Soccer By Ives

A look back at the first two U.S. games of the Gold Cup

 

                                                       Photo by ISIphotos.com

Two games, two wins, two shutouts.

The start to the U.S. national team's Gold Cup has been far different from the team's Confederations Cup opening and the team's early success has fans excited about a new crop of American  players.

For those of you who haven't seen it, here is my ESPN.com article on the developments from the U.S. team's first two matches of the Gold Cup.

Give the piece of read and feel free to share your thoughts on it, and on tonight's Gold  Cup match vs. Haiti in the comments section below.

Husidic signs Generation adidas deal

The upcoming MLS Draft was already stocked with talent, but that talent pool will be a little deeper after Major League Soccer was able to sign one of its top targets.

University of Illinois-Chicago midfielder Baggio Husidic has signed a Generation adidas contract and will be available in the 2009 MLS Draft on Jan. 15, sources told Soccer by Ives on Friday night.

A 6-foot-1 Bosnian-born playmaker, Husidic has impressed pro scouts with his combination of size, speed and passing ability from central midfield and projects to be a mid-first round pick as the top attacking midfielder in the draft.

Sources: Opara staying in school

 

                                                                 Photo by ISIphotos.com

Ike Opara was widely-regarded as the best defender, and one of the best players available in the 2009 MLS Draft, but only if he actually entered the draft.

It is looking more and more like Opara won't.

According to multiple sources, the 19-year-old Wake Forest sophomore is set to stay in school, a decision that weakens a decent if unspectacular crop of central defenders in an otherwise strong draft.

Opara has yet to step forward and announce a decision, but one league source told SBI over the weekend that Opara is "100 percent not coming out."

So why would Opara stay in school despite being a consensustop three pick in January's MLS Draft? It's pretty simple really.

The MLS Grapevine: Notes on Van Den Bergh, White and Wallace

 

Good evening folks. If you are like me (and are digging out of an East Coast snow storm) you might be sitting at home after some snow shoveling wishing there was some MLS news to read. While it is a slow time of year, with plenty of team officials (and journalists) going in vacation, there is always news to be found and nuggets of info to pass along.

Here are some tidbits to help kick off your weekend:

Interesting info in Van Den Bergh contract talks

New York Red Bulls fans are waiting patiently and anxiously to find out if the club will re-sign Dutch winger Dave Van Den Bergh and one of the more perplexing developments surrounding those contract talks has been the word that the Red Bulls want Van Den Bergh to take a paycut. That is something that doesn't make much sense for a player who was arguably the team's most consistent and at the very least its second most valuable player in 2008.

Some new information may shed some light into the Red Bulls' logic. According to mulitple sources with knowledge of the trade that brought Van Den Bergh to the Red Bulls from the Kansas City Wizards, the Wizards paid as much as half of Van Den Bergh's salary in 2008, meaning Van Den Bergh only cost the Red Bulls between $120K and $135K against their salary cap last season.

With Van Den Bergh seeking a similar salary to the one he earned in 2008, the Red Bulls would have to double Van Den Bergh's salary cap hit if they oblige, which is why the sides are still negotiating. Van Den Bergh has already stated that he is ready to return to Europe to play if he can't either find a deal with the Red Bulls or with another MLS team.

Report: Gonzalez to sign with MLS

 

                                                                               Photo by ISIphotos.com

Major League Soccer has taken its first step toward setting up what could be one of the deepest drafts in recent memory by landing one of the college game's most coveted prospects.

Maryland central defender Omar Gonzalez is set to sign a Generation adidas contract with MLS, Craig Stouffer of the Washington Examiner reported on Friday. Stouffer is also reporting that fellow Maryland standout Jeremy Hall also looks set to sign with MLS.

MLS Hot Stove: The Kassel situation

   

Matt Kassel could not have asked for a much better freshman season in college than the one he just finished. The New Jersey native just helped Maryland to an NCAA title in what could wind up being his only season of college soccer.

According to multiple sources, Kassel is leaning heavily toward turning pro and is presently exploring his options, which include seriously considering signing with MLS.

If you think Kassel's MLS options begin and end with the New York Red Bulls, think again.

Monday Morning Centerback: Enough about what the College Cup wasn't and what college soccer isn't

 

Maybe it was all the hype coming into the Final Four about Wake Forest and its loaded quad. Perhaps it was the talk about how deep the upcoming MLS Draft is and how well represented this Final Four would be in that draft next month. Whatever the reason, this year's NCAA College Cup had more buzz than past years and the event essentially failed to live up to the hype.

While that may be true, it seems as if there are a number of American soccer fans who want to use the Final Four, and the three goals in three games it produced, as some sort of indictment of the college game. Complain about college soccer if you want, but a few bad games does not negate the fact that college soccer is still an important tool in the development of pro soccer players in this country.

As long as MLS continues to go slow in establishing a real professional player development system in this country, college soccer will continue to have its place and without it there would be countless prospects faced with few options and little chance to develop into the quality professional players so many college products have become.

Maryland wins NCAA Title

  

Graham Zusi had enough magic for two game-winners in the NCAA Final Four.

After his stunning free-kick winner on Friday to beat St. John's, Zusi stepped up yet again on Sunday, pouncing on a loose ball in the 67th minute for his second goal in three days to help Maryland beat North Carolina, 1-0, in the NCAA final. The victory gave the Terrapins their third NCAA Title and second during Zusi's four-year career.

Maryland created more chances and played the better soccer, but much like they did on Friday against St. John's, the Terrapins struggled to convert chances. At least before Zusi pounced on a deflected shot and slipped a left-footed shot past UNC goalkeeper Brooks Haggerty.

Zusi earned Final Four MVP honors for his two game-winning goals.

What did you think of the final? Share your thoughts below.

With the m

NCAA College Cup Final: Your Running Commentary

 

The North Carolina Tar Heels take on the Maryland Terrapins today in the NCAA Men's College Cup Final at Pizza Hut Park in Frisco, Texas (1pm, ESPN2).

If you will be watching the final, please feel free to share your thoughts, opinions and some play-by-play in the comments section below.

Enjoy the match. 

UNC and Maryland set for NCAA Final after memorable semifinal victories

 

by GIANFRANCO PANIZO

The NCAA Final will be won by an ACC team, but not by the ACC team most thought would lift the NCAA College Cup trophy this year.

With defending champion Wake Forest eliminated after a stunning semifinal upset, Maryland and North Carolina have a date with destiny after posting 1-0 victories yesterday to advance to Sunday's NCAA Final at Pizza Hut Park in Frisco, Texas (1pm, ESPN2). The semifinal routes each team took to get to the final couldn't have been anymore different.

North Carolina managed to stun top-seeded and defending national champion Wake Forest with a swift strike from Brian Shriver in the fourth minute while Maryland had to go into double overtime to find the winner in their match with St. John's, with Graham Zusi delivering a beautiful free-kick winner.

NCAA Final Four: (Your Running Commentary)

The NCAA Final Four is set for tonight at Pizza Hut Park in Frisco, Texas, with the first game between Wake Forest and North Carolina already under way (on ESPN2). St. John's and Maryland face off tonight (8:30pm, ESPNU) in the second match.

If you will be watching the matches, please feel free to share your thoughts, opinions and some play-by-play in the comments section below.

Enjoy the action.

NCAA Final Four: Can UNC stop mighty Wake Forest?

When you look at the roster of the Wake Forest men's soccer team you don't just see a talented squad, you see a pro scouts dream, a who's-who of the best players in college soccer.

Best defender in college soccer? Check. Best striker? Check. Best midfield? Check.

The embarrassment of riches is one thing, but the soccer the Deamon Deacons play with that assortment of talent makes them overwhelming favorites to repeat as NCAA champions.

That is, unless North Carolina can pull the upset. The ACC rivals square off today in the NCAA national semifinal (5:30pm, ESPN2) in a rematch of a regular season tilt won by Wake Forest, 4-2. The Tar Heels will be looking to avenge that defeat in a match few are gving them a chance of winning.

"It left a sour taste in our mouths," UNC striker Brian Shriver told the Raleigh News & Observer. "They definitely have a very offensive-minded team. They are more than capable of coming back from being down a goal. But they're vulnerable. They're not unbeatable."

This weekend's soccer on TV

The last time Real Madrid and Barcelona faced off in Spain's biggest rivalry, Real Madrid came into the match as newly-minted champions while Barcelona was a team in shambles, a club on the verge of a major shake-up.

What a difference seven months can make.

The roles have reversed for the Spanish powers, with Barcelona running away with the league and looking unbeatable while Real Madrid is the one coming off a recent coaching change and dealing with a tidal wave of injuries. Saturday's match has all the makings of a blowout and you can rest assured Barcelona will be looking for some sweet revenge after the way Real Madrid tore Barca to shreds last May.

Even with that backdrop, Barca-Real Madrid is still the most highly-anticipated game of the weekend, but there is certainly competition. The biggest threat to that title goes to AC Milan-Juventus, which is probably a better game because both teams are closer to being on form.

If you're looking for some more information and insight into the weekend's best games, then check out SBI's Top 10 matches to watch along with the full soccer on TV schedule. Enjoy:

The Generation adidas targets

 

                                                                              Photo by ISIphotos.com

While the list of MLS Combine invitees has been released, you cannot get a real sense of how the 2009 MLS Draft might shake out until you see the Generation adidas players that will be in the mix. All indications are that the upcoming Generation adidas class could be one of the strongest in league history.

SBI has learned the names of several top college underclassmen that have been targeted and approached about signing Generation adidas contracts. Among the players are standout defenders Ike Opara (Wake Forest) and Omar Gonzalez of Maryland (pictured), two players considered high-first round draft pick prospects and two players who will be on display this weekend at College Cup in Frisco, Texas.

Here is a list of names of players who have been approached and are considering signing Generation adidas contracts, which would make them eligible for the 2009 MLS Draft:

UNC women win 19th NCAA title

North Carolina forward Casey Nogueira scored two second-half goals to help the UNC women's soccer team post a 2-1 victory over Notre Dame in the NCAA final on Sunday in Cary, North Carolina.

Notre Dame got off to a fast start, scoring just 16 seconds into the match, but the Tar Heels controlled the rest of the match and took the lead in the second half, led by Nogueira, who ultimately helped hand Notre Dame its first loss of the season.

If that Noguiera name sounds familiar, Casey is the daughter of legendary indoor soccer goalkeeper Victor Nogueira, who is a candidate for the National Soccer Hall of Fame this year.

What do you think of the result? Did you watch the game? Share your thoughts on today's NCAA women's final in the comments section below.

Becerra's goal caps remarkable comeback, boosts Red Storm into College Cup

                                   Photo by St. John's Athletic Communications

By DYLAN BUTLER

Cradling the ball in his arms, Nelson Becerra had many thoughts swirling around his head. He was one penalty kick away from sending St. John's to the College Cup, from capping a remarkable comeback against Indiana and the crowd at Belson Stadium had erupted when referee Alex Prus pointed to the spot five minutes into overtime.

But first, the junior midfielder from Paterson, N.J. needed quiet.

"A lot of things went through my head," Becerra said. "There was a lot of pressure. I actually made the crowd keep it quiet for a little bit because it was too much...Anybody could have taken the PK, but I stepped up and grabbed the ball and wanted to hit it."

With all eyes on Becerra, the Big East Midfielder of the Year calmly deposited his penalty to the right of Indiana goalkeeper Chay Cain, sending the facility into euphoria and booking the Red Storm's College Cup ticket.

"It was a great feeling," Becerra said. "I never like that before in my life. I just kept running, looking for people to celebrate (with)."

Thanks to Becerra's goal, his team-leading eighth of the season, the third-seeded Red Storm will advance to the College Cup and face second-seeded Maryland in the second semifinal Friday at Pizza Hut Park in Frisco, Tex. Top-seeded Wake Forest and No. 13 North Carolina meet in the first semifinal.