Soccer Watch
By Nick Barbaro, Fri., Sept. 5, 2014
The UT Longhorns remain unbeaten (at 2-0-2) after a scoreless tie against nationally ranked Arkansas on Friday, and a comprehensive 5-1 drubbing of Nevada on Sunday, with two goals by each of the Brook twins – senior defender Brooke Gilbert, and freshman striker Olivia Brook. It's early, but this Longhorn team might be very good. They host Montana in a rare Sunday evening game (7:30pm Sept. 7), then go on the road to Florida before returning to host the top-ranked defending national champion UCLA Bruins on Sept. 19. By then, we should know how good. (The new field-level bleacher seating – $3 extra – is kinda cool, putting you up close and personal, and letting you walk on the fabled Myers Stadium track.)
The St. Edward's women, ranked fifth in the country in preseason, open their 2014 season early Thursday morning, then host UC-Colorado Springs Sunday at 1pm. The men open as well, on the road.
The USL-PRO regular season ends this week, with Orlando all but mathematically assured of the title in their last year in the league. Why should we care about USL-PRO? That's where the Austin Aztex will be next year, while Orlando moves up to MLS.
Largely unheralded FC Kansas City upset regular season champion Seattle Reign, 2-1, to win the National Women's Soccer League title on Sunday, on two goals by U.S. international Amy Rodriguez... Euro 2016 qualifying starts this week. You can catch Portugal-Albania, for example, at 1:30pm Sunday on ESPN2. Play will continue through next October... The European Champions League group stage starts Sept. 16... The U.S. Men play the Czech Republic as we go to press.
