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.

San Jose picks Eclipse Select alum Tiemstra in MLS Supplemental Draft

David Tiemstra

Eclipse Select Communications

CHICAGO -- Eclipse Select Soccer Club alum and Clarendon Hills, Ill., native David Tiemstra is headed to Major League Soccer's San Jose Earthquakes.

Tiemstra, a graduate of Hinsdale Central and a two-time Big Ten Conference Defensive Player of the Year out of Ohio State, was selected by San Jose during Tuesday's 2012 MLS Supplemental Draft. Tiemstra was the sixth pick in the third round (44th overall) during Tuesday's draft. The 19 MLS clubs picked a total of 75 players who were not selected during the previous week's MLS SuperDraft.

For more Eclipse Select news, visit EclipseSelect.org.

Development Academy alum Wenger picked No. 1 in MLS SuperDraft

No. 1 selection Andrew Wenger

U.S. Soccer Communications

U.S. Under-23 defender and U.S. Soccer Development Academy alum Andrew Wenger out of Duke was the top selection by the Montreal Impact during Thursday’s MLS SuperDraft held at the NSCAA Convention in Kansas City. Three of the first five selections in the draft had Development Academy ties.

The 2011 Hermann Trophy winner and ACC Offensive Player of the Year had 17 goals and eight assists last year, and he is the first Hermann Trophy recipient since Alecko Eskandarian (2002) to be taken first overall. The versatile Wenger was the ACC Defensive Player of the Year in 2010.

Wenger told the ESPN crew that he would like to play in the midfield for the Impact.

For more, visit USSoccer.com.

GKs Hamid, Johnson look to make most of U.S. MNT opportunity

Goalkeeper Sean Johnson

U.S. Soccer Communications

The 21-year-old Bill Hamid and 22-year-old Sean Johnson are prime examples of young talent hoping to get noticed during the U.S. MNT’s January camp. Both have taken on significant roles with their respective MLS teams and also trained abroad during the offseason in Premier League environments. Now they want to have an impact at the international level.

Read more at USSoccer.com.

Lower-division teams relish chance to host U.S. Open Cup matches

U.S. Soccer Communications

The 2012 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup begins May 15, and with the 99th edition comes a multitude of changes. For lower-division teams, the most significant is the random selection process for determining home teams from the first round through the quarterfinals.

In previous years, all teams pursued this opportunity through a bidding process.

“In the last three to five years, MLS teams have actively been bidding on games,” said Andrew Bell, president of the USL PRO’s Charleston Battery. “Usually we were successful drawing to host games, but there had been a power shift with MLS teams. Looking from the outside, they’re taking the Open Cup a bit more seriously, at which point I think it became increasingly difficult to get a game against an MLS team.”

Now with a random selection process in place, the likelihood of a Division III team such as the USL PRO’s Richmond Kickers to host an MLS team should improve significantly.

“The opportunity for lower-division teams to host a game is a crucial component, especially from a brand exposure standpoint,” Kickers head coach Leigh Cowlishaw said. “We’ve had some successes on the road, but in the past we’ve also hosted the likes of D.C. United with [former D.C. forward] Freddy Adu and the LA Galaxy with Landon Donovan. Those memorable games leave a lasting impression not only for the players and coaches, but the fan base.”

Read more at USSoccer.com.

Eclipse Select alumna Scofield named to U.S. U-23 WNT roster

Eclipse Select and U.S. Soccer Communications

CHICAGO -- Eclipse Select Soccer Club alumna and Notre Dame freshman defender/midfielder Sammy Scofield (Geneva, Ill./Geneva) was one of 24 players named to the U.S. U-23 Women's National Team for a Jan. 15-22 training camp in Sarasota, Fla.

Scofield unites with newly-named U.S. U-23 WNT head coach Randy Waldrum of Notre Dame.

Read more at EclipseSelect.org.

Eclipse Select Alumni: Buczkowski re-signs with Independence

Eclipse Select Communications

CHICAGO -- Eclipse Select Soccer Club alumna and former Notre Dame midfielder Jen Buczkowski (Elk Grove Village, Ill./Elk Grove) re-signed with Women's Professional Soccer's Philadelphia Independence, the team announced Friday. Buczkowski was named to the 2011 WPS Best XI and was named the team's 2011 Ironwoman after logging every minute of the 18-game regular season last year.

"I'm so thankful and happy to have re-signed with Philly," Buczkowski said in a team release. "[Owner] David Halstead and Coach [Paul] Riley have established an organization built on the right principles, and being a member of the Independence is something I take great pride in."

Read more at EclipseSelect.org.

Eclipse Select 2, PWSI 1: ESPN Wide World of Sports (video)

Check out coach Scott Fonfara and Kristen Janicki chatting with ESPN Wide World of Sports following Saturday's 2-1 win over PWSI.

Eclipse Select's Summer Schafer commits to Memphis for 2013

Eclipse Select Communications

CHICAGO -- Eclipse Select Soccer Club forward/midfielder and Downers Grove North High School junior Summer Schafer announces her commitment to play for Memphis University's women's soccer team in 2013.

"I think it will be a really exciting experience going to a college that not a lot of people from around here go to," Schafer said. "They play good soccer and it's really exciting to go play for another offensive team. It will make me a better player."

The Oak Brook, Ill., native will be joining a Memphis squad that is coming off a program-best 22-1-1 record this past 2011 season and advanced to the second round of the NCAA Tournament. Memphis' offense posted a robust 62-13 scoring advantage.

One big factor in Schafer's decision to join the Tigers is her view of the similarities between Memphis head coach Brooks Monaghan and Schafer's Eclipse Select coach, Mike Nesci.

"He really reminded me of my coach now, Mike Nesci, and everything that he was saying is what my coach would say," Schafer said. "That was really the main reason, because both coaches have an offensive focus and I'm an offensive player."

For more, visit EclipseSelect.org.