Zip_ME87

It is unfortunate that UConn had to cancel due to weather/travel considerations just like UA potentially losing a big pay out due to cancelation of the football game with Nebraska due to storms. However, at least a good opponent was found as a replacement, and I’m happy that our 2018 Zips get to play tonight at home and continue their progression. No one, especially our players, are satisfied with how this season is going thus far. I trust that our players will find their edge and the needed Zips Men’s Soccer mentality. These players are talented and smart. They just need to mentally put together a complete game and help each other out. I’m sure they all realize that no matter how good any of them are individually, they are only as good as the team.

U-19 MNT CAPTURES 2018 U-20 MEN'S INVITATIONAL TITLE WITH 4-1 WIN VS. JAMAICA

Congrats to Carlo and the US U19 MNT on winning this U20 Invitational Tourney.

Good comments Z.I.P. I really can't add anything. The Zips seemed to lack speed and focus. Two early goals in this one; UW had several additional opportunities but mostly seemed content to defend in the 2nd half.

U-19 MNT DRAWS VENEZUELA U-20S 2-2 IN 2018 U-20 MEN'S INVITATIONAL OPENER Lineups: USA: 1-Sam Fowler; 2-Akil Watts, 4-Julian Araujo, 5-JJ Foe Nuphaus, 3-Nathan Harriel (15-Khai Brisco, 76); 8-Chris Goslin (6-Taylor Booth, 46), 14-Blaine Ferri (21-Carlo Ritaccio, 84), 10-George Acosta (16-Isaac Angking, 46); 7-Jacobo Reyes (18-Joshua Penn, 76), 11-Ulysses Llanez (17-Declan McGlynn, 76), 9-Manuel Terrazas Subs not used: 12-Johan Penaranda Head coach: Dave Van den Bergh U-19 MNT DEFEATS 10-MAN U-20 MNT 1-0 AT 2018 U-20 MEN'S INVITATIONAL

It was great seeing Nick Hinds at Seattle U to support the 2018 Zips.

Latest 2019 commitments list from Top Drawer Soccer includes: Grant Abbott, GK, Decatur, Illinois, St. Louis FC Henrique Cruz, MF, New Jersey, Cedar Stars Academy John Fitzgerald, MF, Tallahassee, Florida, Barca Academy Will Jackson, MF, Hudson, Ohio, Internationals SC (OH) Cameron Victor, GK, Olmsted Falls, Ohio, Internationals SC (OH) I know we've discussed some of these players in the 2018 Recruiting thread. Anyone have any updates?

...10 players have been called into the U-19 player pool for the first time: George Acosta (Boca Juniors), Isaac Angking (New England Revolution), Julian Araujo (LA Galaxy), Khai Brisco (Seattle Sounders FC), Chris Goslin (Atlanta United FC), Nathan Harriel (Chargers SC), Ulysses Llanez (LA Galaxy), Bryan Reynolds (FC Dallas), Carlo Ritaccio (Akron) and Manuel Terrazas (Santos Laguna). ... U.S. U-19 MNT Roster by Position: GOALKEEPERS (2): Sam Fowler (Seattle Sounders FC; Issaquah, Wash.), Johan Penaranda (University of Pittsburgh; Long Beach, N.Y.) DEFENDERS (6): Julian Araujo (LA Galaxy; Lompoc, Calif.), Khai Brisco (Seattle Sounders FC; Renton, Wash.), Jean-Julien Foe Nuphaus (University of California, Berkeley; San Jose, Calif.), Nathan Harriel (Chargers SC; Oldsmar, Fla.), Carlo Ritaccio (University of Akron; Westbury, N.Y.), Akil Watts (Unattached; Fort Wayne, Ind.) MIDFIELDERS (5): Isaac Angking (New England Revolution; Providence, R.I.), Taylor Booth (Unattached; Eden, Utah), Blaine Ferri (Unattached; Southlake, Texas), Chris Goslin (Atlanta United FC; Atlanta, Ga.), Declan McGlynn (Seattle University; Kirkland, Wash.) FORWARDS (6): George Acosta (Boca Juniors; Miami, Fla.), Ulysses Llanez (LA Galaxy; Lynwood, Calif.), Joshua Penn (Sockers FC; Naperville, Ill.), Jacobo Reyes (CF Monterrey; Monterrey, Mexico), Bryan Reynolds (FC Dallas; Frisco, Texas), Manuel Terrazas (Club Santos Laguna; El Paso, Texas) Best wishes Carlo Ritaccio and US U19 MNT!!!

DeAndre Yedlin and Wil Trapp among players called into USMNT duty for upcoming friendlies... https://www.ussoccer.com/stories/2018/09/02/10/38/20180902-news-mnt-dave-sarachan-names-24-player-roster-kickoff-series-brazil-mexico

Even better after the goal.

Without looking at the roster and starting with those players along the back rail... Daniel Oliveira, Ahmed Allen, Chris Lue Young, Nick Sabilis (I think, but hard to see) Ben Lundt, Marcel Zajac, Marco Micaletto, Peter Zecca, Joe Korb, Sammy Tojaga, Abdi Mohammed, Braden Petno, Kotaro Umeda, Morgan Hackworth, Faisal Ghaffur, Skye Harter, Diogo Pacheco (I think after enlarging photo), Barth-Luther Muafo (ZipsMSoc alum) Ricky Cabellas, (I can't tell who is standing facing Skye) Ezana Kahsay Edited ... I think Diogo Pacheco is behind Skye Harter & Faisal Ghaffur.

I’m not as concerned about LB. I think Leonard Sohn and Pol Hernandez can trade time there and one will likely emerge as the starter. I also agree that Daniel Strachan does not look comfortable at RB and should not continue there. Marco Micaletto needs to move further forward where he can get more into the attack. Looking at a discussion on another website, Abdi Mohammed played HMF some at tOSU. I like the idea of putting him there to get Micaletto moved forward.

This team looks tentative and not confident. They dig a hole and allow the other team to dictate the game. They have to take ownership and help each other figure it out. Jared's quotes from the Beacon Journal article pretty much sum it up. Need to clean up the unforced turnovers, too “I think our inexperience showed at the start,” UA coach Jared Embick said. “We kind of came out a little slow, lacked maturity and were a little naïve. Good teams will punish you. Friday we were able to come back from being down 1 [and rally for a 2-2 draw with Butler], but you can’t continue to go down goals and expect to get back into games. … We gave up two goals on three shots. Once they got the lead, it played into their hands.” “We were not good enough in the midfield, not good enough in the back and then up top we just couldn’t get enough service,” Embick said. “This will be a good one to learn from. We have been in this situation before, so we have got to learn quickly. We have another opportunity against Pittsburgh [on Saturday].” “We knew this would be a year where we have some transition in terms of the lineup and experience,” Embick said. “We still have enough talent to do better than we did tonight. We just didn’t perform. … We have got to be more assertive and more aggressive.”

Butler’s Louis Bulger took the penalty kick and buried it into the top-right corner. huh? Not a penalty...free kick from just outside the penalty area. Perfectly placed inside the upper right corner as I recall. Reminiscent of an Adam Najem special. 2-2 final was a good result for our young team. There's a lot to improve, but there was a lot that was good. David Egbo and Joe Korb stood out to me. Need to clean up our defensive play and transition through the midfield (passing). A beautiful shot from Ivan Nikolic just hit the crossbar and bounced down and out. Just a bit lower and that would have scored. Nice laser shot.