November 23, 2011
After a relatively boring home opener that wasn't helped by the visiting Missouri Comets playing a possession oriented game, the Lancers and the Syracuse Silver Knights played a much more entertaining game that the home team was able to win 22-13.
Having added a veteran indoor goalkeeper earlier the week in Patrick Hannigan, the Lancers were able to shutdown the Silver Knights offense in the first half as they built a 13-2 lead.
Syracuse put together an 11-2 in the run, after Doug Miller's goal put the Lancers up 15-2, to turn the game from a laugher to a much tighter affair in the last nine minutes. But, the Lancers shut things down from there and added a three pointer with the Syracuse goalkeeper pulled for the extra attacker to ice the game.
One of the items for discussion afterward was the respect that people had for Tommy Tanner and the fact that he came out trying to play an entertaining game for the fans. Earlier in the day, Tanner came on Kick This! and talked about how Billy Andracki and the Lancers played a similiarly entertaining game in the Syracuse home opener two weeks prior. Tanner talked about how the Lancers and Silver Knights are kind of in this together to try and build fan bases for both clubs.
Well, games like these two can't hurt building this rivalry. The physical tone that the match took at times and both coaches yelling at the refs and each other's players helped as well.
I asked Billy Andracki about how into the game he was, including hopping up on the side boards to yell, and he said that he might be one and done as a head coach as the intensity may cause him to have a heart attack.
Now I doubt that it comes to that. But, I expect more fireworks tonight as the Lancers head to Syracuse. My only disappointment is that I can't make the trip to see the action.
MISL News:
- The D&C, the Lancers, and the Silver Knights have looks ahead at tonight's game.
- For the second week in a row, the MISL Player of the Week is a goalkeeper that is coming to Rochester to play on Saturday. This week it is Baltimore Blast GK Sagu.
- Milwaukee blew out Norfolk last weekend and then they beat the Missouri Comets.
- The Baltimore Blast swept last weekend, as well.
Rhinos & Flash News Bits:
- The Rhinos have re-signed 2011 team MVP Tyler Rosenlund.
- Former Rhino Ryan Heins has re-signed with the Richmond Kickers.
- WNY Flash GK Ashlyn Harris stars in a USWNT video looking at GK training.
- WNY Flash F Christine Sinclair scored the game winner for Canada as they beat Sweden.
WPS News:
- Beau Dure at Sports Myriad and ESPNW on Dan Borislow filing a lawsuit against WPS due to the league terminating the magicJack franchise.
- Beau Dure also has the documents that were filed as part of the lawsuit.
- Beau Dure also wonders if WPS stars will sign on for 2012. The WNY Flash do have Christine Sinclair, Alex Morgan, Ashlyn Harris, and others coming back despite Carolien Seger choosing not to come back.
- Jenna Pel at All White Kit looks at the Borislow lawsuit and what it means for WPS.
- Jeff Kassouf at Equalizer Soccer looks at how US Soccer has yet to sanction WPS for 2012.
- Dan Borislow gave Beau Dure his list of reasons why WPS is in trouble. I agree with some. But, this does not make Borislow look better, in my opinion.
- Jeff Kassouf also looks at how many WPS players are brought together by their faith.
MLS News:
- Beckham hinted at what lies ahead for him prior to MLS Cup.
- The Vancouver Whitecaps signed Canada U-17 captain as a homegrown player.
- Dwayne De Rosario was named MLS MVP after suiting up for three different teams in 2011.
- MLS Soccer.com looks back at the MLS Cup final where the LA Galaxy won with the lone goal in the match coming through their three DPs in Beckham, Roy Keane, and match MVP Landon Donovan.
- MLS Soccer.com looks at Landon Donovan being clutch.
- Today is the Montreal Impact Expansion Draft and the protected/unprotected lists are out.
- Montreal head man Jesse Marsch says that they could take Freddy Adu from the Philadelphia Union.
- MLS Soccer.com looks at the head games ahead of the expansion draft, the biggest names available , as well as the former Impact players that are available.
- Taylor Twellman replaced John Harkes as the ESPN color commentary guy for MLS matches.
- Seattle will still have FieldTurf in 2012.
- If you have a head cold, this Landon Donovan MLS Cup 2011 kit might be for you.
News & Notes:
- Steve Davis wonders who will be the next big thing amongst USMNT center backs.
- The LA Blues are moving to the campus of Cal State Fullerton.
- Inside Minnesota Soccer.com reports that the NASL has been granted provisional sanctioning for 2012 and that the league's US teams will be a part of the 2012 Lamar Hunt US Open Cup Tournament.
- Former Rhino Daniel Antunez will likely be released by Tecos down in Mexico. I wonder if he's on the Rhinos' radar?
- Thomas Rongen won his debut as the head coach of American Samoa.
The views and opinions expressed in this column are those of the
author, and not necessarily those of the Rochester Rhinos or
SoccerSam.com. Feel free to send any comments or complaints to
jamesrweise@gmail.com. James promises to read (but not to respond) to all of them.
