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QCFC Eagles Host Blau-Weiss Wiehre FC

The home opener for the Quad Cities Football Club NPSL team will take on historic significance as they host the Blau-Weiss Wiehre Football Club from Freiburg, Germany, at 6 p.m., Wednesday, May 22, at the Davenport Soccer Complex, 8991 North Division Street, Davenport, Iowa.

Tickets are available on the Quad City Eagles website or at the game. Ticket prices are $7 for Adults, $5 for kids 10-14 and children 9 and under are free with a parent.

This is an unprecedented event as is believed to be the first time the Quad Cities has hosted an international soccer match at this level, according to Eagles General Manager Jeff Varner.

Blau-Weiss Wiehre FC is currently second in their division standings and is trying to gain promotion to the next higher level in the German soccer system.

Promotion is a scenario that many American sports fans are unfamiliar with. In Europe and many other countries, teams have the ability to be promoted to higher level levels by finishing at or near the top of their league. It would be like the River Bandits making it to Double A, Triple A, or even the Major Leagues.

The Freiburg contingent is being hosted by a number of Quad City area families and members of the German American Heritage Center in Davenport, Iowa. The German American Heritage Center highlights the proud German heritage in the Quad Cities and features many exhibits and displays showcasing the plight and triumphant quest of German immigrants to the early QC area.

Montreat Adds Oxford United Academy Star

Photo Courtesy of Montreat College

Montreat College men’s soccer Head Coach David Knapp announced on Wednesday the signing of Oxford United Academy captain Ryan Buick (Banbury, England) for the 2013 season.

‘‘Looking forward with anticipation and excitement to be joining the Montreat College men’s soccer team next season,” said Buick. “Sharing with them my enthusiasm, skills and talent to have a successful season.”

The versatile 5-foot-8 midfielder/defender brings that enthusiasm to Gaither Circle following a successful career where he was named Oxford United Academy’s and Banbury United’s captain in his final seasons.

Throughout his two year career the Banbury, England, native recorded seven career goals and 15 career assists as a center back for Oxford. Buick recorded career-highs in goals (4) and assists (10) as he led the Yellows to 12 wins in his final season.

Buick was named Banbury United’s Player’s Player of the Year and Young Player of the Year as he led The Puritans to a County Cup Final, League Cup, and a League Runner-up finish in his two seasons at Station Approach.

“Ryan brings a lot of experience in a number of positions that will bring great depth to our squad,” Knapp declared. “His leadership along with his technical skills and tactical awareness will allow him to compete right away.”

Montreat adds Buick to a squad that won the Appalachian Athletic Conference Tournament Championship and advanced to their first NAIA National Tournament in 2011 and is the midst of rebuilding a Cavalier program that has featured four (4) Appalachian Athletic Conference Freshman of the Year (Shaka Bangura, ’05, Howard Fisher, ’06, Troy Watson, ’07, Sami Bin, ’08), two (2) AAC Players of the Year (Shaka Bangura, ’07, Shaka Bangura, ’08), one (1) AAC Golden Boot (Shaka Bangura, ’09), and one (1) NAIA All-American (Shaka Bangura, ’09).

Coach Knapp is looking to replace his seven graduating seniors from the 2012 squad, that include Third Team All-AAC forward Craig Wilson (Carenege, Trinidad) and Sandy Zensen Champions of Character Award winner, midfielder, David Friedrichs (Midlothian, VA).

NPSL Today – May 15, 2013

Kehoe Named National Player of the Week

The National Premier Soccer League is proud to announce its fifth National Player of the Week for the 2013 regular season.

The winner, for the week ending May 5th, is Real San Jose midfielder Jesse Kehoe.

Kehoe is currently one of the league’s top scorers with 5 goals on the season. He has spent the past three seasons in San Jose.

The Dublin, Ireland native has a wealth of experience, including time spent with Hartlepool United FC, Hemel Hempstead Town FC, Florida Atlantic University, Lynn University, Manchester City FC Youth Academy, and the Shelbourne United FC Reserves.

U.S. Open Cup Play Continues for NPSL Teams

The first round of the 2013 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup featured plenty of goal scorers with four players recording hat tricks.

Hat trick scorers included Arjgent Duka whose three tallies helped FC Icon to a 4-1 win against Brooklyn Italians. Kwadwo Poku earned the honors of scoring the first hat trick of the 2013 tournament as he helped the Georgia Revolution jump out to a 4-0 lead against Real Colorado Foxes. Colorado made things interesting by scoring three times in the last half hour, but could not find the equalizer, losing 4-3.

One first-round game remains as the Des Moines Menace hosts the Madison 56ers on Wednesday at 7:30 p.m. CT. The winner of that game will play at Minnesota United FC in second-round action. The venue for that game changed to Elizabeth Lyle Robbie Stadium in St. Paul, Minn. It originally was scheduled for the National Sports Center in Blaine, Minn.

Pairings for the tournament’s third round will be announced Wednesday.

FIRST ROUND RESULTS:

Icon FC (USASA) 4, Brooklyn Italians (NPSL) 1: Argjent Duka, the brother of Chicago Fire forward Dilly Duka, scored three goals as Icon FC defeated the Brooklyn Italians 4-1. The Italians won the Open Cup in 1979 and 1991, and Icon FC is competing in its first tournament.

Ocean City Nor’easters (PDL) 2, New York Red Bulls U-23s (NPSL) 0: Markhus Lecroix and Frank Tweneboa were the goal scorers as the Ocean City Nor’easters beat the New York Red Bulls U-23s, 2-0, in Ocean City, N.J. The Nor’easters will face the Pittsburgh Riverhounds in the second round.

Reading United AC (PDL) 2, FC Lehigh Valley United Sonic (NPSL) 0: Darius Madison and Steve Neumann both scored in the second half as Reading United AC defeated FC Lehigh Valley United Sonic 2-0 at Oley Valley High School. Reading will face the Harrisburg City Islanders in the second round.

Carolina Dynamo (PDL) 4, Chattanooga FC (NPSL) 4 (Carolina wins 4-1 in PKs): Chattanooga went up 4-3 in the 115th minute, but Carolina equalized in the 117th minute. Eventually, the game would go to penalties where Carolina would win, 4-1. Carolina will face off against the Carolina RailHawks of the NASL in the next round.

Portland Timbers U-23s (PDL) 3, Sacramento Gold (NPSL) 2: After falling behind 2-0 early in the game the Timbers U-23s found their way back in the game with the three straight goals to hold on for a berth in the tournament’s second round.

Georgia Revolution (NPSL) 4, Real Colorado Foxes (PDL) 3: Kwadwo Poku found the back three times to tally the first hat trick of the 2013 tournament and powered the Revs to a 4-0 lead. Georgia then withstood a furious rally from the Foxes but ultimately held on to the 4-3 win.

Ventura County Fusion (PDL) 3, FC Hasental (NPSL) 2: Hasental jumped to a 1-0 lead in the 39th minute but the hosts were awarded a penalty kick just one minute later. The visitors saved the PK attempt but surrendered their lead just before the half. The two teams traded goals until late heroics by the Fusion’s Dylan Riley in the 87th minute sent the hosts home 3-2 winners.

Hitchcock to Lead NPSL

The National Premier Soccer League (NPSL) announced today that it has entered into a management agreement with Playbook Management International (PMI). As part of the agreement, former Major League Soccer (MLS) club executive and PMI Founding Partner Michael Hitchcock will serve as the league’s new commissioner.

“We are very excited to announce that Michael Hitchcock will serve as the new NPSL Commissioner and feel that with the addition of Michael and his company, the NPSL is on the verge of great times ahead,” NPSL Chairman Andy Zorovich commented.

Hitchcock is a MLS success story, starting as an entry-level sales representative and finishing his 12+ year career in the league as a club president and general manager. His time includes work with D.C. United, the Colorado Rapids, the LA Galaxy, FC Dallas, and the San Antonio Scorpions (NASL).

Hitchcock claimed several accolades in his time with the league, including the MLS Sales Director of the Year, MLS Sales Team of the Year, and the Commissioner’s New Business Leadership Award.

Photo Courtesy of Michael Hitchcock

“Michael Hitchcock is well respected inside soccer circles,” NPSL Secretary and Brooklyn Italians Vice President Joe Barone stated. “Michael will work with the existing teams to further stabilize them and create a model to further understand their unique markets. The growth of the NPSL will be very strategic. Michael will play a critical part in the future of the NPSL.”

PMI, based in Frisco (TX), is one of North America’s most respected sports management companies. They boast a worldwide client list and their executives have a combined 75 years of professional sports management experience. They also maintain offices in Gaithersburg (MD), Atlanta (GA), and Ft. Lauderdale (FL).

“On behalf of PMI, I’m looking forward to working with the leadership of NPSL and the passionate, committed owners in developing a model of sustainability, strategically building the league and growing the beautiful game in every NPSL market,” Hitchcock continued. “I believe in the incredible potential of the NPSL and know that it plays a critical role in the continued growth of the sport of soccer in the United States.”

The NPSL is a national league that operates in the 4 th Division of the U.S. Soccer pyramid, which also includes the Premier Development League (PDL) operated by the United Soccer Leagues (USL). NPSL teams are eligible to participate in the U.S. Open Cup through their affiliation with the U.S. Soccer Federation (USSF) and the United States Adult Soccer Association (USASA). The NPSL operates in 60+ markets from across the country and is currently one of the fastest- growing soccer leagues in the U.S. Two MLS clubs, D.C. United and the New York Red Bulls, operate U-23 squads in the NPSL.

A Night of Disappointment for the Crew

For the second straight match the Columbus Crew played on the front foot for most of the night, but came away empty handed after a 2-0 defeat to the Colorado Rapids.

On the night the Rapids (4-4-3) only registered four shots, and only one in the first half, but found the back of the net twice and managed to keep Columbus from scoring despite 22 shots, including seven on goal.

Things almost got started before even a minute had passed with a chipped ball from striker Jairo Arrieta that caught the Colorado keeper off his line. Unfortunately for the Crew the ball sailed just wide of the mark, a regular occurrence on the night.

In the eighth minute the Rapids got things underway with a wonderfully worked goal from striker Edson Buddle. A pass over the top from Atiba Harris found Danny Mwanga in the box and the striker did just enough to fight off Crew defender Tyson Wahl to lay a pass to a streaking Buddle.

Over an hour later in the 69th minute Colorado put the game away when a Dillon Powers shot was deflected off the legs of Josh Williams and caught keeper Andy Gruenebaum out of position for the second goal of the match.

It was unfortunate for the Crew who had been threatening to score for a majority of the match, but couldn’t find the quality in the final third to get that breakthrough opportunity.

“I felt like the team actually played pretty well at times tonight but like you said it was that last pass and the last shot that just seemed to let us down time in and time out,” Columbus Crew midfielder Eddie Gaven stated. “Getting punished for it, they get two or three chances and they put both away and there’s the game.”

Back to back losses dampened a three-game home stand that started well with a 3-0 win over D.C. United and leaves Columbus with 12 points on the season. Now the Crew (3-4-3) take to the road to face Toronto FC in next Saturday at 5 pm ET.

Subside Sports Man of the Match: Forward Atiba Harris, Colorado Rapids

Even though he was not credited with either of the goals, Harris was the man for Colorado who made the difference in a night devoid of offensive chances. Putting the ball into Mwanga to help set up the first goal was his most notable contribution, but his runs pushed the Crew backline more than any other player and he was a part of most of the chances the Rapids created on the night.