WWC Watch Party, RCU Finale Saturday, NPSL Tournament Taking Shape, RCI Coming Together

American Outlaws to Host Women's World Cup Final Watch Party at the Brickhouse

The new American Outlaws-Huntsville chapter will host a Women's World Cup Final watch party at the Brickhouse Sports Cafe on Sunday at 1PM.  After the US Women took care of business in Wednesday's 3:1 semi-final win over France, they'll look to bring home their first World Cup trophy since 1999's memorable triumph at the Rose Bowl.  Let's get out there and support our ladies!  HAIL, COLUMBIA!


Rocket City United Look to Pick Up First Home Win in Finale

The ad says, "We must protect this house!"  Rocket City United must not have seen that one.  The team is strangely more successful on the road then they are in the confines of the Madison City Schools Stadium.  Coach Gerry Cleary is at a loss to explain the losses in which RCU seems to be the better side, "Again we’re saying Rocket City should have won a game when we didn’t win, but maybe we’re just not that good."  RCU has its final opportunity to win at home of the 2011 regular season Saturday night against expansion side and surprise of the NPSL Southeast Georgia Revolution. 




NPSL Championships Taking Shape

RCU's match against the GA Revs will have postseason implications.  GAR sits in second in the Southeast region and can take the top spot with a win and loss or a tie by Chattanooga FC in their match against the Knoxville Force.    Only one of the other NPSL regional titles have been claimed as the Milwuakee Bavarians have won the Midwest.   The NPSL Championships will be hosted by RCU for the second consecutive year on July 28-30.

Rocket City Invitational

The 2011 Rocket City Invitational is coming together nicely, and Jacob and Co. over at Southern Soccer are looking at another smashing success of a tournament.  Photos of the tournament T-shirts were just released as have details of the tournament party at Amendment XXI.  Looks like it's going to be classic!

RCU Away to Georgia; American Outlaws Huntsville Become Official

RCU Travel To Meet NPSL SE Surprise Georgia Revolution

Rocket City United will be looking to change the tenor of their season and build toward the future in this weekend's match away to NPSL Southeast region newcomer Georgia Revolution.  GAR have been the surprise of the region topping the table for several weeks and now sit in second with 11 points.  While not mathematically eliminated, RCU is essentially eliminated from contention for the NSPL Southeast region title.  As a result, RCU is expected to use the remaining matches of the season to build confidence and experience for its younger players. 



Local American Outlaws Chapter Becomes Official

The hard work and enthusiasm of its founding member Andrew Adams has its rewards as Huntsville has been granted an official chapter of the American Outlaws.  It was announced Thursday AOHA has become the 55th AO chapter in the US.  The Brickhouse Sports Cafe will server as the club's local bar to view all the US matches, including Saturday's Gold Cup final (Gametime is 7:30 PM).  Drink and food specials will greet chapter members.

Another RCU Loss to CFC, USA v Jamaica Watch Party at the Brickhouse on Sunday

RCU Loses to CFC Again

They say "the third time's a charm", but that wasn't the case for Rocket City United as they fell to Chattanooga FC by the same 2:0 scoreline for the third time in 4 weeks.  Goals from CFC's Mark Sharrod and Chris Ochieng sealed the three points for the Blues while torpedoing RCU's chance to play in the NPSL Championship in Madison at the end of July.



Gold Cup Quarterfinal: USA v Jamaica Watch Party at Brickhouse

The US Men's National Team's form hasn't been very good, but that is not for lack of support from the American Outlaws, and the local would-be Huntsville chapter has been stellar in that regard.  They have had terrific crowds for each of the three first round matches, and are hosting another watch party for the Gold Cup Quarterfinal match between the USMNT and Jamaica at the Brickhouse Sports Cafe on Sunday at 1:30PM.  Come out and join us and bring your father, too!

RCU at CFC, CFC Fall In US Open Cup, My New Favorite Writers

RCU Try To Be First To Win At CFC Since 09

Rocket City United have had a strange season so far.  Undefeated on the road and winless at home (2-3), RCU will try to keep that undefeated part going this Saturday at Finley Stadium in Chattanooga.  RCU will have to overcome inconsistent play if they want to be the first team in years to come out of Finley with three points.  The team has looked disjointed at times, perhaps due to the revolving lineups as players have joined the squad late.  I spoke to RCU veteran Brian Hadley who is the ranking player on the roster, having been with the team since 2008.  He's optimistic that the team will come together soon.

Longtime RCU player Brian Hadley   

CFC Can't Hold On To Lead, Fall in OT

Chattanooga FC may be a little tired for this weekend's match with RCU after they bused around 24 hours to and from Pittsburgh and played 120 minutes before falling 3:2 in the US Open Cup match on Tuesday.  CFC held a 2:0 lead with about 30 minutes left to play, but gave up two goals late and one in overtime to lose 3:2 to the USL Pro's Riverhounds.  Only one of the four NPSL teams in the tournament survived the first round as the Madison 56ers beat USASA team AAC Eagles 4:0.  


Writers Rip US team, Becomes My Hero

We all know the US team has played terribly in the past two weeks.  This AP writer gives it to us straight saying Clint Dempsey failed to finish a chance "a third grader should make".  NICE! She's not the only one criticizing the US team.  This writer compares coach Bob Bradley to George Lucas, and if you've seen Episodes 1-3, you know that's not a compliment.

RCU Drop Another Heartbreaker To CFC 2:0

It's a script we've become used to around the Madison City Schools Stadium.  Rocket City United play well enough to win, but after 90 minutes come away with zero points.  This time losing 2:0 to Chattanooga FC.

 This time it was at the hands of Chattanooga FC who weathered the pressure from RCU for 80 plus minutes and found a nicely created goal against the run of play.  In the 83rd minute, CFC forward Chris Ochieng received a pass in the area, and realizing he was well marked, spun quickly to slide a pass for an on rushing and unmarked Michael Brooks.  Brooks took his time and slotted home to take the wind out of RCU's sails.  Then, deep into added time, it was Brooks earned his brace and sealed the match for CFC with another nice finish.

Coaches Quotes from RCU loss to CFC 

Now, RCU has to go on the road next Saturday against the same CFC team.  They'll have to show real mental fortitude to win in Finley Stadium, where no NPSL team has won since 2009.

RCU v CFC, Greg Petersen Update, AOHA US v Panama Watch Party, Book Review

RCU Host CFC Saturday Night

Rocket City United will be hosting defending NPSL Southeast Region champions Chattanooga FC on Saturday night.  The teams are familiar with each other after CFC beat RCU 2:0 in the US Open Cup qualifying tournament 2 weeks ago.  Coming off the heart breaking, soul sucking, gut wrenching loss to Atlanta last week, this match is huge for RCU.  The team is 0-2 at home and needs to get a win in the Madison City Schools Stadium Saturday to have any chance of winning the region and the spot in the NPSL championships which is also being held at in Madison.  Expect a fairly large amount of traveling fans from Chattanooga to provide some atmosphere that has been somewhat lacking at the MCSS this season. 


Former RCU Coach Finds Home in Plant City FC

Former Rocket City United coach Greg Petersen has been hired as Technical Director by Plant City FC outside of Tampa, FL.   Petersen who has been a strong critic of US youth soccer in the past was impressed with the community involvement in the club, and sees this as an opportunity to play his part in changing the youth soccer culture.  "Ultimately, I see this as the ideal opportunity to really establish a proper club in the U.S., a club in the European style, where the Club is the focal point of the whole community. "


AOHA US v Panama Watch Party at Brickhouse  

The second of three US Gold Cup group matches will be against Panama on Saturday night and the American Outlaws-Huntsville will be hosting another watch party at the Brickhouse.  The game starts at 7PM and the fun lasts all night.

RCU Fail To Hold Late Lead, Lose to Atlanta

It is said soccer can be a cruel game.  Rocket City United found out just how true the saying is on Saturday night in the Madison City Schools Stadium.  Holding a late 1:0 on a goal from newcomer Fatai Alabi, and with reports filtering into the stadium that the other NPSL Southeast Region matches had ended favorably for them, RCU needed only to see out the remaining few minutes of their match against the Atlanta Silverbacks Reserves to see themselves alone at the top of the table.  However, any hopes of first place in the region faded as a poor defensive effort led to the first ASR goal.  As RCU pushed for a goal to regain the lead, a busted defensive assignment on a set piece led to the second ASR goal late into added time and a gut wrenching 2:1 loss for RCU.
   

RCU Coach Gerry Cleary After Loss to ASR

Winless at home, RCU will now have to regroup quickly as the defending region champions Chattanooga FC come to town next Saturday in what turns out to be a must win for both teams.

RCU Host Atlanta on Saturday

Rocket City United will attempt to get their first home win of the year on Saturday against the Atlanta Silverbacks Reserves.  Head coach Gerry Cleary will be missing some first teamers in Kenniel Hyde who is out with a hamstring injury and Brian Kimbugwe who will be getting married. 

RCU Coach Gerry Cleary

RCU Recap; CFC Into US Open Cup, Will Face Pittsburg Riverhounds; Worst Miss Ever?

RCU Back From Open Cup, Focus on League 

After a weekend testing their mettle in Open Cup qualifying, Rocket City United turns its focus back to league play where they sit in third place with 7 points after 4 matches.  Their opponents this Saturday will be the Atlanta Silverbacks Reserves who currently trail RCU by one point, despite playing an extra match.  Gates open 6:30 PM and kick off is 7:30.  Members of the YMCA get in for half off!


RCU will host a meet the team event at the Little Gym in Providence and Jones Valley on Friday at 4-6PM. 

CFC Qualifies for US Open Cup

Chattanooga FC qualified for the US Open Cup by beating the Atlanta Silverbacks Reserves 1:0 in the finals of the NPSL Southeast Region qualifying tournament.  CFC will now travel to Pittsburgh to face the USL Pro's Riverhounds (who I saw play last month in Charleston) in the opening round of the US Open Cup on June 14th.  If CFC should pull off the upset, they would take on the winner of the Dayton Dutch Lions vs Richmond Kickers match in the 2nd round. 


Worst Miss Ever?!

Holy moly!  I've seen (and had) bad misses before.  But this miss is so bad!!!

RCU At Jacksonville Saturday, Closer Look At The Knoxville Force, and Rocket City Futsal

RCU Play Away to Jacksonville United Saturday Night

Rocket City United boarded the bus for the 12 hour trip to Jacksonville at 5AM Friday morning.  Following the trek, Coach Gerry Cleary's club has the unenviable task of taking on Jacksonville United at their inaugural home match.  RCU (1W-0D-1L, 3 pts) is smarting from the unexpected home defeat to Knoxville and are sitting mid-table in the NPSL Southeast region.  Meanwhile, their opponents JAXU (0-0-3, 0 pts) are struggling at the bottom of the table, having opened their season with three losses on the road.  


Knoxville Soccer Team Trying to "Force" Its Way Into Relevance

Forgive me the silly pun, but you have to admit that name of the newest NPSL Team in Knoxville is not the greatest.  Anyway, Cari Wade Gervin of the Knoxville Metro Pulse wrote a terrific article about the expansion team that traded home defeats with RCU in the first two weeks of the season.  If you have a few minutes, it's well worth the read.


Rocket City Futsal To Start League in July

The new futsal court in McGucken Park in Southeast Huntsville is the home of Rocket City Futsal.  The new small sided league began earlier this year and fields teams of all age groups.

If you've never played Futsal, the game is much more technical than the smash and run game typically played in a hockey-like field in America.  It's played on a field, or court really, roughly the size of a basketball court with 5 players on a side and no walls.  It can be played outdoor or indoor and is a great way to learn control and touch for young players.

RCF is registering teams and individual players, sign up here.

Guest Post: Random Musings on RCU Home Opener By Chris Shaffer

Friend of the PWT-blog Chris Shaffer casts his critical eye on the RCU loss to the Knoxville Force on Saturday night.  Enjoy!

RCU aficionado Chris Shaffer

RCU now stands at one win and one loss, both vs. the expansion Knoxville club (Storm, Force, help me out here (It's the Force, Chris.  Knoxville Force, forgettable name.  I agree.), and the real meat of the season yet to come. That the loss to Knoxville came in Huntsville raises some questions.

We must bear in mind that the team is literally still coming together, with veterans of the 2009 championship season Joseph Omondi and Fredy “The Kenyan Quasar” Okello arriving in town this week.

I don’t know what to expect in terms of other players joining the squad in the next week or two, but a few things seemed obvious as I sat next to speedy winger Sutton Shults during the second half.  Sutton goes under the knife Tuesday and may return in a month:

• RCU lacks speed on the wings. Please don’t tell me this also because Paul Willoughby is injured, as I highly doubt PW would play for RCU this season were he healthy. Remember last year’s press release “Willoughby Signs on for2010 Season.” Sure.

• RCU lacks a bonafide central distributing midfielder. Last season, the whole game plan centered on the gifted Lexi Munro, a real #10 in the sense of a Riquelme or Zidane. This year there’s a gaping hole there.

On the positive side

• Jason Sabio’s return to central defense, and Joseph Omondi’s ability to play there or at holding midfield should be a vast improvement over last year’s back line.

• Gifted left-sided player and this year’s captain Jacob Letsholo has returned. Unfortunately, if he plays on the left wing in mf, we lack speed and at left back.

RCU Ironman Brian Hadley

• Brian Hadley is back and, now starting at forward, has actually played every position except ‘keeper for RCU. Why he’s not playing right back, central defender or even holding mf, I don’t know.

• There was only one 1st half substitution not due to injury.

• The return of Andrew Nkurunungi, which I probably spelled incorrectly, is a plus.  He just knows how to score, period. If that doesn’t work, he knows a few quality swimming pool maneuvers too.

• Brian Kimbugwe is a solid player in mf.

Tell Me Why??????

Why does RCU expend time and resources signing out of town goalkeepers when we have two outstanding, experienced ‘keepers here already in Tyler Earley and Jeffrey Preston. These guys are veterans of US Open Cups and NPSL Final Fours.  We don’t need a carpetbagger for this. Shades of last year. On Saturday, the winning goal for Knoxville was scored when the RCU ‘keeper came off his line, failed to get a touch on the ball, and was beaten by a headed chip. This shouldn’t happen. OK, I said it.

Why does RCU not have a home field advantage? Aside from silent, lethargic fans, because, instead of painting lines on the field that would allow both benches and the 4th official on the same side as the fans, they either don’t think about it or just take what’s given them. There’s plenty of space on either sideline to do this AND the pitch, unlike last year, is in decent condition. Chattanooga gets a lot of mileage out of having the visitor’s bench directly beneath the fans. Plus, why should the visiting team get the short walk to the locker room while our boys trudge across the field at halftime to get to theirs? Furthermore, it would make the press box volunteers jobs a whole lot easier.

Finally, last year’s “experiment” with Desmond Armstrong set the club back. It caused dissension in the ranks and destroyed good players’ confidence. RCU is on the right track and they deserve your support now more than ever. The bus trip to Knoxville was just the sort of idea to inspire a real, rabid following. Kudos to whomever came up with that.  Now we need some songs, and someone other that Chattanooga fans tailgating in our parking lot.

RCU Drops Home Opener to Knoxville

To say Rocket City United started slowly Saturday night would be an understatement.  After just 10 minutes, Knoxville had taken advantage of two defensive mistakes to go up 2:0.  It took another 30 minutes to make a dent in the Force lead when Freddy Okello slotted a goal to bring the Rockets back into within one, but that's as close as it would get.  Despite better play in the second half, RCU couldn't break down the bunkering Knoxville defense, and RCU dropped three points, 2:1.

Postgame Quotes

Behind the Scenes: Knoxville Force v Rocket City United

Here's a video I put together of the trip up to Knoxville for the RCU season opener.  Enjoy!

Behind the Scenes RCU at Knoxville Force

RCU at Knoxville: Post Game Quotes

Here are some videos from some of the key players and both coaches following the 2:0 win over the  Knoxville Force.

First, here's a link to a report on the game from a local Knoxville TV station.  It shows both goals. 

RCU GK Jeffrey Preston

 RCU GK Jeffrey Preston talks about the shutout and his key saves.

RCU Fwd Andrew Nkurunungi

RCU goal scorer Andrew Nkurunungi describes his goals and looks forward to the home opener next week.

RCU Coach Gerry Cleary 

RCU coach Gerry Cleary discusses the game and his halftime talk.

Knoxville Force coach Derek Broadley

Knoxville Force coach Derek Broadley on the game and his team's effort despite the loss.

RCU beats Knoxville in Season Opener

Sorry it took so long to post this.  Yesterday was Mother's Day and soccer was put on the back burner for the day.

 

Rocket City United went on the road Saturday night to face expansion side Knoxville Force.  It was the Force's inaugural match and a large crowd of nearly 1,200 were disappointed by the 2:0 victory for the visitors.  Andrew Nkurunungi scored two good goals just before halftime to give RCU all it needed to secure the three points.  Knoxville stepped up the pressure early in the second half, but RCU weathered the storm with some nice saves from goalkeeper Jeffrey Preston.  RCU then successfully killed the game with good possessional play.  Full game reports can be found here and here.

I'll have more on the match later.