Cali Clasico holds do-or-die implications for Galaxy, Quakes

By CHARLIE CORR
charlie.corr@mlssoccer.com

NEW YORK - Entering this week, the San Jose Earthquakes and LA Galaxy - two stories franchises in MLS grandeur - find themselves on the outside of the Audi MLS Cup Playoffs picture if the campaign ended today. The Cali Clasico carries some added weight when the Galaxy host the Quakes on Sunday at StubHub Center.

In what could be seen as a do-or-die matchup with the regular season hitting its stretch run, the Quakes have the more optimistic shot at the postseason, while LA will need an impressive final stretch to work its way into the top six of the West standings.

For more, visit LAGalaxy.com.

Eclipse Select alumna Ben named to MAC Hermann Trophy Watch List

DePaul senior Alexa Ben

By CHARLIE CORR
slidetackles@mail.com

CHICAGO - Eclipse Select Soccer Club alumna Alexa Ben (Schaumburg, Ill.), a senior midfielder with DePaul, has been named to the 2017 MAC Hermann Trophy Watch List, it was announced Monday by the United Soccer Coaches and the Missouri Athletic Club.

Ben has had a tremendous career with the Blue Demons from the very start. She was the 2014 Big East Conference Rookie of the Year, the 2016 Big East Midfielder of the Year and is a two-time All-Big East First Team selection. Last year, she tallied seven goals and three assists.

For more, visit EclipseSelect.org.

Fire's Schweinsteiger voted captain for 2017 MLS All-Star Game

By CHARLIE CORR
charlie.corr@mlssoccer.com

NEW YORK – Major League Soccer today announced that Chicago Fire midfielder Bastian Schweinsteiger has been voted captain of the MLS All-Stars following the annual fan Snapchat vote.

Schweinsteiger will wear the captain’s armband as the best in MLS face Spanish giants Real Madrid in the 2017 MLS All-Star Game presented by Target next Wednesday, Aug. 2 at Soldier Field in Chicago (8:30 p.m. ET, FS1, Univision, TSN, TVA Sports).

For more, visit mlssoccer.com.

Eclipse Select Newsletter - July 2017

By CHARLIE CORR

slidetackles@mail.com

CHICAGO - Revisit the amazing accomplishments from the 2016-17 season with Eclipse Select Soccer Club’s annual newsletter. Highlights in the issue include the U-14 team’s amazing run to the ECNL National Final, Naperville native and alumna Casey Short’s run with the U.S. Women’s National Team, plus some elements to look forward to in 2017-18, including the some new staffing changes in the boys’ program and the inclusion of the Development Academy in Eclipse Select’s programming.

For more, visit EclipseSelect.org.

Eclipse Select adds Callan, McNellis to coaching staff

Mark McNellis (left) and James Callan

By CHARLIE CORR
slidetackles@mail.com

CHICAGO – Eclipse Select Soccer Club welcomes in two new coaches to its staff starting in 2017-18. James Callan has been named the Eclipse Select Director of U-8 to U-10 East and Mark McNellis will be Eclipse Select East Coach.

McNellis and Callan have a wealth of former playing and coaching experience and have spent their recent years at United Soccer Academy, with Callan serving as the director of coaching since 2012 and McNellis as senior coach since 2011. Both will begin their Eclipse Select responsibilities this fall.

Callan grew up in Peru and moved to the U.S. in 1994. He is a former player at Amundsen High School in Chicago’s North Side and the NAIA’s St. Xavier University.

McNellis has been a fixture in the Chicagoland soccer community for many years. He is a former all-state athlete at Hinsdale South High School, where he is the program’s all-time goal scoring leader. McNellis was part of DePaul University’s soccer team from 1991-93.

For more, visit EclipseSelect.org.

Seven Eclipse Select players wrap up exclusive id2 Camp in Indianapolis

By CHARLIE CORR
slidetackles@mail.com

CHICAGO - Over the years, Eclipse Select Soccer Club has featured a number of talented players who have earned the opportunity to participate in the id2 Training Camp Program. It is an opportunity for the country’s top youth soccer players to be in an environment where they are identified, developed and scouted for inclusion in U.S. Soccer’s national team programs.

Eclipse Select proudly featured seven players for a March 23-26 camp in suburban Indianapolis: midfielder Korbin Albert (Gurnee, Ill.), defender Kate Dobsch (Winnetka, Ill.), forward Devin Lynch (Naperville, Ill.), forward Dakota Lyons (Mettawa, Ill.), defender Emma Phillips (Munster, Ind.), midfielder Brielle Rochester (Libertyville, Ill.) and midfielder Jenna Stayart (Cary, Ill.).

For more, visit EclipseSelect.org.

I-4 Derby lives up to billing

By CHARLIE CORR
charlie.corr@uslsoccer.com

A hallmark of the USL’s growth and fan support has been the budding regional rivalries that have coalesced. Heading into the 2017 season, much anticipation surrounded Saturday’s opening match between newcomers the Tampa Bay Rowdies and second-year Orlando City B in this I-4 Derby.

The game and environment lived up to the hype as an Al Lang-record crowd of 7,710 was on hand during the Rowdies’ 1-0 victory.

“It was unbelievable,” said Georgi Hristov, who scored the game’s lone goal, a second-half penalty kick. “I think everyone understands in this organization with [Owner] Bill Edwards that we are trying to do something different here in Tampa Bay. It’s very important to us, and I really appreciate all the people coming tonight and that they’re going to keep coming and sell out the next game too.”

For more, visit USLSoccer.com.

Richmond Kickers' Conor Shanosky delivers in new role

By CHARLIE CORR
charlie.corr@uslsoccer.com

The Richmond Kickers have never been short of leadership among its roster, particularly being a club that qualifies for the USL Cup Playoffs every season.

For defender Conor Shanosky, his leadership role took on a new level as he wore the captain’s armband. In front of a City Stadium-record crowd of 8,021, Shanosky delivered the lone goal during a 1-0 victory against the Harrisburg City Islanders on Saturday.

“Obviously it’s a big honor to wear the captain’s armband – first time in my career, so that was nice,” Shanosky said. “It’s always very special. But I think we’ve got a lot of leaders on the team. We’ve got a good group. It’s about building that and doing better as a group and keep pushing.”

For more, visit USLSoccer.com.