Article by Daniel Rogers, ISNSoccer.com

A 2-1 win by Columbus over FC Dallas was a welcome site to the Crew who had been inept on offense the past two matches.

In the 67th minute Justin Meram finally ended the Crew’s offensive woes. A few minutes later Sebastian Miranda followed suit and put in a rocket of a header from outside the box. Before that it had been almost 2 ½ games worth of playing time since the Crew’s last goal.

The Dallas defense took a blow when Zach Lloyd picked up his second yellow card of the match in the 62nd minute giving Columbus the man advantage. Fatigue also played a factor as the tired Dallas strikers could not put together any semblance of an attack after the half.

Going into half time the Crew looked lost. Fabian Castillo scored the first goal of the match for Dallas when midfielder Tony Tchani let him by. In the 22nd minute Tchani was guarding Castillo on the left sideline but stopped when the ball teetered on the out of bounds line, opening the door for Dallas’ first goal in over 200 minutes as well.

The substitution of Meram late in the first half seemed to give the team the spark they needed. The win was the first for the Crew in 5 games and 3rd of the season.

“We needed something with the slide we’re in,” Crew defender Josh Williams said.

Despite the win injures continue to be a huge problem. In the 44th minute forward Ethan Finlay went down with concussion-like symptoms after an elbow by Andrew Jacobson. It wasn’t the only elbow thrown as the two teams played rough all night. The injury to Finlay is the 12th on the roster and leaves the Crew very weak in the long run at striker.

When asked about the offensive struggles of the team, Crew striker Justin Meram responded, “We needed something; finally we got that monkey off our shoulders.”

Next up the Crew head out west to face first place San Jose in the first of a two game road trip.

D.C. United Women has added two of the most well-known female soccer players in the world in Joannah Lohman and Lianne Sanderson. Pending final approval of the league and US Soccer Federation, the duo will arrive in the USA next week, each having just completed a season in Europe with professional side RCD Espanyol.

The two last played in the USA for WPS side Philadelphia Independence in the 2011 season, reaching the league final against eventual champions Western New York Flash. The record-breaking match for attendance at a WPS final went through two overtimes, and then penalty kicks, with Sanderson converting first for Philadelphia, but her team falling 4-5 overall.

“Jo and Lianne are amazing soccer players, and huge personalities in the women’s game,” said team owner Bill Lynch, “They both could have played anywhere, and I think their choice to come play in the W-League and with D.C. United Women is a major statement that the best players still come to America to shine.”

Sanderson is an English striker with a soccer pedigree that few in the world can compare to. She was selected to join Arsenal Ladies youth academy at age 9, and spent the next 11 years with the club. She scored in their 2006 FA Cup win over Leeds United and was voted Player of the Match. Over two seasons from 2006-2008, the 5’ 6” strikers notched an incredible 91 goals in just 77 appearances.

Sanderson joined Chelsea Ladies in 2008 and stayed through 2010, before taking her game stateside in 2011 for the Independence. She tallied eight goals in 40 appearances with Philadelphia, before spending the second half of 2011 playing for Espanyol in Spain.

In addition to her club career, Sanderson was a major contributor for England from 2006-2010, appearing in 29 matches and netting eight goals in her time with the “Three Lions”.

Lohman is a veteran and an ambassador in the world of women’s soccer. The 29-year-old Penn State alum, who can play a variety of positions in the midfield and defense, is joining her seventh different club in her 11-year career. Her résumé includes stints with the Maryland Pride, MagicJack (formerly the Washington Freedom), Swedish club Bälinge IF, St. Louis Atletica, the Philadelphia Independence and recently wrapping up the season with Espanyol in Spain.

In college, she was a three-time All American and one-time Big Ten Player of the Year, in addition to being named the 2004 Pennsylvania NCAA Woman of the Year. She has also made seven appearances with the U.S. National Team.

A local of Silver Spring, Maryland, Lohman is not just a player but a leader for the game of soccer. She has served as general manager of the Washington Freedom Futures, and in 2010 co-founded - with Sanderson - the JoLi Academy, a training center for youth female soccer players in India.

In addition to playing with United Women in 2012, the pair will be assisting in coaching with D.C. United Reserves, an Under-20 team also being fielded this year by D.C. in the USL Super-20 league.

Tryouts for both the W-League and Super-20 teams, as well as acceptance into an elite all-ages training group, will be held this Sunday from 6:30-8:30 p.m. at the Maryland SoccerPlex. Interested players should register immediately at http://www.dcunitedwomen.com/Team/Tryouts as space is limited to 50.

United Women will host Boston Breakers next Saturday, May 12 in a special exhibition before kicking off their second USL W-League season on Saturday, May 19 with a 7:00 p.m. tap against Virginia Beach Piranhas. All home games in 2012 will once again be held at Maryland SoccerPlex Stadium, where United Women have never lost a game. Tickets at http://tickets.dcunitedwomen.com

The Portland Timbers announced today strategic partnerships with the Portland Rain of the Women’s Premier Soccer League (WPSL) and Oregon Youth Soccer Association’s (OYSA) Girls Olympic Development Program (ODP), helping to create a vertically integrated development system from Oregon’s girls youth soccer levels to premier women’s competition.

The collaborative partnership between the Timbers and OYSA on the Girls ODP program will provide the state with a recognized, high-level development system for elite female soccer players, one that is designed to coexist with youth clubs in sharing player development and allowing players to stay connected to their local clubs.

In partnership with the Rain, the Timbers will provide financial support to the club during the 2012 WPSL season and the Rain will become a member of the newly formed adidas Timbers Alliance. The Rain serves as the highest level of women’s soccer in Oregon and features some of the top female athletes and collegiate players from Portland and throughout the state.

“We have a deep passion for developing the sport of soccer in Oregon,” said Timbers general manager Gavin Wilkinson. “It is important that the Timbers look at all ways in helping to develop the sport and the state’s soccer community. We are pleased to be able to help the Rain and look forward to working with the club as part of the adidas Timbers Alliance.”

Similar to the Timbers Boys ODP program, the new Timbers Girls ODP program will aid in the development of home-grown talent through a network of Regional Training Centers located throughout Oregon. The program will target elite female players in the U-12 to U-14 age groups in each area. From the Regional Training Centers, a pool of players will be chosen to form girls state ODP teams at various age levels for regional and national competitions.

The Rain, reestablished in 2008, are led by head coach Janine Szpara and play a 10-match, regular-season schedule in the WPSL from May to August. Management and day-to-day operation of the Rain during the 2012 season will be a collaborative effort between Timbers and Rain personnel.

“The Portland Rain has existed for many years and has served as the elite level for women players in the area,” said Szpara. “This alliance with the Timbers brings us closer to making professional women’s soccer in Portland a reality.”

As members of the adidas Timbers Alliance, the Rain will wear red and white adidas Timbers Alliance kits, with the alliance patch on the sleeve for the 2012 WPSL season. The WPSL is a 70-club, nationwide league.

In preparation for the upcoming season, the Rain will conduct an open tryout on Sunday, May 6, at Clackamas Community College from 1-4 p.m. 

The Rain will play their home opener as part of the opening night celebrations at the Timbers-ODP Friendship Cup on Friday, May 25, at Tualatin Hills Park & Recreation District’s Howard M. Terpenning Complex at 7 p.m. Admission is free of charge.

The Chicago Fire Premier open their 2012 season when they host the Croatian Eagles of the United States Adult Soccer Association at Toyota Park on Tuesday, May 15 at 6:00 p.m. CT in the first round of the 2012 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup.

If the Fire advance, they will host the second round match against USL Pro side Dayton Dutch Lions on Tuesday, May 22 at 6:00 p.m. CT. In 2011 the Fire Premier squad advanced to the third round of the U.S. Open Cup before falling 3-0 to MLS side Sporting Kansas City. Their run equaled their furthest previous tournament run in 2004 where they fell to the Rochester Rhinos 1-0.

The Fire Premier begin Premier Development League play on Wednesday, May 23 when they host the River City Rovers at 2:00 p.m. CT at Toyota Park.

On Monday, CONCACAF announced the names of the 20 referees and assistants selected to work the CONCACAF Under-17 Women’s Championship.

The referees are: Lucila Venegas (MEX), Annia Navarrete (CUB), Quetzali Alvarado (MEX), Gillian Martindale (BRB), Yesli Rivas (SLV), Alicia Villatoro (GUA), Michelle Pye (CAN), Dianne Ferreira-James (GUY), Cardella Samuels (JAM), Lixy Enriquez (MEX) and Irasema Aguilera (CUB).

The assistants participating will be Mady Santos (HON), Nykasie Liverpool (GUY), Kimberly Moreira (CRC), Verónica Pérez (USA), Marisol Salazar (GUA), Suzanne Morisset (CAN), Shirley Perello (HON), Stacy Ann Greyson (JAM) and Milagros Leonardo (DOM).

The U-17 Women’s Championship is set for May 2-12 in Guatemala City, with three teams qualifying for the U-17 Women’s World Cup in Azerbaijan, September 22-October 13.

First round play in the CFU Club Championship continues this Tuesday through Saturday, with Group 2 and Group 3 action.

All Group 2 games will be contested at Providence Stadium in Guyana between 2011/12 Champions League qualifier Alpha United (Guyana), Hubentut Fortuna (Curacao), Inter Moengotapoe (Suriname) and Milerock (Guyana).

Group 3 will be played in Haiti and is comprised of Victory SC (Haiti), Baltimore SC (Haiti), Centro Barber (Curacao) and Bayamon FC (Puerto Rico).

George Town FC of the Cayman Islands has already advanced to the second round of the competition by winning Group 1 last month.

The three, first-round group winners and best runner-up will advance to the second round, where they will be joined by four seeded teams in an eight-team, two-group second round.

The top two teams from each second-round group will qualify for a final group stage. Three teams from the Caribbean club championship will qualify for the CONCACAF Champions League.

Korrio, developer of the leading integrated sports automation platform for youth soccer, announced today its selection by Virginia Legacy Soccer Club as its official automation provider. The Virginia Legacy Soccer Club will use Korrio to manage club operations and communications with its more than 450 players and families.

Korrio integrates web, mobile, and social networking elements to provide club administrators and coaches with a comprehensive and easy-to-use online sports automation system for managing all aspects of club and team operations including registration, payment processing, rostering, practice and game scheduling, and communications.

“We discovered Korrio in our search for a leading edge technology to help us achieve our goal of improving communications and services for member families and players,” said Tim Cristian, Technical Director, Virginia Legacy Soccer Club. “Korrio provides intuitive and easy to use tools helping our administrators manage operations more efficiently and creates a smoother and more enjoyable experience for our members by providing them up-to-date information easily accessible online or on a smartphone. Our integration with Korrio is already transforming this season’s soccer experience for everyone involved.”

Virginia Legacy Soccer Club provides a fun and inspiring soccer experience for its diverse members, regardless of their financial means, with the goals of fostering a genuine love of soccer, promoting a reputation of excellence and ensuring all players are granted the opportunity to achieve their greatest potential.

“Korrio’s focus on family and players matches our passion to build a community that improves the overall soccer experience. We stress the importance of community and believe Korrio can help us grow even stronger by enhancing the communication and connection between members of our tight-knit club,” said Cristian.

Virginia Legacy Soccer Club, a competitor in the innovative and progressive Virginia Club Champions League, is ready to start the season with a new level of play both on and off the field. All those involved in club operations – administrators, coaches, parents and players – are enjoying Korrio and the fresh perspective it offers the club.

Korrio CEO and Founder Steve Goldman is thrilled to partner with a club that is not only forward-thinking, but remains dedicated to a valuable, rewarding experience for its members. “The Virginia Legacy Soccer Club provides the best possible recreational program in the region. Their early adoption of the Korrio platform serves as evidence of their commitment to providing club members with the highest-quality, most innovative youth soccer experience available,” said Goldman.   

For more information, visit https://korrio.com.

The San Jose Earthquakes announced today that the team has partnered with T-Mobile to launch the T-Mobile 4G Power Zone at all remaining home games for the 2012 season. The promotion will give fans the opportunity to purchase great seats for only $15 - the most affordable Earthquakes tickets available to the public.

Through the agreement, T-Mobile has rebranded the Corner Flag Section 107 at Buck Shaw Stadium in Santa Clara as the T-Mobile 4G Power Zone.

“The Earthquakes are proud to partner with T-Mobile on this initiative. The 4G Power Zone is a fantastic addition to our venue, and will provide fans with the opportunity to purchase affordable tickets at convenient locations around the Bay Area,” said Dave Kaval, Club President for the San Jose Earthquakes.

Fans can purchase tickets with a regular day-of-game price of $24 for only $15 at 41 participating T-Mobile stores throughout the Bay Area. The vouchers can be used toward any home game, subject to availability, including the June 30 California Clasico with the LA Galaxy at Stanford Stadium beginning at 7 p.m. PT. The vouchers can be redeemed at Earthquakes team headquarters at 451 El Camino Real, Suite 220, Santa Clara 95050, between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, or at the stadium on the day of the game.

“T-Mobile is focused on providing the best value in wireless to our customers, making amazing 4G services affordable,” said Rich Garwood, vice president and general manager of T-Mobile’s Northern California Region. “Our partnership with the Earthquakes brings our value leadership to life with the most affordable Earthquakes tickets available from participating T-Mobile stores.”

For more information on the T-Mobile 4G Power Zone promotion and participating stores, please visit http://www.sjearthquakes.com/t-mobile-4gpowerzone.

Season tickets for the 2012 Earthquakes season are still available for purchase by calling (408) 556-7700. Individual tickets are also on sale and can be purchased by calling 1-800-225-2277 or online at www.sjearthquakes.com.

Beginning this November, the Bobby Rhine Fall Invitational presented by MoneyGram will be a qualifying tournament for the prestigious Dr Pepper Dallas Cup.

The tournament, held November 23-25 at the FC Dallas Stadium complex, will field 130-150 teams in the Under-11 through Under-16 age groups. Four teams (one each in the U-13, U-14, U-15 and U-16 age groups) will ultimately qualify for the Dr Pepper Dallas Cup based on their results in the Bobby Rhine Fall Invitational presented by MoneyGram.

“We’re excited about the opportunity to assist FC Dallas in every way possible to have a successful qualifying tournament,” said Randy Jones, Dallas Cup tournament manager.

FC Dallas Vice President of Youth Chris Hayden echoed Jones’ excitement about the new qualifying tournament and the potential top tournament field expected at FC Dallas Stadium in November.

“We are also pleased we are honoring the legacy of Bobby Rhine with what will become a prestigious youth event held in Frisco each Thanksgiving,” said Hayden. “Bobby Rhine meant so much to our organization as a player, coach, broadcaster and friend. This event will remind our fans, supporters and the overall youth soccer community of Bobby’s selfless and enduring contribution to FC Dallas.”

Rhine, who spent his 10-year MLS career as a player for Dallas, and then retired to the broadcast booth and front office with the club, passed away suddenly in September 2011 at the age of 35.

“Our boys and I are so proud to have this tournament named for Bobby,” said Rhine’s wife, Bevan. “Bobby played in Dallas Cup as a youth player and coached in it several years ago. He was always impressed by the Dallas Cup’s long term commitment to keeping the tournament one of the most prestigious tournaments in the world. I know he would be honored to have his name associated with a qualifying tournament that helps to ensure the exceptional quality of the Dallas Cup.”

After ending his playing career following the 2008 season, Rhine remained as a key figure with FC Dallas, making valuable contributions in both community development and broadcasting.

During his career, Rhine appeared in 212 games for Dallas, making 136 starts and playing more than 12,000 minutes. He scored 23 goals and recorded 34 assists. His goals total is good for eighth all-time in the FC Dallas record books, while his assists total ranks fourth behind Jason Kreis, Oscar Pareja and Ronnie O’Brien. Rhine was selected in the First Round (sixth overall) in the 1999 MLS SuperDraft.

Bobby Rhine was a great friend to all of us here at the Dallas Cup and we are only too pleased to assist Bobby’s wife, Bevan, and the FC Dallas Foundation in raising funds for the Bobby Rhine Heart Project,” said Gordon Jago, executive director of the Dallas Cup.

U.S. Under-23 Men’s National Team head coach Caleb Porter named a 23-player roster that includes Crew midfielder Dilly Duka as the group convenes Feb. 19 for a 10-day training camp in Frisco, Texas. The camp culminates with a match against Mexico’s U-23 National Team on Feb. 29 at FC Dallas Stadium. Kickoff is set for 10 p.m. ET, and the match will be broadcast live on Univision. Fans can also follow on ussoccer.com’s MatchTracker and via Twitter @ussoccer.

The training camp and Mexico match make up an important stretch for the U-23s as they get set for the Men’s Olympic Qualifying tournament, with group play kicking off March 22 at LP Field in Nashville, Tenn.

“I think Mexico is going to be about as close to a qualifying atmosphere as we can possibly get,” Porter said. “We’re going to have, for the most part, our entire group together for the first time.”

In addition to the Mexico match, the U.S. U-23s will hold scrimmages against FC Dallas of Major League Soccer on Wednesday, Feb. 22, and the North American Soccer League’s new franchise, the San Antonio Scorpions, on Friday, Feb. 24.

Five players who had not previously been in camp with the U-23 team will be on hand, including FC Dallas midfielder Brek Shea, who has appeared in all nine of the U.S. Men’s National Team matches under head coach Jurgen Klinsmann. The 2011 U.S. Young Male Athlete of the Year and Bryan, Texas, native is coming off a strong season with FC Dallas that included MLS Best XI recognition and a nomination for MLS Most Valuable Player.

Juan Agudelo joins the camp after earning 14 appearances with the senior team last year. Agudelo was the first player to come out of the U.S. Soccer Development Academy to earn a cap with the U.S. Men’s National Team.

Fifteen of the 24 players are with MLS franchises, including Duka and Philadelphia Union teammates Freddy Adu, Jack McInerney and Amobi Okugo.

CONCACAF Olympic Qualifying begins on March 22, with Group A games being played at LP Field in Nashville and Group B games at The Home Depot Center in Carson, Calif. The USA was drawn into Group A with Canada, Cuba and El Salvador, while Group B is composed of Mexico, Honduras, Panama and Trinidad & Tobago.

The semifinal and final matches will be played at LIVESTRONG Sporting Park in Kansas City, Kan., on March 31 and April 2, respectively. Individual tickets are on sale for the games in Nashville and Carson , and series tickets are available for the knockout phase in Kansas City.

U.S. U-23 Men’s National Team Roster By Position – Detailed Roster
GOALKEEPERS (2): Bill Hamid (D.C. United), Sean Johnson (Chicago Fire) 

DEFENDERS (7): Greg Garza (Club Tijuana), Perry Kitchen (D.C. United), Alfredo Morales (Hertha Berlin), Ike Opara (San Jose Earthquakes), Kofi Sarkodie (Houston Dynamo), Zarek Valentin (Montreal Impact), Jorge Villafaña (Chivas USA) 

MIDFIELDERS (6): Joe Corona (Club Tijuana), Mix Diskerud (Gent), Dilly Duka (Columbus Crew), Jared Jeffrey (Mainz), Amobi Okugo (Philadelphia Union), Michael Stephens (LA Galaxy) 

FORWARDS (8): Freddy Adu (Philadelphia Union), Juan Agudelo (New York Red Bulls), Terrence Boyd (Borussia Dortmund), Teal Bunbury (Sporting Kansas City), Joe Gyau (Hoffenheim), Jack McInerney (Philadelphia Union), Brek Shea (FC Dallas), Tony Taylor (Estoril Praia)