Rush Alumni and US National Team member Conor Casey's interview

Colorado Rush Alum Conor Casey’s list of accomplishments in 2009 would be considered a great career for most players. He was the second leading scorer in the MLS, named a starter for the MLS All-Star game, named to the end of season MLS Best XI Team, on the USA Men’s National Team for the Confederations Cup and World Cup Qualifiers and scored 2 goals against Honduras in World Cup clinching win. Conor recently took some time to talk about the success he’s had in 2009.



2009 has been a very good year for you on the soccer field. How would you describe the last few months starting with being named to the US squad for the Confederations Cup?
Confederations Cup -
Just prior to the Confederations Cup I was called in for the home World Cup qualifier against Honduras. First call up, never really know what to expect and then I got to start. Happy about getting called in and then to make the squad for the Confederations Cup where I didn’t get a lot of play time, but definitely had a great experience being in South Africa with the team and being there for the Spain game… that was pretty special. Ending Spain’s streak of wins, especially after losing our first two games then going out and beating Egypt big in the third game and having Italy lose big, all of the sudden we go through and we beat Spain to go to the final… up 2 goals at halftime in a major tournament against Brazil, hands down one of the best teams in the world. At halftime everyone was real quite, kind of surprised. Second half they obviously came out and got the game but all in all pretty cool. The celebration after the Spain game is one I’ll remember for a long time.
On recent World Cup Qualifiers -
More recently, I was called in for the qualifiers against Honduras and Costa Rica. Scored my first, and second, international goals against Honduras. To do it in that setting, in front of 40,000 crazy Hondurans and to clinch a spot in the World Cup was a neat experience. It was very exhilarating to get those goals and be a part of the celebration afterword.

You’ve scored a lot of goals in your career. Was that first goal against Honduras the most important you’ve ever scored?
Just the night in general scoring two goals. The two goals collectively were as important as I’ve ever scored for sure.

Playing with the US National Team is an experience that not many players ever get to have. How does it feel to pull on that USA jersey for the first time and step out on the pitch to represent your country?
It’s awesome! There’s a really strong feeling of pride; but there is also that feeling and expectation that you want to perform. It’s defiantly an honor but at the same time you want to honor the game by playing well.

Having spent some time in South Africa with the US team this last summer, how do you think the Americans can do in 2010?
Well I think that we performed well at the Confederations Cup. Anytime you go to any tournament, in any sport, anything is possible. We’ve proven over the last few years that we’ve made some big strides. Obviously we will need to see how the groups pan out after the draw; see what other teams are in our bracket. But everyone feels pretty good about where we are at right now and we feel we’re in a position to do really well.

Stateside you have had an outstanding year in the MLS. Named to the best XI Team and the MLS All-Star game. Being a Colorado guy, how does it feel to be able to come home and play with the Rapids in front of your friends and family?
It’s awesome. Coming back to the MLS I didn’t really know what to expect. But the level’s been a lot better than I anticipated. It’s a big difference living and playing abroad because when things go bad you don’t really have that support system to fall back on. So it’s been great to have my family here and all my friends, even some from high school, so it’s been nice.

Now that MLS is all wrapped up what are your plans for the off-season?
I get some time off so it should be a nice little break. I’ll be off till early-mid January. So I’m going to take a good 3-4 weeks off and rest up and recuperate before starting to prepare for next season. But I am definitely looking forward to a little time off. Travel and games and more travel, it all eventually takes a toll.

Having played overseas, what do you think about Rush partnering with French club AJ Auxerre?
It’s truly amazing how far the club has come in such a short period of time. I was there when Rush first formed from (Lakewood) Fury and (Club) Columbine. Now 15 or so years later, to have partners across the country and to have a unique partnership like Auxerre… they just constantly raise the bar. Having teams in the US Academy program and now players having a chance to possibly go over and get looked at in Europe is just huge.

Any advice for those young Rush players out there?
You’ve got to put the hours in to be successful. Tim (Schulz) and Dinger (VA Rush Technical Director Dave Dengerink) and Boomer (Rush Soccer Technical Director Andrew Kummer) at this level, those guys are as good as you can get. Any day that I wanted to train they were there to push me and train me. The opportunity they (Rush players) have is huge. If they want it, it's obtainable, they just have to make the most of what the club has to offer.

Dimas Nets Winner, UVa tops Portland 1-0

Ari Dimas scored his first collegiate goal, which was enough for UVa to best University of Portland 1-0. The No. 2 UVa men's soccer team shut out Portland, 1-0, Sunday afternoon at Klöckner Stadium in the third round of the 2009 NCAA Tournament. Dimas scored the game-winner in the 46th minute for the Cavaliers, who advance to the quarterfinals and will face Maryland on Friday, Dec. 4 at 7 p.m. in Charlottesville.

Check out the full article from VirginiaSports.com, including Box Score an Video.

Photo Courtesy: Jim Daves/UVa Media Relations

Control and Passing

Wanna Be Great?

20 RUSH Alums in the NCAA and NAIA National Soccer Tournaments

TWENTY former VA Rush players are competiting in both the NCAA and NAIA National Soccer Championships this month.

NCAA hopefuls include two Division 1 schools with multiple players, UVA's TJ Cyrus and Ari Demias along with VA Tech's Jullian Johnson and Kristin Carden, and two Division 3 schools, VA Weslyan with Harrison Myrdal, Brian Witt and Kyle Anderson and Lynchburg College's RJ Good, Joe Sjaja and Scott Coleman.

Rounding out NCAA tournaments are Amanda Holmes, UNCW, Katie Carr, UVA, Kelsey Bergen, Lynchburg and on the boys side Jordan Cyrus, U of MD, Alexander Glyfason, UNCW, Hector Arellano, Loyola of MD, Eric Mackin, York College and Stephen Holmes of CNU. Competiting in the NAIA National Championship's are Robby Ford of U of Mobile and Becky Gold of Trinity Christian. We wish them all the best of luck!

Rush Alumni TJ Cyrus and Ari Dimas help UVa to ACC Crown

Congrats to TJ and Ari, pictured here with current Rush players Jack M, JR H, Ryan R, Jayson C (TJ's brother), Austin S, Cole R (hidden), Alex C, Luke W.

VA Rush/AJ Auxerre US Developmental Academy Players Evaluated by US Soccer

Nine players from the VA Rush/AJ Auxerre USSDA program participated in a combined Market Training Center for Development Academy Clubs from Virgina, Pennsylvania, Maryland and DC.

Market Training Centers (MTC) are being held througout the country by the technical department of the U.S. Soccer Development Academy. These centers are designed to further identify and evaluate players for U.S. National Teams. Invitees are players who have been scouted and recommended from observations of the USSDA games and showcases, throughout the year. The focus of this particular MTC was the 1995's, Mason Duke, Ethan Scott and Warren Tyler, 1993's Garrett Halfhill, Alex Feliciano and Sean Christein and the 1991's Travis Brent, Paul Dillon and Trey Saunders. Tony Lepore, Director of USSDA Scoutng, USSDA East Technical Director and U15 Mens National Team Assistant Coach, headed up the staff for a day of training and competition.

Caroline Casey U16N Selected to Represent Region 1 1994's at Interregional Event

Caroline who plays for the U16 Nike team and the VA State OPD team was selected from all the players within the 15 state teams making up Region 1 ODP for this age group. The games will be played at the North Community Park and Coral Glades High School Sportsplex in Coral Springs, Fla. Teams will compete Nov. 22-27.

The US Youth Soccer ODP Girls Thanksgiving Interregional will represent teams in the 1993 – 1995 age groups including the U.S. Under-15 National Team and Costa Rica Youth National Team.
Continuing its tradition of elite play, competition and player development, youth from the nation’s elite player identification and development program, US Youth Soccer ODP, will train and compete in front of national and leading collegiate coaches to maximize their exposure for scholarships and advancement.

US Youth Soccer ODP is known as the premier identification and development program for the nation’s youth seeking the opportunity to compete at the national and collegiate levels of play.
US Youth Soccer ODP is the original Olympic Development Program and the only elite player development program that can claim members of Women’s Professional Soccer and Major League Soccer as well as a majority of current and past national and youth team members, as alumni.

Hockey Canada PSA - Relax, It's Just a game

Check out these videos from Hockey Canada from a few years ago. It will give you a laugh, but the message is pertinent!

REACHing into Africa

Rush Soccer President & C.E.O. Tim Schulz is currently in Nkomazi, South Africa as part of Rush Soccer's REACH program. While Tim is on his trip, he will periodically send updates about his activites at Rush Soccer's newest club, Nkomazi Rush. Nkomazi is a large region located about four hours east of Johannesburg.