Meola, Messing And Other Notes

Many of you have asked us why Tony Meola is no longer playing for the Ironmen. Well, it seems that the team parted ways with the Kearny, NJ native just before the season.

Michael Lewis of Big Apple Soccer reported earlier this month that the Ironmen gave Meola a letter of release after deciding to make room on the reduced-sized roster. Meola wanted to return for a second season, but team officials were reportedly only offering to bring him back on a part-time basis. He was uninterested in that scenario.

"I cannot work that way," he said. "It was all or nothing."

Meola hopes to land a goalkeeping job in the MLS. He played 10 years in the league as a member of the MetroStars/Red Bull New York and Kansas City Wizards.

The Ironmen have not released any official word about Meola.

We here at the Local Fe26 are bummed that Tony is not coming back this year. You can check out Michael Lewis's article here.

In other Ironmen related news:

* Shep Messing will be the honorary captain for the Ironmen's next home match against the Chicago Storm on January 9th. Messing played in the North American Soccer League from 1973 to 1979 and won a league championship as a member of the New York Cosmos in 1977. The Bronx native moved his game to the MISL in 1978 and played there until 1987. He is currently an ESPN soccer analyst and a broadcaster on Red Bull New York telecasts.

* Brett Phillips has taken the starting goalkeeper spot so far this season. The 40-year-old veteran keeper began playing indoor in 1992. He has been named goalkeeper of the year twice during his career, most recently in 2006 as a member of the St. Louis Steamers. He is also a member of the United States National Futsal Team.

Ironmen See Late Lead Slip, Falter In OT

The offense showed up, but it was not enough as the Ironmen fell short in overtime by a count of 16-14 to the home side Detroit Ignition (1-1).

The Irons went up by four points late in the fourth period after they put together a 9-0 run that was capped off by a Shawn Boney two-pointer at the 4:05 mark. The tally brought Boney's career regular season point total to 301.

But the Ironmen defense faltered down the stretch as Detroit scored twice after bringing on a sixth attacker with over 4:00 left in regulation. Detroit's Drew Crawford cut the Ironmen lead to two points at 2:45 and Ryan Mack got the equalizer with 5 ticks left on the clock to make it 14-14.

Mack remained hot in the golden-goal overtime period. The veteran midfielder picked up the game-winner when he finished off a Kyt Selaidopoulus pass at 11:54.

The disappointing loss drops the Ironmen to 0-2 on the season. They will have two weeks to regroup before their next game in Chicago on January 4th.

Ironmen At Detroit Ignition (Game Preview)

The Ironmen will be seeking their first win of the season Saturday night when they travel to Compuware Arena to take on the Detroit Ignition. The match is scheduled to get underway at 7:30 and can be seen live online on the B2 Networks.

The Ironmen are coming off an anemic one goal performance against the Chicago Storm in last week's season opener. A number of Ironmen players will look to get on the scoring track including Chile Farias, who notched 16 goals and 26 assists during last season's campaign.

There is no word yet on who will be in goal for the Irons. Brett Phillips got the starting nod against Chicago, but Patrick Hannigan looked strong in relief.

Last season's MISL rookie of the year Frederico Moojen is listed as questionable for the match due to a toe injury.

Detroit is coming off an 11-4 loss in Milwaukee last week. Forward Mike Apple and midfielder Vahid Assadpour were the two goalscorers for the Ignition in that match.

The Ironmen split last season's head to head meetings with the Ignition 2-2. Detroit finished the regular season in second place while the Ironmen ended sixth.

Ironmen Slip In Opener

Sunday's season opener was not a pretty sight. The Ironmen were able to muster only a single goal on 18 shots during yesterday's 4-2 loss to the Chicago Storm at the Prudential Center.

The Ironmen opened the scoring a little more than a minute into the game when Goran Vasic's free kick found a loosely-marked Aduato Neto, who directed the ball into the net from just outside the far post.

Chicago however got the equalizer about five minutes later when Chris Cerroni took a cross from the left flank and beat Ironmen goalkeeper Brett Phillips for the Storm's first tally of the season.

Both teams would show their off season rust as the game went scoreless for over 40 minutes. The scoring drought ended 1:43 into the fourth period when the Ironmen defense failed to clear a Chicago pass in front of the net. Chicago striker Awadalla Morad collected the ball and struck it past a sprawling Phillips to give Chicago a 4-2 lead.

The Ironmen generated a couple scoring chances down the latter part of the fourth, but could not find the finishing touch.

We here at the Local Fe26 were disappointed with Sunday's result, but we're confident that the talent rich Ironmen can pick up the slack soon. New Jersey's next match will be away against the Detroit Ignition on December 20th. Check back here for a game preview.

Chicago Storm 4, New Jersey Ironmen 2

SCORING SUMMARY:

First quarter: 1, New Jersey, Adauto Neto (Goran Vasic assist), 1:06; 2, Chicago, Chris Cerroni (Zlatko Zebic), 6:09.
END OF 1Q: Chicago 2, New Jersey 2
Fourth quarter: 3, Chicago, Awadalla Morad (Fabinho), 1:43.
END OF GAME: Chicago 4, New Jersey 2
Saves: Chicago 18 (Jeff Richey 18); New Jersey 7 (Brett Phillips 3, Patrick Hannigan 3, Goran Vasic 1).

Ironmen Open Season Sunday (Game Preview)

The season is finally upon us! The Ironmen will get their sophmore campaign underway this Sunday when they take on the Chicago Storm at the Prudential Center. The match is slated kick off at 4:00 PM.

The Ironmen feature an overhauled lineup that includes some of the best talent that the indoor game has to offer. The marquee off season move was the signing of star forward Aduato Neto. The 2005-2006 MISL MVP has notched an impressive 106 goals and 72 assists in 137 career indoor games.

The midfield corps will be lead by Goran Vasic, who is one of only six players to return from last season's squad. The 36-year-old Serb lead the team last year with 29 assists while adding 10 goals.

Defender Ryan Hall will help bolster a retooled back line. Hall's 57 blocked shots was third most in the MISL last season.

Tony Meola's departure will leave three goalkeepers vying for the starting spot. Brett Phillips will get the nod Sunday. Phillips most recently played for the United States National Futsal Team.

Here are a few more notes on the game:

* The Ironmen were 2-1 in head to head meetings with Chicago last season.

* The Storm's attack will be lead by former Red Bull New York first round draft pick Randi Patterson. The Hackensack, NJ native lead the Charleston Battery in scoring this past USL season.

* The Ironmen held a 14-16 record and finished in six place last season.

* Chicago went 15-15 and placed fifth.

One Returning Player And Two New Faces Introduced

Pat Hannigan

Three more players were introduced as members of the team during last week's Ironmen Media Day event--forward Nebo Stamenkovic, goalkeeper Pat Hannigan and defender Aaron Bonser.

Nebo is returning from last year's Ironmen squad. The former Red Star Belgrade reserve registered a goal and two assists after being signed by the team late in the season. He is the son of indoor great Stan Stamenkovic, who played in three MISL All-Star matches and was named league MVP in 1984.

Hannigan, a 6' 3", 200-pound goalkeeper, was originally drafted by the MetroStars in the third round of the 2005 MLS draft. The former Temple standout has spent time with Miami FC of the USL-1 and the Bray Wanderers of the FAI Irish Premier League. He was part of the Philadelphia Kixx's 2006-07 championship squad.

Bonser played last season for the California Cougars where he registered 18 blocks, two goals and an assist in 12 appearances. He played in 65 matches for the Syracuse Orange during his collegiate career.

XSL Gains U.S. Soccer Federation Membership And Other League News (UPDATED)

The Xtreme Soccer League announced yesterday that they have earned a provisional membership in the United States Soccer Federation (USSF). According to the official press release, membership benefits include licensing and insuring rights and access to USSF registered referees. Inclusion in the federation will also provide league coaches and refs with educational opportunities.

The USSF is the governing body of soccer in the United States and is a member of FIFA.

In other league news:

* Brine will be the official match ball provider for the XSL. The league announced that this season's ball will be the Triumph X 600, which will sport a green and white design. [You can check out the ball here].

* Former Red Bull New York striker Randi Patterson recently signed with the Chicago Storm. Patterson last played with the Charleston Battery where he lead the team in scoring.

* Tony Sanneh is training with the Chicago Storm according to the Chicago Tribune (link). The 37-year-old veteran defender earned 43 caps with the U.S. National Team between 1997 and 2005. There is no word yet on whether he intends to sign with the team.

Notes and Highlights From Media Day (UPDATED)

The Local Fe26 was on hand when the Ironmen introduced the players to the press during Tuesday's Media Day event. Here are the highlights and a few of our observations:

* In his opening remarks, head coach Omid Namazi reflected on a busy off season that included the signings of 1o new faces. "We had to make changes to compete for the championship," the two-time MISL Coach of the Year stated. He went on to note that anything less than a championship would be a "disappointment" for this season's highly talented Ironmen squad.

* There were two players introduced whose signings have not yet been officially announced: forward Nebo Stamenkovic and goalkeeper Pat Hannigan. Nebo is a returnee from last season. The former Red Star Belgrade reserve had a goal and two assists in seven appearances last year. Hannigan's resume includes time with Miami FC of the USL-1. [Defender Aaron Bonser was also introduced at the event. The 23-year-old defender played with the California Cougars last season].

* Namazi told the press that the Ironmen are currently waiting on the status of two players from last year's squad. The unnamed players are apparently in Brazil where they are attempting to secure the paperwork necessary for them to rejoin the team. One of the players may be forward Mauricio Salles, who was in Brazil seeking documentation for his family during the summer.

* There were two highly noticeable absences from the event. Goalkeeper Tony Meola was not amongst the players introduced. As we reported earlier, Meola is rumored to be a candidate for the general manager position with Major League Soccer's Philadelphia expansion team. Also absent was Jonathan Steele. The 2008 USL-1 MVP is currently listed on the official roster, but did not appear in the team photo that was distributed to the press. We will continue to monitor the status of both players.

Vasic Named Assistant Coach And Other Ironmen Notes

The Ironmen announced this week that midfielder Goran Vasic will assume an assistant coaching role in addition to his duties as a player. The 36-year-old Serb will help head coach Omid Namazi run team practices and formulate game plans. He holds a USSF-A coaching license.

Vasic played a key role on the field for last year's Ironmen squad. He lead the team with 29 assists and netted 10 goals, including four three-pointers.

We here at the Local Fe26 congratulate Goran on his promotion!

In other Ironmen related news:

* Former Ironmen defender Gordan Kljesten was cut this week by Red Bull New York. Kljesten was signed to a developmental contract over the summer and played in eight reserve matches for the MLS side. He also started against Crystal Palace USA in the third round of the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup tournament.

* The Ironmen will be outfitted by a new company this season. Cosa/ABM Sportswear will provide "Italian-style" jerseys and training attire to all XSL teams for the 2008-09 season. The Stroudsburg, PA based company outfitted the Milwaukee Wave and Chicago Storm last year.

McNeley Joins Ironmen Defense

Evan McNeley is the latest addition to the Ironmen roster. Yesterday's signing made the left-footed defender the 15th player inked by the team during the off season.

McNeley, a Washington native, has played in the indoor game since 2006 as a member of the California Cougars. He enjoyed a breakout season last year, tallying 10 goals and 11 assists while registering 35 blocks. He is the second defender that New Jersey has signed away from the Cougars this off season. Ryan Hall was inked at the end of last month.

The Ironmen will look to McNeley to provide some of the stability that was missing on the backline last season. He played in all 30 games during the 2007-2008 campaign.

Stay tuned to the Local Fe26 for more player signings. There are likely to be more soon with training camp set to open in just six days.

Meola In The News And Other Ironmen Notes

Tony Meola could be headed to an MLS front office in the near future. Soccer By Ives has reported that the former U.S. National Team goalkeeper is slated to interview for the general manager job with the Philadelphia expansion franchise (link). No further details are known at this time, so file this story under the heading of rumor for now.

Meola's status with the Ironmen is not yet clear. He expressed his intention to return to the Irons earlier in the off season, but the team has not yet officially announced his signing.

We here at the Local Fe26 hope Tony comes back for another season. Stay tuned as we should know more about Meola's situation shortly. The Ironmen will need to sign at least one more goalkeeper before the season opener on December 14th. Currently, the only keeper on the roster is last season's backup Le Clembo do Carmo.

In other Ironmen related news:

* Ibrahim Kante is one player from last year's squad who won't be returning to the Ironmen for the upcoming season. The veteran defender signed with the Rockford Rampage of the NISL.

* The Ironmen will be hosting a coat drive during the season opener to benefit Jersey Cares, a non-profit community organization. Fans can donate "gently used" winter coats at the Prudential Center entrance on match day. The game is scheduled to get underway at 4:00 PM on December 14th. Check the Ironmen website for more details.

2008-2009 Ironmen Roster (Early Glimpse)

With the opening of training camp just nine days away, we here at the Local Fe26 thought it would be a good idea to outline the Ironmen roster.

The Ironmen will have a new look this year. So far, only five of the 14 players signed during the off season are returnees from last year's squad. The new signings include some of the best talent that the indoor game has to offer. The centerpiece move was the luring of star forward Aduato Neto away from the Baltimore Blast. The 2005-2006 MISL MVP has notched an impressive 106 goals and 72 assists in 137 career indoor games.

Also among the marquee off season moves was the signing of 2008 USL-1 MVP Jonathan Steele and the re-signing of midfielder Goran Vasic, who was New Jersey's top assist man last season.

There are still a number of spots that need to be filled before the Ironmen take to the pitch in their December 14th opener against the Chicago Storm. We expect one of those spots to be filled by goalkeeper Tony Meola, who has expressed his intention to return to the Ironmen and has appeared at a few team events during the indoor break.

Stay tuned to the Local Fe26 for more off season moves. We will bring you all the info on every signing as they are announced and make periodic roster updates.

Here is how the current 2008-2009 Ironmen roster shapes up:

Forwards:

Shawn Boney (info)
Chile Farias (info)
Frederico Moojen* (info)
Aduato Neto (info)

Midfielders:

Lucio Gonzaga (info)
Sandre Naumoski (info)
Jonathan Steele (info)
Tiguinho* (info)
Goran Vasic* (info)

Defenders:

Oral Bullen (info)
Ryan Hall (info)
Matt Maher* (info)
Rey Martinez (info)

Goalkeepers:

Le Clembo do Carmo* (info)

(* - Indicates player is returning from last season's Ironmen squad)

Naumoski Joins New Jersey

Sandre "Sunny" Naumoski has become the latest addition to the Ironmen squad with the announcement of his signing today. The veteran is the fifth midfielder inked by the club this off season.

Naumoski has played in the indoor game since 2003. His resume includes stints with the Chicago Storm and St. Louis Steamers, where he played with current Ironmen head coach Omid Namazi. He registered seven goals and nine assists last season with his most recent team, the Philadelphia Kixx.

In addition to his club duties, Naumoski is a member of the U.S. National Futsal Team. He played in the FIFA Futsal World Cup earlier this year in Brazil.

The signing will add even more depth to a talented midfield that includes Goran Vasic, Lucio and Jonathan Steele.

Check back here at the Local Fe26 for more off season signings.

Vasic Returns

Goran Vasic (Left) During Grassroot Soccer Dribbling Tour

Goran Vasic is back! New Jersey inked a deal this week that will bring the top setup man from last year's squad into the fold for the upcoming 2008-2009 campaign.

Goran was easily one of the top players in the MISL last season. The 36-year-old Serb tallied an impressive 29 assists in 21 appearances and netted 10 goals, including four three-pointers.

His indoor resume includes two championships. He will be added to an already stacked midfield that includes the likes of Jonathan Steele and Lucio.

We here at the Local Fe26 love the signings we have seen so far this off season. Stay tuned for more transactions!

Ironmen Sign Bullen

The Ironmen added more depth to their backline with the signing of defender Oral Bullen this week.

The Brooklyn native had played with the Milwaukee Wave since 2006. He finished last year's campaign with 21 blocks and 6 assists while missing only one match. Bullen has also spent time with the Portland Timbers of the USL-1.

Rey Joins The Mix

The Ironmen defense continued to take shape with last week's signing of Cuban defender Rey Martinez.

The 28-year-old's career has included stays with the Rochester Rhinos of the USL-1 and the Colorado Rapids, where he became the first Cuban soccer player in the MLS. He has also earned 17 international caps for his play with the Cuban national team.

Martinez has played in the indoor game since 2006. He was a member of the Baltimore Blast's championship squad last year. He finished the campaign with three goals and three assists in 14 appearances.

As always, we here at the Local Fe26 will keep you up on all off season signings.

Moojen Among Four Returning Players

Frederico Moojen - Image From MISL Website

The Ironmen continued to fill out their roster today when they re-signed forward Frederico Moojen, midfielder Tiguinho, goalkeeper Le Clembo do Carmo and defender Matt Mahr.

Moojen will return to the Ironmen after earning MISL Rookie of the Year honors last season. The 25-year-old Brazilian garnered the award after notching 25 goals in 27 appearances during the 2007-2008 campaign. He will be added to a retooled lineup that features offensive star power such as Aduato Neto and Jonathan Steele.

Moojen spent the indoor off season playing for the Minnesota Thunder of the USL First Division where he picked up two goals and two assists.

Here are a few quick notes on the other three players:

* Tiguinho had six goals and four assists last year. This will be his second season in the indoor game.

* Le Clembo do Carmo went 0-3 with a .583 save percentage during his rookie campaign last season.

* Matt Mahr played in 13 games for the Irons last year and registered 16 blocked shots.

The Ironmen roster is shaping up very nicely! Stay tuned to the Local Fe26 for more off season player signings.

Ironmen Sign Defender Hall

The Ironmen made their first defensive acquisition of the off season today when they came to terms with defender Ryan Hall.

Hall, a natural left-footed defender, registered the third most blocked shots in the MISL while playing for the the California Cougars last season. His indoor career began in 2003 as a member of the Cleveland Force, who were then lead by Omid Namazi.

The signing will help balance a potent roster that includes offensive talent such as Aduato Neto and Jonathan Steele. Hall is the sixth player signed by the Ironmen this month.

We here at the Local Fe26 will continue to keep you up on all Ironmen player moves. You can check out our "Transactions" archive to catch up on all the off season signings.

Boney Joins New Jersey

Shawn Boney - Image From MISL Website

The Ironmen added yet another offensive threat to their roster today when they inked forward Shawn Boney.

Boney, who stands at 6' 7", will provided the Ironmen with a solid target up front. He registered nine goals and seven assists in 16 appearances for the Orlando Sharks last season.

The 37-year-old was drafted by the Los Angeles Galaxy in 1997. Boney's indoor career includes time with the Philadelphia Kixx, where he was part of two championship squads.

As always, we here at the Local Fe26 will keep you up on all Ironmen off season moves.

Steele Assists Islanders Into CCL Quarters (Irons In USL Update)

Jonathan Steele - Image From USL Website

Jonathan Steele's first half assist helped the Puerto Rico Islanders earn a 2-2 draw last night with Tauro FC in a crucial CONCACAF Champions League group match. The result eliminates Tauro from the tournament and allows the Islanders to advance into the Quarterfinals.

Steele's assist came in the 27th minute when he slotted a perfectly weighted pass to a streaking Fabrice Noel, who eluded the charging keeper and deposited the ball into the vacated goal.

The Islanders opponent in the Quarters will be determined once all group matches are completed.

The Ironmen signed Steele earlier this week. The 22-year-old midfielder was named the Most Valuable Player for the 2008 USL-1 season.

We here at the Local Fe26 are excited about the Islanders making it into the final eight. Check back for more on their run to the cup.

Ironmen Land Farias

Carlos Farias (Left) - Image From MISL Website

The Ironmen added more offensive firepower to the mix yesterday when they signed Carlos "Chile" Farias for the upcoming 2008-09 season.

The 32-year-old Chilean striker is a veteran of the indoor game. Farias began his indoor career in 1996 with the San Diego Sockers of the CISL. He has had stints with four different MISL sides, including one season with the St. Louis Steamers, who were then coached by Omid Namazi.

Farias played last season for the Chicago Storm, netting 16 goals and notching 26 assists in 29 appearances.

The signing adds more offensive potency to a roster that already includes Aduato Neto, Lucio and Jonathan Steele. The Ironmen should be able to put up some serious numbers with this core of players.

As always, we here at the Local Fe26 will keep you abreast of all Ironmen off season transactions.

Alavanja Signs With Storm

Lazo Alavanja - Image From Charlston Battery Website

Lazo Alavanja will not be returning to the Ironmen next season. The Chicago Storm recently announced the addition of Alavanja to their roster for the upcoming 2008-2009 XSL campaign. The 31-year-old previously played for the Storm from 2004 to 2006.

Alavanja starred in the midfield for the Irons last season, tallying 16 goals and 16 assists in 28 matches. New Jersey will look to the newly inked Lucio and Jonathan Steele to pick up the production in the midfield.

We here at the Local Fe26 will miss Lazo. Stay tuned for more off season player moves.

Ironmen Ink USL Standout Steele

Jonathan Steele - Image From Puerto Rico Islanders Website

The Ironmen continued to add top-flight talent to the roster yesterday when they announced the signing of reigning USL-1 MVP Jonathan Steele.

The 22-year-old midfielder earned MVP honors after tallying two goals and 11 assists during the 2008 regular season while playing for the Puerto Rico Islanders. Steele helped lead the Islanders to the USL-1 championship game and a berth in the CONCACAF Champions League.

Steele's indoor career has included stints with the Kansas City Comets, Baltimore Blast and Philadelphia Kixx. He notched seven goals and six assists in 17 appearances for the Kixx last season.

Steele has also been capped for his play with the U-19 Northern Ireland National Team.

We here at the Local Fe26 are excited about the move. Steele is the third player to be signed this off season who will likely make an immediate impact during the upcoming campaign. The Ironmen signed former MISL MVP Aduato Neto and attack-minded midfielder Lucio Gonzaga earlier this month. The combination of the three players should help the Irons formulate a very potent attack.

Check back at the Local Fe26 for all Ironmen off season transactions.

Ironmen To Hold Open Tryouts In November

We here at the Local Fe26 get quite of few questions about Ironmen tryouts. Well, for those of you interested, here's your chance.

The Ironmen will be holding open tryouts on November 22nd at Turf City in Wayne, NJ starting at 7:00 PM. Candidates must pre-register by calling Ironmen Operations Manager Gioia DiFlumeri at (973) 757-6303. A non-refundable fee of $50 is required. Prospective players must wear soccer attire and indoor flats to the tryout.

You can check out the full details on the Ironmen website.

The Local Fe26 wishes all candidates the best of luck!

XSL Inks Internet Broadcast Deal

The Xtreme Soccer League announced this week that all league matches during the upcoming regular season will be broadcast on the B2 Internet Network.

The deal will make it far easier to follow the Ironmen, especially during road trips. Finding feeds for away games was nearly impossible last year.

However, there is a price attached to the service. Fans will need to dish out a decent amount of cash in order to check out games. According to the league, there are three options available:

* Individual matches can be purchased for $7 per game.

* Fans can buy a "Season Pass" for $60, which will grant access to all regular season matches for a single team.

* All 40 XSL regular season matches can be bought for a price of $99.

We here at the Local Fe26 will continue to keep you up to date on all Ironmen happenings. You can check out the B2 Networks website here.

Islanders Back In CCL Action (Irons In USL Update)

John Krause and the Puerto Rico Islanders will look to get back on the winning track this Thursday when they host CSD Municipal in a CONCACAF Champions League Group D matchup. The game can be seen on Fox Soccer Channel starting at 11:00 PM ET.

The Islanders will be coming into the match fresh off a road loss to the Vancouver Whitecaps in the USL championship match. They have also dropped their last Champions League meeting to Club Santos Laguna on October 8th in Torreón.

Despite the recent losses, the Islanders remain situated at the top of the Group D table with a 2-1-1 record.

The Islanders played Municipal to an impressive 2-2 draw while on the road in Guatemala during their first meeting on October 1st.

We here at the Local Fe26 will be rooting hard for the Islanders. Check back for more on the their run to the Cup.

Ironmen 2008-2009 Regular Season XSL Schedule

The New Jersey Ironmen released their official XSL regular season schedule today. Each of the four teams play a 20 game schedule, with 10 home games and 10 away. The Ironmen home games will consist of five Sunday games, three Fridays, one Saturday and one Wednesday morning “school day” game (much like last year’s matchup with Orlando). Here is how the Ironmen XSL schedule shapes up:

Now, for clarification, the schedule does not include possible inter-league or exhibition matches, and is only representative of the XSL regular season schedule. It is yet to be seen if the Ironmen will in fact be adding such matches to the schedule. The Local Fe26 team will keep you up to date on any changes or additions in the future.

Image co/ New Jersey Ironmen

L

Pics From Grassroot Soccer United Event

The Ironmen hosted an event Monday to benefit Ethan Zohn's Grassroot Soccer. Zohn is in the midst of a three month, 550-mile dribbling tour that is aimed at raising money and awareness to help combat the HIV/AIDS pandemic in Africa. The 2-mile Newark leg of the tour started in Lincoln Park, moved along Broad and Mulberry Streets and ended in the Prudential Center. Dribbling honors went to a procession consisting of Ironmen players, local youth and Newark Councilman Oscar James.

The Local Fe26 was present at the event. Below are some of the pictures that we snapped along the way. Click on each image to enlarge. You can check out many more of our pictures from Monday's event here.

Goran Vasic and Head Coach Omid Namazi dribble down the heart of Broad Street

(Top row, left to right) Aduato Neto, Head Coach Omid Namazi, Councilman Oscar James, Ethan Zohn, Goran Vasic and friends

Members of the Ironmen Dance Team greet the procession from the steps of Newark City Hall

The procession begins up Broad Street

Claudio Reyna supported the event

Islanders Come Up Short (Irons In USL Update)

The Puerto Rico Islanders suffered a disappointing end to their stellar season last night when they fell on the road to the Vancouver Whitecaps in the USL First Division championship match by a score of 2-1.

The match remained scoreless in the first half after goalkeeper Bill Guadette bailed out the Islanders defense on two different occasions. The contest's first goal came in the 55th minute when a Whitecap corner was deflected high in front of goal. Whitecap striker Charles Gbeke was able to out jump a defender and head the ball into net.

But the Islanders found an equalizer thirteen minutes later when Sandy Gbandi headed a Noah Delgado cross into the Vancouver goal from just atop the six yard box.

However, the Whitecaps answered in the 75th minute when they worked a throw-in into the box where an unmarked Gbeke nodded it into goal for his second tally of the match. The goal proved to be the match winner.

Despite the loss, the Islanders still have work ahead of them. They will take on CSD Municipal at home in CONCACAF Champions League play on October 23rd. The Islanders are currently tied for the Group D lead with a 2-1-1 record.

We here at the Local Fe26 congratulate John Krause and the Islanders on earning their first USL regular season title in club history. We look forward to their matches in the Champions League and hope to see Krause back on the pitch for the Ironmen in the near future.

Ironmen To Host Event For Grassroot Soccer

The Ironmen are set to host an event to benefit Ethan Zohn's Grassroot Soccer United tomorrow in Newark's Lincoln Park starting at 3:00 PM. Ironmen head coach Omid Namazi will be on hand along with players Aduato Neto and Goran Vasic.

Grassroot Soccer is a non-profit organization dedicated to fighting HIV/AIDS in Africa. Zohn has played soccer professionally for the Cape Cod Crusaders of the USL Premier Development League and Highlanders FC in Zimbabwe. He gained wide notoriety for his participation in the reality television series Survivor.

A few of us here at the Local Fe26 will be making our way over to this worthy charitable event. For further info, check the Ironmen website.

Islanders Vie For USL-1 Championship (Irons In The USL Update)

John Krause (Left) And Teammates - Image From Puerto Rico Islanders Website

It has been great fun for us here at the Local Fe26 following the progression of John Krause and the Puerto Rico Islanders during the USL season. We will be rooting hard for the Islanders when they travel to Swangard Stadium this Sunday to challenge the Vancouver Whitecaps for the USL First Division Championship. The match can be seen on Fox Soccer Channel starting at 7:00 PM ET.

The Islanders spent the beginning of the season at the bottom of the table after posting only one win in the first two months of play. However, Colin Clarke's side was able to quickly climb the standings after stringing together five victories in a row in July and an impressive 12-game unbeaten streak that spanned from early August to the beginning of October. The Islanders finished the campaign with a 15-6-9 record and their first regular season title in club history.

Despite their stellar form, the road to the the Championship match was not an easy one for the Islanders. They dropped the first leg of the semifinals to the Rochester Rhinos, but were able to bridge the deficit and take the lead on aggregate in extra-time during the home leg match.

John Krause has been a standout in his center back role all year. His steady play on the back line has helped the Islanders concede the least number of goals in the league this season.

The Islanders are 1-0-2 against Whitecaps this year. The Whitecaps finished the regular season with a 15-7-8 record and knocked off the Minnesota Thunder and Montreal Impact in the playoffs.

This one should be a tight and hotly contested match. Check back here at the Local Fe26 for a post game summary.

Islanders Fall To Santos (Irons In USL Update)

John Krause and the Puerto Rico Islanders suffered their first drawback in CONCACAF Champions League play when they fell to Club Santos Laguna last night by a count of 3-0.

Krause and the Islanders defense struggled while playing on the hostile ground of Estadio Corona. The first goal came in the 29th minute when Krause lost his footing in the box while defending Santos striker Peralta Aribe. As Krause fell to the pitch, Aribe turned and fired an unchallenged shot into the Islanders' net.

Constant Santos pressure lead to two more goals coming in the 54th and 69th minutes.

The meeting was the second between the two teams in Group D play. The Islanders took the first match 3-1 at Juan Ramón Loubriel Stadium.

Despite the loss, the Islanders remain tied with Tauro FC for the group lead with a 2-1-1 record. The next Islanders match will be Sunday against the Vancouver Whitecaps for the USL-1 Championship.

Lucio Joins The Ironmen

The Ironmen announced the signing of midfielder Lucio Gonzaga on Monday. The Brazilian notched 15 goals and four assists in 21 appearances for the Baltimore Blast last season. The upcoming campaign will be his second in the indoor game.

Lucio is the second player to be signed away from the Blast's championship squad from last year. Aduato Neto was inked by the Ironmen last week. The addition of the two Brazilians should make New Jersey a viable attacking threat. It will be interesting to see which players return from last year's squad and which ones are added into the mix in the upcoming weeks.

We here at the Local Fe26 will keep you up to date as the roster continues to shape up.

Ironmen Ink Neto

The Ironmen announced this week that the team has signed ex-Baltimore Blast star forward Aduato Neto.

The 28 year-old Brazilian has been a standout in the indoor game in recent years, notching 106 goals and 72 assists in 137 games played. Neto's resume also includes MVP honors for the 2005-2006 MISL campaign.

Despite missing the first 11 games, Neto finished last season with 12 goals and 22 assists for the Blast. He tallied three goals and two assists in the Blast's successful playoff run to the MISL title.

The signing is a clear signal that the Ironmen are serious about competing for top-flight player talent. It will be interesting to see how transactions shake out in the coming weeks. The luring of Neto away from Baltimore could help stir up the rivalry between the Blast and Irons, as well as between the two new leagues. The Blast quickly announced the signing of nine of their players from last season's squad a day after the Ironmen's press conference.

As always, we here at the Local Fe26 will keep you up to date with any Ironmen related player transaction.

Pics From XtremBol Soccer Tourney

A few of us here at the Local Fe26 made it out to the Ironmen's XTremBol street soccer tournament today in the Prudential Center parking lot. The event turned out to be a pretty good time despite the early rainy weather. Below are a few pictures that we took of the scene. Click on each image to enlarge.

Tony Meola, Goran Vasic and Nebo Stamenkovic greet the Master of Ceremonies

Jersey's Finest (maroon) and Master Railing (yellow) get ready for a set piece

Some of the festivities included music and food

Freestyle juggling

Some reggaeton flavor

The ref steps in

XSL Schedule Released (First Look)

The league schedule was unveiled last night on the XSL website. The Ironmen will open the season at home against the Chicago Storm on December 14th. The regular season will conclude on April 4th with the playoffs getting underway the following week. There is no word yet on the playoff format.

Most noticeably absent from the schedule are dates with NISL sides. It remains to be seen if inter-league matches will be added at a later time. We will keep you updated on anything that develops.

As for what we have now, the Ironmen will play 10 home matches and 10 away. They will meet with Chicago and Detroit seven times and with Milwaukee six. There will be 15 games played on a Saturday or Sunday, four Friday games and one Wednesday.

Here's how the schedule shapes up (home matches are in bold):

December 14: Chicago at New Jersey
December 20: New Jersey at Detroit
January 4: New Jersey at Chicago
January 9: Chicago at New Jersey
January 11: Milwaukee at New Jersey
January 16: New Jersey at Milwaukee
January 24: New Jersey at Milwaukee
January 25: New Jersey at Detroit
February 8: Chicago at New Jersey
February 15: New Jersey at Chicago
February 18: Detroit at New Jersey
February 22: Detroit at New Jersey
February 28: New Jersey at Detroit
March 8: New Jersey at Detroit
March 13: Chicago at New Jersey
March 15: New Jersey at Chicago
March 22: Milwaukee at New Jersey
March 27: Detroit at New Jersey
March 29: New Jersey at Milwaukee
April 4: Milwaukee at New Jersey

Ironmen To Host Street Soccer Tourney

The Ironmen will be hosting a 4-on-4 street soccer tournament this Sunday in the Prudential Center parking lot located on the corner of Lafayette and Broad Street. 12 teams will compete throughout the day in two enclosed cages. Games are set begin at 9:00 AM and end around 8:00 PM.

The event will feature music, food and other festivities. A few Ironmen players will be present throughout the event.

Sounds like an event worth checking out. Look for members of your Local Fe26. You can read more on the event on the Ironmen website.

Islanders Stun Santos, Take Group Lead (Irons In USL Update)

Image From Puerto Rico Islanders Website

The Puerto Rico Islanders scored another CONCACAF Champions League upset when they downed Club Santos Laguna at home last night by a score of 3-1.

Both teams had difficulty linking up in the opening minutes as the match began in a heavy downpour that waterlogged the pitch. The standing water hampered a Santos clearing attempt in the 15th minute that resulted in a shot that was deflected and then redirected into the net by Osei Telesford for the Islanders' first tally. Noah Delgado would add another one for the Islanders just before the break and Edwin Miranda tallied the third in the 50th on a wide open shot from well inside the box.

John Krause once again was a defensive standout as he effectively pressured the ball and closed down space to attackers inside the box.

The win allowed the Islanders to take an early lead in the group D standings. They have six points on a 2-0-0 record. Their first group win came against Tauro FC.

The Islanders next match will be away in Panama against CSD Municipal.

Islanders Take On Santos In CCL (Irons In USL Update)

John Krause and the Puerto Rico Islanders will be hosting Club Santos Laguna tonight in CONCACAF Champions League group D play. The match will air at 11:00 PM ET on Fox Soccer Channel.

The Islanders upset Tauro FC in their first group match. They opened up the tournament by shocking LD Alajuelense in the preliminary round.

Santos defeated CSD Municipal in their first group match by a score of 3-2 at home.

XSL Unveiled

As we mentioned earlier, The Xtreme Soccer League was officially introduced at a press conference in Milwaukee yesterday afternoon. Here are the main aspects that were covered:

• The league will consist of four teams: the New Jersey Ironmen, Chicago Storm, Detroit Ignition and Milwaukee Wave.
  
• Each team will have a 20-game schedule broken down into 10 home and 10 away.
  
• The season will open up on December 1st and end late in March.
• Rules will be unchanged from last year. The multi-point scoring system will once again be in effect.
• All league games will be streamed on the XSL website. The site will also have a number of interactive features.
  
• The league will host 3 on 3 soccer tournaments for youth and adults throughout the year and expand their summer camp program.

Let's start with the positives:

The XSL website was well thought out. Online game streaming will make following the Ironmen much easier. Feeds for away games were nearly impossible to find last year.

The league also made a good move in keeping the same rules as last year. Although some purists might disagree, the multi-point scoring system is one facet that adds excitement and a sense of uniqueness to the indoor game.

Now our concerns:

The press conference was lacking in a number of ways. A four member league is obviously very small. It will be interesting to see how the league handles inter-league games. Matches against National Indoor Soccer League sides would allow teams to have a more diversified schedule. Meaningful inter-league matches would also help the Ironmen to establish a natural regional rivalry with the NISL's Philadelphia Kixx and Baltimore Blast.

The press conference also failed to address what teams will be playing for. Noticeably absent was any mention of playoffs or a league cup. A championship game or series between the XSL and NISL winners would be a very appealing prospect.

Hopefully the league will address these issues when they release more information in about a week. As always, we here at the Local Fe26 will keep you caught up.

Another Champions League Win For Puerto Rico (Irons In USL Update)

The Puerto Rico Islanders scored another upset last night when they downed Panamanian powerhouse Tauro FC by a score of 2-1 in the group stage of the CONCACAF Champions League.

Former Metro Petter Villegas opened up the scoring for the Islanders in the 11th minute with a clinical finish to the near post from inside the box. Kendall Jagdeosingh added the second goal in the 26th on a shot from 25 yards out that caught the Tauro keeper off his line.

Aside from the one lapse that lead to a goal, John Krause and the Islanders defense were able to mark out Tauro attackers and absorb their pressure. The defense came up big late in the game after the Islanders went down to ten men in the second half.

The Islanders next Champions League match will be against Club Santos Laguna on September 23rd. Check the CONCACAF website for more information.

Soccer Night With The Newark Bears

The Ironmen will take part in the Newark Bears' Soccer Night promotion this Thursday at Bears & Eagles Riverfront Stadium. The defending Atlantic League champion Bears will be taking on the Somerset Patriots starting at 7:05 PM.

The Ironmen dance team will be appearing along with head coach Omid Namazi who will sign autographs for fans.

The game will be a crucial one for the Bears who trail the York Revolution by 3.5 games with five left to play in the regular season.

Many of us here at the Local Fe26 are big fans of the Bears. Thursday's game will give us a chance to check out two of our favorite clubs in one night!

XSL Unveiled (First Look)

The Xtreme Soccer League was officially introduced today at a press conference in Milwaukee. As we previously reported, the league will consist of four teams: the New Jersey Ironmen, Chicago Storm, Detroit Ignition and Milwaukee Wave.

The XSL website was also unveiled at the conference.

We here at the Local Fe26 will have much more on this story a bit later. In the meantime, you can check out the press release here.

Islanders Begin Group Stage (Irons In USL Update)

John Krause and the Puerto Rico Islanders will open up CONCACAF Champions League group play at home against Panama's Tauro FC. The match will be aired tonight on Fox Soccer Channel starting at 11:00 PM ET.

The Islanders are coming off a shocking upset of past Champions Cup winner LD Alajuelense in the preliminary round. Krause has been a mainstay on an Islanders' defense that has conceded the least number of goals in the USL this season.

Tauro FC are the most prolific team in the Panamanian ANAPROF, winning the league championship seven times. They defeated Chivas USA in the preliminary round by a deficit of 3-1 on aggregate.

Report: XSL To Play 20-Game Season; Salary Cap Instated

More details on the Xtreme Soccer League's business model and upcoming season are starting to come to light. Sources have told the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel that teams will play a 20-game regular season schedule starting in December.

The league will consist of four teams: the New Jersey Ironmen, Chicago Storm, Detroit Ignition and Milwaukee Wave. Additional teams are being considered for future seasons.

Sources have also told the Sentinel that the XSL will employ a salary cap in an effort to reduce costs. To promote stability, all teams must enter into a five year commitment to the league.

The XSL will be a single-entity league governed by a commissioner. As we reported earlier, the rival National Indoor Soccer League will be decentralized with no league office or commissioner. League decisions will be made by teams cooperatively.

The NISL will not use a salary cap.

We here at the Local Fe26 will offer our thoughts once all details have been announced. The XSL has a press conference set for September 16th. Markets and schedules should be made available at that time. You can check out the Sentinel's article here.

NISL To Have No Cap; Hale Sounds Off

The Baltimore Examiner has reported that the National Indoor Soccer League will not have a salary cap. The inaugural season will begin in mid-November.

It will be interesting to see what sort of impact the absence of a cap has on the league. It is hard to imagine teams from smaller markets able to match the Baltimore Blast and Philadelphia KiXX dollar for dollar. But on the other hand, the lack of cap may allow the NISL to siphon off the best talent from other leagues.

Clearly, NISL ownership believes that their business model will produce the top-flight of indoor soccer. “This will be the absolute best league there is in talent,” Baltimore Blast owner Ed Hale stated. Hale also sees the possibility of the NISL expanding west and splitting into two divisions by early as next season.

The NISL will take a decentralized approach to their business structure. The league will put its focus on franchises and will not have a league office.

There is no word yet from the Xtreme Soccer League on its proposed business model. The league will hold a press conference on September 16th to introduce their commissioner and announce further details. We here at the Local Fe26 will keep you up to date on any developments.

Kudos to the Baltimore media for their coverage of the new leagues so far. You can check out the Examiner's article here and one from the PressBox of Baltimore here.

Ironmen To Participate In Somerset Patriots Soccer Night

The Ironmen will take part in the Somerset Patriots' Soccer Night promotion set for Monday, September 15th. The game between the Patriots and Lancaster Barnstormers will get underway at 7:05 PM at Commerce Bank Ballpark in Bridgewater, NJ.

The Ironmen dance team will be appearing along with Ironmen players (the press release does not specify which ones). Red Bull New York and Sky Blue FC of the WPS will also be on hand.

The Local Fe26 will definitely make the trip out to the ballpark for this one. Sounds like a good opportunity to greet some soccer players and check out a good Atlantic League matchup.