Top 10 2017 Texas Soccer Stories-#10 FC Dallas Youth win the Dallas Cup U19 Super Group Championship

The Dr. Pepper Dallas Cup played every Spring on fields throughout the Metroplex is the most prestigious youth tournament played in the United States every year.  Because of the large number of international teams that travel to play, it is also one of the most highly regarded in the world. The U-19 Gordon Jago Super Group is the most competitive bracket in the Dallas Cup tournament that ranges in age from U13-U19.  Though the Dallas Cup has been played every year since its founding in 1980, the U19 Super Group category began competition in 1990.  Nine countries have won this … Continue reading Top 10 2017 Texas Soccer Stories-#10 FC Dallas Youth win the Dallas Cup U19 Super Group Championship

Favorite Texas 2017 Tifos

Tomorrow I will begin rolling out Texas Soccer Journal’s picks of the Top 10 Texas soccer stories of 2017.  Before beginning the countdown, one final post (this one about tifos) in the “favorites” series I have shared over the last week. If you missed them, here are links to the previous posts in the series: https://txsoccerjournal.com/2017/12/12/favorite-2017-texas-goal-s-save-and-comeback-of-the-year/ https://txsoccerjournal.com/2017/12/13/favorite-texas-soccer-media-of-2017/ https://txsoccerjournal.com/2017/12/15/2017-texas-soccer-player-and-coach-of-the-year-professional-high-level-amateur-college-and-youth-teams-of-the-year/ Favorite 2017 Tifos I freely admit that I am not a Tifo scientist.  These masterpieces by Supporters Groups are something that unfortunately bypassed my generation.  I do like a good one though and I wanted to share a couple that I enjoyed … Continue reading Favorite Texas 2017 Tifos

Other Key Texas Soccer stories of 2017

Next week I will roll out my choices for the Top 10 Texas soccer stories of 2017.  In compiling this list, it became apparent that there were far more than ten stories, both positive and adverse, that should be recognized.  This “other stories” list is certainly not comprehensive.  In a state as big as Texas it is hard to stay on top of everything that happens in the soccer landscape.  If there is anything I have missed after the Top 10 next week, please let me know and I will correct any obvious misses. Positive stories (in no particular order) … Continue reading Other Key Texas Soccer stories of 2017

2017 Texas Soccer Player and Coach of the Year, Professional, High Level Amateur, College and Youth Teams of the Year

3rd post:  Before I roll out my picks for the Top-10 Texas soccer stories from 2017 next week, I  will share a few of Texas Soccer Journal’s favorites from the past year over the next few days. My picks for Texas Soccer player and coach of the year and the professional, high level adult amateur, college and youth teams of the year Player of the Year: Weston McKennie (FC Schalke 04) With all due respect to professional players at Texas clubs, it is hard to ignore the meteoric rise of Weston McKennie at FC Schalke 04 in the German Bundesliga.  … Continue reading 2017 Texas Soccer Player and Coach of the Year, Professional, High Level Amateur, College and Youth Teams of the Year

United Soccer Coaches Final Rankings and All American Selections-Texas teams and players

The United Soccer Coaches (https://unitedsoccercoaches.org/) has announced its final college rankings and the All American teams for the just completed 2017 season. Listed below are Texas universities or junior colleges ranked in the final polls.  Teams that win the various championships are ranked number 1 in all polls. Tournament results have a disproportionate impact on the rankings.  Teams can go on a run in the playoffs and end up higher ranked than teams with much better regular season records. The All American players listed here either play at Texas universities/JC’s or are from Texas and play outside of the state. … Continue reading United Soccer Coaches Final Rankings and All American Selections-Texas teams and players

Favorite Texas soccer media of 2017

2nd post:  Before I roll out my picks for the Top-10 Texas soccer stories from 2017 next week, I  will share a few of Texas Soccer Journal’s favorites from the past year over the next few days. Favorite Texas soccer media of 2017: Favorite photo: The stoppage-time game winning goal from Detroit City FC’s Tyrone Mondi to send their side into the National Premier Soccer League (NPSL) national semifinal round against Midland-Odessa FC Sockers.  This stunning photograph from Jon DeBoer (https://twitter.com/jondeboerphoto) is only indirectly related to a Texas team or match, but it was the best soccer photo I saw … Continue reading Favorite Texas soccer media of 2017

Favorite 2017 Texas Goal (s), Save and Comeback of the Year

Before I roll out my picks for the Top-10 Texas soccer stories from 2017 next week, I  will share a few of Texas Soccer Journal’s favorites from the past year over the next few days. First up-Favorite Texas goal, save and comeback of 2017: Favorite goal (s):   FC Dallas Kellyn Acosta’s one-touch against Arabe Unido (February 23) and free kick against Pachuca (March 15)  during the ScotiaBank CONCACAF Champions League knock-out rounds in Frisco.  Favorite save: Houston Dynamo’s Tyler Deric’s MLS Save of the Week to deny the same Kellyn Acosta in the first Texas Derby match of the year … Continue reading Favorite 2017 Texas Goal (s), Save and Comeback of the Year

Dynamo lose home playoff match for only the second time

The Houston Dynamo have a remarkable 10-2-3 home playoff record (Robertson and BBVA Compass Stadiums) since moving to Houston from San Jose before the 2006 season.  Unfortunately one of those two losses came last night when the Dynamo were soundly beaten 2-0 by the Seattle Sounders in a sold-out BBVA Compass Stadium. I am not going to spend a lot of time talking about this match because: It was depressing and writing about it doesn’t improve the result. Seattle is defending MLS Cup Champions for a reason, and that is…. If you honestly look at the rosters both teams put … Continue reading Dynamo lose home playoff match for only the second time

The Dynamo are back in the MLS Western Conference Finals (whether anybody outside of Houston likes it or not)

Seven Conference finals in the Houston Dynamo’s twelve years of existence.  Four MLS Cup final appearances and two trophies.  Apparently this history doesn’t earn much respect from Merritt Paulson, Portland Timbers owner, who after his teams semifinal loss to the Dynamo said in an interview recently that Houston’s next opponents, reigning MLS Champions Seattle Sounders, “has a pretty easy path to MLS Cup”. Seattle has been established as a prohibitive favorite by the league’s pundits, many of whom are still disturbed that the Dynamo destroyed the cool match that so-called neutral observers expected with a Portland-Seattle Western Conference Final.  But … Continue reading The Dynamo are back in the MLS Western Conference Finals (whether anybody outside of Houston likes it or not)

Conversation with Brendan Keyes- Commissioner of Texas Premier Soccer League

High-level adult amateur (or semipro) soccer seems to be in the middle of a renaissance period in 2017 Texas.  Within the US Soccer Pyramid these leagues and their clubs operate under the sanctioning of the United States Adult Soccer Association (USASA) and represent the theoretical fourth (and fifth) tier of adult soccer in the United States. Last spring five new USL Premier Development League (PDL) teams began play and two new additions to the league have been announced for next season.  Six National Premier Soccer League (NPSL) teams competed throughout the state this summer too, culminating in the appearance of … Continue reading Conversation with Brendan Keyes- Commissioner of Texas Premier Soccer League