Eclipse Select College Commitment update: Tamae Douglas, UIC

Eclipse Select Release

Eclipse Select Soccer Club will have a pair of players competing for the University of Illinois-Chicago this fall. One member of the Flames’ program, which will be entering just its third collegiate season, is forward Tamae Douglas (Chicago, Ill.).

Douglas made her verbal commitment to UIC last year, and for a fledgling collegiate program, she has the potential to play an immediate role at the next level.

“When I was searching for a college, sports-wise I knew what they were doing and that it was a good foundation,” Douglas said. “There is a bright future, and they said to me that I could be a difference maker coming into a new program.

“They hit on a lot of what I was going to expect coming into school academically,” Douglas said. “They really convinced me about their program and their high standards. They want a team where everyone is setting goals for themselves and not just coming in to play.”

For more, visit EclipseSelect.org.

Longstanding Crocketteers Hold Fort in San Antonio

USL Feature

San Antonio is beginning its chapter in the USL for the 2016 season, and the expansion club has well-established support already in its corner.

The team, operated by Spurs Sports & Entertainment, officially became the league’s 31st franchise on Thursday while introducing its first head coach, Darren Powell. One face of San Antonio’s fandom heading into the upcoming campaign will be built around the Crocketteers, an independent supporters group that was founded in 2009, before the city even had a team to support.

“Myself and a bunch of close friends were hanging out at a pub in the summer of 2008, the Euro Championships, enjoying the atmosphere we were creating in the bar, and we joked around about how we didn’t have anything in San Antonio,” Crocketteers founder Michael Macias said. “We started a movement without a team to show our support for the idea of professional soccer in San Antonio.”

For more, visit uslsoccer.com.

Rhinos capture USL championship

USL News Release

It took more than 90 minutes for the Rochester Rhinos to find their first shot on goal, and second-half sub Asani Samuels twice rose to the occasion.

Samuels scored two set-piece goals – an equalizer in second-half stoppage time and the game-winner in the 112th minute – as the Rhinos defeated the LA Galaxy II 2-1 in overtime to capture the 2015 USL Championship at Sahlen’s Stadium. For his heroics, Samuels was named the match MVP.

“My coach told me to go out there and do my best; I just went there and did my best and worked hard for every ball,” Samuels said. “Everything, I tried to challenge and win.

“It’s all about confidence. My teammates, two of our better strikers were out, so I had to step up to the plate. … This is the best moment of my life.”

For more, visit uslsoccer.com.

New York Red Bulls II's Adams gears up for FIFA U-17 World Cup

NYRB II's Tyler Adams

USL Feature

At just 16 years old, Tyler Adams already has amassed some memorable accomplishments in his budding career, particularly during the past year.

Adams enjoyed his first professional campaign, suiting up for the New York Red Bulls II during their inaugural USL season as the youngest player to see the pitch among the entire league contingent. Also this summer, Adams played for the MLS side against the defending Premier League champion Chelsea, tallying a goal during its victory.

Now Adams takes his game to the international stage this week when the U.S. U-17 Men’s National Team prepares for the 2015 FIFA U-17 World Cup. Adams happens to be the youngest player on the U-17 squad, as well, but he already has shown that he can play beyond his years.

“Being the youngest player has never affected me,” Adams said. “It’s something that I’ve embraced. When you step into a professional environment, you look up to a lot of the guys and try to play with confidence.”

For more, visit uslsoccer.com.

Oklahoma City base quickly gravitating toward Energy FC

USL Feature

Second-year USL club OKC Energy FC has grown by leaps and bounds in a short time frame, both on the field and off. As Energy FC prepares for its Western Conference Final against the LA Galaxy II on Sunday, the club knows it will have tremendous backing at Taft Stadium and within the region.

Energy FC President and Owner Bob Funk certainly envisioned this. The pleasant surprise for him is just how quickly everything has emerged.

“I always expected to have a pretty hardcore, dedicated fan base, but I was surprised at the quickness that fans gravitated toward the product,” Funk said. “The brand and the team itself have grown in large part to our team’s involvement in the community. Whether it’s clinics, coaching teams and just being involved and visible; the community has embraced them.”

For more, visit uslsoccer.com.

OKC Energy FC's Evan Newton embodies final piece of puzzle

OKC Energy FC goalkeeper Evan Newton

USL Feature

When OKC Energy FC head coach Jimmy Nielsen was putting the final elements of the team’s roster together for 2015, Evan Newton was not part of the picture.

Nielsen felt all the pieces were already in place heading into preseason, and then several days later he received a phone call from Newton’s agent.

“We had a long chat, and I was pretty far with the roster,” Nielsen said. “Only a few days before he called, I said we’re done for the year. We’re not signing any more players. But when I heard he was available, I chatted with him and we were back and forth. We came to an agreement and knew that we had a rock solid goalkeeper who can win you points.

“He joined us for our trip at the IMG Tournament, flew in, landed at 4 in the afternoon, played a 7 o’clock game and we beat Toronto 1-0.”

For more, visit uslsoccer.com.

TDS: ECNL to U-20 World Cup? Eclipse's Marwede highlighted

Eclipse Select's Hannah Marwede

Top Drawer Soccer highlighted four ECNL stalwarts who could make a push for Michelle French's roster in the next FIFA U-20 World Cup. Among this group is Eclipse Select center back Hannah Marwede. TDS's Will Parchman says:

"When it comes to senior center backs, there are none more accomplished than Marwede, who has the chops to do just about anything you need of a center back in the middle of the park. Her size is the most obvious facet about her game, but there’s considerably more to it than that. This Eclipse side prefers to play it out of the back as much as possible, and after winning the U16 national championship in 2014, Eclipse made it back to Richmond for the ECNL Finals again in 2015 (and finished third in their group).

"Marwede’s leadership from the middle shouldn’t be overlooked. She has pillow feet for her size, and if French decides to mix it up and go more along the ground, she won’t find a better mix of aerial and on-the-ball skills than Marwede. A perfect option either off the bench late as a dead ball threat in the box or simply as the main option in the middle. Her height isn’t to be missed."

For the full article, visit TopDrawerSoccer.com.

New York Red Bulls II's Stefano Bonomo impresses out of chute

USL Feature

New York Red Bulls II forward Stefano Bonomo comes from a line of top-level athletes in his family. Bonomo’s father Paolo, as well as his grandfather who he had never met, were former professional skiers.

Paolo represented Italy’s national ski team, so between his skiing days and devoted interest in his son’s line of work – coaching for a portion of his youth days – Bonomo says he has had the type of tutelage that many others do not have the privilege of receiving.

“He’ll share all types of stories with me, if I need a motivational talk where he thinks I can push myself in a certain area,” Bonomo said. “He’s talked about when he was skiing back in the day and how he lived his life. I can’t thank him enough for how he’s pushed me and has given me a competitive edge.”

For more, visit USLSoccer.com.