LD Update: NASL Game Night; USL Pro signing

Tampa Bay Rowdies 1:1 Carolina RailHawks – The RailHawks just can’t find a victory. Earning a third consecutive draw Wednesday evening, at least they aren’t going empty handed. In the 66th minute Carolina took the lead on the road when Mike Palacio sent a cross to the back of the box to Brian Shriver, who volleyed it past Jeff Attinella. Four minutes later, though, the Rowdies answered when Dan Antoniuk redirected a cross back across the goal mouth with a header to Tsuyoshi Yoshitake for the equalizer. – More 

Puerto Rico Islanders 0:0 FC Edmonton – The bad news is that Edmonton is still scoreless after three games. The good news they finally picked up a point, playing to a scoreless draw in Puerto Rico after suffering 1-0 losses in Fort Lauderdale and Tampa Bay. Puerto Rico has been nearly perfect thus far, shutting out all three opponents. – More 

LD Update: Honors, signings & midweek preview

NASL Honors: The North American Soccer League recognized the Puerto Rico Islanders duo of Jonathan Fana and Richard Martin as the NASL Offensive and Defensive Players of the Week, respectively. Fana scored twice and helped set up a third in a 4-0 road win in San Antonio while Martin recorded his second consecutive clean sheet in goal.     

Stadium Delays: Steven Sandor of the11.ca reports that Clarke Stadium had had delays that will limit capacity for FC Edmonton’s home opener Sunday to 2,000 instead of the nearly 4,000 it is supposed to have when construction is complete.

Tuesday Fixture: In the first mid-week action of the USL Pro campaign, the 0-1-1 Charlotte Eagles, still looking for their first goal, play host to the 1-1 Charleston Battery Tuesday evening.  

PDL Signings: The Ottawa Fury added three experienced players, including Anthony DiBiase, who returns after seasons with local rivals London and Hamilton.

PDL Preseason: The Sounders U23 squad kicked off the preseason with a 3-2 victory over visiting Gonzaga University Sunday.

W-League Signing: While a good number of US internationals are signing on the left coast, US National Team defender Becky Sauerbrunn is returning to familiar territory, signing with the DC United Women of the W-League, where she previously played for the Richmond Kickers Destiny (2006-07).

LD Update: NASL/USL Game Night

The trend of minimal offense continued Saturday night in the NASL with one exception. Last week two games went scoreless and the other two were 1-0 decisions; on Saturday there was one more of each and a 4-4 thriller between a pair of clubs that involved in the scoreless stalemates the week before.

In USL action, road teams continue to perform well. Through seven games, home clubs have posted only one victory and a single draw.

LD Update: MLS friendly & Player Movement

NASL: The Atlanta Silverbacks signed local product Borfor Carr, who played briefly with the club’s reserve team a year ago after returning from a stint with Romanian club CS Concordia Chiajna.

USL Pro: The Harrisburg City Islanders have had a split of a news day. First, the club announced its annual friendly with MLS affiliate Philadelphia Union. The game is set for June 12.  The club then announced the retirement of two-year City Islander Jason Hotchkin. The North Carolina native made a name for himself closer to home, leading the Charlotte Eagles to the league final in 2004 before spending some time in Germany (TuS Koblenz) and Sweden (IK Brage). He came back and played for the Wilmington Hammerheads and Philadelphia Kixx, who he guided to an MISL title. He also played for the New Jersey Ironmen (MISL) and Cleveland City Stars (USL-1) before moving to Harrisburg… In South Carolina, the Charleston Battery got goalkeeper Andrew Dykstra back. The netminder, caught behind a duel for the DC job, was loaned back to the Battery, whom he played for last year after two seasons and 17 appearances with the Chicago Fire.

USL PDL: The North Sound SeaWolves continue to develop the 2012 roster, bringing back three local players from last year’s team… In Florida, the Ocala Stampede added FIU and former New Zealand youth international center back Joe Dawkins to the roster.

USL W-League: The DC United Women brought back four of its top players from a year ago, including W-League All-Conference selection Marisa Abegg… On the other coast, the Vancouver Whitecaps Women signed two players: W-League/WPSL veteran defender Jenny Jeffers and England youth international midfielder/striker Demi Stokes.

LD Update: Player Signings & Previews:

Coming Up in the NASL: Coming off a pair of scoreless draws, the Carolina RailHawks and Atlanta Silverbacks look to get their first goals of the campaign in hopes of getting their first win. Also on Saturday evening, co-leader Fort Lauderdale Strikers host the defending champion Minnesota Stars while Week 1 losers FC Edmonton and Tampa Bay Rowdies square off looking for their first points, and goals, of the season. On Sunday the expansion San Antonio Scorpions make their home debut against Week 1 winner Puerto Rico Islanders.

Coming Up in USL Pro: Four clubs kick off their seasons in three of the four matches in Week 2 action. The Dayton Dutch Lions open up on the road against Week 1 losers Charlotte Eagles in Friday’s only contest. On Saturday, the Rochester Rhinos and LA Blues both begin 2012 play when they meet in California. The other contest is the continuation of the 20th Anniversary series between the Richmond Kickers and Charleston Battery, who will again don the retro 1993 kits as they square off at Blackbaud in rematch of last week’s 2-1 Battery win. The weekend wraps up with Week 1 winner and defending champion Orlando City hosting the season-opening Wilmington Hammerheads.

LD Update: Player and sponsor signings

PDL Signings: Four in-state additions announced by Mississippi Brilla… Five players are returning for the Philadelphia Union’s PDL affiliate Reading United AC… Four players are also returning for the second-year North Sound SeaWolves, including Seattle Sounders Supplemental Draft pick Abdul Aman

Corporate Signings: Los Angeles Galaxy sponsor Herbalife continued to show that it is not all about the top flight, renewing its partnership with the PDL’s Fresno Fuego for 2012… USL Pro club Orlando City announced the addition of multitude of sponsors, four of them national.

LD Update: Player signings plentiful

Cuevas honored by USL: Charleston Battery midfielder Jose Cuevas was named the USL Pro Player of the Week today for his two goals in a 2-1 win at Richmond.

Harrisburg keeps veteran pair: With a couple weeks still remaining before the City Islanders open the season, the club announced rookie Andrew Welker was returning along with fifth-year Islander Brian Omibiji. Drew Yates and eighth-year Dustin Bixler are back for 2012 after suffering ACL tears during the season last year.

PDL Signing Day: It seemed like a signing day for the PDL with numerous clubs making announcements. The Ottawa Fury unveiled a number of locals for the 2012 roster. Ocean City added a group of All-Americans. Ocala (Fla.) announced that Brooklyn’s Ghanian-born Anthony Asante will be heading south for the summer. 
   
Pali lands Nikki Washington again: The Pali Blues are loading up once again, adding Nikki Washington, who boasts a U20 World Championship, two NCAA titles and a W-League championship on her resume. She joins recent veteran players Sarah Huffman and Liz Bogus, who were also signed recently.