BY ADAM SERRANO

Friday's scrimmage between the Houston Dynamo and the Los Angeles Galaxy may have been a rematch of the 2011 MLS Cup, but last November's match was far from the minds of all involved.

The Dynamo defeated the Galaxy 1-0 after Nathan Sturgis scored the lone goal of the match on a header from a looping cross from Josue Soto in the 68th minute.

The Dynamo continued their undefeated preseason (for what that's worse) with a 2-0 victory over the Montreal Impact. This was the first MLS competition Houston has faced this preseason and it's fitting it was against Brian Ching and Le Impact. Colin Clark and Cam Weaver both scored for the Dynamo.

Clint Dempsey and Fulham had no luck against Manchester City at a snowy Emirates Stadium, falling 3-0. City were up from the penalty spot within ten minutes, making it 2-0 from an own-goal. It was 3-0 in the 72nd, with Joe Hart picking up the shutout. "In the second half I think we had more possession," Fulham manager Martin Jol said.

While both teams already qualified for the London 2012 Olympiad there is a certain amount of pride at play. For Canada's women this is an opportunity to declare that they deserve to be in that top tier of teams challenging for Gold or Women's World Cups. With the Great White North hosting the 2015 Women's World Cup it is matches like this and their second straight 20k+ crowd that demonstrate that they are a top nation in the women's game.

The first phase of the Chicago Fire's 2012 pre-season is in full swing. About 36 players are working with the Chicago Fire technical staff down in Ave Maria, Florida. Marco Pappa recently arrived in camp. New striker Federico Puppo resolved his visa issues and made his way to the Sunshine State. Sean Johnson just wrapped up his recent USMNT call-up.

The Indoor Soccer News Weekly MISL Power Rankings are sponsored by:
By Joel Greenwaldt
@JoelGreenwaldt (Twitter)
Each week during the season I'll post an updated MISL Power Ranking which will be based off the cumulative results and current strength of each team.

U.S. Soccer Development Academy alum Bill Hamid earned his first cap with the U.S.
MNT and became the ninth goalkeeper to earn a shutout in his
debut.

The U.S. Men's National Team opened 2012 with a 1-0 victory over Venezuela on Saturday at the University of Phoenix Stadium in Glendale, Ariz.

It wasn't that long ago that Providence product Michael Parkhurst and Attleboro native Geoff Cameron were just two local talents hoping to play their way from the grassy fields of southeastern New England onto the big stage.

Cue the big stage.

On Saturday, the defending duo both of whom played club soccer for Rhode Island-based Bayside FC found themselves paired together in the center of the United States defense for the first time during the squad's 1-0 shutout of Venezuela.

The United States and Venezuela last met on May 26th, 2006 in a friendly that was part of the send-off series for that summer's World Cup. Playing at Browns Stadium in Cleveland, Brian Ching and Clint Dempsey scored in a 2-0 USA win with Tim Howard recording the shutout. This was also the game where Michael Bradley made his debut, coming on as an 89th minute substitute.

Norfolk SharX News Release:
SHARX TAKE A BITE OUT OF KNIGHTS FOR SECOND CONSECUTIVE WIN
Matt Clare's seven points secures 12-11 win over Syracuse
Syracuse, New York – The Norfolk SharX won their second consecutive game Sunday afternoon, outlasting the Syracuse Silver Knights 12-11 at the Oncenter.

The Old Firm derby didn't go the way of the Americans on Wednesday, with Celtic taking the lead in the Scottish Premier League. Joe Ledley was the goal scorer, converting in the 52nd minute at Celtic Park. Frasier Foster got the shutout in a game where Rangers only put two shots on target. However, replays showed that a sixth minute header from Lee Wallace crossed the goal line and should've counted.

The Premier League featured a meeting of the Americans on Tuesday, with Brad Friedel's Spurs getting the better of Zac Whitbread's Norwich City in a 2-0 win. Gareth Bale scored both of Tottenham's goals, with Friedel picking up the shutout. Whitbread started and played the full ninety. In the Jupiler League, Sacha Kljestan started for Anderlecht in a 1-1 draw with Mons.

by Shane Badger
Game after game the Lancers have proven that their learning curve is short. Each game a new lesson learned. Still the onlookers were apprehensive as the Lancers took the field against their league rivals the Silver Knights whom had just bested the Blast.

Rachel Quon -- ISI PhotosEclipse Select Communications
CHICAGO -- The third time was the charm for Eclipse Select Soccer Club alumna and Stanford junior defender Rachel Quon (Lake Forest, Ill./Lake Forest). Quon and the Stanford defense posted its 18th shutout of the season, none bigger than Sunday's 1-0 win over Duke to win the NCAA Women's College Cup in Kennesaw, Ga.

Tevez who? For the obscenely paid lineup of Man City, it really doesn't matter, as they chalk up yet another win, this time over hapless Norwich. Aguero, Nasri, Toure, Balotelli and Johnson all tally one, with a token goal by Norwich's Morison to prevent the shutout. They are looking tough ahead of the Carling Cup matchup against cross town United.

On Saturday, the Revolution U-18s continued their winning ways, but the U-16s suffered their first loss of the season as the squads faced Charlotte Soccer Academy in the Revs' first matches of the U.S. Soccer Development Academy Winter Showcase, which is being held at Premier Sports Complex in Sarasota, Fla.

After pounding ACC tournament champion Florida State 3-0 on Friday night in the first semifinal of the College Cup, Stanford has a chance to play once again for the national title. The Cardinal advanced to soccer's version of the Final Four by completing its third straight unbeaten season, a feat that parallels the great University of North Carolina teams with Mia Hamm in the early 1990s.

Oguchi Onyewu got the start for Sporting, beating FC Zurich 2-0 at home to win Group D. Ricky van Wolfswinkel opened the scoring in the 15th minute, with Valeri Bojinov doubling the lead in the 58th. Boeck Marcelo needed one save for the shutout. Jermaine Jones went the distance for Schalke 04, beating Steaua Bucharest 2-1 to qualify for the next round.

- On the Men's side of this years NCAA Division I Championship Tournament JMU is the lone Virginia school left in the field of 16 after shuting out Wake Forest 2-0 in second round play. (Read More)
Up next for the No. 14 Dukes is a third round match against No. 3 Connecticut on November 27.

The top-seeded Missouri State men's soccer team (9-7-2, 5-1-0 MVC) played its way into the 2011 State Farm Missouri Valley Conference championship match with a 2-0 shutout of Drake at Morrison Stadium in Omaha, Neb., on Friday afternoon. With their second win in as many games over the Bulldogs, the Bears will now face No.

The UW-Whitewater women's soccer team couldn't have asked for a better way to make its NCAA tournament debut.

Riley Kirchoff (Pewaukee) and Kaitlyn Fritsch (Monona Grove) scored and fellow freshman Jordan Myers stopped two shots for the shutout as the Warhawks blanked Aurora (Ill.

Minnesotan Kassey Kallman and her Florida State University women's soccer team (15-6-1) started off the NCAA Tournament with a 2-0 shutout over Samford (14-6-2) on Friday night. Janice Cayman scored for FSU with the game winner coming in the 58th minute. Just 7 minutes later Tiana Brockway gave the Seminoles an insurance goal.

It's been a long time. 32 years to be exact since the U.S. Men's National team played the French National team. In fact the U.S. played the French twice that year with France winning both contests by a combined total of 9-0, including a 6-0 shutout on May 2, 1979, in E. Rutherford, N.J. In [...]

After two successful seasons together in Carolina, Paul Ritchie knows what Martin Rennie is thinking, and when he's thinking it.
That chemistry is now at the core of the Vancouver Whitecaps' coaching staff. Ritchie was welcomed as Rennie's first assistant on Thursday, the second day of an eight-day mini-camp at the Burnaby Lake Sports Complex.

Kansas City 0 - Houston 2 Home field wasn't the advantage Sporting expected with their worst to first 2011 season ending with an Eastern Conference final loss to Houston. After losing Brad Davis to an injury that is expected to keep him out of MLS Cup, Houston's Andre Hainault scored in the 52rd minute and Carlo Costly doubled the lead in the 87th.

Jozy Altidore scored AZ's final goal in a 3-0 shutout of ADO Den Haag in Holland's Eredivisie. Brett Holman opened the scoring in the 11th minute with Adam Maher making it 2-0 in the 64th. Altidore finished off the scoring in the 83rd minute. Michael Bradley went the distance for Chievo, beating Fiorentina 1-0.

Houston 1 - Philadelphia 0 (3-1 on aggregate) Houston's Brian Ching was the difference in the second-leg of their playoff series with Philadelphia, scoring in first-half stoppage time for the game's only goal. Dynamo goalkeeper Tally Hall picked up the shutout with four saves. This was the last game at Robertson Stadium, wit Houston moving to their new stadium for the 2012 season.

By JOEY SAMUEL

Coming into the second leg of their Eastern Conference semifinal clash with the Philadelphia Union, the Houston Dynamo knew all they needed to do to advance was to keep a clean sheet.

They did that and more Thursday night, as Brian Ching got on the end of yet another Brad Davis free kick and the Dynamo defended brilliantly to seal a 1-0 win and a spot in the Eastern Conference final.

The game against Colorado was KC's 40th in all competitions this year, tying a team record set by in 2000 and 2002.
Matt Besler's minutes total for the season is now 3,367, good for 11th most in all competitions in team history.
Davy Arnaud made his 14th playoff appearance for KC, breaking his tie with Peter Vermes for 9th place on that list.

By J Hutcherson - WASHINGTON, DC (Nov 3, 2011) US Soccer Players -- It had to be a rainy night in Seattle, right? With their season on the line against Real Salt Lake, the Sounders needed the weather on their side. Expecting rain in the Pacific Northwest might not be much of a stretch, but it suited what this game meant.

Sporting KC moved one step closer to a potential trip to LA and MLS Cup last night when they took out the Colorado Rapids at LIVESTRONG Sporting Park, winning 2-0 on the night and 4-0 on aggregate. The shutout was the team's fourth straight, the most in a row since the team's run to the championship in 2000.

The story of the weekend for National Teamers was Clint Dempsey's 42nd minute goal with Fulham beating Wigan Athletic 2-0 at DW Stadium. Moussa Dembele scored Fulham's second goal in the 87th minute. Mark Schwarzer needed six saves for the shutout, with Fulham only putting three shots on frame. "I'm happy we got the points today and I'm sure people back home in the States like to see me doing well.

The Colorado Rapids took the other MLS wildcard spot, beating Columbus at Dick's Sporting Goods Park. With the Colorado grounds crew needing to quickly prepare the stadium after yesterday's snow, it was the Rapids taking advantage late in the first-half with a goal from Omar Cummings. That turned out to be the game winner, with both teams pressing late.

Frustration as Barcelona draw against Sevilla (Photo: Manu Fernandez/AP Photo)

Javi Varas saved a stoppage time penalty from Leo Messi to highlight his brilliant performance on the night, holding the defending champions to a scoreless draw at the Camp Nou.

It was a match of resilient defense, poor finishing and childish antics in the closing minutes.

The Galaxy won on the road in Honduras to take the final spot in the CONCACAF Champions League quarterfinals. Juninho scored the game's only goal in the 29th minute, LA's only shot on frame from five taken. Galaxy goalkeeper Josh Suanders needed four saves for the shutout. The Galaxy won Group A, the only MLS team to win its group.

The Red Bulls ended any hope Portland or Chicago had of making the playoffs, becoming the 10th team to qualify for the postseason by beating Philadelphia. A Dane Richards header eight minutes in deflected off Philadelphia goalkeeper Fared Mondragon for the game's only goal. New York's Frank Rost picked up the shutout in front of 25,044 fans at Red Bull Arena.

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MLS
Stephane Auvray - New York - Came off the bench and played 7 minutes in New York's 2-0 loss to KC.

By ALAN LEDBETTER

With most of the playoff spots spoken for, the final week of MLS is sure to be unpredictable.

Coaches are more likely to rest key players, which makes picking a fantasy team very difficult. Since lineups lock for MFLS on Wednesday, you will have to set your lineup with some uncertainty this week.

Dallas 0 - Toronto 3 Home field advantage didn't help Dallas in a Major League Soccer matchup where the winner advanced to the knockout stage of the CONCACAF Champions League. Danny Koevermans scored in the 29th minute and Joao Plata had two goals in the 69th and 81st minute with Milos Kocik picking up the shutout in front of 2,578 at Pizza Hut Park.

Halfway through the Big Ten Conference men's soccer season, things have gone perfectly for the University of Wisconsin.

Chris Prince scored his fourth goal of the season in the 33rd minute and fellow sophomore Max Jentsch (Hartland Arrowhead) made two saves for the shutout as the Badgers blanked Michigan State 1-0 Sunday afternoon at the McClimon Complex for their third straight win to open conference play.