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Keeper Notes
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Soccer e-news for way more than 1,836 Houston soccer fans

Houston 1836 update
Tickets & schedule
The 2006 MLS schedule is slated to be released today -- see http://houston.mlsnet.com/MLS/hou/ and click SCHEDULE after 10 am. Houston's inaugural game kicks off at 18:36 (6:36 pm) on Sunday, April 2. Buy season tickets (without paying Ticketmaster fees) by calling the Houston 1836 office at 713-590-5143. For pricing/seating options, see http://www.keepernotes.com/1836.htm. For those who’ve already put down a deposit, there will be a “Pick Your Seat” day on February 26 at Robertson Stadium. Details TBA. Individual game tickets are not yet for sale.

Official supporters club
The group meets this Friday at 8 pm at the Richmond Arms (Richmond near Fountainview). Join other 1836 fans to vote on the club name, discuss the rivalry cup with Dallas, and decide which part of the stadium will be the supporters club section. At 10 pm, the group will watch the US men face Japan on ESPN2. See http://sports.groups.yahoo.com/group/MLSHouston/.

GOAL OF THE DECADE: vote for De Ro!
More than 5,000 goals have been scored in the first 10 years of the MLS, but only one will earn the title of Sierra Mist Goal of the Decade. Houston's Dwayne DeRosario has two goals up for consideration. Fans can view the goals at http://www.mlsnet.com/MLS/mls/awards/2006/goal_of_the_decade/ and vote up to 10 times per day. There are four rounds of voting; the first concludes Monday. Winner announced March 7.

Local tryouts
Houston 1836 will hold preliminary tryouts this Saturday at Delmar Stadium for potential slots on the developmental squad. Head coach Dominic Kinnear will evaluate the 28 players chosen from the prelims on February 19. This is not an open tryout; players must be recommended by their coaches. Contact Edward Green at coachgreen@justice.com or http://houston.mlsnet.com/MLS/news/team_news.jsp?ymd=20060207&content_id=51641&vkey=pr_hou&fext=.jsp&team=hou.

Preseason matches
Houston 1836 is tentatively scheduled to play two exhibitions this month: against FC Dallas on February 18 in Frisco, and versus Real Salt Lake on February 25 in Austin. Details to come.

Team gear
Soccer 4 All now has Houston 1836 Tshirts in youth sizes as well as adult, and is taking pre-orders for jerseys. You can also buy shirts at www.soccer4all.com or http://www.mlsgear.com/search.asp?CAT=search&SEARCHSTRING=houston.

Club America at Minute Maid Park
On Wednesday, February 22, Club America (featuring Mexican national team striker Cuauhtémoc Blanco) meets Portmore United FC (with many Jamaican national teamers) at 8:30 pm at Minute Maid Park, as part of the 2006 CONCACAF Champions’ Cup. Tickets are $20 to $40, on sale via Ticketmaster, at Soccer 4 All (click here for locations) or the Minute Maid Park box office. For group tickets, call 832-667-2002. The winner of the CONCACAF Champions' Cup earns a spot in the FIFA Club World Championship next December.

Keeper Query
You guys sure know how to google! There were 25 correct answers to last week's two-parter. Congrats to James Hromadka for getting it right first: 1) FC Dallas' Aaron Pitchkolan is the one player from West Virginia (Oliver Luck's alma mater) who has MLS experience (til DC United's Devon McTavish plays a game, that is), and 2) Houston 1836's "Raven Black" specifically refers to Sam Houston's Cherokee nickname -- "The Raven."

This week's query: Thanks to Soccer 4 All, there is another Houston 1836 Tshirt up for grabs for the first correct answer to this question: Which three Houston 1836 players have already played an official MLS game (exhibition) at Roberston Stadium, and what was the score of that game? Hint: they were representing the LA Galaxy. To be fair, answers will not be accepted before 7 am CT Wednesday. Send answers to keeper@keepernotes.com.

USA friendlies this month
The US men continue World Cup preparations with a friendly against Japan Friday night in San Francisco. Game airs live on ESPN2 at 10 pm, and replays Saturday at 1 pm on Telemundo. The following weekend, the US men play their first-ever match at Pizza Hut Park in Frisco, TX -- the match is at 1 pm on February 19 against Guatemala. Game airs live on ESPN2 & Telemundo. Tickets are available at ussoccer.com and by phone at 214-373-8000. Groups of 15+ can purchase tickets through FC Dallas by calling 888-FCD-GOAL.

Volunteers needed for youth soccer convention
Houston is hosting the US Youth Soccer convention & workshop February 23-25 at the George R. Brown Convention Center. Volunteers are needed to help check in delegates and handle other tasks during these shifts: Thursday, February 23 (afternoon-early evening), Friday, February 24 (all day), and Saturday, February 25 (morning). If you can help, email Shirley McGraw at patshirley@aol.com or Francisco Boquer at boquer@sbcglobal.net.

HWSA scholarship program
HWSA awards five $1000 scholarships to Houston area women who will be attending college in the fall. See http://www.hwsa.org/scholar.htm for details. Applications are due April 24.

South Texas signees
February 1 was national signing day. There's so much great soccer talent in South Texas, so this is only a partial list -- basically, any greater Houston area seniors who signed with a division 1 program in Texas. Houston and UT have not yet announced signees. Congrats to all!

Baylor
Megan Humke, The Woodlands HS/Challenge SC
Lauren Ann Weathers, Cy Creek HS/Texas Premier
Katie White, A&M Consolidated HS/Challenge SC

Rice
Kellen Schugart, Kingwood HS/Challenge SC

Stephen F. Austin
Crystin Pactor, Lamar HS/Challenge SC

TCU
Kelsey Vross, Concordia Lutheran HS/Challenge SC

Texas A&M
Amber Gnatzig, Humble HS/Challenge SC
Whitney Hooper, Klein Forest HS/Challenge SC
Nicole Ketchum, Cy-Fair HS/Challenge SC

Texas State San Marcos
Nicole Kinnard, LaPorte HS
Lindsay Tippit, Deer Park HS
Ana Viscariello, Friendswood HS

South Texas select teams
The select teams provide an opportunity for elite amateur South Texas players (19 & up) to showcase their talents. Previous women's teams have played against the Mexico women's national team and WPSL teams. The men's teams regularly square off against MLS reserve teams, allowing opportunities for amateurs to attain professional status. For info, see www.stxselectteams.com.

Live soccer on TV
Friday
Int'l friendly: US men v Japan, 10 pm, ESPN2
Saturday
English Premiership: Portsmouth v Manchester Utd, 11 am, Fox Soccer Channel
La Liga: AC Bilbao v Real Madrid, 3 pm, GolTV
Futbol de Mexico: Tigres v Necaxa, 7 pm, Galavision
Sunday
Futbol de Mexico: Pumas v Veracruz, noon, Univision
Tuesday
English Premiership: Liverpool v Arsenal, 2 pm, Fox Soccer Channel
More at http://www.soccertv.com

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Keeper Calendar
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February 10: Int’l friendly/US men v Japan, San Francisco, CA
February 15: Int'l friendly/Mexico men v South Korea, Los Angeles, CA
February 18: MLS exhibition/Houston 1836 v FC Dallas, Frisco, TX
February 19: Int’l friendly/US men v Guatemala, Frisco, TX
February 22: CONCACAF Champions Cup/Club America v Portmore Utd, Minute Maid Park
February 23-25: US Youth Soccer Workshop & Convention, Houston, TX
February 25: MLS exhibition/Houston 1836 v Real Salt Lake, Austin, TX
March 1: Int'l friendly/US men v Poland, Germany
March 1: Int'l friendly/Mexico men v Ghana, Dallas, TX
March 9-15: Algarve Cup/US women, Portugal
March 22: In'tl friendly/US men v Germany, Germany
March 29: Int'l friendly/Mexico men v Paraguay, Chicago, IL
April 2: HOUSTON 1836 inaugural game
Expanded calendar at http://www.keepernotes.com/calendar.htm

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