SharX's first signing returns home

October 20, 2011–Brandon Massie will return home to play soccer and goes down Norfolk SharX history as the team's first-ever signing. He'll also get to celebrate his 25th birthday a few days early.

Massie, who played high school soccer at Hickory and collegiately at Virginia Wesleyan–where he is also an assistant coach–will be on the field Nov. 11 when the SharX host the Syracuse Silver Knights at Norfolk Scope Arena to open their inaugural season in the Major Indoor Soccer League.

After spending the last two outdoor seasons with the USL PRO's Charleston Battery, Massie, who turns 25 on Oct. 27, said he is looking forward to coming back to Norfolk.

“I love this a lot,” Massie said in a news release. “I was excited to learn that Norfolk might have a team and I knew I wanted to come home and give it a shot. Now that I’ve made it, I’m so happy to be a part of this community again. I am also happy that my parents will be able to see me play again. I’ve been playing in Charleston for two seasons and with them at the games in Norfolk it will be just like old times.”

During his senior year at Hickory, in 2006, he scored 34 goals, was named Southeastern District Player of the Year, first team All-Eastern Region and was selected first team All-Tidewater. In 2005 and 2006, during Massie’s tenure, Hickory went undefeated in district play.

Massie was a three-time Old Dominion Athletic Conference player of the year for the Marlins, becoming not only the first three-time player of the year in any athletic program in the college's history, but also the first three-time honoree in soccer in ODAC history since the award was established in 1976. He was also a three-time Virginia College Division player of the year.

As a four-year starter at Virginia Wesleyan, Massie scored 57 goals and 30 assists, both Wesleyan and ODAC records. He helped lead Wesleyan to a 56-20-9 record and three consecutive years at the top of the ODAC regular season standings and three appearances in the ODAC championship game. Wesleyan won the 2008 conference title and earned four consecutive bids to the NCAA Division III Tournament. Massie graduated in 2010 with a degree in criminal justice.

Massie signed with USL PRO’s Charleston Battery on April 7, 2010 after impressing the coaches at the Battery's invitational player trial in February. He made his professional debut on April 17, 2010 in a 3-2 win against the Charlotte Eagles.

Listed as a midfielder/forward on the Battery roster, Massie tallied a goal and two assists in 21 games in 2010, starting nine of those. In 2011 with the Battery, Massie had one goal, starting six times in 21 games played.

USL Standout Toby latest addition to Silver Knights

Syracuse, NY---The Syracuse Silver Knights are pleased to announce the signing of USL PRO standout Darren Toby, pending league approval. Toby, a member of the Charlotte Eagles, will travel to the welcoming city of Syracuse to prepare for the upcoming 2011-2012 indoor season.

A native of Lowlands, Trinidad and Tobago, Toby made his professional debut with the Eagles in April of 2008. In his four seasons with the Eagles, Toby was a key component of the team’s success as they claimed their USL Second Division regular season title in 2008. As an Eagle, he was named Second Team All-League Selection in 2010, and was also named to the USL PRO Team of the Week in June 2011. Known for his fierce tactical play and exceptional skill in maintaining possession, Toby will be a huge asset for the Silver Knights as they approach the 2011-2012 indoor season.

Fans can watch Toby and the Syracuse Silver Knights take the field Friday, Nov. 4th at the Oncenter War Memorial Arena as they kick off their MISL season against the Rochester Lancers. The home opener will be played at 7:30 pm.

The Silver Knights will play 24 games this season, 12 at home, 12 on the road, and will compete against teams from Milwaukee, Missouri, Baltimore, Rochester, Wichita, and Norfolk. Tickets are on sale now! Call (315) 303-7261, visit the Oncenter War Memorial Box Office or request season tickets online at http://www.syracusesilverknights.com/.

PASL Pre Season Roundup - Cougars, Vipers out Chicago to join the fold?

Most of the preseason Professional Indoor Soccer news has revolved around MISL clubs but lately there has been a flurry of news surrounding PASL teams.

Some PASL teams are rumored to be sitting out the upcoming 2011-2012 season with both the Cougars and Omaha Vipers apparently unable to secure arenas.

Vipers can't get lease on Civic, won't play the 2011-12 season

Another rumor concerns a possible Chicago team joining the PASL with the additiona of a no-name Chicago team listed on the PASL website. Could it be a return by last years Chicago Riot? Or, maybe the failed attempt of the upstart Chicago Kick to join the MISL has lead them to persue a spot within the PASL-Pro?

PASL official website list of PASL-Pro Teams

For most fans of any team playing, or hoping to play, in the PASL during the 2011-2012 the biggest question still has to be - "When will the official PASL-Pro schedule be released?"

Although the league itself has yet to release the schedule, some teams like the San Diego Sockers and the new Anaheim Bolts Franchise have posted game dates on their team websites and their Facebook page.

Surely a schedule will be released any day now if not for any other reason than to help the teams start selling tickets!

We will be sure to post any updated regarding teams leaving or joining the PASL-Pro ranks as soon as they become available.

Newly Launched Indoor Soccer HOF Announce Inaugural Class

On October 4, 2010 the recently created Indoor Soccer Hall of Fame announced they had named an inaugural class that includes its first 12 inductees.

2011 INDOOR SOCCER HALL OF FAME CLASS

• Earl Foreman
• Steve Zungul
• Branko Segota
• Tatu
• Stan Stamenkovic
• Kevin Crow
• Victor Nogueira
• Kim Roentved
• Juli Veee
• Ron Newman
• Kenny Cooper
• Don Popovic

About Indoor Soccer Hall of FameThe mission of the Indoor Soccer Hall of Fame is to forge a common history for the unique sport of indoor/arena soccer, to celebrate its past, and set the standard for future achievement. For more information or to make a donation please visit the Indoor Soccer Hall of Fame at www.indoorsoccerhall.com.

Silver Knights roster taking shape with additions of Budnyy and Gruenwald

The Syracuse Silver Knights are looking to make a serious splash in their inaugural season as they continue to build their roster. Most recently the Silver Knights announced the signing of Andriy Budnyy, a Ukrainian forward who recently played for USL Pro Club Wilmington Hammerheads.

Syracuse Silver Knights announce Ukrainian Powerhouse Andriy Budnyy



 
Following the signing of Budnyy, Syracuse announced the team had added former local star Jon Gruenewald. Gruenewald like Budnyy also has ties to the USL having recently played for the USL PRO’s Charleston Battery.

Syracuse Silver Knights Announce Former CNY Player of the Year Jon Gruenewald
Syracuse Silver Knights kick off their MISL regular season against the Rochester Lancers.

Baltimore Blast Season Prediction - Lewis Melcher

The following Baltimore Blast 2011-2012 MISL Season predictions are provided to Indoor Soccer News courtesy of guest blogger, Lewis Melcher.

Here is what I see for the beginning of the 2011-2012 season:

I do not see the Blast blowing out teams. Since the Blast will have a lot of new players to get used to playing with their veterans I would expect that they will loose steam early on with five back-to-back games and two games with only one day off on the schedule. I expect you will see great performances by Sagu, Max Ferdinand , Lucio Gonzaga, Machel Millwood, and Adauto Neto. I expect Ferdinand to have a big year since he has had several great seasons with for Baltimore already.

What the Blast don't want to see is being haunted by the number '5'.  For the past four or five seasons the Blast have had win streaks of '5' and loosing streaks of '5' in-a-row. Also, Baltimore fans do not want to see Neto or Sagu get hurt late in the season as this would kill the team come playoff time.

I expect Mike Conway, Kevin Healy, and Danny Kelly to surprise everyone with the new player signings they believe will give the Blast another championship title the franchise should have had last season.

By the end of the season expect the Blast to be the top Eastern Division team with an 18-6 record. I see a Blast vs. Comets playoff or championship game in Baltimore, MD. The advantage the Blast will have late in the season is that with '5'  back-to-back games the players will learn to RUN , and have a lot more stamina then the rest of the teams in the MISL and that will be a big plus for this team during the championship game.

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Lewis Melcher is an avid indoor soccer collector and fan. He has followed the MISL since 1980 when the Baltimore Blast first started. He currently helps many retired players sell their jerseys and awards accumulated over the years to fans. Melcher is an Ebay power seller who specializes in sports cards and memorabilia from all sports. He was a contributer to the MISL fan Page with Baltimore Blast photos last year along with Justin Windsor.

San Diego Sockers of PASL Reveal new logo/partnership

Winners of the last two PASL-Pro Championships, the San Diego Sockers have announced the franchise has partnered with Nike to provide the Sockers uniforms. The Sockers are also partnering with SoccerFanatic to help make purchasing San Diego Sockers merchandise easier for fans.

The new Sockers uniforms by Nike will feature the recently revealed new Sockers Crest seen below:

The PASL-Pro schedule has yet to be released but the San Diego Sockers should be back in action some time this November.