Spruce Creek's star Austin O'Brien signs with Howard University

PORT ORANGE, Florida -- Austin O'Brien is going places, judging from his selection of Howard University as the launching pad for his college soccer career.

O'Brien, a senior striker for Spruce Creek, went to the nation's capital in March to make it official: He has signed with Howard, a prestigious historically black university that U.S. News and World Report ranks No. 2 among all HBCUs and in the top 100 of all U.S. colleges and universities`.

While Howard is No. 2 on the magazine's list of HBCUs, O'Brien came out ranked No. 1 in voting by area coaches and The News-Journal prep staff to decide the 2011 Boys Soccer Player of the Year honor.

O'Brien, who had 28 goals and 13 assists for a Hawks team that lost 2-1 to Miami Varela in the Class 6A Final Four and played some of the toughest competition in the state, edged teammate Kiro Roman and Taylor's Jose Rios, both of whom had extraordinary seasons. Roman scored 22 goals and had 19 assists for the 26-2-4 regional-champion Hawks, while Rios had 43 goals for the 16-4-1 district-champion Wildcats.

Several schools in the Sunshine State, including Florida Gulf Coast University and South Florida, recruited O'Brien. But in the end he opted for one of his out-of-state options, deciding on Howard, which plays in the NCAA Division I Atlantic Soccer Conference that also includes Adelphi (Long Island, N.Y.), Longwood (Virginia), New Jersey Institute of Technology and Houston Baptist.



Boys soccer chatter with Spruce Creek's Austin O'Brien

O'Brien, a senior forward, is the Hawks' leading scorer with 23 goals and 11 assists for a total of 57 points. Creek is the No. 1 seed in this week's District 2-6A boys soccer tournament in large part to the offense put up by O'Brien and fellow Hawk Kiro Roman (18 goals, 13 assists, 49 points). O'Brien spoke to staff writer Sean Kernan.

You're having a great season. The team is 19-1-4. What's the mood going into districts?

"We plan on winning and doing really well. We just want to play our game and reach our goals -- stay focused on winning districts, playing well in regionals and just continue on and play out the season."

How old are you and how long have you been playing soccer?

"I'm 18 years old and I've been playing soccer since I was 3 years old. My mother (Maria) got me into soccer. She was a runner. She was pretty good at it. So she saw soccer as a running sport. I guess when you're 3 you can't run track. At first we started off just kicking a ball around the house and when I got to be 4 or 5 she put me in a YMCA league. I guess she saw that I was pretty good and she never took me out of it."

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Ex-Alabama A&M soccer player Patricia Ofori killed in car accident

Patricia Ofori
(Photo Courtesy AAMU)

Huntsville, Alabama - An ex-Black Queens player, Patricia Ofori has died following a car accident on April 20, 2011 in Huntsville. Media reports suggest that Ofori, born on June 9, 1981, was on the way to graduate school class when the accident occurred.

Ofori was a former player of Alabama’s A&M women soccer team and played for the Ghana Black Queens at two World cups in 2003 and 2007.

She played for the Bulldogs from 2005-2007 and led the team to the 2007 Southwestern Athletic Conference championship and a berth in the NCAA Tournament, Alabama news website al.com said.

“This is the biggest shock of my life…its unbelievable”, A&M women’s soccer coach Frank Davies was cited by the publication as saying.

Former Black Queens player killed in car crash

Former Black Queens player Patricia Ofori was killed in a car accident Wednesday in Huntsville in the United States. The 29-year-old, who played in two World Cups, lost control of her Ford Mustang while driving. Her car slid into the northbound lane, where it was hit by a pickup truck and caught fire.


She started her career in Ghana with Mawuena Ladies before she was called to the national team in 2003.

Ofori, played for the Bulldogs from 2005-2007 and led the team to the 2007 Southwestern Athletic Conference championship and a berth in the NCAA Tournament.



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Howard Women's Soccer Welcomes Eight For 2011-12 Season

Howard Coach Brent Leiba 

WASHINGTON, D.C. -- Howard women’s soccer head coach Brent Leiba welcomes eight newcomers to the Bison soccer program for the 2011 season. The 2011 recruiting class includes seven high school standouts that signed National Letters of Intent and one transfer.

Coming to Howard to don the blue and white will be midfielder/forward Marisa Ammaturo (Avon, Colo.), forward Ayanna Carter (Fulton, Md.), goalkeeper Kyra Dickinson (Brampton, Ontario), defender Treschelle Gibson-Serrette (Scarborough, Ontario), forward Jeseca Hinds (Jacksonville, N.C.), defender Selena Mason (Frederick, Md.), goalkeeper Natasha Moore (Bristow, Va.), and midfielder/forward Nia Walcott (Beltsville, Md.).

Marisa Ammaturo (Midfielder/Forward) – Avon, Colo. – played her first two years with the varsity soccer team at Battle Mountain High School. Ammaturo was the leading goal scorer her final year with 25 goals and 17 assists. From there she attended IMG Soccer Academy which was ranked No. 3 in the state of Florida.

Ayanna Carter (Forward) – Fulton, Md. – started and played her high school soccer at Atholton High School. Carter played her club ball with Laurel Premier, which participates in Division I of the Washington Area Girls Soccer League (WAGS). She was an integral part in helping her club team win two Maryland State Cup Championships and one Region I championship.

Kyra Dickinson (Goalkeeper) – Brampton, Ontario (Canada) – was a four year varsity soccer player at Heart Lake Secondary School. Dickinson played her club ball with Brams United, and Master’s Futbol Academy. She was selected to a team that played against the Canadian Women’s National Team.

Treschelle Gibson-Serrette (Defender) – Scarborough, Ontario (Canada) – member of the U-17 Trinidad & Tobago National Team. Gibson-Serrette attended and played high school soccer at Sir John A. Macdonald, where she was named MVP and Girls Athlete of the Year. She played her club ball for Scarborough United (Provincial team), which were League and Cup champions, and Master’s Futbol Academy. She was selected by the Provincial Identification Camp to play for the Regional soccer team.

Jeseca Hinds (Forward) – Jacksonville, N.C. – a four year varsity soccer player for Southwest High School. She was the leading goal scorer three out of her four years. Hinds served as an integral part in helping her team win the Conference Championship and States in 2010. She was named to the 1st Team All-Conference and All-Area Team in 2008, 2009, and 2010. Hinds played club ball for the Onslow County Soccer Association and most recently with the Carolina Select.

Selena Mason (Defender) – Frederick, Md. – transferred from Florida Southern. Mason played varsity soccer and attended Tuscarora High School, in which she was named All-Area honorable mention and was integral in helping her team become Maryland State Champions. She played club ball for the Bethesda Blast and Bethesda Sharks. Mason was a valuable part in helping her team reach two regional finals, becoming U.S. Club Soccer Regional Champions, and winning five Maryland State Cup Championships.

Natasha Moore (Goalkeeper) – Bristow, Va. – a four year varsity starter at Stonewall Jackson High School. She was selected as the team captain and awarded the Defensive Player of the Year. She was named to the All-District Team and was a member of the Virginia ODP system and played club ball for the Sterling Avalanche and NOVA FC.

Nia Walcott (Midfielder/Forward) – Beltsville, Md. – member of the U-17 Trinidad & Tobago National Team. Walcott was a four year varsity starter at Elizabeth Seton High School where she was named to the Washington Catholic Athletic Conference (WCAC) 1st Team in her junior and senior years. She was also named to the Prince George’s All-County 1st Team her junior and senior years. Walcott additionally won the Coaches Award her senior year. The senior standout was also named to the All-Metropolitan 2nd Team her final year and was a member of the Maryland State Youth Soccer Association Olympic Developmental Program (ODP) as a Regional Pool candidate. She played club ball with Freestate United Elite Club National League (ECNL) team which were Maryland State Cup semi-finalist and Region I League Champions.


By Tiffany White, Sports Information Assistant
Howard University
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A&M to drop men's soccer program‎

HUNTSVILLE, AL - The men's soccer program at Alabama A&M will be cut after this season, The Times has learned. Sources says budget cuts have forced athletic officials to drop the program, which is an NCAA Division I independent and not sponsored by the Southwestern Athletic Conference, which A&M is a member.

Neither athletics director Betty Austin nor coach Salah Yousif could be reached for comment, but an official announcement is expected to be made today.

The Bulldogs had one of the most feared programs in the country in the late 1970s and early 1980s, winning national championships in 1977 and 1979 and were runnersup in 1978 and 1981, but haven't been nearly as relevant the last two decades. A&M is the only school in the SWAC that has men's soccer, but the league doesn't sponsor it as a championship sport.

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SWAC Soccer tourney has big impact

The Mississippi Valley State University soccer team wasn’t the only winner this weekend at the SWAC women’s tournament. The Valley campus and Greenwood’s economy took home victories as well. “It’s been great,” said Kelly Brooks, associate commissioner of the SWAC. “Valley did an incredible job of preparing for the arrival of the tournament. Their facility is beautiful.”

The Delta Devilettes ably defended their upgraded home turf, defeating Jackson State 2-1 in the final Sunday for their second SWAC title. The benefits to the local economy could be seen before even getting out of the parking lot to the stadium. License plates from California, Canada, Colorado and Florida clearly demonstrated the tournament’s draw. Moira Barnes, Debbie Johnston and Donna Gregory made the 17-hour drive from London, Ontario to watch their daughters play.

“It’s nice to get down to see our girls,” Barnes said. Her only complaint about the tournament was one common to many sporting parents: The refereeing could have been better. The Canadians arrived Wednesday and were scheduled to leave today.

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Grambling soccer stuns Louisiana Tech

GRAMBLING, LA – A pair of goals in the final four minutes of regulation and a failed clear of a corner kick in the third minute of overtime allowed Grambling State to overcome a 2-0 deficit and defeat Louisiana Tech 3-2 in overtime Tuesday afternoon at the Lady Tiger Soccer Field. “(Grambling) was the better team today,” Tech head coach Kevin Sherry said. “They wanted it more. They played harder and deserved to win.”

Despite dominating possession and outshooting the Lady Tigers 30-14, a squad mostly made up of reserves in the last few minutes could not hold a 2-0 lead for Tech (4-2). Grambling (1-4) played with only 10 players the entire match. “I take full responsibility for this loss,” Sherry said. “I tried to rest my starters late in the game, and I shouldn’t have done that. That said, we kind of had this loss coming. We’ve gotten away with playing poorly the last two games, and it finally caught up with us.”

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A&M aims to prove '07 was no fluke

Alabama A&M women's soccer coach Frank Davies always tries to find a way to top the previous year. After winning the Southwestern Athletic Conference championship last season and becoming the first team in league history to score in an NCAA tournament game, Davies says he has found a way. "We've got to repeat," Davies said. "In order to prove that last year wasn't a fluke, we've got to win it again."

In the five-year history of the SWAC championships, there has been no repeat winner. Davies says the Bulldogs can do it if he can find a way to retool their midfield. "How we revamp that unit will be a big key," Davies said. Belinda Kanda, one of the nation's top scorers, returns along with six other starters. Brittan Thomas and newcomer Celeste Roberts will also be counted on to help shoulder some of the scoring load.

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Grambling soccer signs seven with eye on building quickness, solidifying defense

Grambling State University soccer head coach Tamura Crawley announced that a total of seven student-athletes have signed national letters of intent to play soccer for the Lady Tigers next season.

With an emphasis on quickness and solidifying the team’s defense, Crawley feels her needs were met with the signees and has high expectations as she expects this group to help her accomplish the goal of winning the SWAC and competing on a high level outside the SWAC.

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SCSU names Glad Bugariu new soccer coach

Photo: South Carolina State University Bulldogs soccer coach Glad Bugariu.

By SCSU Sports Information

Glad Bugariu has been named women's soccer coach at South Carolina State University, athletics director Charlene Johnson announced Wednesday. Glad, who succeeds Amy Olson, takes over the S.C. State program after three seasons (2005-2007) as head coach at Belmont Abbey College in Charlotte, North Carolina.

In three seasons at Belmont Abbey, Bugariu compiled a record of 52-12-2. His teams dominated the Div. II Conference Carolinas, capturing two regular season championships (2007, 2005), two tournament titles (2006, 2005) and one runner-up tournament finish (2007).

Belmont Abbey was 18-4-1 this past season and earned the school's first NSCAA national ranking (#22) since 1999. His 2006 team compiled a 16-4-1 mark and garnered him Area Coach of the Year honorable mention from the Charlotte Observer. The 2005 squad was 18-4, a record which earned the college the nation's second-most improved team distinction in the NCAA following a 10-9-1 mark the year before.

"We are obviously very pleased that Coach Bugariu will be directing the soccer program here at SC State," said Bulldog athletics director Charlene Johnson. "He brings to our program extensive experience and a very successful coaching career."

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SCSU just hired a gem of a soccer coach in Glad Bugariu. This is the way it should be done--hire a proven, exceptional Division II coach with a successful history, seeking the opportunity to coach at the Division I level. Our programs should not be training grounds for rookie coaches--get your experience at Division III and Division II programs. Then move up after proving you have what it takes to be successful at the Division I level.

Great move athletic director, Johnson. We need to see more of this type of hiring across the board in the MEAC and SWAC conferences. The goal should be winning NCAA Championships, not just getting a .500 season record. Howard University did it in soccer (won NCAA national championship); so can South Carolina State University. Go Bulldogs!

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Alabama A&M University soccer team wins academic honor

Photo: Alabama A&M University head soccer coach Salah Yousif.

Alabama A&M's men's soccer team was recently honored by the National Soccer Coaches Association of America as a national scholar team.

Fourteen of Salah Yousif's 19 players on this year's roster made the dean's list and the team is carrying a cumulative grade point average of 3.20.

This is the first time the men's soccer team has received such an honor. The Bulldogs finished the season with a 9-8-1 record.

AAMU Bulldogs hope they're on solid footing

By REGGIE BENSON, Huntsville Times

It's been a few years since the Alabama A&M men's soccer team was a national contender. Coach Salah Yousif, who has longed to get A&M's program back to national prominence like it was in the late 1970s and early 1980s, says this could be the year.

With a number of starters and key lettermen returning, Yousif says the Bulldogs could field one of their better teams in quite some time.

"This could be my best team in the last four or five years," said Yousif, whose team is 1-3 with all three losses by one goal, including a pair of 3-2 losses at fifth-ranked Santa Clara and San Francisco, respectively.

"We've got 11 starters back and they're all very talented players. The only thing slowing us down right now is injuries. Once we get healthy, we should be in good shape."

MfanaFuthi Bhembe and Mosito Ranko are A&M's top returning players.

Bhembe led the Bulldogs with 16 points, including a team-high seven goals. Ranko finished with 12 points, including five goals. Yousif also highlighted goalkeeper Paul Musoke and defenders David Kimbugwe and Mutumba Ssemagulu.

"Bhembe is one of our most outstanding players," Yousif said. "Paul is outstanding and David and Mutumba are very, very good.

"Mosito and Jabulani (Selumane) are coming back from knee surgery, but they're very important parts of our team. We're not in full force yet, but once we get there, we're going to be a force to be reckoned with."

The Bulldogs picked up their first victory of the season last weekend, beating Georgia Southern 3-0 in the Mercer Tournament, before falling 1-0 Sunday to the University of California-Riverside.

"I'm excited about this season," said Yousif, who has compiled a 217-96-19 record entering his 20th season at A&M, including Division II national championships in 1977 and 1979.

"We're looking forward to better things."