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Lion Links: 2/24/17

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8 years ago

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Good morning lads, lasses, goons, and silly billies. It’s Alex Mohr writing the Lion Links today for the first time ever. Many happenings have occurred over the past 24 hours, and it’s my duty to inform you about some lovely news regarding Orlando City, the USL, the USWNT, and MLS.

Carlos Rivas on Playing in a Striker Duo

Rivas mainly played on the left wing for the Lions the past two seasons, tallying just three goals and eight assists in 48 appearances. But with a new manager comes new tactics, and with new tactics comes a new formation. Head Coach Jason Kreis has been playing a 4-4-2 throughout the preseason, which is obviously different than the 4-2-3-1 that Rivas has played in previously.

The change means players have to adapt to a different attacking shape. For Rivas he will have to get used to playing in front of a No. 10 with another striker beside him for the upcoming 2017 season. The Colombian seems to welcome the slight change, scoring two goals and adding a few assists in four preseason games, and both he and Kreis had plenty to say regarding his new role up top with Larin.

Kids vs. Pros Game Preview by Kid Korrespondent

A lovely introduction as to what to expect for the upcoming game on March 2 as players from the Lions, Pride, and OCB take on 100 kids at Orlando City’s brand new stadium.

Orlando City Stadium Naming Deal Update

The wait for the highly-anticipated name for the new stadium continues. In January, the club announced that OCSC was close to a confirming a partnership deal regarding stadium name rights, but the agreement hasn’t been settled yet.

“The New Stadium,” as many call it, will continue to lack a formal name for an unknown amount of time.

“The timeline remains the same: whenever it’s right. These are long-term partnerships, minimum 10-15 years. Could be done tomorrow, could be done in a few weeks. This is not something we’re going to rush into.

 “We continue to be in discussion with people and on the phone every day with brands looking at us…value is there for the right partner,” Parker said.

 Maybe City executives are just stalling until the right company contacts them, or maybe there aren’t any companies actually interested. Maybe I should call and try to buy the name rights.

The stadium, though now unnamed, has been praised by many for its soccer-specific design and beauty. Bruce Miller, the architect in charge of designing the 25,500-seat stadium, describes details about our new home here.

OCB Draws in First Friendly of Preseason

The young Lions of Orlando City B took to the pitch for their first friendly of the 2017 USL preseason against the University of Central Florida. At the final whistle, the teams had played to a 0-0 draw, which isn’t a bad result when you consider that OCB Assistant Coach Rob Valentino played center back for a bit, to give some stability to trialists along the back line. The USL Lions used a different group in the second 45 minutes than the first, and it was a good result as far as Head Coach Anthony Pulis is concerned.

“It was a really worth little exercise for us,” Pulis told reporters after the game. “We’ve been back in training for 10 days, but it’s only so much work you can do on the training ground. I think they’ve been itching to get into a game situation for some days now. It was definitely a positive for us to get them out and get them together, and see what they’re like a real game situation.”

Checking in on an Old Friend

Congratulations to former goalkeeper and Orlando’s sweetheart Tally Hall for being awarded some rather special silverware. It’s not an MLS Cup trophy by any means but I’m sure it feels just as special. Jokes aside, thank you for your service and for protecting our streets.

USL President has Plans Beyond Division 2 Upgrade

The United Soccer League has officially jumped from U.S. Soccer Federation’s Division 3 label to a lovelier, advanced, gnarlier Division 2 ranking. This means that both the NASL and USL are now second-tier leagues.

But USL president Jake Edwards believes there’s more in store for the MLS-partnered league. The USL’s next step is launching USL Productions, a project that will allow the USL to broadcast 500 games itself.

USWNT Friendly Against Norway Officially Announced

On the women’s international stage, the USWNT is set to play Norway in an international friendly on June 11. The last time the U.S. women played Norway, they won 2-1, with both goals from Carli Lloyd.

The game may become extremely heated, as there is an intense history between the two teams. In 1991, the USA and Norway squared off in the Women’s World Cup in China, with the U.S. winning, 2-1. The U.S. also ended Norway’s hopes by defeating them 2-1 in the semifinal knockout round of the 1996 Women’s World Cup in Atlanta. Norway went on to beat the U.S. women in two significant World Cup matches, but I don’t want to go into those as losing is depressing and I don’t want to be depressed.

MLS Growth Creates Global Competition for Roster Spots

With MLS growing rapidly, more and more players are needed. Both newly-inducted clubs Atlanta United and Minnesota United will likely sport more foreign-born players in the starting lineups than Americans. This is a slight microcosm for Major League Soccer, as around 45% of MLS players are American.

The league improves as more non-domestic players are imported for play. Competition amongst American players will grow as new talent is brought in, but these challenges only improve the athletes. The competition for roster spots encourages both more talent in the league and an increased pressure for players to fight and claw for a spot in MLS.

MLS is proposing an order that would allow two more roster spots for clubs. The rule would bump up the roster from 28 to 30 athletes, but only if the two extra players are American. MLS executives want it to be known that the addition of foreign-born players must match the development of domestic competitors.

That’s all that I have for today, my friends. Try not to hit that comment section too hard. Spread positivity by trading memes and drinking water.

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Lion Links

Lion Links: 1/21/25

Orlando Pride release preseason camp roster, scouting Costa Rica, women’s soccer transfer grades, and more.

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2 hours ago

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January 21, 2025

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Image courtesy of Orlando City SC / Mark Thor

Good morning, everyone! If you had yesterday off for Martin Luther King Jr. Day, then I hope you enjoyed some restful time off. If not, then I hope you got your week started off on a good and productive note. There’s a lot going on around here this week as the United States Men’s National Team is in town, and Orlando City will play its first preseason match on Saturday. That means we have plenty to discuss, so let’s dig into today’s links.

Orlando Pride Drop Preseason Roster

Monday might have been a holiday but the Orlando Pride were busy, as they announced the roster for their upcoming preseason camp. Almost all of the usual suspects from the 2024 season are back, as the Pride return 98% of the player-minutes from last season and every single scorer. Mariana Larroquette is on the list although she’s currently on loan in Argentina, and Amanda Allen is likewise included after her loan at Lexington Sporting Club was terminated due to a torn labrum. The biggest intrigue comes from the trio of non-roster invitees: goalkeeper DeAira Jackson, midfielder Aryssa Mahrt, and forward Simone Jackson.

Scouting Costa Rica

The USMNT takes on Costa Rica on Wednesday at Inter&Co Stadium to wrap up the team’s annual January camp. Like the U.S., Costa Rica is bringing a roster devoid of the majority of its important players. Costa Rica also has a new manager at the helm in Miguel Herrera, who will take charge of the team for the very first time on Wednesday. Herrera typically lines his teams up in a 5-3-2 where the wingbacks take on a very important role and the team looks to hit on the counter while staying compact at the back. This will be the last time we see the USMNT in action until the Concacaf Nations League semifinals in early March.

Women’s Soccer January Transfer Grades

January has been a busy time for transfers in the women’s soccer world, so which teams have done the best business? Well, the Orlando Pride received an A grade for signing Marta to a new two-year deal, retaining a player who helped the team win its first ever trophies. Liverpool got an A for signing Julia Bartel on loan from Chelsea. Leicester City made an interesting call by transferring goalkeeper Lize Kop to Tottenham despite just being a point above the relegation zone. The Foxes get a C for the move, while Spurs get a B+ for adding a capable netminder.

Americans in Midweek Action

There are a number of Americans taking part in some very important games over the course of this week. Weston McKennie, Tim Weah, and Juventus face Club Brugge today in the UEFA Champions League, while Ricardo Pepi, Richy Ledezma, Esmir Bajraktarević, Malik Tillman and PSV Eindhoven take on Crvena Zvezda in the same competition. Christian Pulisic, Yunus Musah, and AC Milan will play Girona in the UCL on Wednesday, while Cameron Carter-Vickers, Auston Trusty, and Celtic take on Young Boys. On Friday, John Tolkin could make his Bundesliga debut when his new team, Holstein Kiel, travels to face Wolfsburg.

Free Kicks

  • Orlando Pride players reported for their preseason physicals on Monday.
  • Meanwhile, Orlando City took on the dreaded beep test during Monday’s training session.

That’s all I have for you today. Vamos Orlando!

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Lion Links: 1/20/25

Orlando City signs Nicolas Rodriguez, Jack Lynn announces retirement, USMNT defeats Venezuela in friendly, and more.

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1 day ago

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January 20, 2025

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Image courtesy of Orlando City SC / Mark Thor

Hello, Mane Landers! I hope you’re all having a good holiday weekend as we celebrate Martin Luther King Jr. Day. Over the past week, I’ve been working and covering high school ice hockey. It will be a busy week in Orlando, with the United States Men’s National Team’s match against Costa Rica on Wednesday and Orlando City’s first preseason match against Atletico Mineiro on Saturday. We’ve got plenty to cover today, so let’s get to the links.

Orlando City Signs Nicolas Rodriguez

Orlando City announced on Friday that the club has signed forward Nicolas Rodriguez from Fortaleza CEIF in Colombia’s top flight. The deal is through the 2027 season, with a club option for 2028, and Rodriguez will occupy a MLS U22 Initiative slot. Rodriguez made 19 appearances for Fortaleza, recording 1,607 minutes, five goals, and three assists during the 2024 Primera A Clausura season. The Lions add a young attacking player the club can develop and Rodriguez can play on the right wing, the right side of a three-man midfield, or in the No. 10 spot.

Jack Lynn Announces Retirement

Orlando City forward Jack Lynn announced his retirement from professional soccer on Saturday. Lynn was drafted by Orlando in the first round of the 2022 MLS SuperDraft. He became a regular starter for Orlando City B, scoring a team-record 38 goals in over three seasons with the MLS NEXT Pro side. Lynn also won the Golden Boot with 19 goals during the 2023 season and became the first OCB player to be named MLS NEXT Pro MVP. He played sparingly with the first team, but he scored twice last season as his role increased. The Lions will likely look to add another striker for more depth up top.

Orlando Pride Acquire Allocation Money in Trade

On Friday, the Orlando Pride announced that the club has acquired $50,000 in Allocation Money from the Washington Spirit. In exchange, the Pride sent the Spirit a 2025 international roster spot. The Pride will face the Spirit in the NWSL Challenge Cup final on March 7 at Inter&Co Stadium.

USMNT Defeats Venezuela in Friendly

The USMNT defeated Venezuela 3-1 at Chase Stadium in Fort Lauderdale on Saturday in a friendly. Jack McGlynn and Patrick Agyemang scored in the first half to give the USMNT a 2-0 lead just before halftime. Matko Milijevic scored the third goal for the Americans in the second half, with Venezuela pulling one back thanks to a goal from Jorge Yriarte. Head Coach Mauricio Pochettino has led the USMNT to winning four out of its first five matches since he took charge last September. The USMNT’s next match will be against Costa Rica on Wednesday at Inter&Co Stadium.

Alyssa Naeher Named U.S. Soccer Female Player of the Year

On Saturday, goalkeeper Alyssa Naeher was voted 2024 U.S. Soccer Female Player of the Year. Naeher won 40% of the vote, while defender Naomi Girma finished in second with 32%. In her final year with the USWNT, Naeher ended 2024 with 18 starts, playing 1,170 minutes and only conceding 11 goals. She played a crucial role with clutch saves to help the USWNT win the 2024 SheBelieves Cup, 2024 Concacaf W Gold Cup, and gold at the Olympics in Paris. Naeher is the second goalkeeper to win the award since Hope Solo won it in 2009.

Free Kicks

  • Manchester City forward Erling Haaland has reached an agreement with the club on a record-breaking contract that extends his deal through 2034.

That will do it for me today, Mane Landers. Enjoy your Monday, and I’ll see you next time.

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Lion Links: 1/17/25

Orlando Pride loan out Mariana Larroquette, USMNT gets ready for Venezuela, MLS transfer news, and much more.

Published

4 days ago

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January 17, 2025

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Image courtesy of Orlando City B / Mark Thor

Happy Friday! Maybe it’s just because I’m a San Jose Sharks fan when it comes to hockey, but I sure do miss being able to watch Orlando City and the Orlando Pride win games. Thankfully it won’t be much longer until Orlando’s soccer teams are back in action, although I wish the Lions would make some moves to get us excited for 2025. Let’s dive into today’s links!

Mariana Larroquette Heads to Argentina on Loan

The Pride have loaned forward Mariana Larroquette to Newell’s Old Boys Women in Argentina. The loan lasts through July 1, so Larroquette may still provide some attacking depth for the Pride later in the season. This should be a good opportunity for her to get some minutes in her home country after only making four appearances for the Pride last season. Larroquette joined the Pride back in July of 2023 on a contract through 2025, so this is a solid chance for her to get some consistent playing time to showcase her talent before her current contract ends.

USMNT Prepares for Friendly Against Venezuela

The United States Men’s National Team will play its first game of 2025 when it takes on Venezuela Saturday at 3 p.m. in Fort Lauderdale. This is just the seventh meeting between the two nations, with Venezuela winning the most recent match 3-0 back in 2019. Goalkeeper Wuilker Farinez started for Venezuela in that shutout and is expected to get the nod in goal again, with Orlando City’s Javier Otero backing him up. The Yanks will be without multiple players who were called up, as Jesus Ferreira, John Tolkin, Jalen Neal, and Drake Callender will no longer be available. The USMNT will be back in action on Wednesday for a friendly against Costa Rica at Inter&Co Stadium.

Catching Up On MLS Transfer News

Every MLS team apart from Orlando City seems to be making major moves in preparation for the 2025 season. Austin FC is reportedly signing Albanian forward Myrto Uzuni as a Designated Player, which would trigger a $12.3 million release clause in his contract with Granada. Uzuni has scored 14 goals in 18 appearances for the Spanish club this season. Austin also added midfielder Nicolas Dubersarsky from Instituto in Argentina’s top flight. He will be a U22 Initiative Player and signed a five-year contract with the club.

New York Red Bulls left back John Tolkin was officially transferred to Holstein Kiel in the Bundesliga for a reported $3 million transfer fee. The New England Revolution continued to strengthen their attack, signing veteran forward Maxi Urruti to a one-year deal with an option for 2026. Atlanta United and Middlesbrough have reportedly reached a verbal agreement on a deal for forward Emmanuel Latte Lath, although Atlanta still has to finalize personal terms with him.

Chelsea Reportedly Leads Race for Naomi Girma

One of the biggest questions this NWSL off-season is whether or not San Diego Wave defender Naomi Girma will remain with the club. The 24-year-old is under contract through 2026, but European teams are reportedly willing to pay up to secure her talents. Chelsea is the reported frontrunner, with Arsenal and Lyon also in the mix to sign her. Girma is one of the best defenders in the world and was a major reason behind the United States Women’s National Team winning Olympic gold last year. Speaking of Girma, she will not be in attendance for the USWNT training camp in Florida due to a minor injury.

Free Kicks

  • Orlando Pride Vice President of Soccer Operations and Sporting Director Haley Carter followed through on her promise to dye her hair after a historic season.
  • In news that impacts Orlando City duo Pedro Gallese and Wilder Cartagena, Jorge Fossati is no longer Peru’s head coach. Peru only won one of its six CONMEBOL World Cup qualifiers with Fossati at the helm and is last in the standings.
  • Former Lion Chris Mueller spoke on the importance of mental health and the resources available to help.

That’s all I have for you this Friday. I hope you all have a fantastic day and rest of your weekend!

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