USL News Release Thursday, October 15, 2009

Cristian Arrieta

MONTREAL, QC – United Soccer Leagues announced Thursday at the USL First Division Championship Series media banquet the winners of the Defender of the Year, Coach of the Year and Most Valuable Player awards. Portland's Gavin Wilkinson was named the USL-1 Coach of the Year with Puerto Rico's Cristian Arrieta earning the Most Valuable Player and Defender of the Year honors.

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USL News Release Thursday, October 15, 2009

Cristian Arrieta

MONTREAL, QC – United Soccer Leagues announced Thursday at the USL First Division Championship Series media banquet the winners of the Defender of the Year, Coach of the Year and Most Valuable Player awards. Portland's Gavin Wilkinson was named the USL-1 Coach of the Year with Puerto Rico's Cristian Arrieta earning the Most Valuable Player and Defender of the Year honors.

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Three Games took place on Sunday that determined the semifinals of the USL-1 playoffs.

Montreal, Puerto Rico and Vancouver join Commissioners Cup Winner Portland Timbers to fill out semifinal bracket.

Montreal Impact
The Montreal Impact (5th place) qualified for the USL-1 semifinals, with a 2-1 win (4-1 on aggregate goals) over the Charleston Battery (4th place), Sunday at Blackbaud Stadium in Charleston, South Carolina.

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Three games took place on Sunday that determined the semifinals of the USL-1 playoffs.

Montreal, Puerto Rico and Vancouver join Commissioners Cup Winner Portland Timbers to fill out semifinal bracket.

Montreal Impact
The Montreal Impact (5th place) qualified for the USL-1 semifinals with a 2-1 win (4-1 on aggregate goals) over the Charleston Battery (4th place), Sunday at Blackbaud Stadium in Charleston, South Carolina.

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Having had the great honor to serve as a color commentator for Miami FC's local broadcasts this season (both on USL Live and local cable), I have seen every USL-1 team in person and broken them down. Here is my analysis of the first round of the playoffs.

#2 Carolina RailHawks (16-7-7, 55 pts) vs #7 Vancouver Whitecaps (11-10-9, 42 pts)

Carolina is just too deep for Vancouver, the defending champions who struggled much of this season.

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Regular season USL-1 play has now concluded for 2009. The playoffs start tomorrow (Thursday). Sure it would have been nice to see Austin there; but I guess it just wasn't meant to be. We might as well get a head start on looking back.
Both of the league's expansion teams, the Austin Aztex and the Cleveland City Stars, fared poorly in their inaugural seasons, winding up at the bottom of the final standings:
P
Team
Pld
W
D
L
GF
GA
GD
Pts
1 Portland Timbers 30 16 10 4 45 19 +26 58 2 Carolina RailHawks FC 30 16 7 7 43 19 +24 55 3 Puerto Rico Islanders 30 15 8 7 44 31 +13 53 4 Charleston Battery 30 14 11 5 33 21 +12 53 5 Montreal Impact 30 12 7 11 32 31 +1 43 6 Rochester Rhinos 30 11 10 9 34 32 +2 43 7 Vancouver Whitecaps FC 30 11 9 10 42 36 +6 42 8 Minnesota Thunder 30 7 10 13 39 44 -5 31 9 Miami FC 30 8 5 17 26 52 -26 29 10 Austin Aztex FC 30 5 8 17 28 51 -23 21* 11 Cleveland City Stars 30 4 19 7 22 52 -30 19
As you can see, the Aztex escaped the very last spot, if barely. Click to continue reading...

The Minnesota Thunder ended their 2009 season on Sunday with a loss to the Charleston Battery. The team ended up in 8th place in the standings, one spot out of the playoffs. Their final record was 7-13-10.

IMS checked in with a number of players at the end of Sunday's game and asked them to give their assessment of the season and what they planned on doing in the offseason as well as where they stand contractually.

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The Minnesota Thunder ended their 2009 season on Sunday with a loss to the Charleston Battery. The team ended up in 8th place in the standings, one spot out of the playoffs. Their final record was 7-13-10.

IMS checked in with a number of players at the end of Sunday's game and asked them to give their assessment of the season and what they planned on doing in the offseason as well as where they stand contractually.

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I say (nearly) because there's one game (Austin at Miami, September 5) with no reported attendance. If you know about Miami, there's a possibility there was no actual attendance, but until I get a number, the chart below gives you a fairly good picture of how things went in USL's top division this year:

Team G Total Avg. Click to continue reading...

#2 Carolina RailHawks vs #7 Vancouver Whitecaps
Sept 24 at Vancouver – 10:30 pm ET :: Sept 27 at Carolina – 5:00 pm ET
#3 Puerto Rico Islanders vs #6 Rochester Rhinos
Sept 24 at Rochester – 7:05 pm ET :: Sept 27 at Puerto Rico – 6:00 pm ET
#4 Charleston Battery vs #5 Montreal Impact
Sept 24 at Montreal – 7:45 pm ET :: Sept 27 at Charleston – 7:00 pm ET Click to continue reading...

Blaine, MN MN Thunder-9/20/09
BLAINE, Minn. (Sunday, September 20, 2009) The Minnesota Thunder lost their last match of the 2009 season 3-2 to the Charleston Battery. The first half was full of action with two goals by each team but the pivotal goal came in the second half when Charleston's Dan Antonink scored the game winner in the 79th minute.

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Blaine, MN MN Thunder-9/20/09
BLAINE, Minn. (Sunday, September 20, 2009) The Minnesota Thunder lost their last match of the 2009 season 3-2 to the Charleston Battery. The first half was full of action with two goals by each team but the pivotal goal came in the second half when Charleston's Dan Antonink scored the game winner in the 79th minute.

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Thunder Players will Wear Pink Jerseys for Breast Cancer Awareness Auction

All Youth 18 and Under Get in FREE by Wearing a Soccer Jersey for Fan Appreciation Night

Thunder and Lightning Game-Worn Jersey Auction Taking Place Online Through September 20

BLAINE, Minn.

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Thunder Players Will Wear Pink Jerseys for Breast Cancer Awareness Auction

All Youth 18 and Under Get in FREE by Wearing a Soccer Jersey for Fan Appreciation Night

Thunder and Lightning Game-Worn Jersey Auction Taking Place Online Through September 20

BLAINE, Minn.

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The Portland Timbers have secured the first seed in the playoffs.
Carolina RailHawks, Puerto Rico Islanders, Charleston Battery will battle in the last round of matches for 2nd thru 4th.
Montreal Impact, Rochester Rhinos, Vancouver Whitecaps will fight for 5th thru 7th place during the final round of regular season matches. Click to continue reading...

The Blues season will end on a disappointing note as they are out of any playoff hopes. A loss and a tie is all they could come up with on their 2 game road trip. Miami Ultras and a few staff met at Fritz & Franz Bierhaus in Coral Gables on Friday night to watch the Charleston Battery vs our Miami FC Blues in a match that was a must win. Click to continue reading...

Attention Miami Soccer Fans! Watch Party time!
As stated on MiamiSoccerFan.com:

"Miami FC will be featured on Fox Soccer Channel one last time this season, Friday at 8 pm. Charleston Battery will host the Blues in a must win for Miami.
Our playoff hopes may be over, but there is still pride to play for.

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Sunday, September 6, 2009 –CHARLESTON, SC

The Minnesota Thunder defeated the Charleston Battery 3-1Â at a rain soaked Blackbaud Stadium on Sunday.

Charleston's Randi Patterson tallied the only Battery goal of the night 19 minutes into the match.

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Sunday, September 6, 2009 –CHARLESTON, SC

The Minnesota Thunder defeated the Charleston Battery 3-1Â at a rain soaked Blackbaud Stadium on Sunday.

Charleston's Randi Patterson tallied the only Battery goal of the night 19 minutes into the match.

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For once the US Open Cup is getting it's just due for some hype going into tonight's final. It sure didn't hurt that two of the league's best PR teams are in the final. DC United has done it's best hyping the match against expansion side Seattle Sounders FC. Oh and there's been a fun back and forth thing between the club's front offices.

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The Minnesota Thunder Lose 3-1 to the Puerto Rico Islander in Bayamon, Puerto Rico on a waterlogged Juan Ramon Loubriel Stadium.

The Minnesota Thunder headed into Saturday evenings game with the Islanders coming off a nice 3-0 victory at home on Thursday evening against the Cleveland City Stars.

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The Minnesota Thunder Lose 3-1 to the Puerto Rico Islander in Bayamon, Puerto Rico on a waterlogged Juan Ramon Loubriel Stadium.

The Minnesota Thunder headed into Saturday evenings game with the Islanders coming off a nice 3-0 victory at home on Thursday evening against the Cleveland City Stars.

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The selection of soccer matches to watch is about to start growing as more leagues begin to kick off in Europe.

The German and French leagues begin play this week, while Manchester United and Chelsea play the first game of the year among EPL teams in the Community Shield.

There is also plenty of MLS action, as well as the much-anticipated DC United-Real Madrid friendly.

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The selection of soccer matches to watch is about to start growing as more leagues begin to kick off in Europe.

The German and French leagues begin play this week, while Manchester United and Chelsea play the first game of the year among EPL teams in the Community Shield.

There is also plenty of MLS action, as well as the much-anticipated DC United-Real Madrid friendly.

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Chivas USA coach Preki was fined $1000 dollars for inappropriate conduct toward match officials' after Chivas USA's 3-1 loss to the Charleston Battery in the US Open Cup on June 30th. Major League Soccer's Disciplinary Committee handed down the fine on Wednesday. Click to continue reading...

Miami FC out with a campaign to fill up their regular season finale against the Puerto Rico Islanders at Lockhart Stadium in Ft. Lauderdale. The announcement was made on the club's Facebook page.
Miami FC's campaign consists of a player on the team will shave their heads for every 500 tickets sold for the Islanders match on August 19th. Click to continue reading...

The Aztex head into the 2nd half of their roadtrip to the Carolinas against the Carolina Railhawks in Cary, NC on Saturday, August 1.
The Railhawks are currently sitting in 4th place, their 10-5-3 record giving them 33 points, more than twice what the Aztex have earned. Most recently, Carolina is coming off a 4-0 pounding of Miami FC (match report / box score). Click to continue reading...

Another less than inspired game, another loss for the Aztex. At least they didn't lose any points off this game (that we've heard of yet, anyway). This loss gives the Aztex a road record of 1-6-1.
Some post-match coverage:

• box score - USLSoccer.com
• Battery blank Aztex, 1-0 - Charleston Post and Courier
  

  Scott Buete scored a goal and Dusty Hudock recorded his league-leading 12th shutout of the season as the Charleston Battery blanked the Austin Aztex, 1-0, Thursday night before 2,576 at Blackbaud Stadium.

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Austin Aztex 0:1 Charleston Battery
Battery blank Aztex, 1-0 Charleston Post and Courier Click to continue reading...

The Aztex head to the Carolinas this week for 2 games in 3 days. They'll play the Carolina Railhawks on Saturday, but first up is the Charleston Battery on Thursday, July 30, at Blackbaud Stadium in Charleston, SC.
Charleston is making a strong run so far this season. Their 9-3-8 record puts them in a 3-way tie for 1st place, though they've played 20 games to Portland's 18 and Puerto Rico's 22. Click to continue reading...

Your US Open Cup final will be played in Washington between DC United and the Seattle Sounders. Seattle is mad because it draws well and feels like it should have gotten the final, and seemingly is implying that DC United receives preferential treatment from the USSF. DCU is offended and feels that they made a better financial offer to USSF. Click to continue reading...

The U.S. team has arrived in Charleston, S.C. to prepare to face Canada on Wed., July 22 at Blackbaud Stadium. The match kicks off at 8 p.m. ET and will be televised live on FSC. It's a little bit "moist" in Charleston, especially as compared to the summer in upstate NY in Rochester, because as you know, it's not the heat that gets ya, it's the humidity. Click to continue reading...

Charleston Battery 1:1 Rochester Rhinos
Charleston ties Rochester, in sole possession of first Charleston Post and Courier
Rhinos record third straight tie Richmond Democrat and Chronicle
Austin Aztex 0:1 Minnesota Thunder
Thunder Outlast Austin Aztex 1-0 mnthunder.com
Richmond Kickers 2:1 Crystal Palace Baltimore
Kickers collect road win at Crystal Palace Baltimore Richmond Times-Dispatch
Palace's playoff hopes dwindle with 2-1 defeat to Richmond Examiner. Click to continue reading...

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. Click to continue reading...

I was excited as all hell for the Chivas USA vs Galaxy Super Classico game July 10th at Home Depot Center. Its the game of all games if you are a L.A. area Soccer fan.

The Only Fireworks at HDC one the field were these!

.
Does anyone know the Heimlich maneuver, cause Chivas USA keeps choking! Click to continue reading...