St. Charles native Manny joins Eclipse Select as Director of Goalkeeping

Eclipse Select Communications

CHICAGO -- The Eclipse Select Soccer Club announces the addition of St. Charles, Ill., native Trae Manny to its staff as the club's Director of Senior Goalkeeping. Manny also will serve as the head of Eclipse Select's College Assistance Program.

"Trae Manny will be an excellent addition to our already strong staff," Eclipse Select Director of Soccer Mike Nesci said. "His experience, knowledge of the position and enthusiasm toward teaching the game will allow us to produce some of the finest goalkeepers in the country."

The move for Manny certainly is a homecoming. Manny, who turns 27 today, was a goalkeeper at St. Charles East High School, where he was named first team Upstate Eight All-Conference.

"Eclipse Select has long been a dream job for me," Manny said. "I was around Mike Nesci a few times during my youth career and always appreciated his approach. As a coach in the college ranks, I grew to appreciate the consistently high standard of Eclipse Select teams and players, as well as the club's history of developing first-class goalkeepers. Now I have an opportunity to return to my roots to influence and develop youth players who come from the same locale as I did."

For more, visit EclipseSelect.org.

Eclipse Select's Kara Morway bound for Illinois State in 2013

Eclipse Select Communications

CHICAGO -- Eclipse Select Soccer Club defender Kara Morway announced her commitment to play for the Illinois State women's soccer team beginning in 2013. The Lake Villa, Ill., native and Lakes Community High School junior had narrowed down her search to Illinois State and Wisconsin-Milwaukee. Morway's older brother attends Illinois State, but it took another visit with former Eclipse Select player and current Illinois State freshman Gabbi McArtor to help solidify Morway's choice.

"I visited there a couple months ago and liked it, but I was just not ready to make a decision," Morway said. "But I got to stay with Gabbi and I could tell right then and there that I wanted to go there. I loved it."

Morway's older sister and Notre Dame sophomore defender Kecia Morway also provided some perspective about playing at the next level. Kecia, also an Eclipse Select product, had a dream start to her college campaign by winning the NCAA College Cup in her 2010 freshman season with the Irish.

"Kecia helped me during the whole process," Morway said. "I'd talk to her about it and she would give me tips on what to look for, what would make me happy and suit me best."

For more, visit EclipseSelect.org.

Eclipse Select's McKenna commits to Princeton soccer, hockey for 2013

Eclipse Select Communications

CHICAGO -- Eclipse Select Soccer Club defender Fiona McKenna has had quite a bit on her plate in both athletics and academics. The Hinsdale Central High School junior will continue to do so in college as she has made her verbal commitment to play for Princeton's women's soccer team, as well as its hockey team.

"I'm really excited," McKenna said. "All of the hard work has paid off."

McKenna will play soccer in the fall and hockey in the winter. And it was a former Eclipse Select player who got her to thinking that a two-sport Ivy League path could be possible.

"From the beginning I knew I wanted to go Ivy League because they have the best academics," McKenna said. "Crysti Howser (a Wilmette native and New Trier graduate) played for Eclipse six or seven years ago, and she played both sports at Yale. I heard about it from family and friends and I was inspired."

Read more at EclipseSelect.org.

2011 Eclipse Select Yearbook

Eclipse Select Communications

Check out the 2011 Eclipse Select Yearbook, complete with the past year's accomplishments, action and team photos, alumni updates and much more!

Eclipse Select forward Jarsombeck commits to Creighton for 2013

Eclipse Select Communications

CHICAGO -- Eclipse Select Soccer Club forward Paige Jarsombeck has announced her commitment to play for Creighton University's women's soccer team. The Tinley Park, Ill., native and Andrew High School junior will join head coach Bruce Erickson's Bluejays in 2013.

"I always wanted to go to a private and small school somewhere with a special education program, and I've always loved the city of Omaha," Jarsombeck said of the Nebraska school. "I've been there for soccer and loved it. After meeting with Coach Erickson and their team, I knew I wanted to go there."

Creighton also was the school of choice for Eclipse Select defender and Darien, Ill., native Jessica Mutters, so she and Jarsombeck will continue their soccer careers as teammates in college.

"We've played together for about three years, so it's cool to know that I will play alongside her in college," Jarsombeck said. "We practice with each other, and being teammates at Creighton is a bit of a coincidence. To know someone from Eclipse, I'm guessing that will probably help on the field because we know each other's game."

Read more at EclipseSelect.org.

Ricardo Clark scores in stoppage time to lift U.S. MNT over Venezuela

U.S. Soccer Communications

GLENDALE, Ariz. – The U.S. Men’s National Team opened the year in dramatic fashion as Ricardo Clark tallied a game-winning goal seven minutes into second-half stoppage time for a 1-0 win against Venezuela at University of Phoenix Stadium in Glendale, Ariz.

The U.S. kept Venezuelan goalkeeper Jose Morales on his toes all night and finally earned the well-deserved victory in the final moments when Clark emphatically headed home a Jermaine Jones corner kick from the right side. Jones, serving as the U.S. captain for the first time in his career, capped off his Budweiser Man of the Match performance with the assist. The game-winner was the second in Clark’s career, following the lone goal in the 1-0 win against Trinidad & Tobago in qualifying for the 2010 FIFA World Cup.

The U.S. improved to 3-0-1 all-time against Venezuela and earned its first win against a South American team since a 3-1 win against Ecuador on March 25, 2007.

Read more at USSoccer.com.

U.S. WNT routs Dominican Republic 14-0 in CONCACAF Olympic Qualifier

U.S. Soccer Communications

VANCOUVER, Canada – The U.S. Women’s National Team rolled past a young and over-matched Dominican Republic side to open the 2012 CONCACAF Olympic Women’s Qualifying Tournament with a dominating 14-0 victory in a match played indoors at BC Place.

The 14 goals set a U.S. WNT record for most goals in a game, breaking the previous mark of 12 established during back-to-back 12-0 wins in 1991 CONCACAF Women’s World Cup Qualifying against Mexico and Martinique.

Second-half sub Amy Rodriguez tied an individual U.S. Women’s record with five goals (all in the second half) for her second career international hat trick. Abby Wambach (Oct. 23, 2004 vs. Ireland, also all five in the second half), Michelle Akers (Nov. 24, 1991, against Chinese Taipei in the FIFA Women’s World Cup), Tiffeny Milbrett (Nov. 2, 2002 in CONCACAF Women’s World Cup Qualifying) and Brandi Chastain (whose five came in that rout of Mexico on April 18, 1991) also have five-goal games to their resume.

Read more at USSoccer.com.