Daily news roundups

Steffen and Madison advance to NCAA quarterfinals, Convey released by TFC, more

Photo: Courtesy of the Philadelphia Union

Philadelphia Union

I got nothing.

Local

Former Union Academy goalkeeper Zack Steffen was huge between the posts in University of Maryland’s 1-0 win over UC Irvine to advance to the NCAA tournament quarterfinals. Ranked No. 5, the Terrapins travel to face No. 4 ranked California next Saturday. Earlier in the season, Maryland lost 3-2 to California and avenging that disappointment is clearly on their minds. Steffen said, “It’s what we said after the [Cal] game in our hotel [in September]: We wanted them at the end of the year, and now we’ve got them.”

Despite being down a man for 89 minutes, University of Virginia defeated Marquette 3-1 on Saturday. Former Philadelphia Union Academy forward Darius Madison scored the second goal for Virginia, who host Connecticut in the quarterfinals on Saturday.

Georgetown, featuring Reading United alumni Steve Neumann and Keegan Rosenberry, are out of the NCAA tournament after falling 1-0 to Michigan State on Saturday.

Penn State is out of the NCAA tournament with a 2-0 road loss to New Mexico in its first Sweet 16 appearance since 2010.

The Examiner has a preview of Rutgers-Camden ahead of this weekend’s NCAA Div III semifinal on Friday in San Antonio. Messiah will be playing in the other semifinal and PSP contributor Phil Naegely will be covering the tournament from San Antonio.

New MISL side the Pennsylvania Roar is now 0-4 after falling 10-9 to the Syracuse Silver Knights on Sunday.

the opening of Media FC.

MLS

Don Garber’s State of the League address will be streamed live at 2 pm on Tuesday at MLSsoccer.com and on the league’s YouTube and Google+ pages. The State of the League address will be followed by a Q&A session in which fans can participate via a Google+ Hangout. Also after the commissioner’s address will be the announcement of the League Best XI for the 2013 season.

Toronto FC’s roster announcement on Friday was something of a mixed bag for players with local connections. Former Union men Ryan Richter and Chris Konopka both saw their options picked up while Bobby Convey’s option was declined. Hmm, Convey to the Union?…And that Earnshaw fellow is also available?…The comment section is open.

Bruce Arena says talk of Landon Donovan and Omar Gonzalez going on loan during the offseason is just talk. “Our players aren’t going anywhere,” said the Galaxy coach, explaining that the players need rest before the start of the new season and the resumption of CONCACAF Champions League play.

The Irish Mirror rekindles the Ashley Cole to MLS rumors and says the Red Bulls want to reunite the left back with former Arsenal teammate Thierry Henry.

At The LA Times, Kevin Baxter explains that despite the league topping the 6 million mark in attendance for the second straight year, adding two new teams with a list of other cities vying to join the league, and strong growth in the value of franchises, things like “An unnecessarily drawn-out postseason schedule, flagging TV ratings and a final featuring the two smallest cities in the league are robbing MLS of much of that momentum, putting a damper on what had been one of the most compelling seasons in the league’s 18-year history.”

The Washington Post reports,

“Five months after DC Mayor Vincent C. Gray announced an ambitious plan to build a new soccer stadium, the administration has missed a series of self-imposed deadlines, including a promise to deliver a land deal for the D. Council to vote on this year.

“The timeline — as well as the secrecy of negotiations — has sparked frustration on the council, where even boosters say Gray (D) is trying to move too quickly without council input. Council members will not bow to pressure, several said, to rush through a complex and expensive stadium deal about which they know little.”

At MLSsoccer.com, a review of some key moments over the past three years that were part of the path taken by Real Salt Lake and Sporting Kansas City to reach this year’s MLS Cup final.

At The Guardian, Futfanatico.com’s Elliott Turner recounts five less than memorable US soccer moments from the past 40-plus years. “The champions took home a trophy, but the players and coaches of both teams will endure an infinity of infamy. On the biggest day of the season, they stunk it up. One team won, almost by default. Here’s hoping that in 2013, Sporting KC and Real Salt Lake won’t offer up another entry to this list of shame.”

At SI, Brian Straus talks to Sporting Kansas City’s English-born Dom Dwyer.

A panel at ESPN picks Robbie Keane for league MVP.

Keane supports Mike Magee playing for Ireland. “I’d say he would play for us. He definitely would like to but he’s probably waiting for that American call-up. He’s not an international. How he hasn’t got it I don’t know.”

US

France women’s national team coach Philippe Bergeroo says his team will play the USWNT in two friendlies in June.

At Philly.com, Jonathan Tannenwald reports that, according to “A source with direct knowledge of the situation,” NBC will join ESPN and Fox in bidding for the US broadcasting rights to the Champions League

Elsewhere

At Forbes, Bobby McMahon on why the 2014 World Cup will be unique and very unfair. The draw is on Friday at 11 am.

 “Fans” attacked both the PSG and the Lyon team buses as they traveled to the Parc des Princes on Sunday. PSG won the game 4-0.

15 Comments

  1. Great that the Maryland game could be viewed online on the Terp TV station! Some great saves by Zack. Hope we’ll see him and his team @PPL in 2 weeks!

  2. Bobby Convey on the re-entry draft! DOWN WITH CRUZ!

  3. Convey > Gaddis; Earnshaw > Casey.

    • Eli Pearlman-Storch says:

      At 30 years old, Convey would be a very interesting move if he was meant to play LB, rather than LM. I would sign up for that.

  4. I’d love to see Bobby Convey come home to Philly. However, we better have a left sided player ready to go when he inevitably picks up some injury.

  5. OneManWolfpack says:

    Convey at he right price and with the right attitude would be a hell of an upgrade for this team. Those two things are not guaranteed though. That’s where the FO needs to do its homework and not get screwed.
    .
    Earnshaw would prolly cost a few dollars and I’m not sure how much time he’d see. It really depends on if the FO thinks Casey has returned to form and has some gas left in the tank… or if last year was a one-off and he’ll regress. Nothing wrong with depth though… just don’t over spend.
    .
    Hack has a said he prefers MLS players over a DP…. I wouldn’t be surprised or upset to see one or both of those guys coming here.

  6. If Hack-n-Sack really covet proven MLS players, which I believe they have said before (maybe in not so many words), then this Re-entry draft should be where they look first. There are probably 3 or 4 starters available, but there are many quality veterans available who could come in and fill holes, add depth, and provide coverage and support until the young guns are fully ready to go. Clearly this team needs elite, playmaking talent in the midfield to contend, and they should look everywhere until they find that, but to fill defensive and midfield holes behind the starters, I think this re-entry draft is great.
    There are 2 expansion teams coming in next year, so it’s likely we’re gonna lose one of our young players.

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