This time, it was even a goalkeeper who dropped it — Ajax’s Maarten Stekelenburg was sitting atop the bus with a teammate and the Dutch Eredivisie shield as the club paraded through the streets of Amsterdam when it was knocked out of their hands by overhead power lines and fell off the back of the bus. It rolled into the following bus and, luckily, instead of getting crushed like the Copa del Rey, it bounced off and rolled to the side of the road, where a fan grabbed it and ran after the bus it came from, triumphantly holding the silverware over his head.

I guess it’s easier to stop blazing fast kicks than to hold on to trophies!

Stony Brook Sweeps Final Women’s Soccer Awards of 2008

CAMBRIDGE, Mass. – Stony Brook, which is in the midst of a four-game winnings streak in women’s soccer, swept the final weekly awards of 2008 after posting two wins and earning the No. 2 seed for the upcoming America East Championship. Senior Brooke Barbuto (Syracuse, N.Y./Corcoran) was tabbed Player of the Week award for the second time this season, while freshman Colleen McKenna (Manorville, N.Y./Eastport South Manor) earned Rookie of the Week honors award for the third time.

Barbuto racked up nine points in two Stony Brook wins last week. Barbuto scored the tying goal against Binghamton on Wednesday and then assisted on the game winner. A senior midfielder, Barbuto tallied assists on the first two goals against Maine and converted a penalty kick for her fifth goal of the season on Sunday. The wins gave Stony Brook 10 wins for the first time since 1994 and six America East trophy wins for the first time since joining the league in 2001.

McKenna (Manorville, N.Y./Eastport South Manor) earned her second straight Rookie of the Week award as she tallied 11 points in just two games last week. A freshman forward, McKenna scored scored the Seawolves’ first goal, just 2:32 into the game, in a 3-2 win over Albany on Thursday. A freshman forward, McKenna scored the game winner against Binghamton on Thursday with just 5:51 remaining. She added two more scores and an assist in the Seawolves’ 5-0 win over Maine on Sunday.

In the Women’s Soccer Championship awards, No. 3 seeded New Hampshire (6-10-1, 5-3-0) will host No. 6 seed Binghamton (7-8-1, 3-5-0) on Thursday at 1:30 p.m. in one quarterfinal matchup. Fourth-seeded Hartford (8-5-4, 4-3-1) hosts No. 5 seed Maine (6-5-6, 3-3-2) at 6 p.m. in the other quarterfinal contest. Semifinal action with take place on Sunday, November 2 with the winner of New Hampshire and Binghamton traveling to No. 2 seed Stony Brook (10-7-0, 6-2-0) for a 6 p.m. contest. The winner of Hartford and Maine will go to No. 1 seed Boston University (13-5-1, 8-0-0 ) for a 1 p.m. start. The championship award game will be played on Saturday, Nov. 8 or Sunday, Nov. 9 at the highest remaining seed.

Originated from America East Communications

Gartner named finalist for national award - CLASS award recognizes excellence in class and on field

Eastern senior defender Adam Gartner was named one of 30 finalists for the Lowe’s Senior CLASS award.

He was the only finalist named from the Missouri Valley Conference for the award that acknowledges dedication and hard work in the classroom, character, community and competition.

The CLASS award recognizes senior athletes in eight NCAA Division I sports.

The CLASS award differs from other athletic honors given because athletics are just one factor taken into consideration.

Eastern head coach Adam Howarth said Gartner is a quiet leader on and off the field. The Iowa City, Iowa, native has a 3.64 GPA and has received several academic awards. He is a two-time ESPN Academic All-District award winner and was named a First Team MVC Scholar Athlete and a National Soccer Coaches Association of America Second Team Scholar All-American in 2007.

“I was very excited,” Howarth said of Gartner’s nomination. “He puts in a lot of hard work in the classroom, on the field and in the community.”

Gartner is in his fourth year playing soccer at Eastern and was named a preseason All-MVC player before the start of this season. Gartner has two assists and two goals this season after ending the 2007 season with nine assists and eight goals. He has 17 assists for his Eastern career (tied for 10th all-time).

Gartner said he was surprised to be nominated, but he said it was an honor to be recognized for his accomplishments both on and off the field. He said his parents always pushed him to get his school work done first.

“They supported me a lot, Gartner said. “They understand how it’s been and that it is difficult. They came to every game so far this season to support me.”

Balancing academics and other aspects of life can be tough for student-athletes, but that is what Gartner has done in his four years at Eastern.

“I try to stay on top of things,” Gartner said. “In high school I did well managing my time – like getting my priorities straight and getting work done. Here, (Howarth) helps us out, gives us time to study and puts academics first.”

Gartner said he would like to continue playing soccer after graduation, but he said he is keeping his options open if that doesn’t pan out. Those options could involve using his finance degree.

“I don’t want to close out soccer, but I know I can’t play my whole life so I want to consider graduate school and a career in financial planning,” Gartner said.

Howarth said Gartner not only works hard in class and on the soccer field but also helps out in the community.

“I think that with Adam school is first then it’s soccer in a close second,” Howarth said. “He does good work with kids. He volunteers with the team every Monday.”

But despite his success in academics and volunteer time he puts in, Gartner still excels on the soccer field, and that includes a position switch during the middle of his college career.

“The other year he got a new position – midfield to defender – and that’s not always easy,” said senior forward Brad Peters. “He’s also been a good person, and I think he finally came into his own.”

Originally written by Karolina Strack/Staff Reporter

Trojans proud of state trophy

Being runner-up in a state trophy title game is possibly the toughest pill a team can swallow, but Timothy Christian’s boys soccer players know how they’ll come to view their Class 1A second-place trophy.

“It’s an initial blow that you lost, but when you look back at the season there’s nothing to be ashamed of,” said Trojans senior Jake Schemper. “I’m very appreciative of what everybody on this team has done.”

The Trojans (18-6-1) lost 2-0 to a team from Winnebago (25-2) that had no shortage of attacking weapons at North Central College in Naperville. The Indians posted 162 goals this season in winning their first soccer state trophy title.

For 40 minutes Trojans goalkeeper Peter Tameling and his back line kept the Indians from scoring, but Winnebago struck twice in a three-minute span to start the second half and the Trojans were unable to find the back of the net from there.

“I was proud of the way we played. It just wasn’t enough,” said Trojans coach Rudi Gesch. “But we’ll take second place trophy. It’s been an awesome experience and a great journey.”

Timothy Christian bids farewell to seniors Schemper, Tameling, Jeb Nash, Josh Hjelmgren, Jeremy Hoving, Justin Groenewold, Taylor Slager, Kent Dixon and Jonathan Voss – a core group for which Gesch predicted great things for when they were eighth-graders.
“Phenomenal individual talent, phenomenal team chemistry – just very strong senior leadership, and we’re really going to miss those guys,” Gesch said. “It was a great effort on their parts.”

Nash led the squad offensively with 15 goals and 17 assists, Schemper posted 13 goals and 17 assists, and the Trojans got 10 apiece this year from Groenewold and Slager.

“We’re just all best friends on this team,” Schemper said. “The friendships and relationships I’ve been able to create here have been priceless.”

Originally written by By Gary Larsen | Daily Herald Correspondent

The Real Deal – Wake Forest’s Marcus Tracy could become the school’s first Hermann Trophy winner

Marcus Tracy leads the Wake Forest soccer team with 10 goals and 26 points, which includes six assists.

While watching Marcus Tracy play soccer, it’s easy to envision him in a helmet and pads helping the Wake Forest football team at safety, or lacing up his old basketball shoes and filling in at point guard.

However, Tracy is content with soccer and with trying to help the top-ranked Deacons win another national championship.

He has maintained his high level of play from last season — he was voted the most outstanding offensive player at last year’s College Cup trophy — and has helped Wake Forest to a 13-0 record heading into today’s 7 p.m. match against Duke at Spry Stadium.

Midfielder Sam Cronin, a fellow senior, summed up what Tracy has meant to the program.

“He’s the essence of this team because as many goals as he scores, he’s always looking to the guy who gave him the assist to compliment him,” Cronin said. “He kind of gets the spotlight a lot, but he deflects a lot of that to his teammates.”

Tracy (6-1, 170) leads the Deacons in goals (10) and points (26, with six assists). He has breakaway speed and, Coach Jay Vidovich says, one of the best vertical games in program history.

“In terms of athleticism, I don’t think there’s anybody we’ve had as complete as Marcus,” said Vidovich, who is in his 15th season. “With his air game, he can open it up, he’s technically clean, and he’s a team guy. And athletically, he’s just special that way.”

Although it seems as if there’s nothing Tracy can’t do, there are things he doesn’t like to do. He has a hard time talking about himself. He especially doesn’t like spiders.

Cronin said: “I do know he doesn’t like spiders. And I think off the field, he’s the greatest, nicest guy and is so humble. He’s probably going to be mad that you are even doing a story on him.”

Tracy, who has a chance to become Wake Forest’s first Hermann Trophy winner as the top player in college soccer, was a main cog in the Deacons’ run to their first NCAA championship last fall. He scored three goals in the College Cup trophy, including the winner in the semifinals against Virginia Tech.

There was some speculation that Tracy might bypass his final college season to turn pro — there are as many as 10 former Deacons playing Major League Soccer — but he decided to return.

“We have set higher goals for this team this year,” said Tracy, an economics major who is on schedule to graduate in May. “And (there’s) the degree and how far that can take you in life. These opportunities don’t present themselves all the time, so I talked to all the right people, from my family to the coaches, and I’m happy with my decision.”

Donald Tracy, Marcus’ father, said that his son didn’t think too hard about leaving school early.

“I do know his mother, who is an educator, wanted him to finish his degree,” Donald said of Marguerite, a fifth- and sixth-grade math and science teacher in Newtown, Conn. “And I wanted him to finish as well.”

At Newtown High School, Tracy played soccer and basketball and also ran the 400 meters for the track team. At Wake Forest, Tracy, Cronin and several other soccer players formed an intramural basketball team as freshmen and dominated their league.

“The team was pretty much built around getting the ball to Marcus,” Cronin said.

Tracy said he enjoyed playing basketball again, for at least that one season.

“We didn’t sign up fast enough to be in the ‘A’ division, so we were playing frat kids, and we were just killing people,” Tracy said.

“We were winning every game, but the mercy rule was that if we got up 30, the game was over. It was pretty much like that in about every game.”

Tracy said that the team finally quit the league during the playoffs, because it wasn’t any fun anymore.

“Up until freshman or sophomore year of high school, I was better at basketball than soccer,” Tracy said. “But I don’t look back on that and I don’t have any regrets.… I’m completely happy with how soccer has turned out for me.”

When asked about the Hermann Trophy consideration, Tracy shrugged his shoulders.

“I think for me the biggest thing is to accomplish our three goals, getting the regular-season title, getting the ACC Tournament title and the national title and that would bring recognition to everybody on this team,” Tracy said. “That’s really my focus.”

Originally written by By John Dell, JOURNAL REPORTER

Major League Soccer has named its championship trophy for Denver investor Philip Anschutz, owner of the Los Angeles Galaxy soccer franchise.

The new Philip F. Anschutz Trophy — 28-1/2 inches tall, including the base, and weighing 43 pounds — was unveiled Wednesday at Tiffany & Co. in New York, on the eve of the start of the MLS playoffs, the league’s website, MLSnet.com, reported.

Anschutz is also part-owner of the Houston Dynamo.

At a news conference to unveil the trophy, which resembles a large loving cup, league Commissioner Don Garber described Anschutz as “the heart and soul of Major League Soccer.”

“We really believed that Phil Anschutz deserved a lasting legacy,” MLSnet.com quoted Garber as saying.

“Phil Anschutz believes in the sport down to its core,” he said. “He attends games almost every weekend with his family. He believes in the American player. He believes that this country has to have a top-flight league that celebrates what he thinks is the best sport in the world.”

He said the Denverite rescued the league financially a few years ago.

“In our darkest hour, we went through contraction,” Garber said, according to the MLSnet.com report. “We were really questioning what the future of MLS would be. Phil Anschutz stood up and said, ‘Even if I have to carry this league on my shoulders, I won’t allow Major League Soccer not to continue or grow.’”

The MLSnet.com report did not say whether the normally publicity-shy Anschutz attended the unveiling ceremony.

The new trophy replaces the Alan I. Rothenberg Cup, which has been retired.

Originally Written by http://www.bizjournals.com/losangeles

Nikki Marshall battles for possession of the ball with a Utah defender Sept. 6, 2007. Marshall was awarded Offensive Player of the week by the Big-12 conference. (CU Independent File Photo/Eli Lieberman)

The Big-12 conference announced its players of the week for women’s soccer Tuesday and Colorado swept all the honors.

Junior forward Nikki Marshall was awarded Offensive Player of the Week, senior goalkeeper Kirstin Radlinski was awarded Defensive Player of the Week and freshman midfielder Kelly Butler was awarded Newcomer of the Week.

This marks the first time in the program’s history that the Soccer team swept the weekly awards and the first school to accomplish the feat since Kansas did it on Oct. 17, 2006.

Marshall had two goals against Ole Miss on Friday – with one in overtime to help the Buffs get their first win of the weekend and Marshall’s seventh Offensive Player of the Week for her career.

With the Buffs down by two going into halftime against Ole Miss veteran goalkeeper Kirstin Radlinski entered the game and made three huge saves to give Colorado the chance to come back for the win. Radlinski had another great game on Sunday, helping the Buffs win their fifth straight.

This was Radlinski’s second career Defensive Player of the Week award.

Kelly Butler became the second Buff to earn Newcomer of the Week this season, thanks to her key goal versus Ole Miss and her game-winning goal against Memphis on Sunday. Fellow freshman Kate Russell earned the team’s first Newcomer of the Week award this season two weeks ago.

The Buffs will host the Colorado Classic this weekend at Prentup Field with Denver, Gonzaga and Fresno State coming to Boulder.

Originally written by Ron Knabenbauer

Mandela honored today at the Nelson Mandela Foundation event.

FIFA President Joseph S. Blatter today (Tuesday, 16 September) paid tribute to” his friend Madiba” at a private audience at the Nelson Mandela Foundation with a very special gift. To commemorate the historic moment on 15 May 2004 when the former President of South Africa and Nobel Peace Prize winner, Nelson Mandela, emotionally raised the iconic Trophy right after the 2010 FIFA World Cup was awarded to South Africa, Blatter handed over a specifically manufactured replica of the FIFA World Cup. “You are the true architect of this FIFA World Cup; your presence and commitment made it happen. Now the first African FIFA World Cup is a reality and the FIFA Confederations Cup South Africa 2009 – the dress re-hearsal – will already take place in less than ten months’ time,” explained Blatter on handing over the trophy to Mandela “I remember that moment back in Zurich. It’s an honour to welcome you here today. It was my desire to meet you and I am happy that we managed it. Thank you for this very special gift,” said Mr. Mandela, who assigned the Trophy a special place in his office. The FIFA President was accompanied by FIFA Secretary General Jérôme Valcke and FIFA Ambassador Tokyo Sexwale.

The FIFA President spoke with Mr. Mandela on his itinerary since arriving South Africa on Sunday and told him how confident he was that the 2010 FIFA World Cup would be a magnificent event. In particular ,the FIFA President talked about his visit that same morning to the iconic Soccer City stadium when he was welcomed by enthusiastic construction workers regaling him with a stirring rendition of “Shosholoza” – a popular local tune which has become South African workers’ theme song whenever the FIFA President visits FIFA World Cup stadium sites in the country. “This is the centre of all the activities of the 2010 FIFA World Cup and I am so impressed by the magnitude of the construction of this stadium which already more than 20,000 seats in place. It’s great, it’s big, it’s huge. It is like a temple where people will assemble in 2010,” said Blatter.

Mr. Mandela was keen also on President Blatter’s assessment of the current performance of the South African football team Bafana Bafana, while the pair also fondly reminisced about the glorious South African team that won the 1996 African Cup of Nations on home soil. Now the team must start concentrating on preparations for next year’s FIFA Confederations Cup, when they have to compete against top teams such as reigning world champions Italy, Brazil, USA and European champions Spain. South Africa has the talent but it is time now to show it,” explained Blatter. Mr. Mandela then told the guests about his football experiences back as a schoolboy and stressed that football is a people’s sport. To conclude the short visit the FIFA President added: “This is the highlight of my stay here in South Africa to meet my dear friend Madiba. I feel at home in this beautiful and proud country. Good bless you and I hope to see you at the opening match of the 2010 FIFA World Cup on 11 June 2010 at Soccer City stadium.”

Originally written by Ramon Aranda