I'm sure many of you have been anxiously awaiting the return of The Keeper's Line. Well, we aim not to disappoint. This issue is full of exciting news, stories and events about goalkeepers from youth to international to professional. In the last two months, we have seen one of the original MLS franchises step up to win their first ever MLS Cup, a dynasty continues to thrive in North Carolina, there are All-Americans and American Goalkeepers playing overseas. But even with all this excitement, there is no question what the biggest story is:

Tony DiCicco Leads USA to Gold... Again
Adds U20 Championship to Olympic and World Cup Gold

After a nine year hiatus from the international game and his role as the Head Coach of the US Women's National Team, Tony DiCicco (Uncle Tony to his SPGS Goalkeepers) has returned to his winning ways as Head Coach of the US U20 Women's National Team. After taking over the team from Jill Ellis, there was a short window of time during which he and his staff (Tom Stone of Texas Tech, Kat Mertz of UNLV and Amanda Cromwell of UCF) had to search for, identify and try-out players. Aside from several domestic camps, the team traveled to Chile, Cyprus, Mexico (the USA lost in the CONCACAF Championship game 1-0 to Canada), England and then back to Chile for the World Championship.

During that process one thing became very clear, Alyssa Naeher (Penn State and SoccerPlus Connecticut) was the number one goalkeeper. Tony relayed a story from the first game of the tournament, when Alyssa made a world class extension diving save and Tony looked over at the French bench. The French coach was looking back and they made eye contact. All the French coach could do was give a thumbs up on the save; Tony could simply his head in acknowledgement.

Alyssa's goalkeeper coach during the tournament was former SoccerPlus Director, Kat Mertz. Having previously coached at UVA (under former National Team Coach April Heinrichs) and at UCLA (under current National Team Assistant Coach Jill Ellis), Kat has worked with some of the top goalkeepers in the country, but she described working with Alyssa as a "great experience because of the work ethic she brought to every single training session." (More on Alyssa below in Alyssa Naeher's Best Week Ever.)

But the USA didn't face any easy games. Having to go through all 3 other teams in the semifinals (Germany, France and North Korea) as well as England, Argentina and China, "every team presented us with a different set of challenges," Tony said, "But our girls executed the game plan and defensively we were the best team in the tournament." The US defense gave up only 3 goals in the entire tournament with 2 coming in the China game and 1 coming in stoppage time of the final.

The Keeper's Line congratulates all of the participants of the 2008 FIFA U20 World Championship and the players, coaches and staff of the team representing the United States of America for returning home World Champions!

Read Tony's World Cup Updates on fsasoccerplus.com.
 

USA Results
U20 World Championship
Chile, 2008:

Group Stage
11/19: USA 3 - France 0
11/22: USA 3 - Argentina 0
11/26: China 2 - USA 0

Quarterfinals
11/30: USA 3 - England 0

Semifinals
12/4: USA 1 - Germany 0

Finals
12/7: USA 2 - N. Korea 1
 

Tony with Alyssa Mautz of Texas A&M holding the 2008 U20 World Cup Trophy.

Nathan Kipp a Star, Now a Red Star

Bridgeview, Illinois (December 5, 2008) - Barack might be moving out, but Kipp is moving in. The long-time SoccerPlus Goalkeeper School Director, Nathan Kipp, has been named to the coaching staff of the Chicago Red Stars of the new Women's Professional Soccer. In Chicago, he rejoins Head Coach Emma Hayes, whom he worked with at Iona College in 2003 and 2004.

Kipp is currently finishing a three-year stint with Duke University that has seen the Blue Devils advance to the Sweet 16 once and the Elite 8 twice. During his time at Duke, he has groomed potential WPS draftee Alli Lipsher (see WPS or Bust, TKL 156) and Cassidy Powers, who garnered an impressive 15-6-3 record this year in the always difficult ACC.

"I love Duke, the team and the other coaches  Robbie [Church], Billy [Lesesne] and Carla [Overbeck]," said Kipp. "I wouldn't have left Duke for any other college program, but the opportunity to rejoin Emma coaching professional players was an opportunity I didn't feel I could pass up."

Kipp's expertise and passion are well-known to SoccerPlus Goalkeeper School campers. We wish Nathan and the Red Stars the best of luck [except when they are playing Tony's Boston Breakers of course].
 
SoccerPlus Goalkeeper School Directors George Kostelis & Nathan Kipp (right) at Colgate University in 2004.
 

2009 SCHEDULE RELEASE IS
IMMINENT! WATCH YOUR EMAIL
FOR SOME VERY EXCITING
ANNOUNCEMENTS ABOUT SPGS!
 

University of North Carolina:
Ashlyn Harris (Junior) & Anna Rodenbough (Senior)

Notre Dame:
Kelsey Lysander (Junior)

Stanford:
Kira Maker (Sophomore)

UCLA:
Ashley Thompson (Senior)

As you can see, each one of these goalkeepers has at least one collegiate season under their belt. All 4 of these programs play at a very high level so these goalkeepers have picked up some valuable experience on their journey to the Final Four.

So let’s take a closer look at the 3 games:

Semifinal #1: Notre Dame 1, Stanford 0
Overall, Kelsey Lysander and Kira Maker both had solid performances. Both goalkeepers were comfortable with the ball at their feet and stayed connected throughout the game. Each goalkeeper was called upon to make some important saves. Especially in the 2^nd half, Kelsey Lysander was forced into several important saves. One area where the goalkeeping could have been improved was in their overall positioning. Several times both goalkeepers were forced to makes saves where they had to rely on athleticism rather than goalkeeping. Had their positioning been better, their saves would have been more routine. The only goal of the game was the result of poor positioning by Kira Maker. The first half goal was a result of Maker not being on her ball line (all SPGS Campers will remember their ball line as the imaginary line that runs from the center of the goal to the ball). Because of where she ended up, she was unable to respond to a ball hit back toward the middle of her goal.

Semifinal #2: UNC 1, UCLA 0
This game features a very unique situation at the collegiate level. Since UNC has two extremely talented goalkeepers in Ashlyn Harris and Anna Rodenbough and their coaching staff are comfortable with the team’s ability to play in front of both goalkeepers, they split time. (Many of you younger goalkeepers probably have done this in some manner, so you know that this can be a very challenging thing to do, however the UNC players and coaches manage the situation very carefully.) Rodenbough played the 1^st half and Harris came in the 2^nd half. UCLA was anchored by the nation’s top goalkeeper statistically (#1 in Goals Against Average and Save Percentage), Ashley Thompson. Again this was another solid performance by all goalkeepers involved. The only goal was scored in the first half on a well taken penalty. Thompson was very calm and collected when dealing with the penalty. Yael Averbauch’s penalty was taken very well and Thompson was unlucky not to get a hand on the ball after she calmly waited and responded to the shot. Overall, Thompson showed a solid technical and tactical understanding of the game while dealing with the Tar Heel attack. Rodenbough had a relatively quiet half but did a good job picking off through balls. One thing I noticed throughout the weekend was how well Rodenbough reads the game. Her positioning puts her in a great position to win balls early. In the 2^nd half Harris was forced into a good reaction save when an UCLA attacker broke into the box. She was able to close the angle and set before the ball was struck, giving her the opportunity to get a hand to the ball.

Championship Game: UNC 2, Notre Dame 1
The atmosphere at this game was tremendous and I was very excited to watch this game in person. (I had the pleasure of sitting next to SPGS Director Mike Lovett to watch the match. We chose to sit behind one of the goals, so we were able to observe the goalkeepers.) In a well played match by both teams, I felt the 2 of the 3 goals scored were due to poor positioning. On Notre Dame’s goal a mere 16 seconds into the match, Harris did not position herself well on the ball played over the top to Kerri Hanks, when Hanks received the ball within 8 yards of goal, Harris was stuck to her line which gave her no chance to respond to the shot. It’s extremely important for a goalkeeper to use the “flight of ball” (time it takes from when the ball is served to reach its target) to close down space. Had Harris used this time to position herself better, she might have been able to respond better to the shot. UNC’s first goal was an absolute cracker of a free kick by Casey Nogueira. It was well struck bending away from the wall. Lysander had positioned her wall and was set for the shot but was unable to deal with the well placed shot. The 2^nd UNC goal was again scored by Nogueira and struck well under the cross bar. However, looking at Lysander’s positioning you can see she is off her ball line, anticipating a ball to be struck to the back post. By being just a few steps off her ball line, Lysander put herself in a position where she was unable to deal with the shot.

In the 2^nd half, I was sitting behind the goal UNC was defending. This was a great opportunity for me to observe how well Rodenbough positioned her self to deal with through balls. She was able to position herself higher off her line by reading where the ball was on the field. She also recognized when the ball was in a dangerous area where a shot could occur and adjusted her positioning accordingly. Numerous times she was able to win balls that could have become dangerous opportunities for Notre Dame. On one occasion she was forced into a smother save. Had she put herself a bit tighter to her line, it would have become a goal scoring opportunity for Notre Dame. She also did a great job winning balls with her feet and staying connected to the game.

Overall, the goalkeeping in this year’s College Cup was solid. Each goalkeeper was able to use their knowledge of the game and their technical ability to support their team. However, as discussed, a goalkeeper’s positioning can make a difference between a routine save and a goal. So, for you younger goalkeepers, it is necessary to continue to train tactical situations as much as technical skills as well as watching as much high level soccer as possible in order to ensure that you always position yourself to make each save as easy as possible. It’s extremely important that young goalkeepers become comfortable and know where they are as the move and adjust to the ball. Also, continue to watch high-level soccer and evaluate and observe the movements of these goalkeepers and you will find it helps you when you step between the pipes.

Happy Holidays to everyone!

Sergio is a SoccerPlus Goalkeeper School Director and the Assistant Coach at the University of Dayton where he has just completed his third year with the Flyers. He is also a member of the Region II ODP Coaching Staff, a member of the NSCAA Goalkeeper Academy Staff and is the Director of Goalkeeping for Ohio Elite Soccer Academy. He holds his NSCAA Premier Coaching Diploma. He currently lives in Ohio with his fiancée and former SoccerPlus Staff Coach Megan Cox.
 

UNC's Ashlyn Harris: The junior goalkeeper was part of her second NCAA National Championship squad, UNC's 20th Title.
(Photo Courtesy of UNC)
 

UNC's Anna Rodenbough: The Tar Heels' Senior finished her collegiate career on top playing in the 2nd half of the final. (Photo Courtesy of UNC)



Notre Dame's Kelsey Lysander made a career-high 7 saves in the Semifinal versus Stanford. (Photo by Mike Bennett/ND)



Stanford's Kira Maker, the youngest of the four goalkeepers in the Final Four recorded a 22-2-1 record this season.
(Photo Courtesy of Stanford)



UCLA's Ashley Thompson was part of a Bruins team that made it to four consecutive Final Fours.
(Photo Courtesy of UCLA)

"What sets Alyssa apart from other goalkeepers her age is her calm in goal and her ability to make big saves that keep her team in games. She is exciting to watch and has a great future ahead of her."
-Lisa Cole

Alyssa Naeher at the 2008 U20 World Cup holding the World Cup Trophy and the Golden Glove.
 

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A Goalkeeper is Born?
George and Kim Kostelis Welcome Demitri into the World

CROMWELL, Connecticut (November 4, 2008) - At 2:10am, Demitrios Donald Kostelis entered the world weighing 6 pounds, 15.5 ounces and measuring 21 inches long. Despite a change to their sleeping patterns and the cloud that they continue to float on, all reports are that Mom, Dad and Baby are doing great. (No word on whether or not George has started working on hand service yet.)

George and Kim, Congratulations! As your family grows, our SoccerPlus family grows. We wish you all the best on this new adventure.



George Kostelis is the National Director for SoccerPlus Goalkeeper School as well as the Assistant Coach at Yale University for the Men. George also serves on the NSCAA National Staff and is an accomplished clinician and coach.
 

Fall Camper and Staff Updates

Anthony,
My fall season went pretty well. Last weekend I had a great game. I stopped a PK! On my older team we are in second place in the A division. On my regular team, we are making our way up the standings. I appreciate all your advice and help. I can't wait until next summer to attend another camp! I'm hoping next year to make the Region III ODP Team.

Thanks,
Kristen Rivers
Ohio Wesleyan '08


Kristen,
Thanks for checking in. It is great that you have a goal that you're working towards. We'll do everything we can to help you achieve that goal. Continue to get feedback from your coaches and your teammates and self-evaluate to. Getting to where you want to be is about a series of little adjustments, its almost never a snap of the fingers. We believe in you. Keep working and you'll get there.

I thought I'd share with you that Taylor was selected to the 2009 Super-Y League ODP National Select Pool. The selection process according to her Super-Y Manager was from 2 age groups...63 U13 Super-Y Teams and 62 U14 Super-Y Teams which included over 2200 players. Last year, they selected 200 kids for the first team and 89 alternates. (70% of those were from the older age group.) Out of those only 29 goalkeepers were taken.

I very proud of Taylor for being selected and she is proud of what she's accomplished too. I know that the wonderful goalkeeper training she's received from SoccerPlus during the summer has helped her immensely as she's worked towards her goals -- as well as [SoccerPlus Goalkeeper School Director] Brendan [Lawler]'s great training sessions during the rest of the year.

See you a winter clinic soon.

Lucia Buklin
Mom of Taylor Bucklin
Suffield Academy '08


Lucia,
We're proud of Taylor too. Tell her to keep up the good work and we're looking forward to seeing what she's going to do next.

A Note to SPGS Assistant Director Mariel Wilner:

Hey Mariel,
SoccerPlus Goalkeeper School should be very proud of your program, but especially on this night [at the end of October]. In our district final game, you produced four goalkeepers that played. Greg Posada ('07) and I ('07, '08) both played as well as Warren De La Salle's Sean Muktar ('08) and John Schultz ('08). De La Salle won the game 3-0 and although we were disappointed, they were ranked #5 in the state of Michigan. Thanks again for all you have done and I look forward to seeing you this summer.

Thank You,
Adam Llorens


Adam,
Thanks for drawing attention to what we think is one of the most fun parts of being a part of SPGS. We are EVERYWHERE. It is impossible to describe the depth and reach of the SoccerPlus network, but it isn't unusual to have multiple SoccerPlus goalkeepers in goal (but I don't ever remember hearing about there being 4 before).

Do you have a good story about meeting a fellow SoccerPlus camper?  Send it to us at tkl@goalkeeper.com.

Other Notes From SPGS Campers and Staff
-Libby Stout, Freshman at Western Kentucky was #4 in the Nation for Division 1 Women Goals-Against Average with only 9 goals allowed in 1902 minutes in 20 games for a 0.426 GAA and #2 in Save Percentage with a 92.4%.

Other SPGS Ties to the Top 50 for GAA:
#20 - Dianna Pfenninger (Texas) - 0.632
#27 - Kate Milstead (Florida State) - 0.678
#37 - Katie Zoeller (Louisville) - 0.735
#39 - Brittany Cameron (San Diego) - 0.748
#48 - Jillian Mastroianni (Boston College) - 0.794
#49 - Sasha Reiber (Illinois State) - 0.794
#50 - Alex Lostetter (Army) - 0.795

Other SPGS Ties to the Top 50 for Save Percentage:
#12 - Dianna Pfenninger (Texas) - 86.3%
#27 - Alex Lostetter (Army) - 85.3%
#32 - Jillian Mastroianni (Boston College) - 85.1%

Emily Cota, a senior at Upper Perkiomen High School in Green Lane, Pennsylvania was named to the NSCAA/adidas Girls High School All-America Team.

SoccerPlus Goalkeeper School Staff Coach Austin Guerrero of the University of Portland was an Honorable Mention for the West Coast Conference.

Have a story or an article to share with us? Sent it to tkl@goalkeeper.com.

Second SPGS Director to Grace SJ Cover in Last 3 Issues:

SPGS Director and Boston Breakers Assistant Coach Lisa Cole was featured on the cover of the NSCAA's Soccer Journal. Lisa is a member of the NSCAA Goalkeeper Academy Staff. Look for her at the 2009 NSCAA Convention in
St. Louis.

























 

Austin Schwartz Carlisle Soccer Club Classic Player of the Month for October.


 

Katie Enos with her PASA FC teammates, sporting her SPGS Jersey. Wear it proud!
 

Tony's Bookshelf:
Dare To Dream: The Story of the US Women's Soccer Team
by Rick Bernstein and Ross Greenburg for HBO Sports (DVD, 2007)

5 Players Highlighted in Dare to Dream: (Back, Left to Right) Joy Facwcett, Julie Foudy, Brandi Chastain. (Front, Left to Right) Kristine Lilly, Mia Hamm


Lilly, Foudy and Tony in China in 1991.
 

Keeping with our Gold Medal theme and reflecting on Tony's latest accomplishment on the world stage, we are going to go back in the archives for a double dose of the RetroLine. The first will come from the October, 1991 issue, when Tony was first brought into the National Team Program and the second, from September/October, 1996, will offer some insight into what was required for that Olympic Team to find the success that they did. We will follow up our Championship theme with some of Tony's thoughts from this 2008 World Cup and the different challenges he and the staff faced in the next TKL, but know that all of what he learned during those previous experiences played a factor in the success of this 2008 team.

RetroLine (Issue 76, Oct '91):
The Quest For a World
Championship
by Tony DiCicco, Goalkeeper Coach, US Women's National Team; Director/Founder, SoccerPlus Goalkeeper School

I'm writing this on Monday, July 15, 1991, and I'm pretty excited; the United States Soccer Federation has just asked me to go to the Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs to train the U.S. Women's National Team goalkeepers for a week -- and then travel with the team to China.

China, of course, is where the first-ever Women's World Cup will be played, in November. This upcoming trip is to serve as a preliminary to that very important trip in the fall.

I feel very, very privileged, because this is no ordinary team. First, it represents the highest level of women's soccer in the U.S. Second, this team has lost a total of five games since 1988; its record during that time is something like 122-5-2.

I know some of the athletes, and by the time you read this I hope to know the entire team. They are a very close-knit group, highly self-motivated and self-disciplined. Collectively, they are on a quest: to win a world championship. They are currently ranked in the top five in the world, and many experts feel they are the team to beat.

Anson Dorrance of the University of North Carolina is their coach, and without question is the person most responsible for the United States' development as a top international team.

The Federation and coaching staff realize that when the 12 finalists kick off in China in November, goalkeeping may be the difference. That is why they contacted me. I know the goalkeepers, Kim Maslin-Kammerdeiner and Amy Allman. Both are exceptional athletes and top keepers. My job is to make them a little bit better, to improve the communication and coordination between the keepers and their defenders just a little bit sharper, so that in the crucial game they will the game-saving, or game-winning, big play.

My job is also to learn more about women goalkeepers at this level, to know why and how most goals are scored in women's games. My role is to fit into this fine team without causing even a ripple of adjustment, instead offering all a little boost towards their ultimate goal.

There are, of course, sacrifices.

Three days ago my wife, Diane, gave birth tour our fourth son, Nicholas Robert. What a sacrifice to leave my other boys (Anthony, Andrew and Alex) and newborn Nicky, when he's only 10 days old! But Diane and my family are very supportive, and that's crucial.

The families of these athletes are also making tremendous sacrifices. Some players have lost jobs because they have had to take so much time off for national team camps and matches. They go weeks without seeing their parents, homes or husbands. They have been sacrificing not for a few months, but for many years -- and now their goals are within sight.

Many of you, both boys and girls, have dreamed of playing the game at the national and international level. Are you ready to make that commitment? The work level is staggering, the sacrifices are real -- and anyone capable of, and yearning to, play at that level must be willing to make those types of sacrifices.

Of course, the rewards are there too. And of course they are real: the prestige of playing (or in my case, coaching) on a national team. The travel, which although not as glamorous as it may appear, still is without question a wonderful educational and cultural experience. The team relationships created will last, in many cases, forever. There is even the outside chance of a professional opportunity when the Cup is over.

I know I have rambled on a bit during this letter to you, but there is a message or two here. Recognize the level of commitment of our national women's team -- and support them. If you are talented, use these athletes as role models; attempt to duplicate their efforts. Understand that sacrifice and hard work are part of every success story. And when you finally get there, and are ready to achieve your goals, say to yourself: "I belong! I am confident! I have pride!"

Good luck!




RetroLine (Issue 110, Sept/Oct '96):
Lessons from Winning Olympic Gold
by Tony DiCicco, Head Coach, US Women's Olympic Team; Director/Founder, SoccerPlus Goalkeeper School


"Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness that most frightens us. We ask who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, fabulous? Actually, who are you not to be? You are a child of God. Your playing small does not serve the world."

That was the quote I read to our USA Women's Olympic Team just before we took the field against China in the Olympic Gold Medal Game. The message is that often times people hold themselves back from experiencing their highest moment or achievement. Many people either feel themselves not worthy or don't want the responsibility of being the best, being on top. Either way, it's self sabotage. Obviously, our Olympic Team played brilliantly against a fine Chinese Team and earned the Olympic Gold for themselves and for America. Here are a few areas that played significant roles in our success:

Imagery
In many ways we had planned to win. And not just through soccer training, but also through mental training...being in the winning position, touching and holding the Gold Medal just put around our neck, seeing friends, family, fans in utter exhilaration and thoroughly enjoying the moment, feeling the pride associated with such an accomplishment, hearing the Star Spangled Banner being played and seeing our flag being raised. We had rehearsed all of this in team meetings, in our dreams, thoughts and images. Why? Because one's inner psyche doesn't know limitations, doesn't know image from actual experience. But it does know how to plan for it whether real or imagined.

Motivation
Motivation was a key to our success. Keep in mind, motivation can come from some strange places. We motivated to accomplish the Gold as part of a common dream or goal. Motivation comes from progressive, positive leadership. Our Captains and the coaching staff all lead through positive reinforcement. None more so than Carla Overbeck. If someone makes a mistake on the field, Carla is the first to encourage and lift them back up so they can maintain or regain their optimum performance level. What develops in practice and carries over to matches is an environment of "unconditional love." It's safe to try and it's safe to fail as long as there is all out effort. Because it is safe, players are more ready to put it on the line and perform on their competitive edge. But, as I said before, motivation can come from some strange situations. Without question, our biggest single motivational factor came from losing in the Semi-Finals of the World Cup in Sweden. That loss was devastating, so much so that we worked extra hard and with more purpose to never let something like that happen again. The following is a quote from Michelle Akers that I read and copied from Soccer Jr. magazine:

"Our reaction to the '95 World Cup loss reflects the very nature and character of our team today. An intense, gutsy, determination to do whatever it takes to win and it's not just on game day. It's in every practice, in the weight room, in team meetings. It's in our dreams. We want to be the best team in the world. We will be the best team in the world. We are the best team in the world."

Self-Confidence
l knew when I accepted the Head Coaching position that self-confidence and performance shared a very special relationship. The higher the self-esteem, the higher the performance. That was why our SoccerPlus Goalkeeper School program was designed as it was...to create a challenge and then guide our students to success and higher levels of self confidence.

I quickly discovered that the USA Women, as good as they are, also need to constantly build and rebuild their self-confidence. With the help of Dr. Colleen Hacker, our sports psychologist, we provided tools for building or improving each player's self esteem. Colleen and my Assistant Coaches Lauren Gregg and April Heinrichs created video tapes which captured the essence of each player's strengths. The tapes were put to music of the player's choice. These tapes became valuable confidence building tools. The players would sit and privately view and image from these tapes. The same was done with audio tapes (adding voice-overs to talk the players through an imagery session). The sum total of these confidence building tools can not be measured easily, but I can tell you first hand, we were focused, we were confident and we were ready and willing to do whatever it took to win.

What I am sharing with you about the Olympics can become part of your own training and preparation too. Understand the dynamics of performance, of motivation and understand that self-confidence, just like any technical skill, can be developed and fine tuned and utilized to enhance performance.

Good luck and thanks for all the notes of congratulations!