While we await the final release of the MLS schedule, second-division USL Pro announced their schedule and division alignments on Friday, emphasizing the league's accessibility and stability. The press release from USL Pro emphasizes that six of their franchises have more than ten years of operational experience.

By JOHN BOSCHINI

The Richmond Kickers winning streak continued in emphatic fashion with a 6-0 rout of the Dayton Dutch Lions.

The USL Pro leaders have one five-straight game to begin the season and have racked up a +9 goal difference in that time.

Not to be outdone, Antigua Barracuda FC put seven by Puerto Rico United on Wednesday before squeaking out a narrow victory over River Plate Puerto Rico over the weekend.

Might be the last one for a while, but here's the latest list of attendance figures for the prominent leagues (if a team's not listed, either they haven't had a home game yet or I have no figures for them).

THE MLS G Total Avg. Seattle Sounders FC 7 253,864 36,266 Los Angeles Galaxy 6 136,938 22,823 Vancouver Whitecaps FC 7 140,923 20,132 Toronto FC 8 157,020 19,628 Portland Timbers 6 111,762 18,627 Philadelphia Union 6 108,596 18,099 Houston Dynamo 7 122,414 17,488 New York Red Bulls 6 104,036 17,339 Chivas USA 5 85,592 17,118 DC United 6 98,063 16,344 Real Salt Lake 5 81,360 16,272 Colorado Rapids 6 83,007 13,835 FC Dallas 7 96,099 13,728 Chicago Fire 5 66,439 13,288 New England Revolution 7 87,146 12,449 Columbus Crew 6 60,427 10,071 San Jose Earthquakes 6 59,132 9,855 TMLS TOTAL 106 1,852,818 17,479 NASL G Total Avg.

By CALEB SONNELAND

In the latest installment of the 2011 U.S. Open Cup, seven teams marched into the third round of the competition while one postponed match remains to be played to arrange matchups with eight of Major League Soccer's heavy hitters.

Drama ran rampant in North Carolina, as the Wilmington Hammerheads, having initially trailed the Charlotte Eagles, 2-0, midway through the second half, stormed from behind to take the game, 3-2, after extra time.

The USL announced their 2011 USL PRO schedule on Friday. The leagues conference alignments are also set as each team will play at 24 game schedule.

The regular season opens on Saturday, April 2 when expansion team Orlando City will play the Richmond Kickers at City Stadium.

By JOHN BOSCHINI

Welcome to the USL, Los Angeles.

The expansion L.A. Blues started off their existence with a couple of victories on the road over Sevilla FC Puerto Rico and fellow newcomer Antigua Barracuda FC. Walter Gaitan is off to a blistering start with three goals in two games.

By JOHN BOSCHINI

The Richmond Kickers had to drop points eventually.

After an eight-game winning streak kicked off their season in style, the Kickers were held to a 1-1 draw with the Harrisburg City Islanders. Richmond continues to be the only unbeaten team left in the USL Pro and holds a one-point lead with two games in hand over Antigua Barracuda FC in the Atlantic Division.

The U.S. Open Cup field of 40 is a game away from being set, but the pairings for the first two rounds of the tournament have been released.

The first round is slated for June 14, when 32 teams will being their battle for the right to face eight MLS sides in the Round of 16, which is scheduled for June 28.

Due to high demand (1 person asked) we are going to run a 2011 Lamar Hunt US Open Cup contest. The unique nature of this tournament makes an NCAA style bracket is impossible; hosts aren't known throughout the tournament and we still don't know match-ups for the eight MLS teams that will enter the contest in the Third Round.

Photo by Brad Smith/ISIphotos.com

The United States and Brazil didn't think they'd be meeting this early in the FIFA Women's World Cup. That hardly means their matchup will be any less entertaining.

The two powers go head-to-head in the quarterfinals of the World Cup on Sunday in a rematch of the 2008 Olympic gold medal game as a highlight of this weekend's slate of matches.

Here are highlights of last Friday night's USL Pro Game of the Week, in which the Wilmington Hammerheads defeated the Los Angeles Blues 2-1 in front of a Legion Stadium record crowd of nearly 6,000.

Our final regular-season telecast, this Friday at Charleston, could determine the eighth and final playoff spot for 2011.

By JOHN BOSCHINI

With a week to go in the USL Pro regular season, the playoff picture is clearing up.

The National Division has its playoff participants settled following the Pittsburgh Riverhounds' 2-2 draw with the Charlotte Eagles. Pittsburgh will be joined in the playoffs by the Los Angeles Blues, Harrisburg City Islanders and the Rochester Rhinos.

It's as if European soccer never left.

A full slate of games from overseas are on tap for this weekend as the Premier League joins the Bundesliga and Ligue 1 as major leagues to start the 2011-2012 campaign. Defending Premier League champion Manchester United opens up against West Brom on Sunday, but a game most Americans will want to keep an eye on is the Fulham-Aston Villa tilt on Saturday.

By JOHN BOSCHINI

After 20 weeks of regular season play, the playoff picture in the USL Pro came into focus in dramatic fashion with a flurry of high-scoring games.

The Charlotte Eagles failed to lock up a playoff spot with a mid-week loss to the Harrisburg City Islanders and fell late in a 4-3 shootout with Charleston, which would claim the final post-season berth in the American Division.

Orlando City, the new pro soccer team in town, released their schedule today for the 2011 season.

The club will play 24 matches, 12 at home and 12 on the road, in its inaugural season.

Orlando City will play in the USL Pro league. A venue for home games has not been announced yet.

Date Home/Away Opponent Time 2-Apr Away Richmond Kickers TBD 9-Apr Home FC New York 7:35 PM 16-Apr Away Charlotte Eagles 7:00 PM 22-Apr Home Puerto Rico United 7:35 PM 30-Apr Away FC New York TBD 7-May Away Dayton Dutch Lions 7:30 PM 14-May Home Pittsburgh Riverhounds 7:35 PM 20-May Away Rochester Rhinos 7:30 PM 22-May Away Harrisburg City Islanders 3:00 PM 25-May Home Richmond Kickers 7:05 PM 2-Jun Home Charlotte Eagles 7:05 PM 4-Jun Away Wilmington Hammerheads TBD 10-Jun Home FC Barracuda of Antigua 7:35 PM 18-Jun Home Wilmington Hammerheads 7:35 PM 24-Jun Away River Plate Puerto Rico 8:00 PM 26-Jun Away FC Barracuda of Antigua TBD 29-Jun Home Sevilla FC Puerto Rico 7:35 PM 1-Jul Away Pittsburgh Riverhounds 7:00 PM 3-Jul Away Rochester Rhinos TBD 8-Jul Home Dayton Dutch Lions 7:35 PM 9-Jul Away Charleston Battery 7:30 PM 16-Jul Home Rochester Rhinos 7:35 PM 6-Aug Home Charleston Battery 7:35 PM 12-Aug Home Harrisburg City Islanders 7:35 PM

USL PRO, the organization that will run D3 soccer in the United States and Caribbean for the 2011 season, announced the playoff format for their fifteen-team league today from their Tampa, Florida headquarters. Eight of the league's fifteen teams will be eligible for the post-season playoffs.

NEW YORK, NY Five more amateur teams will earn berths into the US Open Cup tournament this year. The PDL's allotment was raised to nine from eight and the NPSL will receive four automatic berths, the first time since 2003 that teams from that fourth-division league will gain automatic entry. NPSL teams used to [.

RICHMOND, VA – (Tuesday, March 15, 2011) – The Richmond Kickers are pleased to announce the signing of midfielder Shaka Bangura for the 2011 season after identifying him at the Kickers 2011 Combine earlier this month.
"We were impressed with Shaka's power, pace and ability to open up defenses," comments Leigh Cowlishaw, Richmond Kickers Head Coach and Director of Soccer.

By JOHN BOSCHINI

When the NASL and USL split back in 2009, the USL decided to focus more on fostering regional rivalries between clubs. That philosophy is on full display in the first full weekend of play.

The league officially kicked off last weekend with the Richmond Kickers scoring a 2-0 win at Orlando City and Sevilla Puerto Rico and River Plate Puerto Rico playing to a 2-2 draw.

Newcastle United will be coming to Orlando for a friendly against Orlando City on July 23 the club confirmed on Wednesday.

""We are delighted to announce that Newcastle United, one of the biggest teams in the English Premier League (EPL), will be our guests for part of their pre-season training in July in Orlando, Florida," said Owner/President Phil Rawlins in a release.

By JOHN BOSCHINI

The USL Pro season may only be two weeks old but the Richmond Kickers are already distinguishing themselves as early contenders.

Richmond toppled the Pittsburgh Riverhounds for its second win in as many games as several teams kicked off their season over the weekend.

TAMPA, Fla. – United Soccer Leagues announced the USL PRO Team of the Week of the 2011 season today, honoring Richmond Kickers forward Matthew Delicâte as Player of the Week after he scored the game-winning goal in the Kickers' 2-1 victory against the Pittsburgh Riverhounds on Saturday, April 9.
Delicâte scored on a volley with three minutes to go to lift the Kickers to victory.

By JOHN BOSCHINI

It's the first full weekend of action the USL Pro as 18 teams take to the field.

Making their debut are the Rochester Rhinos, Los Angeles Blues, Harrisburg City Islanders, Dayton Dutch Lions, Wilmington Hammerheads and Antigua Barracuda FC.

By JOHN BOSCHINI

An early-season clash between a defending champion and the league leader highlights the fourth weekend of fixtures in the USL Pro.

The Easter weekend slate of matches kicks off tonight with the resurgent Orlando City welcoming a Puerto Rico United side that is struggling to find its feet after going winless in its opening home stand.

By JOHN BOSCHINI

And then there were 12.

With Puerto Rico's three franchises no longer a part of USL Pro, the league has reorganized the standings to feature two six-team divisions instead of three five-team divisions. Antigua Barracuda FC joins the American Division while the Los Angeles Blues are now part of the National Division.

All the leagues are up and running now, so here's a look at where the crowds are going in the prominent soccer leagues in the US and Canada as of yesterday's games:

THE MLS G Total Avg. Median Seattle Sounders FC 6 217,838 36,306 36,255 Los Angeles Galaxy 5 122,480 24,496 24,998 Vancouver Whitecaps FC 6 119,923 19,987 20,664 Toronto FC 7 136,898 19,557 20,086 Portland Timbers 5 93,135 18,627 18,627 Philadelphia Union 6 108,596 18,099 18,482 Houston Dynamo 6 105,705 17,618 17,281 New York Red Bulls 5 85,955 17,191 16,365 Chivas USA 5 85,592 17,118 14,058 Real Salt Lake 4 66,634 16,659 15,907 DC United 6 98,063 16,344 15,276 FC Dallas 7 96,099 13,728 12,109 Chicago Fire 4 54,513 13,628 12,315 Colorado Rapids 5 66,568 13,314 13,598 New England Revolution 6 65,353 10,892 11,585 Columbus Crew 5 50,996 10,199 10,306 San Jose Earthquakes 6 59,132 9,855 10,006 Sporting Kansas City 0 0 0 0 TMLS TOTAL 94 1,633,480 17,377 16,752 NASL G Total Avg.

By JOHN BOSCHINI

With the Richmond Kickers off for the weekend, Orlando City took a temporary lead at the top of the Atlantic Division while Antigua Barracuda FC gifted Charlotte its second win of the season.

It was the second 2-0 loss in as many weeks for Antigua, which is cooling rapidly after a hot streak during April.

By JOHN BOSCHINI

With their closest rivals on hiatus, the Richmond Kickers are looking to take advantage.

A midweek loss to Orlando City put the Floridians into pole position in the American Division, a place Richmond has occupied since the first week of the season.

By JOHN BOSCHINI

With Antigua on hiatus and Orlando drawing with Wilmington, Richmond had an opportunity to mount a charge in the American Division.

Unfortunately for the Kickers, a 1-0 defeat to the Harrisburg City Islanders saw them fall to six points behind Orlando.

Two rounds were played within one week as the US Open Cup continues to get more exciting. The teams in the lower levels of US soccer are fighting hard to make an impression against their MLS opponents. Round Three of the US Open Cup begins Tuesday night, June 28th.

Even though the match in Madison, Wisconsin started on time recently between the 56ers and the Chicago Fire's PDL side, the heavy rain and lightning storm found a way to postpone the match from the 21st to Wednesday the 22nd.

By JOHN BOSCHINI

If the rest of the American Division isn't careful, Orlando City could wrap up the division title before the end of July.

A couple of weekend wins saw Orlando City move 10 points clear of the Richmond Kickers. Richmond does have three games in hand but a scoreless draw with FC New York highlights the early-season leaders inconsistent form.

By JOHN BOSCHINI

There was no shortage of action during the holiday weekend as the USL Pro packed 10 games into four days.

Despite the glut of games, everything is pretty much as it was in the races for the division titles as Orlando City padded its massive lead in the American Division and Rochester clings to a three-point lead over on the National side.

Tomorrow KC continues their busy schedule with their Open Cup quarterfinal against the Richmond Kickers at LIVESTRONG Sporting Park. Once again KC is playing their 3rd game in the span of a week when the USL-Pro team (US third division) comes into town. The Kickers will also be playing their 3rd game in a week, as they played a home and home series with the Charlotte Eagles on Friday and Saturday night this past week, and now travel to KC.

By JOHN BOSCHINI

Just as it looked like Orlando City is poised to run away with the American Division, the mid-season leaders go winless over a weekend.

In a move that is becoming all too common among division leaders, Orlando gained just one point from two games over the weekend with a scoreless draw against the woeful Dayton Dutch Lions and a 1-0 loss to the Charleston Battery.

By JOHN BOSCHINI

Week 15 passed without any major changes, and with the conclusion of the USL Pro season now only a month away, that'll suit Orlando City just fine.

Orlando still holds a comfortable nine-point lead in the American Division and faces a long vacation before the home stretch.

By JOHN BOSCHINI

With Orlando City off until the middle of August, it's now or never for the Richmond Kickers and the Wilmington Hammerheads to mount a challenge on the American Division regular-season title. The results were mixed over the weekend with neither team making significant progress or falling completely out of the picture.

By JOHN BOSCHINI

After holding a dominating lead going into its nearly three week break, Orlando City S.C. finds itself with a serious contender breathing down its neck.

The Wilmington Hammerheads won twice over the weekend in convincing fashion to put themselves within three points of the American Division Leaders.

The final USL Pro playoff berth wasn't decided until the final whistle of last Friday's USL Pro Game of the Week on FOX Soccer. Here are the highlights of the Charleston Battery's 4-3 win over the Charlotte Eagles, one that included a two-goal, Player of the Week performance by the Battery's Mike Zaher:

The playoffs begin Friday, with Rochester hosting Pittsburgh, Wilmington hosting Richmond and Los Angeles traveling to Harrisburg.

Syracuse, NY---The Syracuse Silver Knights are pleased to announce the signing of USL PRO standout Darren Toby, pending league approval. Toby, a member of the Charlotte Eagles, will travel to the welcoming city of Syracuse to prepare for the upcoming 2011-2012 indoor season.

A native of Lowlands, Trinidad and Tobago, Toby made his professional debut with the Eagles in April of 2008.

The Norfolk SharX have announced two more player signings.

Defender Brady Bryant, 29, and midfielder Miguel Ferrer, who both played for the USL PRO's Charlotte Eagles this past spring, were signed following the SharX's first open tryouts on Sept. 9-10. They join Brandon Massie, who was announced as the team's first signing last week.