RGV Capsules: Bravos FC wraps up trip to Tampa, Fla.

RGV Bravos FC front-office executives wrapped up their participation Sunday at the United Soccer League's Annual General Meeting held in Tampa, Fla.

During the four-day AGM, Bravos FC delegates attended several meetings and seminars that were held at Downtown Tampa’s Hyatt Regency Hotel, where they shared several opinions and ideas with other executives and coaches of the more than 100 USL clubs that participated in the event.

Among the most important meetings that Bravos FC executives attended were the State of the League Address, Premier Development League and Mid-South Divisional meetings, and USL Hall of Fame induction ceremony.

At Friday’s PDL Meeting, Director Lee Cohen coordinated the reunion that included the presentation of the United States Soccer Federation’s Manager of Referee Assignment, Dick Triche of Texas.

That same evening, Bravos FC Front Office staff took part in the USL Hall of Fame induction ceremony that enshrined Tecnical Director Leigh Cowlishaw, former striker Paul Conway and former defender Scott Schweitzer in the Class of 2009.

Following the ceremony, Bravos FC executives opened talks with Esteban Paz, President of Ecuador First Division side Liga Deportiva Universitaria de Quito (LDU) and with English Premier League West Ham United. LDU won the 2008 Copa Libertadores South American tournament, which is equivalent to the European Champions League.

The Bravos look to form strategic alliances with several prestigious clubs from around the world in order to internationalize Bravos FC and provide more opportunities for the Valley’s talented youth.

Saturday’s State of the League Address was given by USL President Tim Holt, who spoke of the achievements made in 2009 and the new projects that are being planned for 2010. Holt introduced USL CEO Alec Papadakis, who is part of the investment group NuRock Soccer Holdings LLC that purchased the USL from Nike and UMBRO in August.

Later that night, Cohen and Holt headed up the Mid South Divisional Meeting, where several division-related issues were discussed such as referees and the direction of each club, along with the group’s future plans.

On Sunday, the 100-plus clubs wrapped up the 2009 AGM after meeting to discuss and plan the 2010 schedule. Next season’s schedule will be released in January.

Meanwhile, Bravos FC Technical Director Ismael “Moreira” Braga continued his trip to Brazil, where he is meeting with several first-division clubs, executives and coaches.

-- Bravos FC Services

Hockey

Goeckner-Zoeller named player of week

The Rio Grande Valley Killer Bees and the Central Hockey League announced Tuesday that forward Grant Goeckner-Zoeller has been named the Oakley CHL Player of the Week for the period of Nov. 16-21. 

Goeckner-Zoeller posted six points in three games (3-3-6), helping RGV go 2-1-0 and leap to third place in the CHL’s Southern Conference. The 26-year-old scored twice vs. Odessa on Nov. 21, including the game-winner in the fifth round of the shootout. That goal was the only one scored in the extra session and helped cap a comeback after RGV fell behind 2-0 in the first period. The Princeton University graduate bagged three points (1-2-3) in Friday’s 5-2 win over Texas and also had an assist in a 2-1 loss to Corpus Christi on Tuesday.

A second-year pro, the Los Angeles native leads RGV in scoring (10-11-21) and enters the week tied for fifth in CHL overall scoring. He is tied for fourth in goals, tied for fourth in power play goals (4) and is tied for eighth in assists. He has collected at least one point in all but three games this season and had an eight game scoring streak snapped on Nov. 15 at Laredo.

This is the first award of Goeckner-Zoeller’s pro career and the first of the season for the Killer Bees.

In recognition of his efforts, Goeckner-Zoeller will receive a gift from Oakley and the CHL.

The Killer Bees close out a four-game home stand at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday against Bossier-Shreveport.

-- Killer Bees Services

Basketball

McGrady to help with food drive

The NBA Development League's Rio Grande Valley Vipers announced Tuesday that Houston Rockets guard Tracy McGrady will be at the Lone Star National Bank corporate headquarters on the corner of Nolana and McColl from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. Wednesday to assist in a food drive to benefit the Food Bank RGV.

The event was originally scheduled for Tuesday, but was moved to Wednesday. The Food Bank RGV distributes 96,000 meals per week, with two-thirds of those going to children.

“To put that in perspective, that’s like taking the entire cities of Harlingen and Weslaco out to dinner every Saturday night,” Food and Fund Drive Manager Carter Robinson said.

One out of every five children go to bed hungry in the United States. That number jumps to one in four in Texas and 50 percent in the Rio Grande Valley.

-- Vipers Services

College

UTPA women’s basketball signs six

Texas-Pan American women’s basketball coach Denny Downing announced the signing of six new Lady Broncs with the additions of Laquita Garner, Erin Lewis, Donna Jackson, Sydney Lewis, Adanna Opara, and Ashley Watson.

Of the six new signees, two enter the UTPA women’s basketball program out of high school and four from a junior college.

True freshman’s Laquita Garner (Chicago, Ill./5-8) and Sydney Lewis (Tucson, Ariz./5-8) come from Whitney Young and Canyon Del Oro High School, respectively.  Last season, Garner was an ESPN Rise All-Area Greater Chicago recipient and helped her team to a 31-2 mark.  She also helped her team achieve runner up laurels at the 4A State Championship in Illinois.  Garner was also a member of the 2007-08 4A State Championship team at Whitney Young HS.

“When I step out on the court at UTPA, I want to make history. I want to accomplish things people never thought could happen,” Laquita Garner said.

During her junior campaign, Sydney Lewis helped lead her team to a 26-1 record at Canyon Del Oro High School.  Lewis was a first-team All-Tucson Citizen Girls Basketball All-Star selection during her junior season as well.

“Laquita comes from one of the top girls programs in the state of Illinois.  We love her ability to score and get to the basket,” head women’s basketball coach Denny Downing said.

“Sydney will be a strong physical guard, and that is something we don’t particularly have at this point.  She has tremendous skill set and the ability to score.”

Of the four junior college transfers, two join the program from Collin County Community College and two from San Jacinto Junior College. Erin Lewis (Grand Prairie/5-6) will come to UTPA after spending two seasons with Collin County.  As a freshman, Lewis averaged six points, four assists, and two rebounds per game.  She also received Second Team All-Conference honors as a freshman.

Donna Jackson (Arlington/5-11) will also join the UTPA women’s basketball program after spending two seasons with Collin County.  Jackson was a First Team All-Conference selection in the North Texas Junior College Athletic Conference and was a runner-up as a freshman for conference MVP honors.  As a freshman, Jackson averaged 12 points and 7.9 rebounds per game.

“Erin brings speed and quickness at the guard position.  Her skill set as a guard will help us tremendously.  We feel very fortunate that she has chosen UTPA to continue her basketball career,” Downing said.

“Donna is a very physical player.  For her to be selected first-team All-Conference as a freshman speaks volumes on the respect that the opposing coaches have of her ability.”

Adanna Opara (Houston/6-0) will join the women’s program after spending two seasons with San Jacinto.  During her freshman campaign, Opara averaged 13 points and 12 rebounds per game.

Ashley Watson (Haughton, La./6-2) joins Opara from San Jacinto where she played in 29 games her freshman year and totaled 91 rebounds for the season along with leading the team in blocks with 34.

“Adanna has great athleticism and with her ability to play small forward, she should make an immediate impact on the team,” Downing said.  “Ashley gives us a great inside defensive presence.  Her ability to run the floor and defend really fits out system.”

Garner, Lewis, Jackson, Lewis, Opara, and Watson are the UTPA women’s basketball first signees for the 2010-11 campaign.

-- UTPA Services