Gonzaga sweeps seven-a-side events; Central Washington women surprise

Gonzaga played host to schools from around the region | Photos: Gerald Barnhart - Galleries: Women -- Men

Gonzaga University Soccer played host to a pair of seven-a-side events over the weekend against teams from around the region. In the eight-team women’s event, Gonzaga came out on top for the third time in four years, reclaiming the crown after losing to Montana a year ago. On the men’s side, Gonzaga dominated in the three-school, six-team event – being held for just the second time after a year’s hiatus – with its two sides sweeping the competition for an all GU final.

Lower Division Recap: Round 4

Surprise; surprise. Four weeks into the season and Edmonton’s first win not only pulled them out of the NASL cellar, but past two other winless clubs in the Fort Lauderdale Strikers and last year’s regular season champion San Antonio Scorpions. Meanwhile in USL Pro, Orlando City is once again making the case as one of the powerhouses while Harrisburg, who started later is firing on all cylinders as well.

Gonzaga Soccer hosts small-sided college tournaments this weekend

Schools from around the region once again will gather at Gonzaga University for spring events

Gonzaga Soccer plays host to a pair of small-sided tournaments this weekend with eight women's teams representing five schools playing in a seven-a-side event Saturday and six representing three schools in the men's five-a-side Sunday.

Lower Division Five Stars - Round Three

A weekly list of the top five players or performances of each round in NASL, USL Pro and MLS Reserves…

ROUND THREE (April 15-21)

Christhian Hernandez – Harrisburg City Islanders

On loan from affiliate Philadelphia Union, the striker was key in the club earning the first win by a USL Pro side against an MLS Reserve League team. Hernandez stunned the host Rapids Reserve just two minute in with the opening goal and set up Greg Jordan for the game-winner in the 64^th minute as they held on for the 2-1 victory. 

Lower Division Recap: Round 3

The two top stories on the week were the Harrisburg City Islanders claiming the first USL Pro victory over an MLS Reserve side in interleague play and the Atlanta Silverbacks coming out on top in a wild 4-3 road win against reigning champion Tampa Bay.

MLS Affiliate / Loan Watch - Lower Divisions Round 3

Here is a quick look around the Lower Divisions at the players on loan from Major League Soccer.

The Revolution foursome with the Rhinos saw action in Rochester's trip to Charlotte and Richmond. Gabe Latigue was the lone player to start both contests, but only saw 119 minutes of play. Meanwhile, Tyler Polak and Matt Horth started the scoreless draw at Charlotte, but Polak came off the bench in the 4-1 loss to Richmond while Horth did not play. Bilal Duckett went the full contest in Richmond after coming off the bench in Charlotte.

For Richmond though, fewer players were available from DC, particularly Casey Townsend, who had a brace last week. The Kickers did not miss him though with the big victory as Andrew Dykstra added another win and Conor Shanosky played the full match. Brown Ownby, who played for the Houston Dynamo Reserves earlier in the week, went 83 minutes.

After big win over Northwest U, PDL friendlies & season lie ahead for Gonzaga players

Defender Josh Phillips (2) and the Zags all smiles from the first minute | Photos: Gerald Barnhart (gallery) 

With the exception of their five-a-side tournament April 28, the Gonzaga men’s soccer team wraps up an extremely busy spring slate with a trip to the Puget Sound this weekend to face the USL Premier Development League duo of North Sound SeaWolves and Kitsap Pumas after a big 6-0 win over Northwest University last weekend and a previous trip to Canada.

The Bulldogs set the tone in the first minute in last Saturday’s contest against Northwest, scoring off a throw-in that bounced around in the box before Josh Phillips (Olympia, WA) blasted it into the roof of the goal from close range.

From that point it was nearly all Gonzaga, which had a 4-0 lead by the break.

Lower Division Five Stars - Round Two

A weekly list of the top five players or performances of each round in NASL, USL Pro and MLS Reserves…

Lower Division Recap: Round 2

Stadium debuts were the topic of the week with NASL San Antonio opening the brand-new 8,000-seat Toyota Field and USL Pro Pittsburgh marking the debut of 4,000-seat Highmark Stadium.

Lower Division Five Stars - Round One

A weekly list of the top five players or performances of each round in NASL, USL Pro and MLS Reserves…

Handful from NW make NWSL opening day rosters

Maybe the league should be renamed the California Women’s Soccer League. Examining the opening day rosters (as published by TheEqualizer) by state, there was a significant abundance of players from the state compared to the rest, including the northwest foursome of Washington, Oregon, Idaho and Montana.

Of the 152 players available for selection this week, the Golden State features 36 players that either are either native to California or attended college in the state. The northwest foursome featured only 15 combined, though is a respectable figure considering the population of the four states is only 35 percent of California’s. Nine players represented Oregon and six were from Washington. Idaho and Montana have zero players slated to play in the NWSL.

INW collegiate spring soccer update: Gonzaga, WSU, Idaho

Kellyn Nelson heads in a lengthy free kick to give Gonzaga the 2-2 draw | Photos: Gerald Barnhart [gallery]

The Gonzaga women put in their first Division I spring contest Sunday afternoon at home against 2012 NCAA Tournament participant Washington State University and came away with a 2-2 draw in a match marred by failed clearances that led to three of the four strikes.

Lower Division Recap: Round 1

Here is the first weekly recap of action in the lower divisions of the sport now that everyone has gotten underway. Due to the early outlying USL Pro games and the much earlier start to the MLS Reserve League action, everything from the first kick to the opening weekend of the NASL this past weekend will be bundled up in Round One.

Lower Divisions Preview – Part III: North American Soccer League

Part I - USL Pro     ||     Part II - MLS Reserves     ||     Part III - NASL 

The last professional league to kick off the 2013 campaign will do so Saturday night amidst a lot of excitement… though most of it is for the future.

The third season of the league was supposed to be a big deal with the return of the Cosmos, who won’t debut until the fall, and the new split season, but that has been tempered by the spiraling Puerto Rico Islanders and the limelight stealing deal between United Soccer Leagues and Major League Soccer, which has thus far not led to much player erosion from the NASL. The good news is, however, that the league was able to sell Minnesota to new local ownership, though Traffic Sports still owns its club Fort Lauderdale as well as Carolina and a share of Atlanta - a factor that is significantly affecting player budgets according to RailHawks coach Colin Clarke in a report from Neil Morris of Indy Week.

Makeover in 2013 for Spokane Shine with new coach & new home

The first public look at the 'indoor' renovations of Spokane Falls CC Stadium | Photos: Gerald Barnhart

The Spokane Shine of the WPSL officially announced the upcoming makeover for the 2013 season with a new game and training home, Spokane Falls Community College, and its new coaching staff headed by – as previously reported by INWsoccernews - Shadow youth coach and former PDL Spokane Spiders player/coach Dan Philp.