Zip_ME87

I can't count that as a win for the Zips, but I'm extremely happy for Ben and his family. Transfers like that don't always work out, but Ben is a great player and really stepped up in the post-season (ACC and NCAA Tournaments). Sorry, for those who were supporting Charlotte. They're a great team and deserve better than they got for all that they accomplished in getting to the final. For me, though, without the Zips there, I couldn't have scripted that any better. Ben won another title and was the key in getting it done. As Crew8 said in another thread, come on Columbus Crew and sign our guy from Stow, OH to a homegrown contract.

+1

Unfortunately, they may be right. I would agree. It's not too hard to imagine that having a fifth guy with the experience of playing in the 2 previous College Cups could have been the difference for the Zips. Watching the way Ben played in the UNC-UCLA semi-final, it was obvious he'd been there before. When UNC was down 1-0 and again 2-1, he played with determination to get the job done; not with worry that his team was down. When it went to PKs, there was no "Oh no" on his face; just confidence in doing what needed to be done to move on to the Final. If you look back through the threads on this board, you'll see numerous fans who felt Ben's loss was likely going to hurt the Zips. I'm not cheering for either team. I'm hoping for a great game. If UNC wins, I'm happy for the guy from Stow who was always great to me as a Zips fan, and whom from everything I've read (and from talking with his parents who showed up to at least one Zips' game this season at First Energy Stadium), appeared to leave the Zips with no or little animosity...just wanting to fulfill his dream of playing in the pros. If Charlotte wins, I'll be very happy for the UNSEEDED, underdog team who defeated our team, then the #3, #2, and #1 seeds, and whose fans deserve their first NCAA D1 Soccer title.

That's a good point. The team that defeats the previous champion deserves to be the new champion.

If UNCC wins the title, then they will always point out that the 49ers defeated Akron, UConn, Creighton, UNC to win the title. We may have to hear numerous times how they defeated the previous champion. I just don't want to hear that repeated over and over. They already mentioned several times last night that UNCC defeated Akron. Hopefully, folks would concentrate more on the upsets of the #3, #2, and #1 (if it happens) seeds than they would on last season's champion. If UNC wins, they don't have that claim. Also, I know one of the Tarheels; I don't know any of the 49ers. Then, we have what you stated: UNCC is the mid-major, and do I really want another ACC team to claim the National Championship trophy? This is why I'm not sure for whom I'll cheer other than the player I know...the guy with the "winning" PK.

Fantastic assist and great "winning" PK for Ben Speas. I don't recall Ben ever taking a PK for the Zips, but he sure looked confident taking that one. Not sure which team I'll be cheering for Sunday, but I want Ben in Columbus with the Crew next season.

Darren not among the finalists. Schuler (UNC), Wenger (Duke), and Finlay (Creighton)

Don't think I can make it to London, but is anyone thinking of heading to Nashville for the CONCACAF Qualifying Group Stage(March 22, 24, & 26) USA Match Times and Ticket Prices - Tickets go on sale Dec. 20th. I would imagine AO Supporter Section Tickets will be up for sale shortly too. I'd love to, but I don't know if I'll be able to schedule around my current project.

http://www.london2012.com/football

I remember that, and I'm with you that I consider Ben a former Zip (although, when he goes pro, he will likely be listed as a Tarheel).

#10 is the only number as I understand. $59.95 EDIT: Sorry, I don't know if the jerseys are adidas or what. A friend told me the bookstore had them; so, I called and confirmed the price and number, but they won't take phone orders and the jerseys aren't on the website yet.

Anyone find an answer to this important question? I'd like to buy a couple for Christmas. Are they available? Or is there a talented screen-printer who could make a couple on the fly? just wondering, thanks. The UA Bookstore now has the 2011 Mens Soccer jerseys. However, they are not yet available online. You have to go to the UA Bookstore to get one.

You're right. UNC will be listed as his college, but I'll still know him from supporting him and talking with him when he was a Zip.

That's the part I've been trying to figure out. Hard to believe Coach Porter miscalculated Speas' potential to contribute to this year's team, but it's possible. It could also have been that he didn't fit Porter's style of play, could have been that he left with a chip on his shoulder and used that as motivation to get better, could have been that whoever Porter pictured playing ahead of Speas this year just didn't live up to expectations, could have been any number of things that aren't obvious to anyone who wasn't part of the decision. But the new recruiting class and thoughts of next year's team helps to erase memories of the guy from last year's team who may have made a difference this season but who "got away." What a great position to be in to "only" be a sweet 16 team after losing someone who might have made a difference. I don't think it's that difficult to understand how Ben could end up at a school that did better than us. He had the credentials - highly rated coming out of high school, played in every game while with the Zips, and experience in 2 previous College Cups. Any coach who was looking for just that 1 piece with Ben's abilities to complete his team would have been interested...UNC, in this case. That Caleb thought Ben didn't quite fit his style of play easily could have been why Ben left. Caleb said several times that former players who didn't fit his system were doing well elsewhere. At any rate, I don't share the animosity toward Ben that some seem to have due his leaving. Sometimes a person has to be a little selfish and put himself first if he wants to achieve his dream.

Darlington's MLS GOTY (approx 1:45) and 2nd goal (approx 3:11) are included. Portland Timbers 2011 Goals

EDIT: MDZip already covered the Creighton/UNC connection Nice picture of former Zip Ben Speas on front of this MLSSoccer.com article --- http://www.mlssoccer.com/news/article/2011...-north-carolina? Ben has been getting a lot of press in UNC's post-season run.

ESPNHS (was ESPNRise) has Koroma and Souders, #2 and #3, respectively.

I don't think so. He's started the few games that I've watched. EDIT: I checked 8 box scores at http://www.tarheelblue.com/sports/m-soccer...ccer-sched.html, and Ben was listed as a starter in all of them. I didn't check every box score, but I'm convinced he is a starter for UNC as I thought.

I agree with you that Ben could have been the difference between sitting home and going to Alabama next weekend. But, I also understand his decision to leave given that he came in with high expectations of starting and was mainly a sub for 2 years. I believe he's very interested in playing in the MLS. It's tough to get noticed by the pros without being a starter.

You don't have to. I try to talk to as many of our players as I can each season, and Ben was always very friendly to me. He's no longer a Zip, but was for 2 years and had one great header save vs UNC in the 2009 semi-final game to help the Zips get to the final.

I'm with you on both points. If/when the Crew someday picks up Chad Barson or any of the other Zips in their academy (yes, including Ben Speas, even though he went to UNC), I will follow the Crew.

Zips Sporting KC Portland Timbers upcoming season's Montreal Impact (hopefully fans will rival Sounders' fans) Seattle Sounders (best fans in the MLS) USMNT Every MLS team that actually plays our former Zips

The fact that they paid Parker Executive Search of Atlanta $50,000 plus expenses to recruit Ianello is also sickening.

No. He was an assistant coach at Central Florida right before coming here. He also had served as an assistant at Ohio State and West Virginia early in his career. Yes, you are correct that Huggins spent 1 year as an assistant at UCF after Walsh, before coming to Akron. He also had other D-1 experience as you mention. I never said that he didn't. I still hold that a lower division head coach can be successful in D-1. There's no perfect answer to who our new head coach should be. There's risk in any candidate who is chosen, but I prefer someone who has been successful actually being a head coach.

Although it wasn't football, Bob Huggins came to Akron from Walsh, where he was quite successful. He went on to take Akron to our first NCAA Tournament appearance in our D-1 era. Then he moved on to Cincy, Kansas State, and WVU and throughout has been to the Final Four several times. A successful lower division head coach can definitely be successful at D-1 if the coach is a winner and is driven to be a winner.