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from May 26, 2012
MAY 26, 2012
FROM THE KICK THIS ARCHIVES
Rhinos face Union in USOC & WPS fallout

Devo's Direct Kicks

Rhinos Soccer.com

Philly.com

The Rhinos may have the perfect MLS USOC opponent tonight in the Philadelphia Union. Sure, the Rhinos are 0-1-2 in their last three USL PRO League games and 1-1-2 in all competitions since their season opening 6-0-0 run came to an end.

Sure, the Rhinos are struggling to score goals with multiple goals only twice in seven league games and three times overall so far this season.

But, the Union are only 2-7-2 this season with 8 goals for and 14 goals against. Philadelphia is also 0-4-1 in their last five matches and 1-3-1 at home in 2012. The smart money might be on this game being scoreless through 120 minutes of play and being decided on PKs.

Although, whenever that is the thought process going into a match, it seems that a lot of times there is an early goal and the game opens up from there.

If the Rhinos do advance tonight, they will travel to face the winner of the Richmond Kickers (USL) versus DC United (MLS) match next Tuesday night.

Here is the entire 2012 US Open Cup Bracket.

All sorts of news and notes since I've been off for Memorial Day:

- SBI.net looks at how Jonny Steele has been coming up big in the clutch for RSL.

- Former Rhinos GK Chase Harrison has seen his first MLS action with Philadelphia.

- The WNY Flash have added defender Toni Pressley.

- Heather Mitts will hang up her boots after the London Olympics.

- Alex Morgan and Abby Wambach scored to lead the USWNT past China over the weekend. Jenna Pel has a piece at ProSoccerTalk about Alex Morgan's goal scoring pace in 2012.

- US Soccer.com has field level and regular highlights of the USMNT's 5-1 win over Scotland from Saturday night. Loved the game, hated the numbers on the new Where's Waldo jerseys. Steve Davis has a few reasons why the win mattered.

- Steven Goff has a great piece in the Washington Post on Clint Dempsey.

- Here is a recap of Week 8 in the NASL and USL PRO League.

- Neymar will wear #11 for Brazil tomorrow night versus the USMNT. Goal.com has a preview of the match up here.

- On the US side, Clint Dempsey isn't fit enough to start and Jurgen Klinsmann sees Brazil as the ultimate measuring stick.

- du Nord has a review of BBVA Compass Stadium in Houston.

- NY Red Bulls head coach Hans Backe doesn't like USOC matches during FIFA match dates. He makes a great point, even if it helps the lower division clubs.

- MLS Talk looks at the controversy of a few of the USOC venues being changed prior to this round. InsideMNSoccer.com talked to Minnesota Stars CEO Djorn Buchholz about their decision to sell the hosting rights to RSL.

- Here is a rumor round up for USMNTers. It's no surprise that Clint Dempsey is the first player mentioned.

- If you ever wondered how Nike turns plastic bottles into soccer jerseys, here you go.

- The 2014 is two years away and the venues are only 5% complete? Ummmmm, OK.

- If you're a soccer player who's dealt with hamstring injuries, you might want to read this.

- The hair of Stu Holden and Megan Rapinoe have been seen in the same room at the same time!

- The Montreal Impact have signed their first DP in striker Marco Di Vaio who joins MLS from Bologna in Italy. We hate him, too.

- USWNTer Ali Krieger is on the road to recovery.

WPS Folds, so what comes next?

InsideMNSOccer.com - WPS Folds After 3 Year Stint and Lots of Problems

The Goalkeeper - Professional women's soccer faces up to reality

Equalizer Soccer - Gulati: 'All comers' invited to women's pro soccer roundtable on future direction of the game

SportsMyriad - You want U.S. Soccer involvement in elite women's game? Here you go...

Equalizer Soccer - On women's soccer, MLS, USSF and the future

SportsMyriad - Random bits of U.S. women's pro soccer history

espnW - Foudy: Can women's pro soccer make it in U.S.? Yes, but...

SportsMyriad - Borislow unleashes anger at U.S. Soccer

espnW - What is next for women's soccer?

The Goalkeeper - U.S. national team star Carli Lloyd: 'Maybe partnering with MLS would be beneficial' to revitalize professional women's soccer

There are lots of questions about what the future of professional women's soccer in the US will be with WPS officially folding earlier this month.

Some wonder if the USSF should do more. Others wonder if it's time that MLS steps in to help things.

The #1 item on any agenda has to be to reduce the operating costs of a league so that the financial game plan has a shot at lasting longer than 2 or 3 seasons. One huge expense that needs to be controlled is travel. One idea I had would be having an Eastern Conference (WNY, Boston, Washington, and NJ) and a Western Conference (Vancouver, Seattle, Portland, San Jose or LA) and having the teams not play the other conference during the regular season and just have to the two conference champions play in the finals. A more radical idea would be to have the entire league play in one location like at the Home Depot Center in LA or the IMG Academy in Bradenton, Florida. That model could work better if the entire league were about developing players for the USWNT. 

But, at the end of the day there will need to be a model that makes financial sense as women's pro soccer is unlikely to have enough deep pocketed owners to keep the league afloat for a decade plus.

And I won't go so far as to say that MLS SHOULD help create a league ala the NBA underwriting the WNBA and covering that league's losses.

I hope that there is a women's pro league of note in the future. I just don't know if there are enough people willing to lose money to make it happen right now.

The views and opinions expressed in this column are those of the author, and not necessarily those of the Rochester Rhinos or SoccerSam.com. Feel free to send any comments or complaints to jamesrweise@gmail.com. James promises to read (but not to respond) to all of them.  


Rhinos look to go 7-0-0 tonight

With 1-0 road wins over Charlotte and over Charleston last weekend, the Rhinos are a point behind Orlando City for first place in the USL PRO League and the Rhinos hold a game in hand over Orlando City.

Tonight, the Rhinos play their second home match of the season as they host a last place Dayton Dutch Lions squad. With the Rhinos yet to allow a goal this season and the Dutch Lions having only scored one goal in five matches, I'm going to go out on a limb and say that the Rhinos will extend the record shutout streak.

Rhinos GK Kristian Nicht was named the USL PRO Player of the Week and Captain D Troy Roberts joined him on the Team of the Week. Given how many huge saves Nicht had to make against the Battery, I would have been surprised if someone else was named the Player of the Week.

The Rhinos also announced this week that Craig Demmin, Doug Miller, and Pat Onstad will be inducted into the team's Hall of Fame. They will join last season's first inductee, Lenin Steenkamp. 

If the Rhinos defeat the Brooklyn Italians on Tuesday evening in the 2nd round of the 2012 Lamar Hunt US Open Cup Tournament, they will travel to PPL Park to play MLS's Philadelphia Union on Tuesday May 29 in the 3rd round.

WPS Suspends Operations & other Women's Soccer Notes:

Equalizer Soccer and SBI.net have the early news on today's announcement that WPS has suspended operations. It's not shocking news given the fact that the league had previously decided to take the 2012 season off.

- Alex Morgan is off to a hot start with 12 USWNT goals so far this year.

All White Kit looks at the opening weekend of the WPSL Elite season. 

Hope Solo will join fellow Olympians Serena Williams and Ryan Lochte on the cover of Vogue. 

All White Kit also looks at the weekend that was around the world of women's soccer. 

USL PRO League Notes:

Soccer America & SBI.net wrap up last weekend's USL PRO action. 

Soccer America looks ahead to this weekend.

- The LA Blues have signed former MLS F Maykel Galindo.

NASL Notes:

Soccer AmericaInsideMNSoccer.com, and SBI.net wrap up Week 6 in the NASL.   

InsideMNSoccer.com has the NASL Players of the Week for Week 6. 

Soccer America looks ahead to this weekend's NASL action. 

MLS Notes:

Chivas USA is making headlines by acquiring Juan Agudelo from NY and Danny Califf from Philadelphia. 

- Apparently Agudelo wanted more playing time than he was seeing with Kenny Cooper and Thierry Henry in NY. 

- Is Heath Pearce exactly what the Red Bulls need? I hope so since they gave up Agudelo to get him. 

Brek Shea has been suspended three games for kicking a ball at a linesman. 

- The new USOC draw could mean a lot more travel for MLS teams.

- I still hate Montreal.

- MLS Soccer.com has some Supporters Week stuff including a Rapids fan in his own words, a look at fans who go the extra mile, passion running deep with the Timbers ArmySeattle's Emerald City Supporters, and news that the Sons of Ben will be the focus of an upcoming documentary.   

- In case you didn't know, Rancid drummer Branden Steineckert is a big time RSL supporter. 

- The photos and video of the opening of BBVA Compass Stadium's opener are out. 

Bruce Arena talks about success in MLS. 

Other news & notes:

- Jurgen Klinsmann named his first 16 players for the upcoming USMNT camp. 

The USMNT Blog has facts on the first 16. 

Soccer America looks at who will survive the camp. 

Timmy Chandler wants to take some time off from international play..... 

Steve Davis wonders what is up with Chandler. Like most USMNT supporters are. 

- Here are all of Lionel Messi's 2011-12 La Liga goals.

- Former Colorado Rapids manager Gary Smith almost got his team into the Championship.

Eric Wynalda's Cal FC upset the Kitsap Pumas in the 1st Round of the USOC tournament without their coach. 

Tim Ream is planning on staying at Bolton FC despite the club being relegated out of the EPL. 

KCKRS looks at why ESPN isn't getting out of the soccer business anytime soon. 

The views and opinions expressed in this column are those of the author, and not necessarily those of the Rochester Rhinos or SoccerSam.com. Feel free to send any comments or complaints to jamesrweise@gmail.com. James promises to read (but not to respond) to all of them.   


Rhinos keep rolling

D&C.com

USL PRO.com

The Rhinos were able to keep the unbeaten, unscored upon start to the 2012 season going last Saturday at home versus the Charlotte Eagles. There have been a few ongoing themes throughout the Rhinos 4-0-0 start and they continued in the home opener. First, JC Banks was in on the Rhinos goal in the 1-0 win. This time, his cross created an own goal. The two other themes were Kristian Nicht and the Rhinos getting a clean sheet and the match going down to the wire due to the Rhinos not scoring in bunches.

Rhinos MF Drew Cost was named the USL PRO League Player of the Week for his performance against Charlotte. D Jack Traynor joined Cost on the Team of the Week with Tam McManus making the Honorable Mention list.

A lot of school kids came out to see the Rhinos play a friendly against FC Buffalo. 

The Rhinos will be tested this weekend as they head south to play Charlotte tonight at 8pm and then travel to face Charleston at 7:30pm tomorrow night.

I will be really impressed if the Rhinos come back from these two games with a 6-0-0 record.

USL PRO League Notes:

Soccer America & SBI.net recap Week 5 in the USL PRO League.

Soccer America looks ahead to this weekend's USL PRO League action.

Women's Soccer Notes:

- Pia Sundhage has named the roster for the USWNT May Camp. Lori Lindesey and Megan Klingenberg of the WNY Flash are on the list. 

- Chesapeake hosted Boston in last night's WPSL Elite opener.  The Breakers came away with a 3-0 win.

All White Kit has a WPSL Elite League Preview. 

Soccer America looks at the Who's Who of the WPSL Elite League, along with the Who's Who of the W-League.

Equalizer Soccer wraps up the week that was in women's soccer. 

Summer Green is tearing up the CONCACAF U-17 Women's Championships for Team USA. 

Abby Wambach came in at 33 on ESPN's list of the Top 40 Female Athletes of the Past 40 Years. Not too bad. 

NASL Notes:

Soccer America & SBI.net look back at Week 5 in the NASL. 

InsideMNSoccer.com have the NASL Players of the Week for Week 5. 

Soccer America looks at the NASL action for this weekend. 

MLS Notes:

- Rochester boys now have a direct route to the New England Revolution via the Revolution Empire youth club.  

Soccer America has the MLS Scoreboard for last week and they have a look ahead to Week 10.  

Brek Shea is ready to debate sports on ESPN's First Take. 

The Timbers Army paid their respects to MCA of the Beastie Boys. 

Here is a look at Houston's brand new BBVA Compass Stadium that will open up tomorrow as DC United visits the Dynamo. 

- Could USMNT MF Jermaine Jones move to MLS in the future? 

Other Notes:

MLS Soccer.com's Armchair Analyst tries to predict Klinsmann's WCQ roster. 

No Short Corners checks out Clint Dempsey's 50th EPL goal. 

- Clint will not add to his total this weekend as he is out with an injury.

MLS Talk likes the changes to the US Open Cup for the 2012 season. 

- Apparently quite a few Rangers fans don't want an American owner of the financially troubled club despite the fact that there are three Americans playing a prominant role on the team. 

Jurgen Klinsmann is getting ready for his next USMNT training camp and had a Twitter Q&A this week.

- I like the new Liverpool kits that Warrior came up with. 

The Armchair Analyst takes a look at Michael Bradley eight years after he was drafted into MLS. 

Neymar and Pato headline Brazil's roster for their friendly against the USMNT. 

The views and opinions expressed in this column are those of the author, and not necessarily those of the Rochester Rhinos or SoccerSam.com. Feel free to send any comments or complaints to jamesrweise@gmail.com. James promises to read (but not to respond) to all of them.     


Rhinos come home unbeaten

Rhinos 1:0 Dayton

This is not a recording. JC Banks scored again, Kristian Nicht had another clean sheet, and the Rhinos return home with a perfect 3-0-0 record as they host the Charlotte Eagles tomorrow night at Sahlen's Stadium.

Banks and D George Kyriazis were both named to the USL PRO League Team of the Week for their performances in Dayton. 

The D&C has the yearly Meet the Rhinos page up for this year. Devo has a video up of the new locker rooms that are ready for opening day. Although, they have the Rhinos, the visiting team, and the referees all walking through the same hallway to enter and exit their respective locker rooms. It will be interesting to see how that works if there are any heated matches this season.

Devo also has a video on new Rhinos MF/F Tam McManus that is pretty funny. 

The Rhinos also learned the two teams that they might face in the second round of the US Open Cup.  

USL Notes:

- Soccer America has the scores from last weekend and mid-week.  

SBI.net looks back at last weekend's action. 

Soccer America looks at the games coming up this weekend. 

WNY Flash & Women's Soccer Notes:

Mondays with McCall are back for the 2012 season. 

- The Flash have signed USWNT D Meghan Klingenberg for the 2012 season. 

Equalizer Soccer.com looks at the wide variety of teams in the WPSL Elite League that includes the WNY Flash.

- The Portland Timbers of MLS have stepped up to help keep the WPSL's Portland Rain alive.

Equalizer Soccer.com looks at some problems that players in Russia have had. 

The WNT Blog has an update on Ali Krieger's rehab. 

NASL Notes:

Soccer America , InsideMNSoccer.com & SBI.net recap last weekend's action. 

InsideMNSoccer.com have the NASL players of the week. 

Soccer America recaps the mid-week NASL games. 

Soccer America previews this weekend's NASL action. 

MLS Notes:

- Former Rhino Jonny Steele scored the stoppage time game winning goal for Real Salt Lake last weekend. 

- Colorado has signed Jeff Larentowicz to a multi-year contract extension. 

Soccer America has the MLS scoreboard for last weekend. 

- While Philadelphia sold out their match, a few teams had season low attendances last weekend. 

- Houston cut the ribbon on their new stadium. 

Bill Gaudette will start in goal for LA while Josh Saunders has left the team.

Soccer America has the MLS mid-week results. 

Fredy Montero scored a cracker of a long distance goal this week. 

The Montreal Impact are openly talking about a player who might be their first DP. 

Steven Goff has the latest in the DC United stadium saga. 

Other News & Notes:

No Short Corners looks at the USMNT depth chart with WC Qualifiers coming up soon. 

Tim Ream blogs about Bolton's fight to stay in the EPL. 

The USMNT will host Jamaica in Columbus on September 11 in a WC Qualifier. 

Liverpool may go after Clint Dempsey this summer. 

Roma is doing well with their American influence. 

The views and opinions expressed in this column are those of the author, and not necessarily those of the Rochester Rhinos or SoccerSam.com. Feel free to send any comments or complaints to jamesrweise@gmail.com. James promises to read (but not to respond) to all of them.   


Rhinos looking to go 3-0-0 this weekend

Rhinos sweep the LA Blues

Rhinos aim to continue perfect start

Dutch Lions set for Rhinos

Last weekend, the Rhinos won their second straight against the LA Blues by a score of 2-0. Andrew Hoxie came on at halftime for Graciano Brito and paid immediate dividends. Hoxie scored the game winner in the 50th minute and then got his head on a set piece that led to JC Banks' 56th minute insurance tally.

Hoxie earned a place on the USL PRO League Team of the Week for his efforts. Banks and Rhinos GK Kristian Nicht were honorable mentions, as well.

The Rhinos travel to Dayton to face a Dutch Lions squad that played the Charlotte Eagles to a scoreless draw in their season opener and lost 2-0 to the Pittsburgh Riverhounds last weekend.

With the Rhinos yet to have allowed a goal and Dayton having yet to score this season scares me a bit from a jinx point of view....

The Rhinos also unveiled Excellus BlueCross BlueShield as their new jersey sponsor. 

USL News:

- Rochester Lancers F Mauricio Salles was also named to the Team of the Week for his beautiful free kick goal for the Charlotte Eagles.

Soccer America & SBI.net look back on week 3 in the USL PRO League.  

Soccer America previews week 4 in the USL PRO League. 

NASL News:

Soccer America & SBI.net recap week 3 in the NASL.  

Inside Minnesota Soccer.com has the NASL Players of the Week. 

Soccer America looks ahead to week 4 in the NASL. 

- Lancers GK Patrick Hannigan is out 4 to 6 weeks for the San Antonio Scorpions with a fractured fibula. 

MLS News:

Soccer America with the recap of Week 7 in MLS. 

- D Leo Gibson of the MISL's Missouri Comets is training with Sporting KC.

SBI.net and Soccer America look ahead to Week 8 in MLS. 

News & Notes:

- The USWNT draw France, Colombia, and North Korea in the Olympics group play.

- Nike has a video of Megan Rapinoe spending a day in Portland.

- Fulham Manager Martin Jol says that they have offered a good contract to Clint Dempsey.

- Dempsey finished fourth in FWA voting for the EPL Player of the Year.

- In case you missed it, a 10 man Chelsea bounced Barca from the Champions League. 

- Speaking of Barca, they will need to find a new manager after the season. 

- What's the future of American soccer journalism?

The views and opinions expressed in this column are those of the author, and not necessarily those of the Rochester Rhinos or SoccerSam.com. Feel free to send any comments or complaints to jamesrweise@gmail.com. James promises to read (but not to respond) to all of them.    



SOCCERSAM.COM NEWS DIRECTOR JAMES WEISE

Read the latest news from the Rhinos and all around the soccer world with the latest news postings from Soccersam.com News Director James Weise. You can read James' soccer news and opinion column right here at soccersam.com.

SoccerSam.com News Director
James Weise

James became the Kick This! News Director in March of 2005. A long time listener and caller of the show, he jumped at the chance to audition when he heard there was an opening. He brings to Kick This! the voice of the fan who has always maintained a love for the game and his team.

Growing up, James was a fan of Sheffield Wednesday because they had an American midfielder by the name of John Harkes. When MLS started up, DC United became James’ team to follow because their marquee player just happened to be John Harkes.

As a student at Clarkson University, he enjoyed watching a guy who did a crazy flip throw in, and even got to play in an indoor fraternity league against him. His name.... Mike Kirmse. James is a long time season ticket holder and Kirmse will likely always be his favorite all-time Rhino.

James is also passing on his love for the game. Both of his boys play for the town of Chili, and his daughter is anxiously awaiting her turn. Although only a year and a half, she loves playing soccer with the boys...


JAMES WEISE'S NEWS ARCHIVE

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