BC Soccer News, Thursday, March 30, 2017

VANCOUVER WHITECAPS FC & MLS NEWS

MAJOR LEAGUE SOCCER

 VANCOUVER WHITECAPS FC  vs.  L.A. GALAXY

MATCHDAY #4

SATURDAY, APRIL 1, 2017, 7:00 PM

BUY TICKETS

BC PLACE, VANCOUVER, BC

TV: TSN 1   RADIO: TSN 1040   ONLINE: TSN GO

‘Silly season’ over for Whitecaps as team tries to stay out of the red – The Province
Only three games into their 34-game MLS season, the Caps can’t afford any more bad decisions when they play the Los Angeles Galaxy on Saturday at B.C. Place Stadium. The Caps are 0-2-1 and that one point out of a possible nine represents their poorest start in MLS.

Trying to look on the bright side – Eighty-Six Forever
It is easy to point to what has been wrong with the Whitecaps in the month of March, but what was there to provide a little hope for the season?

Rosales and Whitecaps preach calmness – Red Nation Online
Vancouver Whitecaps FC are hoping to get leadership, experience, quality and the odd contribution on the pitch from Mauro Rosales.

Teen soccer star from Edmonton turns heads with Vancouver Whitecaps – Global TV
Veteran defender Pa-Modou Kah was on the practice field with the Vancouver Whitecaps one morning last season when a lanky 15-year-old joined training. Alphonso Davies had been promoted to the club’s first team and found himself matched up against Kendall Waston, a hulking six-foot-five centre back.

Ashley Cole set to return to action against Vancouver Whitecaps – LAG Confidential
There is finally some good news on the injury front for the LA Galaxy ahead of Saturday night’s match against the Vancouver Whitecaps.

Introducing the Official Whitecaps FC Podcast – Whitecaps FC
Today, we are pleased to announce the launch of Sideline Stories, the official Whitecaps FC podcast hosted by award-winning broadcaster Perry Solkowski.

Montreal Impact not panicking, despite winless start to season – Montreal Gazette
Major League Soccer’s 34-game regular season is a marathon and the Impact is still in the early stages of a seven-month odyssey.

Real Salt Lake explain why Mike Petke was the best fit as head coach – MLS
New Real Salt Lake head coach Mike Petke only needed one preseason and a single, victorious USL match to prove he had what it took to replace Jeff Cassar, who was let go after three matches to start the 2017 season.

MLS move invigorates Schweinsteiger: I have a lot more to give – SN
Bastian Schweinsteiger insists he has a lot more to give after sealing his move to MLS with the Chicago Fire.

Journalist who asked Bastian Schweinsteiger World Cup question ‘sorry for offending anyone’ – The Telegraph
The journalist who infamously asked Bastian Schweinsteiger whether Chicago Fire could win the World Cup has come forward to explain his awkward question.

Preview: Toronto FC hope home is sweet against Sporting KC – Waking the Red
After a three-game road trip and an international break, Toronto FC are finally returning to their house on Lakeshore.

TFC coach Vanney insists there’s no goalkeeper controversy – Sportsnet
Who says you can’t play two goalkeepers if both of them are good enough to start?

Orlando City’s Kreis on latest Cyle Larin transfer rumors: “A lot of talk” – MLS
Not yet, but watch this space. That was the implication from Orlando City SC head coach Jason Kreis after being asked about the latest speculation involving star striker Cyle Larin and a possible move to Europe.

Dairon Asprilla is ‘grateful’ for new opportunity with Portland Timbers following loan stint – Oregonian
Portland Timbers winger Dairon Asprilla smiled joyfully as he ran to the sideline to embrace his teammates in a giant hug seconds after scoring the opening goal in Columbus last Saturday. The significance of the moment was not lost on the 24-year-old.

MLS PHOTOS: Vancouver Whitecaps FC 0 Toronto FC 2, March 18, 2017 – BC Soccer Web
Exclusive Photos for BC Soccer Web by Bill Currie.

Train With Champions TWU Spartan Female Soccer Academy

BC SOCCER NEWS

United playing for Island soccer supremacy – Nanaimo News Bulletin
Nanaimo United to face Cowichan FC in VISL’s Jackson Cup final.

LMG falls to Vic West – Cowichan Valley Citizen
For the second game in a row, Cowichan LMG ran into a team that was desperate for a win, and for the second game in a row, Cowichan ended up on the wrong side of the score.

Niners come just short of league title – Cowichan Valley Citizen
It’s a pretty impressive debut. In their first year of existence, the Cowichan 49ers just missed out on winning the Vancouver Island Soccer League’s Masters A division, in addition to making the final of the Tony Grover Cup tournament next Sunday.

Mid Isle Mariners will try to win two cups in one day – Nanaimo Bulletin
Mid Isle’s Div. 3 and U21 men both playing for VISL championships on Saturday (April 1).

TOYSL season around the corner – Kamloops This Week
The Thompson-Okanagan Youth Soccer League (TOYSL) is set to begin play this weekend through the region.

Looking for hidden gems at Hugh Boyd – Richmond News
University and college programs attend Richmond Girls Soccer’s inaugural Showcase Game.

Powell River Villa drops to third division – Powell River Peak
Disappointing season ends with soccer club losing must-win match.

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!

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.

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.

3v3 Live Soccer Tour Comes to Canada

CANADA SOCCER NEWS

Christine Sinclair leads Canada squad featuring 7 teenagers on European tour – Times Colonist
Captain Christine Sinclair will lead a 22-woman Canadian squad that features seven teenagers to Europe in April for a pair of testing matches against Germany and Sweden.

ROSTER: Canada Soccer releases roster for women’s friendlies in Sweden and Germany – CSA
Canada Soccer’s Women’s National Team are heading to Europe to play tier one opponents Sweden 6 April 2017 in Trelleborg, Sweden, and Germany 9 April 2017 in Erfurt, Germany. The two match series pits Canada’s Olympic Bronze Medalists against the Rio 2016 Olympic Games Silver and Gold Medalists, respectively.

Oilers: CanPL “not on our radar” – the11.ca
Of course, with FC Edmonton already in place in the NASL, and the club maintaining its public stance that its loyal to that league, there was talk about where the Edmonton bid was coming from. And then the Edmonton Oilers were brought into play, with the rumour mill churning out that Daryl Katz, the owner of that NHL team, was behind a CanPL bid for the once-officially-named-but-now-unofficially-named City of Champions.

Tyler Pasher’s Journey to SKC: Why Canadians Need CPL – Northern Starting XI
Becoming a professional soccer player is not easy. It takes a lot of hard work and drive, as well as the skill to succeed. Unfortunately, in Canada the task can be even more daunting simply because if a player is not ready to play at a high level at the age of 19-20, the opportunity to be signed to a professional contract may disappear.  I was able to talk to Tyler Pasher about how he was able to succeed in a difficult environment and eventually be signed by Sporting Kansas City.

Young Labrador West soccer player shows great promise – The Aurora
To say soccer is in thirteen-year-old Reggie Pike’s blood would be a bit of an understatement. His grandfather, Aubrey Pike played for the St. Lawrence Laurentiens and Holy Cross in St. Johns before moving to Labrador west. Once there he was one of the pioneers who brought soccer to the area.

2017 looking to be a banner year for the Barrie Soccer Club – Barrie Today
Soccer is the nation’s number one participation sport for kids and right now no one in the region is doing it better than the Barrie Soccer Club.

 Premium Classified Advertising on BC Soccer Web Starting at 50 cents per day!

UNITED SOCCER LEAGUE

RENO 1868  vs.  WFC2

SATURDAY, APRIL 1, 2017, 7:00 PM

GREATER NEVADA FIELD, RENO, NV.

LIVESTREAM: WHITECAPSFC.COM

USL will launch second league in 2019 to occupy U.S. Soccer’s Division 3 – SI.com
The United Soccer League and its ever-expanding roster of clubs spent around two years, a lot of effort and a lot of money to build a circuit worthy of second-division sanctioning. And they received it—finally, but provisionally—in January. So now, after all that, the Tampa-based organization is once again eyeing division three.

Eddies still recall pain of the 2015 Jacksonville opener – the11.ca
It still bothers FC Edmonton coach Colin Miller. Two years ago, the Eddies opened the spring season at Jacksonville. The Armada’s Jemal Johnson scored just 12 seconds after the kickoff, setting a new league record for fastest marker from the start of an NASL match.

FC Edmonton back from successful tour in Manchester, England – Edmonton Sun
FC Edmonton returned from a pre-season tour in England feeling like a much-improved team.

USL Discipline Report – Week 1 – USL
The following is the USL’s discipline report for Week 1 of the 2017 United Soccer League season.

Recent self-improvements pay off for USL in successful opening weekend – Indomitable City Soccer
The newly D2 sanctioned league impressed in Week 1 with new broadcast standards, stadiums, attendance and more.

I tried out for the New York Cosmos. Would I make the grade? – The Guardian
When Pele’s old club announced they were holding open tryouts, I, a 31-year-old journalist with no professional football experience, dared to dream.

UWCL Roundup: Morgan, Lyon through; Carli next? – The Equalizer
Lyon moved through to the UEFA Women’s Champions League semifinals on Wednesday despite falling 1-0 at home to Wolfsburg.

Wolfsburg, Bayern knocked out of women’s Champions League – DW
German clubs’ prowess in women’s football suffered a blow in the Champions League quarterfinals. Bayern Munich and Wolfsburg both lost to French opposition – meaning no Bundesliga club made the final four this year.

Real Madrid to finally create section for women’s football – AS
Real Madrid will finally take the step in generating a women’s football section withing the structure of the club. The news was broken last night on the El Partidazo de Cope radio show. The initial plan is to work with junior level teams and at present there are no plans for the club to develop a professional side that would ultimately compete in the Liga Iberdrola (the Spanish women’s top flight category).

Sky Blue’s Rampone: Gazing at Europe From N.J. – Empire of Soccer
As the Sky Blue defender and team captain Christie Rampone prepares for her final professional soccer season, she looks at a quartet of her former teammates on the United States women’s national team and is a little jealous.

How the Red Stars won the NWSL off-season – The Equalizer
In an off-season marred by hasty team relocations, player exits, questionable trades and controversy, one team has emerged as the clear off-season winner: the Chicago Red Stars.

Houston Dash Name Omar Morales as Assistant Coach – Houston Dynamo
The Houston Dash named Omar Morales as an assistant coach, the team announced today. Morales will work closely with head coach Randy Waldrum on a daily basis, and work with the Dash academy throughout the year.

Media sources reveal more details about NWSL and Lifetime TV partnership – Excelle Sports
In 18 days the National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL) will begin its fifth season, and this year with a new partnership in the mix with A+E Networks and Lifetime TV, you’d think the announcements leading up the first match would be endless. Yet, it has been quite the contrary.

Play like a girl: Analyzing the hardships faced by female athletes – Collegiate Times
Over the years, I have learned that you only have one real shot to show your athleticism. A bad first touch on a soccer ball makes you unreliable. A tackle on an offender too early makes you slow. Avoidance of a header makes you weak. After 15 years of playing soccer, I know I am most critical of my skills in co-ed games because a mess up too big will result in lack of involvement from the boys.

Arsène Wenger tells Arsenal players the air of uncertainty is no excuse for slump – The Guardian
Arsène Wenger has instructed his Arsenal players to recover their focus and not to use the uncertainty over his future as an excuse for falling short of the required standards.

Mourinho: Neymar talk ‘absurd’ – Football Espana
Manchester Untied boss Jose Mourinho has dismissed claims his side could aim to buy Barcelona forward as ‘absurd’.

FIFA proposes new six-team playoff ahead of 2026 World Cup – Sportsnet
FIFA wants to hold a new six-team playoff round in the 2026 World Cup host country to complete the expanded 48-team tournament lineup.

Everton’s Romelu Lukaku is a traditional No 9 who could play in any era – The Guardian
The Belgian striker has the muscle, bustle and hustle to cause opponents damage and, despite a few faults, would be a name to be feared on any teamsheet.

Steaua Bucharest change name to FC FCSB following military row – ESPN FC
Romanian side Steaua Bucharest have officially changed their name to FC FCSB following a dispute with the Romanian military.

Euro leagues body meets as demands for UEFA to hear its voice intensify – Inside World Football
Europe’s top leagues meet Friday to decide how to avoid a showdown with UEFA and the Continent’s clubs after being left behind over changes to the Champions League and other reforms.

Premier League launches major fightback against illegal streaming – The Guardian
The Premier League has launched its biggest crackdown on piracy with a series of moves to combat illegal streaming, in light of fears that widespread availability of new consumer-friendly devices could fatally undermine its business model.

Tapia takes Argentina FA top job: first issues are Messi and Russia 2018 qualification – Inside World Football
After a leaderless period of turmoil, Argentine football now has a new president after Claudio Tapia was elected unopposed and made reducing Lionel Messi’s four-match ban his first priority.

Court dismisses class-action lawsuit involving Bradley, Yedlin, Dempsey – SN
A U.S. District Court in Texas has dismissed a class-action lawsuit filed by a trio of youth clubs against the MLS Players Union and U.S. national team stars Michael Bradley, DeAndre Yedlin and Clint Dempsey.

Cristiano Ronaldo sculptor: it is impossible to please everyone – The Guardian
The sculptor who made the bronze bust of Cristiano Ronaldo has admitted that his creation may not be to everybody’s taste but insisted the Real Madrid striker had given his seal of approval before it was unveiled.

OFF THE PITCH: Secrets to an effective volunteer program – GoalWA
Good volunteer program design decreases administrative costs, engages members, increases program support, shares the workload, and improves support for coaches so they can devote more time to our players. But volunteers are not free.