Eclipse Select defender Mutters commits to Creighton for 2013

Eclipse Select Communications

CHICAGO -- Eclipse Select Soccer Club defender and Hinsdale South High School junior Jessica Mutters announced her commitment to play for Creighton University's women's soccer program starting in 2013.

The Darien, Ill., native's older sister Danielle played for Missouri Valley Conference rival Illinois State, and her parents also attended ISU. But Jessica found everything she wanted in the Omaha, Neb.-based Creighton both on and off the pitch.

"I wanted to go to a small private school that had good science -- I'm looking into majoring in biochemistry," Mutters said. "I've also gone to their summer camp for the past two years and have had a chance to interact with the team. Their coaches are really nice, and I got to play with or against the players running the camp and got a feel for the team. It was at the top of my list."

Mutters will attend a Creighton side that posted a respectable 4-1-1 record in the MVC this past season. By the time Mutters takes the pitch, the Bluejays will have a younger defense and squad overall. The majority of the 2011 team's defensive line consisted of upper classmen, and nine seniors are graduating following Creighton's most recent season.

A collegiate soccer path has been in Mutters' eyes since watching her sister at Illinois State.

"Ever since I've seen my sister play in college, I knew I wanted to play," Mutters said. "I've been wanting it for years now, so this is a dream come true."

For more about Eclipse Select, visit EclipseSelect.org.

• Suburban Life Publications: Hinsdale South defender Jessica Mutters commits to Creighton soccer program

Catching up with Eclipse Select alumna Jen Buczkowski

By Charlie Corr
Eclipse Select staff

Eclipse Select Soccer Club alumna and former Notre Dame midfielder Jen Buczkowski is coming off a successful third season within Women's Professional Soccer.

The 26-year-old Elk Grove, Ill., native was named to the 2011 WPS Best XI as voted by select media, and her Philadelphia Independence advanced to the WPS title match, eventually falling to the champion Western New York Flash.

Independence head coach Paul Riley has called Buczkowski "the best pure defensive midfielder in the league," and she wants to return to Philadelphia for a third straight year in 2012.

"I have not officially signed, but I have talked to Paul and [owner/CEO] David [Halstead]," Buczkowski said. "Many people have not signed, but maybe in the next week or two you'll see a lot more signings. But the plan is to stay in Philadelphia."

Read more at EclipseSelect.org.

Eclipse Select alumni Bock, Buczkowski playing for L.A. Vikings

Brittany Bock

Our Game Magazine took the time to interview L.A. Vikings President and head coach Robert Kleinberger. This winter the team has incorporated a heavily Women's Professional Soccer-based roster to face the U.S., Canadian and Mexican national teams.

Former Eclipse Select Soccer Club players Brittany Bock (Western New York Flash) and Jen Buczkowski (WPS free agent, played for Philadelphia Independence in 2010 and 2011) are on the squad.

Read about how this came together at OurGameMagazine.com.

Fire GK Johnson to join U.S. MNT

Sean Johnson -- Getty Images

By Charlie Corr
ESPNChicago.com

Chicago Fire goalkeeper Sean Johnson, who is entering his third season in MLS, has been called up by U.S. National Team head coach Jurgen Klinsmann for a January training camp.

The session starts on Jan. 3 as the U.S. prepares for a Jan. 21 match against Venezuela in Glendale, Ariz., followed by a Jan. 25 game against Panama in Panama City.

"I'm definitely excited about it," Johnson said. "There's a lot to look forward to in getting to play alongside the guys that are going to be there. We have two games to cap off the camp, so I think it will be good competition, and one that will help prepare for the season, as well."

Read more at ESPNChicago.com.

Eclipse Select alumni: Gurson earns NAIA All-Mideast Team honors

Gordy Gurson --
Robert Morris athletics

Eclipse Select Communications

CHICAGO -- Eclipse Select Soccer Club alum and Robert Morris sophomore forward Gordy Gurson (Buffalo Grove, Ill./Stevenson) was named to the 2011 NAIA Men's All-Mideast Team, the NSCAA recently announced.

Earlier this month, Gurson also was named an NAIA All-America Honorable Mention as he made an immediate impact for the Eagles after transferring from Memphis. Among all NAIA players, Gurson ranked 12th in goals (18) and 16th in points (40).

Gurson was the 2011 Chicagoland Collegiate Athletic Conference Player of the Year and he led Robert Morris to its first CCAC regular-season title.

Read more at EclipseSelect.org.

Catching up with ... Eclipse Select alumna, Breakers MF Leslie Osborne

By Charlie Corr
Eclipse Select staff

CHICAGO -- Former Eclipse Select Soccer Club player and coach Leslie Osborne was one of many Women's Professional Soccer players waiting to hear about the league's future this week. And for the past several months, Osborne's WPS franchise, the Boston Breakers, has been trying to secure additional ownership after majority owner Gary Loveman put his share of the organization on the market.

Things are looking a bit better on both fronts now.

The 28-year-old Brookfield, Wis., native and Breakers midfielder said on Wednesday that additional ownership is on board with Boston. And from a league standpoint, after WPS met with the U.S. Soccer Federation here in Chicago, the U.S. Soccer Board of Directors formally approved WPS's division one sanction request provided the league expands to minimally six teams in 2013 and eight teams in 2014.

"It has been a long couple of months," Osborne said. "Boston had to find more investors for the team, magicJack was kicked out -- it's been a roller coaster for me. Personally, I was going to retire if the league was going to fold. If the league was around, I wanted to play in Boston. For me, [Tuesday's U.S. Soccer announcement] was just a blessing to continue to play and be the Breakers' captain. I'm excited. But I was ready in case it didn't work out."

Read more at EclipseSelect.org.

Eclipse Select Girls ranked No. 2 in country by Soccer America

Eclipse Select Communications

CHICAGO -- The Eclipse Select Soccer Club was ranked No. 2 in the country in Soccer America's 2011 Best Girls Clubs list, which was released Wednesday. Eclipse Select's girls finished runner-up for a fourth straight year, as the New Jersey-based Players Development Academy was awarded the top position.

Eclipse Select has been the model of top-level excellence during Soccer America's annual rankings. The Eclipse Select Girls were ranked No. 1 by Soccer America in 2006 and 2007, followed by No. 2 rankings from 2008 through 2011.

Read more at EclipseSelect.org.

Fire select Dube in re-entry draft

Kheli Dube -- Getty Images

By Charlie Corr
ESPNChicago.com

The Chicago Fire chose forward Kheli Dube with their selection in the second stage of the MLS Re-Entry Draft on Monday.

The 28-year-old Dube tallied 14 goals and eight assists in 72 games with the New England Revolution, and the Fire now begin negotiations with Dube on a contract.

Dube only saw the pitch five times and logged 114 minutes in 2011. The Bulawayo, Zimbabwe, native was a regular starter for the Revs in 2009, starting in 20 of 26 games played and tallying a personal-best eight goals that season.

Read more at ESPNChicago.com.