BC Soccer News, Weekend, November 18-20, 2016

VANCOUVER WHITECAPS FC & MLS NEWS

Vancouver Whitecaps needing better squad chemistry and communication as search for Latino talent continuesAFTN
Pedro Morales’ training ground bust-up with David Ousted last month was played down by Vancouver Whitecaps as nothing more than two passionate players fired up by a disappointing season. All very understandable after a tough year that saw the ‘Caps perform well below expectations.

Digging deeper: The year that was for Christian BolañosWhitecaps FC
Christian Bolaños is “aging like fine wine.” That was the headline of a Costa Rican newspaper this week after the Vancouver Whitecaps FC midfielder played a lead role for the Ticos in their World Cup qualifying victories over Trinidad & Tobago and the United States, recording a goal and an assist in both matches.

Atlanta United’s Expansion Draft Wish List: Vancouver WhitecapsDirty South Soccer
Here we are at club No. 20, the finale of our Draft Wish list series. Feel free to go back through our previous stories and see who you think Atlanta United should take in the Expansion Draft. After this, we’ll be compiling our top 10 available players from our series. Stay tuned for that.

Toronto FC ready for “street fight” in first leg at rivals Montreal ImpactMLS
Come Tuesday, there will be blood. Well, maybe. Two of Toronto FC’s three matches in the the Audi 2016 MLS Cup Playoffs have been fierce encounters. The Knockout Round against Philadelphia was fast-paced and hard-fought. The first leg of the Eastern Conference Semifinal against New York City FC was similarly fractious – though the second was over as a contest before it began.  And the first leg of the Eastern Conference Championship against the Montreal Impact (Tuesday, 8 pm ET, ESPN, TSN1, TSN3, RDS) promises more of the same.

Marco Donadel, Impact ready for historic encounter against Toronto FCSN
If Marco Donadel doesn’t need a second to respond to questions regarding next week’s first leg of the MLS Eastern Conference Final between the Montreal Impact and Toronto FC, it’s because he’s already given the game a great deal of thought.

Montreal have their hands full with Giovinco and rampant Toronto FCESPN FC
TFC’s Canadian rival Montreal used a devastating counterattack to take down the Red Bulls, thanks in large part to Matteo Mancosu and Ignacio Piatti.

Analysis: How the four MLS playoff survivors shape upSoccer America
There are still a few more days before the long break between MLS playoff matches is closed, but both matchups in the conference finals are generating buzz.

Morris aside, Sounders close to full health as Rapids showdown approachesMLS
Slowly but surely, the Seattle Sounders are working their way back to full strength.

Keane to leave LA Galaxy Prost Amerika
Robbie Keane, one of the most successful Designated Players since the institution of the rule in 2007, will not return to the Galaxy after five and a half seasons in which the Irish international established himself as one of the most feared strikers in the league.

Former Whitecap Mehdi Ballouchy RetiresNYCFC
Mehdi Ballouchy has retired from soccer. The Moroccan midfielder brings a long and successful MLS career to a close following two seasons with NYCFC.

Adrian Heath, Former Orlando City Head Coach, To Take Charge Of MinnesotaFifty Five One
Adrian Heath, the former head coach of recent MLS expansion side Orlando City SC, has been offered the head coaching role with Minnesota United FC. Heath, 55, has long been rumored to be one of the leading contenders for the Loons job. Minnesota United declined to comment for this report. Heath could be announced by the club as soon as Friday.

Earthquakes president Kaval adds new role, Shawlee steps into spotlight SBI
With the announcement that Oakland Athletics’ managing partner Lew Wolff was stepping down on Thursday, along with team president Mike Crowley, San Jose Earthquakes president Dave Kaval was tapped to expand his role from president of the Quakes, to also president of the A’s.

Veteran Sportscaster Gina Miller Joins FC Dallas as VP of Media & CommunicationsFC Dallas
FC Dallas has hired Gina Miller as Vice President of Media and Communications, the club announced today. Miller will oversee communications and public relations strategy, produce and host original multimedia content and will serve as FC Dallas’ spokesperson.

St. Louis ownership group announces sweeping plans for MLS expansion bidMLS
A Missouri-based ownership group announced on Thursday a sweeping plan to pursue an MLS expansion team for St. Louis – and a new downtown, soccer-specific stadium for the club to call home.

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BC SOCCER NEWS

BC Soccer Premier League (BCSPL) finals kick off this weekendWhitecaps FC
The EA SPORTS BC Soccer Premier League, the official high performance partner league of Vancouver Whitecaps FC, are set to kick off their cup finals this weekend. The 2016 BCSPL League Cup Finals, presented by Tommy Gun’s Original Barbershop are being hosted by Surrey United Soccer Club.

VISL Division 1 Matches – Nov.18-21VISL
Upcoming weekend games for the VISL Division 1 as we start the 2nd half to the season.

Adam Jones Named West Region Player Of YearSFU
Adam Jones has been voted as the West Region Player of the Year and the Clan produced a region-best five student-athletes on the 2016 All-West Region Team.

Emma Pringle Selected To All-West Region Second TeamSFU
The Great Northwest Athletic Conference Freshman of the Year and First Team All-Conference, Pringle helped Simon Fraser to its first conference post-season game in program history.

Comox Valley United VISL teams both lose 3-1Comox Valley Record
Comox Valley United’s two Vancouver Island Soccer League teams both suffered 3-1 losses this past weekend.

Burnaby fullback playing for CanadaBurnaby Now
Burnaby’s Emma Regan is gaining a world of experience as one of the youngest members of Canada’s under-20 women’s soccer team.

‘Caps at College: Girls Elite REX grads make their mark at home and across the borderWhitecaps FC
It was another year of collegiate soccer that was littered with Whitecaps FC alumni from the Girls Elite REX program.

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

VMSL PHOTOS: Richmond FC Hibs 1, ICSF Columbus FC 0, November 5, 2016BC Soccer Web
Exclusive photos for BC Soccer Web by Bill Currie.

Tickets now on sale for Canada Soccer Women’s National Team celebration match 4 February in VancouverCSA
Individual tickets to the Canada v Mexico Women’s National Team Bronze Medal celebration match on 4 February 2017 in Vancouver are now on sale to the public. Complete ticket information can be found at CanadaSoccer.com/Tickets.

MWSL PHOTOS: Van United Primas 0, Fraser Valley Action 2, October 30, 2016BC Soccer Web
Exclusive Photos for BC Soccer Web by Bill Currie.

PHOTOS: GNAC Women’s Soccer: SFU 1 Concordia U. (Ore.) 0, October 20, 2016 BC Soccer Web
Exclusive Photos for BC Soccer Web by Bill Currie.

BC Soccer Assoc. Releases their 2015-2016 Year in ReviewBCSA
After another successful year of soccer in British Columbia, BC Soccer Assoc. is pleased to release their 2015-2016 Year in Review.  The creation of the BC Soccer Club Charter Program, delivery of a FIFA Live Your Goals Festival, along with the numerous Grassroots Festivals across the province and Coach Education highlight some of the major successes this past year.

BC Soccer Assoc. Delivery of Coach MandateBCSA
IMPORTANT:  If you are coaching in the ages U6-U12 you are required to complete the age appropriate course(s) even if you have a higher level of certification (ie. Soccer for Life, B pretest, C License, B License or A License). In order to enable our membership to deliver on the coaching mandate, BC Soccer Assoc. will be scheduling Learning Facilitator training sessions to assist organizations to have qualified individuals to deliver in-club coach certification courses to their coaches.

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 SyndicationBC 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

Canada Soccer names roster for Men’s U-17 series in JamaicaCSA
Canada Soccer has announced their player squad for the Men’s U-17 International Series in Jamaica. The Canadian squad will face their CONCACAF rivals on 27 and 29 November 2016 in Clarendon and Kingston, respectively.

Time for Canadian soccer supporters to be… optimistic? – the11.ca
It feels like we are in a weirdly optimistic time for Canadian soccer.

Easing the Pain of Cutting Kids From Sport: Are There Best Practices? (Dr. Lauren Sulz)Canadian Sport for Life
The practice of cutting, or the non-selection of athletes from sport teams, is one of the most controversial debates in youth sport. Whether you believe the team selection process “mimics the reality of life”, “toughens kids up” or, on the contrary, “turns kids off sport” or “promotes elitism”, cutting is a reality of today’s sport environment.

Pinsent to coach all-star squad at Universiade PEI Guardian
Hunter River native Miles Pinsent will lead Canada’s men’s soccer team at the Summer Universiade, in Chinese Taipei.

League1 Ontario Announces 2016 Men’s First And Second Team All-Stars  – League1 Ontario
In the first of a set of daily League1 Ontario 2016 Awards announcements leading up to the L1O Awards banquet on Saturday November 27, the 2016 Men’s First and Second Team All-Stars have been revealed, featuring outstanding performers from the 2016 season.

 Capture the  game in HD using aerial video, book now at www.gamevision.ca!

WFC2, USL & NASL NEWS

MLS Expansion? Sacramento Approves Soccer Stadium Plan Empire of Soccer
Is Major League Soccer about to land in Northern California? Sacramento City Council has approved a proposal for a development project that includes a new soccer stadium in the downtown rail-yard area. This signifies a major development in the city’s push for an MLS franchise — an ambition USL side Sacramento Republic have pursued for some time.

Pay Up: Cosmos asking a transfer fee for SavareseEmpire of Soccer
Giovanni Savarese is the hottest coaching prospect in America — and the New York Cosmos want to cash in on his next move.

USL President Jake Edwards Talks Orlando City B, a Renewed Rivalry With Tampa Bay, Expansion and MoreThe Mane Land
USL President Jake Edwards spoke to the Mane Land about Orlando City B. Did he let slip where the young Lions will be playing next season?

UPSL EXPANDS TO COLORADOGoal Nation
Men’s soccer — on all levels — is growing rapidly in America and the expansion of the UPSL and other leagues proves this popularity. This year, the UPSL will kick off its Colorado Conference in 2017 as the league prepares for the inaugural season of its Promotion/Relegation Model. Four teams will compete in the conference with additional clubs expected to be added in coming years.

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WOMEN’S SOCCER NEWS

USWNT to discuss labor fight on 60 Minutes The Equalizer
Four members of the United States national team sat down with Nora O’Donnell for an interview that will air as a segment on 60 Minutes this Sunday on CBS. Excerpted quotes from Carli Lloyd, Becky Sauerbrunn, and Christen Press do not directly reference U.S. Soccer or the impending expiration of the collective bargaining agreement, but the implication is clear including a question from O’Donnell about athletes in other sports “battling their employers for more pay.”

Team USA soccer players allege gender discrimination60 Minutes
The U.S. Women’s National Soccer Team has won four Olympic gold medals, three World Cups, and is currently the No. 1 team in the world, but they say they don’t get paid as much nor are they treated as well as the U.S. men’s team.  Some of the star female players on Team USA tell Norah O’Donnell that the time has come for a change. O’Donnell’s story will be broadcast on 60 Minutes Sunday, Nov. 20 at 7:30 p.m. ET and 7 p.m. PT.

Meet the Women’s Champions League last eightUEFA
Holders Lyon, former winners Wolfsburg and past runners-up Paris Saint-Germain and Fortuna Hjørring are joined in the 25 November draw by two first-time quarter-finalists.

Westfield W-League- Round 3 previewW-League
All the squad news for Round 3 in the Westfield W-League headlined by the Fox Sports/ABC TV match between Newcastle Jets and Perth Glory.

BYU, South Carolina to face off in NCAA tournament sweet sixteenThe Equalizer
BYU defeated Oklahoma, 2-1, in the first match of the NCAA tournament second round. The match, which was played in Columbia, South Carolina, seemed to be dominated by the Cougars. Although both teams put four shots on goal, BYU outshot Oklahoma 14-6, and those extra opportunities ended up being the difference maker.

First AFC Women’s Football Conference impresses with high-level programmeGhana Soccernet
The ground-breaking Asian Football Confederation (AFC) Women’s Football Conference concluded today in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, with a keynote address about success in women’s football by former England women’s national team coach Hope Powell.

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WORLD SOCCER NEWS

Concacaf World Cup qualifying is broken. But what should replace the Hex?The Guardian
The Concacaf format is too top-heavy – and it means USA should still qualify for Russia despite their 4-0 capitulation to Costa Rica. It’s time for a change

English Premier League Preview: Manchester United vs. Arsenal and moreSBI
Injury and fitness concerns reign supreme as the Premier League returns to action this week following the international break that saw many of its stars pick up knocks.

China’s PPTV buys 3-years of broadcast rights to Premier League for $700mInside World Football
Taking advantage of the burgeoning Chinese market, the English Premier League has sold its television rights in the country to streaming service PPTV for a staggering  $700 million (£565 million), according to a number of reports in the UK and Asia.

Bundesliga match day 11 previewProst Amerika
While the rest of the leagues attention was focused on the various internationals FC Ingolstadt found their successor for Markus Kauczinski and in an unexpected coach.

Atletico Madrid eye revenge for UCL defeat in last derby at the CalderonESPN FC
Fernando Torres called it the game of their lives, and they lost. Koke admitted they will never, ever get over it. That night will always be on our minds, Juanfran Torres said. After it, Diego Simeone asked for time to think and then went silent. Days passed, weeks without a word. “It felt like a death and every death needs a period of mourning,” he eventually explained.

Madrid derby will never be the same after this weekendSportsnet
As contrasts between bitter city rivals go the one between Atletico Madrid and Real Madrid is about as stark as they come.

Sainté chasing goals against league leaders Nice Ligue 1
AS Saint-Etienne are hoping to resolve their goalscoring conundrum when they welcome league leaders OGC Nice to the Stade Geoffroy-Guichard on Sunday evening.

Paris Saint-Germain without France international trio for Nantes clashESPN FC
Paris Saint-Germain will be without injured France international trio Adrien Rabiot, Alphonse Areola and Layvin Kurzawa when they welcome Nantes to Parc des Princes on Saturday.

Scottish Premiership match previewsBBC Sport
Previews for the weekend’s Scottish Premiership matches, including team news and match statistics.

The cost of corruption: Samsung pulls out of Brazil sponsorshipInside World Football
The Brazilian FA, the CBF, and Samsung have parted ways. Samsung is the fifth major sponsor the CBF has lost since the FIFA scandal engulfed the world game and shone the spotlight on decades of corruption in Brazilian football.

UEFA bans CSKA’s Eremenko 2 years for cocaineSportsnet
Finland midfielder Roman Eremenko has been banned for two years after he tested positive for cocaine, UEFA said Friday.

Liga MX to officially opt out of 2017 Copa Libertadores – sourcesESPN FC
The Mexico Football Federation (FMF) is set to officially announce that Liga MX clubs will not participate in the 2017 Copa Libertadores, sources have told ESPN’s Rene Tovar.

Suspended Greek soccer leagues to restart TuesdayOur London
Greece’s soccer federation says domestic league games will recommence on Tuesday, eight days after their indefinite suspension following a suspected arson attack against a referee’s home.

Sporting Gijon to close part of stadium because of racial insultsSportsnet
Sporting Gijon says it has been ordered to close part of its stadium during one game in the Spanish league because its fans allegedly racially insulted a player from an opposing team.

Gianni Infantino proposes Club World Cup expansion to 32 teams for 2019The Guardian
Gianni Infantino wants to radically expand the Club World Cup and move the tournament from December to June.

English soccer to look into allowing standing in stadiumsHamilton Spectator
The English Premier League is exploring whether fans should be allowed to stand at games again, more than 20 years after stadiums were ordered to be all-seated.

China and Qatar: spendthrift would-be superpowers unlikely to reach RussiaThe Guardian
This week brought arguably the most interesting largely inconsequential game of football ever played. On Tuesday China and Qatar drew 0-0 in front of 32,000 people in the Tuodong Sports Centre Stadium in Kunming.

Alecko Eskandarian: Soccer’s Unspoken ProblemThe Players’ Tribune
Besides the doctors in the hospital, nobody ever mentioned the word concussion. And after a week of rest, I was back out playing and training with the team. Bullet dodged. That is how my nightmare began.

Posted in BC Soccer News.