BC Soccer News, Weekend, March 10-12, 2017

VANCOUVER WHITECAPS FC & MLS NEWS

MAJOR LEAGUE SOCCER

 SAN JOSE EARTHQUAKES vs. VANCOUVER WHITECAPS FC

MATCHDAY #2

SATURDAY, MARCH 11, 2017, 7:00 PM

AVAYA STADIUM, SAN JOSE, CA.

TV: TSN 1/3  RADIO: TSN 1410  ONLINE: TSN GO

‘Caps search for first win in San Jose – Whitecaps FC
Vancouver Whitecaps FC visit San Jose Earthquakes on Saturday night at Avaya Stadium in their first away match of the 2017 MLS regular season.

San Jose Earthquakes vs. Vancouver Whitecaps: Preview – MLS Multiplex
Vancouver Whitecaps FC visit San Jose in the second week of MLS action. But it’s the CONCACAF Champions League that will be preying on Vancouver’s mind.

Source: Alphonso Davies being trailed by three English Premier League giants – Metro
Alphonso Davies doesn’t turn 17-years old until November but already the Vancouver Whitecaps attacker is turning some serious heads not just in MLS but in Europe as well.

Managing a prodigy: Davies just one layer of Whitecaps’ plan for revival – Four Four Two
It isn’t often you hear the coach of a professional team say one of his players knows he must do his homework or he won’t play. But when you have a 16-year-old rising star as a central figure in your squad, as the Vancouver Whitecaps do with Alphonso Davies, part of the playbook is drawn from your experience as a dad as much as a coach.

Jahmir Hyka “feeling better” every day, hopes to earn starting role with San Jose Earthquakes – Center Line Soccer
The San Jose Earthquakes have been searching for their scoring touch for well over a year, but if their 2017 MLS regular season opening 1-0 win over the Montreal Impact is an indication, they may have found a recipe for creating more opportunities in front of goal.

Canadian Championship kicks off 10th edition in May with more Canadian Content – Whitecaps FC
Canada Soccer announced on Thursday that Vancouver Whitecaps FC will play Montreal Impact in the two-leg semifinals of the 2017 Canadian Championship. The first leg will take place on Tuesday, May 23 at BC Place, with the decisive second leg the following Tuesday, May 30 at Stade Saputo in Montreal.

The Random Analogue Soccer Hydrocollider – Soccer Shorts
Time to throw some ideas into The Random Analogue Soccer Hydrocollider to see which ideas it throws out of the state of the art quantum interface with regard to the Whitecaps.

MLS Talking Points: Galaxy depth tested, FC Dallas seeks to break KC jinx and more – SN
Though the pomp and circumstance of Major League Soccer’s opening weekend is behind us, there are still several teams still awaiting their home season debuts, and those teams will offer some of the better storylines of the second week of the 2017 season.

New England Revolution vs. Orlando City match postponed due to extreme cold – MLS
Saturday’s match between the New England Revolution and Orlando City SC has been postponed due to extreme cold projected to hit the New England area over the week.

Jones, Union ready for tough Toronto task – SBI
The first 90 minutes of Derrick Jones’ Philadelphia Union career couldn’t have gone any better. The 20-year-old defensive midfielder churned out an impressive performance in the club’s 0-0 draw with the Vancouver Whitecaps in Week 1.

Portland Timbers defenders Liam Ridgewell, Alvas Powell and Vytas all dealing with injuries – Oregonian
Portland Timbers defenders Liam Ridgewell, Alvas Powell and Vytas all sustained injuries in training this week and could be out Sunday when the Timbers travel to face the LA Galaxy.

Diskerud officially joins Swedish side IFK Goteborg on loan – SBI
The next stage of Mix Diskerud’s career has officially begun. IFK Goteborg announced on Friday that the club has signed Diskerud on loan from NYCFC through Aug. 27. The U.S. Men’s National Team midfielder has already joined the club for two training sessions under Jorgen Lennartson, who previously managed Diskerud at Norwegian side Stabaek.

New York Red Bulls Add Norwegian international Fredrik Gulbrandsen On Loan from FC Red Bull Salzburg – NYRB
The New York Red Bulls have added Norwegian forward Fredrik Gulbrandsen on loan from FC Red Bull Salzburg, the club announced today. Gulbrandsen joins New York on a year-long loan.

2017 MLS Injury Update: Week 1 – MLS Multiplex
Here is an MLS injury report for the Eastern and Western Conferences after the end of the first week of the 2017 season (March 3-5).

With stakes raised can Sporting Kansas City deliver in 2017? – Prost Amerika
After being bounced from the MLS Playoffs Sporting Kansas City has kept busy in the offseason, When the club looked to strengthen the previous year it did so with a mindset of bringing in experience. As that yielded limited results youth has come in.

MLS unveils deal to stream games live on Facebook – ESPN FC
Major League Soccer will stream at least 22 games live on Facebook this season. The league announced a deal on Friday where the games slated to air on Univision Deportes in Spanish will also air on Facebook Live in English.

Johnson Finds Winning Culture at NYCFC – Empire of Soccer
After two trades, Sean Johnson landed in New York City. Technically moving twice in the same day, Johnson was dealt from the Chicago Fire to Atlanta United then on to New York City FC where he was the starting goalkeeper in the opening day loss last Sunday. He said moving from place to place is par for the course for a player in Major League Soccer.

Orlando City disputes NYC FC fans’ claims of security issues at first game in new stadium – WFTV
Fans of New York City Futbol Club have issued an open letter concerning Sunday’s game against Orlando City, saying they feared for their safety due to a lack of security. It is a claim that Orlando City officials said was unfounded, as they went out of their way to ensure NYC FC fans had a positive experience at the first game in the team’s new stadium.

Station Soccer unites Atlanta – FIFA
The vision for Station Soccer came from Atlanta resident Sanjay Patel, a Soccer in the Streets board member, who got the idea while on a train visiting family in London. “I’m on the train to visit them, and as I get off the train, there’s a group of kids in soccer gear getting off and nearby there’s soccer fields I could see in the distance they were going to play.

WATCH: Former Whitecaps FC captain Jay DeMerit makes pitch on Dragon’s Den – Whitecaps FC
English Premier League and World Cup player, first Vancouver Whitecaps FC captain in MLS, and now entrepreneur. It’s been quite a journey for Jay DeMerit, and the most recent adventure was a spot on CBC’s popular Dragon’s Den to pitch his Portmanteau Stereo company. Watch the video below to see how he and business partner Jeff “Heffe” McConnell fared in their pitch.

MLS PHOTOS: Vancouver Whitecaps FC 0 Philadelphia Union 0, March 5, 2017 – BC Soccer Web
Exclusive Photos for BC Soccer Web by Bill Currie.

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BC SOCCER NEWS

High hopes for 15-year-old Chilliwack native Jordyn Huitema in wake of Canadian senior debut – The Province
Canada coach: ‘She’s one of the closest things I’ve seen to (Christine) Sinclair — so no pressure on the kid’. For Jordyn Huitema, it was 41 unforgettable minutes. For Canadian soccer, it could be the beginning of something special.

VISL Listings & Game of the Week – VISL
At stake – a BC Soccer Provincial Cup Championship berth, Cowichan winning another Divisional Garrison Cup championship, prep for the Jackson Cup semi’s, and the dreaded relegation zone.

VMSL Round-up: Weird and wild weekend of local soccer action sees goals galore, controversies, snow, and more – AFTN
It was a weird weekend in Vancouver and the lower mainland, and we’re not just talking about the bizarre rapidly changing weather systems.

Lakecity players off to Europe for soccer tour – Williams Lake Tribune
Five Williams Lake soccer players will be travelling to Europe next month to play for the Vancouver-based European Football School.

U14G Riptide Soccer Team heading to provincials – Comox Valley Echo
The Marine Harvest U14 Girls Riptide soccer team culminated a dominant season by capturing the VIPL championship with an impressive win over their rival, Mid-Island Storm, on Saturday, March 4th.

Juan de Fuca Div. 3A soccer men look to clinch top spot – Goldstream News Gazette
First place in the Vancouver Island Soccer League’s third division is on the line Friday night (March 10), as is a jump up to Div. 2 and a berth in the provincial B Cup for the Juan de Fuca men.

Ten Count with Vancouver Whitecaps U18 winger Ethan Gopaul – AFTN
Ethan Gopaul may be a new player with Vancouver Whitecaps’ U18 team this season but he has a distinction no other player on the team has – he is the first player to join the Residency team from the Whitecaps FC London Academy.

BC Soccer Assoc. Scholarships – BCSA
BC Soccer is proud to award scholarships every year to players and referees proceeding on to post-secondary education. The Scholarships are presented at a special Scholarship Celebration at a Whitecaps FC match in June/July each year. Applications must be received by the British Columbia Soccer Association Office by March 31st.

REVIEW: The Miracle Mile. Stories of the 1954 British Empire and Commonwealth Games – BC BookLook
Author Jason Beck is curator of the BC Sports Hall of Fame in BC Place Stadium, Vancouver, and convenor two years ago of an excellent exhibition about the 1954 Games. In his first book, he proves to be a meticulous researcher, a compelling story-teller, and a crafty realist who knows how to hook his readers. Watch how, two pages into the book, he uses filmic technique to evoke the arriving athletes’ youthful buzz and give period colouring and costuming, but then smartly moves his camera in to introduce his stars.

TSS Rovers launch website & 2017 Season Ticket Campaign – TSS Rovers
TSS FC Rovers play their inaugural season in the PDL at iconic Swangard Stadium. Season Tickets are $70 for Adults, $49 for U12 Youth.

Becoming a BC Soccer Referee – BCSA
Whether you are an experienced referee new to British Columbia or if you are new to the discipline of refereeing BC Soccer Assoc. has a clinic and a pathway for you.  The minimum age to become a referee is 12 years old (small sided) and 14 years old (11-a-side). Please enjoy the short video showcasing some Referee programs that BC Soccer offers and continue below for more on how to become a referee in BC!

TSS FC Rovers Open Tryouts – TSS Rovers
Vancouver’s newest team, TSS FC Rovers, is looking for Canada’s best up and coming players to play for their first squad in 2017. If you are a Canadian citizen or landed immigrant, could possibly play for our national team one day, and meet the age requirment of 23 and under, we want to see you play!

To our Readers: A Choice – BC Soccer Web
Soccer has brought us to the United States many times. It’s a great place with decent people. We especially look forward to our Cascadia trips to Seattle and Portland. They’re incredible cities with wonderful supporters. That’s why it was so disheartening to see chaos and fear take hold in the airports and borders of our neighbours to the south.

FVSL All-Stars to face WFC2 in March – BC Soccer Web
January snow and ice in the Lower Mainland put the brakes on the annual clash between the Fraser Valley Soccer League All-Stars and the best from the VISL this year. That hasn’t stopped the FVSL from planning an ambitious All-Star series in March.

BC Soccer Assoc. is Now Accepting 2016-2017 Awards Nominations – BCSA
We are pleased to inform everyone that BC soccer Assoc. is currently accepting Awards nominations until the submission deadline date of March 31, 2017. Selection of the award recipients is based on many factors including the individual’s commitment, community involvement and willingness to give back to the game. This year any BC Soccer Assoc. member and their affiliate clubs may submit a nomination.

2017 BC Soccer Assoc. is accepting candidates for its Board of Directors – BCSA
BC Soccer Assoc. is accepting candidates for its Board of Directors for terms commencing June, 2017 (following the BC Soccer Annual General Meeting).

Victoria Highlanders 2017 Season Passes now on sale – Highlanders FC
Support local soccer on Vancouver Island. Join the excitement of Highlanders FC PDL Soccer!

PHOTOS: CANADA WEST WOMENS FINAL, UBC 3, TWU 0, NOVEMBER 6, 2016 – BC Soccer Web
Exclusive photos for BC Soccer Web by Bill Currie.

2016 BC Soccer Provincial Cup Photo Galleries – BC Soccer Web
Westhills Stadium & Goudy Park in Langford hosted the 2016 BC Soccer Adult Provincial Cup Finals. It was a thrilling weekend of soccer on Vancouver Island that saw seven champions crowned. Richmond FC & Surrey Pegasus qualified for the National Championships this Fall in St. John’s, Newfoundland. Both Coquitlam Metro-Ford Masters & Classics sides qualified for the Western Canadian Masters Championships in Winnipeg, Manitoba. In all, it was a clean sweep for teams from the VMSL & MWSL. Monique Lamoureux & Bill Currie from BC Soccer Web were on location that weekend, capturing the all the action.

Free Physiotherapy Clinical Trial for Achilles Pain at UBC – UBC Centre for Hip Health & Mobility
Do you have Achilles pain? Interested in free Physiotherapy? If yes, join our clinical trial to look at the effectiveness of intramuscular stimulation (IMS), a form of acupuncture therapy, in treating Achilles tendon pain.

The BC Soccer Web Guide to Empire Field – BC Soccer Web
Empire Fields and Plateau Sports Park is the lofty and formal name given to Vancouver’s newest addition to the soccer scene. Yet, anyone who’s ever kicked or carried both kinds of footballs around these parts knows the place by heart.

Introducing BC Soccer Web Syndication – BC Soccer Web
You can now add BC Soccer Web news to your website simply by adding our new RSS Feed! Find out more.

Send your Soccer News to BC Soccer Web! – BC Soccer Web
BC Soccer Web is the hub for soccer in British Columbia. We want to share your soccer news with the entire province, and you can help by letting us know! We want your match reports, club news, league standings, and info on upcoming tournaments and clinics. Whether you submit links to existing news on the web, or your own original writing, we want to share it with the soccer community in B.C.

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CANADA SOCCER NEWS

Canadian Championship Kicks off 10th Edition in May with more Canadian Content – CSA
The 10th edition of the Canadian Championship will kick off 3 May when Ottawa Fury FC host FC Edmonton in a head-to-head elimination series. The two-match qualifying round sets the Battle of the North in motion, which sets itself apart from all North American professional sports leagues that operate on both sides of the border as the only one to hold an all-Canada competition that leads to the international stage.

CSA announces draw, changes for Canadian Championship – Sportsnet
When Toronto FC won the Canadian Championship last year, the spoils of victory included a berth in the CONCACAF Champions League. Now it has been told that it must clear another hurdle. Toronto has to win this year’s Canadian Championship or, if it fails to do so, beat the team that does win it to secure the CONCACAF tournament invite it thought it already had.

Canada Soccer Announces Inclusion Of League1 And PLSQ Champions In 2018 Canadian Championship – League1 Ontario
Looking ahead to 2018, Canada Soccer has also confirmed plans to expand the Canadian Championship to include winning teams from both League1 Ontario and Première Ligue de soccer du Québec – the two division III Canadian leagues currently in existence.

Sophie Schmidt sidelined with facial fracture – The Equalizer
Canada women’s national team midfielder Sophie Schmidt will miss four weeks with 1. FFC Frankfurt of the Bundesliga after suffering a malar fraction during the Algarve Cup.

Toronto FC III arrive in Italy for prestigious Viareggio Cup – Waking the Red
TFC’s senior academy team are in Tuscany to play some of the world’s top youth teams.

Ottawa soccer team heading to world masters in New Zealand –  Kanata Courier-Standard
The Ottawa Women’s United soccer team is hoping to score a few more bucks to help the team fly to Auckland, New Zealand for the 2017 World Masters Games.

Canada Soccer looking for candidates to serve on the Board of Directors starting May 2017 – CSA
Deadline for application is 4:00 pm ET on Wednesday, 22 March 2017.

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Deklan Wynne called up again to New Zealand for 2018 World Cup qualifiers – WFC2
New Zealand Football announced on Thursday that Whitecaps FC 2 (WFC2) left back Deklan Wynne has been called up for his country’s upcoming Oceania Football Confederation (OFC) Stage Three qualifying matches against Fiji for the 2018 FIFA World Cup.

FC Edmonton to open 10th Edition of Canadian Championship in May against rivals Ottawa – FC Edmonton
FC Edmonton faces Ottawa Fury FC in Qualifying Round beginning May 3 at TD Bank Stadium; New Canadian content rule and the addition of League 1 Ontario and Première Ligue de soccer du Québec champions in 2018.

Bring it on! – Coach confident Fury up for Edmonton challenge – Ottawa Sun
Ottawa Fury FC will go toe to toe with FC Edmonton in the opening leg of a two-game Canadian Championship series May 3 at TD Place. The return match will be played May 10 in Edmonton.

2017 USL Preview: Ottawa Fury FC – USL
Ottawa Fury FC makes its debut in the USL in 2017 and brings a number of familiar names to USL fans, as well as a strong core of Canadian internationals, as it looks to make an immediate impact in the Eastern Conference.

Republic FC’s Pitch Undergoes Name Change – USL
Sacramento Republic FC announced Thursday the naming of its facility and home pitch as Papa Murphy’s Park. This marks the start of a multi-year partnership between Republic FC and the well-known pizza chain.

2017 USL Preview: Sacramento Republic FC – USL
With a revamped attacking group, and some strong veteran additions to the squad, Republic FC will likely use last season’s disappointment as a motivator in the pursuit of a second championship.

FC Kansas City’s Caroline Kastor announces retirement – Excelle Sports
FC Kansas City forward Caroline Kastor has announced her retirement from soccer on her Instagram account on Thursday.

Can offsite NWSL broadcasts connect to fans? – The Equalizer
The NWSL rolled out their broadcast deal with A+E Networks and Lifetime with full bells and whistles, but since then…radio silence. When it comes to the streaming component of the NWSL’s broadcast deal, there are a lot of questions and very few answers. However, the clubs have informed their broadcast teams their services will no longer be needed as it becomes increasingly clear a majority of the Lifetime broadcasts will originate from a central studio.

Rangel and Corral doing Mexico proud in Spain – FIFA
The Monterrey-born midfielder is not the first Tri international to try her luck in La Liga, as she told FIFA.com: “Both Kenti (Robles) and Pamela (Tajonar) had spoken to me about it, and Maribel (Dominguez) said I should come, because the pace of the game here would help me be more competitive. I’m happy with the decision I made.”

Susan Egelstaff: Until the SWPL is professional, the flow of talent out of the country will continue – Scotland Herald
Things are not perfect in the world of Scottish women’s football. This close season highlighted the stark reality that if any Scottish women want to have even a stab at playing football professionally, they must leave the country.

Women footballers to break world record for highest altitude game ever played – Bein Sports
Two all-female international teams will battle it out at the top of Mt Kilimanjaro. They seek more than glory; they seek an “Equal Playing Field”. In June 2017 two all-women football teams will battle it out for 90 minutes just below the summit of Mt. Kilimanjaro in Tanzania. If they succeed, they will break the Guinness World Record for the highest altitude football game ever played.

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WORLD SOCCER NEWS

Bob Lenarduzzi: Can Lincoln City’s upstart FA Cup run continue against Arsenal? – The Province
The FA Cup sixth round is this weekend as the tournament reaches the quarter-finals. Giant-killers Lincoln City are the first non-league side to get this far in over a century, but have a tough task ahead, playing away to Arsenal on Saturday.

Europa League round-up: Lacazette gives Lyon advantage against Roma – The Guardian
Nabil Fekir and Alexandre Lacazette fired late goals as Lyon hit back to beat Roma 4-2 at the Stade des Lumières. Roma struck twice through Mohamed Salah and Federico Fazio to lead at half-time after Mouctar Diakhaby had given Lyon an early lead.

Fiorentina unveil plans for new 40,000-seat stadium – ESPN FC
Fiorentina have unveiled plans for a new stadium, which they hope to be playing in by 2021. The new stadium will seat 40,000 people, with the closest fans being only seven metres from the field.

Streaking Tigres host Chivas, Esquivel needed and more talking points ahead of Liga MX Round 10 – SN
It’s all downhill from here. Well, at least it is in some respects. We’re entering the second half of the season, and the race for Liguilla positions or against relegation is tightening. But it’s also been several weeks running now when the headlines from Liga MX are more about discipline – or the lack of it.

PSG players abused by angry fans at airport after Champions League defeat – France 24
Police have launched an investigation after Paris St Germain’s players were confronted by angry supporters upon their return to the French capital on Wednesday following their 6-1 Champions League defeat in Barcelona, the Ligue 1 club has said.

Troubled Lorient in desperate scrap to survive – Ligue 1
Following some woeful recent performances, FC Lorient require a dramatic and quick improvement in form if they are to extend their 11-year stay in Ligue 1, writes Andy Scott.

Rangers’ Graeme Murty focused on Celtic task and not Pedro Caixinha arrival – BBC Sport
Rangers caretaker boss Graeme Murty says the Old Firm derby is more important than his own future under prospective new boss Pedro Caixinha.

Refereeing as an industry is suffering something of a crisis – Sportsnet
Even those who defend the right to criticize referees must be growing tired of criticizing them quite so much. Not a week goes by without a refereeing controversy, with most weeks now witnessing more than one. It’s not an illusion; as observers of the sport we have never before spoken so much about the whistlers.

Sydney close in on Premiers Plate with tight win over Mariners – The Guardian
Sydney FC can officially claim the A-League Premiers Plate within 24 hours, after an underwhelming 1-0 win over Central Coast put them on the brink of a first trophy in seven seasons.

Cristiano Ronaldo airport rename critics slammed by Madeira president – ESPN FC
The regional president of Madeira has described critics of the renaming of the island’s airport in honour of Cristiano Ronaldo of “a lack of manners.”

Soccer: Infantino confident Argentina will escape suspension – Reuters
Argentina are close to resolving a row that could have seen the former world champions suspended, FIFA president Gianni Infantino said on Thursday.

Barcelona, Real Madrid will bring El Clasico to Miami during this summer’s ICC – Fox Sports
The greatest rivalry in club soccer is coming to the United States for the first time. Real Madrid and Barcelona will face each other in Miami on July 29 as part of the International Champions Cup.

Mutko ruled out of standing for FIFA Council due to Russian government role – Inside World Football
Russia’s under-fire World Cup supremo Vitaly Mutko, one of the most powerful figures in world sport, has been sensationally barred from seeking re-election to FIFA’s ruling Council.

Safe standing a step closer after Football League’s green light for rail seats – The Guardian
The prospect of safe standing being introduced to English football has moved a step closer after the government body responsible for ground safety granted a request from the Football League to permit rail seating in 21 grounds that are not subject to all-seater requirements.

Book Excerpt:  Sócrates: ‘It was not a goal, it was an endless orgasm. Unforgettable’  – The Guardian
In this exclusive extract from a new book on the legendary Brazil midfielder, team-mates reveal how he lost weight and even gave up his infamous smoking habit before captaining the side at the 1982 World Cup finals in Spain