Miami FC Announces its Home for 2010 Season
The Blues confirm Lockhart Stadium


MIAMI, February 28, 2010 - After splitting its home games between Lockhart Stadium and FIU's stadium in 2009, Miami FC announced today that Lockhart Stadium will be the Blues’ home venue for 2010.

“There have been many great memories at Lockhart Stadium over the years, and we are looking forward to giving fans new memories this season, adding to Lockhart’s great legacy for soccer,” said Miami FC president Aaron Davidson. “Since Lockhart is still considered one of the best facilities for soccer in the United States, we are very fortunate to have the opportunity to play there. After playing at two stadiums last season in order to give fans the opportunity to see Miami FC play closer to their respective homes, we now feel it is best and most effective to establish one home stadium for the team, the fans and the community.”

Seattle Sounders FC at Vancouver Whitecaps FC
March 6, 2010
Venue: Swangard Stadium
Match Type: Pre-season
Match Number: 4
Kickoff (PDT): 4:00 PM


Vancouver Whitecaps FC (1W-2L-0D in pre-season) host Major League Soccer (MLS) club Seattle Sounders FC (3W-1L-0D in pre-season) in a pre-season friendly match on Saturday afternoon.

In what will be the first match of the club's final season at Swangard Stadium in Burnaby, BC, Teitur Thordarson's side continue their buildup towards the 2010 USSF D-2 Pro League season by hosting the Sounders for the first time in British Columbia since their move to MLS last year. Saturday's match is also the second meeting between these two Interstate 5 rivals this pre-season. On February 11 in Casa Grande, Arizona, Seattle came from two goals down to defeat the Blue and White 3-2 at the Grande Sports World facility. Their first encounter came on February 22, 2009, as the MLS Sounders defeated the 'Caps 4-0 in a closed-door friendly match at Seattle's Qwest Field.

http://www.whitecapsfc.com/men/schedule/2010_03_06_v_Seattle_Sounders_FC.aspx

MBUTA RETURNS TO CRYSTAL PALACE BALTIMORE
Fan Favorite Spent Past 18 Months With New York Red Bulls


March 2nd 2010 - Baltimore, MD - Crystal Palace Baltimore have signed 24-year old playmaker Mathew Mbuta, pending USSF approval. The former New York Red Bulls player returns to Palace after plying his trade in Major League Soccer for the past year and a half.

Palace Baltimore President and Co-Head Coach, Pete Medd, remarked: "We feel very fortunate to get Mathew back. He is a very special player and has unique and dangerous qualities; things you can not teach. He has tremendous pace and a great leaping ability. During the 18 months he spent in the MLS, he has refined his game even further and we will continue to work on his end product; but we feel he should have a major impact in our league this year"


http://www.naslnews.com/

Timbers Add Three From Mini-Camp
Portland adds DeMartin, Gaudet and Pyzdrowski


Portland Timbers News Release - http://www.portlandtimbers.com

Tuesday, March 2, 2010

PORTLAND, OR -- The Portland Timbers announced the signing of forward Doug DeMartin, midfielder Derek Gaudet and goalkeeper Matt Pyzdrowski for the 2010 season, pending USSF approval.

All three were part of the Timbers recent mini-camp and were featured in the club’s charity match against the University of Portland. They are scheduled to report on Monday for the start of preseason training camp.

DeMartin, 23, played his collegiate career at Michigan State University and led the Big Ten Conference in goals scored in each of his final two seasons on campus. A native of Mason, Mich., DeMartin had a breakout senior season in 2008, scoring 17 goals and leading the Spartans to a Big Ten title. Named an All-American, he was also a candidate for two national player of the year awards, including the Hermann Trophy. In total, DeMartin recorded 38 goals and nine assists in 76 career games at Michigan State. He was a second-round pick of the Kansas City Wizards in the 2009 Major League Soccer SuperDraft.

Pro soccer is coming to Orlando — in 2011

http://www.orlandoprosoccer.com

ORLANDO, Fla. -- Sports fans can add soccer to the list of professional teams making their way to Orlando.

The owners of the Orlando Titans professional lacrosse team announced Thursday that they will bring a United Soccer League team to the city. The new soccer team will compete in premier domestic and international tournaments and exhibitions.

No word yet on where they will play.

http://www.orlandosentinel.com/sports/os-orlando-soccer-0305-20100304-5,0,5624425.story

Aztex tie Houston in preseason opener

Austin Aztex News Release - http://www.austinaztex.com

Monday, March 8, 2010

HOUSTON, TX -- The Austin Aztex struck a draw with the MLS’ Houston Dynamo, 1-1, in their first preseason scrimmage on Sunday at Carl Lewis Track Stadium in Houston, Texas. An own goal by Bobby Boswell in the 74th minute allowed the Aztex to gain the 1-0 advantage in the scrimmage, but an unassisted goal by the Dynamo’s Erik Ustruck 12 minutes later led to the draw.

“I’m very pleased with the result considering we’ve only had five days training together. I thought their fitness was good, but we got tired in the last five or 10 minutes,” Aztex Coach Adrian Heath said. “Considering who we were playing, I was pleased with everything that went on and I thought there were one or two very encouraging performances.”

VS
03/14/2010 5:00 PM
@ Nelson Field

AC St Louis to Face Kansas City Wizards


AC St. Louis, playing in the USSF Division 2 Pro League, announced that it will be playing the Kansas City Wizards from Major League Soccer in two exhibition matches. The cross state clubs will meet on Saturday March 20 at 2:00 p.m. in Kansas City at the Wizard's Swope Park training facility, and again on Saturday, April 3 at 7:00 p.m. for the return match at The Anheuser-Busch Soccer Park.

"This is a perfect way for us to introduce our new team to the fans here in St. Louis," said player/assistant coach Steve Ralston. "For us it will be a good test against an established MLS team in Kansas City. Plus it will be nice to build up a little rivalry with the Wizards by playing this home and away series each year."

http://www.nasl.com/news.php?id=85

Stars new website


http://www.nscminnesota.org/

Islanders begin CFU journey in April

Tuesday, March 9, 2010


TAMPA, FL – The Puerto Rico Islanders will begin their quest to reach the CONCACAF Champions League tournament for a third consecutive time when they enter the Caribbean Football Union’s Club Championship tournament as a seeded team in the Second Round April 13. The regional tournament kicks off with First Round group play March 16 in four locations.

The 2010 edition of the CFU Club Championship features three rounds of group play to determine a champion. The top three clubs in the Final Round will advance to the CONCACAF Champions League


http://www.uslsoccer.com/docs/CFU-2010TournamentBracket.pdf

NEW YORK -- Former Tulsa Roughneck Don O'Riordan was named coach and technical director of F.C. New York Wednesday.

O'Riordan will start putting together a team for the United Soccer League First Division expansion team, which won't play until the 2011 season.


http://www.bigapplesoccer.com/sections/usl2.php?article_id=22839

Timbers top Sounders 1-0
Portland grabs preseason victory over rivals in Seattle

Portland Timbers News Release - www.portlandtimbers.com

Friday, March 12, 2010

SEATTLE, WA -- With a first-half goal, the Portland Timbers defeated Major League Soccer’s Seattle Sounders FC 1-0 Thursday in a preseason match before 18,606 at Qwest Field. Trialist forward O.J. Obatola tallied for the Timbers.

Just 11 days into preseason training camp, Portland visited its Northwest rival for Sounders FC’s inaugural Community Shield, a charity event benefitting several Northwest organizations.

Escaping close chances by Seattle, who plays its MLS regular-season opener on March 25, early on, the Timbers broke through in the 44th minute. After penetrating the box, forward George Josten slipped a through ball between Sounders FC defenders to the foot of Obatola. The trialist then poked the ball by Seattle goalkeeper Kasey Keller for the strike.

Portland goalkeeper Steve Cronin earned the shutout and recorded two key saves in the first half. In the 16th minute, he turned away a close-range shot by midfielder Steve Zakuani that nearly crossed the goal line. Minutes later, he punched away a free kick by forward Freddie Ljungberg taken from the top right corner of the box aimed at the top corner of the frame.

http://usl1.uslsoccer.com/home/409402.html

Late Cameron goal gives Dynamo win

Houston downs Austin in final preseason friendly in Texas

AUSTIN, TX -- The Houston Dynamo used an 84th-minute goal from Geoff Cameron to earn a 1-0 preseason win over the Austin Aztex of the United States Soccer Federation Division II Pro League Sunday night at Nelson Field. Cameron knocked in a loose ball after a Corey Ashe corner kick to net the only goal of the game.
Playing on just two days' rest from a scrimmage against MLS club Chicago Fire on Thursday, the Dynamo used a lineup that included only two of Thursday's starters: Mike Chabala and Cam Weaver. Sunday's lineup included Adrian Serioux, a recently re-acquired member of the Dynamo's 2006 championship team, at center back and forward Luis Landín up front. Youngsters Sammy Appiah, Danny Cruz, and Francisco Navas Cobo joined Chabala in the midfield. The back line included Serioux, Erik Ustruck, and veterans Craig Waibel and Wade Barrett in front of goalkeeper Tally Hall.


http://houston.mlsnet.com/news/team_news.jsp?ymd=20100314&content_id=8791536&vkey=news_hou&fext=.jsp&team=t200

The Rowdies gave a glimpse to what this season will hold last night, March 12th, at Pepin Stadium. Just two weeks in to training, the Rowdies had their first match against an MLS club, FC Dallas. Against a strong FC Dallas squad, the Rowdies fought hard and played to a 2-2 draw in front of an excited crowd who braved the elements to root on their team.

http://fctampabay.com/news/teamnews/ind ... le_id=9172

Miami FC Inks Five Players from Brazil


The Blues confirm five players from Desportivo Brasil, including returning forward Paulo Jr



Miami, March 15, 2010- Miami FC announced today new signings coming from its sister club, Desportivo Brasil. Five players will join the ranks of the Blues including one of Miami's best forwards from last season, Paulo Araujo Jr. Terms of the signings were not disclosed.

Joining Paulo Jr are four other up-and-coming players: Ariel Germiniani, Lennon Celestino, Euzebio Neto, and Paulinho Le Petit. All five will join the team in the upcoming weeks. Euzebio Neto plays right back and comes to Miami after spending time playing for one of Miami FC's sister clubs, Estoril of Liga Vitalis in Portugal. Ariel Germiniani, Paulinho Le Petit and Lennon Celestino will contribute to a potent midfield that already features Jarryd Goldberg and Bryan Perez.

Miami FC will open the 2010 season on Sunday, April 10 at 7:30 p.m. at Lockhart Stadium against the visiting Rochester Rhinos.
For real time updates you can follow Miami FC on twitter at http://www.twitter.com/miamifc.

Supporter Scarf Design Winner
The winning scarf for supporters was created by Erik Erickson of Blaine. This scarf is part of the supporters season ticket package and will be exclusive to this group.

The name of the supporters group for the Stars will evolve during this historic first season. Check back here often for news from the supporters.

http://www.nscminnesota.org/fan_zone/supporter_groups/index_E.html