schools that compete in women’s soccer are represented on this year’s ACC All-Academic Team, which includes four players that were named first-, second- or third-team All-America and both the ACC Defensive Player of the Year (Engen) and the Offensive Player of the Year (Florida State’s Tiffany McCarty).

The 2009 ACC All-Academic Team also includes 11 players that were named first- or second-team All-ACC and six members of the ACC All-Freshman Team. Eighteen members of the All-Academic Team were named Academic All-District by ESPN The Magazine/CoSIDA, and four were named Academic All-America by the NSCAA or ESPN The Magazine/CoSIDA.

Engen, a consensus All-American, earlier received the 2009-10 Honda Award for women’s soccer, designating her as the nation's top collegiate female athlete in that sport. Engen was the center back in North Carolina's unique flat back-three defensive scheme.

She made the transition to defense after starting at forward her first two years at UNC, finishing those two seasons as North Carolina's third-leading scorer with 37 points and 20 points, respectively. She was named the 2009 NCAA Women's College Cup MVP on Defense after helping her team to its third national championship in the past four years.

Seven University of North Carolina women’s soccer players were chosen in the second annual Women’s Professional Soccer Draft held in Philadelphia, Pa.

Four of the first eight picks were Tar Heels beginning with Tobin Heath, a senior midfielder, who was taken first overall by the Atlanta Beat. Following Heath was fellow senior Whitney Engen, a defender who was taken with the fourth pick in the draft by the Chicago Red Stars.

To round out the top eight, senior midfielder Nikki Washington and senior forward Casey Nogueira were taken fifth and eighth, respectively, by the Los Angeles Sol.

UCLA’s Lauren Cheney was the second pick in the draft, going to the Boston Breakers. The #3 pick was 2009 MAC Hermann Trophy winner Kelley O'Hara of Stanford going to FC Gold Pride.

Two more Tar Heels were taken in the second round as redshirt junior forward Jessica McDonald was chosen with the fourth pick, going to the Chicago Red Stars and senior goalkeeper Ashlyn Harris was chosen eighth by Athletica, which is based in St. Louis, Mo.

To finish out the slew of Tar Heels taken in the draft, four-year starter Kristi Eveland, a defender, was taken as the seventh pick in the fourth round by DC Freedom.

All six seniors for the Tar Heels helped to solidify the North Carolina dynasty by winning three out of four NCAA championships throughout their careers, while McDonald, a junior college transfer, was a major factor in both national championships during her two years at Chapel Hill.

Wake Forest forward Kaley Fountain went in the second round to FC Gold Pride, while South Carolina All-America defender Blakely Mattern was the first player chosen in the third round, going to the Atlanta Beat.

2010 WPS Draft
FIRST ROUND
1. Atlanta Beat - Tobin Heath, M, North Carolina
2. Boston Breakers # - Lauren Cheney, F, UCLA
3. FC Gold Pride - Kelley O'Hara, F, Stanford
4. Chicago Red Stars - Whitney Engen, D, North Carolina
5. Los Angeles Sol # - Nikki Washington, F, North Carolina
6. Sky Blue FC - Brittany Taylor, D, Connecticut
7. Washington Freedom - Nikki Marshall, D/M/F, Colorado
8. Los Angeles Sol # - Casey Nogueira, F, North Carolina
9. Los Angeles Sol - Kiersten Dallstream, F, Washington St.
10. FC Gold Pride # - Ali Riley, D, Stanford
11. Boston Breakers # - Alyssa Naeher, GK, Penn State

SECOND ROUND
12. FC Gold Pride # - Becky Edwards, D/M, Florida State
13. Philadelphia Independence - Malorie Rutledge, M, LSU
14. Los Angeles Sol # - Michelle Enyeart, F, Portland
15. Chicago Red Stars - Jessica McDonald, F, North Carolina
16. Boston Breakers - Jordan Angeli, D, Santa Clara
17. Saint Louis Athletica # - Kristina Larsen, F, UCLA
18. Washington Freedom - Carly Dobratz, M, Washington State
19. Saint Louis Athletica - Ashlyn Harris, GK, North Carolina
20. FC Gold Pride # - Kaley Fountain, F, Wake Forest

THIRD ROUND
21. Atlanta Beat - Blakely Mattern, D, South Carolina
22. Los Angeles Sol # - Kiki Bosio, F, Santa Clara
23. Atlanta Beat # - Shameka Gordon, D/M, West Florida
24. Chicago Red Stars - Kelsey Davis, GK, Portland
25. Los Angeles Sol - Estelle Johnson, D, Kansas
26. Sky Blue FC - Katie Schoepfer, F, Penn State
27. Washington Freedom - Beverly Goebel, M, Miami
28. Saint Louis Athletica - Amanda Poach, M, Santa Clara
29. Sky Blue FC # - Melissa Clarke, M, LSU

FOURTH ROUND
30. Atlanta Beat - Jill Hutchinson, F, Wake Forest
31. Philadelphia Independence - Kelly Henderson, D/M, Boston College
32. FC Gold Pride - Erin Guthrie, GK, Rutgers
33. Chicago Red Stars - Michele Weissenhofer, F, Notre Dame
34. Boston Breakers - Katherine Reynolds, D, Santa Clara
35. Sky Blue FC - Danielle Johnson, D, Ole Miss
36. Washington Freedom - Kristi Eveland, D, North Carolina
37. Saint Louis Athletica - Veronica Perez, M/F, Washington
38. Los Angeles Sol - Mary Casey, GK, Maryland

ROUND FIVE
39. Atlanta Beat - Mallori Lofton-Malachi, GK, South Florida (traded to Philadelphia)
40. Philadelphia Independence - Carrie Patterson, F, Georgia (traded to Atlanta)
41. FC Gold Pride - Ashley Bowyer, M/D, Ohio State
42. Chicago Red Stars - Sophie Reiser, M/F, Columbia
43. Boston Breakers - Cynthia Morote-Ariza, F, Loyola-Chicago
44. Sky Blue FC - Meagan Snell, F, Santa Clara
45. Washington Freedom - Lauren Robertson, GK, Ohio State
46. Saint Louis Athletica - Carolyn Blank, M/D, WVU
47. Los Angeles Sol - Lindsay Browne, M/F, Clemson

ROUND SIX
48. Atlanta Beat - Kasey Langdon, F, Oklahoma St.
49. Philadelphia Independence - Jennifer Anzivino, D/M, Rutgers (to Sky Blue FC)
50. FC Gold Pride - Elizabeth Harkin, D, Arizona State
51. Chicago Red Stars - Fiona O'Sullivan, M/F, San Francisco
52. Boston Breakers - Carly Peetz, D, Nebraska
53. Sky Blue FC - Kelly Isleib, M, Utah
54. Washington Freedom - Mara Osher, D/M, Boston Univ.
55. Saint Louis Athletica - Sarah Teegarden, M, Wisconsin-Milwaukee
56. Boston Breakers - Gina DiMartino, M/F, Boston College (pick traded from Los Angeles Sol)

ROUND SEVEN
57. Atlanta Beat - Shaneka Gordon, F, West Florida
58. Philadelphia Independence - Caitlin Farrell, D, Wake Forest
59. FC Gold Pride - Lauren Wilmoth, D, UCLA
60. Chicago Red Stars - Jackie Santacaterina, M, Illinois
61. Boston Breakers - Casey Brown, D, Boston University
62. Philadelphia Independence - Danielle Collins, D/M, William & Mary
63. Washington Freedom - Caitline Miskel, M/F, Virginia
64. Saint Louis Athletica - Elizabeth Redmond, M, Duke
65. Boston Breakers - Taryn Hemmings, F, Denver

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