Loudoun sign Aaron Hurge, DC Power confirm Audi matches, and more: Friday Freedom Kicks
Happy Friday, everyone! Between cloudy weather, the flu shot, and general stress, it has been a long week for me. But the weekend is almost here, and I have plenty of fun activities planned. Is anyone else planning to watch the Super Bowl? I hear Messi might be there.
DC Power Football Club announces home schedule for second half of the 2024/25 USL Super League Season (DC Power FC)
DC Power have finally confirmed they will be playing their home games in Buzzard Point for the second half of their season, and I hope the Audi Field grounds crew is getting ready.
Loudoun United Football Club sign Aaron Hurge to USL Academy Contract (Loudoun United)
The academy contract means midfielder Aaron Hurge will retain his eligibility to play at Ohio State University this fall.
Portland Thorns and WNBA team unveil plans for joint practice facility (Oregon Live)
I think this is a very cool idea and am interested to see if other teams try something similar, though I imagine its infinitely easier when your teams share ownership groups.
Why Super Bowl city New Orleans has strange, and unfulfilled, soccer history (The Athletic $)
Interesting article on the obstacles and possibilities of bringing soccer to New Orleans.
Arsenal vs Man City: Bunny Shaw absent after receiving racist, misogynistic abuse (ESPN)
Man City and Jamaican National Team player Bunny Shaw experienced such bad racial abuse from fans after a recent match against Arsenal that she decided to sit out the following match. This kind of treatment of players is completely unacceptable, and I’m glad to see she has some support from the team.
Washington Spirit star defender Gabby Carle called up to Canada Women’s National Team (Washington Spirit)
Gabby Carle joins Spirit midfielder Narumi Miura, who has also been called up to her national team for the upcoming women’s international window.
Have a good weekend!
I found this YouTube video interesting. You can safely skip the first 6 1/2 minutes if you understand the problem of developing youth players in America across a massive gulf of space that is the nation, but essentially, there could be a solution- and that solution is explained as the college structure undergoing seismic changes. He mentions at the very end that MLS is resistant to the idea cuz they want to promote their own Development League, but I think the commentator makes a good argument that this is a short sighted, selfish, and silly thing to do relative to the benefits.
https://youtu.be/1c9FY6W5fmw?si=_VNbX76xTMRZJvYB
I mean MLS wants to control everything about soccer in the US if it can. Or at least that’s the feeling I get. It makes the meme of Darth Garber make more sense than it should.
Well said, MLS does not have a collaborative mindset which is very disappointing and short-sighted, as you said.
Also he brings up Tampa…makes me wonder if the Tampa Mutiny were still around what Florida would be like now? Would we have both Orlando and Miami…though we might still have Miami Fusion instead of Inter Miami.
It seems a bit odd that we’re only about 2 weeks away from the MLS season starting, and almost no teams (I think only Miami, maybe?) have released their new jerseys for this year. From a marketing standpoint, I feel like you’d want to release them before the holidays, but Id even understand January. This just seems so late, and I don’t think we’ve even had any significant rumors or leaks about what the designs will be in months. I know DC’s new one is supposed to be “Ecru”, but would still be nice to actually see it before the team wears it for the first time
Major League Rugby revealed all of theirs back at the beginning of December.
https://www.majorleague.rugby/news/major-league-rugby-unveils-game-kits-for-2025-season/
Ask and you shall receive: Pablo got his hands on DC’s new away kit. Story, with pictures, here:
https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/6121369/2025/02/07/dc-united-away-kit-leak/
Can we just get different renditions of cherry blossom jerseys from now on at least as a 3rd kit?
Pablo heard you! He just posted an article on the Athletic about a leaked away jersey that he got to see. The picture of it looks… kind of boring, but not that bad. I’m not going to buy it, but I probably wasn’t going to buy it anyway.
I am still considering buying it and customizing it — KLICH 43
United is playing Colorado (Teddy!) today. Goff lists the starting lineup as:
Kim; Herrera, Bartlett, Rowles, Schnegg; Enow, trialist, Stroud, Kijima, Pirani, Benteke.
Some interesting things. One, Herrera is back! Yay! A trialist (I’m assuming Brandon Servania) has taken the place of Matti Peltola. Not sure if Peltola is hurt or if he’ll come on in the second half. And Kijima has taken the place of Joao Peglow. Let’s see how some of these guys do getting a run out with the starters.
I was trying to figure out how that midfield was working, but I suppose putting Kijima out on the left wing is probably what’s going on
Is it possible to watch it? Just searched Apple, didn’t seem to be streaming
I dont think so. I dont think any of the preseason games were planned to be streamed at all
Which is stupid imho.
Hopefully Peltola isn’t hurt.
I don’t know much about Servania, but isn’t he closer to a #8 than a holding mid? If so then maybe Lesesne is trying a more aggressive line-up. I think a Peltola/Enow double pivot will help the defense a lot but it won’t help us as much in games where we’re trying to hold possession more.
Peltola is on at the half, so he’s not hurt. They may just be managing his minutes. Only two other changes, as MacNaughton replaces Bartlett and Dodson replaces Herrera (Peltola came on for trialist/Servania). So, they’re moving past just complete line swaps and trying to extend some players’ legs and maybe build some cohesion in the group.
No idea what the score is.
Pretty much everybody else has subbed off in the 70th minute, with Kim going the distance.
Oh, and there’s a final score! 1-1. Goff says that United’s equalizer was either by Derek Dodson or an own goal. Yay?
Say what you will about Own Goal’s character off the field, but effectiveness is valuable, and I’m glad he’s playing for our side this time.
I missed this back at the beginning of January, but Major League Rugby now has an official mental health provider.
https://www.majorleague.rugby/news/major-league-rugby-and-onrise-unveil-partnership/
Waiting for DC to go out and get Hasani Dotson…
I dunno, the next preseason game is against Nashville. That sounds like a great shopping trip for the team
Or,,,,Hany Mukhtar.
First!!
I love these. USWNT behind the Crest, and this is a great one, despite the lack of match stakes.
https://youtu.be/H9nH9PkqIhM?si=D_RyCMXCCcKY5-Hf