With the Wizards open tryouts coming out in March, I now know one of the people I'll be competing with at the tryouts this year, Bermudan international, Sammy DeGraff. DeGraff played last season with the Bermuda Hogges of USL-2, playing in 13 games and getting 2 assists in those games. DeGraff turned down a trial in Brazil with E.

How often does one get to go to Bermuda? Not very, unless your name is either John DiRaimondo or Anthony Peters. After joining the Harrisburg City Islanders last weekend for its trip to take on the Bermuda Hogges, the two players are heading back this weekend on loan to the Richmond Kickers.

Richmond faces the Hogges on Friday evening and will then face the Bermuda U-23 National Team on Saturday.

Carolina RailHawks 1:1 Austin Aztex
Aztex draw against Carolina, 1-1 Austin American-Statesman
RailHawks draw Austin, pull into 1st-place tie carolinarailhawks.com
Minnesota Thunder 1:5 Portlan
Portland 5, Minnesota 1: Coach's tongue-lashing lifts Timbers to victory OregonLive.

News out of Bermuda from earlier in the week, from The Royal Gazette:

Former Trinidad international Marlon Rojas has walked out on Bermuda Hogges mid-season in frustration over his lack of game time, The Royal Gazette can reveal.
Rojas, who has failed to officially notify Hogges of his decision to quit, has been conspicuous by his absence at training in recent weeks and is no longer part of coach Kyle Lightbourne's plans.

Charleston Battery 0:0 Cleveland City Stars
Battery Tie City Stars WCBD
Portland Timbers 1:1 Miami FC Blues
Win slips away from Blues Miami Herald
Late goal spoils Miami FC upset bid SunSentinel.com
Timbers match USL record for longest unbeaten streak OregonLive.com
Vancouver Whitecaps 1:2 Carolina RailHawks
Whitecaps lose 2-1 to RailHawks Vancouver Sun
Hawks take out Caps The News & Observer
Real Maryland Monarchs 1:3 Wilmington Hammerheads
Jaime Watson leads Hammerheads to share of first StarNewsOnline
Bermuda Hogges 0:5 Western Mass Pioneers
Pioneers boss Bermuda Hogges 5-0 MassLive.

As we are all awaiting the future of our top professional leagues in MLS & the USL when the 2010 calendar starts this coming January there will be some questions before their respective seasons start. At the same time we are going to also await the future structure of the next edition of the US Open Cup.

General Manager Dave Kasper has informed us that midfielder John DiRaimondo and defender Anthony Peters will be loaned to the Harrisburg City Islanders for the weekend. The Islanders - who compete in United Soccer League's Second Division - will face Bermuda Hogges FC on Friday evening in Bermuda.

Austin Aztex 1 - 0 Cleveland City Stars
Aztex defeat Cleveland 1-0 on the road Austin American Statesman
Puerto Rico Islanders 0:0 Miami FC Blues
Blues let scoring chances slip away against top team in USL-1 Miami Herald
Portland Timbers 1:1 Minnesota Thunder
Timbers earn tie in road match Statesman Journal
Bass scores late, salvages a draw for Thunder Minneapolis Star-Tribune
Austin Aztex 1:4 Rochester Rhinos
Rhinos' four-goal surge lifts team Rochester Democrat and Chronicle
Charleston Battery 1:0 Montreal Impact
Antoniuk scores in 68th as Charlston Battery down Montreal Impact 1-0 The Canadian Press
Battery back in first place Charleston Post and Courier
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Pittsburgh Riverhounds 2:1 Bermuda Hogges
Charlotte Eagles 2:1 Wilmington Hammerheads
Hammerheads fall behind early, lose to Charlotte StarNews Online
Crystal Palace Baltimore 1:3 Harrisburg City Islanders
City Islanders takes down Crystal Palace late PennLive.