Zip_ME87

Kayvon Afsarifard, Orange County Blue Star

https://twitter.com/ColumbusCrew/statuses/199901844762406912 Columbus Crew ‏ @ColumbusCrew #Crew96 Academy standouts Chad Barson and Wil Trapp from Akron training today with the first team as guest players. 12:41 PM - 8 May 12 via Twitter for iPhone

http://academy.demosphere.com/teams/374168...0/14337803.html

Akeil Barrett to Tulsa

That many days?! Thank goodness for PDL and former Zips in MLS.

I believe WakeMed Soccer Park (Cary, NC) only holds 7,000 Park Features * Lighted stadium field, two lighted practice fields & five additional fields * Permanent stadium seating for 7,000 with expansion capability * Concessions, locker rooms, rest rooms and meeting space * Outstanding cross country course with 5K, 6K and 8K marked courses (adaptable to other distances) * 2,600 parking spaces Perhaps it was 10,000 with standing room

http://www.topdrawersoccer.com/club-soccer...ril-30_aid24235 I kind of like the way this reads: Cristian Cruz, Midfielder/Forward, San Jose Earthquakes Academy Top 150: 55 Class: 2013 Potential Schools: St. Mary's, Santa Clara, Akron, Wake Forest, New Mexico, UC San Diego, UC Santa Barbara, Cal Poly, Cal State Chico Cristian Cruz is torn about his college commitment. As a member of the U18 Men’s National Team, he has his pick of institutions, but that has not made the decision any simpler. “Overall the recruiting process has been very difficult for me,” Cruz told TopDrawerSoccer.com over email. “I still have no idea what college I want to attend. This is going to be one of the hardest decisions I've made.” There is one factor that has remained on the front of Cruz’s mind: location. “I want to stay in California,” Cruz said. “I've been in love with this state since the day I was born. I don't really want to go out of state.” That said, the appeal of a certain Ohio school did make it just enough to crack the center midfielder’s top three list. “My top 3 schools are UCSB, Santa Clara, and Akron,” Cruz said.

In 2003, it was in Columbus Crew Stadium. I guess they decided after 10 years to go for an MLS stadium in the north again.

There is a Crew Juniors U20 team which is referenced here (Crew 20): http://www.thecrewyouth.com/CrewJuniorsGold/index_E.html. I vaguely remembered Chad Barson and Ben Speas played for a Crew U20 Development Team that won a USL Super-20 Championship last summer, and after some searching, here's that link: http://www.thecrew.com/news/2011/07/crew-j...-national-title

I couldn't find the detail in that article. The U18 team doesn't seem correct. Perhaps they are referring to a PDL side affiliated with the Crew.

http://www.thecrew.com/news/2012/04/academ...light-wil-trapp ...When the semester ends at Akron, Trapp will play with the Crew Soccer Academy for the summer. Both Bliss and Trapp acknowledge there are things the midfielder needs to work on during the summer and next season at Akron before he makes the transition to the next level. ...

Thanks Bobbyake. That's awesome. I love that they interviewed Michael's mom, Marian. Brings back memories of sitting with her and George at the National Championship game at UCSB. Great people. I hope she and George show up at Akron again this Fall. (I saw them at at least one match last Fall.) I also noticed Matt Dagilis in the background at 2:56 - 2:58 in that video.

Darren Mattocks returns to training

Yes. I think it's an option that the Zips want to have in the Fall.

Looking at the current roster, and accounting for the players you mentioned in the stands Saturday, I count 18 total field players when the freshman arrive. Derschang from SMU makes 19. I also believe that we don't yet know everyone who is coming in, but we'll see. 1. Abdul-Salaam (F) 2. Afsarifard (D) 3. Barson (D) 4. Brenes (M/D) 5. Caldwell (M) 6. Chiu (F) 7. Gallego (D) 8. Portillos (M) 9. Quinn (M) 10. Schmitt (F) 11. Stevenson (M) 12. Trapp (M) 13. Yedlin (D, F/M?) 14. Foldesy (M) 15. Koroma (F) 16. Morris (F) 17. Serna (M) 18. Souders (D) 19. Derschang (M) http://twitter.com/#!/RobbieDerschang/...387656116744192

I'm with you. Also, if the past 2 seasons are any indication, I don't think we have the full list of incoming players, yet. (In 2010, we didn't know about Darren until late Spring or early Summer.)

Yes, I was kidding about starting in a different color because of the different formation. However, I wasn't kidding that the Zips started and played about 3/4 of the match in a 3-4-3. About mid-way through the 2nd half, Zac & Renaldo subbed in, and DeAndre moved to RB, going with the usual 4-3-3. Edit: For those who missed the match, it was fun to watch. Very cool to see the Zips try out the 3-4-3. Awesome coaches, awesome team. I admit I'm biased, but "Joe Northeast Ohio soccer fan" doesn't know what they're missing if they haven't checked out Caleb Porter's Akron Zips.

My guess (and it's only a guess) is that the Zips had their blue kits, given that they were wearing blue shorts. Wright State showed up in their dark green and probably only had those kits. The Zips were likely forced to play in a light color; so, they played the first half in their gold warm ups while someone went back to the end zone facility and got their white jerseys. The Zips then played the 2nd half with their white jerseys, but they were still wearing blue shorts. (The white kits have white shorts.) Edit: The Zips could have also decided to start in a different color given that they also started in a different formation...not their usual 4-3-3. But, they started the 2nd half in that same formation and didn't switch back to their usual 4-3-3 until halfway or so through the 2nd half when they moved DeAndre back to his usual RB position and substituted Zac and Renaldo into the match.

Meves saw no game time. Andrian played in goal the entire match.

#23 Andrian McAdams. He had a good game.

It may be wordy, but much more precise than "gripe".

I'm glad Michael is at least traveling to C-bus this year even if he doesn't get to play. I know his family will be there and at least one of our former players who was in his 5th season (redshirted) last year. Too bad the match in C-bus coincides with a Zips' Spring match.

---Stevenson---Schmitt---Brenes--- ------------Quinn--------Caldwell---- -------------------Trapp--------------- --Portillos--Barson--Gallego--Yedlin-- ------------------Meves--------------- The only sub that I recall was Portillos left due to a cramp for a few minutes in the 2nd half. Afsarifard came in for him, but then Portillos returmed. Edit: My eyes aren't the greatest at distance, but I believe we only had 5 guys on the bench...Kayvon Afsarifard, Cristian Aboleda, Andy Chiu, Andrian McAdams, and Saad Abdul-Salaan.

Of course...they were facing Akron.

I thought I'd start a thread for our current Zips who will be playing on various development teams this summer. I'll start with Aodhan Quinn and DeAndre Yedlin who will be playing for the Seattle Sounders U23 PDL team. http://www.soundersu23.com/roster/index_E.html