Returning experience helps Piedmont women's soccer to No. 1 in preseason
DEMOREST -- After losing half of his starting lineup to graduation off last season's USA South championship squad, Piedmont College Head Women's Soccer Coach Stephen Andrew has spent much of the preseason looking for replacements at those key spots.
Andrew knows the task at hand of rebuilding the lineup will not be an easy one, but the coach has no time to wait as the task shifted from rebuilding to reloading after the USA South Preseason Coaches' Poll picked the Lady Lions as a favorite to repeat as champions this season despite losing their top scorer, starting goalkeeper and holding mid, and three of the back four from last year's team. "We lost a group of six seniors who had all contributed in different ways throughout last year, but the positive thing is that our recruiting class last year was pretty strong," said Andrew of his team's plan to recover from the large departure. "So we feel like we have the pieces that can step in and help replace those girls straight away. It's a little bit of pressure on our returners as well to try and step in to fill the shoes of a senior class that won two conference championships in four years." Both of those conference titles that Andrew spoke of, one Great South Athletic Conference title and one USA South crown, came in the last three seasons for the Lady Lions who also saw the departure of one of their most prolific scorers in Capital One Academic All-American Laura Goodwin. The forward from Snellville posted 17 goals by herself last season which was the second most in the conference behind only USA South Player of the Year Sandra Johansson of Averett, but Piedmont does return four of its next five top scorers from last season's squad including a pair of sophomores that Andrew is looking towards as possible replacements for Goodwin's 17 goals. "It's going to be tough to replace Laura who for four years was our main attacking threat, scoring goals, getting assists," said Andrew of his team's offensive challenge this season. "However, we've brought in two or three forwards and we're hoping that Savannah Castles and Megan Hatfield can step up and fill a bigger role after strong years last season." Castles and Hatfield combined for 10 goals between them last year and each stepped up in a big moment for the 2013 Lady Lions on the way to a USA South championship. Castles scored the game-winning goal on an absolute screamer from outside the box less than two minutes into overtime in PC's 2-1 win at Ferrum in their conference opener. Hatfield had her own chance to shine in an overtime win in league play when she buried a header off a corner kick into the back of the net for a 1-0 win over Greensboro with less than a minute remaining in the first OT period in North Carolina. One spot where Andrew is confident the returning experience on his roster will help is in midfield where he brings back two of his top players in that position from a year ago with the return of senior Shayna Rogers and junior Leilani Healy. Rogers tied for the second most assists on the team last season with her six helpers on the year while Healy looks to cement her spot in central midfield after providing a highlight reel goal in 2013 on a strike from distance against conference rival Maryville. Andrew will need all the returning experience he can get from last year's NCAA tourney-bound team as they face another national tournament participant from last season in their opener this year with the Panthers of Hanover prowling for a win over the Lady Lions this coming weekend. Hanover is receiving votes in the Preseason NSCAA National Poll, but Andrew does not need that information to know that the Panthers will be a stout test of his almost brand new squad. "We wanted to try and get as tough as competition as we could in the early going," said Andrew of his team's daunting opener. "We play Hanover of the Central Region, who won their conference last season, and are picked to win it again, we know they are really good. So, hopefully it's a good way to get a gauge of where we are at." Hanover was picked to win the Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference this season after a stellar campaign in 2013 that included 18 wins and a run to the second round of the NCAA National Tournament. Having claimed nine of the 10 possible first place votes in the preseason poll, Hanover returns several key pieces from last year's team which carried a 16-game unbeaten streak as now junior Rachel Alvis returns to lead the Panthers after an All-American caliber year as a sophomore in '13 for Head Coach Jim Watts. Piedmont kicks off 2014 with their showdown against Hanover at the Maryville Collegiate Invitational hosted by their fellow USA South member in Tennessee. Coach Andrew's Lady Lions kick off at 5 p.m. this coming Friday with live stats provided courtesy of the Maryville Sports Information Department.
http://www.accessnorthga.com/detail.php?n=278858
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It seems like just yesterday…but it was 25 years ago, a few dedicated volunteers decided to introduce soccer to a wider audience in the US.
Founder Carolyn McKenzie’s goal was to bring soccer to the inner city, where it was virtually unknown, and to provide an outlet for young people in inner city communities with limited access to organized sports a new option.
In 1998, current CEO Jill Robbins was recruited from a Soccer in the Streets affiliate in Youngstown,Ohio to join the national headquarters in Atlanta.
Since then, soccer programming has grown from short term introductory sessions to year round holistic programming.
Over the past 25 years, Soccer in the Streets has pioneered the use of soccer for social change, and achieved many things:
1989: Soccer in the Streets is founded
1994: Held soccer clinics across US as part of the ‘94 FIFA World Cup
1998: Held soccer clinics across US as part of the ‘98 FIFA World Cup
1999: Held national soccer clinics as part of the ‘99 FIFA Women’s World Cup
2001: “Positive-Choice Soccer” developed in conjunction with Atlanta Public Schools and Boys & Girls Clubs of Metro Atlanta
2004: Founding member of streetfootballworld
2006: Represented the US at the streetfootballworld Festival during the ‘06 FIFA World Cup in Berlin, Germany
2007: Founding member of Urban Soccer Collaborative
2007: Awarded grant through FIFA Football for Hope program
2009: “School of Life” launched, combining employment training with soccer for teenagers
2009: First Black Tie Soccer Game – primary fundraising event
2010: Represented the US at the Football for Hope Festival during the ‘10 FIFA World Cup in Johannesburg, South Africa
2011: First ATL Champions League
2011: Awarded 1st Coca-Cola Foundation Grant to support School of Life program
2014: Received Arthur M. Blank Family Foundation grant to establish first soccer league on the West side of Atlanta in Castleberry Hill neighborhood
GAINESVILLE - Allen Creek Soccer Complex is hosting a portion of the Publix Atlanta Cup, the largest soccer tournament in the Southeast, this weekend. Allen Creek is one of 12 venues throughout the metro Atlanta area hosting the three-day youth tournament.
"The Publix Atlanta Cup is Georgia Soccer's annual kick-off to the fall soccer season," said Tournament Director Sharron Safriet. "The tournament brings teams from across the Southeast, and this year from as far away as Louisiana, to play competitive matches throughout the Metro Atlanta area over Labor Day weekend. We invite fans to come out and enjoy some great soccer at the Publix Atlanta Cup!"
Hall County Parks & Leisure Director Mike Little said Allen Creek is expected to play host to approximately 50 teams with over 2,500 players, coaches, referees and spectators.
"We are expecting male and female athletes, ranging from nine to 19 years old, from Georgia, Florida, South Carolina, Louisiana and Alabama," he said.
This is the 13th consecutive year Allen Creek Soccer Complex has hosted a portion of the event.
http://www.accessnorthga.com/detail.php?n=278845
"The Publix Atlanta Cup is Georgia Soccer's annual kick-off to the fall soccer season," said Tournament Director Sharron Safriet. "The tournament brings teams from across the Southeast, and this year from as far away as Louisiana, to play competitive matches throughout the Metro Atlanta area over Labor Day weekend. We invite fans to come out and enjoy some great soccer at the Publix Atlanta Cup!"
Hall County Parks & Leisure Director Mike Little said Allen Creek is expected to play host to approximately 50 teams with over 2,500 players, coaches, referees and spectators.
"We are expecting male and female athletes, ranging from nine to 19 years old, from Georgia, Florida, South Carolina, Louisiana and Alabama," he said.
This is the 13th consecutive year Allen Creek Soccer Complex has hosted a portion of the event.
http://www.accessnorthga.com/detail.php?n=278845
The Peach Belt Conference has released its 2014 women's soccer preseason poll with the University of North Georgia picked to finish fourth out of 12 league schools. Head coach Chris Adams' squad received 89 points to land 26 votes shy of preseason favorite Clayton State. Collecting the other five first place votes was 2013 regular season co-champions, Columbus State.
North Georgia is on the heels of a 12-5-1 overall record in 2013 that included a 7-3-1 mark in conference play. Preseason All-Conference selection Cicely Taliaferro is one of 18 players that return from the 2013 roster. Also back for her senior campaign in a Nighthawk uniform is senior defender Megan Morrow who helped lead the Nighthawks to a 1.16 goals against average last season, which ranked third in the league.
UNG opens the season on Friday, September 5, with a home match against Valdosta State set for a 4:00 p.m., kickoff at the newly-renovated UNG Soccer Complex.
Clayton State received seven out of a possible 12 first place votes and totaled 115 points in the poll. The Cougars of Columbus State were just three points out of first place in the poll with 112.
Armstrong finished third in the poll with 101. North Georgia was fourth, Lander followed close behind in fifth.
The first round of PBC league play begins Sept. 13 and will continue on until the Peach Belt Tournament in November. The final four of the tournament will be hosted at Blanchard Woods Park in Evans, Ga., for the seventh consecutive year.
Teams were given 11 points for a first-place vote, 10 for a second-place vote and so on. Coaches were not permitted to rank their own teams.
North Georgia is on the heels of a 12-5-1 overall record in 2013 that included a 7-3-1 mark in conference play. Preseason All-Conference selection Cicely Taliaferro is one of 18 players that return from the 2013 roster. Also back for her senior campaign in a Nighthawk uniform is senior defender Megan Morrow who helped lead the Nighthawks to a 1.16 goals against average last season, which ranked third in the league.
UNG opens the season on Friday, September 5, with a home match against Valdosta State set for a 4:00 p.m., kickoff at the newly-renovated UNG Soccer Complex.
Clayton State received seven out of a possible 12 first place votes and totaled 115 points in the poll. The Cougars of Columbus State were just three points out of first place in the poll with 112.
Armstrong finished third in the poll with 101. North Georgia was fourth, Lander followed close behind in fifth.
The first round of PBC league play begins Sept. 13 and will continue on until the Peach Belt Tournament in November. The final four of the tournament will be hosted at Blanchard Woods Park in Evans, Ga., for the seventh consecutive year.
Teams were given 11 points for a first-place vote, 10 for a second-place vote and so on. Coaches were not permitted to rank their own teams.
College Update: Georgia Gwinnett College’s men’s soccer
Georgia Gwinnett College’s men’s soccer team is paying a price for being good.
#As an independent, there are no required games for the Grizzlies. And getting other teams to risk another loss by scheduling GGC isn’t easy.
#“This is the one time our success has been a hindrance,” said head coach Steve DeCou, who has led the Grizzlies to a 30-7-1 record in their two seasons of competition. “Some of these better teams, the Division IIs, they know it’s a good game, but it doesn’t benefit them. Some of these NAIA programs don’t want anything to do with us because they’re more worried about their conference and qualifying.
#“So that’s been probably my one complaint in my time here, just the difficulty of scheduling. Our success has hurt us. It’s the only time you’ll hear me say anything like that.”
#Which isn’t to say there aren’t some tough dates to circle on the calendar, mostly in September. GGC travels to South Georgia for a game against Thomas University on Sept. 6. Then the Grizzlies have back-to-back tests with a visit to national semifinalist Auburn-Montgomery on Sept. 16 and a home game against William Carey on Sept. 21.
#“You do well in those and it really helps propel you up the polls,” said DeCou, the Association of Independent Institutions coach of the year in 2013. “But right now the one date that’s circled is Aug. 29 against Lyon in Tennessee.”
#GGC was ranked No. 16 in the NAIA coaches preseason poll after coming off a 15-5 season that included a trip to the national tournament and an AII conference title. The Grizzlies were ranked second among independents in the preseason poll, behind only Ashford (Iowa), which earned the No. 4 overall ranking. GGC defeated Ashford 3-0 to win the AII championship last year.
#The Grizzlies beat two of the NAIA semifinalists last year, but were knocked out in the opening round of the tournament with a 1-0 loss to Embry-Riddle.
#“Unfinished business is basically the theme of this season,” DeCou said. “One of the emphasis, after last year, was I didn’t think we scored enough goals. You score more goals, you put teams away early. You’ve got special players who can make something out of nothing. At the national tournament, if we’d had a couple of these guys, we wouldn’t have had to work as hard to get there.
#“That’s some of what we tried to do this offseason — adding overall depth and a few goal scorers.”
#Eight players graduated and a couple of others opted not to come back, but DeCou still has 14 returners on the roster, including top offensive threats in Berkmar’s Martin Lugo and Norcross’ Ibrahima Sissoko. The whole midfield, which features Collins Hill’s Juan Giraldo, returns as well.
#The team has 13 new additions, either incoming freshmen or transfers. Among the transfers is a talented goal scorer in Jamie King (Clayton State) and Evan Scott, who led Georgia State in scoring in 2011. Scott suffered a knee injury and spent last year rehabbing. His younger brother, David, came to play to GGC as a goalie and Evan has joined him on the roster. Tyler Woodruff also was added to the team when Southern Poly dropped its program.
#“Tyler actually started on two teams that went to the NAIA Elite Eight so his experience will be helpful,” DeCou said. “The one thing about this group, I mean I could keep going through all the names, what we’ve really done a good job of is increase our depth. There’s competition for spots everywhere. We’re a much more well-rounded team.”
#They are backstopped by an imposing stable of goalkeepers, led by returning starter Lewis Sharpe, who played every minute of every game last season as a freshman.
#“It’s still big Lou and he’s just gotten better,” DeCou said. “He walked in here at 6-foot-6, about 170 pounds. He’s put on almost 30 pounds of muscle since he arrived a year ago. He’s really worked hard and gotten better.
#“Then Dave Scott and Iain Struckmeyer, the two backups, are doing very well. We’re loaded there. When we walk off the bus, people are scared. The shortest one is 6-5. So we’ve got three monsters that get off the bus.”
The August 16 Atlanta BeltLine Soccer Street Cup was a morning of fun and friendly competition for nearly 30 youth and a handful of parents. Presented in partnership with Soccer in the Streets at Washington Park, the event enticed families from all around the metro Atlanta area, where they met new friends and engaged in exciting match ups. In addition to some newer players, a few more seasoned players even managed to call their own fouls and manage the games.
Street Cups are designed to use competition to test participants’ mastery of character traits such as teamwork, respect, sportsmanship, perseverance, and tolerance. Games are played with small teams in order to increase interaction, teams are created on the day of the event in order to promote diversity, and games are played without referees to reinforce positive conflict resolution techniques.
“The Atlanta BeltLine Street Cup is one of many activities available through the free fitness programming the Atlanta BeltLine Partnership is developing to engage the community in healthy, active lifestyles through partnerships with other health-centric organizations such as Soccer in the Streets,” said Atlanta BeltLine Interim Executive Director Rob Brawner. “We are excited to offer fun, exciting ways to get Atlantans moving.”
As part of its mission, the Atlanta BeltLine Partnership creates programming to help achieve the positive social benefits of the Atlanta Beltline vision. By offering fun, healthy activities along the Atlanta BeltLine, the Partnership is strengthening communities and helping create a healthier Atlanta.
http://beltline.org/2014/08/26/atlanta-beltline-and-soccer-in-the-streets-gets-kids-moving/
The Fit-Tech Soccer Academy at W2W is designed for youth soccer players aged 8-14 looking to work on their techniques, fitness and skills to complement their existing soccer activities.
- Speed and Agility Ladder Work
- Technical Ball Work - Juggling, Turns, Moves
- Ball-Striking and Shooting
- Goalkeeping and Shot-Stopping
- Shooting & Finishing
- Aerobic & Anaerobic fitness
- Game Understanding and Positional Play
- Position Specific Coaching
Each session will include, 30 minutes of technical work, 30 minutes speed & agility training and a 30 minute game.
Sessions are on Tuesdays from 7:00 to 8:30pm
Youth players of all levels aged 10 and over are welcome to attend.Players will be grouped by age and/or level of play.
Session dates are; 9/9, 9/16, 9/23, 9/30, 10/7, 10/14, 10/21, 10/28
Registration fee - $130 per player (Includes Dry-Fit Training Shirt and a Soccer Ball)
| When | Sep 9, 2014 7:00 PM - Oct 28, 2014 8:30 PM |
| Late | Sep 9, 2014 11:59 PM -- fees go up after this date |
| Deadline | Sep 30, 2014 11:59 PM -- last date to register |
| Where | 5v5 Court 1 |
| 170 Cox Road, Roswell, GA 30075 | |
| click here for more information |
Two Georgia soccer players pick up weekly SEC honors
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The Georgia soccer team got off to a good start this weekend, and it got even better when goalkeeper Louise Hogrell and midfielder Gabby Seiler received weekly Southeastern Conference honors on Monday.
Hogrell was awarded the Freshman Player of the Week for the conference. Seiler was awarded the SEC Co-Offensive Player of the Week. This was the first career SEC honor for the players.
Hogrell has been instrumental in maintaining the Bulldogs' strong defensive play early in the season. She has contributed nine saves throughout the season and has given up an average of 0.45 goals per game. She also has a 0.90 save percentage.
Seiler has been strong in the midfield as she controlled the tempo of the offensive during the first couple of games. She collected five points over the weekend and scored two goals in the process. Seiler also contributed an assist.
The Bulldogs tied Ole Miss 1-1 and defeated UNC Greensboro 3-0 over the weekend. The team will head out to Long Beach State and Cal State Fullerton on Friday and Sunday, respectively.
The Georgia soccer team got off to a good start this weekend, and it got even better when goalkeeper Louise Hogrell and midfielder Gabby Seiler received weekly Southeastern Conference honors on Monday.
Hogrell was awarded the Freshman Player of the Week for the conference. Seiler was awarded the SEC Co-Offensive Player of the Week. This was the first career SEC honor for the players.
Hogrell has been instrumental in maintaining the Bulldogs' strong defensive play early in the season. She has contributed nine saves throughout the season and has given up an average of 0.45 goals per game. She also has a 0.90 save percentage.
Seiler has been strong in the midfield as she controlled the tempo of the offensive during the first couple of games. She collected five points over the weekend and scored two goals in the process. Seiler also contributed an assist.
The Bulldogs tied Ole Miss 1-1 and defeated UNC Greensboro 3-0 over the weekend. The team will head out to Long Beach State and Cal State Fullerton on Friday and Sunday, respectively.
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There are still more than two years until Atlanta's new MLS expansion team takes the field, but that hasn't stopped the locals from flocking to show their support.
At a breakfast event held on Wednesday, owner Arthur Blank indicated that the club have already received 14,000 season-ticket deposits, leaving only 11,000 tickets left for the inaugural season.
Georgia soccer gearing up for season opener at Ole Miss
- Georgia forward Madeline Barker (6) runs past Texas A&M defender Leigh Edwards (13) during an NCAA soccer game in Athens, Ga., on Sunday, Oct. 20, 2013. Along with Marion Crowder and Torri Allen, she was placed on College Sports Madness' All-SEC Second Team. (Photo/ Taylor Craig Sutton, Taylorcraigsutton@gmail.com)
The Georgia women’s soccer team will begin its season at Ole Miss, and the Bulldogs are carrying a high degree of confidence into the season despite missing two important starters.
Senior midfielder Laura Eddy and sophomore forward Marion Crowder are both awaiting clearance to return to full action after suffering anterior cruciate ligament injuries last season.
“We’re looking at about a two-to four-week timeline right now before I’m fully cleared, but I’m getting back into practice and non-contact playing, and I feel really great so I should be ready to go,” Eddy said.
Crowder, who is coming off an impressive freshman season, will have to wait about the same amount of time before being cleared for full participation as well.
Georgia head coach Steve Holeman said his team’s youth could actually be beneficial in this situation because most of the players have not competed with Eddy and Crowder on the field.
“The thing about it is, a lot of our players have never played with Marion Crowder or Laura Eddy because they’re new, so they don’t probably realize what they’re missing,” Holeman said. “They know the value, they’re aware of what they had done in the past, but, right now, what they know is the players they’ve played with and against every day in training. As these two start to come back into the fold, they’re certainly going to make a difference.”
Another reason for Georgia to be confident even without Eddy and Crowder is the debut of freshman midfielder Becca Rasmussen.
Rasmussen was the only freshman Georgia player named to the Southeastern Conference Preseason Watch List, and she was a highly-touted high school player in Colorado.
According to her teammates, Rasmussen is as good as advertised.
“She’s just one of the most dynamic attackers I’ve ever watched,” Eddy said. “She has really great vision and she’s always moving off the ball. She’s like the energizer bunny, but she’s a smart and just really crafty player, and she has all the tools and talent she needs to succeed.”
Rasmussen will have the spotlight on her early with Friday’s game being televised nationally on the SEC Network, but she is ready to get the season going.
“I’m nervous, but also excited,” Rasmussen said. “I just can’t wait to get started and get to it.”
Holeman will have a bit of a homecoming as he the Rebels for 15 years, and led them to great success. Now that five years have passed since his tenure in Oxford, the players he coached there are gone, and Holeman views Ole Miss as just another opponent.
“I’m going to play against a couple of the players that I recruited, but none of the players that I actually coached, so it’s just another SEC team,” he said.
Crowder said she has high expectations for Georgia this season, and isn’t listening to any other chatter.
“I think that we’re actually going to be a heck of a team,” Crowder said. “We’re young and we’re leaders, but we’re full of energy, we’re fiery and we’re ready to prove some people wrong. I think that’s going to be a big thing for us this season, is our energy and just knowing that we have something to prove.”
Courtesy: Randy Wilson Photography
Men’s Soccer Hosts Oglethorpe for Exhibition Saturday
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ATLANTA – After beginning training earlier this week, the Georgia State men’s soccer team will host Oglethorpe in the first of three preseason exhibitions. The friendly is set to begin at 7 p.m. on Saturday, Aug. 16 at the GSU Soccer Complex. Admission and parking are free at the Panthersville facility.
"The Oglethorpe game will be a early test for us and give us a measuring stick," head coach Brett Surrency said. "I know the guys will be happy to compete against someone other than themselves and this game will provide a good challenge."
In 2013, the Stormy Petrels finished with an 11-3-3 overall record, including a 4-1-2 mark in the Southern Athletic Association. Oglethorpe returns eight starters from last year’s squad that finished second in the SAA. GSU and Oglethorpe also played an exhibition during the 2013 preseason, with the Panthers earning a 2-0 victory at the GSU Soccer Complex behind goals by Jamal Keene and Eddie Wilding.Georgia State will also host Georgia Southwestern for an exhibition on Tuesday, Aug. 19 at 7 p.m. before travelling to face Kentucky on Aug. 23 in the team’s final exhibition ahead of the season opener on Aug. 29 at Mercer.
"Preseason will be great for us to have a look at a variety of different players and combinations," Surrency said. "The goal is to be hitting on all cylinders when we step on the field for the season opener against Mercer."
This will be Surrency and his staff’s first opportunity to see nine new Panther players in GSU uniforms. The staff will be looking to see how they will mesh with the 11 returning letterwinners while helping replace the loss of six letterwinners from a season ago.
Coerver Coaching 2014
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