UCLA alum Brian Rowe was signed by MLS club Toronto FC this week as a backup goalkeeper for the club. Rowe was an unused substitute in Toronto's 3-0 loss to the San Jose Earthquakes and has been in training with the club this week. For more information, click here.
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Incoming freshman Reed McKenna was named to the ESPN RISE Winter All-America boys' soccer first team.McKenna, who graduated from Rancho Bernardo HS, led his prep squad to a section title and to a CIF Regional semifinal appearance this past season. He finished the year with 26 goals, including a hat trick in his the section championships, and was selected the All-San Diego Section Player of the Year. McKenna is currently ranked No. 41 in Top Drawer Soccer's National Player Ratings and No. 2 in Southern California. He was a member of the SuperElite Team in 2010 and was selected to the 2009 US Development Academy Western Region Starting IX.
Today's edition of Salt Lake City's Deseret News has a nice article on the friendship between Utah Jazz guard Earl Watson and RSL goalie Nick Rimando.
The two pro athletes became friends while attending UCLA and have stayed friends despite different career paths that have intersected in Salt Lake City.
To read the article, click here.
Assistant men's soccer coach Kenny Arena was a guest on Fox Soccer Channel's Soccer Talk Live this week. Arena talked with host Kyle Martino about college soccer's, and especially UCLA's, impact in the international game and in Major League Soccer, as well as the Bruins' prospects for the upcoming NCAA Tournament.
On Wednesday, UCLA alum and current New England Revolution player Matt Reis' autographed jersey from the team's Oct. 2 Breast Cancer Awareness match, as well as a pink adidas game ball autographed by Reis, will be available in an online auction at biddingforgood.com. Hosted by the New England Revolution Charitable Foundation, the auction will include game-worn jerseys featuring a commemorative MLS W.O.R.K.S. pink ribbon patch and other pink game-used merchandise.
The auction will launch on Wednesday, Oct. 6, and run through Sunday, Oct. 17, at http://www.biddingforgood.com/RevsForKomenMA.
All proceeds from the online auction will be donated to the Massachusetts Affiliate of Susan G. Komen for the Cure, who partnered with the Revs for Saturday's event.
Reis played at UCLA from 1994-97 and was the Defensive MVP of the 1997 NCAA Championships. Reis recorded 20 saves and allowed zero goals in the Final Four, shutting out Indiana in double overtime in the semifinals while tying a school record with 11 saves and blanking Virginia in the finals while making nine saves.
Other items up for bid are:
*Matt Reis' autographed, custom-made pink adidas goalkeeper jersey^ worn during the Oct. 2 match
*Kevin Alston's autographed pink/white/black adidas F50 adizero XTRX SG cleats (size 9)
*Team-autographed pink adidas game ball used on Oct. 2 (three total)
*Team-autographed pink MLS W.O.R.K.S. scarf
*Team-autographed pink Gatorade sideline towel
*Pink MLS W.O.R.K.S. scarf autographed by the Revolution coaching staff
*Shalrie Joseph autographed pink adidas game ball used on Oct. 2
*Matt Reis autographed pink adidas game ball used on Oct. 2
*Marko Perović autographed pink adidas game ball used on Oct. 2
*Autographed game-worn jerseys^, including commemorative MLS W.O.R.K.S. pink ribbon patch, from: Darrius Barnes, Kheli Dube, Jason Griffiths, Shalrie Joseph, Kenny Mansally, Sainey Nyassi, Emmanuel Osei, Marko Perović, Pat Phelan, Zack Schilawski, Seth Sinovic, Khano Smith, Ilija Stolica, Chris Tierney
^All winning bidders of the 15 game-worn jerseys will also receive a photo of the respective player wearing the jersey.
For more information, please visit the auction site at http://www.biddingforgood.com/RevsForKomenMA or www.revolutionsoccer.net.
The auction will launch on Wednesday, Oct. 6, and run through Sunday, Oct. 17, at http://www.biddingforgood.com/RevsForKomenMA.
All proceeds from the online auction will be donated to the Massachusetts Affiliate of Susan G. Komen for the Cure, who partnered with the Revs for Saturday's event.
Reis played at UCLA from 1994-97 and was the Defensive MVP of the 1997 NCAA Championships. Reis recorded 20 saves and allowed zero goals in the Final Four, shutting out Indiana in double overtime in the semifinals while tying a school record with 11 saves and blanking Virginia in the finals while making nine saves.
Other items up for bid are:
*Matt Reis' autographed, custom-made pink adidas goalkeeper jersey^ worn during the Oct. 2 match
*Kevin Alston's autographed pink/white/black adidas F50 adizero XTRX SG cleats (size 9)
*Team-autographed pink adidas game ball used on Oct. 2 (three total)
*Team-autographed pink MLS W.O.R.K.S. scarf
*Team-autographed pink Gatorade sideline towel
*Pink MLS W.O.R.K.S. scarf autographed by the Revolution coaching staff
*Shalrie Joseph autographed pink adidas game ball used on Oct. 2
*Matt Reis autographed pink adidas game ball used on Oct. 2
*Marko Perović autographed pink adidas game ball used on Oct. 2
*Autographed game-worn jerseys^, including commemorative MLS W.O.R.K.S. pink ribbon patch, from: Darrius Barnes, Kheli Dube, Jason Griffiths, Shalrie Joseph, Kenny Mansally, Sainey Nyassi, Emmanuel Osei, Marko Perović, Pat Phelan, Zack Schilawski, Seth Sinovic, Khano Smith, Ilija Stolica, Chris Tierney
^All winning bidders of the 15 game-worn jerseys will also receive a photo of the respective player wearing the jersey.
For more information, please visit the auction site at http://www.biddingforgood.com/RevsForKomenMA or www.revolutionsoccer.net.
UCLA alumni Carlos Bocanegra and Benny Feilhaber have been selected to the U.S. Men's National Team roster for upcoming friendlies against Poland (Oct. 9 in Chicago) and Colombia (Oct. 12 in Chester, PA).
The U.S.-Poland game will be broadcast live on Fox Soccer Channel and Galavision at 5 pm PT on Oct. 9, while the Oct. 12 game against Colombia will be broadcast live on ESPN2 and Galavision at 5 pm PT.
Both Bocanegra and Feilhaber are having strong seasons with their club teams. Bocanegra's squad Saint-Étienne is in first place in the French Ligue 1 after finishing in 17th place last season, going 5-1-1 to start the campaign. Feilhaber has scored five goals in his last three matches as AGF Aarhus holds the top spot in the Danish 1st Divisionen.
U.S. ROSTER BY POSITION
GOALKEEPERS (2): Brad Guzan (Aston Villa), Tim Howard (Everton)
DEFENDERS (8): Carlos Bocanegra (Saint-Étienne), Steve Cherundolo (Hannover), Clarence Goodson (IK Start), Eric Lichaj (Aston Villa), Oguchi Onyewu (AC Milan), Michael Parkhurst (FC Nordsjaelland), Heath Pearce (FC Dallas), Jonathan Spector (West Ham United)
MIDFIELDERS (7): Alejandro Bedoya (Örebro), Michael Bradley (Borussia Moenchengladbach), Maurice Edu (Rangers), Benny Feilhaber (Aarhus), Stuart Holden (Bolton Wanderers), Jermaine Jones (FC Schalke), Brek Shea (FC Dallas)
FORWARDS (3): Jozy Altidore (Villarreal), Clint Dempsey (Fulham), Eddie Johnson (Fulham)
Here is a pre-season preview video featuring head men's soccer coach Jorge Salcedo and head men's water polo coach Adam Wright.
To watch the video, click here.
Incoming freshmen Reed Williams and Kelyn Rowe were selected to the 2009-10 ESPN RISE All-America teams for their respective seasons. Williams was named to the Winter All-American list, while Rowe was chosen for the Spring All-American list.
Williams, a forward from Corona del Mar HS, scored 32 goals with 12 assists in 2009-10, leading his squad to the CIF-State Division II title. Williams, the 2010 Gatorade State Player of the Year for California and the CIF-SS Division IV Offensive Player of the Year, scored the winning goal in the title game after scoring two goals in the semifinal matchup.
Rowe, a forward from Federal Way HS, also scored 32 goals in 2009-10, including all five in his squad's 5-1 win over Todd Beamer HS in the state quarterfinals. A first-team All-Seattle-Times selection in both soccer and football (punter), he also earned Class 4A soccer Player of the Year by sports writers across Washington. Rowe was also selected as a Parade All-American, along with fellow incoming UCLA freshman Victor Chavez.
The U.S. Men's Soccer National Team won an ESPY Award Wednesday night for Best Moment. Nine members of the team, including UCLA's own Carlos Bocanegra, Jonathan Bornstein and Benny Feilhaber, were at the ceremony to accept the award, which honored the team's thrilling last-minute victory over Algeria in the 2010 FIFA World Cup.
Watch Bocanegra and Landon Donovan's acceptance speech here, via USSoccer.com:
UCLA men's soccer head coach Jorge Salcedo and his father Hugo, brother Eddie and son Matteo were featured on Vista LA this weekend on ABC-7. Jorge and Eddie are both UCLA soccer alumni, with Jorge playing on the 1990 NCAA Championship team and Eddie being a team member in 1995. Hugo was an assistant coach at UCLA from 1978-79.
Also featured on the show was UCLA alum Jonathan Bornstein (2004-05), who is playing for the U.S. in the 2010 World Cup.
The show is scheduled to re-air on Sunday, June 20 at 2 pm.
Salcedo Soccer Family:
LA Soccer Stars:
David Estrada (Seattle Sounders FC):
Sigi Schmid on David Estrada (from SoundersFC.com)
From Salinas to Seattle - ESPN Los Angeles
Sounders FC official draft recap - Seattle Times
Sounders top pick as surprised as anyone - Tacoma News-Tribune
Sounders FC picks UCLA forward in first round - Daily Herald
Sounders FC selects UCLA's Estrada with first-round pick - Seattle P-I
Sounders' pick Estrada surprise of draft - MLSnet.com
Michael Stephens (Los Angeles Galaxy):
2010 MLS SuperDraft is Now Complete (Michael Stephens audio, Bruce Arena video/audio)- LA Galaxy Blog
Video of Michael Stephens' draft announcement - MLSnet.com
Michael Stephens drafted by Galaxy - ESPN Los Angeles
Only One Pick - LA Soccer News
Philadelphia Union (Amobi Okugo, Kyle Nakazawa, Brian Perk):
Amobi Okugo draft selection - MLSNet.com
In West Philadelphia ... - ESPN Los Angeles
Union starts with youth movement - Delaware County Daily Times
Union loads up on youth, talent in MLS SuperDraft - Philadelphia Daily News
Union busy at top of MLS draft - Philadelphia Daily News
Union wanna be startin' something - Philadelphia Metro
Union presence felt at SuperDraft - MLSNet.com
Sixth-seeded UCLA (10-3-4) found out that its NCAA men's soccer second round opponent will be Sacramento State after the Hornets defeated host Loyola Marymount, 2-1 in overtime this afternoon.
The second round game will take place at Drake Stadium on Sunday, Nov. 22 at 5 pm. Tickets are $9 for adults and $7 for students and youth.
Sacramento State (12-5-3), which earned the win at LMU on a Brian Baker header in the 97th minute, has never beaten UCLA in four attempts. The last time the two teams met was in 1998. UCLA won the game in Sacramento, 3-0. Sacramento State, which won the MPSF Championship, is making its first-ever NCAA Tournament appearance.
Kansas City Wizards defender and UCLA soccer alumnus Jimmy Conrad was selected to receive the 2009 U.S. Soccer Foundation/MLS W.O.R.K.S. Humanitarian of the Year Award, along with Chicago Fire midfielder Logan Pause. This marks the first time that two players have shared the honor.
Conrad, who hails from Temple City, Calif., is an 11-year MLS veteran, five-time MLS All-Star and former MLS Defender of the Year. He transferred to UCLA from San Diego State and joined the team as a walk-on in 1996. By his senior season, he became a key member of the Bruin squad that won the NCAA Championship in 1997.
Conrad continues to be active in philanthropic efforts throughout the Kansas City area and is being recognized as an exemplary role model within the community for his involvement with local schools, youth organizations and MLS W.O.R.K.S. initiatives. He regularly speaks with students at local schools about teamwork and the importance of setting goals in presentations that he designed.
For a second consecutive year, Conrad served as a spokesperson for Athletes Against Autism and the Child Protection Center, actively partaking in efforts to raise money and awareness for the organizations. This season he participated in an appearance at the Kick It 3v3 Championships to raise awareness for the UN Foundation's Nothing But Nets campaign, and also raised funds for the campaign locally through autograph sessions in Kansas City.
Conrad also receives support for his philanthropic efforts from his wife, Lyndsey. While he is busy supporting community groups, Lyndsey, serves as the President of the Kansas City Wizards Wives Club. Their biggest project this season was a school supply drive at CommunityAmerica Ballpark called "Stuff the Bus." As part of the event, Conrad and his wife set up a soccer clinic for inner-city children with other MLS players. They donated school supplies collected during "Stuff the Bus" and spoke to the children about the importance of staying in school.
Conrad is the second UCLA alumnus to win this award, joining Chris Henderson, who was honored in 2004.
Men's soccer player Kyle Nakazawa will be featured in this week's Bruin Sports Report on Fox Sports West and Prime Ticket.
The first airing of the Bruin Sports Report is Tuesday night during the Anaheim Ducks' postgame on Prime Ticket. The Ducks game starts at 7 pm. The Bruin Sports Report is also scheduled to air during the LA Kings' postgame show on Nov. 5 (Fox Sports West, 7:30 pm) and at halftime of the LA Clippers' game on Nov. 6 (Prime Ticket, 7:30 pm).
A day after being named the Pac-10 Men's Soccer Player of the Week, UCLA senior goalkeeper Brian Perk picked up NSCAA National Player of the Week honors after posting a pair of shutouts against Top 20 opponents in No. 10 California and No. 18 Stanford.
In Friday's match against the Golden Bears, Perk had three saves as his defense held its opponent to eight shots. In the 79th minute, he made a leaping save to preserve the shutout and give the Bruins the 1-0 win. Closing out the weekend against Stanford, Perk had another solid performance as once again his defense surrendered single-digit shots on goal, allowing only six. He made two saves in the Bruins' 2-0 victory over the Cardinal. In the 62nd minute with UCLA clinging to a 1-0 lead, he dove to punch out a dangerous ball in front of the box.
Benny Feilhaber was featured in the Miami Herald as the U.S. team prepares for its World Cup Qualifying game at Honduras on Saturday. Feilhaber is one of five Bruins on the U.S. roster. Also on the team are Carlos Bocanegra, Jonathan Bornstein, Jimmy Conrad and Frankie Hejduk.
The Seattle Times did a profile story on former UCLA player and coach Sigi Schmid last week. Schmid's Seattle Sounders FC squad is in a good position to make the playoffs in its first year, totaling 41 points, which is tied for fourth-best in the league. Seattle has a pair of Bruin alumni on its roster - Pete Vagenas and Patrick Ianni.
Cherif Zein, who played at UCLA from 1972-74, was featured in the PCC Courier. Zein is the men's and women's soccer coach at Pasadena City College and also runs the club team CZ Elite, which won the 2009 U.S. Youth Soccer National Championship, thanks in large part to Bruin sophomore Eder Arreola's five tournament goals.
Senior midfielder Kyle Nakazawa was named for the second consecutive week to the National Team of the Week by both College Soccer News and Top Drawer Soccer. Nakazawa had a hand in all four of UCLA's goals over the weekend, scoring three and assisting on another. He has recorded either a goal or assist in six straight games and leads the team in scoring with career-bests of seven goals and 17 points. The Bruins' unbeaten streak coincides with Nakazawa's scoring streak. Both stand at six games.
UCLA (6-1-1) remains ranked No. 2 in Soccer America's Top 25 and moves up to No. 3 in the College Soccer News poll and No. 7 in Top Drawer Soccer's Tournament ranking.
The honors continue to roll in for UCLA senior midfielder Kyle Nakazawa. After a three-goal, one assist weekend in wins over San Diego and UNLV, Nakazawa was named the Pac-10 Player of the Week, his first such honor of his career and UCLA's league-leading 37th honor of all time.
Nakazawa was earlier named the National Player of the Week by College Soccer News and Top Drawer Soccer. He leads the team in goals scored (4), game-winning goals (3) and points (12). Nationally, he ranks 27th in points per game (1.67) and 31st in goals per game (0.67).
Bruin senior David Estrada remains the national leader in assists per game. He has six assists in six games (1.0 average). Freshman Chandler Hoffman ranks 34th in points per game (1.6) and 43rd in goals per game (0.6). Sophomore Brian Rowe is 16th in save percentage (0.882) and 28th in goals against average (0.643).
Senior midfielder/forward David Estrada of the UCLA men's soccer team is currently leading the nation in assists per game with an average of 1.25. He has five assists in four games and has assisted on five of the team's eight goals this season (62.5%).
Also ranked in the Top 30 nation-wide are freshman forward Chandler Hoffman, who ranks 26th for points per game (1.67) and 29th for goals per game (0.67); freshman forward Evan Raynr, who is also 29th in goals per game (0.67); and senior goalkeeper Brian Perk, who ranks 24th in save percentage (0.875).
Here are a few game reports from Maryland about the UCLA men's soccer team's win over Maryland:
Defending Champions Blanked by UCLA in Season Opener - Washington Post
Men's soccer falters late in loss to UCLA - The Diamondback
Highlights from the women's soccer 4-0 win over Long Beach State last week were made available on YouTube, courtesy LBPostSports.com:
On the UCLA Soccer alumni front, U.S. soccer team captain Carlos Bocanegra (1997-99) was featured in the Salt Lake City Tribune and Deseret News.
U.S. National Team member Benny Feilhaber (2003-04) answered question for a video interview with Goal.com:
And Seattle Sounders FC won the U.S. Open Cup earlier this week to become only the second MLS team to win the Open Cup in their inaugural season in the league. With the win, the Sounders are now entered in the 2010-11 CONCACAF Champions League. Seattle is coached by former UCLA player and head coach Sigi Schmid and has two Bruin alumni on the squad - Patrick Ianni (2003-05) and Pete Vagenas (1996-99).
UCLA is ranked No. 9 in the Soccer America preseason poll, which was released on Tuesday. The Bruins will face three other Top 10 teams this season (No. 4 Indiana, No. 6 Creighton, No. 7 California and No. 8 Maryland) and will host an exhibition game against No. 16 UC Irvine on Sunday, Aug. 29 at 4 pm on the North Athletic Field.
Soccer America Men's Preseason Top 25
1. North Carolina (15-8-1 in 2008)
2. Akron (17-2-4)
3. St. John's (19-3-3)
4. Indiana (14-7-3)
5. Wake Forest (21-2-1)
6. Creighton (16-2-2)
7. California (12-4-5)
8. Maryland (23-3-0)
9. UCLA (10-5-6)
10. Notre Dame (12-7-2)
11. Northwestern (15-5-3)
12. UIC (12-4-6)
13. Connecticut (11-5-6)
14. Dartmouth (11-6-3)
15. UC Santa Barbara (10-7-5)
16. UC Irvine (15-2-6)
17. Loyola (Md.) (18-2-1)
18. South Florida (15-5-3)
19. George Mason (14-7-2)
20. Cal Poly (11-6-6)
21. Michigan (13-6-3)
22. Tulsa (16-4-3)
23. Louisville (11-8-2)
24. Boston University (12-6-3)
25. Denver (10-5-2)
UCLA soccer alumni Carlos Bocanegra, Jonathan Bornstein, and Benny Feilhaber will be on hand for the U.S. Soccer National Team's World Cup Qualifying game in Mexico City on Wednesday, Aug. 12. The game will be held in Estadio Azteca at 1 pm PT and will be televised live on Telemundo and mun2.
The U.S. will be seeking its first-ever win on Mexican soil, going into the match with an overall record of 0-22-1 in Mexico. With a record of 3-1-1 through five games of qualifying for the 2010 FIFA World Cup, the U.S. currently sits in second place in the final round of qualifying. Mexico is in fourth place in the group with a 2-3-0 record. The top three teams automatically advance to the 2010 FIFA World Cup, while the fourth place team will participate in a two-leg playoff against the fifth place team from South America.
