Soccer America has published their annual list of the Top 20 Boys and Top 20 Girls youth soccer clubs in the United States. While Illinois clubs lead both polls, Chicago Magic on the boys side and Eclipse Select on the girls, Dallas Texans placed second in both girls and boys polls showing the overall depth and quality of their organization.

The Capital Area Soccer League has been ranked #11 in the country among boys youth clubs. Soccer America had this to say about our local organization:

The depth of talent coming out of the Raleigh program was evident at the 2007 MLS SuperDraft, where four former CASL players, including No. 3 pick Michael Harrington, were taken by MLS clubs. CASL Elite produced two regional champions and three regional runners-up in the last three years. It also won the inaugural U.S. Club Soccer Champions Cup competition in 2006. Established in 1974, CASL now has more than 20,000 members. Rising Star: Nick Millington, a member of the Super Y-League U-16 select team.

Surprisingly, they did not note that Nick Millington is also a member of the U17 National Team setup and was recently invited back to Bradenton for his second term at residency camp.

Just as TFC placed two boys on the Super-Y League ODP Select Team, CASL has followed suit with two girls from the CASL Elite making the girls selection. Kendall Bradley has been named to the '88/'89 squad while Erin Wingo has been tapped for the '90 squad.

Congratulations to the close to 70 local youth players who were part the 4 day national ODP camp and to those selected to the all-star teams.

The Raleigh PDL team will open their 2007 campaign on May 10th at SAS Soccer Park against the Nasvhille Metros.

The Carolina RailHawks weren't the only local team to release details of their 2007 schedule on Thursday. While many of the details of the "new look" Raleigh Premier Development League team are still fuzzy ahead of the 2007 campaign, one thing is for certain -- they have a fixture list for the new season.

The yet-to-be-named Raleigh PDL team will play in the Southeast division of the PDL Southern Conference and will contest a 16 match schedule -- 8 home and 8 away -- during the 2007 season. The campaign starts on May 10th and runs through July 17th. The highlight of the season would have to be the local derbies between Raleigh and the Carolina Dynamo. With so many local collegiate players playing for each side, the familiarity between the two teams always breeds a spirited affair. Raleigh hosts the Dynamo on May 23 and July 11th with away fixtures at Macpherson Stadium in Browns Summit on June 30 and in the final match of their season on July 17.

Disappointingly absent from the schedule is a 2007 date against Richmond Kickers Future, a fixture that has proven to produce some memorable matches over the years.

The United Soccer Leagues Super Y-League Olympic Development Program (ODP) has announced the final selections for the ‘88/’89 and ‘90 Super Y-League Select teams for the 2006 season. Among the players honored are Tommy Drake and Farouk Bseiso, both of Triangle Futbol Club, who have been named to the ‘88/’89 side.

Selections were based off the results of the recent Super Y-League ODP National Camp held Thursday, January 18 through Sunday, January 21 at the Cocoa Expo Center in Cocoa, Florida. The players selected to the Super Y-League Select Team will be recommended by the ODP scouting system to the U.S. National Team Coaching Staff. USL will also be exploring opportunities to provide these players with domestic or international exposure to enhance player development.

The Carolina RailHawks will open their inaugural season at SAS Soccer Park on Saturday, April 21st at 7:30pm against the Minnesota Thunder.

With the announcement of the entire USL-1 schedule today, RailHawks fans now know that they can mark their calendars for a 2007 regular season schedule which includes 28 matches -- 14 home and 14 away. All but one of the RailHawks regular season home matches will be played on weekends, including 7 Friday night matches, 5 Saturday matches, and a single Sunday match.

The RailHawks will play one home and one away match against every other team in the 13-team league. To fill out the 28 game season, the RailHawks will play additional matches against teams from their regional "pod" including an additional home-and-away series with Virginia Beach, an additional home match against perennial USL powerhouse Montreal, and an extra away match against inevitable rivals Rochester.

In addition, Carolina supporters can expect to see up to four more home matches in 2007 including US Open Cup and friendly matches yet to be scheduled.

Triangle Soccer Fanatics has taken a quick preview look at what the 2007 home schedule has in store for local soccer fans.

The Carolina RailHawks, selecting 1st in each round of today's USL College Draft, have tapped Sola Abolaji (University of Buffalo) and Demetrius Donald (Queens University, Charlotte). Both players, who impressed coach Scott Schweitzer when he saw them play in Tampa in December, received high praise from their potential future coach:

When we went to the USL player combine, Sola stood out right away. He was strong, a presence on the field, and a good athlete. He just made all the right decisions.

Demetrius was hard not to notice. He was at the back, organizing all the players on the field. Then I found out he had played forward at Queens University in Charlotte. It just goes to show the kind of talent we have around the area. Both Sola and Demetrius can play in the back, outside, a range of positions. They can win balls in the air, and they are strong. I see them as coming in and making an impact right away.

A full list of all 26 USL draftees is available here.

Carolina RailHawks coach Scott Schweitzer made an appearance on 620 The Bull this morning.

Click on the link below to catch a replay of the RailHawks' gaffer talking about his soccer playing past, tomorrow's college draft, the comparison between MLS and USL, what fans can expect to see on the field this summer at SAS Soccer Park, and even his opinion on what might happen if the RailHawks draw David Beckham's LA Galaxy in the US Open Cup.

You may recall that last March, readers of Triangle Soccer Fanatics raised $310 dollars to help replace the well-worn Baby Ass flag that the North Jersey Brigade used to take around to all the US National Team matches. We proudly displayed TSF's new 600 square foot American flag at the USA v. Jamaica game last April.

For all those that were watching the Denmark game on Saturday, did you catch our flag's return to action? Yes, that was TSF's "Baby Ass" flag unfurled at the Home Depot Center each time the USA scored.

I just wanted to send out one more thanks to all that contributed to the fundraiser for the flag and let you all know that your contribution continues to go towards supporting the US National Team.

Also, thanks to Chase Kania who is supervising the flag's West Coast swing through Carson and then on to Phoenix for the Mexico game on February 7th. If we're lucky, we'll see our flag unfurled many times in the Arizona desert next month!

Jersey Sky Blue has added a rising star in women’s soccer to its roster for the team’s first-ever season. Sky Blue Soccer announced that Casey Nogueira will play for its W-League expansion team for the 2007 season. A long-time member of the United States Youth National Team system and a recent invitee to camp with the full US Women’s National Team, Nogueira most recently made headlines when she spurred her University of North Carolina team to the NCAA Championship in December.

Nogueira is coming off a breakout stretch in her career in which she represented her country internationally, claimed a college championship at home, and also got called into her first camp with the full US Women’s National Team all within a six-month span. The Raleigh, NC native was the youngest player to make the roster for the US Under-20 Youth National Team that traveled to the 2006 FIFA Women’s World Championship in Russia in August.

The biggest question will be how much time will Nogueira be able to spend with the Sky Blue as she recently received her first full senior national team callup and US coach Greg Ryan is likely to tap her again for this summer's Womens World Cup in China.

UNC senior Ben Hunter has just completed a trial at Huddersfield Town of League One in England and although he scored in a reserves match against Port Vale, the tryout will not result directly in a return to England for the Doncaster native.

"Ben Hunter did okay, but I will not be offering him a contract," Huddersfield manager Peter Jackson said. "He has a deal waiting for him in America and I couldn't guarantee things would work out here for him, so I thought it was only fair to be up front with him."

Hunter was selected in the 4th round by the Columbus Crew in the 2007 MLS SuperDraft.

Soccer Post, a chain of soccer gear stores located primarily in California and New Jersey, is getting set to open its doors on a Triangle area location in early Spring. The locally-owned franchise will be located in the new Plantation Point shopping center at the corner of Capital Boulevard and I-540 in North Raleigh.

The location, in the same shopping center as the new BJ's Wholesale Club and Circuit City adjacent to Triangle Towne Center mall, should be extremely convenient for players and parents traveling back and forth to WRAL Soccer Center.

Look for more information on the store's grand opening here on TSF as the Spring season draws near.

Just a few days after the Triangle was well represented in the 2007 MLS SuperDraft, 3 more players with ties to this area were selected in the 2007 MLS Supplemental Draft. NC State's Kirk Haddon (Real Salt Lake), Duke's Chris Loftus (New England Revolution) and Campbell's Willy Guadaramma (KC Wizards) all had their MLS rights secured by prospective employers on Thursday. These selections bring the total number of players selected in this year's MLS drafts who were either from this area or plyed their trade in the Triangle area last season to an amazing 8!

Area players will have one last chance to hear their name called in a professional draft this season when the Carolina RailHawks and their USL-1 colleagues make their selections in the USL College Player Draft next Wednesday, January 24th.

Since David Beckham signed with MLS, there has been a lot of talk about the quality of his play -- whether he'll have the ability to do it on the field in MLS or just be a geriatric Euro-footballer looking for semi-retirement in the States.

One thing is for sure, he's had both his share of highlights and lowlights during his career. Some of the moments that stand out to me are him being sent off against Argentina in the 1998 World Cup, then showing the leadership to send Argentina packing in the 2002 World Cup with a game-winning penalty. Of course, penalties weren't always his strongest suit, as anyone watching the Euro 2004 championships can attest, but perhaps Beckham's finest moment, or at least the one I'll always remember him by, was the stoppage time equalizer he hit against Greece in the October 2001 World Cup qualifier.

With England trailing 2-1 in the 93rd minute and needing a goal to avoid a difficult qualifying playoff with the Ukraine, England received a free kick 30 yards out directly in front of Greece's net. Captain Beckham, who, as the commentators noted, "had virtually played Greece on his own" that night, stepped up and smashed a curling right-footed free kick that sent England fans all over the world into World Cup euphoria.

If Beckham shows that kind of leadership on the pitch in MLS, we're in for a treat.

As part of their FA Archives series, Fox Soccer Channel is showing a replay of this dramatic game from World Cup 2002 qualifying on Sunday (1/21) night at 11pm ET.

On New Year's Day, we reported on the possibility that the Carolina Courage could be on their way back to SAS Soccer Park. Now, in an article from this week's Triangle Business Journal, Tonya Antonucci, CEO of the Women's Soccer Initiative has confirmed that she is in discussions with Carolina RailHawks Managing Partner Chris Economides to return a WUSA franchise to Cary.

"We think the Cary ... facility is perfectly suited for our needs and our business," says Antonucci. "We'd like to be back there."

She says that both she and Economides are looking for potential investors. Economides confirms his interest but stresses that the endeavor has to make financial sense.

Attempts to restart the league, and to establish a financially viable franchise in Cary, face major hurdles. With the exception of baseball, the Triangle's sports history is littered with minor league offerings that crashed and burned. Notable failures include the Raleigh-Durham Skyhawks football team, the Raleigh Bullfrogs basketball team and the Raleigh Capital Express soccer team.

With 4 seniors graduating, and several of his other players likely to spend much of their spring with the US National Team preparing for the 2007 World Cup, UNC Womens coach Anson Dorrance has announced a tough Spring 2007 schedule to help prepare his squad to defend their recent NCAA title.

The Tar Heels open Spring training with a trio of games in Knoxville, TN on Saturday, February 24th against Tennessee, Ohio State, and Illinois. Saturday, March 3rd sees UNC v. Duke at 9:00am and Florida at 10:30am at SAS Soccer Park in Cary, NC.

Last year's ACC round robin tournament will be repeated this year in Greensboro on Saturday, March 31st and the Tar Heels will finish their spring season at the Kicks for Cancer Tournament against a yet to be named opponent.

The first episode of the RailHawks Underground in the new year gives us a chance to sit down and take a look at the career of Raleigh, NC native and new RailHawks signing Caleb Norkus. In this interview, Caleb tells us about playing club and school ball in the Triangle, details his professional career, the injury woes he's had to deal with, and how excited he is to be back at home in the Triangle playing professional soccer.

UPDATE (1/17): USOpenCup.com is backtracking a bit on their story now saying not every USL1 & 2 team will participate in the tournament and that MLS will have a qualifying process.

USOpenCup.com is reporting on a leaked memo regarding the format and schedule for this year's US Open Cup. It appears that a few changes are in store for the Open Cup this season; the most notable being that all USL1, USL2, USASA, and PDL qualifying teams start play in the First Round proper allowing a much more straightforward bracket approach to the tournament while only 8 of 12 eligible MLS teams will qualify this year and enter in the Third Round proper.

While all 19 US-based USL1 & 2 teams now qualify, the memo cited at USOpenCup.com leaves it quite uncertain how MLS will identify the 8 of the 12 eligible clubs for the third round. One speculation is that teams involved in the new Mexican-American "Champions League" that MLS is introducing in 2007 would not compete in the US Open Cup. When USOpenCup.com inquired about this with several sources, they could only confirm that MLS has control of the qualifying process for their teams. While the changes to the First Round seem positive, not including all 12 MLS teams leaves a lot of questions about how seriously MLS treats the Open Cup and its traditions.

The proposed schedule for the 2007 edition of the US Open Cup is as follows:

• Monday, May 28 -- Qualifying deadline
  
• Wednesday, May 30 -- First Round pairings announced
  
• Tuesday, June 12 -- First Round (all USASA, PDL, USL2, USL1 clubs), 32 teams, 16 games
  
• Tuesday, June 26 -- Second Round (First Round winners), 16 teams, 8 games
  
• Tuesday, July 10 -- Third Round (Second Round winners + 8 MLS clubs), 16 teams, 8 games
  
• Tuesday, August 7 -- Quarterfinal Round
  
• Tuesday, September 4 -- Semifinal Round
  
• Tuesday, October 2 -- Championship game
  

Match locations are determined based on a bid process by teams competing in each round. Considering the emphasis that Economides' past Rhinos teams have put on the US Open Cup, RailHawks fans can assume that their side will likely open the US Open Cup at SAS Soccer Park on June 12th.

UNC defender and Greenville, NC native Michael Harrington was selected third overall by the Kansas City Wizards while Raleigh native and Wake Forest senior Steven Curfman and Wake Forest, NC resident and UNC goalkeeper Justin Hughes were both selected in the third round, by Real Salt Lake and Colorado Rapids, respectively, in today's MLS SuperDraft.

Harrington was the highest selected of a school-record 4 players taken from North Carolina and UNC led all schools in a draft dominated by the Atlantic Coast Conference,which accounted for 14 of the 52 players selected, including the first six picks. In addition to Harrington and Hughes, Corey Ashe (Houston, 2nd round) and Ben Hunter (Columbus, 4th round) will have a chance to represent the Tar Heels in MLS next season.

Curfman, who was drafted along with Demon Deacons' teammates Wells Thompson (New England, 5th overall) and Ryan Solle (New England, 2nd round) now has the opportunity to rejoin his US U17 National Team coach John Ellinger and teammate Freddy Adu .

“It’s a great feeling to get drafted,” Curfman said. “It’s a reward for all the hard work I’ve put into soccer throughout my life. I feel really good about going into a situation where I’m already familiar with the coaching staff and some of the younger players on the team. I couldn’t be happier”

Duke's Kyle Helton was rewarded for his patience when the Revolution used their 6th and final pick of the SuperDraft to take the Blue Devil's defender.

Harrington is the highest drafted Tar Heel since new Carolina RailHawks signing Chris Carrieri went No. 1 overall to San Jose in 2001 and the fourth first-round pick out of Carolina since MLS went to its current SuperDraft format in 2000. Dax McCarty went sixth overall to FC Dallas a year ago.

A full list of all 4 Rounds of SuperDraft picks is available at MLSNet.com.

The soccer world is abuzz this morning with the news that David Beckham has agreed terms for a transfer to the Los Angeles Galaxy of Major League Soccer. Both ESPNSoccernet and SkySports are quoting Beckham that the deal is done:

"After discussing several options with my family and my advisors to either stay here in Madrid or join other major British and European teams I have decided to join LA Galaxy and play in the MLS from August this year."

This is particularly interesting to fans in the Triangle area because both the Galaxy and RailHawks will be part of the US Open Cup this summer. Although results and tournament draws would have to go the right way, there is a non-zero possibility that the RailHawks could host the LA Galaxy in an US Open Cup match at SAS Soccer Park.

It will be interesting to see how this move affects the marketability of MLS

Now that the MLS Combine is over and the analysis is in, the MLS SuperDraft is coming up this Friday, January 12th. There are quite a few players with Triangle and Carolinas ties at play in the draft, I thought it would be interesting to take a look at the impact that our local area has had on MLS.

Guy Franzen has compiled a very telling database of current MLS roster players that have some ties to either the North or South Carolina area. I wonder if any other area with comparable population has had this big of an impact on MLS. Certainly no area that is without an MLS team has contributed so much talent to the League.

Marriott Hotels & Resorts is the official hotelier of the Carolina RailHawks and has been kind enough to extend special rates to Triangle Soccer Fanatics and visiting supporters traveling to matches at SAS Soccer Park in Cary.

To take advantage of these special rates, which are available at many Marriott brand hotels, such as Courtyard, Residence Inn, and Spring Hill Suites throughout the Triangle area, please follow these instructions:

The big news out DC this week is that United have been sold to an investment firm named DC United Holdings headed by Victor Macfarlane. But if you look closely at the group shot above, Triangle area sports fans may recognize a few familiar faces among the new investment group.

The tallest man in the shot is former Duke basketball star Christian Laettner and to his immediate left, is fellow Blue Devils teammate Brian Davis. The two former NCAA basketball champions are partners in Blue Devil Ventures, a real estate firm responsible for the development of West Village in the downtown Durham tobacco warehouse district.

As I was looking around the web for a place to get supporters scarves made for Triangle Soccer Fanatics, I stumbled across this site that apparently manufactured scarves for the Carolina Courage back in the days of the WUSA.

It appears that they still have some inventory in stock and are looking to move these scarves at half-price, or $7.50 a piece. Shipping is $5.

Interestingly, they also have UNC and Duke scarves if you are interested in showing your collegiate support as well.

US Youth Soccer has announced the four regional recipients of the 2006 US Youth Soccer adidas Girls’ Coach of the Year award and Triangle Futbol Club's Bobby Lovelace has taken the Region III honors. Each of the four regional winners will be honored at the 2007 US Youth Soccer Awards Gala, held in conjunction with the organization’s Workshop and Coaches Convention from March 1-3 in St. Louis, where the national winner will be named.

“These coaches have been recognized for achieving a level of success that is not always measured by trophies,” said Larry Monaco, president of US Youth Soccer. “Although most of the nominees have succeeded on the field, they have all helped their players, parents and respective communities through the great sport of youth soccer.”

US Youth Soccer had this to say about the coach of TFC's '91 Navy Girls.

Bobby Lovelace challenges and constantly raises the bar for the Triangle Football Club. He encourages creative play, risk taking, one-on-one attacking and defending in a possession-oriented style that emphasizes shape and attacking in numbers. His encouragement and advocacy instills the girls with a sense of confidence and a desire of excellence. Lovelace is a teacher at heart. He recognizes the strengths and weaknesses of players and team dynamics and helps players recognize them as well and find ways to improve.

Congratulations Bobby on this great honor!

Outgoing UNC senior Michael Harrington got a surprise callback from Kaiserslautern this week offering the player a reserves side contract that could lead to a position with the first team squad. Just a couple of weeks after the Red Devils declined to offer a contract to Harrington, who has returned favorable impressions this week at the MLS Combine, the K-town side now seems desperate to add the Greenville, NC native to their squad.

According to Yanks-Abroad.com, Harrington's agent Brian Eylert says Michael now has tough decisions to make:

It appears that former Norwegian U23 midfielder Rune Bjørnstad Hagen is set to make the move across the Atlantic to join the Carolina RailHawks. Hagen, the twin brother of Norwegian international footballer Erik “Panzer” Hagen, is available to move on a Bosman transfer as his current contract with Greek Super League side Ergotelis has expired.

The 31 year old left-sided midfielder hails from Hønefoss, Norway and is known as "Elvis" to local supporters for his love of the American King of Rock and Roll. Hagen's professional career spans 10 years and includes stints with Norwegian football clubs IK Start, Strømsgodset I.F., Vålerenga, and Herfølge before moving to Crete for the 2006 season.

Although the RailHawks did not immediately return TSF's inquiries, a source close to the player confirms that the deal is done and Hagen will join the Carolina franchise in time for the inaugural 2007 season.

Come January 24th, the Carolina RailHawks will get first pick in the USL's 2-round College Player draft followed by fellow expansion franchise the California Victory. Carolina was granted the first selection by virtue of being the first of the two new clubs to secure their expansion franchise.

The remaining USL First Division franchises are ranked in reverse order according to the final 2006 regular season standings. The order of teams that were tied in points was determined using the tiebreaker items Head-to-head, Total Wins and Goal Differential, respectively. Both rounds will follow the same order unless trades occur prior to or during the draft.

Triangle United is leading the way in bringing futsal to youth soccer players in the Triangle. After success with their U11 & U12 program late last year, the club has expanded their futsal program to include ages U9 through U14. For more information on the Triangle United program, please visit their webpage here.

Futsal is an indoor version of soccer that is officially sanctioned by FIFA. The game is played between two teams of five players, one of whom is the goalkeeper; in addition each team may have a number of substitutes. Unlike some other forms of indoor soccer, the field is delimited by lines like a basketball court, and not nets or boards which the ball may be played off. The ball used tends to be slightly heavier and smaller (size 3+) than normal soccer ball, and thus promotes better ball control skills as well as passes on the ground. Furthermore, the smaller play area forces players to improve their skills, teamwork and decision making.

The U.S. Futsal Federation has produced this short video to help introduce players to this fast-paced game.

Jim Rutherford, President and General Manager of the National Hockey League’s Carolina Hurricanes, announced today that the team has hired Curt Johnson as its new Director of Marketing. Johnson, who comes to the team from the Kansas City Wizards of Major League Soccer, will be responsible for all of the team’s efforts in marketing campaigns and will oversee CanesVision, CanesDesign, game-night promotions, youth hockey and fan development.

Johnson served as General Manager of the Kansas City Wizards for the past seven years, overseeing both the franchise’s business operations and team management. Prior to joining Kansas City, Johnson served as the Vice President and General Manager of the Richmond Kickers of the United Soccer League from 1998-99. Before making the jump to the front office, Johnson was an assistant men's soccer coach for his alma mater, North Carolina State University, during the 1996 season, and was an assistant coach for the Raleigh Flyers, formerly of the A-League, in 1995.

The Raleigh native received a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Communication from North Carolina State University in 1991. On the soccer field, Johnson was a four-year defensive starter at NC State and was team captain his senior year when the Wolfpack won the Atlantic Coast Conference Championship and advanced to the NCAA Semifinals in 1990.

One need look no further than the 2007 MLS Combine, which opens today in Fort Lauderdale, FL to see how much influence Triangle-area schools and clubs have on the national soccer picture. Among the 60-odd players showcasing their skills for professional talent scouts, over 10% of the players have ties to the Triangle.

In attendance will be Raleigh native Steve Curfman (Wake Forest), Wake Forest native Justin Hughes (UNC), Greenville's Michael Harrington (UNC), Corey Ashe (UNC), Willy Guadarrama (Campbell), Kyle Helton (Duke), and Chris Loftus (Duke). In addition, Duke coach John Rennie and CASL Assistant Director of Coaching Bruce Talbot are 2 of the 8 coaches who will be guiding the players through the 5 day event. RailHawks coach Scott Schweitzer will also be attending the combine scouting players for his inaugural USL-1 side.

As always, 3rdDegree.Net's Buzz Carrick is providing amazingly detailed coverage of the event on his site and TSF will be following our local players vicariously through Buzz's reports. To get things started, Carrick is handicapping the SuperDraft by player position: Goalkeepers, Defenders, Midfielders, and Forwards (not yet published). Notably, Carrick rates Harrington as the 2nd choice defender in this year's SuperDraft which takes place on January 12th in Indianapolis.

Raleigh native and CASL '90 Elite defender Nick Millington concluded his first semester at the USA U17 Residency Camp in Bradenton, Florida with a game winning goal against Real Madrid's youth side at the 2006 Disney Showcase. The Young Nats beat the Spanish side 3-0 when Abdus Ibrahim scored a brace after Millington scored the opening goal.

The U.S. Under-17 '91 Men’s National Team went 2-1-2 during the 2006 Disney Soccer Showcase in Orlando, Fla. The younger age group in U.S. Soccer’s Residency Program opened the first of their five matches on Dec. 26 with a 1-0 victory over Tigres UANL, getting the game-winning goal from Jose Altimorano in the 83rd minute. The following day, the U.S. fell, 3-2, to Region IV, getting goals from Eder Arreolo and Gale Agbossoumounde. On Dec. 28, the U.S. bounced back as Aubrey Perry’s goal in the seventh minute was enough for a 1-1 draw against Region II. The match against Real Madrid was their 4th in as many days and then in their final match on Dec. 30, the U.S. drew, 0-0, with the Region III ODP squad.

This week, Jeff Carlise filed an interesting report for ESPNSoccernet about the possibility that the Women's United Soccer Association (WUSA) might be back in play as soon as the 2008 season -- and Cary was named as a possible market for the WUSA revival.

Carlisle talked to Tonya Antonucci who is CEO of the Women's Soccer Initiative Inc. Anotnucci indicated that the WSI has decided to pursue a return to womens professional soccer in this country with a franchise owner model, rather than the single-entity structure favored by Major League Soccer. She stated that 3 franchise owners have already "signed on the dotted line" to be a part of the revival and indicated that the Spring 2008 season -- just following 2007 Womens World Cup and just ahead of the 2008 Olympic tournament -- was the target for the relaunch of the league with a minimum of 8 teams in place. Antonucci revealed that the 11 target markets the WSI is currently pursuing are Los Angeles, St. Louis, Chicago, Kansas City, Dallas, Washington, D.C., New York/New Jersey, Rochester, N.Y., Atlanta, San Diego, and Cary.