Wilmington Hammerheads turn corner, turn back clock

By CHARLIE CORR - charlie.corr@uslsoccer.com

Thanks to the late heroics of Kyle Parker, Wilmington Hammerheads FC is enjoying something that has not happened in more than two years – a league winning streak.

Parker’s brace and stoppage-time game-winner lifted Wilmington to a 3-2 victory against the Harrisburg City Islanders on Friday at Legion Stadium. Combine that with Wilmington’s 3-1 road win against Toronto FC II on May 29, and the 4-4-3 Hammerheads have posted consecutive victories for the first time since a four-game winning streak in May of 2014.

“All the hard work has started to pay off,” Parker said. “Especially throughout the beginning of the season, we were playing well, but some things weren’t falling for us and we knew they were going to start. This week was that starting point for us.”

For more, visit USLSoccer.com.

USL clubs shatter goal-scoring records in U.S. Open Cup

By CHARLIE CORR - charlie.corr@uslsoccer.com

The volume of the USL teams’ goal-scoring during the Second Round of the 2016 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup marked a new peak for several clubs who advanced in the tournament with some record-shattering numbers.

Three sides posted a single-game record for goals during Wednesday’s matches to move on to the Third Round on June 1.

Leading the charge were the defending USL champion Rochester Rhinos who bounced Southie FC 7-0 at Rhinos Stadium in Rochester, N.Y. That seven-goal effort, led by Asani Samuels’ hat trick, topped the organization’s previous high of five goals during the 2006 U.S. Open Cup, when the then-named Raging Rhinos defeated the New Hampshire Phantoms 5-1 on July 12 of that year.

Wilmington Hammerheads FC also changed its Open Cup record books with a dominating 6-0 victory against the NPSL’s Miami Fusion, with Austin Martz and Kyle Parker recording braces.

For more, visit USLSoccer.com.

Q&A: New Eclipse Select Director of Goalkeepers Jordan King

Eclipse Select's Jordan King

By CHARLIE CORR - slidetackles@mail.com

The Eclipse Select Soccer Club and NWSL’s Chicago Red Stars announced the hiring of 30-year-old former professional goalkeeper Jordan King as the new Goalkeeper Director. EclipseSelect.org spoke with “Jordi” King, who recently served in a goalkeeper coach capacity with the U.S. U-17 Women’s National Team under the guidance of head coach B.J. Snow.

King began his dual duties with Eclipse Select and the Red Stars at the beginning of April. We delve into King’s first conversations with Eclipse Select President Rory Dames, his background, and how his demeanor and values mesh with the model embraced at Eclipse Select.

Q: How did the opportunity to join Eclipse Select and the Red Stars come about?
Jordan King: “I was with U.S. Soccer and working there part-time. I got to work with a bunch of high-quality goalkeepers, and that really opened my eyes to what else is out there. When I got this opportunity from Rory it was something that just was too good to pass up because it was Eclipse and it was the Red Stars as well. That made a big impact. The way that Rory sets up the club and kind of brings back old players, old goalkeepers, to train with the Red Stars, really was appealing to me because I do love to see the transition from club, to college to professional. To be able to work with all of that from a young age and then see them out all the way to that ultimate level was something that was really eye opening. That’s one of the main reasons that I decided to make this move. The players that I was working with privately back home and working with the national team, I would love to see them out, but the next step just wasn’t in my hands. Now, to be capable of making the decisions whether or not to bring them into the Red Stars is something that I think is an awesome opportunity for any coach to be able to do and see.”

For the full interview, visit EclipseSelect.org.

National Signing Day: Eclipse Select Class of 2016

CHICAGO – Eclipse Select Soccer Club is proud to announce its Class of 2016, which currently features 32 players who are headed to their respective NCAA women’s soccer programs starting this fall.

Below is a breakdown of the Eclipse Select Class of 2016 on National Signing Day:

• Janeece Ader (Mundelein, Ill.), forward – Alabama State
• Camryn Biegalski (Lombard, Ill.), defender/midfielder – Wisconsin
• Marissa Bosco (St. Charles, Ill.), forward – Kentucky
• Lydia Brosnahan (Highland Park, Ill.), defender – Purdue
• Courtney Daugerdas (Libertyville, Ill.), forward – Ohio
• Abby Dein (Glenview, Ill.), midfielder – Northwestern
• Tamae Douglas (Chicago, Ill.), forward – Illinois-Chicago
• Ryan Dudycha (Naperville, Ill.), forward – Purdue
• Alissa Gorzak (Naperville, Ill.), forward – Virginia
• Nicki Hernandez (Naperville, Ill.), midfielder – Michigan
• Emily Hess (Batavia, Ill.), defender – Marquette
• Foster Ignoffo (Geneva, Ill.), forward – Kentucky
• Adi Johnson (Rockford, Ill.), midfielder – Valparaiso
• Becky Koch (Cary, Ill.), defender – South Carolina
• Amanda Kowalski (Buffalo Grove, Ill.), defender – Butler
• Maddie Krejci (Naperville, Ill.), midfielder – Tennessee
• Alia Martin (Carmel, Ind.), midfielder – Michigan
• Hannah Marwede (Lake Forest, Ill.), defender – Miami
• Tatumn Milazzo (Orland Park, Ill.), defender – South Carolina
• Lauren Muzzalupo (St. Charles, Ill.), midfielder – Augustana
• Mikaela Niermann (Geneva, Ill.), midfielder – Washington Univ. in St. Louis
• Dana O’Boye (Plainfield, Ill.), defender – Arkansas State
• Brittany Paganucci (Lombard, Ill.), forward – Illinois State
• Natalia Pinto (Downers Grove, Ill.), midfielder – Augustana
• Cassidy Privett (Elmhurst, Ill.), midfielder – Illinois-Chicago
• Zoe Redei (Highland Park, Ill.), forward – North Carolina
• Breana Robbins (Downers Grove, Ill.), forward – Purdue
• Stephanie Rodriguez (Batavia, Ill.), goalkeeper – Butler
• Cassandra Rohan (Palatine, Ill.), midfielder – Drake
• Ena Sabanagic (Hanover Park, Ill.), midfielder – Purdue
• Gaby Schwartz (Chicago, Ill.), defender – Wisconsin-Milwaukee
• Lea Waddle (Lake Forest, Ill.), midfielder – Vanderbilt

For more, visit EclipseSelect.org.

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.