The Boston Globe from Boston, Massachusetts • 65

The Boston Globe E7 SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 17, 2007 College roundup Garber paints a bright picture By Frank Dell'Apa GLOBE STAFF women out WASHINGTON Major League Soccer attendance surpassed 2 million for the first time and television ratings increased by 25 percent this season, commissioner Don Garber announced in his state of the league address yesterday. Garber announced earlier this week that Se- MLS CUP NOTEBOOK V'" MANUEL BALCE CENETAASSOCIATED PRESS ERNSTGETTY IMAGES Revolution's Steve Nicol (left) and Dynamo's Dominic Kinnear share the philosophy: It's all about team. Finalists looked within locker room, and you've got to make sure he is a good person or there could be resentment Stevie has done a great job year after year sticking with his players. And that shows respect for the guys who got you there. "I've been with these guys for sev plus.

Nicol 's negotiations did not go far with Denilson, a former Brazil national team player who signed with FC Dallas for more than $1 million. So, instead of shelling out for a high-profile type, the Revolution reinvested in their current players, ex FROM STAFF AND WIRE SERVICES Meghan Cunningham's goal in the eighth round of penalty kicks gave UConn the victory over host Boston College in the first round of the NCAA Division 1 women's soccer tournament last night at Chestnut Hill. The teams were scoreless through 90 minutes of regulation and two 10-minute overtime periods before resorting to penalty kicks, with the Huskies taking the shootout, 5-4, after goalie Stephanie Labbe stopped BC in the eighth round. UConn faces Wake Forest in tomorrow's second round at BC, after Allie Sadow's goal in the 56th minute lifted the Demon Deacons over Boston University, 2-1, earlier in the day. Other soccer Jenna Giardina and Gabriela Demoner had a goal and an assist each to lift Franklin Pierce over Saint Rose, 2-0, in the first round of the Division 2 New England Regional in Albany, N.Y.

Sherron Manswell scored two goals, including the winner, as the BC men won their Atlantic Coast Conference semifinal, 3-1, over Virginia Tech in Cary, N.C. Mark Price scored the winning goal with 6:40 left as Lafayette downed Holy Cross, 2-1, in the Patriot League semifinals. Field hockey Top-ranked Bowdoin advanced to the NCAA Division 3 final with a school-record 19-0 mark after downing Lebanon Valley, 1-0, in the semifinals in Collegeville, on a goal by NESCAC Player of the Year Lindsay McNamara Middlebury advanced to the NCAA Division 3 title game with a 2-1 overtime victory over Salisbury when Allison Grant punched home a rebound at 75:42 UConn lost its quest for a fifth appearance in the NCAA Division 1 final, falling to top-seeded North Carolina, 4-2, in College Park, Md. tending the contracts of key performers such as Jay Heaps, Shalrie Joseph, Pat Noonan, and Taylor Twellman, and upping the pay of reserve forward Adam Crist-man. The Houston roster includes 10 of the 11 starters from last year's MLS Cup.

The Dynamo's key newcomers include forwards en years and you get to know them being with them day in and day out. If we got a designated player, we would have to let some very important players go, because of the salary cap. And I don't see it being worth it if you are going to lose two or three guys on the field, and you lose them from the locker room, also." attle will be the league's 15th team in 2009, and said another city could be announced by Jan. 3 1 St. Louis "is a front-runner for expansion," Garber said.

Other expansion candidates include Atlanta, Las Vegas, Miami, Montreal, New York (Queens), Philadelphia (Chester, Portland, and Vancouver. Las Vegas would play in an indoor stadium. Seattle sold 5,000 season tickets this week, Garber said. The San Jose Earthquakes have been reestablished as the 14th team next year, and teams will be required to release a list of players next week for an expansion draft. MLS teams can protect 1 1 players and will not lose more than one to the Earthquakes.

The site of the MLS Cup, to be played Nov. 23, 2008, will be announced soon, Garber said. Opportunity for advancement The winner of tomorrow's MLS Cup will advance to the Champions Cup, which extends from March through May. No matter the result, the Revolution and Houston Dynamo could be involved in the Champions League and Superliga (top four MLS and Mexican League teams) tournaments next year. The Champions League will have 32 teams from the region and compete in group play from August 2008 through May 2009, mirroring the European version.

Twellman fan Eric Wynatda, who will be a commentator on the ABC telecast of the MLS Cup, has predicted the Revolution's Taylor Twellman will eventually break the US national team goal scoring record of 34, which Wynalda shares with Landon Donovan. Twellman has scored six goals for the United States but is on a record scoring pace in MLS, his bicycle kick against Chicago in the conference final bringing his goal total to 100 in playoff and regular-season matches. "That's what you dream of doing from the time you are 5 or 6 years old," Wynalda said of Twellman's bicycle kick. Wynalda remains a strong backer of Twellman for the national team. "How many times does he have to prove it?" Wynalda asked.

"I am impartial to the result of the MLS Cup but if anyone deserves to hoist the cup, it's Twellman." Franchino practices Defendermidfielder Joe Franchino joined the Revolution for training. Franchino (peroneal tendon surgery) played three games, then was declared out for the season and is ineligible for the final More than 40,000 tickets have been sold Cuauhtemoc Blanco's 25-yard blast for Chicago against Real Salt Lake was selected in a fans' vote as MLS goal of the year. The Revolution's Michael Parkhurst was among five finalists for his 57-yarder in a 2-2 tie with FC Toronto Oct 13. MLSCUP Revolution vs. Dynamo Tomorrow at noon(Ch.

5) Houston, N.E. didn't need DPs By Frank Dell'Apa GLOBE STAFF WASHINGTON This Major League Soccer season will be recalled for the adventures of David Beckham, the league's first designated player and its greatest attraction ever. Beckham helped show the way for the league to gain increased attention and sponsorship money and inspired the arrival of other DPs Juan Pablo Angel, Cuauhtemoc Blanco, Denilson, Claudio Reyna. But the finalists in the MLS Cup did not need big-name additions to maintain their competitive edge, the Houston Dynamo and Revolution advancing to a title rematch at noon tomorrow at RFK Stadium. The fact that neither team felt compelled to go with an allocated player or a designated player, yet have returned to the MLS Cup, highlights shortcomings in the designated player concept Both coaches, Dominic Kinnear (Houston) and Steve Nicol (Revolution), are very selective about recruits.

But building a successful team also means player pay raises. Not only do the Dynamo and Revolution have less need for reinforcements, the salary cap means there is less money to spend. "It's got to be the right fit," Kinnear said. "It's an investment for American soccer, but it's also a player in the Nate Jaqua (Los Angeles) and Joseph Ngwenya (Columbus), acquired in trades for Kelly Gray and Alejandro Moreno, who performed as substitutes in the MLS Cup, plus midfielder Richard Mulrooney (FC Dallas). But the Dynamo and Revolution have been very good teams this year, as they were last year and the year before.

And both will likely remain in contention next year, with or without big-name newcomers. "This is not like basketball, where you can get two superstars and have a great record and get into the playoffs," Kinnear said. "New York had two DPs Angel and Reyna, But it doesn't take just one guy to get a team far in this league." The Dynamo and Revolution have fostered close player relationships and the camaraderie pays off when the teams need to rally in difficult situations. "What we are all about and Houston is all about is not one individual," Nicol said. The Revolution generated revenue for a possible acquisition when Clint Dempsey moved to Fulham FC on a $4 million transfer ($2.64 million going to the Revolution).

Nicol sought reinforcements based on the approximately $550,000 value of an allocated player, failing to persuade former Liverpool FC striker Robbie Fowler and losing prospective defender Dusan Petkovic to injury. Neither Kinnear nor Nicol appeared to seriously consider going for a designated player at $1 million- Frank Dell'Apa can be reached at fdellapaglobe.com. MVFMost Valuable Presents GLOBE EXCLUSIVE Autographed lUU Tom Brady Print, Framed Signed by Mr. Cool himself, this photo of Tom Brady is a 1 6" 20," professionally framed and matted print. SEARCH: BRADY a 1 "re Autographed Bobby Orr Photo, Framed The pinnacle moment in the career of one of New England's most beloved sports heroes.

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