Newtown's Tracy wins college soccer's highest pride

Newtown High boys soccer coach Brian Neumeyer starting saw Marcus Tracy kicking the soccer ball around at age 11.

Immediately, the senior coach knew he had a rare talent.

Yet even Neumeyer's seasoned eye couldn't utilize envisioned that Tracy would one day become the best college player in the land.

That, but, is exactly what happened last Friday in St. Louis.

The Missouri Athletic Club awarded the Newtown native the 2008 Hermann Trophy, college soccer's equivalent of the Heisman Trophy.

"I always felt he had the ability to be a genius college player," Neumeyer said of Tracy, who just completed his senior span at Wake Forest. "Although you never assume this. The Hermann Trophy is along the same level as the Heisman. That's an unreasonable prediction to take advantage of for anyone."

Tracy, who tallied 13 goals as a consequence 10 assists this year, beat out teammate Sam Cronin furthermore Akron's Steve Zakuani for the award as well as became the first player in Demon Deacon bygone times to win the coveted pride.

National Soccer League expensive: Alufurai

A Team handmade up of FIFA including Oceania will fabricate a happening finding mission to Solomon Islands soon in light of the Inland Soccer League saga. Oceania Football Confederation last October urged outright their member associations to organize a Social Soccer League by 2010 ahead of they may qualify for the O League.Though, the decision had hit hard on Solomon Islands Football Federation who feel that it is beyond their capability to run a NSL in the region by reason of finance moreover infrastructure not in place.SIFF president, Martin Alufurai told One New Television Football Moving picture along Sunday that the visit is to analyse the situation Solomon Islands are facing in running a National Soccer League."To run a soccer league is very expensive because clubs must utilize their own fields, school of excellence along with finance."At the moment, even most clubs in Honiara do not have their own infrastructure to meet the requirement of the NSL," Alufurai said.He said SIFF did not want to run a Social Soccer League which in the rear one month they decide to close it.According to Oceania Football Confederation, a NSL must hold a home as a consequence away play-offs between top clubs in the region.This means the ten provinces namely Honiara, Western, Malaita, Choiseul, Central, Makira UIawa, Temotu, Renbel, Guadalcanal together with Isabel must utilize their club representatives to play against each other on a home including away basis for the duration of the league.Alufurai said no more than to fly 22 Honiara players to Auki, Malaita which is closest, forth a Solomon Airlines plane will cost over $30,000.He said this gathered SIFF to run a league which suite their capability also situation in the land.

Earlier Brazilian soccer player Friaca dies at 84

He died Monday from multiorgan failure afterwards vivacity hospitalized despite pneumonia for six weeks in Itaperuna, the region's soccer federation said along its Web site.

The full-South American final in 1950 was played at reiteratively built Maracana Stadium in Rio de Janeiro ahead of a crowd of just under 200,000. Brazil was a big liked furthermore Friaca unclosed the scoring in the 47th minute. However Uruguay jolted Brazil by coming later with goals in the 66th as well as 79th minutes.

Known for his speed and ability to play any attacking place, Friaca began his lifework in 1943 despite the Rio club Vasco. Six years behind he switched to Sao Paulo, then moved onward to Ponte Preta. He ended his lifework in 1958.

Friaca, whose all name is Albino Friaca Cardoso, will be buried in Porciuncula, Minas Gerais.

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Manchester United Soccer Schools Prepares for Busiest Year to Date

Manchester United Soccer Schools (MUSS) in partnership regardless of Dubai Sports City, is set for a busy 2009 with the inspire of new 10-week programs based forth the skills of Manchester United's First Team players, including the move to its permanent facility at Dubai Sports City back of in the year.

The three 10-week programs were introduced to tie into the term-based school time tables, basing each module along a different Manchester United First team player.

The MUSS program will move to its permanent facility at the Dubai Sports City Football Academy upon its completion in the first half of 2009, increasing its capacity to host beside participants aged 6-18 looking to join the course.

The Dubai Sports City Football Academy provides the Middle East's the greatest comprehensive football experience by offering in-depth coaching along with training for careeristic players, bringing unique sports learning along with a development pathway.

Nomar helps raise money for goodwill

Mia Hamm has more international goals in her lifework than any other soccer player, male or female, but it was her husband, Nomar Garciaparra, who was the idol on the soccer pitch on Saturday. Garciaparra scored on a breakaway in overtime to give his team, Nomar United, an 8-7 win over Hamm's team, FC Mia, in the surplus annual Celebrity Soccer Challenge at the Home Depot Center on Saturday. "I was just glad to get that game-winning score, because I didn't want to have to hear it for second year," said Garciaparra, whose team lost, 13-12, last year. The goal capped off a fun day for the athletes also celebrities who participated in the event that raised nearly $200,000 for Children's Hospital Los Angeles as well as the Mia Hamm Foundation. The event in like manner encouraged the thousands of fans in attendance to register for the National Marrow Donor Program Registry.

Havasu boys soccer coach sees positives in loss

The scoreboard said the win went to visiting Glendale Copper Canyon but the play of the field was positive for the Havasu boys' soccer team.

The Aztecs won Thursday's game at Lee Barnes Stadium, 6-4.“Our offense is more confident," said Knights head coach Ethan Gietz. “It may not have been a win but we're working more as a team."The Knights were down 4-1 to start the second half and it looked like things were starting to turn around. Malachy Ryan scored on a free kick in the opening minutes and had a chance to narrow the margin to one on a penalty kick that went just wide left.

However Copper Canyon stormed right back on the next play to push the ball past Havasu keeper Homero Rueda, who came out to aggressively challenge the Aztec offense.Copper Canyon widened the lead when a free kick to header sailed into the right corner of the net.

But again Havasu's offense kept pressing the ball forward and at the 11-minute mark Ryan sent a free kick long to Jesus Perezchica who fought off two defenders to send the ball into the net for Havasu's third goal of the game.Seven minutes later, Jose Chavez was able to handle his own rebound following another Ryan free kick and finish out the scoring for the game.

Bulldogs eyeing strong finish

Sports can be cruel, especially soccer with its low scores, which keep matches tense and tight. One unfair bounce of the ball or defensive mishap can undo so much good and so many minutes of strong play in an instant.

The Alhambra High School girls soccer team has experienced this suddenness—when an apparent victory is snatched away and becomes a crushing loss or frustrating and empty tie.

Leading 2-0 at Dougherty Valley on Jan. 16, the Bulldogs allowed two goals—on a corner and a free kick—and walked off the field with a tie. The scenario is a microcosm of Alhambra's season to date and the reason behind its current plight.

"We've had a lot of success early on," said first-year head coach John Badger. "But, we haven't had as much success in league away from home."

Without favorable road outcomes, combined with a few games that could have gone either way, but went the wrong way have put the team in an unfavorable position.