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The Belated NASL End-of-Season Report
I could hide behind the fact that the blog IS called MLS Cleveland and just skip this post, but it’s been a crazy month and I wouldn’t feel right if I didn’t finish what I started, which would be the complete NASL report. So here goes:
OTTAWA FURY FC • What a run the Fury went on! The second-year group can be extremely proud of being both Fall Season Champions and the beaten NASL Finalists. To get there, they won at San Antonio 1-0; blasted Jacksonville 3-1 to clinch the Fall Crown; and they finished the regular season with the 1-1 draw with Atlanta and riding a 12-match unbeaten streak. Sinisa Ubiparipovic [Mentor/Mentor] was fantastic in San Antonio, playing 87 minutes before subbing out. He played 87 more brilliant minutes at Jacksonville and a) drew the foul that led to the Fury’s first goal, b) scored a brilliant chip that earned him Goal of the Week nomination and c) got himself on the NASL Team of the Week, for the fifth time this season. In the season finale, he rested and the Noir et Rouge (did I do that right?) finished the Fall with 45 points out of 20 games – and 56 out of 30, good for second place overall.
Since the Fury won the Fall Season, they got a pass straight into the Playoff Semifinals, and there, they knocked out Minnesota United 2-1 in extra time. Ubiparipovic played all 120 minutes and assisted on Tommy Heinemann’s eventual game-winner in the 108th minute. 
The NASL Final, played at one of the New York Cosmos six different home stadia – ended with New York winning 3-2, but the Fury had a man sent off in the 68th minute with the score 1-1. They fought valiantly, but ran out of time. Ubiparipovic played 72 minutes before being subbed out. It was at that point that the Cosmos went up 2-1 and Fury Head Coach Marc Dos Santos threw on fresh-legged attackers to see if they couldn’t dig the team out of its hole. The scoreline went to 3-1 New York and Ottawa made it 3-2 in the final moments of the game, but that was all she wrote.
ATLANTA SILVERBACKS • The Silverbacks got two of nine points in their three final games. It was 0-0 v Tampa Bay, 0-1 @ Minnesota Utd., and a 1-1 v Ottawa. They finished sixth in the fall (25 from 20) and eighth overall (33 from 30). Matt Horth [Akron/Cuyahoga Valley Christian Academy] came on in the 87th minute against Tampa Bay, played the entire second half at (the other) MUFC and he was not in the team for the Ottawa match.
INDY ELEVEN • The Boys in Blue won two of their final three games of the season, 3-1 against Minnesota United FC and 2-1 against the Fort Lauderdale Strikers. Despite losing the season finale 3-1 at the Carolina RailHawks, those six points out of nine did help Indy climb out of the NASL basement by one point. Indy finished with 20 total points from 20 fall games, and 33 from 30, all told. Neither Kyle Hyland [Bay Village/Bay] nor Judson McKinney [Stow/Cuyahoga Valley Christian Academy] suited up for the two victories, as they were out injured – Hyland with an adductor strain and McKinney with a sprained ankle – McKinney was an unused sub at Carolina.
The next NASL-related post will detail these fellas’ seasons and their stats, as well as a prognosis/prediction for them as they look towards 2016.
PHOTO CREDITS: ottawafuryfc.com
2015 Week 32 Post
The pending International Break made for a light schedule this week (and it gave me a little more time to finish the post before I fall behind on the next week’s report). There’ll be so few games that we’ll double-up on next week’s post. Anyways, here’s how things went the weekend of 3 October, plus:
TORONTO FC W 3-1 Philadelphia Union • Our dynamic defensive duo of Josh Williams [Copley/Copley] and Justin Morrow [Shaker Heights/St. Ignatius] have really meant a lot to TFC’s playoff push. Maybe not as much as Sebastian Giovinco’s goals, but still, they’ve put in some solid performances recently that have helped the Reds climb up towards the postseason. They each played 90 in this win.
COLUMBUS CREW SC L 1-2 New York Red Bulls • The Crew may not slide out of the playoff picture, but they’re certainly not making their run into the postseason comfortable. The Black and Gold could’ve wrapped up a berth by winning on Saturday night, but they’ll have to wait until after the International Break to finalize things, including – hopefully – a direct pass into the Eastern Conference semifinals. Ben Speas [Stow/Cuyahoga Valley Christian Academy] didn’t dress and Brad Stuver [Twinsburg/Twinsburg] was the backup keeper.
MONTREAL IMPACT L 1-2 @ Orlando City SC • OCSC ended the Impact’s three-game winning streak and, most amazingly, kept Didier Drogba off the scoresheet. Evan Bush [Concord Township/Lake Catholic] made two saves in the match, which was an entertaining, back-and-forth tussle that the home side won with ten minutes remaining.
PORTLAND TIMBERS L 0-1 Sporting Kansas City • If you’re going to get beaten by the goal of the year – and in my mind, this one is it – then you take your hat off to the guy who scored it and regroup for the next game. Wow. Darlington Nagbe [Lakewood/St. Edward] played 90 and took four shots, three of which forced Sporting’s goalie to make saves.
LOS ANGELES GALAXY D 1-1 @ Seattle Sounders • Kenney Walker [Wickliffe/Wickliffe] was not in the team for this road draw, which woulda’/shoulda’/coulda’ been three road points for LA, if not for a last-second goal from former Galaxian Chad Barrett.
MONTREAL L 1-2 @ New York Red Bulls • Drogba did score in this game, and busted out some pretty annoying shenanigans on a Red Bulls PK, but the top team in the Eastern Conference showed its quality in winning, forcing Bush to make five saves.
MONTREAL W 1-0 @ Colorado • Drogba. Free kick. Ballgame. Bush made three saves in what was a pretty easy night for him.
Next Week’s Matches
~ Thursday, 14 October
TFC v NYRB, 7pm
RSL v PORTLAND, 930pm
~ Saturday, 17 October
TFC v COLUMBUS, 2pm
New England v MONTREAL, 730pm
~ Sunday, 18 October
LA v PORTLAND, 7pm – live on Fox Sports 1
Here’s how things went over the past couple game weeks for our NASL guys:
OTTAWA FURY FC W 2-0 FC Edmonton (3 Oct); D 1-1 @ Tampa Bay Rowdies (10 Oct) • Wow. I’m not sure any one of our guys is ballin’ harder than Sinisa Ubiparipovic [Mentor/Mentor] is right now. He scored both goals in the win against FC Ed, which clinched the first-ever NASL playoff berth for Ottawa and he also got on the NASL TOTW… AGAIN!! AGAIN!!! Three weeks in a row, again! He started and played 90 in both games and is the engine that is driving Ottawa towards a deep postseason run and maybe even a league crown. (He did not make TOTW after the Rowdies game, however.) First things first, though, and that would be this weekend’s game with San Antonio on Sunday at 3pm. There are a lot of different scenarios going on regarding the open playoff spots, but if Ottawa keeps winning, they will earn the overall top seed in the playoffs and home field advantage for the semifinals.
INDY ELEVEN D 1-1 @ Jacksonville Armada FC (3 Oct); L 1-2 San Antonio Scorpions (10 Oct) • Kyle Hyland [Bay Village/Bay] started and played 90 in that Armada draw, but was not a part of the loss to the Scorpions. Judson McKinney [Stow/Cuyahoga Valley Christian Academy] was not a part of either game. Indy is playing for pride and to be the spoiler at this point, as they’re in last place. If they could beat Minnesota this Saturday at 730pm, it’d certainly help out Ottawa.
ATLANTA SILVERBACKS D 1-1 @ New York Cosmos (4 Oct); L 0-3 New York Cosmos (7 Oct) • Matt Horth [Akron/Cuyahoga Valley Christian Academy] subbed on in the 79th minute of the loss, but did not feature in the draw three days earlier. The Silvers are close to a playoff berth, and they need to start winning if they want to get in. They host Tampa Bay on Saturday at 730pm.
PHOTO CREDIT: I don’t know… it was with an article from the Daily Mail of England, but there was no credit with it. Sorry, to whomever the photog was.
2015 Week 31 Report
Just a few games this weekend. Here’s how things went for our guys’ teams:
LOS ANGELES GALAXY D 1-1 @ Central FC • Kenney Walker [Wickliffe/Wickliffe] started as a central mid and played 90. He was on corner kick duty and put in five, as this draw was enough to give LA a berth in the CONCACAF Champions League Quarterfinals for the fourth year in a row. Walker picked up a yellow card in the 61st minute for “unsporting behavior.” Gotta’ love that vague term.
TORONTO FC W 3-2 Chicago Fire • The Fire tried and tried to give the game away, as they twice squandered one-goal leads. TFC was more than happy to accept such generosity from their visitors. Justin Morrow [Shaker Heights/St. Ignatius] and Josh Williams [Copley/Copley] both started at the back and played 90.
MONTREAL IMPACT W 2-0 DC United • I guess you gotta’ give it up for Didier Drogba. He has really turned things around in Montreal. They can’t stop scoring goals and they won’t stop gaining ground on all those Eastern Conference teams above them in the standings, thanks to all those games they have in hand. Evan Bush [Concord Township/Lake Catholic] made three saves in the win.
PORTLAND TIMBERS W 2-1 COLUMBUS CREW • A week after being in first place for the first time in three years, the Crew SC got bumped back into the middle of the playoff pack after this loss. Portland continues its climb towards the postseason, bound and determined not to finish on the outside like it did last year. Darlington Nagbe [Lakewood/St. Edward] was a menace to his home-state side throughout his 90-minute stint. He carved up a beautiful assist on the Timbers’ first goal. Ben Speas [Stow/Cuyahoga Valley Christian Academy] was not in the team and Brad Stuver [Twinsburg/Twinsburg] was the backup goalie for the home side.
LOS ANGELES GALAXY W 3-2 FC Dallas • This was an entertaining match to watch, played between two of the sides that really can get after it when they have the ball. There was never any chance that the match was going to end 0-0. Walker was not in the LA gameday XVIII.
Next Week’s Matches
~ Saturday, 3 October
Philadelphia @ TFC, 7pm
NYRB @ COLUMBUS, 730pm
MONTREAL @ OCSC, 8pm
Sporting KC @ PORTLAND, 1030pm
~ Sunday, 4 October
LA @ Seattle, 930pm – live on Fox Sports 1
And now for the report on our one USL playoff team:
PITTSBURGH RIVERHOUNDS L 2-4 aet New York Red Bulls II • LOTS of action in this contest, and most of it came late. Pittsburgh opened the scoring in the 15th minute and the home side equalized in the 62nd, but that was all the scoring in regulation, which sent the game into overtime. The guests again scored first, seven minutes in, but the home side bagged three before all was said and done, to advance to the USL Eastern Conference Semifinals. Mike Green [Strongsville/Strongville] subbed on in the 71st minute as a midfielder/defender.
And here’s how our NASL dudes did last week:
ATLANTA SILVERBACKS D 3-3 San Antonio Scorpions • Matt Horth [Akron/Cuyahoga Valley Christian Academy] was not in the team for this slugfest that Atlanta thought they had won until surrendering two goals in the final 12 minutes to end up splitting the points. Next up for the ‘Backs is two games in four days with the New York Cosmos – away on Sunday, 4 October and back at home the following Wednesday.
INDY ELEVEN D 1-1 @ Tampa Bay Rowdies • Neither Kyle Hyland [Bay Village/Bay] nor Judson McKinney [Stow/Cuyahoga Valley Christian Academy] were in the Eleven gameday XVIII for this road draw. Next up for Indy is a 730pm game on Saturday in Jacksonville with the Armada FC.
OTTAWA FURY FC W 3-1 @ Carolina RailHawks • This win, Ottawa’s sixth on the road in a row, keeps them firmly entrenched in first place in the NASL’s Fall Season. Sinisa Ubiparipovic [Mentor/Mentor] started and played 85 minutes before subbing out. Who needs 90 minutes when you can get on the league’s Team of the Week while playing less than the maximum minutes allowed? Not Ubiparipovic!! He has nearly spent more time on the TOTW than he has off it – this is appearance number four for him, coming on the heels of last week’s POTW performance! The guy has been ballin’ out in the month of September!! Next up for the Fury is a 3pm Saturday game with FC Edmonton.
PHOTO CREDIT: Matt Ellis/Columbus Underground
2015 Week 30 Report
Did you notice that prior to this weekend’s games, just eleven points separate the team that’s currently in the final MLS Playoff spot (TFC, 37) and the team in the lead for the Supporters’ Shield race (Vancouver, 48)? If the playoffs were to begin today, five of our guys’ teams would be in. Over the next month, we’re going to see some crazy stuff and it’s a safe bet the table won’t look like it looks right now (1pm, 19 Sept). Here’s how our fellas’ teams did this weekend:
TORONTO FC L 0-2 @ New York City FC • Our defensive duo of Justin Morrow [Shaker Heights/St. Ignatius] and Josh Williams [Copley/Copley] started and played 90 in what was a pretty disappointing performance on the road for a playoff contender.
MONTREAL IMPACT D 1-1 @ San Jose Earthquakes • This would qualify as a “good point” for Montreal, as it was earned after the visitors were down a goal after 35 minutes and down a man after 49 minutes. Evan Bush [Concord Township/Lake Catholic] was not in the travel team, as he remains home with his wife and newborn baby.
TORONTO FC W 3-1 Colorado Rapids • These three points helped TFC dig into that fifth Eastern Conference playoff spot. Josh Williams [Copley/Copley] and Justin Morrow [Shaker Heights/St. Ignatius] both started and played 90.
COLUMBUS CREW SC W 2-1 @ DC United • A massive road win put the Crew in first place… for about 18 hours or so. But even after the conclusion of the weekend, the Black and Gold are second in the East and fifth overall. They should be able to clinch a playoff berth next weekend. Brad Stuver [Twinsburg/Twinsburg] was the backup keeper and Ben Speas [Stow/Cuyahoga Valley Christian Academy] was not in the gameday XVIII.
MONTREAL IMPACT W 3-0 New England Revolution • Evan Bush [Concord Township/Lake Catholic] was back in goal after a couple weeks off, and he made three saves in the shutout to help Montreal get a foothold on the sixth playoff spot in the East.
LOS ANGELES GALAXY L 0-3 @ Real Salt Lake • Sheesh! Just when it looked like LA was going to run away with everything and there was no need to even have playoffs this year, these last two games happened. Kenney Walker [Wickliffe/Wickliffe] was not in the team.
PORTLAND TIMBERS L 0-2 New York Red Bulls • During and after this one, there was a lot of talk on Twitter about the reality of the notion/perception that the teams in the Western Conference were far superior than those in the Eastern Conference. Well… here’s one of the arguments against. Darlington Nagbe [Lakewood/St. Edward] started and went 90. Michael Nanchoff [North Royalton/Walsh Jesuit] was not in the team.
Next Week’s Matches
~ Wednesday, 23 September
Central FC v LOS ANGELES, 8pm – CCL Group H
~ Saturday, 26 September
TFC v Chicago, 2pm
MONTREAL v DC, 5pm
COLUMBUS v PORTLAND, 730pm
~ Sunday, 27 September
LOS ANGELES v FC Dallas, 930pm – live on Fox Sports 1
The USL Regular Season is all done and dusted and we now know who the 12 participants in the Playoffs are.
PITTSBURGH RIVERHOUNDS D 1-1 Rochester Rhinos; W 2-1 @ Harrisburg Islanders • INSKI! After a midweek draw left them with a win-and-you’re-in deal for Saturday, that’s just what the Riverhounds did – and they took home the 2015 Keystone Cup in the process. Mike Green [Strongsville/Strongsville] started at the back on Wednesday and played all 90, then on Saturday, he subbed on in the 68th minute to help close up shop and preserve the win. Mission accomplished. Pittsburgh will now play at New York Red Bulls II next Saturday at 5pm.
CHARLOTTE INDEPENDENCE L 1-3 @ Charleston Battery • It’s disappointing that the Independence’s inaugural season ends just one point shy of the playoffs. The loss also gave the Battery, the Eastern Conference’s number-three seed in the playoffs, a 2-1-1 advantage in the series with their new northern neighbors. Jack Thompson [Hudson/Cuyahoga Valley Christian Academy] did not feature in the gameday 18.
The NASL Fall Season has a several more weeks to go. Here’s how those boys and their teams did this weekend:
OTTAWA FURY FC W 2-0 @ Fort Lauderdale Strikers • Sinisa Ubiparipovic [Mentor/Mentor] had a goal and an assist in his 90-minute shift to help keep the Fury on top of the NASL in the Fall Season – 28 points from 13 games. Good enough to get him the NASL Player of the Week! Next up is a Tuesday showdown with second-place New York at their place for a 730pm kickoff, followed by a Saturday game at Carolina at 730pm.
ATLANTA SILVERBACKS W 2-1 Carolina RailHawks • Atlanta recovered from allowing a goal in the first minute of the game to take the points on Saturday night. Matt Horth [Akron/Cuyahoga Valley Christian Academy] was not in the team. Next up is a Saturday trip to San Antonio for a 830pm contest.
INDY ELEVEN L 0-2 FC Edmonton • A pair of second-half goals from the visitors handed the Eleven their eighth loss of the Fall Season, which puts them tenth in the league on 12 points from 14 games played. Kyle Hyland [Bay Village/Bay] started and played 90 at left back. Judson McKinney [Stow/Cuyahoga Valley Christian Academy] was not in the gameday 18. Next up is a Wednesday game at 730pm in Tampa Bay against the Rowdies.
PHOTO CREDIT: nasl.com
2015 Week 29 Report
Just a few games this week, as everyone gets going again on the back end of the international break. Here’s how things went:
PORTLAND TIMBERS D 0-0 Sporting Kansas City • I’m not sure anyone would’ve expected a goalless draw when these two teams meet up, but that’s what they got last Wednesday night in the Rose City. Darlington Nagbe [Lakewood/St. Edward] played 90 as an attacking mid. Michael Nanchoff [North Royalton/Walsh Jesuit] was an unused sub.
COLUMBUS CREW SC W 2-1 @ Philadelphia Union • The visiting Crew got two goals five minutes apart in the first half and did the rest with defense to take an important three points in Philly. Ben Speas [Stow/Cuyahoga Valley Christian Academy] was not in the team, but Brad Stuver [Twinsburg/Twinsburg] was the backup goalie.
LOS ANGELES GALAXY D 0-0 MONTREAL IMPACT • Are the blue & white Canadian teams the Galaxy’s kryptonite? Vancouver and Montreal went a combined 2-0-1 against LA Head Coach Bruce Arena and his boys, and they did not concede a single goal. The Galaxy better hope they end up on the other side of the Whitecaps in the playoff bracket. Kenney Walker [Wickliffe/Wickliffe] was not in the team. Evan Bush [Concord Township/Lake Catholic] was good for four saves in earning the shutout for Montreal.
TORONTO FC L 1-3 New England Revolution • Our TFC backline bros, Justin Morrow [Shaker Heights/St. Ignatius] and Josh Williams [Copley/Copley] both started and played 90. Morrow assisted on the Reds’ lone score on the night, with a fine cross that Robbie Findley headed home.
Next Week’s Matches
~ Wednesday, 16 September
NYCFC v TFC, 730pm – live on ESPN2
Vancouver v MONTREAL, 1030pm
~ Saturday, 19 September
TFC v Colorado, 2pm
DC v COLUMBUS, 7pm
MONTREAL v New England, 8pm
RSL v LOS ANGELES, 930pm
~ Sunday, 20 September
PORTLAND v NYRB, 5pm – live on ESPN
USL’s regular season is winding down as the playoffs are about to get cooking. The NASL still has about a month more to go. Here’s how our fellas did last week:
PITTSBURGH RIVERHOUNDS D 1-1 Wilmington Hammerheads FC • Down a man and seeing their playoff hopes slipping through their hands, the ‘Hounds needed a 70th minute strike from a sub to rescue a point. Mike Green [Strongsville/Strongsville] was not in the team. Pittsburgh’s final two regular season game will be Wednesday night at 7pm against Rochester and on Saturday at Harrisburg for a 7pm contest. Win both, and they should be in for sure. Anything else will require some math and help from the other playoff candidates. Five points separate six teams vying for the final four Eastern Conference spots.
CHARLOTTE INDEPENDENCE W 4-1 TFC II; L 0-2 @ St. Louis FC • The Independence is one of those six teams I just mentioned. They won their home finale in convincing fashion against the TFC JV last Wednesday, but then had their 12-match unbeaten run ended in St. Louis. Jack Thompson [Hudson/Cuyahoga Valley Christian Academy] scored once in 30 minutes of sub work against the Little Reds, and then he subbed on and played 29 minutes. Charlotte’s regular season finale is this Saturday at 730pm against Charleston. Much like Pittsburgh, it’ll be win and in for the CTL, currently ‘IN’ while occupying the sixth spot with 40 points. The Riverhounds are in eighth with 38. Should be an interesting Saturday night in the USL!!!
OTTAWA FURY FC D 0-0 Fort Lauderdale Strikers • The front end of a home-and-away with the Strikers ended scoreless and Sinisa Ubiparipovic [Mentor/Mentor] started at attacking mid and played 90. The points keeps the Fury on top of the league this Fall Season, but they’re now tied with Minnesota United FC on 25 points from 13 games. The two teams will face off on Saturday down in the stifling FLA heat and humidity at 730pm.
INDY ELEVEN L 0-2 @ San Antonio Scorpions • No Kyle Hyland [Bay Village Bay] in the travel team for this one, as he was nursing an injury suffered in the previous game. The loss leaves Indy ninth in the NASL with 12 points from 13 contests. Next up is a visit from FC Edmonton on Saturday night for a 730pm affair.
ATLANTA SILVERBACKS L 1-2 Minnesota United FC • The Silverbacks suffered a red-card in just the fourth minute, and it was uphill sledding from there. Despite that, they actually went up 1-0 five minutes later, but the other MUFC scored twice in the first half and did the rest with defense (and numerical superiority). Matt Horth [Akron/Cuyahoga Valley Christian Academy] was not in the team. Atlanta remains in shouting distance of the playoffs, with 18 points from 13 matches, just two points off the pace. They host Carolina on Saturday at 730pm.
PHOTO CREDIT: couldn’t find it on the website where I got the photo… sorry to whoever took it!!
2015 Week 28 Report
This is the smallest slate of the season, with only three games involving three of our boys’ teams. Just one of them won. Here’s how they all did:
MONTREAL IMPACT W 4-3 Chicago Fire • Evan Bush [Concord Township/Lake Catholic] made four saves and got a great view of Didier Drogba’s MLS debut and hat trick. The home side impressively fought back from a two-goal deficit in the 59th minute to get the victory. 
TORONTO FC L 1-2 @ Seattle Sounders • TFC went punch-for-punch with the Sounders without their talisman Sebastian Giovinco, but gave up the winner with 13 minutes to go. Josh Williams [Copley/Copley] started at center back and played 90, while Justin Morrow [Shaker Heights/St. Ignatius] was not in the team.
COLUMBUS CREW L 0-3 FC Dallas • Ben Speas [Stow/Cuyahoga Valley Christian Academy] started at left mid and went 58 minutes before subbing out with the Crew SC trailing 1-0. Brad Stuver [Twinsburg/Twinsburg] was an unused sub as backup goalie. The home side dominated most of the match, but got hit thrice on the counterattack to make for another frustrating national television appearance (Columbus drew 2-2 with Chicago on a Friday night back in May).
Next Week’s Matches
~ Wednesday, 9 September
PORTLAND v Sporting KC, 1030pm
~ Saturday, 12 September
Philadelphia v COLUMBUS, 7pm
LOS ANGELES v MONTREAL, 1030pm
~ Sunday, 13 September
TFC v New England, 5pm – live on ESPN2
And now for the news on our NASL and USL guys:
INDY ELEVEN L 0-1 @ Minnesota United FC; W 3-0 Jacksonville Armada FC • Three points from two games is always better than zero. Indy is now in ninth place with 12 points. Kyle Hyland [Bay Village/Bay] was an unused sub at the other MUFC and then he played all 90 against Jax. Judson McKinney [Stow/Cuyahoga Valley Christian Academy] was not in the team for either match. Next up is a trip to San Antonio for a Saturday night 830pm match.
OTTAWA FURY W 1-0 @ San Antonio Scorpions • Sinisa Ubiparipovic [Mentor/Mentor] started and played 90 at attacking mid as the Fury bumped their lead at the top of the NASL Fall Season to five points over New York. Next up is a Saturday home match with Fort Lauderdale at 3pm.
ATLANTA SILVERBACKS L 0-2 @ Carolina RailHawks • Goals in the 24th and 28th minute were all the home side needed to defeat Atlanta, who now are fifth in the Fall standings with 18 points. Matt Horth [Akron/Cuyahoga Valley Christian Academy] was an unused sub. Next up are two home games – Minnesota United FC on Tuesday and Carolina on Saturday. Both are 730pm kicks.
PITTSBURGH RIVERHOUNDS D 1-1 Charleston Battery • Mike Green [Strongsville/Strongsville] started up top and played 74 minutes before subbing out. This loss bumped Pitt back to seventh place in the Eastern Conference with another important game looming next Saturday in Wilmington against the Hammerheads at 730pm.
CHARLOTTE INDEPENDENCE W 1-0 @ Wilmington Hammerheads FC; D 2-2 Wilmington Hammerheads FC • Jack Thompson [Hudson/Cuyahoga Valley Christian Academy] started in the win and played 89 minutes before subbing out. In the draw, he was not a part of the gameday team. Next up for the Independence is another two-match week, as they host TFC II on Wednesday at 7pm and then they’ll travel to St. Louis for an 830pm match on Saturday.
PHOTO CREDIT: Sy Bean/The Seattle Times
2015 Week 27 Report
Now that one of our guys has joined another and now that one of our guys is done for the season with an injury, these reports seem to be getting shorter. With just three games NEXT week, that one’s going to be really short! Anyways, here’s how everyone did this past week:
MONTREAL IMPACT L 0-2 @ Vancouver Whitecaps • The Whitecaps won their first-ever Voyageurs Cup Trophy last Wednesday, thanks to a 4-2 aggregate scoreline in the 2015 Amway Canadian Championship (which will also earn them a berth in the 2016 CONCACAF Champions League). Evan Bush [Concord Township/Lake Catholic] was not in the travel team, as he was with his wife back home, awaiting the birth of their child.
LOS ANGELES GALAXY L 0-1 @ San Jose Earthquakes • Are the ‘Quakes LA’s bogey team? Maybe. They love nothing more than to stymie their southern neighbors in each and every CaliClásico. Kenney Walker [Wickliffe/Wickliffe] was an unused sub.
COLUMBUS CREW SC W 2-1 @ New York City FC • The Black and Gold picked up three huge points on their first trip to Yankee Stadium’s teeny-tiny pitch, coming from behind to do it. Brad Stuver [Twinsburg/Twinsburg] was the backup goalie and Ben Speas [Stow/Cuyahoga Valley Christian Academy] did not travel to NYC.
TORONTO FC W 2-1 @ MONTREAL IMPACT • 
While this scoreline is also representative of the number of Clevelanders on the two teams’ rosters, that would not have applied on Saturday evening, as Montreal’s Evan Bush [Concord Township/Lake Catholic] was back at home with his wife and their newborn baby. Josh Williams [Copley/Copley] and Justin Morrow [Shaker Heights/St. Ignatius] started on the TFC backline.
PORTLAND TIMBERS L 1-2 @ Seattle Sounders • After this loss, there’s no way the Timbers can win the 2015 Cascadia Cup. It’s the Sounders’ to lose and all they have to do is beat or tie Vancouver when the two teams meet on 19 Sept. Darlington Nagbe [Lakewood/St. Edward] started and played 90. Michael Nanchoff [North Royalton/Walsh Jesuit] was an unused sub.
Next Week’s Matches
~ Saturday, 5 September
MONTREAL v Chicago, 8pm
Seattle v TFC, 10pm
~ Sunday, 6 September
COLUMBUS v FC Dallas, 7pm – live on Fox Sports 1
Our fellas in the lower divisions are racing towards the playoffs and don’t have too many games left on their schedules to cement their places. Here’s how things went this past weekend:
OTTAWA FURY D 2-2 Tampa Bay Rowdies • Sinisa Ubiparipovic [Mentor/Mentor] subbed on up top in the 60th minute. The home side had a 2-0 lead in the 31st minute, but the guests chipped away to steal a point. Ottawa is still in first, but with just a two-point lead of the New York Cosmos and a three-point lead on Atlanta. Next up for the Fury is a trip to San Antonio next Saturday for an 830pm kickoff.
ATLANTA SILVERBACKS W 1-0 FC Edmonton • Matt Horth [Akron/Cuyahoga Valley Christian Academy] was an unused sub as Atlanta won an important match to keep themselves in the playoff hunt. The Silverbacks are in 3rd place in the Fall Season, and travel to Carolina on Friday night for a 730pm match.
INDY ELEVEN L 1-7 @ Fort Lauderdale Strikers • Kyle Hyland [Bay Village/Bay] started and played all 90 of this one, which was only 3-1 before the Eleven had a man sent off in the 50th minute. Then, things really went south. Judson McKinney [Stow/Cuyahoga Valley Christian Academy] was not in the team. Good for Indy that they can quickly get over that loss with two games this week – one on Wednesday at Minnesota United FC (8pm) and one on Saturday at home to Jacksonville Armada FC (730pm).
PITTSBURGH RIVERHOUNDS W 1-0 @ Louisville City • Mike Green [Strongsville/Strongsville] started up top and played 76 minutes before subbing off, in a much-needed victory that bumped the ‘Hounds back up into a playoff spot in the USL Eastern Conference. Next weekend, they’ll back at home to entertain the Charleston Battery at 730pm.
CHARLOTTE INDEPENDENCE W 1-0 @ FC Montreal; D 2-2 @ TFC II • Jack Thompson [Hudson/Cuyahoga Valley Christian Academy] didn’t play on Wednesday, but went 45 minutes as a second-half sub on Sunday. Getting four points from the two games was probably an acceptable outcome for the Independence, as they sit just two points (35-33) and two spots (6th/8th) below Pittsburgh in that final playoff spot, and they have a game in hand on the Riverhounds. Next up for Charlotte is another two-match week – Thursday at Wilmington for a 7pm game and Saturday at home against TFC II at 7pm.
PHOTO CREDIT: torontofc.ca
2015 Week 25 Report
There were just a handful of matches this week, as every team played one except for Columbus, which was idle. Here’s how our fellas did this past weekend:
MONTREAL IMPACT D 2-2 Vancouver Whitecaps • Leg One of the 2015 Amway Canadian Championship Final didn’t end the way the Impact wanted. It was good they didn’t lose – in fact, they fought back from being down 2-0 to avoid the loss, but it was bad they allowed two road goals to the Caps. If they can go to Vancouver on the 26th and win by a shutout or by two clear goals, the Voyageurs Cup will remain theirs for the third year running. Otherwise, no dice. Evan Bush [Concord Township/Lake Catholic] was the backup keeper for Montreal.
DC UNITED L 1-3 @ New York City FC • 
Last Thursday night, Chris Korb [Gates Mills/University School] started at right back, but left the game with a serious knee injury in the 79th minute and the home side scored twice after that to earn all three points. After the medical staff checked him out, it was learned that Korb has a torn right ACL and is potentially done for the season. What an unfortunate thing – yes, for the Eastern Conference leaders, but moreso, obviously for Korb. We wish him the best of luck in his recovery!
TORONTO FC L 0-3 @ New York Red Bulls • The Red Bulls brought the hammer down on TFC on Saturday night in Harrison, New Jersey. The bright spot – from our point-of-view – is that Josh Williams [Copley/Copley] started and played 90 at center back alongside Justin Morrow [Shaker Heights/St. Ignatius], who went 81 minutes at left back before subbing out.
LOS ANGELES GALAXY W 2-1 @ FC Dallas • Unlike the NYCFC DP trio, the Galaxy’s big three have been on fire since they joined forces over the past few weeks. Winning in Dallas isn’t easy, but LA made it happen with a total team effort. Kenney Walker [Wickliffe/Wickliffe] was not in the team for this contest.
PORTLAND TIMBERS W 1-0 @ Real Salt Lake • The Timbers got their goal in the fifth minute of second-half extra time and it came from former RSL fan favorite Nat Borchers. Darlington Nagbe [Lakewood/St. Edward] started and played 82 minutes. Michael Nanchoff [North Royalton/Walsh Jesuit] was an unused sub,
Next Week’s Matches:
~ Tuesday, 18 August
LOS ANGELES v Comunicaciones, CCL Group D match, 1030pm – live on Fox Sports 2
~ Wednesday, 19 August
COLUMBUS v NYCFC, 730pm
DC UNITED v Arabe Unido, CCL Group
~ Friday, 21 August
PORTLAND v Houston, 1030pm – live on UniMas
~ Saturday, 22 August
TORONTO v Orlando City, 4pm
DC v San Jose, 7pm
COLUMBUS v Sporting KC, 730pm
MONTREAL v Philadelphia, 8pm
~ Sunday, 23 August
LOS ANGELES v NYCFC, 3pm – live on ESPN
Here’s how things went for our NASL and USL guys:
PITTSBURGH RIVERHOUNDS D 1-1 CHARLOTTE INDEPENDENCE • The ‘Hounds went up in the first half, but then allowed the visitors to equalize five minutes from the break. Mike Green [Strongsville/Strongsville] started up top for Pitt and subbed out in the 81st minute. Jack Thompson [Hudson/Cuyahoga Valley Christian Academy] was an unused sub for the visitors. The two teams will meet again on Saturday down in Charlotte at 730pm.
ATLANTA SILVERBACKS L 0-1 @ Jacksonville Armada FC • The ‘Backs’ trip down I-75 (and then east on I-10) was all for naught, as they fell by the narrowest of margins. Matt Horth [Akron/Cuyahoga Valley Christian Academy] was an unused sub. Next up for Atlanta is visit from the Indy Eleven for a 730pm match on Saturday.
INDY ELEVEN • The boys in blue were idle last weekend, but they’ll play twice this week – Tampa Bay visits on Wednesday at 730pm, and Atlanta will be awaiting the Eleven on Saturday.
OTTAWA FURY L 1-2 Minnesota United FC • A goal from the visitors struck after the 90-minute mark stole two points from Ottawa and ended the Fury’s 12-match unbeaten run, though they do remain in first place this Fall Season. Sinisa Ubiparipovic [Mentor/Mentor] started and played 88 minutes as attacking mid. Next Saturday, the Fury is idle, but they return to action on the 26th at home against the New York Cosmos.
PHOTO CREDIT: Korb/USA Today Sports;
2015 Week 24 Report
It was a busy few days for our boys last weekend, featuring two teams playing twice and a mess of goals all across the board. Here’s how their teams did last week:
MONTREAL IMPACT D 1-1 New York Red Bulls • On Wednesday night, Evan Bush [Concord Township/Lake Catholic] gave up a goal in the second half and made one save in his 90 minutes. Montreal scored in the first half, but could not keep their visitors quiet – but to their credit, they kept things tight for the last 11 minutes after having a man sent off.
TORONTO FC W 4-1 Orlando City SC • Too much Giovinco – that was the story in this one, as the little man scored three goals and was constantly a threat to the OCSC backline. Justin Morrow [Shaker Heights/St. Ignatius] started at right back and played all 90 for TFC. New Red Josh Williams [Copley/Copley] was not in the team.
LOS ANGELES GALAXY W 5-1 Central FC • The 
Angelinos opened up their 2015-16 CONCACAF Champions League season the best way possible, by hammering an outmanned bunch from Trinidad & Tobago in the teams’ Group D lid-lifter. Kenney Walker [Wickliffe/Wickliffe] started as a holding mid and played all 90.
PORTLAND TIMBERS W 1-0 Chicago Fire • On Friday night in the Rose City, the Timbers scored once after the break to earn the three points. Darlington Nagbe [Lakewood/St. Edward] started and played 90 at attacking mid. Michael Nanchoff [North Royalton/Walsh Jesuit] was not in the gameday XVIII.
TORONTO FC L 1-3 Sporting Kansas City • Morrow subbed on for the final 21 minutes of this one, in hopes that his offensive leanings would get the game back to level (TFC trailed 2-1 at the time), but the final nail in the coffin came with three minutes to play. Unlike midweek, the Reds suffered from too little Giovinco… though he did assist on the goal and generally speaking, Sporting is a lot better defensively than Orlando City. No Williams in this one either.
MONTREAL IMPACT L 0-1 DC UNITED • One shot, one goal, three points. DC did the most with the least in this one, becoming the only team in league history to ever achieve that feat. Chris Korb [Gates Mills/University School] played all 90 for the victors. Bush did too, but all he got for his efforts were bumps in his Goals Against Average and Save Percentage stats.
COLUMBUS CREW SC W 2-1 @ Colorado Rapids • There’s been a lot of talk about the diminutive fella in Toronto, but the leading goal scorer in MLS is Kei Kamara of Columbus. He bagged both in this win, the Crew SC’s first in Denver since 2009. Brad Stuver [Twinsburg/Twinsburg] was the backup keeper.
LOS ANGELES GALAXY W 2-1 Seattle Sounders • Despite allowing a goal in the first couple minutes of the match, the Galaxy rebounded to defeat the Sounders at home on Sunday. Walker was an unused sub.
Next Week’s Matches
~ Wednesday, 12 August
MONTREAL v Vancouver, 730pm – Amway Canadian Championship, leg 1
~ Thursday, 13 August
NYCFC v DC, 730pm
~ Saturday, 15 August
NYRB v TFC, 7pm
FC Dallas v LOS ANGELES, 9pm
RSL v PORTLAND, 10pm
Here are the details on how our USL and NASL guys did last week:
CHARLOTTE INDEPENDENCE D 2-2 New York Red Bulls II • Those two teams each scored in each half – with the Red Bulls’ JV opening and closing the scoring. Jack Thompson [Hudson/Cuyahoga Valley Christian Academy] subbed in for the final four minutes. Up next for Charlotte is the return leg of the NYRB home-and-home on Wednesday, 12 August for a 730pm kickoff, followed by a Saturday contest at 7pm in Pittsburgh.
PITTSBURGH RIVERHOUNDS W 3-1 @ Toronto FC II • Mike Green [Strongsville/Strongsville] started up top and played 86 minutes of this road win that moves the Hounds up into the Eastern Conference top four. Up next for Pitt is the visit from Charlotte on Saturday.
OTTAWA FURY FC W 4-1 @ INDY ELEVEN • Sinisa Ubiparipovic [Mentor/Mentor] got the party started with a goal in the fourth minute, as the Fall
Season league leaders dominated from start to finish. His work that night earned him a spot on the NASL Team of the Week. For Indy, Kyle Hyland [Bay Village/Bay] played all 90 at left back and Judson McKinney [Stow/Cuyahoga Valley Christian Academy] was an unused sub. The Fury hosts Minnesota United FC on Saturday at 7pm, while Indy will host the Tampa Bay Rowdies at 730pm on the 19th. Earlier in the week, Indy lost 2-0 to FC Edmonton and in that match, Hyland and McKinney flipped roles. 
ATLANTA SILVERBACKS W 2-1 Fort Lauderdale Strikers; D 3-3 San Antonio Scorpions • It’s not often you see one team getting three guys sent off in the same game, but that’s what happened to the Strikers in Atlanta last Wednesday. Yes, the outcome was already in hand by the time the cards started flying, but going 11-v-8 didn’t hurt Atlanta’s efforts. On Saturday, it was goals galore as the home side squandered a 3-1 lead in the 57th minute to end up with one point. Matt Horth [Akron/Cuyahoga Valley Christian Academy] subbed on up top in second-half extra time on Wednesday and on the weekend, he got in for the final four minutes plus stoppage. Up next for Atlanta is a 730pm game on Saturday in Jacksonville with Armada FC.
PHOTO CREDIT: lagalaxy.com; Matt Schlotzhauer
2015 Week 22 Report
Lots of goals this weekend in our boys’ games. You know the old adage about the weather heating up and the scoring going up. Makes sense. Here’s what our fellas’ teams did this past Saturday and Sunday:
COLUMBUS CREW SC D 3-3 TORONTO FC • If I’m truly being fair and balanced, I’d want all of our head-to-head matches to end as draws with our boys scoring lots of goals… or 0-0 if it’s the two keepers facing off. But I’ve been a Crew SC fan since 1996, so this one was disappointing, to say the least. With the Black & Gold up 3-0 just moments into the second half, things were looking good. But… yeah. Brad Stuver [Twinsburg/Twinsburg] was the backup keeper for Columbus and Ben Speas [Stow/Cuyahoga Valley Christian Academy] was not in the gameday XVIII. For the Reds, Justin Morrow [Shaker Heights/St. Ignatius] did his usual 90 minutes at right back.
MONTREAL IMPACT W 1-0 Seattle Sounders • Evan Bush [Concord Township/Lake Catholic] started and played all 90 minutes, but turned in a completely clean stat line. No saves, no punches, no shots faced… nada. That doesn’t mean he just sat back there and ate a sandwich while his teammates did the rest, but it does reflect upon a solid team shutout.
LOS ANGELES GALAXY L 0-3 @ Houston Dynamo • It seems like Houston is just a tough place for LA to play. The Galaxy’s all-time record there is 3-6-2 now, and the boys in orange have scored 16 goals in those contests. Kenney Walker [Wickliffe/Wickliffe] started as holding mid and played 71 minutes.
PORTLAND TIMBERS L 1-4 @ FC Dallas • The Timbers can’t always beat Dallas and Darlington Nagbe [Lakewood/St. Edward] can’t always score against them. Though recent history has favored the PTFC gang, this Saturday night contest proved that there are few absolutes in MLS. Nagbe started as an attacking mid and played 78 minutes.
NEW YORK CITY FC W 5-3 Orlando City • If you hate defensive stalemates, this match was for you. Josh Williams [Copley/Copley] didn’t get in the team.
DC UNITED W 3-2 Philadelphia Union • Down 2-0 after four minutes, the home side came all the way back and got their winner with 11 minutes to go. Chris Korb [Gates Mills/University School] played all 90 and served up two assists to help earn him a spot on the Team of the Week. If two dimes from an outside back won’t do that, I’m not sure what will. Be sure to check out the highlights.
Next Week’s Matches
~ Saturday, 1 August
NYCFC v Montreal, 2pm
DC v RSL, 7pm
New England v TFC, 730pm
OCSC v COLUMBUS, 730pm
Colorado v LOS ANGELES, 1030pm
~ Sunday, 2 August
San Jose v PORTLAND, 5pm
Here’s what was up with our non-MLS guys last week:
OTTAWA FURY W 2-1 Atlanta Silverbacks; W 2-1 Carolina RailHawks • Well, look who’s all alone atop the NASL Fall Season table! Two wins in a week by the same scoreline made it a reality for the worst-to-first bunch. Sinisa Ubiparipovic [Mentor/Mentor] subbed on in the 69th minute against Atlanta to help provide some spark as the Fury looked to break a 1-1 tie. On Sunday, he was an unused sub. Next up for Ottawa is a Sunday afternoon match at FC Edmonton.
PITTSBURGH RIVERHOUNDS L 3-4 @ Harrisburg City Islanders • Versatility is a good thing when you’re an athlete, don’t you think? A week after playing almost all 90 as a forward, Mike Green [Strongsville/Strongsville] returned to right back for this thriller. Three matches between these two teams have given their fans a total of 25 goals! It took three goals in the final 20 minutes in order for the ten-man home side to get their first taste of victory in those Keystone Derby contests. Next up for Pitt is a Saturday night visit from the Wilmington Hammerheads and a 7pm kickoff.
CHARLOTTE INDEPENDENCE W 2-0 FC Montreal • A goal in each half on Friday night did the deal for Charlotte, as Jack Thompson [Hudson/Cuyahoga Valley Christian Academy] subbed on for the final two minutes of this win. Next up for the ‘Pendence is a visit from unbeaten and league-leading Rochester on Saturday for a 7pm kick.
INDY ELEVEN D 1-1 New York Cosmos • These two teams had as many players ejected as they did goals in an eventful draw – their third 1-1 tie in as many meetings this year. Kyle Hyland [Bay Village/Bay] started at left back and played all 90. Judson McKinney [Stow/Cuyahoga Valley Christian Academy] was an unused sub. Next up for the Eleven is a Saturday night visit from Atlanta and a 730pm kickoff.
ATLANTA SILVERBACKS W 3-1 FC Edmonton • The Silverbacks put the midweek loss behind them on a sunny Sunday afternoon in the land of peaches, when the home side had the run of play and did all its scoring after the halftime interval. Matt Horth [Akron/Cuyahoga Valley Christian Academy] was not in the team for either match this week.
Major League Soccer Players from Cleveland 