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Local Talent Goes Pro
January 17, 2010
By Paul Sheirich - San Francisco Seals
Local PDL talent of the former San Jose Frogs, forward Andrew Wiedeman was selected by MLS Dallas FC as the 21st overall pick. Wiedeman has been an outstanding talent playing most recently for the University of California Berkeley. In three seasons he has 30 goals and 15 assists. In his first season at Cal (2007), Wiedeman was selected All PAC-10 second team, and to the College Soccer News and Soccer America All-Freshman first team. In 2008, his second season with Cal, he was named NSCAA third-team All-American, All-Pac-10 first-team selection, named to Top Drawer Soccer's Team of the Season, named to the NSCAA Far West All-Region first team, and Pac-10 all-academic second-team selection. This past year Wiedeman was selected to the NSCAA Far West All-Region and All-Pac-10 first teams, earned a spot on the ESPN The Magazine Academic All-America second team after claiming a berth on the ESPN The Magazine Academic All-District 8 Team, and listed on the preseason Watch List for the Missouri Athletic Club Hermann Trophy, and the preseason All-America teams for Soccer America and College Soccer News. Andrew will be a player to watch in the MLS. This writer has seen Wiedeman's career progress since he played U14. I have seen him play his club ball for Mustang (Danville), Super Y, ODP, PDL, and college. His game seems to simply get better every year. He is one of those players who is motivated, and talented, and never satisfied with his play - he constantly works to improve.
Read more about Andrew Wiedeman:
Trouble in USL Paradise
January 9, 2010
 Since Umbro/Nike completed the selling of the United Soccer League (USL) to the NuRock Soccer Holdings LLC last August, the USL Division 1 has been in turmoil. Division 1 team owners, who had put in their own bid for the USL, jumped ship and formed a new league - with a familiar name - the North American Soccer League (NASL), with the intent of forming a Division 2 league. However, the United States Soccer Federation (USSF) refused to sanction either the USL Divison 1 OR the new NASL, and told the two leagues they had one week to sort things out for the 2010 season. Thursday the USSF announced that the two parties had come to agreement, and that the USSF will oversee the two leagues. For more information, see the following websites & links:
A Holiday Message from our Friends at Soccer Without Boarders
December 25, 2009
Dear Friends,
I hope this finds you all doing very well!
I am writing to wish you all a happy and peaceful holiday season. 2009 was a wonderful year for Soccer Without Borders, and none of our work would be possible without your interest, support and contributions. As they say, a picture is worth a thousand words, and so we put together this picture review from our programs in 2009. We hope you will continue to help make our work possible by remembering Soccer Without Borders in your year-end giving. To make a donation, please click here.
While the pictures say it best, some of the organizational highlights for SWB in 2009 include:
- Featured on ESPN, the New York Times, MSG, the Baltimore Sun, as well as publications and websites in four countries.
- Launched a new website with improved interactivity and expanded content
- Completed construction of a youth center and SWB office in Ndejje, Uganda
- Opened a Futbol Sin Fronteras office space in Granada, Nicaragua
- Awarded a grant from the Dickey Center at Dartmouth College to fund a staff position for 2010-2011
And some of the program highlights of 2009 include:
- Leadership and employment opportunities provided to 15 local staff members in 4 countries
- 775 youth served on an ongoing basis (2x/week or more)
- Distributed more then 5,000 lbs. of equipment to more then 1,000 SWB participants
- More than 3,000 other youth participated in SWB events, single classes, and workshops
- 83 volunteers donated 73 months internationally and 5300 hours domestically at SWB project sites
A full report of our progress in 2009 will be available in early 2010, including other highlights and individual project updates. Thank you so much for your time and support, and have a great holiday season!
Sincerely,
Ben Gucciardi
Stanford Women Loose, but Honors Abound
December 12, 2009
 The Stanford's women's soccer season ended last Sunday (12/6) as the Cardinal gave up an early goal and was unable to come back in a 1-0 loss to North Carolina. The Tar Heels Jessica McDonald's first-timed her shot inside the six-yard box in the third minute and that was all it took for North Carolina (23-3-1), which captured its 20th NCAA title and second consecutive championship.
But Stanford's women set the mark this year, as four of their players were honored with All-American recognition by the NSCAA. Forward Kelly O'Hara was nominated first-team for her stellar play this year, as she led the nation in goals (26) and points (65). In addition to O'Hara, junior forward Christen Press was selected to the second team, and senior defender Ali Riley and freshman midfielder Mariah Nogueira were selected to the third-team.
In addition to the players on the field, it was also announced that Cardinal head coach, Paul Ratcliffe was named Coach of the Year, his second consecutive Pac-10. Coach Ratcliffe is 110-34-16 in seven seasons at Stanford, and is the winningest coach in the program's history.
Congratulations!
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