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UA Men's Soccer Lands Nation's No. 1-Ranked Recruiting Class AKRON, OH - February 8, 2011 - University of Akron head men's soccer coach Caleb Porter officially announced the six members of the Zips' 2012 signing class Wednesday. Included in the group are four of the top 11 recruits in the country, according to Top Drawer Soccer, which ranked the six-member class No. 1 in the nation. The group, which features a wealth of youth national team experience, includes two midfielders, two forwards, one defender and a goalkeeper. Of the six recruits, five are members of their respective youth national teams, including four former members of the U.S. Under-17 team, and one that won a national championship in 2010 as an NSCAA Youth All-American. Joining the Zips, who lost just two starters from last season's NCAA Round of 16 appearance, will be striker Alfred Koroma (Southlake, Texas/Southlake Carroll), defender Andrew Souders (Amherst, Ohio/Amherst Steele), goalkeeper Fernando Pina (Houston, Texas), midfielder Dillon Serna (Brighton, Colo./Horizon), winger Omari Morris (Toronto, Ontario/Pickering) and midfielder Matt Foldesy (North Olmsted, Ohio/St. Ignatius). "My staff and I are extremely excited to welcome six very talented young men into the Akron program," Porter said. "Each of them bring a wealth of playing experience domestically and internationally and are also first-class individuals off the field. "Over the past five years, we have been fortunate that many of the top players in the country have chosen Akron and without question, this is one of the finest recruiting classes we have ever assembled. I know their impact will be felt immediately and, with a very strong core group of returning players, we expect to continue competing for national championships in the years to come." Despite losing seven starters from their 2010 NCAA National Championship squad to the Major League Soccer SuperDraft, the 2011 University of Akron men's soccer team defied the odds by capturing their seventh consecutive Mid-American Conference regular season championship and advancing all the way to the Round of 16 of the NCAA Tournament for the fourth consecutive year. Along the way, the Zips, who will return eight of 11 starters in 2012, rewrote the NCAA's all-time record for longest home unbeaten streak, finished among the top 15 teams in the country for both scoring offense and goals against average, and posted the second-highest team grade-point-average in Division I with an exceptional mark of 3.44. UA Women’s Soccer Announces Star-Studded Signing Class AKRON, OH - February 6, 2012 - The University of Akron women’s soccer team will welcome 10 new student-athletes to the program next fall, having already added a transfer student-athlete this spring, head coach Chris Pfau announced Friday. The group includes eight in-state recruits – seven from Northeast Ohio - and one athlete from California, Illinois and Minnesota. The class consists of four defenders, three goalkeepers, two midfielders, two forward/midfielders, and one defender/midfielder. Many of the players come to Akron after receiving high honors at both the club and high school level. Several have Olympic Development Program (ODP) regional and interregional experience, as well as national pool selections. The class features talent from some of the top clubs in the country including Eclipse (IL), Ohio Premier Eagles, Cleveland Internationals, and Minnesota Thunder. On the high school level, the group has ESPN RISE National Player of the Week award winners, ESPN RISE National Champions, and state champions. “This is a great incoming class. Our staff has worked particularly hard in bringing this class together,” Pfau commented. “Each year we try to add quality student-athletes to our roster, and this year is no exception. Some of these incoming players have played at the highest levels, having received national and regional Olympic Development Program recognition and selections for All-American awards.” The group joins a program on the rise. Akron has qualified for the Mid-American Conference Tournament in each of the last three seasons – something UA failed to do in its previous eight seasons since becoming a varsity sport in 2001. In 2009, UA won their division and were crowned MAC East champions. In 2010, UA lost a close tie to Miami in the first round of the MAC Tournament. Last year, UA met Central Michigan in the first round of the 2011 MAC Tournament and went down 2-1. “It will be exciting to see how this class blends with our returners,” Pfau said. This class will add speed, athleticism, and skill to an already experienced team in the fall. Furthermore, these incoming players know what it takes to compete for championships by virtue of playing for top level clubs, which will only help us reach our goals this fall.” The class includes the following: GK Klaire Adee (Rockford, IL), D Katie George (Middleburg Heights, OH), GK Caitlin Jakubek (Akron, OH), MF Madison Kaser (Silver Lake, OH), GK Alegra Kastens (Orange, CA), D/MF Holly Ohradzansky (Avon, OH), F/MF Sydney Perez (Warren, OH), D Amelia Robinson (Dublin, OH), F/MF Megan Waskowski (Strongsville, OH), MF Hannah Werth (Bloomington, MN), and D Kaylie West (Copley, OH).
Adee is the most highly ranked among the freshman and should challenge for the starting keeper job immediately. “Klaire is a very talented, athletic keeper who has played at every level of soccer," Pfau continued. "Her club team is regionally ranked no. 3, and she is very used to playing in big games.” AC Milan: A Leader in the Beautiful Game AC Milan is one of the biggest names in the world of soccer, rivaling Manchester United, Real Madrid, and FC Barcelona as the most popular team on the planet. But no one has the global programming offered by AC Milan, which has operations in over 50 countries. AC Milan is likely the only club in the world to have a structured and coherent youth program in the Americas. From identifying talented youngsters to camps and tournaments, the Italian giants are everywhere. Youth players that attend AC Milan Jr. camps have the chance to earn an invitation to Milan, which is a once in a lifetime opportunity. The best of the best live the “Milan experience,” getting face to face with players, touring facilities, and eventually training as part of an elite international team under the AC Milan umbrella.
And what an event it is. The Continental Cup is part of an international youth sports festival also supported by the Cleveland Indians (MLB) and Cleveland Cavaliers (NBA). Three giants of sport putting their brand and talents behind the youth, an amazing concept in a world where pro athletes are often misunderstood. Why choose Cleveland for this festival? Cleveland is a sports town and also happens to be one of the best soccer markets in all of North America. The tradition of excellence in Cleveland goes all the way back to the Cleveland Stokers, who passed the torch to the Cobras, Force, Crunch, City Stars, and now AFC Cleveland. Why all the interest in the America game? Lots of reasons, many centering on promoting their global brand to a sea of people that are truly warming up to the beautiful game. The most important being the raw talent of the American footballer and the sheer number of players in the U.S. Eighteen million players in the U.S. to be precise. AC Milan has taken notice in a big way, sending resources and talented individuals to the Americas to find the next generation of Serie A legends. Eddie Marles, AC Milan youth program coordinator for the Americas, is excited about the potential of American players, saying that our game is extremely fast, physical, and tactically organized. “The side of the game that the U.S. is lacking is creativity,” Marles commented in an interview with ISNSoccer.com. That creativity is slowly being added by players from Africa and South America and a top-class national team coach like Jurgen Klinsmann. AC Milan is doing their part, expanding their presence in soccer academies across the country, spreading the Italian style of soccer to elite American players. Cleveland will benefit from this as well, thanks to an affiliation with a prominent local club and an academy announcement in the coming days and weeks. Truly something that will change the face of the soccer landscape in Northeast Ohio for years to come. Want to be part of the very best? Come on out to Cleveland this summer to see tournaments, camps, and academies all under the AC Milan brand. Like we always say “it is going to be a great summer of soccer.”
UA Men's Soccer Wins Yet Another Award
The team claimed the Collegiate Athlete of the Year award, beating out Cleveland State's Norris Cole and Kent State's Dustin Kilgore at the 2011 Greater Cleveland Sports Awards. While the program did not win another national title, it did send Darren Mattocks to MLS as the #2 overall pick and several others (Luke Holmes, Matt Dagilis, Michael Balogun) to likely careers in the NASL, USL, and NPSL. Other winners at the Greater Cleveland Sports Awards included Mitch Trubisky (High School Athlete of the Year), Jessica Beard (Amateur Athlete of the Year), Asdrubal Cabrera (Athlete of the Year), Austin Carr (Lifetime Achievement Award), and Brandee Kelly (Courage Award). A Gunner for Life: A Conversation with Kevin Campbell
Campbell has not turned his back on the game he loved, but instead turned his attention to growing the sport outside of England. He has become the brand ambassador for PASS, an innovative multi-faceted platform designed to change and improve the game in the U.S. and beyond. Campbell believes in the potential of the American game, sharing the opinion that American players do have ability. But often raw talent only gets you so far, where Campbell sees the right environment and the right coaching being the real gamechangers. How good could the U.S. be in 10 years? Winning the 2022 World Cup in Qatar good. How do we get there? By developing better professionals through better coaching and a better environment. But becoming a seasoned professional, capable of playing at the highest level of global soccer, is not an easy journey, even for the talented Campbell. “It was difficult to become a professional, but it was all I ever wanted,” the London native stated in an interview with ISNSoccer.com. “I always had a ball and a dream.” Through the application of hard work, Campbell was able to overcome obstacles to enjoy success from the very beginning. As a youth player he was able to score goals at will against some of the best academies in England. Getting to play against the best on a regular basis helped Campbell grow as a player and earn that first pro contract with one of the biggest names in the Premier League. That is a major difference between England and America, a difference in quality and competition. Campbell would like to change that, to give Americans a better chance to be major players in the world’s game. Brian McBride, Claudio Reyna, Jonathan Spector, Landon Donovan could have been bigger names and better players if they were in the EPL longer; that is hard to argue with that stream of thought. Campbell and former Newcastle player Kevin Gall formed PASS to be a “one stop shop” for raising the bar on American soccer. Improving coaching and environment, providing exposure for America’s youth players, taking elite players on tour in England against the best academies, the ideas go on and on.
We couldn’t resist asking Campbell about his former (and still favorite) team, the Gunners of Arsenal. He called it a transitional season, especially after losing two great players in Nasri and Fabregas. Campbell was quick to compliment the stellar play of Van Persie, but clearly understood that Aresenal’s struggles on defense are an issue. He has his “fingers crossed for a better second half.” That better second half will start with the Gunners’ match against ManU, which will be shown live on U.S. broadcast TV tomorrow, this being a first for a Barclay’s Premier League match in the U.S. FOX will get the call and we are hearing that Campbell may have an opportunity to share his thoughts on the game. With a lifelong Gunner and legend on your side, the Red Devils of Manchester had better watch out for Arsenal in this season-defining match. Samurai Sportswear Soccer Spotlight - January 2012 Central Ohio's Classics FC Lead the Way for the Future The appointment of Jurgen Klinsmann to the head of the U.S. Men’s National Team has meant systematic changes to the youth game so that it can grow and develop from the bottom up. Better youth players mean better national team players, which gives the American game a chance on the world stage. A new U.S. Soccer coaching curriculum, developed by Claudio Reyna, has put a premium on player development and training.
One of these coaches, Michael Furlong, has ties to Northeastern Ohio, having experienced great success at both the youth and high school level. As a player, Furlong was a top ODP player that went on to a successful career at Jackson HS and Mitchell College (CT). Later as a top high school coach, Furlong developed a great soccer program at Perry HS in Massillon, Ohio in addition to his responsibilities at Canton/Cleveland United. Furlong’s success has continued at Classics FC, where his U-10 Girls squad has collected hardware and lots of it. The Blue squad has won the Dublin Charity Cup twice along with the Cincinnati Fall Ball Tournament. Furlong also led his team to 2nd place finishes in the MASC and MOSUL Tournaments. But winning isn’t everything. Furlong has turned his focus into developing players for the next level. He values creative players with a high soccer IQ and great vision on the pitch. “It isn’t kick and chase and it’s not the Kentucky Derby,” Furlong stated in an interview with ISNSoccer.com. “We want to outthink our opponents. An intelligent player is worth their weight in gold.”
“Win with class, lose with class, always act with class” is Furlong’s favorite quote. His players know it well, repeating it often to remind themselves of their real mission. That mission is to take pride in your club and community and at the same time to grow and develop as a player and person. The team and the club as a whole is actually more like a family than anything else, a family that shares a love for the beautiful game. Furlong tries to make his players aware of the global game and they have listened. After a succession of quick passes turned into an opportunity on the attack, one of the players yelled to the sideline “Coach Mike, we looked like Barcelona.” Barcelona’s Messi happens to be Mike’s favorite player along with Tottenham’s Luka Modric. However, Furlong’s knowledge is not limited to the sport in Europe. He has an obvious fondness for the U.S. Men’s National Team and his favorite player growing up, the aforementioned Klinsmann. “Klinsmann was efficient; there was no wasted movement on the field,” Furlong added. Many in the soccer world are excited about the possibilities under the reign of Klinsmann. “He will produce a product that will open eyes and raise the awareness of the average sports fan,” Furlong continued.
Furlong is well aware of the fact that Landon Donovan, Tim Howard, and Clint Dempsey won’t be around forever and we need to start thinking about the future now. He sees Juan Agudelo and Teal Bunbury as leaders of the next generation of American superstars. Both could step into a superstar role in the next few years. When asked about young Americans leaving college and going to Europe, Furlong called it a “quick fix for a long-term problem.” Simply put, he is in favor of getting the best talent coached by the best coaches and clubs. The Samurai Sportswear Soccer Spotlight is a monthly feature that showcases the best of the best in the world of youth and high school soccer. This year-round coverage is made possible by the partnership between Samurai Sportswear USA and International Soccer Network, LLC. The name Samurai has been part of sports industry since 1996. The globe-trotting Samurai International Sevens Rugby Union team was created by Terry Sands, the ex-England Sevens manager and current Samurai owner/director. We can boast that many famous names have played for the current team over the years and these players are responsible for spreading the word about the fresh, stylish kit they were wearing. Since those early days Samurai International Sportswear Limited has seen rapid growth and is now firmly established as one of the leading global multi-sport brands. We are proud of the fact that we have grown organically, are financially stable, profitable, and secure. As the brand developed, it started to climb the sporting ladder and this season Samurai is the “official kit supplier” to the Aviva Premiership Exeter Chiefs, Kent County Cricket Club, Glasmorgan CCC, the Loughbrough Lightning Super League Netball franchise, Tunisia Rugby Union, five of the clubs fighting it out in the English Rugby Union Championship, (Doncaster, Cornish Pirates, Plymouth Albion, Rotherham Titans, Birmingham & Solihull), the Welsh Rugby League, Accrington Stanley Football Club and a whole host of other professional and semi-professional clubs. Samurai Sportswear USA is a wholly owned subsidiary of AthletiCorp Inc. and is the North American distributor for Samurai International. We have experienced an exciting year already with our recent two-year sponsorship renewal with Play Rugby USA and our sponsored rugby clinics presented by Breathe Rugby across the USA and internationally. Samurai Sportswear is devoted to aiding the growth of rugby in the USA and we are doing everything we can to support our youth players, assist the coaches and referees that help cultivate the game and are creating a large impact on the development of rugby in the USA at multiple levels. We supply many of the top clubs across the country including the Chicago Griffins, Penn State University Men’s and Women’s rugby clubs, Xavier High School (NY), the Olympic Club, New York Athletic Club, University of Wisconsin and many more. As we expand our efforts in the United States we continue to provide high quality sports apparel for more sports. This past summer Samurai Sportswear USA sponsored the Samurai Sportswear Soccer Combine for high school soccer players in Canton, Ohio. We expect to have several soccer teams kitted out in Samurai gear in 2012. Like Samurai on Facebook and follow Samurai on Twitter. The Pelé Sports Fan Ambassador Club - January 2012 A bond between father and son is strong. A bond that includes the beautiful game is even stronger. Whether you are talking about Slavko Kljestan placing a ball in the crib of sons Gordon and Sacha or a local father sharing his love of the game with his teenage son, the story is one that needs to be told.
“He has always been there for me,” Tyler stated in an interview with ISNSoccer.com. “He supports me in everything I do. He says he’s my biggest fan.” Pete started playing when he was 7. He stopped playing when he was 12 when his interest turned to baseball and hockey, two popular sports in his hometown of Pittsburgh, PA. Pete returned to the beautiful game when his young son showed great talent at the sport at a young age. “I was thrilled for him and supported him,” Pete added. “I told him that anything we do, we are going to do 110%.” This rekindled Pete’s love for soccer and turned him into a student of the game: watching, reading, and focusing on all aspects of the sport. As an adult, he had a greater appreciation for the game and turned his focus to tactics and formations and the next obvious step, coaching. Within 3 years, Pete created his own premier youth club with 5 teams and 86 players. He shared his love of Arsenal with his players and their parents. Arsenal was a great example of doing things right, possessing the ball and always playing forward. Pete and Tyler share a love for Thierry Henry with Tyler often wearing #14 in honor of the current NYRB striker.
“With him chasing the dollars, I watch him but no longer support him the way I did. His skill, talent, and vision are unbelievable.” Living in NE Ohio makes Pete and Tyler natural fans of the University of Akron men’s soccer program and Caleb Porter. Porter plays an attractive style of attacking soccer, but that is just the tip of the iceberg. “He just oozes that level of commitment long-term,” Pete continued. ”It’s not just wanting to win this week or this season. He’s laying the foundation that will be in place for some time.” It is clear that this father and son combination exemplify all that is good about the game: bringing people together, working hard, and sharing a common bond. It is our pleasure to have Pete and Tyler Walters as the first Pelé Sports Fan Ambassadors of 2012. Pelé is unquestionably the world’s greatest soccer ambassador, spreading his love of the Beautiful Revolution wherever he goes. He has become the game’s strongest supporter and has been the source of inspiration for millions around the globe. From the streets of New York to the fields of South Africa, Pelé Sports is a name synonymous with passion, creativity and innovating the game the way it should be played. A world without Pelé would be a world without soccer with millions missing out on the joy and the Beautiful Revolution we all love in this game. Today’s supporters carry on the prestigious legacy of Pelé, growing and promoting the game in their own communities and passing the torch to a new generation of footballers. Mainstream media outlets have failed to give a face to these fans, people who do extraordinary things everyday and have stories that deserve to be told. Whether it is an Iraqi War veteran who is a passionate supporter of his favorite MLS side or a student making an impact on the college game, the concept of ambassadorship is alive and well here in North America. Today’s supporters are not hooligans or fanatics or even überfans, but rather gatekeepers to the true spirit of the beautiful game. International Soccer Network, in conjunction with Pelé Sports, plans to celebrate the contributions of North American soccer fans every month with a new series of feature articles. The Greatest Boot Ever
The brand that bears his name is much of the same, making a splash in the football market from Day 1. But nothing has been more exciting or more heralded than the release of the Trinity football boots from Pelé Sports. What do you get when you combine hybrid polymers, Symbioskin™ materials, and Mucell Foam polymers? A boot that makes quicker contact with the ground for faster reaction, stability, and an accelerated release. A traction and sole plate that enhances the muscles of the feet by training them to propel faster, enhance coordination, and be more powerful. Simply put, the fastest and most innovative boot to ever hit the market. The Trinity boots are many things: trendy, durable, lightweight, and technologically advanced. The boots are certain to turn heads no matter where you play. Players will want them because of the look, but that is just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to an advanced boot that has undergone significant scientific testing. Lightweight football boots often have durability concerns as they can not stand up to everyday use at a premier level. This is not the case with the Trinity boots as they are still durable despite their 5.9 ounce weight. They feel great on, almost like they were made just for your foot. The Symbioskin™ material cradles your foot, allowing you to get a good touch on the ball and providing protection at the same time. You won’t get that with the other ultra lightweight boots out there, products that are prone to damage during physical gameplay. The light weight is not the only aspect that makes this boot super fast. An innovative stud pattern allows for quicker cuts, making this boot a favorite for everyone on the pitch (especially attackers). Most importantly, Pelé Sports have the data and research to back up our claim that this is the most advanced football boot on the market, maybe even the most advanced ever produced. The stud size and configuration has been found to minimize ankle injuries. A player tested with the boot "in a 10 second sprint arrived 1.5 meters further down the pitch." Again a gamechanging boot from a gamechanging brand. There have been many innovative ideas in the history of football boots: lightweight synthetic materials, Concave elements, fashionable designs, outrageous colors, and so on. But the Trinity boots take technology and make it practical for the elite footballer. Simply put, all of you at Nike, adidas, Puma, Lotto, Umbro…….. better luck next time. To purchase these amazing boots check out fine retailers like Chicago Soccer or Soccer.com.
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West is a transfer from Ashland University, where she saw action in 16 games with 7 starts during her freshman season. “Kaylie is a good strong player who will continue to develop," Pfau added. "She is very driven and has a great desire to get better.” 
These elite teams then participate in tournaments like the AC Milan Continental Cup in Cleveland, Ohio. This tournament is one of the fastest growing in North America and has quite an international flavor, thanks to teams from 20+ countries. The Cleveland event is tied into AC Milan qualifying tournaments in Tulsa, Orlando, and in Colombia. This allows players to compete at the very highest level with the event becoming the key cog in AC Milan’s presence in the Americas. 
CLEVELAND, OH - February 2, 2012 - The University of Akron was abuzz this week with news of the hiring of former Ohio State head coach Jim Tressel. But it was the men's soccer team that claimed yet another award after yet another successful season under the expert tutelage of Caleb Porter.
People throw around the term legend quite a bit. But we can tell you that Kevin Campbell is just that, a legend in the eyes of many. With over 500 professional appearances, including 224 appearances and 59 goals for Arsenal, Campbell deserves that title. His hard work on the pitch was always applauded by the fans and he saw success at every stage of his career, an illustrious career that spanned over 20 years in the beautiful game. Campbell was a force to be reckoned with at Arsenal, Nottingham Forest, Trabzonspor, Everton, and West Brom. Simply put, he was a brilliant player. 
Have you heard this before? Yes, but Campbell and Gall have backtested their program and have gotten results, big results. And more importantly, they are committed for the long-term. PASS is not a one and done, grab your money and run operation.
Campbell and Gall are true professionals in every sense of the word, people that share a deep passion for the sport and will give it their all to see it succeed here in the States. 
While some clubs cling to a “win at any cost” mentality, Classics FC in Central Ohio leads the charge in delivering this new curriculum using the best coaches at the earliest ages. 
An emphasis on foot skills prepares players to be comfortable on the ball. He allows his players to make mistakes as individuals, but to learn from those mistakes as a team. While the team is very competitive, they still value sportsmanship. 
Placing a premium on the technical development of players and building from the back were positives for Furlong when asked about the current national team program.
North Canton’s Pete and Tyler Walters are a special pair, a father and son that give it their all in all things soccer. Tyler, a promising freshman goalkeeper at St.Vincent-St. Mary’s High School in Akron (OH), spends countless hours every week honing his skills on the pitch. At his side is his father, who does anything and everything to help his son get to the next level, collegiate soccer.
Pete shared his support for Robin Van Persie, but was quick to point out his disappointment on Samir Nasri’s move to Manchester City.
Pelé is a legend among legends, the greatest player to ever step on a pitch. He was an impact player, a gamechanger that forced his opposition to rethink how the game was to be played.
