Author: txsoccerjournal

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Interview with Matt Kahla-UPSL Texas Conference Manager

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The United Premier Soccer League (UPSL) announced the formation of a Texas Division earlier this year.  The UPSL is a national league that is affiliated with the United States Adult Soccer Association (USASA), the US Soccer sanctioned association that regulates adult amateur soccer in the United States. UPSL is a rapidly-expanding nationwide adult amateur (or semi-professional) league, with clubs in more than a dozen states.  The league has established both Pro-Premier and Championship level divisions in some of its States, with Promotion and Relegation between the two divisions.  UPSL plays both fall and spring seasons and over 100 clubs are … Continue reading Interview with Matt Kahla-UPSL Texas Conference Manager

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Highlights of Precourt Sports Ventures President Dave Greeley’s presentation to the Austin Soccer Community

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d Precourt Sports Ventures (PSV) President Dave Greeley visited Austin Wednesday evening to meet with the Austin soccer community to discuss a potential relocation of the Columbus Crew to the city.  There were no huge revelations in this meeting, but from my perspective the main takeaway from the event is that any future move of the Columbus Crew to Austin is mostly dependent on first, securing a site for a stadium that meets the criteria that PSV believes is necessary for a modern MLS location and second, achieving enough financial support from the Austin corporate community to finance this new stadium. … Continue reading Highlights of Precourt Sports Ventures President Dave Greeley’s presentation to the Austin Soccer Community

MLS, National Soccer Hall of Fame, YouthLeave a comment

Why are no Soccer players in the San Antonio Sports Hall of Fame?

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Another class of inductees was announced by the San Antonio Sports Hall of Fame (HOF) last week.  For the 23rd consecutive year, no soccer players were inducted and it certainly asks questions about how and why, in a city the size of San Antonio, this is even possible. San Antonio Sports Hall of Fame (HOF) Background:   According to its website, the San Antonio Sports Hall of Fame, a partnership of San Antonio Sports, the San Antonio Express-News, and the City of San Antonio, was founded in 1995 and recognizes those who have made an impact in the world of sports, … Continue reading Why are no Soccer players in the San Antonio Sports Hall of Fame?

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TPSL Texas Cup Begins Today

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    Image from Genova FC Twitter The Texas Cup, hosted by the Texas Premier Soccer League, kicks off today with all 6 league teams in action.  Central Texas Lobos, who are not part of the competition this year, are the defending champions after defeating Austin Real CFC on penalties in January. Saturday, October 7th schedule (Home team listed first): FC Knights (Killeen) vs. Genova FC SA (San Antonio) Houston Hurricanes vs. Houston Fury Real ARC (Austin) vs. Twin Cities (Eagle Pass) The tournament semifinals will be held at the conclusion of the regular season championship on February 10th and … Continue reading TPSL Texas Cup Begins Today

FC Dallas, Houston Dynamo, NWSL (Houston Dash), YouthLeave a comment

US Soccer Development Academy Kicks Off 2017-18 season

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FC Dallas U18 Academy-Dallas Cup 2017 (Courtesy of FC Dallas) Earlier this month the US Soccer Development Academy (USSDA) began the 2017/2018 season throughout the country.  The Boys Development Academy was started in 2007 and this year has begun a girls academy that follows similar philosophies and competitive structures as the boys program. The USSDA currently has 197 total clubs, comprised of teams across six age groups in the boys program: U-12, U-13, U-14, U-15, U-16/17, and U-18/19 and four age groups in the girls program: U-14, U-15, U-16/17, and U-18/19. New clubs, and age-group team extensions within existing clubs, … Continue reading US Soccer Development Academy Kicks Off 2017-18 season

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Texas College Soccer Overview

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By Texas A&M University-Commerce Marketing Communications Photography (Athletics-Soccer vs TWU-4689.jpg) [CC BY 2.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0)%5D, via Wikimedia Commons Now that the non-conference schedule has come to an end for most Texas College Soccer programs, it is a good time to discuss the state of college soccer in the state before conference play becomes the focus. College soccer has a history in Texas that extends much further back than any professional league.  In his 2011 book Distant Corners, David Wangerin wrote about early attempts to establish the sport in Texas universities and others around the country.  SMU, Baylor and the University of … Continue reading Texas College Soccer Overview

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Santiago: Chile vs. Paraguay

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Last night Texas Soccer Journal attended the Chile-Paraguay FIFA CONMEBOL 2018 World Cup Qualifier at Estadio Monumental in Santiago, Chile. This was round 15 of a long and extremely challenging qualification process involving 18 home and away matches for all 9 South American countries (at least those that are not part of CONCACAF).  Paraguay shocked Chile 3-0 here last night to help tighten up the race for the final 3.5 SA World Cup slots available, since Brazil has run away from the pack and already qualified. Stadium and match atmosphere observations: Estadio Monumental is also the home stadium of storied … Continue reading Santiago: Chile vs. Paraguay

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Midland-Odessa falls in NPSL Championship Game

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Photo Credit: Mark Smith/NPSL.com Elm City Express completed a story-book first-year in the NPSL when it defeated the Midland-Odessa FC Sockers 5-0 at Reese Stadium in New Haven, CT before an ecstatic crowd of 3,112 Saturday night. Two goals apiece by All NPSL third team forward Tavoy Morgan and Quenton Swift led the Express to the victory. Morgan finished the playoffs with six goals and was selected as the Mitre Man of the Match.  The Sockers, playing under an extremely challenging set of circumstances, fell behind 2-0 at halftime and it remained close until late in the match when the quality … Continue reading Midland-Odessa falls in NPSL Championship Game

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Midland-Odessa FC Advances to NPSL Championship Game

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Game action at Keyworth Stadium Saturday night: (Photo Credit: Fletcher Sharpe/NPSL.com) Overcoming obstacles seems to be in the DNA of the Midland-Odessa FC (MOFC) Sockers. Saturday night in Hamtramck, Michigan the Sockers silenced a large and raucous announced crowd of 7,533 at Keyworth stadium by defeating Detroit City FC (DCFC) 0-0 (4-2 on penalties) when Elliott Bentley converted in the fifth round of the shootout. The Sockers now advance to the NPSL Championship game against Elm City Express this Saturday at Reese Stadium on the campus of Yale University in New Haven, Connecticut. The game had ebbs and flows as … Continue reading Midland-Odessa FC Advances to NPSL Championship Game

Texas Soccer History1 Comment

50 years ago-The First Professional Soccer League Season in Houston Ends

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Logo accessed from Wikipedia Fifty years ago this month, the first and only season (tournament) of the United Soccer Association (USA) came to an end.  The USA was the first professional soccer league in North America that included Texas teams: Dallas Tornado and Houston Stars. The league was one of two professional soccer leagues formed in the United States in 1967 on the heels of a positive reception to televised games from the 1966 FIFA World Cup held the previous summer in England.  Because the USA was forced to start up earlier than intended because of the rival NPSL, the … Continue reading 50 years ago-The First Professional Soccer League Season in Houston Ends