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Keeper Notes
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Way to go, Eddie Ro
Get yer US v Mexico tickets!
The USA v Mexico match is less than two weeks away, and more than 42,o00 tickets have been sold. The last USA v Mexico match at Reliant drew a sellout crowd of 69,582 in May 2003 -- the largest home crowd for the US national team this decade. The Stars & Stripes have an 8-0-1 record against Mexico at home since 2000. Ticket prices for the February 6 match range from $35 to $165, and are available at Ticketmaster outlets and at the Reliant Stadium box office. Suites are still available for $95/seat. Call Brian Varnadoe at 832-667-2160.
Dates with the Dynamo
Today at Soccer4All: the Dynamo congratulates Soccer4All, recently voted #1 Soccer Store in the US by USSoccer.com. Dynamo defender Craig Waibel will be at the Soccer4All store in the Village (2413 Rice Blvd. between Kirby & Morningside) today from 5 pm - 5:40 pm to help celebrate.
CONCACAF Champions' Cup: The MLS Cup champs will face Guatemala's CSD Municipal on Wednesday, March 19 at Robertson Stadium. Kickoff will be 7:30 pm. The away leg of this 2-game quarterfinal series will be played in Guatemala City on March 12 at 9 pm. The winner of the series will face the winner of Deportivo Saprissa (Costa Rica)/Atlante (Mexico) in early April.
Quakin' in their cleats: The Dynamo will play the resurrected San Jose Earthquakes in two preseason exhibitions in California February 13 and 16. For info, call 1-877-QUAKE01 or see http://www.sjearthquakes.com.
Opening Day: The first home game of the 2008 MLS season will be Sunday, April 6 against the Hoops, aka FC Dallas. Kickoff will be 2 pm. Ain't got tickets yet? Go to houstondynamo.com or call 713-276-7500.
Adult skills clinic Sunday
This Sunday HWSA is hosting a coed adult skills clinic at Kicks Indoor Soccer, 10 am - noon. Cost is $10/person, minimum age 16. All skill levels welcome! The clinic is a good way to get a soccer-oriented workout and try to find a team. More info at http://hwsa.org/clinics.htm.
You didn't hear it here first
Why not US? US Soccer will decide by June 1 whether or not to bid on the 2018 World Cup. Other countries that have expressed interest in bidding are China, England, Australia, Mexico, Greece, Russia and a joint bid by Belgium, the Netherlands and Luxembourg.
3-and-0: New coach Pia Sundhage started her tenure with the US women's team with victories over Canada, Finland and China at the Four Nations Cup in China last week. The team will compete in the CONCACAF qualifying tournament for the 2008 Olympics in April.
Awesome Ashlee: A&M senior Ashlee Pistorius has been named the nation’s top collegiate female soccer player, based on results of national balloting among 1,000 NCAA member schools. This earns her the 2008 Honda Sports Award, given annually to the top women athletes in 12 NCAA-sanctioned sports.
Austin Aztex: A new semi-pro club, Austin Aztex, will play in the USL First Division beginning in 2009, and will be affiliated with current English Championship team Stoke City FC. More info at http://www.uslsoccer.com/home/222914.html.
February indoor men's tourney
Kicks Indoor is hosting a men's tournament February 16-17 with a $2500 cash prize for the champion and $500 for runner-up. 3-game minimum, World Cup format, 16 teams max. $450 fee per team, no roster limit, 6v6 (including keepers). Deadline to enter is February 4. Email info@kicksindoor.com or call 713-426-1107 to sign up.
Keeper Query
Kudos to Charlie Frausto for the correct answer to last week's query: the first *official* international match of the US men's team was played against Sweden on August 20, 1916. The Americans won, 3-2.
This week's query: Last weekend Dynamo defender Eddie Robinson became the 44th American to score in his first international appearance for the senior US men's national team. Name at least two other Americans currently playing in MLS who also scored during their first international appearance. First to answer correctly after 9 am CT wins a Dynamo cap & water bottle. Email keeper@keepernotes.com.
Women's league at Kicks
The next women's league season at Kicks Indoor begins Saturday, February 2; registration deadline is this Sunday, January 27. Sign up as a team or an indvidual. See http://www.kicksindoor.com/women.
Live soccer on TV
Saturday
FA Cup: Wigan Athletic v Chelsea, 11 am, Fox Soccer Channel
Futbol de Argentina: Boca Juniors v River Plate, 6 pm, Fox Soccer Channel
Futbol de Mexico: Tigres v Cruz Azul, 7 pm, TeleFutura
Sunday
FA Cup: Sheffield United v Manchester City, 10 am, Fox Soccer Channel
Futbol de Mexico: Pumas v Atlante, noon, Univision
Tuesday
EPL: Arsenal v Newcastle United, 1:30 pm, Fox Soccer Channel
Wednesday
EPL: Chelsea v Reading, 1:30 pm, Fox Soccer Channel
All times CT; more at http://www.soccertv.com
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Keeper Calendar
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February 6: US men v Mexico, Reliant Stadium
February 13 & 16: Houston Dynamo v San Jose Earthquakes
February 20: Pan-Pacific Championship: Gamba Osaka v LA Galaxy, Houston Dynamo v TBA, Hawaii
February 23: Pan-Pacific Championship: third place match & final, Hawaii
March 10-23: CONCACAF Olympic qualifying tourney (men's u23), Florida, California & Tennessee
March 12: Houston Dynamo at CSD Municipal, Guatemala City
March 19: CSD Municipal at Houston Dynamo, Robertson Stadium
March 29: Houston Dynamo at New England Revolution
April 2- 13: CONCACAF Olympic qualifying tourney (women's), Mexico
April 6: FC Dallas at Houston Dynamo, Robertson Stadium
Expanded calendar at http://www.keepernotes.com/calendar.htm
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