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Hold Your Horses

Calgary owners insist Mustangs aren't done yet

By CAMERON MAXWELL, CALGARY SUN - October 28, 2004

Reports of the Calgary Mustangs' demise might be greatly exaggerated. That's what co-owner Juergen Hanne said yesterday after the Tampa-based United Soccer Leagues announced the 'Stangs wouldn't be running in the A-League next season.

Hanne said the club plans on taking a one-year hiatus from the loop and returning in 2006.

"We had three partners and the one German partner didn't come up with the money but that's not the main thing," said Hanne.

"The main thing is we don't have a venue -- we don't want to play on the same turf again at McMahon Stadium."

The idea now is to find six new investors who can kick in $100,000 each so the team can buy the new, rubber-based artificial turf for McMahon.

"If the turf is in, that's fine and we go ahead,"said Hanne, adding the team would then commit to three years in the A-League.

USL officials had granted the Mustangs a one-year grace period where they could play on the current turf at McMahon, which doesn't conform to league regulations.

But now that the year is up and new turf hasn't been implemented, the club couldn't move ahead for the 2005 season.

"We can just leave a season out and come back really strong the next year," said Hanne, who along with John Torode, owns the team that went 4-18-6 in 2004.

Torode and Hanne each put $125,000 into the team last season as poor weather and a paltry fan turnout dogged the club.

Edmonton and Syracuse also will not be included in the 2005 schedule, USL officials said.

"It is very unfortunate to lose these three markets, which we feel have great potential," USL vice-president Tim Holt said in a statement. "We still strongly believe Calgary, Edmonton and Syracuse have a future in USL; however, it was not in the short-term interest of USL and its other member franchises to continue in those markets for 2005."

The announcement leaves the champion Montreal Impact, Vancouver Whitecaps and Toronto Lynx as the Canadian entries in the 13-club A-League.

Mustangs Halt Operations

October 27, 2004 - The Calgary Mustangs will not be a part of the A-League in 2005.  They failed to commit to the 2005 season and the USL discontinued their franchise rights.

For the full press release, go here

Edmonton and Syracuse have also ceased operations.

Thank you to the loyal fans of Calgary.  Hopefully, we will get another chance to see top quality soccer in our fair city in the not-too-distant future.

Mustangs Alley wishes the very best to the players, and we wish you the best of luck in your future endeavours.   We also hope to see you again in 2006

Calgary Herald - Calgary To Keep Kicking

Despite dismal mark, club plans for next season

Lauren MacGillivray - Calgary Herald - Friday, August 27, 2004


The Calgary Mustangs don't plan to ride off into the sunset just yet.

While the soccer squad's miserable inaugural A-League season ended with Thursday's 4-2 loss to the Milwaukee Wave United, capping a 4-18-6 record, the defiant team will likely return next year.

The Mustangs, who rose from the ashes of the now-defunct Calgary Storm, at least demonstrated resiliency by playing through missed opportunities, abysmal weather and a tough sell to fans.

A crowd of about 400 at McMahon Stadium took in the finale against 12-10-4 Milwaukee.

"Everything looks good," team co-owner Jurgen Hanne said of next season. "We've learned a lot.

"We hardly lost a game by a high score and, sometimes, we were unlucky. We've had lots of support from the other teams and we also have some of the strongest midfielders in the league."

Hanne said only two major problems remain for next season: the need to play on better turf (a more grass-like synthetic) and increased support from the Calgary Minor Soccer Association to assist with the club's budget of about $1-million.

He also hopes to increase player salaries, about $1,500 to $3,500 bi-weekly.

The Mustangs figure to have a good core group of returnees. Jamie Auvigne of Calgary wants to take care of unfinished business.

"We lost a lot of our games by one goal. We showed we can play at that level," said the 26-year-old midfielder, who also played for the Storm.

"This club was a lot more organized in terms of the office," he said. "They are great owners."

Sergei Kolomiets-Raad, a 22-year-old midfielder originally from Russia who resides in Florida, is considering a return.

"It's up to the management," he said. "Calgary's not bad. I like it here."

CORNER KICKS: Joe Hammes, Jamar Beasley, Marcelo Fontana and Matt Schmidt scored for Milwaukee. Mike Pavicic and Mesut Mert replied for Calgary . . . Edmonton FC, a 3-1 loser to the Toronto Lynx, and Calgary tied in the Western Conference cellar.

Calgary Sun - 'Stangs Cap Season With Loss

Fri, August 27, 2004

By CAMERON MAXWELL, CALGARY SUN

It was a 90-minute capsule of the season gone by for the Calgary Mustangs. Playing their final game of the 2004 A-League campaign, the 'Stangs fell 4-2 against the Milwaukee Wave United at McMahon Stadium.

Despite the score, they could have won and that's been the season-long theme for the team.

Two late crossbars by Aaron Richer and Nic Reyes -- millimeters away from being goals -- would have tied it and a lack of timely scoring has been the story for this club.

"We started about an hour too late but I'm happy at least the fans saw the last half hour of spectacular play and the will of our team to prove we are competitive but we didn't do ourselves a favour the first hour," said Calgary captain Geert Brusselers, who likely played his last game in a Mustangs uniform as he'll likely head back to Netherlands, his homeland.

"We got a little unlucky at the end with the crossbars and a nice save from their goalie."

That save came on a Brusselers bender from the right. The shot looked like it would curve into the net but Milwaukee goalie Jim Larkin just got a hand on it.

Brusselers and the rest of the team hung around for a while after the game, signing autographs for fans, knowing it's the last time they'll be together on the same club.

The loss means Calgary ends the season with a 4-18-6 record, tied for last in the Western Conference with Edmonton, who lost 3-1 last night to the Toronto Lynx.

The team was competitive in just about every game, losing 11 matches by one goal, showing team ownership and coaches what the club needs next season are a couple of players who can score consistently.

"Performance-wise, with the exception of a few games, we were always in them with the opportunity to win," said head coach Thomas Niendorf.

"We clearly showed improvements as a team and have become a fierce competitor for the other teams in the league ... but in professional sports, it comes down to can you win and unfortunately we definitely should have gained more points from the performances we showed on the field."

Niendorf said the Mustangs have taken a big step forward for 2005.

"I know the players have gained a lot of valuable experience this season and it will put this into more winning situations next year," he said.

Calgary Sun - 'Stangs Owner Says Turf Is Key

Thu, August 26, 2004

By CAMERON MAXWELL, CALGARY SUN

The Calgary Mustangs close out the 2004 season tonight but will the soccer club be in Cowtown next year? A one-year reprieve from the A-League ends after tonight's season finale against the Milwaukee Wave United (McMahon Stadium, 7 p.m.). That means the Astroturf at McMahon must be replaced in favour of FIFA-approved synthetic turf before the 2005 campaign or the Mustangs must find a new barn.

Team co-owner Juergen Hanne said yesterday he's confident the 'Stangs will return.

"We think we'll go ahead. We need to get new turf for McMahon Stadium and we got a clear indication from them that we can do it," said Hanne. "We would help finance it with some subsidies from the Canadian government and we can structure a deal with the Canadian Minor Soccer Association, which looks very good."

Stadium manager John Haverstock said the facility will get the new-generation infill systems surface but no concrete time-frame is in place.

"It's a question of when it happens, not if ... and it's a question of finding the funding and that can be a pretty pain-staking process sometimes," said Haverstock, adding some cash could come from the government because of the numerous amateur sporting events held at McMahon.
- - -
QUICK KICK: If the Mustangs win, it'll be their fifth of the season, setting a franchise high while in the A-League.

Calgary Herald - Mustangs Have Cellar Phobia

Lauren MacGillivray - Calgary Herald - Thursday, August 26, 2004

Geert Brusselers wants to make his final game as a Calgary Mustang count.

The 34-year-old plans on leaving the team and returning home to the Netherlands, following the Mustangs' A-League season-closer tonight against the Milwaukee Wave United at McMahon Stadium, 7 p.m.

"We have a goal we want to achieve," said the captain and midfielder on Wednesday. "We don't want to finish last in the league."

The Mustangs last met Milwaukee (11-10-4) on Aug. 17, losing 1-0. Milwaukee will be primed for tonight's game, as the squad is battling Minnesota for the fourth and final Western Conference playoff spot.

A win for the Mustangs (4-17-6) would mean a chance to finish ahead of Edmonton FC (4-16-6), a squad with two games remaining.

Over the past 15 years, Brusselers has played soccer in Holland, Belgium, the United Arab Emirates and South Africa, with his family by his side.

He'd like to rejoin the Mustangs next season but he and his wife, Helen, have decided to find a more permanent residence for the sake of their three pre-school children. Brusselers may take a managerial job at a soccer club in the Netherlands.

"I'm definitely aware (tonight) could be the last game of my career," he said. "If it is, I would look back on it all with a big smile; it's been a great adventure."

Calgary Sun - Off The Mark

Calgary settles for scoreless draw

By IAN BUSBY, CALGARY SUN

Geert Brusselers saw the target and hit it with a blast. Too bad it happened to be the Target logo on the front of Minnesota Thunder goalkeeper Terry McNelis' jersey. Otherwise, the Calgary Mustangs would have had an overtime victory.

"Once again, if we don't score the goals, it's going to be difficult," said the midfielder after the scoreless A-League soccer draw. "I had a great chance on a great setup from Steffen (Holdt). Only the goalie made the corner small and I should have played it on the ground.

All of the Mustangs' good scoring chances yesterday at McMahon Stadium came in extra time, when Brusselers kicked his team's intensity up a level.

"Overall, we played a good game," he said. "We had the chances to score."

The 34-year-old midfielder came to Calgary with his young family for this season and delivered just what Mustangs coach Thomas Niendorf expected: Veteran leadership.

The 'Stangs have a 4-17-6 record but have played much better in recent weeks. Taking the Thunder, a team battling for the playoffs, to overtime means they're about to turn the corner.

The problem is Thursday's home contest against Milwaukee is the final game of Calgary's season and Brusselers' Canada adventure is nearly over. The affable Dutchman likely won't return next year to finish what he helped start because of the overseas travel.

"Calgary is great and I enjoyed the soccer," he said. "There's still lots to develop but the league doesn't go on for six months, so that means me and my family will go back to the Netherlands for six months."

Niendorf is hoping Brusselers will return, noting the Mustangs wouldn't have been the same without him.

"He brought his professional experience and conduct and really passed that on to our players," Niendorf said."

Calgary Herald - Goals Still Elusive For Mustangs

Calgary held to scoreless tie at home

Lauren MacGillivray - Calgary Herald - August 23, 2004

Conrad Smith desperately wanted a second chance. The Calgary Mustangs centre forward had a one-on-one, overtime scoring opportunity on Sunday against the Minnesota Thunder in A-League soccer action. But after a promising approach, he missed the net.

The game stretched on to a second 10-minute OT, before the teams settled for a 0-0 deadlock at a damp McMahon Stadium, in front of about 150 hardy fans.

"I was in two different mindsets," explained Smith, 22. "I was either going to hit the ball or chip it. If I had to do it again, I would have hit it."

The flub was representative of a problem the Mustangs, now 4-17-6, have suffered all season: great chances squandered by lack of finish.

"We've got to score on those kind of opportunities," said coach Thomas Niendorf. "There's no excuses and the players know it -- no one feels worse about it than they do."

With playoff hopes long crushed, and the team dwelling in the Western Conference basement, the players want to finish the season with pride, if the hustle and determination in the first half and in overtime were any indication.

"Everybody was really focused; we wanted to make sure we didn't lose a game again this season," said Niendorf. "It was nice to get a point but we're more disappointed we didn't win."

The Thunder, meanwhile, is 11-9-5 and trying to hang on to the last Western Conference playoff spot.

"It's mixed," said Thunder 'keeper Joe Warren, reacting to the game's outcome. "It was good to get a shutout; we haven't had that in a while, but we need the win."

The Mustangs came closest to a goal when forward Ernesto Zapata hit the crossbar from 25 yards out in the second half.

In double OT, Thunder midfielder Godfrey Tenoff received a caution after kicking Mustangs 'keeper Lutz Pfannenstiel, who was trying to control a rebound. Geert Brusselers broke through Minnesota's box, but his shot went wide. Smith took another shot, this time on target from 20 yards out, but Warren made the stop.

Thunder midfielder Jay Alberts had a one-on-one scoring chance but shot high.

The Mustangs have one game remaining this season, a Thursday night assignment against Milwaukee Wave United (7 p.m., McMahon Stadium).

Calgary Herald - Mustangs Going All Out To Score

Trent Edwards - Calgary Herald - Sunday, August 22, 2004

It's not hard for Calgary Mustangs coach Thomas Niendorf to choose his soccer team's goal in a game today against the Minnesota Thunder at McMahon Stadium.

Score. Winning would be nice, but a high-scoring loss would be almost as sweet for the goal-deprived club. Calgary's low output of just over a goal per game has led the team down the stairs to the A-League's Western Conference basement. The Mustangs' 4-17-5 record could have been vastly improved if they converted more of their many scoring chances.

"We have had so many games this season where we had a good performance but couldn't score," says Niendorf.

After watching Calgary lose by a goal in each of its past three games and fail to score in the past two, Niendorf knows time is running out on his team's bid to turn chances into timely goals.

"It's difficult to change those things in a few days," said the coach.

The playoffs may be a long-lost dream, but Niendorf wants his squad to salvage some respect by beating the Thunder in today's game (2 p.m.) Minnesota (11-9-4) is barely ahead of the Milwaukee Wave United (11-10-4) in the race for the Western Conference's last playoff spot.

Niendorf wants the Mustangs to steal one from the Thunder, then beat Milwaukee in Calgary's last game of the season Aug. 26.

If the Mustangs, who are 3-5-4 at McMahon, can win their last two games, the long-suffering team could at least finish the season with a .500 record at home.

Calgary Herald - Goals Elude Calgary

Trent Edwards - Calgary Herald - Wednesday, August 18, 2004

Thomas Niendorf has run out of ideas to get his Calgary Mustangs scoring.

The Calgary coach's A-League soccer team lost by a goal for the third game in a row, and failed to score for the second straight match, in a 1-0 loss to the Milwaukee Wave United at McMahon Stadium on Tuesday night.

"We have tried everything in practice. There's nothing more we can do," said Niendorf. "We had our chances again tonight, but what it comes down to is we just didn't get the job done."

Calgary has a 4-17-5 record for 17 points, far out of the playoff hunt. Milwaukee improved to 10-10-4, one win behind the Seattle Sounders, 11-10-4, for the final playoff spot in the Western Conference.

Calgary controlled the ball for much of a cautious first half. But then Milwaukee forward Greg Howes slipped the ball under charging Calgary 'keeper Lutz Pfannenstiel on the Wave's first shot 41/2 minutes into the second half.

"We tried to go all out, guns blazing against them after that, but their goalie (Jim Larkin) made some amazing saves," said Jordan Gillespie, a late sub who almost scored twice with less than 10 minutes left.

Calgary Herald -
Mustangs Hoping For Finishing Kick

Calgary Herald - Tuesday, August 17, 2004

There's no way the Calgary Mustangs will just play out the string. Coach Thomas Niendorf won't let it happen.

With an A-League soccer playoff spot long out of reach, the Mustangs wrap up the season with three home games, beginning tonight (7 p.m. at McMahon Stadium) against the Milwaukee Wave.

They are unimportant games in the standings, but big games in the psyche of his club.

"We all know that we are building for the future," says Niendorf. "It's a mix of players coming from different backgrounds. We understand for ourselves that we could have finished some games a lot better, but on the other side we know we have the potential to success next year."

The Mustangs, with four wins, 16 losses and five ties this season, are in last place in the A-League's Western Conference.

Following Tuesday's game, the Mustangs host the Minnesota Thunder on Aug. 22 (edit.) and wave goodbye to the season with an Aug. 26 date with the Wave.

"We assess the season with more positive aspects than negative aspects," says Niendorf. "Definitely we would have liked to have more points, but I think in a majority of the games we put a very good performance in and came short for various reason. Those are the things we will address towards next season, but I think we build some foundation to have a very competitive team toward next season."

The Oregonian -
Timbers Clinch Playoff Spot As Afash Score Late Goal

MOLLY BLUE - Friday, August 13, 2004

Fadi Afash is efficient.

The Portland Timbers forward, who rejoined the team last month, comes off the bench late in games -- playing at most 10 or 20 minutes.

But in the last three games, he has scored three goals, including the game-winner Thursday in the Timbers' 2-1 win over Calgary in front of 5,377 fans at PGE Park.

And, just like his late-game goal Sunday at Calgary, the assist came from midfielder Hugo Alcaraz-Cuellar. In both games, Alcaraz-Cuellar delivered crossing passes which Afash headed for goals.

"I like to make runs to the near post, and Hugo played a perfect ball both times," said Afash, who also played for Portland in 2002 and 2003."I've been telling the guys before the games, I'm feeling like I can score."

On Sunday, Afash's goal tied the score 1-1.

This time, Afash's goal in the 89th minute clinched a playoff spot for the Timbers (16-7-1), who are in first place in the A-League's Western Conference, with four regular-season games remaining.

"It's a wonderful feeling -- it's the first time it didn't come down to the last game of the season," to earn a playoff spot, Portland coach Bobby Howe said. "We go in with four games to spare, and now our goal is to have the best record in the league."

Portland scored first, when midfielder Alex Bengard converted a penalty kick in the 39th minute.

Calgary (4-15-5) tied the game in the second half when midfielder Geert Brusselers scored off an assist from midfielder Jamie Auvigne in the 62nd minute.

The Timbers, who needed only a tie to advance to the playoffs, responded with eight shots in the next 10 minutes.

Mustangs goalkeeper Lutz Pfannenstiel finished the game with eight saves but was consistently tested before yielding the goal to Afash.

Portland plays next at third-place Minnesota on Saturday, then comes home for its last three games -- against Puerto Rico of the Eastern Conference, Minnesota and Milwaukie.

The Timbers beat Minnesota in its previous two games, and has won two of three against Milwaukie.

Note:
Before the start of the game, the Timbers honored Timber Jim Serrill, whose daughter, Hannah, was killed in a car accident last week. The team wore black armbands and the starters placed white roses on the log Timber Jim traditionally cuts after each Portland goal. The club also has started a fund to benefit Timber Jim's granddaughter, Keiana Serrill, at area branches of U.S. Bank.

Edmonton Sun -
FC push and shove their way past provincial rivals

SCOTT ZERR, EDMONTON SUN

If there's been any sort of bright light coming out of the doom and gloom that has been the first season of Edmonton FC soccer, it has come from the club's domination of their provincial rivals. With last night's dramatic 3-2 win at Foote Field, FC earned its second home-field overtime victory over the Calgary Mustangs this season. Edmonton has claimed eight of 12 points in the A-League's version of the Battle of Alberta.

And this chapter was quite a tussle. Mesut Mert and Walter Otta spotted Calgary to a 2-0 cushion in just 27 minutes, but FC roared back on Freddie Akok's rocket in the 30th minute, and then Sean Fraser's header off a perfect chip from Kurt Bosch during first-half injury time.

'Keepers Nic Stankov and Lutz Pfannenstiel both made outstanding saves late in regulation to force overtime and all hell broke loose in the final minute of the extra period.

Akok drew a controversial penalty kick from referee Paul Ward and after a ferocious argument from the Mustangs - which drew one yellow card and one ejection - Nik Vignjevic buried a low drive past Pfannenstiel that set off more fireworks. Both benches emptied onto the field, a scrum of players began pushing and shoving and as officials moved in to separate the clubs, Pfannenstiel showered the referee with a water bottle.

"At 2-0, it looked like we were going to fall down totally, but we came back. It's a great character win," said Vignjevic. "Right now we're playing with no pressure and we're playing much better. There's no playoffs and no owners, so no pressure and we're enjoying playing."

The come-from-behind win for FC (4-13-6) snapped the Mustangs' four-game unbeaten run and moved Edmonton ahead of Calgary (4-15-5) in the race to stay out of the Western Conference basement.

"It could have been very easy to fold the tent but they made a commitment to finish the year off as professionals and they showed that," said FC coach Ross Ongaro.

Calgary Herald -
Mustangs No Longer A-League's Mules

Tie Portland 1-1; now undefeated in four games

Murray Rauw - Calgary Herald - Monday, August 09, 2004

The Calgary Mustangs' days as A-League weaklings are over.

The Mustangs made it four straight games without a loss on Sunday afternoon, when they played the Portland Timbers to a 1-1 draw before another small crowd at McMahon Stadium.

It was the way the Mustangs played that was impressive.

They weren't playing to hold the Western Conference leaders to a tie and leave feeling good about it. They were out to beat Portland, and they had their chances.

"If I had finished on my other chances, we would have won the game," said Calgary striker Walter Otta, who was denied twice late in the game after scoring Calgary's lone goal in the 27th minute.

Otta, a mid-season journeyman pro recruited from Argentina, gave Calgary a lead after converting a perfect pass from Steffen Holdt.

It was a lead that stood until the 73rd minute when Fadi Afash scored on a header from close range.

Hugo Alcaraz-Cuellar set Afash up, leaving no chance for Calgary keeper Lutz Pfannenstiel. Alcaraz-Cuellar's assist gives him eight on the year, the most in the league.

Otta would later come close to regaining a Mustangs lead.

One chance was scuttled when he couldn't get a shot away from the box while he directed a header high and a touch wide from scoring range in overtime.

Using teammate Nic Reyes as an interpreter, Otta described directing the ball just past the open net.

"I waited but the ball didn't drop before their defender got there," said Otta. "So I tried any way I could, but I didn't get the ball on the net."

With the stalemate, the Mustangs have a 4-14-5 record for 17 points, leaving them well back of a playoff berth. But they are a different team than the overmatched unit that started the season with only a win and two ties in their first 10 games.

The Timbers (15-7-1, 46 points) were the last A-League team without a tie.

"We shouldn't forget Portland is the conference leader," said Calgary coach Thomas Niendorf, who lamented that the one Portland goal was scored after a Mustang was pushed out of the play, an infraction that if called, that would have turned the ball over to Calgary.

"This is a situation where we'll take the point as a positive thing but on the other side, we almost pulled it through in a professional way. We didn't give them any clear scoring opportunities."

Calgary hasn't lost a game since Portland won 1-0 here on July 28.

Since then, the Mustangs have two wins and two draws.

"You will notice we're not losing overtime games," said Niendorf, using that as his gauge.

"We played an overtime game in Vancouver and got a tie.

"And we won in Milwaukee in double overtime (Friday). Now, we've tied Portland. Those are all good teams."

The Mustangs play their next two games on the road. They are in Edmonton on Tuesday and in Portland on Thursday.

Calgary Sun - 'Stangs Hit Stride

Calgary's A-Leaguers undefeated in four

By CAMERON MAXWELL, CALGARY SUN

The hooves are finally thundering as the Calgary Mustangs appear to have hit their stride. Further proof of the A-League soccer club's turnaround came yesterday in the form of a 1-1 draw against the Western Conference-leading Portland Timbers at McMahon Stadium.

With the tie, the 'Stangs remain unbeaten in their last four, going 2-0-2 in a stretch against strong competition.

"We stayed the course with what we were trying to accomplish. We have 13 or 14 players now who are playing. We didn't get sidetracked by negative results," said Calgary head coach Thomas Niendorf.

Calgary struck first yesterday on a goal from Walter Otta in the 27th minute after midfielder Steffen Holdt found his teammate alone in the box.

Otta, an Argentinian, made no mistake on the easy goal.

But Portland (15-7-1) started pressing in the second half and was rewarded with the tying goal in the 72nd minute -- a nice header by Fadi Afash.

Overtime settled nothing but Otta had a great chance to end it late in the second extra session on a partial breakaway but his shot went high and wide as he couldn't control the bouncing ball.

Calgary 'keeper Lutz Pfannenstiel had another solid game, making several great saves, including one with three minutes left in overtime on Dan Antoniuk, who broke in alone down the left side.

Pfannenstiel challenged him, just getting his outstretched hands on Antoniuk's close-range shot.

Like Niendorf, the Mustangs goalie firmly believes the team has got over the hump.

"The pieces are falling together and I think we're actually looking forward to next season already and doing better things than we did this year," said Pfannenstiel.

The Mustangs (4-14-5) head off for a two-game road trip starting tomorrow night in the provincial capital against Team Edmonton, then they'll travel to Portland for a rematch against the Timbers Thursday.

Calgary Herald - Mustangs Fill Net In Milwaukee

Murray Rauw - Calgary Herald - Saturday, August 07, 2004

The late-season revival of the Calgary Mustangs continued Friday.

The Mustangs won their second straight game and extended their undefeated streak to three games by edging the Milwaukee Wave United 4-3 in double overtime at Milwaukee's Uihlein Soccer Park.

The four goals in a game were a season high for the Mustangs, a team which once considered one goal per outing a productive effort.

With the win, Calgary improved its record to 4-14-4.

Mesut Mert scored the winning goal midway through the second OT period, heading a crossing pass from Geert Brusselers.

The win required an impressive comeback. The Wave had taken a 2-0 lead after only 15 minutes.

"They scored on the their first two shots," said Calgary coach Thomas Niendorf. "They were good goals, nicely taken, but we kept our composure. When you're down 2-0, it's not easy to overcome."

Brusselers and Conrad Smith, who was playing his final game before returning to his home country of Trinidad and Tobago for World Cup qualifying, scored goals to get Calgary back on even footing.

"Thy were two nice shots. There was no chance for the goalie," said Niendorf.

The Mustangs fell behind again, at 3-2, but Nick Zuniga tied it again with 10 minutes left in regulation time.

Todd Dusosky scored twice for Milwaukee (8-10-3), while Johnny Torres had the other.

"I have to say the player who deserves a lot of credit is our goalkeeper, Lutz Pfannenstiel. He played a fantastic game and kept us in the game," said Niendorf. "They (Milwaukee) were dangerous on corner kicks . . . but Lutz kept us in the game."

The Mustangs are back in action on Sunday when the Portland Timbers are the visitors at McMahon Stadium for a 2 p.m. contest. The Timbers beat Calgary 1-0 on July 28 in the Mustangs' last loss prior to this undefeated streak.

Milwaukee Journal Sentinel - Close But No Cigar

Wave United can't seize the moment

By NICK DETTMANN ndettmann@journalsentinel.com

Posted: Aug. 6, 2004

The Milwaukee Wave United squandered an opportunity to move within one point of Seattle for the final playoff spot in the Western Conference on Friday night.

United scored the first two goals of its game against Calgary but the Mustangs came back to score three of the next four goals for a 4-3 victory in two overtimes at Uihlein Soccer Park.

"They're all important," United coach Art Kramer said. "It was a big game. It's disappointing we didn't get a result. But there are seven more.

"Any game you don't win at this point is a missed opportunity. The margin of error just got a little tighter."

Todd Dusosky, playing in his first game since July 17 after playing with the U.S. futsal team in Costa Rica, led United with a pair of goals. Greg Howes, who also played for the United States in Costa Rica, had three assists.

After starting the season 1-7-1, United has turned its season around by going 7-3-2 since then. It sits at 8-10-3 with 27 points in the standings, but is winless in its last four matches.

After losing to the Mustangs (4-14-3), United (8-10-3) will look for some help from Minnesota to stay in the hunt for the A-League playoffs, which begin in the first week of September. The Thunder will play tonight at Seattle, which remains four points ahead of Milwaukee.

"Any loss is tough," Kramer said. "We certainly created enough chances. They did well on the counterattack. Give them credit.

"We were far too soft defensively. We need to do better on our counterattacks. They scored three goals off counterattacks."

United was shorthanded on the defensive back line as Chad Dombrowski began serving his two-game suspension for yellow card accumulation.

"We put three goals up; we should win those games," Dusosky said. "We watched tape and we knew that they were a team that would not give up.

"We really messed things up. We let them back in with a couple of bad goals. It hurts."

Milwaukee opened the scoring with goals in the 13th and 15th minutes, but Calgary evened the score before halftime with goals in the 27th and 36th minutes.

Dusosky struck for his fifth goal in his last three games in the 60th minute. Calgary then tied the score in the 80th minute after Dusosky nearly got the hat trick at the other end of the field.

Midway through the second overtime, Marcelo Fontana had a golden opportunity to give United a victory. He shot from 12 yards away but Calgary goalkeeper Lutz Pfannenstiel made a diving save.

Moments later, United turned the ball over near midfield. Calgary's Geert Brusselers fed a pass ahead to Mesut Mert, who drilled it past United keeper Jeff Richey.

Calgary 2 1 0 1--4 Milwaukee 2 1 0 0--3

First half - 1, Milwaukee, Torres (Howes), 13:00; 2, Milwaukee, To. Dusosky (Howes); 3, Calgary, Brusselers (Mert), 27:00; 4, Calgary, Smith (Kolomiets-Raad), 36:00. Second half - 5, Milwaukee, To. Dusosky (Howes), 60:00; 6, Calgary, Zuniga, 80:00. First overtime - No scoring. Second overtime - 7, Calgary, Mert (Brusselers), 106:00.

Lineups: Milwaukee - Richey, Lawrence, Morman, Hammes, Kante, Schmidt, Marcantonio, Walls, Torres, Howes, To. Dusosky, Fontana, Beasley;
Calgary - Pfannenstiel, Pavicic, Richer, Peszneker, Gillespie, Brusselers, Holdt, Mert, Kolomiets-Raad, Jesic, Smith, Sestito, Zuniga, Reyes, Frazao.

Shots - Milwaukee 22; Calgary 8. Saves - Milwaukee 1; Calgary 9. Corner kicks - Milwaukee 14; Calgary 3. Fouls - Milwaukee 15; Calgary 15. A - 2,195.

Calgary Herald - Franchise's Most Productive Week Brings Smiles To Mustangs' Faces

Murray Rauw - Calgary Herald - Thursday, August 05, 2004

There has always been a keen desire to play professional soccer in Calgary.

So Mike Pavicic took his lumps and stuck with it through the bad times of previous years, convinced that the next day or next game would be better. He bit his lip when he was dropped from the Calgary Storm payroll during a financial crunch last year.

Bringing back those memories would have been too depressing except that Pavicic can compare them to the upbeat feeling that has penetrated the Mustangs lineup after the best week of the city's A-League existence last week.

"It's been a 180-degree turn," said Pavicic on Wednesday, prior to a practice before the Mustangs face another grinding weekend with games in Milwaukee on Friday and at McMahon Stadium (2 p.m.) on Sunday when the Portland Timbers are here. "We've seen support from the ownership and (coach) Thomas Niendorf has put together a team that can be successful.

"The game against Seattle proved to the fans and our owners that, yes, we do have a product in Calgary."

The theory is that Calgary is simply not a soccer town. Kids play at the community level but a spectator base has never formed,

"I started here with the original PDL team," said the 27-year-old Pavicic. "That was a success as an organization and we all felt we were good enough to move to the next level. Unfortunately, we came across some stumbling blocks with the Storm -- both on the ownership side and the players side.

"It seemed like a downward tunnel."

The facility was inadequate, the crowds poor and dissension rippled through the locker room and by the end of the year, there was a feeling that soccer would fade from the Calgary scene for good.

"I didn't lose hope, I still believed that soccer could succeed," said Pavicic. "We needed to get the momentum going."

The Mustangs are a frisky bunch after playing .500 against three playoff contending teams last week. Pavicic has recovered from a hamstring injury that caused him to miss 14 games this year. He joined in on the fun and was back at his defender's position during the three-game turnaround.

It was a high point after the team had gone over a month without a win.

The Mustangs take a 3-14-4 record into Milwaukee. Their road record is more glum, they are 0-10-0 away from Calgary this year. But on the positive side, their 3-0 victory against Seattle on Sunday was the best performance of the year and the three-game segment a sign that the team is turning a corner.

"No team wants to play us and lose points to us, but they all feel that danger," said Pavicic.

"I think a playoff hope is dim but we've had conversations with our ownership group. They're looking forward to seeing us establish ourselves and set the groundwork for next season. You'll see this team fight for the rest of the season -- no doubt about it. We'll be full throttle for next year."

Calgary Herald - Mustangs Get A Jolt From Jesic

Two goals in triumph over Seattle

Murray Rauw - Calgary Herald - Monday, August 02, 2004

The Calgary Mustangs showed they can play in soccer's A-League.

The Mustangs capped a challenging stretch on Sunday with a convincing 3-0 victory over the Seattle Sounders at McMahon Stadium, capping a five-day span in which they played .500 ball against three established Western teams.

The Mustangs played the Vancouver Whitecaps to a 1-1 draw in Vancouver on Friday after losing a 1-0 heartbreaker to Portland in Calgary on Wednesday.

Calgary coach Thomas Niendorf said his players were challenged by team ownership to play the final 10 games on the 28-game schedule at a .500 clip.

The Mustangs led 2-0 after 33 minutes and never looked back. Damir Jesic and Mesut Mert scored first-half goals for the Mustangs, who ended an eight-game winless drought.

Jesic's goal in the 12th minute was scored after a scramble in the box. Mert connected with a rocket from 40 yards out in the 33rd minute. It went in just under the crossbar and out of the reach of Seattle 'keeper, Preston Burpo.

Jesic added Calgary's final goal with seconds remaining in the second half.

"Today, you saw a solid team effort. We did not allow one serious scoring opportunity for our opponent," said Niendorf, suggesting the return of Aaron Richer and Mike Pavicic on defence was key. "You saw the team organizing and moving forward on the turnovers. That only comes when you have a consistent lineup available."

It was a shame few noticed. Attendance was announced 1,043 but that included hundreds of unused season tickets.

Calgary, 3-14-4, remains in last place in the Western Division.

But the loss could prove costly to the Sounders who fell to 8-10-4. They hold the fourth playoff spot by a point over Milwaukee, which holds a couple of games in hand.

"They are in the playoff hunt; they could not afford to drop any points to a team like us, who are at the bottom of the table," said Niendorf.

Seattle coach Brian Schmetzer blamed individual breakdowns for staking Calgary to its early lead.

"We gave up two soft goals at the beginning of the game," he said. "That's how I assess what happened. On the second goal, he (Mert) smashed it in from over 30 yards so he deserved it. But one of our defenders passed the ball directly to him."

The spoiler-minded Mustangs travel to Milwaukee Friday before returning home Sunday for a 2 p.m. date with Portland at McMahon.

Calgary Sun - 'Stangs Soundly Hammer Seattle

Jesic scores pair to end Calgary's winless skid

By DARREN FRIESEN, CALGARY SUN

The Calgary Mustangs have the Seattle Sounders singing the blues. The West Coast A-League soccer club had high hopes of beating the last- place Mustangs and closing in on a playoff berth.

Instead, Calgary, which hadn't won in nine games, gave the visitors a sound 3-0 thrashing yesterday at McMahon Stadium.

"You've got to take one thing into consideration," said Mustangs head coach Thomas Niendorf about his team's first win in almost a month.

"We've played most of the season without Aaron Richer and Mike Pavicic, who are both key players on the back end.

"This helped us play defensively solid and, like most of the teams in the A-League, you can utilize good defence and then create good scoring chances for the attackers, which is what happened."

The home side came out fired up yesterday and opened the scoring in the 12th minute. Early pressure from Calgary caused a scramble inside Seattle's box, which eventually put the ball on the foot of Mustang midfielder Damir Jesic.

Jesic opened the scoring after his shot was deflected off a Seattle defender and past Sounders starting goalie Preston Burpo.

"The past few games we've really been coming together as a team and that really showed (yesterday)," said Jesic, one of the leftovers from last year's defunct Calgary Storm.

"We still believe in each other. It was just a matter of time before things started to click.

"We knew we could do it and, even if we failed, we were ready to go again and not back down."

Calgary's second goal was highlight-reel quality.

Midfielder Mesut Murt fired a laser under the bar in the 32nd minute from nearly 35 yards out.

After that, Calgary carried the play for the remainder of the first half. Seattle's only real chance came on a rare Calgary defensive breakdown near the end of the opening stanza. However, Mustangs 'keeper Lutz Pfannenstiel was equal to the challenge and easily stopped the weak strike directed his way.

Calgary iced the game when Jesic put home his second of the match during second-half injury time.

According to Niendorf, the confidence for yesterday's win came from a tough 1-1 draw Friday against the Vancouver Whitecaps.

"In Vancouver, we were up against a team that hadn't conceded a goal in five games," said Niendorf.

"In that game, we made sure in the first half to establish a good solid defensive system and not allow them too many opportunities.

"It was the same (yesterday). We were organizing properly and shifting right, which then moved us forward. This is a result of having a consistent lineup on the field."

With Richer and Pavicic both returning to the pitch, the Mustangs are finally pleased with the lineup they can field.

"We have now the solid lineup that we've wanted to play all season with," explained Niendorf.

"Now we can start playing the same team game in and game out."

Calgary Herald - Mustangs Keying On "Good Soccer"

Murray Rauw - Calgary Herald - Sunday, August 01, 2004

The Calgary Mustangs are showing signs they are in the right soccer league after all.

They can compete in the A-League.

It won't get much more difficult for the Mustangs than this stretch when they play three games against division rivals in five days.

They lost 1-0 to the Portland Timbers on a goal in the 86th minute on Wednesday. However, in Vancouver on Friday, Steffen Holdt scored in the second minute of injury time in regulation to give Calgary a 1-1 draw at Swangard Stadium. Holdt's 22-yard screamer whizzed past a diving Alex Marques and found the top right corner.

With the draw, the Mustangs have a 2-14-4 record heading into the final game of the three-game stretch this afternoon (2 p.m.) against the Seattle Sounders at McMahon Stadium.

The Sounders, 8-9-4, are in the fourth playoff spot, five points behind the Minnesota Thunder and one point ahead of the Milwaukee Wave United, who have two games in hand.

The Mustangs have gone eight games since their last win. But they are convinced the week's events are proof the team is improving and has something to offer in entertainment value.

"I thought the game in Calgary on Wednesday was a good game for someone who hasn't been to a soccer game before," said Mustangs chairman John Torode on Saturday.

"There certainly have been games that have been disappointing losses, but there haven't been any that I've seen that have been an embarrassment," said Torode. "We're getting a more diverse group coming out to the games. That has been encouraging. People leave having had fun and it's good soccer.

"It's just a matter of people knowing when the games are and hearing that they're fun."

Calgary Sun - Ankle Rankles

Richer's late-game injury costs Mustangs

By CAMERON MAXWELL, CALGARY SUN

Playing his first game in three months, Aaron Richer was a rock on defence. While he was on the field last night for the Calgary Mustangs, the Portland Timbers barely generated a scoring chance on the turf at McMahon Stadium.

Problem is, Richer reinjured his left ankle with about 10 minutes left in the game, forcing him to the bench, then the Timbers scored with just four minutes left to steal a 1-0 win from the 'Stangs.

"There was little beauty in my performance ... but getting into the game, it's safety first. You get into a couple of tackles, win a few headers and it's all about keeping a clean sheet," said the 24-year-old, who tweaked the ankle but should be good to go for Calgary's next game tomorrow in Vancouver.

"It would be nice if I was a bit more composed back there but because it's been so long, I was pretty content with the way things went."

He made several great plays, using his head and feet to clear the ball when it looked like Portland was pressing.

And with Richer, a former CIS player of the year with the UBC Thunderbirds, on the field, the Mustangs kept Portland's star striker, Alan Gordon, off the scoresheet.

But it was Gordon who notched his league-leading 16th goal in 18 games, extending Calgary's losing streak to seven games after deflecting in a nice cross from Shawn Saunders.

"He's very dangerous and great in the air. But that's indicative of an intense game like this," said Richer.

"Because of an injury, somebody can't have the time to warm up properly and get into the game. You need a good 10-15 minutes to warm up and get mentally focused ... and they're going to get one."

Gordon's goal came just a minute after Calgary's Mesut Mert rattled a low shot off the far side of the Portland post.

"That's the beauty of soccer," said Richer. "You never know what's going to happen and whenever you do get those chances, which are rare, you have to capitalize. They didn't get much but they capitalized."

It's been the same, sad saga for the Mustangs all season -- missed chances -- and there were plenty in the second half. Conrad Smith missed the net on a shot from 12 yards out and Mert missed a chance from 11 yards out.

The Mustangs' record drops to 2-14-3, while Portland improves to 12-7-0.

After tomorrow's game against the Whitecaps, the 'Stangs return home Sunday to take on the tough Seattle Sounders.

The Oregonian - Gordon's Goal Lifts Timbers

Thursday, July 29, 2004

CALGARY, Alberta -- Alan Gordon scored a goal late in the second half, giving the Portland Timbers a 1-0 A-League soccer victory over the Calgary Mustangs on Wednesday night at McMahon Stadium.

With the score 0-0 in the 86th minute, Shawn Saunders crossed a ball into the box that was corralled by Gordon and sent into the back of the net.

The Timbers (12-7-0, 36 points) took over sole possession of second place in the Western Conference as goalkeeper Josh Saunders registered his fourth shutout of the season. The Mustangs (2-14-3) have nine points in the standings.

Mesut Mert was active in the Calgary offense, including in the 68th minute, but a shot went over the crossbar.

Mert skipped a ball off the far post in the waning minutes of regulation.

Fadi Afash saw his first action with the Timbers this season, substituting for Byron Alvarez in the 80th minute.

Calgary Herald - Mustang Gets Call From Home

Murray Rauw - Calgary Herald - Wednesday, July 28, 2004

Throughout the year, during the string of losses, striker Conrad Smith knew he was being watched.

As is the case for many players, he has been living two soccer lives while toiling with the Calgary Mustangs.

It has been a frustrating time in Mustangs colours with the team winning only twice in 18 A-League games and falling to the West Division cellar. But he also knew he was being evaluated by his home Trinidad-Tobago team for a possible promotion to their national team.

So he kept plugging and now his reward is coming. Smith, the Mustangs leading scorer with five goals, will leave for his home after today's game (7 p.m.) between the Mustangs and the Portland Timbers at McMahon Stadium. The Mustangs have lost their past six games.

Smith will miss a minimum of two games with the Mustangs, perhaps more. It's a loss to the Mustangs but a thrill for Smith.

"I am going back home for a friendly game against Haiti on Aug. 11 and a World Cup qualifying game against St. Vincent on Aug. 18," said Smith, following practice on Tuesday.

"For me, the games will be important because if I play well, I should be one of the candidates always looked at to play with the national team. That's important to me."

Who knows if he would have had the chance without the A-League exposure?

Trinidad-Tobago has never qualified for the World Cup tournament but Smith expects it will make a strong bid for the next showcase.

Although the Mustangs have had a difficult season, the experience was worthwhile in Smith's eyes.

"I'm saying I gained something from playing here," said Smith "Unfortunately the team has been so-so."

"He's a better player on the tactical side and in his fitness," said Calgary coach Thomas Niendorf. "We've seen the improvement.

"I think one of his motivations was to showcase his talent in a professional league."

Calgary Sun - Lynx Claw To Victory

Mon, July 26, 2004

'Stangs add one more to skid

By CAMERON MAXWELL, CALGARY SUN

For once, it was beautiful weather for the Calgary Mustangs -- but the result was still the same. As fans used umbrellas to shield the sun instead of rain, the visiting Toronto Lynx clawed its way to a 3-2 victory over the 'Stangs at McMahon Stadium in a very entertaining soccer game.

Lynx striker Ali Gerba did most of the damage, scoring two goals and bumping his season total to 11.

The Mustangs twice rallied from one-goal deficits but Charles Gbeke tallied the winner at the 49-minute mark, extending Calgary's losing streak to six games.

"We're still in a building process but for myself, I get a little tired of repeating that. It's the truth but it doesn't mean that you can't get a result," said Mustangs captain Geert Brusselers, who scored his first goal of the season.

"We need to break through that losing game. We have to finally get a result in and make it happen for ourselves.

"Toronto is not better than us and yet they walk out with three points and that means we have to defend better and score better, period."

It's the same theme that's haunted the 2-14-2 club all season.

The Lynx scored first as Gerba finished off a two-on-one in the ninth minute after John Nusum grabbed a turnover by Calgary's Mike Pavicic.

Then, after badly missing an open shot from 18 yards, Calgary's Conrad Smith atoned for the terrible shot, converting a beautiful cross from Jamie Auvigne in the 15th minute and tying the game 1-1.

But Toronto quickly went ahead again, with the slick Gerba netting his second of the game just nine minutes after Smith's goal.

Then Calgary midfielder Steffen Holdt and Toronto midfielder Shawn Faria got into a bit of a scuffle and were given red cards, meaning each club had to play with 10 men in the 40C temperature at field level.

The Mustangs got fired up after that, as Brusselers nicely headed in a corner kick -- top right shelf, by Mesut Mert and Calgary tied it 2-2, claiming the momentum heading into halftime.

But Gbeke's goal stole the Mustangs' thunder, while the heat and Lynx defence did the rest as Calgary couldn't score again, despite generating a couple of premium opportunities.

Second-half substitute Damir Jesic, who was wide open outside the box, took a pass but blasted the ball miles over the net.

Then, in the final minute, Jordan Gillespie made a cross through the Toronto crease but it was just inches too far for a streaking Nick Zuniga, who only had to get a foot on it for a goal.

The 'Stangs won't have to wait long to try and snap their six-game skid when the 11-7-0 Portland Timbers visit McMahon Stadium Wednesday night at 7 p.m.

Calgary Herald -
Mustangs Locate Net, But Can't Find A Victory

Murray Rauw - Calgary Herald - Monday, July 26, 2004

He's been scoring at a pace similar to that of the entire Calgary Mustangs lineup. Ali Gerba matched them again Sunday.

Gerba, who hails from Cameroon, was enjoying the heat when he scored his 11th and 12th goals of the season, leading the Toronto Lynx to a 3-2 victory over the Mustangs in front of just under 1,000 fans at McMahon Stadium.

Gerba is now second among A-League goals scorers, three behind the league leader, Alan Gordon of Portland. The Mustangs have scored 16 goals as a team. It was Gerba's third goal in two games against Calgary this season.

"We came today with intention to win and that's my job -- to finish," shrugged Gerba.

The early portion of the game was a shootout by soccer standards. Both of Gerba's goals came early in the game, which featured two goals by each team in the first 30 minutes.

The decisive score came early in the second half when Charles Gbeke converted a pass after Rumba Munthali had done all the work and moved inside the box.

The loss was Calgary's sixth in a row.

The Mustangs have gone seven straight without their last victory, which came June 18 against Vancouver.

They are 2-13-3 and in need of a re-evaluation.

Calgary goal scorers in the first half were Conrad Smith, who notched his fifth, and captain Geert Brusselers. Brusselers converted a corner kick from Mesut Mert and scored his first goal of the season.

Calgary coach Thomas Niendorf couldn't criticize the effort from his players, but the long string of losses is beyond frustrating.

"We put the necessary physical effort into this game," said Niendorf. "We didn't panic, we got some quality shooting opportunities -- even in the last minute of injury time. We just missed by inches.

"That is the story of the season. We made too many mistakes defensively and we didn't have enough quality in the finishing area."

Scoring goals has been a major problem. The Mustangs had hoped it would be rectified with the addition of Walter Otta, but he was muzzled by the Lynx and gradually wore down in the heat. He was replaced late in the game.

The Mustangs lack a player with the killer instinct Gerba shows.

"He's a goal scorer, he anticipates well, reacts quickly and it pays off for him in the penalty area," said Toronto coach Duncan Wilde.

The Mustangs will try again on Wednesday when the Portland Timbers are at McMahon Stadium.

A-League.com - Calgary vs. Toronto

Match Report by Jason Kmet - http://members.shaw.ca/jkmet/2004july25.htm

July 25, 2004 -- Toronto Lynx 3 at Calgary Mustangs 2

After nearly a month without a home match, the Calgary Mustangs finally returned to their home pitch on a hot summer Alberta afternoon.  Unfortunately, the picture-perfect day was spoiled by the Toronto Lynx as they defeated Calgary 3-2.

The Calgary faithful did not wait very long to see the first goal of the match.  In the ninth minute, Lynx forward Ali Gerba put the ball past Mustang keeper Lutz Pfannestiel. 

A couple of minutes later, Calgary forward Conrad Smith had an attempt on goal, but was not able to finish.  Smith was rewarded a few minutes later in the 16^th when a great through ball came to him as he blazed past the Toronto defender.  He made no mistake and tied the game at 1-1...Read More

Calgary Herald - Striker Powers Up Mustangs

Argentinian ace to debut today

Murray Rauw - Calgary Herald - Sunday, July 25, 2004

It's probably too late to help the Calgary Mustangs' playoff ambitions this year, but they have found a proven international goal scorer to patch a glaring deficiency in their attack.

Walter Otta, an Argentine who has scored goals for teams in nine countries, will make his McMahon Stadium debut today (2 p.m.) when the Toronto Lynx pay a visit.

"There is no perfect time," responded Otta, when asked if he was available to the Calgary A-League team earlier. "I'm coming here to reinforce the team."

With a 2-12-3 record and only 14 goals to their credit, the Mustangs have fallen into last place in the West. But they have been competitive at McMahon with a 2-2-3 record although they lacked a striker who could consistently find the back of the net.

"I have always had luck, good fortune," said the 30-year-old Otta, a six-foot, 190-pound striker who scored 24 goals in 28 professional games in Chile in 1997. "Strikers normally score goals."

In Bolivia, he registered 18 goals in a 24-game season. He later played in England for Walshall, a first Division team, where he picked up a working knowledge of English.

The Lynx have a 6-10-1 record and 22 goals this year. But they are 2-6 in road games.

Conrad Smith leads the Mustangs with four goals. No one else has more than two. Otta would be a significant upgrade if he can live up to his scoring history. He has already played two road games for the Mustangs.

He scored in his first game Sunday in Toronto and bounced a shot off the crossbar in Montreal.

"The level is OK," said Otta, "but I haven't played all the teams.

"Playing in Montreal and Toronto is no more different. The team in Montreal is very good."

The father of three has been globetrotting, chasing soccer opportunities since 1996. A return to Argentina is a vacation.

He isn't ruling out the possibility of staying in Calgary next year if he has the opportunity. If he does, he would feel at home if the city had another year of hockey celebrations in the street.

He grew up in Buenos Aires where soccer is king. He was 12 years old, but the hoopla that followed the World Cup victory in Mexico City in 1986 is still a vivid memory.

In Argentine, soccer is a passion and he started playing an organized form of the game early in life.

There were strong minor programs and good soccer instruction in school.

He said he was one in a crowd in his home country . . . there are many strong strikers playing minor soccer in Argentina.

A prolific scorer could do wonders to the Mustangs' outlook. They have been plagued by a lack of scoring and bad weather. But both areas are predicted to improve today.

Calgary Sun - 'Stangs Will Miss Their Rivals

By CAMERON MAXWELL, CALGARY SUN

This Battle of Alberta is over before it really began. With the Edmonton Aviators playing out the season under control of the United Soccer Leagues, the Calgary Mustangs will likely find themselves without a provincial A-League rival next season.

And for the Mustangs, it's a win-lose situation.

"You have to look at it from two sides. First of all, it is definitely disappointing to lose a franchise like Edmonton because it would have been a nice rivalry," said Mustangs head coach Thomas Niendorf, whose team has two ties and an OT loss against the expansion Aviators this season.

"On the other side, of course, it improves our recruiting opportunities across the province again. You can really look at it from both sides but it's really more disappointing than positive for us."

Aviators ownership pulled the plug earlier this week, saying pro soccer in the provincial capital isn't financially viable.

From a fiscal point of view, not having Edmonton in the league isn't a major concern for Mustangs owners John Torode and Jurgen Hanne, who bought the team last year.

The two purchased the club from the league after the USL took over the former Calgary Storm midway through the 2003 season.

"I don't think so," said Torode, also the club's president, when asked if the Aviators' likely demise will hurt the Mustangs' viability. "I guess the expectations in Edmonton were much higher than what was the reality.

"We were pleased when Edmonton came into the league -- it's a cheaper city to travel to as opposed to some where you have to fly."

Torode said he was surprised when the 19 Edmonton owners gave up on the club because he thought the organization was stable.

Niendorf and the team's immediate concern is snapping the Mustangs' five-game losing skid with a win today (McMahon Stadium, 2 p.m.) against the Toronto Lynx. Calgary dwells in the basement of the Western Conference with a 2-12-3 record, while the Lynx comes in at 6-10-1.

- - -

'STANGS NOTES: Tonight's game marks the home debut for the two newest members of the Mustangs. Walter Otta, a striker from Argentina, and Uruguay's Ernesto Zapata were signed July 16 to bring the club some much-needed offence ... Defenders Mike Pavicic and Aaron Richer could return today from injury but whether either starts will be a game-time decision

Ontario Soccer Web - Lynx Tame Mustangs in OT

July 20, 2004

Editor's Note: The atmosphere at Lynx games is certainly changing for the better for those that long for a real 'soccer' atmosphere at Centennial Stadium. There was a noticeable lack of kid-centered promotions and most of the fans seemed genuinely interested in the action on the field. There were no silly half time shows as thankfully the club seems to be only paying lip-service to the ill-conceived 'theme' nights. All one can now hope is that the on-field product improves in the near future.

Canadian Press - 'Stangs Stung

July 19, 2004 - Toronto, ON

Gerba nets OT winner for Lynx

Ali Gerba scored his 10th goal of the season in the first minute of overtime to lead the Toronto Lynx to a 2-1 win over the Calgary Mustangs in A-League soccer action yesterday in Hogtown. Walter Otta scored for Calgary, which falls to 2-10-3.

Andres Arango scored the other Toronto goal.

Toronto outshot Calgary 17-7

.

Mustangs Sign Two New Strikers

In an effort to solve their scoring woes, the Calgary Mustangs have looked to South America and have signed two proven strikers.

Walter Otta is a 6'0", 174 lb. Argentinian Striker.    The 30-year-old Otta has been a prolific scorer with many of his former clubs.

According to his bio:

"Walter is the natural striker, always looking for the opportunity to score and always helping his teammates to create opportunities against the opponent team.    Walter can score with both feet and he is an excellent header. His presence in the attack can be very intimidating for any offence."

Career Stats:
1995 - 1996  PUERTO MONT F.C. FIRST DIVISION  - CHILE  (19 GOALS)
1997 - 1998  DEPORTE TEMUCO - FIRST DIVISION - CHILE     (16 GOALS)
1998 - WALLSAL F.C. - ENGLAND  (12 GOALS)
1999 - XEREX F.C.  SPAIN  (9 GOALS)
2001 - BLOOMING - BOLIVIA (15 GOALS)
2002 - MADEIRA FC  -  PORTUGAL (11 GOALS)
2003 - ATLETICO UNIVERSIDAD - PERU

Ernesto Zapata stands at 6'1" and weighs in at 176 lbs.  The 31-year-old, left footed, Uruguayan has played most of his career in Peru.   His high points have come when he scored in the Copa Libertadores in 2002 to help defeat Gremio of Brazil, and when he scored 24 goals in 2001 with Cienciano del Cuzco.

Ernesto can find the back of the net and has been an essential player for all of the teams he has played for.  He is said to be very dangerous in the air and can also shoot well with his right foot.

Career Stats:
1991 - 1993 CLUB DEPORTIVO CERRO - URUGUAY 
1994 - 1996 CLUB SAN AGUSTIN - PERU (32 GOALS IN 2 YEARS)
1997 CLUB DEPORTIVO PESQUERO - PERU (18 GOALS)
1998 CLUB REAL MAYA DE HONDURAS (14 GOALS)          
1999 CLUB CIENCIANO DEL CUZUCO - PERU (13 GOALS)             
2000 CLUB MELGAR DE AREQUIPA - PERU (15 GOALS)                      
2001 - 2003 CLUB CIENCIANO DEL CUZCO - PERU
2004 CLUB DEPORTIVO WANKA - PERU 

Both players are represented by the All Soccer Group of Ft. Lauderdale, FL. 

Calgary Mustangs Supporters Club
2004 Membership Drive is on NOW

How would you like to be a member of the prestigious Calgary Mustangs Supporters Club?

What would membership get you?

You'll receive:

1) A fancy, laminated 2004 Calgary Mustangs Supporters Membership Card.
2) A FREE BEER (or suitable beverage, if you are not of age).
3) 10% OFF - all Mustangs' merchandise.
4) Priority seating at all Mustangs' home matches.
5) First crack at any away-match bus seating.
6) Email updates - including roster sheets prior to every match.
7) An honoured spot at all pre-match tailgate parties.
8) A vote to choose Man Of The Match.
9) Scheduled gatherings for soccer events, including a year-end wind-up to award the Player of the Year.
10) The prestige of being a member of a group more highly regarded than MENSA.

And all this could be yours for ONLY $5 (FIVE BUCKS!!)

I will have a sign-up book at all of the home matches, but if you would like to have your shiny Membership Card ready for you, please copy the following information and email it to me ASAP @ mustangs_alley@shaw.ca

Name:
Email:
Address:
Phone:
Forum Name: (Example: "Cooks")
Date of Birth: (you may get a present on your birthday )

Cheers

St. Paul Pioneer Press -
Lagos Earns 300th Victory As Thunder Win At Home

Posted on Fri, Jul. 16, 2004

Lagos earns 300th victory as Thunder win at home

From news services

Thunder coach Buzz Lagos picked up his 300th career victory Thursday night as Minnesota defeated the Calgary Mustangs (editors note:  The Thunder and the paper both called us the "Flames") 3-0 in an A-League game at James Griffin Stadium.

Kevin Friedland, Dustin Branan and Melvin Tarley scored goals, and Joe Warren recorded his 11th shutout of the season.

"I was surprised I was even close," said Lagos, who improved to 300-127-31. "It's amazing to think how the club has come along in all these years and the number of victories we've had."

The Thunder (9-4-3) moved past Portland for sole possession of second place in the Western Conference. Minnesota is two points behind first-place Vancouver.

Friedland and Branan scored first-half goals as the Thunder outshot the Flames 9-1. Tarley's goal in the 56th minute put the game out of reach.

The Thunder play the Los Angeles Galaxy at 7 p.m. Tuesday in the Metrodome. The Galaxy, who have the best record in Major League Soccer, are led by U.S. national team stars Cobi Jones and Jovan Kirvoski and MLS leading goal scorer Carlos Ruiz.

Milwaukee Journal Sentinel -
Wave United's Unbeaten Streak Reaches Six

http://www.jsonline.com/sports/socc/jul04/243760.asp

But Dusosky says, 'we're winning ugly'

By CHRISTOPHER DABE - July 15, 2004

Milwaukee Wave United coach Art Kramer has been nothing but encouraged by his team's recent unbeaten streak, which was extended to six games with a 3-2 victory over Calgary at Uihlein Soccer Park on Wednesday.

Star forward Todd Dusosky has another opinion about the streak.

Although he's glad to see the team on the right track after it managed just one victory in its first nine contests, he wants to see the results get even better. He said earlier in the season the team needed to get conditioned for the outdoor game after several of the players were on the Milwaukee Wave indoor team during the winter, and that was what caused the team's poor start.

"We're getting our legs, but we're winning ugly right now," Dusosky said. "We're still waiting for that game where we come out and dominate for 90 minutes."

Dusosky scored twice in the first half, first on a header in the fifth minute to put United up, 1-0, and then in the 42nd minute off a long pass from midfield by Ibraham Kante to give Milwaukee a 3-2 lead.

Chad Dombrowski had scored on a picture-perfect header off a corner kick from the left side by Johnny Torres in the 34th minute.

United improved to 6-7-2; Calgary is 2-9-3.

"You know, we scored a goal and then we let them back into it because we do something sloppy," Dusosky said. "We have to stay focused for the full 90 minutes. We had two set-piece goals, with goals in our box. Kramer was a little disappointed with us at halftime."

Although Kramer might have been upset at the break, he expressed no displeasure with his team's play after the final whistle.

"It's funny," Kramer said. "Early in the season, I thought we were playing quite well, but the results weren't coming. I don't know, but I wouldn't say we're playing ugly. I'm seeing some good things out there. I think we're playing good ball.

"Everybody has their own opinions, and that's one of our player's opinions. I watch hours and hours of tape. Are there things we could do better? Sure. Did we do a lot of good things out there? Yeah, we scored three goals."

Each of Milwaukee's five victories during the streak has been by just one goal.

Dombrowski and Kante, a pair of defenders who played a large role in the team's victory and unbeaten streak, were also handed their fifth yellow cards of the season. As a result, both will be forced by the A-League to miss one game. Whether they will miss United's game against Edmonton on Saturday was uncertain. Kramer said he wanted to review his books to be sure both had five cards this season.

Calgary 2 0-2 Milwaukee 3 0-3

First half - 1, Milwaukee, To. Dusosky (Hammes), 5:00; 2, Calgary, Smith (Brusselers), 20:00; 3, Milwaukee, Dombrowski (Torres), 34:00; 4, Calgary, Holdt, 36:00; 5, Milwaukee, To. Dusosky (Kante).

Lineups - Calgary: Pfannenstiel, Sestito, Kooy (Pesneker 70), Brusselers, Auvigne, Gillespie, Smith, Holdt, Kolomiets-Raad, Reyes (Frazo 87), Jesic (Zuniga 73). Milwaukee: Larkin, Lawrence, Schmidt, Howes, Torres, Beasley, Morman, To.Dusosky (Takawira 85), Kante, Hammes, Dombrowski.

Shots - Calgary 10, Milwaukee 10. Saves: Calgary 2 (Pfannenstiel 2), Milwaukee 2 (Larkin 2). Fouls - Calgary 13, Milwaukee 17. Yellow cards - Calgary 3 (Holdt 19, Sestito 72, Smith 88); Milwaukee 3 (Dombrowski 36, Hammes 55, Kante 69). Corner kicks - Calgary 7, Milwaukee 6. Officials - Troy Cohrs, Kelly Ross, Dan Beane. A - 1,254.

Calgary Herald - Mert Invited to Nats Camp

Murray Rauw - Calgary Herald - July 13, 2004

The wins have been scarce, but the

A-League soccer experience is opening new doors for Calgary Mustangs midfielder Mesut Mert.

Mert, a first-year Mustang who won the Canadian Interuniversity Sport player of the year award twice while playing with St. Mary's University (2001 and 2003), is in Vancouver this week taking part in the Canadian national team selection camp.

Seventeen players are working out under the watchful eye of coach Frank Yallop, as the national team looks to expand its talent pool.

"It's an honour that someone recognizes your talents," said Mert.

"When someone tells you that you have been called for a national camp, it's a tremendous opportunity."

Although the Mustangs have struggled with a 2-8-3 record this season, Mert is convinced the A-League experience has prepared him to challenge for a Canadian roster spot. The university style was fitness and desire, while the pro game also requires plenty of strategy.

"In any sport, no matter what your record is, if you're performing well individually, they will give you a chance," said the 26-year-old Mert, who has two goals and an assist with the Mustangs this year. "I appreciate the opportunity and I'm going to make the most of it."

The invitation to the selection camp is evidence that he made the right decision when he agreed to leave his home in the Maritimes to move to Calgary.

"I always wanted to go somewhere and play the game of soccer," said Mert. "It didn't matter where it was. It didn't matter if it was A-league or (European) fourth or fifth division -- as long as I got a start and got my foot in the door."

The Canadian prospects tackled Scotland's Hearts in an exhibition game on Monday, and they will face FA Cup finalist Millwall, an English First Division side, on Wednesday. Both games are being played in Burnaby.

The camp forces Mert out of the Mustangs lineup for road games in Milwaukee on Wednesday and Minnesota on Thursday.

NOTES: The Mustangs' next home game is July 25 versus the Toronto Lynx.

Mert Off To National "B" Camp

From the Mustangs' website:

The Canadian National Coach Frank Yallop is looking at Canadian A-league Players

The Calgary Mustangs are proud to announce that Midfielder Mesut Mert has been invited to attend a selection camp for the Canadian National Team. This scouting camp has been set up to target specifically A-league players who have not been looked at already in the regular system. It is being held in Vancouver from July 9-15th where the coach, Frank Yallop, will have the men training and playing exhibition games. Mesut is currently second on the team in goals scored and points and has played in all thirteen contests for the Mustangs

Edmonton Sun - Avs Can Win

SCOTT ZERR, Staff Writer - June 29, 2004

The long wait for Win No. 1 is over. And appropriately the drawn-out procedure concluded on one heck of a long night. Gordon Chin rifled home the game winner in the 106th minute as the Aviator men's team (1-4-6) finally erased the goose egg under the win column with a 1-0 OT win over the Calgary Mustangs (2-8-3).

Chin and Chris Lemire had both clanged rockets off the crossbar in the second half, but together they worked a little magic 16 minutes into overtime.

Lemire found Chin at the top of the box and the diminutive midfielder corralled the ball, spun and wired a drive past the outstretched hands of Calgary 'keeper Lutz Pfannenstiel.

"What a feeling - what a feeling for all the guys. We worked way too hard for this," said Chin.

"We've gone through a lot of tough times but this makes it all worth it.It's a great day for us.

"It's way overdue."

The victory came in the Aviators' seventh OT appearance of the season and in their third meeting with Calgary - the first two ending in 1-1 draws after Edmonton had held late leads.

"It almost seems monotonous," said Chin of the extra-time outings.

"Going in and getting a win, I'm sure next timw we go into overtime we'll be thinking, 'We can win this.' "

Calgary Sun - Bittersweet Draw

Missed chances cost Mustangs win over Aviators

By CAMERON MAXWELL, CALGARY SUN

The Calgary Mustangs will take the draw with a scowl on their faces. That's because they felt last night's 1-1 tie with the Edmonton Aviators at McMahon Stadium, in front of an announced crowd of 3,198, should have been a victory.

Missed chances for the Mustangs and a world-class free kick goal early on by the visitors kept it deadlocked, even after two 10-minute overtime frames.

"That's been the story of the whole season. We do create our chances and we don't score. That, I think, was the only negative point about the whole game," said Calgary 'keeper Lutz Pfannenstiel, who is from Munich, Germany.

"We could have finished it and actually should have finished it. On Monday, it's a new game against the same opposition and we have to get the result (in Edmonton)."

It didn't take long for the Aviators to take flight -- four minutes to be exact -- as midfielder Nikola Vignjevic scored from more than 30 yards out on a free kick by blasting a shot into the top corner, past an outstretched Pfannenstiel.

It was a brilliant shot that would have been a highlight at Euro 2004 in Portugal.

"It was a very, very nice goal. It was a world-class goal or a freak goal, I don't know how to call it," said Pfannenstiel, who wasn't tested much in the match, making just six saves.

"It was unbelievable, I saw it a bit late. I nearly got there -- I was a bit surprised -- but turned around and saw it was in the top corner.

"I don't think anybody could have saved that one. Maybe every five years you'll score a goal like that."

Calgary, which improves to 2-7-3 on the season, dominated most of the play but wasn't able to bulge the twine until late in the match when Jamie Auvigne capitalized on a penalty shot that came in the 78th minute.

Aviators goalie Jose Luis Campi guessed to his right but Auvigne calmly booted a low ball into the opposite side of the net.

Moments later, Mustangs midfielder Steffen Holdt missed the net on a good scoring opportunity.

Then came overtime and it looked like the Mustangs' Damir Jesic would end it when he pounced on a loose rebound but Campi got his left arm on the ball that seemed destined to find twine.

Calgary came close again in the second OT frame but Mesut Mert's header missed the net by less than half a foot.

With three minutes left, Edmonton's Freddy Akok was alone in front of the Mustangs goal but Pfannestiel made his best save of the night by coming out and getting a piece of Akok's close-range blast. 

Calgary Herald - Alberta Rivals Battle to Draw

Auvigne's penalty salvages 1-1 result

Murray Rauw - Calgary Herald - Saturday, June 26, 2004

It only looked like a soft spot in their schedule.

Instead, the Calgary Mustangs almost became the first victims of the expansion Edmonton Aviators when they were held to a 1-1 overtime tie in an A-League soccer game Friday at McMahon Stadium in front of 3,198 fans.

Jamie Auvigne's goal on a penalty kick in the 78th minute erased an Edmonton lead that had held for 74 minutes.

Auvigne took the penalty after teammate Mesut Mert was fouled.

The Mustangs had at least three good overtime chances, but each attempt sailed wide.

It was the second tie between the two Alberta teams this year.

If Calgary was brimming with confidence, the Aviators ended those thoughts quickly.

The game was only into its fourth minute when Nikola Vignjevic staked Edmonton to a 1-0 lead with his first goal of the year. He picked the top corner on a free kick from over 30 yards out. Vignjevic would later come close on a penalty kick. (Cook's note: Edmonton did not have a penalty kick.  Murray is obviously on crack)

"We have to be disappointed with the first 10 minutes," said Calgary assistant coach James Glasnovic, who stepped up to the coaching role with Thomas Niendorf attending his daughter's graduation ceremony. "We played so well against Vancouver in the first half in our last game, I think we might have taken it for granted."

Although it was a meeting between two squads that have had difficulty winning, the game carried considerable importance in the standings for the Mustangs.

The Mustangs, now 2-7-3, were starting a home-and-home series against winless Edmonton coming off a shocking win over the Vancouver Whitecaps, which saw them break out with three goals.

Edmonton (0-4-6) has not won in 10 games.

"Six ties. Can you believe it?" moaned Liam De Silva, who moved to the Aviators after spending time in Calgary in recent seasons.

"But they called a penalty. There is nothing you can do about that. We just have to keep our heads up."

The Mustangs play in Edmonton on Monday, and then head east on a four-game swing between July 14 and 21.

Their next home game is against the Toronto Lynx on July 25.

Calgary Sun - Mustangs Look To Sweep Aviators

By CAMERON MAXWELL, CALGARY SUN - June 25th, 2004

Some may say the Calgary Mustangs are over the hump following their last match, a decisive 3-0 win over the Vancouver Whitecaps. However, the captain of the A-League club, Geert Brusselers, begs to differ.

With the winless Edmonton Aviators (0-4-5) in town tonight to take on the 'Stangs (McMahon Stadium, 7 p.m., Fox Sportsworld) in the first of a home-and-home series, Brusselers said his team still has something to prove.

"It's simple. We have two games against Edmonton and if we want to have any business in this league, we have to win twice," said the Dutch midfielder.

"I'm not saying it's going to be easy against Edmonton, these are derbies, and there's a lot of emotion involved and it's going to be a very tough game, maybe even tougher than against Vancouver.

"If we want to mean something in the A-League, we should be able to win from Edmonton twice and that's going to be extra pressure now, and if we win those games, then we can (say) we've taken off."

The last time the two teams tangled, they played to a 1-1 draw at McMahon but Brusselers said the Mustangs should be able to handle their provincial rivals and do it live on international TV.

"I think we have a better team but, at the moment I say that, I know I'm going to put some extra pressure on our shoulders, but we have to face it -- we're supposed to be the better team and we have to prove it and if we don't, it's our mistake," he said.

The Mustangs currently sit with a 2-7-2 record but are 2-2-2 on McMahon's artificial turf, where they've played well all season and certainly enjoy a home-field advantage.

"I think we have an advantage simply because of the fact that we practice on in more than the other teams and it needs some adjustment," said Brusselers.

- - -

NIENDORF OUT: Calgary head coach Thomas Niendorf won't be on the sideline tonight. He's in Vancouver, where his daughter is set to graduate from university.

Team officials knew Niendorf would be gone for the game before the season started.

In his absence, captain Geert Brusselers and backup goalie Jamey Glasnovic will handle the coaching duties.

Meanwhile, anyone wearing blue, yellow or a soccer jersey gets in free for tonight's game.

Calgary Sun - Striker Stings 'Caps

By DARREN FRIESEN, CALGARY SUN

Get to the net and good things will happen. That's exactly the strategy the Calgary Mustangs employed as they beat the visiting Vancouver Whitecaps 3-0 in front of 1,800 at McMahon Stadium last night.

Calgary striker Conrad Smith was the difference as he scored twice to lift the home side to only its second victory of the season.

Frustrated by his lack of scoring this season, Smith made the most of his opportunities last night.

"I knew that if I got more chances I could be more help to this team," said Smith, who missed a penalty kick the last time Vancouver visited McMahon.

"I came into this one more mentally focused and I got the right connections from my teammates. The coach said I could be more help if I made myself available in front and I had good players with me, which makes it easier to score. Today's game is going to help this team mould together."

The Mustangs opened the scoring in the 18th minute when Smith headed in a cross from Sergei Kolomiets-Raad.

Kolomiets-Raad, who hails from St. Petersburg, Russia, caught up to a deep ball inside Vancouver's box. A quick burst of speed allowed the speedy midfielder to move around the Whitecaps defender and place the cross into the middle of the crease, where Smith was waiting to head it past a sprawling Alex Marques.

After that it was all Mustangs. The local side seemed to gain some offensive confidence with the opening marker and managed to keep the pressure on. Eventually, the tenacity paid off.

With less than 10 minutes left in the half, Smith struck again.

This time the pass came from Dutch captain Geert Brusselers, who made a couple of nifty moves inside the box, which freed him to sift a short pass to Smith.

The striker from Trinidad, who holds the distinction of scoring the franchise's first cap, booted a hard shot that Marques got a piece of but couldn't stop.

But the 'Stangs weren't done there.

With the seconds ticking down in the first half, Calgary made it 3-0 with a play reminiscent of the opening goal. This time, however, a Kolomiets-Raad pass across the box never left the turf but wound up on the foot of Mesut Mert. Mert patiently waited out the 'Caps netminder and placed a low shot just inside the post.

"We knew we had to be more solid in the midfield," said GM-head coach Thomas Niendorf. "This allowed us to put more balls over Vancouver's defence and get some of our strikers into position. The goals allowed some of the pressure to be taken off the defence, which made everyone play with more confidence."

Upset by their first-half performance, the 'Caps came out with some more energy and some new bodies. Although under fire from a more inspired West Coast squad, Calgary didn't allow any point-blank chances.

Mustangs 'keeper Lutz Pfannenstiel earned his first shutout of the season.

Calgary moves to 2-7-2 after the win, while Vancouver falls to 5-4-1.

Calgary Herald - Mustangs Shock 'Caps

Murray Rauw - Calgary Herald - June 19, 2004

The Calgary Mustangs' grand plans of starting a winning streak were met with a nod and a wink.

Silly kids -- those were the Vancouver Whitecaps moving into the McMahon Stadium's visiting locker-room. The Whitecaps were a team with tradition and a city of full soccer talent to recruit from.

But no one's laughing at the Mustangs this morning. Calgary's low-scoring A-League soccer team flexed some offensive muscle on Friday night, shocking the Whitecaps 3-0 on the turf at McMahon.

The Mustangs were as good as the score suggested. They were the dominant team, especially in the first half, as they improved to 2-7-2 -- good for fifth in the A-League's seven-team Western Conference.

Conrad Smith led the way for Calgary with two first-half goals, in the 18th and 41st minutes, while Mesut Mert scored the Mustangs' third goal early in the second half in front of a season-high crowd of 1,821.

Smith wore the goat horns in the last Calgary-Vancouver matchup. He missed scoring on a penalty kick, and the Whitecaps used the miss to change that momentum.

"I said I had to score two goals today and I went out and did what I had to do," said Smith, a member of the Trinidad and Tobago national team.

When the subject was raised, he remembered the last Vancouver game and it added to his satisfaction. "After missing the penalty, I felt some relief with the two goals," said Smith. "I just needed to score and that's what I did."

Sergei Kolomiets-Raad assisted on two Calgary goals.

The Whitecaps (5-4-1) had beaten Calgary twice this year. The Mustangs now play a home-and-home series against the expansion Edmonton Aviators (0-3-5), beginning June 25 at home.

"What did I tell you?" crowed Mustangs midfielder Jordan Gillespie.

"We thought we could play them and play well and we put the results on the board. It feels good to get the monkey off our back.

"We felt we were real close to finally getting a good win under our belts."

Calgary Sun - Lacking Offence

Undefeated Montreal side stops Calgary's attack as they pick up shutout win

By DARREN FRIESEN, CALGARY SUN

A failure to generate any good scoring chances was the Calgary Mustangs' downfall yesterday as they were shutout 2-0 against the Montreal Impact. The Impact, who sit atop the A-League standings with a undefeated 8-0-1 record, played very stingy defence, while taking advantage of their offensive chances.

Calgary's inability to penetrate became a source of frustration for the young team in the final 10 minutes of yesterday's match at McMahon Stadium.

"Of course when you get down by two there's going to be some emotions from the players, that's just the game," said GM-head coach Thomas Niendorf.

"We knew we were in for a tough challenge because (Montreal's) the best team in the league right now.

"They're always very organized in their play so we tried from a tactical point of view to keep everything tight in the midfield. They didn't make any mistakes and we didn't generate enough on the attack."

The 'Stangs could only come up with one quality scoring chance in the second half but by then it was too late.

Their lack of offence was obviously discouraging and led to some overhyped emotional energy towards the final buzzer. As a result, a bunch of small incidents broke out, which set off some late fireworks on and off the field.

First, Calgary's forward Conrad Smith bodychecked Montreal's goalkeeper Greg Sutton in his crease. This resulted in a small melee of pushing and shoving and a two yellow cards for each instigator.

Shortly thereafter, Montreal's Jason DiTullio, who early made a marvellous cross to Frederick Commodore for Montreal's second strike, was knocked from the game after receiving a hard tackle at midfield.

With no doctor on hand to treat DiTullio's injury, Impact officials became enraged, which led to a shouting match between players and coaches on both sides in the hallway to the dressing room after the game.

Cooler heads eventually prevailed but the Mustangs (1-7-2) were left with the sting of a another home loss.

"It was our lack of penetration," said Niendorf.

"We never got to the point where they were felt pressured and cause them to make mistakes. We just didn't have enough quality from our midfields connecting with our attacking play."

With the Impact pressing early, Calgary was forced to take a penalty in their own box in the ninth minute. A slide tackle on Montreal's Antonio Ribeiro led to a penalty kick by Patrick Leduc, who made no mistake and put the Impact in front 1-0.

In the 60th minute, a nice three-way pass across the field by the Impact put the ball on DiTullio's foot, who made no mistake on the cross. Commodore connected on the cross and put a header into the top corner.

For Sutton, it was his eighth shutout of the season and record 35th for the Impact

Calgary Herald - Impact In No Mood To Party

Injury furor mars victory

Murray Rauw - Calgary Herald - Monday, June 14, 2004

A livid group of Montreal Impact players stomped off the McMahon Stadium turf on Sunday in no mood to celebrate their 2-0 victory.

There were screams of "this is a professional league," directed in anger towards the Calgary Mustangs.

The mood of the Impact had turned sour late in the A-League soccer game when Jason DiTullio suffered a knee injury and there wasn't a doctor available at McMahon to diagnose the problem.

"There are A-League rules that there is a doctor in the house," said Impact coach Nick DeSantis in a calmer voice after the shouting settled down.

DeSantis had the impression that the injury was related to the artificial turf. He wasn't charging that the Mustangs caused the injury with their style of play.

"When you're playing on turf, those things happen -- your foot gets stuck and the knee goes."

Until the injury caused the Impact to blow a gasket, the game had gone the visitors' way; Montreal improved its record to 8-0-1.

The Impact has registered shutouts in eight games and the one goal against the visitors was an own goal. The Mustangs were no threat to that mark.

Montreal opened the scoring in the ninth minute when Patrick Leduc scored on a penalty kick called after Antonio Ribeiro was tripped in the penalty area.

The Impact scored again in the 60th minute with Frederick Commodore scoring on a header off a perfect crossing pass. Still, the visitors thought they were sputtering, perhaps fatigued after playing in Vancouver on Friday.

"We didn't play as we usually play, we usually play better," said Ribeiro, who was a thorn to Calgary for 90 minutes. "Sometimes, you have bad days and that was one of them.

The game was an ordeal for the Mustangs, now 1-7-2. The game didn't have the passion of a Euro 2004 game and it never developed a flow.

Mustangs coach Thomas Niendorf couldn't deny the Mustangs were overmatched. He described the Impact as a team of experienced players.

"They have balance at all the positions," said Niendorf. "They have depth and at any time can bring three of four players off the bench."

Niendorf declined to comment when the issue of not having a physician on the sidelines was raised. But DeSantis vowed the Impact would file a complaint with the A-League office.

mrauw@theherald.canwest.com

Calgary Herald - Mustangs Fall in 2OT

Calgary Herald - June 7, 2004


The Calgary Mustangs remain winless on the road, but they keep getting closer to better times.

The Mustangs came close on Sunday, but gave up a goal in the 74th minute and the winner a minute into the second overtime period as the Seattle Sounders eked out a 2-1 A-League

soccer victory at Seahawks Stadium.

The Mustangs had beaten the Sounders by the same score last week, though in regulation time.

Welton Melo scored off a scramble Sunday for the winning goal.

"There was a scramble in front of the net and somebody poked it in," said a solemn Mustangs coach Thomas Niendorf, who found it hard to leave the stadium empty-handed.

After a scoreless first half, Nik Reyes gave Calgary the lead early in the second half.

Kyle Smith tied the score off a penalty kick.

The loss left the Mustangs with a

1-6-2 record, while Seattle is 4-3-1.

The close call is further testament to the improvement of the Mustangs. They were waxed 5-0 by the Sounders in an earlier visit to Sattle.

Calgary's next game is June 13 at McMahon Stadium against MONTREAL (ed.).

Calgary Sun - Mustangs Lose

Courtesy: Calgary Sun - By CP

A golden goal corralled the Calgary Mustangs, snapping their two-game undefeated streak. It was a back-breaker, especially after the 'Stangs hit a post in the first overtime, as they fell 2-1 in Seattle against the Sounders last night.

Calgary, coming off its first win last week against Seattle, got on the board first as midfielder Nic Reyes booted a ball that deflected in off a Sounders defender in the 49th minute.

But Calgary's lead evaporated 25 minutes later thanks to a Kyle Smith penalty kick that tied it 1-1.

In the first overtime frame, the Mustangs blasted a ball off the post but couldn't find the winner.

The Sounders scored the winner in the second extra frame.

The last time the 'Stangs visited the Sounders, they were humbled in a 5-0 loss.

Calgary falls to 1-6-2 on the season, while the Sounders improve to 4-3-1.

Calgary Herald - Sound Effort Leads To First Win

Murray Rauw - Calgary Herald - June 3, 2004

The Calgary Mustangs turned around their flagging fortunes on Wednesday evening.

They had never beaten the Seattle Sounders, but they scored twice in the second half and shocked Seattle 2-1 to record their first win in eight A-League starts season before an announced crowd of 1,247 at McMahon Stadium.

The Sounders had dominated Calgary's A-League teams, whether it was the Storm or the Mustangs.

Coming into the game, the Sounders were 9-1-1 lifetime against Calgary, including a convincing 5-0 romp in Seattle on May 23.

"They always had our number," admitted Mustangs striker Damir Jesic. "They have a strong team but you have to keep plugging away. Now, we have to achieve consistency."

Calgary's Steffen Holdt scored first at the 57th minute when he converted a corner kick off the foot of Mesut Mert. The Mustangs went ahead 2-0 in the 75th minute with Jesic getting the insurance goal and Holdt assisting.

Seattle's Roger Levesque scored in the 83rd minute, making for an interesting finish. With their first win as the Mustangs, the locals are now 1-5-2 while Seattle is 2-3-1.

"It's good to get a win against a team that had beaten us badly not long ago," said Niendorf.

"We adjusted from that first game. We knew we couldn't give them any space. We adjusted again at halftime to do some things to get some scoring."

Said Jesic: "It's only one win, but it was very important to us. We had to start somewhere and I'm glad it was tonight."

Calgary Herald - Mustangs Salvage Late Draw

Murray Rauw - Calgary Herald - May 29, 2004

The Calgary Mustangs still don't have a win, but they deserve high marks for their effort.

Another dismal night was in the making for the Mustangs until Sergei Kolomiets-Raad scored in the 91st minute on Friday at McMahon Stadium.

With the goal, the Mustangs salvaged a 1-1 tie against the expansion Edmonton Aviators in A-League soccer action before an announced crowd of 1,102.

"We wanted a win. We should have been able to finish them off earlier, but we finally got a goal," said Kolomiets-Raad, who notched the equalizer while the Mustangs were pressing on a last-ditch offensive rush.

Kolomiets-Raad scored off a rebound of a Mesut Mert shot. The scoring play developed off a crossing pass by Conrad Smith.

"It's one to remember," he said.

Both teams were looking for their first win in franchise history when they stepped the saturated artificial carpet at McMahon. They still are.

Calgary is now 0-5-2, while Edmonton sports an 0-1-3 log. All the Aviators' games have been on the road.

Kolomiets-Raad is a 21-year-old Russian-born, American-raised player recruited for the Mustangs by coach Thomas Niendorf.

The Aviators had taken a 1-0 lead in the 37th minute on a gift goal scored by Fred Akok, who was playing in his first game with the Aviators.

His shot from the 30-yard line bounced in the Calgary goal box and was misplayed by Lutz Pfannenstiel, the Calgary keeper, to the chagrin of the rain-saturated crowd.

The Mustangs offence had dominated the first half, and Damir Jesic bounced an attempt off the crossbar.

Canadian Press - Calgary Draws With Edmonton

EDMONTON (CP) - Sergei Kolomiets-Raad scored in the 91st minute to lift the Calgary Mustangs to a 1-1 draw with the Edmonton Aviators in A-League action on Friday.

The Aviators opened the scoring with a goal from Freddy Akok in the 38th minute.

"The team worked very hard," said Edmonton head coach Ross Ongaro. "Unfortunately, we gave up a late goal in the last few seconds of the game.

"Obviously, we are a little disappointed with the result. We deserved the win but know that we will need to continue to work hard to improve."

Edmonton Sun - Akok's Status A-OK
Sat, May 29, 2004

Akok's status A-OK

SCOTT ZERR, EDMONTON SUN

CALGARY -- Good thing Freddy Akok got his paperwork issues cleared up by game time. Had it not been for his lucky strike in the first half, the Edmonton Aviators might just have been grounded by the Calgary Mustangs. But Akok, who misplaced his landed-immigrant status papers prior to training camp, got a replacement work permit Thursday morning. His goal, and clutch saves by Jose Luis Campi in the early going, were enough for the Aviators to salvage a 1-1 OT draw with the Mustangs in an A-League tilt last night at McMahon Stadium.

"When you give it your all for 90 minutes and end up with a tie, it's disappointing," said Akok, a native of Liberia who had spent the last two seasons playing for the Alberta Major League's Ital-Candians.

Both clubs remain in search of their first win of the year - Edmonton stands at 0-1-3 while Calgary moves to 0-5-2.

The Aviators have their inaugural home game tomorrow against the Minnesota Thunder.

A torrential pre-game storm forced the teams to begin their warmup in the tunnels of the stadium, and it was there that Aviators coach Ross Ongaro told Akok to shoot if the opportunity presented itself.

In the 37th minute, Akok let go from 30 yards out. Call it harmless or innocent, it still found the net when Mustangs 'keeper Lutz Pfannenstiel muffed the bounce off the rain-soaked turf.

"I saw the opening and I just took a shot," said Akok, who notched just the Aviators' second goal in four games.

Akok's goal may not have mattered had it not been for Campi's sensational netminding in the game's opening 15 minutes as the Mustangs stampeded through the Aviators defence for a series of scoring opportunities.

Campi made a lunging stop on a 20-yard attempt by Steffen Holdt. Then he came racing off his line to thwart a chance for Damir Jesic.

More bad luck befell Jesic, the former University of Alberta Golden Bears standout, as the Mustangs kept scampering through the Aviators backfield. Jesic rocketed a shot off Campi's hands that clanked the crossbar. And then was sent in alone for a second time only to have Campi snuff out the chance with a sliding stop.

"He saved our backsides a couple times," said Ongaro. "I thought we adjusted well after that first 15 minutes. We got a fluky goal, but in these conditions you want to shoot."

Edmonton's woeful attack finally started to put some pressure on the Mustangs, but didn't produce a shot on goal until Akok's break.

The Aviators didn't do a thing offensively through the entire second half, hoping that a defensive shell would salt away their first victory. The plan was on its way to a successful conclusion until the 91st minute when a low drive into the box wasn't cleared and Sergei Kolomiets-Raad whacked a loose ball into the net.

"I didn't think we sat back. They're obviously going to come at you down 1-0 at home with 12 minutes to go," said Ongaro. "Calgary's played a lot more games than us and they're a lot more offensive (with) their forwards making combination passes - which we have not yet created.

"Freddy did all right but we're still not creating enough chances."

FLIGHT PLAN: Campi and Claudio Salinas were tagged with yellow cards ... Edmonton's second-half subs were Chris Lemire (Sipho Sibiya), Paul Dhaliwal (Nik Vignjevic), Kurt Bosch (Gordon Chin) and Simon Kassaye (Chris Devlin).

Calgary Sun - Rivalry Ready To Begin Tonight

Expansion Aviators visit Calgary 'Stangs

By CAMERON MAXWELL, CALGARY SUN

At the mere mention of the expansion Edmonton Aviators, Nick Zuniga's eyes light up and his jaw sets in determination. "Oh man, it's a war. When it comes to hockey and football, Eskimos and Oilers, that's (one thing). But when it comes down to this, this is the one team I want to beat more than anything," said the 21-year-old Calgary Mustangs striker, who hails from Edmonton.

When the A-League teams clash for the first time in their histories tonight (McMahon Stadium, 7 p.m.), Zuniga is going to see plenty of familiar faces on the other side of the field.

"A lot of the guys on that team I grew up with since I was 12 or 13 years old. To get out on the field in an A-League game with those guys, you can't ask for anything more than that," said Zuniga, a three-year veteran with the Calgary club.

Both teams are seeking their first victory of the season but the expansion Aviators currently lead the Mustangs in the standings with an 0-1-2 record, while Calgary is 0-5-1.

And there's no need to remind Zuniga just how big this match is for his side.

"This is a team we have to beat," he said.

"We could find excuses but there are none when you've got a team that's just starting off. We've got to go out and just pound them from the first minute."

Certainly one of the more skilled players to emerge from the Alberta soccer scene, the former under-20 national team member hasn't seen the pitch as often as he'd like this season.

After starting Calgary's first game of the campaign, Zuniga's primarily come off the bench but he's a team player and will take what's given by head coach Thomas Niendorf.

"If I come on as a sub, I want to make a difference. If I start, great, and if not, I've got to show that I can start," Zuniga said.

Niendorf knows what the 5-ft. 10-in. forward brings to the team but would like Zuniga to be more consistent with his transitional play and defensive responsibilities.

"The bottom line with Nick is we all recognize his talent but he needs to make a more consistent jump into the professional level of the A-League," said Niendorf.

"We still see too many times just the flashes of his potential. He has to become more consistent with the responsibility of the assignments he has to look after on the field.

"I want to see him become more demanding in the game."

While Zuniga and his teammates eagerly await the Aviators, there are a few former members of the Mustangs on the Edmonton club -- namely midfielder Kurt Bosch, defender Liam DeSilva, striker Sean Fraser, striker Chris Lemire and midfielder Eric Munoz.

Through two home games so far this season on McMahon's artificial turf, the Mustangs have played well in tying Minnesota and losing 2-1 against Vancouver last weekend. Both were games Calgary could have won.

 
Calgary Herald - Mustangs Desperate For A Win
Murray Rauw - Calgary Herald - Friday, May 28, 2004

An intense Edmonton-Calgary rivalry that raises the lather of the soccer fan in Alberta might be good for soccer --- some day.

Calgary Mustangs coach Thomas Niendorf has seen how they can become larger than life outside of Canada.

But for now, Niendorf is simply desperate for a win against any A-League team. It just happens the Edmonton Aviators are next on the schedule.

"Both are new teams in the province of Alberta, and it is an important game," said Niendorf. "We have to approach this game with a winning attitude, but that's how we have to approach every single game."

The Mustangs, who have only a tie to show for six A-League games this season, play host to the Aviators on tonight (7 p.m.) at McMahon Stadium. The Mustangs, 0-5-1, reach the quarter pole in their 28-game schedule with this game.

Neither team has won a game this season.

"Both teams are desperate for a win," said Niendorf. "It is an important game for us in the standings. But the pressure is definitely on us."

After a string of games against teams like the Vancouver Whitecaps, Portland Timbers, Seattle Sounders and Minnesota Thunder, the expansion crew from Edmonton comes at the right time for the Mustangs.

But they should be warned, the Aviators have not been pushovers. In their three games to date, the Aviators, 0-1-2, have yielded only three goals. They have played Vancouver and Seattle to stalemates.

Defence has been their forte.

It presents a challenge for the offensively challenged Mustangs, who scored only three goals in six games.

The Mustangs have to clamp down at the back end and convert their offensive chances to avoid falling out of the playoff picture.

This game will re-introduce Niendorf to three members of the Aviators.

Niendorf was the Calgary Storm coach who brought Liam DeSilva, Chris Lemire and Chris Bosch to the A-League. They are now A-League veterans but all have made their way home to Edmonton and will be in the Aviators lineup.

"The entire team has familiar faces," said Niendorf. "Most of the Edmonton team are known to us."

Seattle Post-Intelligencer - Sounders Finally Find Net - Five Times

Smith's two first-half goals propel Seattle to its first victory

By MATTHEW GASCHK SPECIAL TO THE POST-INTELLIGENCER

In their first three games, the Seattle Sounders had plenty of opportunities to score, but found more crossbars and posts than they did goals. The resulting 0-2-1 record had coach Brian Schmetzer searching for answers all week.

He apparently found them prior to the Sounders' matchup with the Calgary Mustangs (0-5-1) last night.

The Sounders got two first-half goals from Kyle Smith and never looked back, eventually racing to a 5-0 win in front of 2,090 at Seahawks Stadium.

"This was a good win," Schmetzer said. "We finally got our forwards to score some goals and we got good organized play from our defense."

The Mustangs took to the offensive in the early going, sending shot after shot from 20 yards out, but sending them right into the chest of Seattle goalkeeper Preston Burpo.

"I didn't have much work today," Burpo said. "Our back and midfield played well and then we finished well. We had to get on track sometime."

Then Smith broke the game open in the 23rd minute, dribbling up from just inside the penalty box and juking Calgary goalkeeper Lutz Pfannenstiel. The keeper beaten, Smith tapped the ball into the left corner for the 1-0 lead.

In the 27th minute, Roger Levesque stole the ball near midfield and found Viet Nguyen between defenders on the right side. After Pfannenstiel committed, Nguyen found an open lane to Smith, who had an open net for his second goal and a 2-0 lead.

"It's about time we found our scoring touch," said Smith, who has three of the Sounders' seven goals this season. "Goalscorers are pretty streaky. When things are bad, the ball can't seem to go in the net. Tonight it seemed like everything was going in."

Shortly after Smith's second goal, Levesque notched one of his own, dribbling in from 30 yards out and making a fake on Pfannenstiel to open the net for the third time, giving Seattle a 3-0 lead in the 40th minute.

In the second half, Welton played a major role in both goals. The Brazilian weaved a pass between three Calgary defenders to Billy Sleeth up the right side. Sleeth then crossed to Levesque, who one-touched a left-footer for his second goal, giving the Sounders a 4-0, 68th-minute lead.
Welton then notched his first goal of the season, taking a cross from Craig Tomlinson and redirecting it for the 5-0 lead in the 74th minute.

Despite all the offense, Schmetzer singled out the play of the defense, led by Danny Jackson.
"He was back to the old Danny," Schmetzer said. "He was organizing the team, he was talking. Those are the kinds of things that we have come to expect him to do."

CORNER KICKS: The Sounders next play Milwaukee Wave United (0-1-1) on Friday at 7:05 p.m. at Seahawks Stadium. ... The Sounders honored Cliff McGrath, who assembled the inaugural Sounders team and front office in 1974. McGrath, the longtime Seattle Pacific coach, never held an official position with the Sounders, aside from his color commentary on the 1979 TV broadcasts.

Seattle Times - Sounders Impressive in Earning First Victory

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/sounders/2001936982_sounders24.html

By Matt Massey Special to The Seattle Times

After their worst start in A-League history, the Seattle Sounders' first win of 2004 came in convincing fashion.

The Sounders got on track offensively as forwards Kyle Smith and Roger Levesque scored two goals apiece in a 5-0 shutout of the Calgary Mustangs last night before 2,090 at Seahawks Stadium.
Brazilian-born Welton, a key offseason acquisition, came off the bench to score his first goal as a Sounder. Levesque also added an assist to his two-goal performance.

"It was about time we found our scoring touch," said Smith, who gave Seattle a 2-0 lead in the first 27 minutes. "That was nice. Goal scorers are pretty streaky. When things are bad, the ball won't go in the back of the net.

"Tonight, everything was going in the net."

The victory snapped a seven-match winless streak for the Sounders (1-2-1, 4 points) dating to last season. Seattle extended its all-time series lead against Calgary to 9-1-1.

The Sounders haven't lost to Calgary (0-5-1, 1 point) in the last six meetings, going 5-0-1 with a 20-1 advantage in goals scored.

Sounders goalkeeper Preston Burpo made five saves — mainly on early long-distance shots.
"It does release some pressure to win that first game," Sounders coach Brian Schmetzer said.
Smith scored his two goals in a three-minute span between the 24th and 27th minutes as Seattle took a 2-0 lead. Smith's first goal came on a tap-in shot to an open net after Levesque made a nice feed and then followed that with another open-netter on a pass from Viet Nguyen.

Levesque made it 3-0 by converting a one-on-one breakaway from about 12 yards out in the 40th minute. Levesque knocked in another tap-in opportunity after a pair of nice passes from Welton and Billy Sleeth to give the Sounders a 4-0 lead in the 68th minute. It was Sleeth's first assist as a Sounder.

Welton gave Seattle a 5-0 lead by scoring on an assist from Craig Tomlinson in the 74th minute.

Note
• Sounders D Danny Jackson either sprained or fractured the thumb on his right hand in the second minute. Jackson caught his thumb on the back of a Calgary player's jersey. Jackson was scheduled for X-rays this morning to determine if the thumb is broken.

'Stangs Take A 5-0 Beating
By CAMERON MAXWELL, CALGARY SUN - May 24, 2004

One team got its first A-League win of the season, the other, after a humiliating loss, still seeks that elusive initial victory. That team looking for a win is the Calgary Mustangs, who fell 5-0 last night in Seattle against the Sounders, in what was easily the club's poorest outing of the season.

The woeful Mustangs (0-5-1) have now scored just three goals this season, while they've given up 14.

Calgary takes on the expansion Edmonton Aviators Friday night (McMahon Stadium, 7 p.m.).

Mustangs Soundly Thrashed

Calgary Herald - May 24, 2004

The Calgary Mustangs officially hit rock bottom in the A-League's Western Conference standings on Sunday.

The Mustangs, 0-4-1 heading into their game at Seattle, had been tied with the Sounders in the conference cellar with one point apiece.

That changed when the Mustangs were taken to the woodshed by the Sounders -- to the tune of a 5-0 score.

The Sounders are now 1-2-1; the Mustangs have one draw to show for their first six results.

"We got caught in the first half as they scored three goals in a short time," said Mustangs coach Thomas Niendorf. "That took the competitiveness out of the game.

"The first 20 minutes, I thought we were in the game," said Niendorf. "Then they caught us on two turnovers. That was tough to take."

Roger Levesque and Kyle Smith each scored twice for Seattle, while Welton Melo scored once.

"They were highly motivated," said Niendorf. "We knew that they would play with intensity and we didn't match it."

The Mustangs play host to the Edmonton Aviators on Friday.

"This was a tough loss and something we cannot excuse at all," said Niendorf.

Blown Shot
Missed penalty kick costs Mustangs

By CAMERON MAXWELL, CALGARY SUN - May 23, 2004

A cold, wet and miserable afternoon pretty much mirrored how Conrad Smith felt yesterday. The Calgary Mustangs striker missed a second-half penalty shot that would have put his team up 2-1 but, in the end, the Mustangs fell by that score against the Vancouver Whitecaps at McMahon Stadium in A-League soccer action.

With the game knotted 1-1 and Calgary applying pressure, Vancouver's Steve Kindel got flagged in the 67th minute for a hand ball in the box.

Smith took the shot but the effort was weak and easily saved by 'Caps 'keeper Mike Franks, who handled the low offering by falling to his left.

"I think I rushed it too much. I should have relaxed myself a little bit and that's what I was most disappointed with," said Smith, a 22-year-old from Trinidad and Tobago.

"As you can see, I didn't really get a good shot off and it's disappointing."

Mustangs defender Jamie Auvigne got his club on the board first, converting a nice give-and-go with Zdravko Savic and blasting a low, curling shot past Franks from 10 yards out in the 10th minute.

The Whitecaps (3-0-1) evened it up with a controversial penalty shot goal, 41 minutes in, from Carlo Corazzin after Calgary's Conrad Chala was flagged on a phantom pulling the shirt call by referee Gerry Procter, who is from Vancouver.

Morris scored the game-winner for Vancouver in the 74th minute. Calgary (0-4-1) looks for its first win today in Seattle.

Mustangs Buck Convention In Near Upset Of Whitecaps

Murray Rauw - Calgary Herald - May 23, 2004

It came down to two penalty kicks. The Vancouver Whitecaps scored on their chance, while the Calgary Mustangs botched their opportunity. That was the difference on a drenched McMahon Stadium surface Saturday when the Whitecaps beat the Mustangs 2-1 in A-League soccer play.

The Mustangs were close to turning in the game of their lives against the experienced Vancouver lineup, but all was lost when the Whitecaps' Dave Morris scored the winning goal in the 74th minute.

The winning goal came moments after Calgary's Conrad Smith was foiled on a penalty kick.

"We got the penalty kick in the second half and it was clearly up to us to take the lead again," said Calgary coach Thomas Niendorf, trying to rationalize the latest setback for his

A-League squad. "We stuck to our game plan: it was clearly working. Everything was going our way but Vancouver is experienced to take the opportunity and make it count."

The Mustangs shocked the slow-starting Whitecaps when Jamie Auvigne converted a pass from Jdravko Savic and gave his team a 1-0 lead after 10 minutes.

The game remained scoreless until the 40th minute when the Mustangs were called for a shirt pull in the penalty area and Carlo Corazzin made them play, scoring the tying goal with the penalty kick.

"It was a questionable call," fumed Niendorf. "The game was clearly under control until then."

The Mustangs stayed in the hunt and seemed about to take the lead. But Smith's penalty kick after a hand ball was called against Steve Kindel was weak, and when the Whitecaps came back, a hustling Alfredo Valente kept the ball from crossing the back line. He directed the ball out front and Morris notched the winner.

"It's unfortunate to lose a game like this," said Niendorf.

"We were able to put the final touch on our tactical play."

The Mustangs record fell to 0-4-1. They play tonight in Seattle against the Sounders.

The Whitecaps improved their record to 3-0-1.

"We came out sluggish and we were wary about the turf," said Vancouver's Martin Nash. "They had us back on our heels.

"It probably was the turning point when we stopped their penalty kick."

Nash is the younger brother of Steve Nash, who stars in the National Basketball League with the Dallas Mavericks.

Martin Nash is a year and a half younger and four inches shorter than Steve.

"I get asked about ever day, said Martin Nash, who will turn 28 in December. He is obviously proud of Steve's play on the hardcourt but he said the entire family takes pride in the fact both brothers have represented Canada internationally in their respective sports.

"His sport is more high profile, but I love playing soccer," said Martin, who played the full game against Calgary as a midfielder. "I've played 30 times for my country, it's something I'm proud of.

"Steve was a better player than me when we were growing up. But all his friends were playing basketball."

But Martin Nash saw the other side in Calgary. This game was played on a CFL-designed field in front of a paltry crowd in poor weather.

"I don't know if soccer will ever have a high profile in North America, but soccer is the most popular sport in the world."

mrauw@theherald.canwest.com

Calgary Squads Lose On Coast

May 16, 2004 - Calgary Herald
The Calgary Mustangs were defeated 3-1 by the Vancouver Whitecaps on Saturday and fell to 0-3-1 in their A-League season.
Meanwhile, the Calgary Wildfire was drubbed 6-0 by the Seattle Sounders, its second loss in as many tries in its inaugural W-League season.

"This time, I have to say there was nothing wrong with our effort," said Mustangs coach Thomas Niendorf, who had been critical of his club's performance in Portland on Thursday.

Mesut Mert scored for Calgary.

The Wildfire lost lost two games this weekend by a combined 11-0 score. It left coach Lisa Unsworth with work to do.

"We were stagnant and had a disastrous first half," said Unsworth. "It was the reverse of our first game."

Four second-half goals sank the Wildfire in the Vancouver game.

Mustangs Get First Goal, But Not First Victory
Calgary Herald - Friday, May 14, 2004 (Edited by Cooks)

The Calgary Mustangs notched their first goal on Thursday, but they are still looking for the first win.

Alex Bengard  scored five minutes into the second half as the Portland Timbers posted a 2-1 A-League victory over the visiting Mustangs.

Byron Alvarez had given Portland a 1-0 lead early in the game. Conrad Smith scored the first goal in Mustangs history before halftime.

"It was not a good performance on our part," said Mustangs coach Thomas Niendorf. "I need to say that. They had several opportunities but our goalkeeper, Lutz Pfannensteil, played an outstanding game."

Calgary, 0-2-1, plays in Vancouver Saturday.

Soccer Star: It's Fandemonium in Calgary

http://www.hfxnews.com/MainPage.aspx?pname=Sports&PageType=FullStory&PartialStory=No&StoryID=14459

By Chris Kallan - Halifax Daily News - May 10, 2004

Halifax soccer star Mesut Mert knew getting fan support in Calgary would be a challenge, but he didn’t figure he’d have to go head-to-head with the weather and the Flames this late into hockey season.

Mert’s A-League Mustangs battled the visiting Minnesota Thunder 0-0 in their home opener yesterday at McMahon Stadium in front of approximately 2,500 spectators who braved snowy conditions.

“This city is buzzing with hockey right now,” said Mert, who started his second consecutive match and played the full 90 minutes. “It’s definitely a major battle for us as a soccer club that needs to attract fans. There’s Flames flags everywhere and people honking horns.

“It’s a pretty crazy place to be right now.”

Calgary’s 4-3 overtime win over the San Jose Sharks in yesterday’s best-of-seven Western Conference final opener means hockey fever isn’t about to end anytime soon in the country’s only remaining city involved in the Stanley Cup playoffs.

Mustang team officials planned to show the Flames-Sharks matchup on JumboTron, but chose not to go that route at the last minute.

“We certainly appreciated the fans that did come out,” said the 26-year-old Mert, a former standout with Saint Mary’s and Athens United.

Calgary, which lost its season opener 2-0 away to Minnesota two weeks ago, is 0-1-1 overall.

Scoreless Tie Flatters Minny

http://www.canoe.ca/NewsStand/CalgarySun/Sports/2004/05/10/453516.html

Mustangs deserved better fate in opener

By CAMERON MAXWELL, CALGARY SUN - May 10, 2004

The scoreboard didn't do justice to the Calgary Mustangs. Playing their home opener at McMahon Stadium, in less than ideal conditions, the 'Stangs and Minnesota Thunder battled to a 0-0 overtime draw yesterday afternoon on a snow-covered field.

Despite failing to score for the second straight game against last season's A-League finalist, Calgary (0-1-1) certainly dominated the play, especially in the second half and two 10-minute overtime periods. But they couldn't beat Thunder 'keeper Joe Warren.

"I think we showed the people who were here that we are competitive and from now on that should give us confidence as we get to know each other," said Calgary captain Geert Brusselers, who was a machine from his midfield position.

"It's too bad we didn't get the result today because it really would have shown we are a professional franchise, not like in the past."

Coming off a brutal season last year, when the team formerly known as the Calgary Storm managed just four wins, it looks like soccer fans in the Stampede City can count on more from the club this campaign.

After a lacklustre opening half, in which neither team generated any scoring chances, the Mustangs came out fired up in the final 45 minutes and managed to get some shots on Warren.

With 4:20 left in regulation time, Calgary's Nick Zuniga charged in on a fine pass from Zdravko Savic and looked like he might get past Warren, who also ran out for the ball.

But Zuniga and the Minnesota goalie got tangled up as Warren stuck his foot out going for the ball, which rolled wide.

"I felt a nudge from behind and I think it was his foot being a size bigger than mine, so there was a little nudge but not enough to get a penalty," said Zuniga, who has played with the team the past three years.

"But compared to the last game we played (a 2-0 loss in Minnesota), I thought we ran things on the field.

"Last time, they had us running around and looking foolish pretty much but I thought we took it to them all game today and could have had two goals, at least."

In overtime, the teams traded chances with Calgary's Sergei Kolomiets-Raad getting a great opportunity when he closed on a loose, bouncing ball but his lob shot from 20 yards out just went over the crossbar.

Just before time expired, Minnesota's Jeff Matteo burst through the Calgary defence and streaked in on goalie Lutz Pfannenstiel, who made a great save to preserve the tie.

It was the Thunder's only decent scoring opportunity.

"Two weeks ago, we lost to this team and didn't have many chances and overall, we kept our destiny in our own hands today," said Mustangs coach Thomas Niendorf.

"Considering they played in the final last year and are well organized, we didn't give them much to work with."

It wasn't all good for Calgary, however, as starting defender Aaron Richer, a former CIS player of the year, left the game in overtime with an ankle injury.

The Mustangs' next game is Thursday night in Portland.

Zero Goals, But One Point

http://www.canada.com/calgary/calgaryherald/news/sports/index.html

Mustangs tie home opener

Murray Rauw - Calgary Herald - May 10, 2004

The Calgary Mustangs have played more than three hours this year and are still without a goal.

"That's something that will naturally come," said Mustangs defender Aaron Richer. "Throughout this game, we gathered strength the whole way. It felt like it was going to come. And we got a result, we gained a point that we wanted."

Coach Thomas Niendorf also saw progress Sunday during a 0-0 draw against the Minnesota Thunder in front of a tiny, weather-beaten crowd at McMahon Stadium as the Mustangs played their first home game in the A-League.

"We played this team two weeks ago without having any opportunities," said Niendorf. "We showed today we can go forward and score goals. Tactically, we matched each other. That's important for the team to know we can beat a team like this."

The draw represented the first point of the season for the Mustangs, now 0-1-1. They had lost their season opener 2-0 to Minnesota, then had two weeks to think about it.

It was the second overtime finish this weekend for Minnesota. They lost 2-1 in OT at Vancouver on Friday and are now 1-1-1.

It seemed everything was against the Mustangs for their home opener.

It was Mother's Day, Canada was winning a gold-medal at the world hockey championships and the Calgary Flames opened their National Hockey League series against San Jose precisely at the same time as the Storm game started.

And the entire game was played while it was snowing.

So there were only about 300 fans in the stands, a letdown for Mustangs management who are determined to make soccer's impact in Calgary this time after a series of failures.

The Mustangs didn't show the Flames on the live screen after they were convinced that the wrong way to promote soccer was to have the NHL game as a distraction.

The best description of the first half was cautious. Neither team had a good scoring chance.

"Nobody could break clear," said Niendorf. "But in the second half, the game always opens up because the players always lose a step or two. That's when we started to put a little more pressure on them."

Although the second half was much the same, the Mustangs started carrying the play and came closest to breaking the scoreless draw with five minutes left. But the remainder of regulation time was uneventful.

Sergei Kolomiets-Raad of the Mustangs had an overtime chance but his attempt was high.

Still, there were no complaints from Niendorf.

"We had three or four good chances," said Niendorf. "With the weather conditions, that was challenging. I'm happy to see this team playing with confidence. We'll take the point for now."

Niendorf noticed the changes that are created playing on artificial turf, but the faster game means the faster team with the solid passing game will win.

"As soon as you don't make a pass right, the ball skips away," said Niendorf. "Everything has to be precise."

The Mustangs play their next two games on the road. They are in Portland on Thursday and in Vancouver on Saturday. Their next home game will be May 22 against Vancouver.

Teen Talent Gets a Chance to Run With Mustangs

http://www.canada.com/calgary/calgaryherald/news/sports/story.html?id=c5255f2d-fd30-453d-94fc-9bcc5b69e5f8

Murray Rauw - Calgary Herald - Saturday, May 08, 2004

John Castrillon Jr. is the Mustangs' youngest member.

Since the day that John Castrillon Jr. started kicking a soccer ball around Calgary parks, he has done it with one purpose.

He held dreams that a professional career in Europe would beckon.

So the formation of the Calgary Mustangs, to continue soccer's existence at the pro level in Calgary, was timely. It provided him a chance to step up a level.

He still had to make the most of the opportunity, which wasn't an automatic for an 18-year-old whose highest previous level was a season with the University of Alberta.

"In the A-League, players are better technically and tactically," said Castrillon, who has met the challenge by making the Mustangs as a teen and then performed well as a starting midfielder in the season opener against the Minnesota Thunder.

"These guys are soccer players -- it's what they do for a living."

Castrillon gets his second taste of pro ball when the Mustangs entertain the Thunder in their home opener Sunday (2 p.m.) on the artificial carpet at McMahon Stadium.

Minnesota was a 2-0 victor in the game for both clubs, but Calgary will have a game's experience and the home crowd behind them as the early-season two-game set concludes.

Castrillon has avoided analysing the first game.

"I always go into a game not expecting anything," said Castrillon.

"I just try to concentrate on my own performance and not worry about the other team.

"But Minnesota was a good team. It was missing a couple of guys . . . so were we."

Castrillon candidly admits the experience with the Mustangs is only a first step.

His goal is to follow Alberta players such as as Owen Hargreaves, Kevin McKenna and Nik Ledgerwood to European teams.

Mustangs coach Thomas Niendorf has seen glimpses of the potential in Castrillon. He hasn't had time to evaluate his consistency.

He notes the national U-20 team coaching staff doesn't share the same opinion, and didn't keep Castrillon under its wing, but said there is still time for him to be included.

"It's a positive challenge," said Niendorf. "Junior is not part of the national-team program, but if he continues to impress at the A-League level, I think the Canadian national team will have to take a look at him."

The Mustangs are a blend of youth and experience. They have established international players such as Geert Brusselers, proven A-League players like Damir Jesic and a youthful group of players moving up a notch from university or local youth programs. Castrillon is the youngest of the group.

The Mustangs will scour the globe for players, but there will always be a place for locally-trained players. Castrillon has lived in Calgary since he was 11 years old, played minor soccer in the city and attended William Aberhart High School.

Soccer has always been part of his life. His father, John Castrillon, is the technical director with the Calgary Blizzard and coached the club's U-18 girls team to a national championship a couple of years ago.

"It is important to document our commitment our youth program," said Niendorf, after a late-morning practice.

"Junior is a typical example. We will look at our young players coming up and give them an opportunity.

But when the lights go on, the players in uniform will be there on merit. "He is being recognized for his talent. In the last game, he wasn't somebody who just came in . . . he contributed," said Niendorf.

Herald - Canadian Attitude Wears Out Welcome

http://www.canada.com/calgary/calgaryherald/news/archives/story.html?id=56f7f9cc-fb84-445b-938b-7581c9b79d61

Trent Edwards - Calgary Herald - Friday, May 07, 2004

Thomas Niendorf is tired of the Canadian way.

He's tired of Canadian players who lacked more professionalism than talent tank in the pro A-League during his 21/2 years coaching the now-defunct Calgary Storm. In his second kick at coaching pro soccer in Calgary, he wants European players to lead his Calgary Mustangs to success in their first season.

Calgary cemented its roster Thursday, signing a European captain and five other players. Calgary's 21-player roster includes seven Europeans -- the maximum allowed by the league. Two Europeans will have to sit out every Mustang game, since the league allows only five Europeans on each team's active roster.

"I think we've been too stuck on the Canadian way of looking at the game," said Niendorf. "The European players bring another level of professionalism and seriousness to our game. They can show our Canadian players how soccer can be so much more a part of life."

With the blessing of Mustangs co-owners John Torode and Juergen Hanne, Niendorf combed Europe this spring for established players with experience in European leagues.

"They will bring experience and guidance to our younger players," says Niendorf. "The thing we saw with the (Storm) is that the talent is there, but we need four or five experienced players to show the others what level of soccer they must reach to win."

Niendorf is excited to work with Europeans such as captain Geert Brusselers and goaltender Lutz Pfannensteil, proven A-League players like midfielder Damir Jesic and a youthful group of players moving up a notch from university or local youth programs. Eight former Storm players have signed with the Mustangs.

"Adding experienced Europeans in central positions like our goaltender and captain will greatly help our team," says Niendorf.

Calgary is set to play its home opener Sunday at 2 p.m. on the artificial carpet at McMahon Stadium. The game will be a rematch with the Minnesota Thunder, who beat Calgary in both teams' season opener 2-0.

Keeper Enjoys Tranquility After "Living Nightmare"

http://www.canada.com/calgary/calgaryherald/news/sports/story.html?id=244de9cb-7cc3-4f51-acfb-022665aa5b4e

Mustangs' Pfannenstiel imprisoned in Malaysia

Murray Rauw - Calgary Herald - Friday, April 30, 2004

In many parts of the world, soccer is more than a game -- it can be a life-or-death vocation.

Lutz Pfannenstiel lived through it, spending three-and-a-half months in a dingy prison cell in Singapore during 2001.

So the tranquillity offered by the Calgary Mustangs is appealing.

"Do you have the Internet?" asked the 31-year-old Pfannenstiel, before starting to explain his international nightmare.

"I was charged with a 'corrupt verbal agreement,' " said the new goalkeeper for Calgary's A-League franchise.

He contends his only mistake was talking to strangers, saying he was framed by a Malaysian bookie who spun a story to save his own hide.

"A guy came up to me on the street and said, 'You're playing against this team; do you think you can beat them?' " explains Pfannenstiel, a native of Zwiesel, Germany, who was playing for Geylang United. "I said we would kick their ass.

"That happened three times within a few months. It turned out this guy was a bookie.

"They couldn't accuse me of rigging the games because we won them all," says Pfannenstiel. "It's difficult to accuse a goalkeeper of fixing games if you win."

But he was charged, convicted and sentenced on corruption charges. Only the intervention of the German embassy secured his freedom.

While he was ultimately cleared by FIFA, the damage was done, and he wondered what office could restore his reputation after spending three months locked up.

"I was in one of the worst prisons in the world. I had a terrible time in a cell where I was sleeping on the floor. The bathroom was a hole in the floor; there was no toilet.

"It was a living nighmare. It made me a harder person. I won't be able to cry again because I cried so much the first few days in jail."

Mustangs coach Thomas Niendorf knew about Pfannenstiel's run-in with the Mayasian justice system, but said enough time has passed for the keeper to put it out of his mind.

His credentials are solid and Niendorf hopes he'll add experience to a young team.

Pfannenstiel said it doesn't take much to land in a Singapore jail. Tossing a cigarette butt or discarding chewing gum are offences that draw stiff prison stints. And foreign players drawing good salaries can be at the top of the hit list.

"The local players are earning peanuts and foreigners are making big money," says Pfannenstiel.

"I had a nice condo and nice car and we won everything. I was having a good time and then everything was gone."

After his release, Pfannenstiel picked up his career. He was playing in Norway and studying opportunities in Russia when his wife declared that if he went, he would be going alone. "In Russia, I was offered as much in a week as I could make here in a month," says Pfannenstiel. "But the living conditions were terrible and I have a little baby."

About this time, Niendorf contacted him and sold him on the Mustangs, who play in a city where there isn't a lot of money to be made and where players are seldom noticed.

All Pfannenstiel knew about Calgary was the 1988 Winter Olympics and that a boyhood friend of his father had settled in the city.

But despite all that, and his club falling 2-0 to the Minneapolis Thunder this past Sunday in the season-opener, he doesn't regret his decision.

"I believe there is a lot of potential here," he says, referring to the raw skill of the players. "But I look in the newspaper and see nobody gives a damn. Maybe we can get people being crazy about soccer."

The Mustangs' second game of the season is their home opener on May 9, when the Thunder visits.

"I think we can surprise a few people. When they (Minnesota) come here, I guarantee you that they won't beat us," he says.

Then again, the last time he made guarantees like that, he was tossed in the brig.

"It's not a promise," he adds, quickly.

mrauw@theherald.canwest.com

Calgary Sun - Thunder Roll 'Stangs

http://www.canoe.ca/NewsStand/CalgarySun/Sports/2004/04/26/436578.html

Cameron Maxwell - The Calgary Sun - April 26, 2004

It was a tough season opener for the Calgary Mustangs and the result shouldn't come as a surprise. The reborn A-League soccer franchise went into St.Paul, Minn., yesterday to take on the the Minnesota Thunder and lost 2-0 to one of the Western Conference's tougher teams.

But head coach Thomas Niendorf said he saw some good things on the pitch, especially defensively, from his club despite the loss.

"Overall, we held our own and we were not blown out by any means and our goalkeeper (Lutz Pfannenstiel of Germany) didn't have to make that many saves," said Niendorf, the original coach of the team three years ago, when it was known as the Storm.

The Thunder struck in the 24th and 51st minutes, with the second goal coming on a free kick.

Trailing 1-0 in the 33rd minute, the Mustangs had a chance to even it up on a penalty kick, but Minnesota 'keeper Joe warren robbed Damir Jesic on a top-corner shot.

Niendorf said the team still needs to add five players to the roster but he praised 18-year-old midfielder John Jr Castrillon of Montreal.

" He did an excellent job, he was actually one of the best players on the team and that encourages me a lot, " Niendorf said.

Calgary gets another crack at the Thunder May 9 in their home-opener and first game at McMahon Stadium.

Calgary Herald - Mustangs Blanked in Season Opener

http://www.canada.com/calgary/calgaryherald/news/sports/story.html?id=d24ce1ee-9c2f-4a5c-9f4d-725a945ae345

Calgary Herald - April 26, 2004

Thomas Niendorf knew better than to ask for miracles.

So it wasn't too difficult to accept the 2-0 loss his Calgary Mustangs experienced Sunday when they opened their A-League soccer season against the host Minnesota Thunder.

He knew now that his team was in the game, and that's was all he could ask for.

The Thunder's Johnny Menyongar scored in the 24th minute and Jeff Matteo scored off a penalty kick early in the second half to account for the scoring.

Niendorf believes he'll have the makings of a competitive team in Mustang uniforms before Calgary's home opener on May 9.

"We shouldn't have to do too much before that," said Niendorf. "It was a deserved win for Minnesota but we played a good game. I cannot fault anyone. We had a number of players in their first A-League game."

Calgary's Damir Jesic was stopped on a penalty kick in the 34th minute. It was the best Mustangs chance.

When asked to name players who met his expectations, Niendorf named defender John Castrillon Jr.

Niendorf expects to upgrade the Mustangs with two more players before the Thunder pays a return visit for Calgary's home opener at McMahon Stadium.

Last year, the Thunder was a league finalist, while the Calgary entry was mired in financial troubles.

Only new ownership allowed the team to resurface under a new name.

A-League commissioner David Askinas was at the game and he had encouraging words for Niendorf.

Thunder Down Mustangs 2-0

Sunday, April 25, 2004 - Minnesota Thunder News Release - www.mnthunder.com

MINNEAPOLIS, MN -- Midfielder Jeff Matteo tallied a world-class goal and assist, and goalkeeper Joe Warren stopped a penalty kick, leading the Minnesota Thunder to a 2-0 home opener win over the Calgary Mustangs at the Metrodome.

“It was a good win for the team,” said Matteo. “I was glad I could contribute to the team. We played a great game tonight.”

Forward Johnny Menyongar scored the first goal of the night on a picture-perfect through pass from Matteo in the 24th minute. Matteo, who played last season with the Columbus Crew of Major League Soccer, dribbled through four defenders before dishing off the winning assist. The turning point of the game came in the 33rd minute when Warren stopped Calgary’s Damir Jesic on a penalty kick. The Thunder dominated play throughout the rest of the game, out-shooting Calgary 11-6 on the night.

Six minutes into the second half Matteo put the icing on the cake when he converted a 25-yard, bending free-kick into the upper right corner, cleanly beating Calgary goalkeeper Lutz Pfannenstiel.

The Thunder had two other good opportunities in the game. Defender Kevin Friedland’s first-half header hit the side netting and midfeilder Jay Alberts nearly added one in the final minutes.

“We played very well the first part of the game,” said Thunder head coach Buzz Lagos. “ We were playing in a new environment against a solid team, but Joe Warren came up with a big save on the penalty shot and Matteo came up with the supporting goal to secure our win. The players had a great presence around the ball, especially (Chris) Vorenkamp, (Freddy) Juarez and (Marshall) Morehead.”

Niendorf Has Another Kick at A-League

http://www.canada.com/calgary/calgaryherald/news/sports/story.html?id=3501e45a-6ff4-458d-963e-7622c5041cfc

Murray Rauw - Calgary Herald - Saturday, April 24, 2004

The road is a familiar one to Thomas Niendorf.

He's been the coach of a fledgling Calgary professional soccer team once before and he has the battle scars to show for it. He tried to make his mark in the A-League with a team that never had the confidence, talent or the resources.

The results were predictable -- he was fired and the team folded.

Niendorf will try again this year, as he takes command of the Calgary Mustangs, who fill the soccer void in Calgary left by the demise of the Storm.

When they open the season Sunday in Minneapolis against the Minnesota Thunder, at 6 p.m. MDT, the Mustangs will have a mixture of international and Canadian talent.

But Niendorf warned not to expect miracles.

"We have to keep it in perspective," said Niendorf. "We are a new team and we have to deal with reality. We needed to start the recruiting process again. And franchises such as Vancouver and Montreal have established player pools."

The potential player pool in Alberta even shrank this year with the formation of the A-League's Edmonton Aviators. The Aviators have several former Storm players in their camp.

The Mustangs will have a handful of returnees, including Damir Jesic, Jamie Auvigne, C.J. Peszneker, Jordan Gillespie and Nick Zuniga.

They landed one of the top Canadian university players in Mesut Mert from St. Mary's University. And they have added Europeans Geert Brusselers of Holland, Zdravko Savic of Slovenia and German 'keeper Lutz Pfannensteil.

"I had a chance to look to Europe and recruit three or four players for this league," said Niendorf. "You cannot recruit players from Europe who are under contract. You have to find players who have the attitude to take an adventure, but don't see a big playing career in Europe."

The Mustangs have also recruited Sergei Raad, a Russian-born player who has been living in the United States.

Niendorf expects to take 15 players to Minnesota and hopes to add four more before the team's May 9 home opener against Minnesota, a league finalist a year ago.

On Sunday, Auvigne will sit out a one-game suspension he was assessed when he picked up a red card in Calgary's final game last year.

"We are not 100 per cent done with the team," said Niendorf. "The first game comes early for us."

Niendorf had a glimpse of his roster last weekend, when the Mustangs played weekend exhibition games against two Calgary senior men's teams, including the Callies, the defending national club champions.

"From a technical point of view, we have a talented team, and we have good fitness already," said Niendorf.

"The challenge is to bring the players together. They are European players, university players and local players. They have to get used to each other. We have players who are new in this league and players who still have to mature."

mrauw@theherald.canwest.com

Mustangs on Shaw TV

April 22, 2004

Check it out - http://calgary.shawtv.com/images/DAILY%20RM%20FILES/April%2022/21must-bp.rm

Mustangs Down Callies on Frozen Tundra

By Mark Christie - April 16, 2004

In a match that was as dreary as the weather, the Calgary Mustangs eked out a 4-1 victory over Calgary Caledonian FC.

The sub-zero temperature and skating rink-esque field conditions sapped the inspiration from the two clubs and moments of exciting soccer were infrequent in number and diminished as the match wore on.

The match that many had hailed as being the one to settle the question of who was the best Calgary soccer club failed to live up to the hype and the only statement that seemed to be made by either squad was, “Let’s try this again in the summer sun.”

The contest started similarly to yesterday’s tilt, when Mesut Mert tried his hand from 20 yards out in the first minute. His shot was pushed around the post by the Callies keeper for a corner.

Three minutes later, Calgary took an early lead. Geert Brusselers found himself with lots of time and when he looked up he saw the Callies keeper miles off of his line. Brusselers sailed a long looping shot into the back of the net from 40 yards out.

The Mustangs came close to doubling the score in the 15th minute, when a long through-ball was just touched away from an advancing Sergei Raad at the last second and skimmed off of the outside of the right post.

The match was not devoid of the odd nasty challenge and Mesut Mert was cut down by a Callies player in the 15th minute. The player then received a yellow card for his actions (a rare thing in a friendly such as this). Mert lasted another two minutes before he was subbed off and replaced by Kenny Nutt.

Calgary eventually scored their second in the 24th minute. Aaron Richer found the ball at his feet during a goal mouth scramble and he poked the ball past the startled Callies keeper. The play began when a Callies defender inexplicably headed a clearing attempt back into his own 6 yard box.

Richer was rewarded for his effort by getting injured in the 30th minute when he came out on the losing end of a 50/50 ball. He did not return.

The loss of Richer had a negative effect on the match, from a Mustangs’ standpoint. Brusselers dropped back into a centre-back role, while Zuniga joined Mert as a central midfielder. Calgary’s control of the midfield ebbed after the move.

After the first 30-minute interval, the Mustangs buried their first good chance when Jordan Gillespie drained a shot after some fine passing from Nutt and Raad in the 35th minute.

Two minutes later, the Mustangs came close again. Raad was fouled 25 yard out and after Brusselers’ free kick was blocked by the wall, Mert’s attempt off the rebound was spilled at the left post, but the Callies keeper managed to smother the ball in time.

The referee was forced to reach back into his pocket to produce another yellow card in the 37th minute on a clumsy challenge. The match started to get a little chippy.

One of Calgary’s best chances went wanting in the 41st minute when Damir Jesic was released by Raad after a long through-ball and fine horizontal run, but Jesic’s shot from 10 yards was parried by the keeper.

The Callies keeper was busy again in the 53rd minute, when he angled away a 17-yard blast, after Gillespie had made a nice turn and let fly.

The Mustangs then slipped into a funk and started to play a very uninspired brand of football, and the Callies made them pay in the 55th minute. After a scramble, a pass to the end line was chased down by a Callies forward, who managed to keep it in and cut it back to a colleague on the ten yard line. This Callies player slotted it across to an unmarked man, who, in turn, hammered the ball into the bottom right corner, past a frustrated Lutz Pfannenstiel. (I apologize for the lack of names for the Callies’ players. No game sheets were provided.)

At the second break, Mustangs’ coach, Thomas Niendorf, read his squad the riot act; chastising them for their lack of effort and proper footwear. (He had a point on both counts – Sergei Raad would have had more traction in a pair of bedroom slippers – if Calgary had been playing a team like Montreal, the Mustangs would have been badly beaten on this night.)

The “talk” seemed to put some spring back into the Mustangs’ legs, and Raad’s longs run in the 63rd minute unfortunately ended with a shot right into the chest of the Callies keeper.

Calgary kept the pressure up and two chances came in quick succession in the 76th minute. Firstly, a fine slicing pass by Brusselers to Zuniga slipped off the turf just enough to run away from a golden opportunity. Then Raad stole the ball and his toe-poke toward the left corner was spilled by the Callies keeper, who managed to gather the ball up in time.

Some more Calgary chances ended up harmlessly in the arms of the Callies keeper, who would soon have to worry about his own teammates’ attempts at goal.

In the 77th minute, Callies striker, Mike Howlett, found himself alone after a good turn on the 20 and drove to close range before his blast was beautifully blocked by Pfannenstiel. Calgary quickly countered and sent a long clearance towards the Callies box. In a tragic mix-up between the Callies defender and keeper, the defender headed the ball over his keeper and into the back of his own net. Own goal.

Make the final score 4-1 Mustangs.

*Note: This match was played in three 30-minute periods.

Mustangs Lineup: Pfannenstiel, Chala, Richer (Mert 30), Stefanazzi, Castrillion, Zuniga, Mert (Nutt 15), Brusselers, Gillespie, Raad, Jesic

MOTM – Mesut Mert was the most consistent player on the field for the Mustangs. He made a number of good passes and runs and had a number of attempts at goal (some were not so spectacular ). Richer was playing well before he left the match.

This was not a pretty game and the 50-60 people in attendance were not rewarded for bravely showing up on a horrible evening for footy. I sincerely hope that everyone made it home safely on the treacherous roads.

Next preseason match is Sunday @ 3:00 PM at Foote Field in Edmonton versus the University of Alberta Golden Bears

Mustangs Trounce Villains

By Mark Christie - April 15, 2004

On a chilly night, with the snow swept to the side of the field, the Calgary Mustangs had their first test in a game situation as they took on the AMSL’s Calgary Villains in front of approximately 70 frozen fans at McMahon Stadium on Thursday.

In a match that was played in three 30-minute periods, the Mustangs cruised to a relatively effortless 6-0 victory.

The Mustangs were sporting a 4-4-2 formation.
Back line, from right to left – Damir Jesic, Aaron Richer, Mike Pavicic, Chris Stefanazzi
Midfield – Kenny Nutt, Mesut Mert, Geert Brusselers, Nicolas Zuniga
Forwards – Sergei Raad, Zdravko Savic

Minute By Minute Guide:

2nd - the Mustangs started brightly enough, with Mesut Mert trying his luck from 30 yards out, but his early effort missed wide right.

4th - the right post once again saw a ball roll past it as Sergei Raad missed from 12 yards. A minute later, Raad had another fine opportunity, but the Villains keeper stole a fine through-ball, by Geert Brusselers, from Raad on the 10 yard line (yes, there is a ten yard line; it’s a football field).

9th - Raad made a great turn on his marker and threaded the ball to Zdravko Savic, but his blast missed wide left.

11th – GOAL - Finally, the Mustangs were rewarded for their pressure, when Brusselers latched onto a Mert pass and thundered a shot into the bottom-left corner from 15 yards. Mert had made a fine slicing run across the pitch and released Brusselers for the shot.

14th - the Mustangs threatened again when a Aaron Richer ran under a Damir Jesic cross, but his header slid right of the post.

16th - suddenly, the Mustangs seemed to lose some of their concentration and the Villains had some sustained pressure, beginning with a desperation clear that broke up a good Villains chance at goal, and ending with a shot from 30 yards that sailed wide of the Mustangs’ net.

After that slight scare, the Mustangs settled down and began to take control of the match. Mert wasted a golden opportunity to make one more pass to Brusselers on a build-up; he instead elected to shoot straight at the Villains keeper.

24th - The Villains would have one more opportunity in the first period when Jesic lost the ball to a Villains striker (#19), but his shot from 12 yards missed wide right.

26th - The Mustangs saw a fine build-up go for naught when a give-and-go between Brusselers and Savic was thwarted at the last second.

30th – GOAL – a cross from the right touch line by Kenny Nutt, 30 yards out, sees Mert control off of his chest and blast a beautiful volley into the right corner of the net.

33rd – shortly after the first break, Savic saw his powerful shot parried by the Villains keeper for a corner.

34th – Mert goes on a winding 30 yard run through the Villains’ defence, but his final effort slides wide of the right post.

38th – Nicolas Zuniga’s vies for Mark McGlaughlin’s vacant position with the Stampeders, as his in-close shot sails high between the football uprights.

40th – Conrad Chala coughs up the ball in dangerous territory, but the Villains’ chip attempt is snagged by Mustangs’ keeper, Lutz Pfannenstiel.
Calgary has a number of scoring chances, culminating with a Mert 10-yard volley that is smothered at the left post by the Villains’ keeper.

48th - Mert would have another opportunity when he controlled a long cross off of his chest and volleyed a blast off of the cross bar. The resulting rebound came straight to Savic, but he surprisingly failed to slot the ball home.

50th - The Villains had some chances on a couple of miscues. Zuniga playing saviour after a missed kick by Jesic.

64th – GOAL – Jesic slots a PK into the left corner after Mert was taken down inside the top-left corner of the box. Brusselers had made some nifty moves to the end line and chopped the ball back to Mert, who was then clattered by the desperate Villains’ defender.

69th minute – Savic tries a low shot from the top-right of the box, but it slides across the goal mouth, just out of the reach of Zuniga.

73rd – GOAL - after a scramble in the Villains’ box, Brusselers controls and blast a 12-yard cannon into the left corner of the net.

76th – GOAL – After Brusselers was brutally taken down by a rough challenge, he calmly steps up and curls a 25-yard free-kick over the wall and inside the left post.

80th – Brusselers tries his luck with his left foot on a free-kick from 23 yards, but it’s blocked.

88th – GOAL – Jesic dribbles the ball to the end line and crosses to an unmarked Zuniga, who buries it from in close.

As the match wore on, the Mustangs began to show their dominance and were in complete control by the end. A far tougher challenge will come on Friday, versus the Callies.

MOTM – Geert Brusselers – he shone out and clearly was the class of the field on this day. He made a number of fine passes, and runs, and he controlled the centre of the field. His two goals were class and he probably could have had more. He worked well with Mert.

Mustangs' Lineup: Pfannenstiel, Jesic, Richer, Pavicic (Chala 30), Stefanazzi, Nutt, Mert, Brusselers, Zuniga, Raad, Savic.
Subs not used – Auvigne, Pesznecker, Glasnovic

Note: Jamey Glasnovic is now the backup keeper replacing Devon Fraser.

Calgary Herald - Globetrotting Mustang Eager to See Country

Friday, April 09, 2004 - Murray Rauw - Calgary Herald

Brusselers playing on his fourth continent

The newest Mustang, Geert Brusselers, practises at McMahon Stadium.

Soccer is a worldwide game and Geert Brusselers is living its universal appeal to the max.
The newest member of the Calgary Mustangs soccer team will be playing on his fourth continent in a 15-year, nomadic professional career.

"Here, I have a chance to see North America; now my only wish is Australia," laughed Brusselers, a 34-year-old midfielder who has relocated to Calgary with his wife Helen and their three pre-school children. He will spend the A-League season in the city.

"My wife and me are pretty adventurous and we want to see as much as we can see and still do my profession."
The Canadian opportunity fit into his lifestyle. Brusselers began his career in his native Holland and has also played in neighbouring Belgium, as well as in the United Arab Emirates and Cape Town, South Africa.
He doesn't bring any wild boasts to the Mustangs, only a resume and a one-season commitment.

"When I was 28, I found out I was a good player but not good enough to be at the absolute top in Europe," said Brusselers in fluent English. "At 28, it won't happen any more. So I left my team over there, which I loved, when I got the offer from the United Arab Emirates."

He played there for three years and another in Cape Town.

He is expected to upgrade the on-field quality on the field and provide leadership to the untested team off the field. He has been named Mustangs captain by coach Thomas Niendorf.

The Mustangs expect to add more European recruits before the season starts to complement a home-grown corps of players.

The Mustangs have started training under obscurity created by the attention blanketing the National Hockey League playoffs. The Mustangs open their A-League regular season April 25 in Minnesota and play their home opener at McMahon Stadium on May 9 (2 p.m.).

Brusselers knows enough about the difficulties experienced launching professional soccer in Calgary. He's been in the city long enough to realize the place is mad about hockey.

Several attempts to launch a pro soccer team have flopped in Calgary. Brusselers has been through that before. His time in Belgium ended when his club encountered financial difficulties.

But the Mustangs are a revamped organization playing under a new ownership group and backed by new money.
The Mustangs feel he is the player fans will want to get to know.

"Hopefully, I can add something," said Brusselers. "I want the team to play well, make the playoffs and to get a lot of spectators out.
"In general, this is a sports-minded city," said the ever-positive Brusselers. "Everybody is doing sports. The facilities for sports are here -- the Talisman Centre, the university and the nice Olympic Oval, (of) which Dutch people are very jealous.
"You have no idea how people in Europe look towards Canada. It's big and clean. If you have the opportunity to see Canada, you should go."

mrauw@theherald.canwest.com

Aviators' final schedule plays havoc with Calgary SC Supporters' travel plans.

April 8, 2004 - The Calgary/ Edmonton match originally scheduled for Sunday, June 27th @ 4:00 PM in Edmonton is now MONDAY, June 28th at 8:30 PM.

Plus, what would have been our last match of the season, a Sunday, August 29th match in Edmonton, has been moved to TUESDAY, August 10th. Two road trips disappear.

The move effectively wipes out any chance of Calgary fans travelling up North. We were booking buses for this.

It also means that Calgary will now have to play 4 games in one week in August.
In one fell swoop, they have essentially wiped away any chance for a decent rivalry between the two Alberta Clubs (primarily the fans). No songs, no chants, nothing.
Bloody Aviators! A pox upon them!

Possible Pfan Pfavourite?

April 5, 2004 - Calgary
It has been CONFIRMED that Lutz Pfannenstiel is coming to Calgary.
Most recently with Bærum in Norway, Pfannenstiel has spent time with Nottingham Forest, Wimbledon and Huddersfield. He has also played in Germany, Finland, New Zealand and even done a little "time" in Singapore. Originally a product of the Bayern Munich system, he played with the Bayern Amateurs for a few seasons.
The 30 year old German keeper nearly died in 2002 by taking a knee to the sternum in a match versus Harrogate and he had to be resuscitated twice.
Naturally, Lutz will have some great stories to tell us in the pub, and he should get some publicity in the papers, that's for sure.
Preseason match has a confirmed date.

Raadical Roster Addition

March 24, 2004 - Calgary
The Calgary Mustangs have added 5'9", 160 lb. midfielder Sergei Raad to their roster.
The 21-year-old from Chuluota, Florida (originally from St. Petersburg, Russia), spent three years in the Furman University program and, in 2002, led the Paladins to the third round of the NCAA playoffs and an 8th place national ranking.
A versatile player, Raad can play both forward and in midfield and has been known to find the net with some frequency.

Lars Back At Spurs

March 11, 2004
Lars Hirschfeld has been recalled from his loan spell at Gillingham due to injury to Robert Burch.
Young England keeper Burch sustained an ankle injury playing for the reserves against Wimbledon on Wednesday evening and former Calgary star and Canadian international Hirschfeld returns following a successful two-week stint at the Preistfield outfit.

Calgary Trials Make German Newspapers

Here is my translation of the following article:

http://www.fr-aktuell.de/ressorts/sport/sport_rhein_main/?cnt=399811&

Canadian Springboard

By OLIVER TEUTSCH

At the artificial turf pitch of SG Bornheim, a multitude of young footballers gather: a Bosnian keeper, a Dutch and a Romanian defender as well as strikers from Slovenia, Nigeria and Ghana. Yet, a local amateur-society did not bring this multicultural group here, but rather the North American pro club Calgary Mustangs. This week the Canadians completed the first trial in Frankfurt; the pre-selection for the final cuts, that annually is proposed to be held here in the future, arranged by player-agent Michael Kratky.

From Berlin to Canada

Kratky watches the European player market for the Mustangs, in order to find strengths for the North American A-League. Now, the Western Canadian can neither attract players with sunny beaches nor with
the lure of big money. "With us none becomes rich. Players come to us looking for a springboard", says Kratky. At the "Heart of the matter" is Thomas Niendorf, a very outstanding, experienced coach in North America. The native Berliner can prove some success in training young players and has his diploma as a soccer teacher both at the German University for Body Culture in Leipzig and at the Sport University in Cologne. In 1992, he came to Canada, where he created a private soccer training centre, three years later.

Probably, the most well-known player from this is Owen Hargreaves. The native Canadian pro-footballer with Bayern Munich, came at the age of 15 years to Niendorf. Just two years later, Hargreaves was given an offer by Bayern, from its Assistant Trainer at that time, Klaus Augenthaler, and it has made the training centre famous.


A second chance

"Our goal, therefore, is to find players that are looking for a second chance," Niendorf says, also watching the training in Bornheim.  Before the season begins in April, he is still looking for another keeper, a defender and a striker.  Eleven players had joined the Mustangs for training, four were sent home after the first day.

However, the Dutch defender, Jean Philipp Becht, has good chances on a contract with the Calgary Mustangs. The 23-year-old had, up until this past season, a contract with the Dutch Eredivisie club, NAC Breda, and was a teammate of Hertha BSC player Dick van Burik. But when the club played in the European Cup, the coach settled on more experienced players. "The good fortune of NAC was its pitch", says Becht's father, who accompanied his son to the two-day trial, and supports him energetically. When considering a big break in distant Canada, the elder Becht reflects: "he has always had only the one dream, becoming a pro soccer player, and if he has a big detour to get there, is it good."

Niendorf appreciates Becht's solid knowledge of the technical and tactical areas and the player's self-confidence. Moreover, he is certain Becht's fitness, an area that could use improving, can increase with "appropriate care" once again around 10 to 15 percent. Niendorf is careful to add that he wants the player to: "see that with his own eyes."

-------------------

Keep in mind, I'm not German and this is the best translation that I could do. If you speak German, please fix any obvious mistakes I may have made.

Cheers.

Lars Earns First Win for Gills

March 6, 2004 - Gillingham

Lars Hirschfeld backstopped Gillingham to a 2-1 victory over visiting Nottingham Forest on Saturday afternoon.

Lars was again called upon to make a number of outstanding saves to record his first victory with his new club.

Well done lad!!

Hirschfeld Has Heroic Effort

February 28, 2004 - London, England

Former Calgary keeper, Lars Hirschfeld, played a splendid game in his first match with his new club, Gillingham, of the English First Division.

In his first start with the Gills, since being loaned from Tottenham Hotspur, Lars was called upon to make a number of spectacular saves.

Alas, his forwards let him down (including missing a PK and playing against 10 men for the final 30 minutes) and Gillingham dropped a 0-1 decision to Crystal Palace.

Fortuna Sittard Bid Farewell to Geert Brusselers

February 21st, 2004 - Sittard, Holland

Fortuna Sittard's February 27th match versus Haarlem will be Brusselers' last for the Dutch club.

With their 1-3 loss to Den Bosch on Thursday, Brusselers' club has only a theoretical chance of gaining the third period title, so they will, instead, look to concentrate on giving Brusselers a proper send-off prior to his departure to Canada on March 1st.

What other Europeans will be flying across the pond to join Brusselers in Calgary?

We'll have to wait and see.

Calgary Sun - New Range For Roamin' Mustangs

http://www.canoe.ca/NewsStand/CalgarySun/Sports/2004/02/19/352783.html

By IAN BUSBY, CALGARY SUN - Thursday, February 19, 2004

Being a frequent spectator of Calgary's A-League team, Jamie Auvigne was delighted to hear about the McMahon Stadium pitch. "As a fan coming in to watch the game, you've got good seats now," said the Calgary Mustangs player. "There's proper facilities with concessions.

"People are always going to come out and watch games on a sunny day in the middle of summer. From that aspect, this is really good."

The midfielder watched all but three Calgary Storm games at Foothills Stadium last year while recovering from a torn abdomen muscle. And, as a born-and-bred Calgarian, he has some perspective on what a soccer fan in this city wants.

So as the new Mustangs officially announced the home of the CFL Stampeders as their new digs yesterday, Auvigne was talking about the team's future.

The Mustangs open the season April 25 in Minnesota with their first home game May 9 against the same club.

Auvigne was an original member of the Storm and has lived through the ups and mostly downs with the previous ownership. He now sees a change with club.

"It seems to be a lot more organized," Auvigne said.

"They seem to get everything finalized before they make an announcement. The previous few years, there was too much going on behind the scenes. Promises here and there and they didn't follow through."

Owners John Torode and Juergen Hanne also have connected with the youth soccer community, announcing yesterday a partnership with the Calgary Minor Soccer Association.

The CMSA will sell discounted tickets to its members and the soccer club will operate 16 day-long summer camps for young players.

Part of the deal requires the team to employ 25% of its roster with players developed in the Calgary soccer community.

With the move to McMahon and the partnership with CMSA, the Mustangs feel they can succeed where others have failed.

While the football field at McMahon has the same dimensions as a regulation soccer pitch, the artificial turf presents a problem. Natural grass or a product called 'field turf' is needed to meet United Soccer Leagues and FIFA regulations.

McMahon must be converted to one of those surfaces for the 2005 season if the Mustangs want to continue playing there.

Torode hasn't approached the Stamps but first plans to broach the subject with McMahon officials. CFL cities such as Winnipeg, Montreal and Ottawa already have field turf.

Calgary Herald - Mustangs To Kick Up Heels On McMahon Turf

http://www.canada.com/calgary/sports/story.asp?id=62BD10CA-EF9E-4AE4-A2BD-96D1F26F501C

Murray Rauw - Calgary Herald - Thursday, February 19, 2004

The Calgary Mustangs will defy tradition.

The A-League soccer team will be grazing on the artificial turf at McMahon Stadium for its 14 games in 2004. The Mustangs and the McMahon Stadium Society confirmed Wednesday they had signed a one-year contract, with their home opener on May 9 against Minnesota. Soccer has traditionally shunned playing on the synthetic carpets.

"We have the intention to put in new turf later and then sign a long-term agreement," said Mustangs chairman Juergen Hanne. "We only got permission from the league to sign for one year."

The contract included a confidentiality clause, preventing terms from being disclosed. But the McMahon Stadium Society was happy to add more fan-friendly events to the calendar and the soccer team had a facility where the only drawback was the turf.

There will be adequate parking and concession stands, not to mention field lights, washroom facilities and a scoreboard -- unlike decrepit Foothills Athletic Park, venue for the A-League's last try in Calgary with the Storm.

The Mustangs' first choice had been to work a deal with the adjacent Burns Stadium, but it would have disrupted baseball and a lease wasn't possible. The decision to move to McMahon was the next-best option.

The surface at McMahon was installed five years ago and is past the halfway point of the expected use.

There have been advancements in the production of the synthetic grass in recent years. Surfaces that closely resemble the natural surface are now on the market and could be considered in three or four years.

But McMahon Stadium general manager John Haverstock also knows that numerous pro soccer teams have come and gone in Calgary, starting in 1981 with the Calgary Boomers, who also played at McMahon.

"The jury is out because of the history of soccer in Calgary," he said.

Thomas Niendorf, the Mustangs' director of soccer operations and head coach, learned the game on natural surfaces in Europe, but acknowledged A-League franchises in Seattle and Portland are also playing on artificial surfaces.

There are now turf fields in Germany that are used exclusively for practice and most of the players that live year-round in Calgary have played the indoor game on the carpet at the Calgary Soccer Centre.

"This will not be the most favourable surface to play on," said Niendorf. "But there are great benefits; there are better sponsorship opportunities. We can try to adjust to the field.

"The flow of the game will not be the same as you have on a grass field," said Niendorf, whose squad is still at least a month away from the start of training. "The ball bounces differently and the controlling of the ball is more difficult. You will see more dead-play situations."

Knee and ankle injuries are more predominant in turf.

"The only area of concern I won't have under control is the injuries," said Niendorf.

"But players like playing in a good venue and they are not disappointed with the decision."

Meanwhile, the Mustangs have moved their administration offices to Burns Stadium.

mrauw@theherald.canwest.com

Mustangs' New Home

The Calgary Mustangs are poised to move into McMahon Stadium and leave the nightmare of Foothills behind them (literally).  The 100 metre move will increase seating capacity from 2500 to 35,000; give the club the lights they need for decent start times; and give the club the amentities (concessions, washrooms, scoreboard, etc.) that they have desperately been lacking over the past three seasons.

The move was supposed to coincide with a switch in turf (FieldTurf) to allow for a much more soccer-friendly playing surface, but it appears that the new turf will not be installed until the 2005 season.  This means that this season's matches will be played on the existing Astro Turf.

Of particular concern is the fact that the hard surface will create many high bounces and may result in a number of injuries.  There is also a high crown in the field that may affect play to a certain extent.

On the plus side, the increased seating capacity will give the Mustangs an opportunity to tap the lucrative Calgary Minor Soccer community in much the same way that Edmonton has done this season.   If the Mustangs can work on a season ticket package, whereby 20,000+ minor soccer players are given season's passes for a nominal increase in their summer registration fees, they can guarantee themselves some decent funds to cover opperating expenses and to help pay for the new turf.  The Mustangs would also guarantee a hefty increase in numbers at the turnstiles, which would help to increase media coverage.  The Mustangs will  have their offices very close by (the offices at Burns Stadium).

Therefore, while soccer purists will be up-in-arms over the prospect of their lads playing on the equivalent of painted cement for a season, the Mustangs may have made a positive move to ensure the future viability of the club (IF they make the right moves, of course).   We can only hope that they can paint over the gaudy football lines for a portion of the season, at least.

I guess the best way to look at it is that Calgary's soccer fans will be given the opportunity to watch some very BIG indoor soccer matches, outdoors in the beautiful sunlight; something that they have only been doing in the darkness of the Soccer Centre for these past many winters.

Keeper Remains With Dutch Club

It looks like there will still be a space at the table of the pannekoek house. Mustangs Alley has learned that John Karelse has decided to remain with AGOVV Apeldoorn, after giving serious consideration to an offer by the Calgary Mustangs.

John Karelse is a 6'4" keeper who is currently playing with AGOVV Apeldoorn of the Dutch Eerste Divisie (First Division). The 33-year-old stopper from Wemeldinge, Holland, recently spent four years with Newcastle United of the English Premiership and has seen playing time at the highest level.

Prior to his time with Newcastle, the former Holland Youth and U-21 International spent 14 seasons with NAC Breda - six of which were in the Eredivisie (Premier Division), where he regularly faced the likes of Ajax and PSV.

Mustangs Alley has also learned that the Mustangs are aggressively recruiting strong players from farther East.   Stay tuned...

Mustangs Going Dutch

Dutch player, Geert Brusselers, is coming to the Mustangs for the 2004 season.

The 34-year-old native of Eindhoven, Holland, has played for a number of Dutch and International clubs, most recently with Fortuna Sittard.

His most successful seasons came in the 1991/1992 campaign with Den Bosch, where he scored 13 goals in 33 matches (that year they finished runner-up in the Dutch Eerste Divisie), and the 1998/1999, when he scored another 13 in 29 matches with Al Nassr of Saudi Arabia (the year they won the Asian Super Cup).

Brusselers will be looked upon to bring leadership and experience to the Mustangs' lineup.

Calgary Sun - Mustangs Movin' On Up

http://www.canoe.ca/CalgarySports/cs.cs-01-23-0105.html

By Cameron Maxwell - Calgary Sun - January 23, 2004

It looks like the A-League's Calgary Mustangs have finally found a new home.

While team officials are tight-lipped about the new facility, chances are they will move this season to the professional surroundings of McMahon Stadium from inadequate Foothills Athletic Park.

"We are in negotiations right now on a venue, working on a letter of intent and we've set the deadline by the end of the month because we've got to start selling tickets," said the soccer team's owner/president John Torode, who wouldn't identify the new facility.

"The other group is at the table saying, 'yeah, we can work out a deal.' It's just a question of working out the details, so I think the venue will really make a difference -- it's user-friendly for the spectators."

A big reason fan turnout has been next to nil the previous two seasons is Foothills, where bleachers are far removed from the pitch and the washroom facilities consist of portable toilets.

But this is a new season, with new ownership, a new name and new colours -- blue and yellow.

But a familiar face is in charge on the field, Thomas Niendorf, who coached the club in its first A-League campaign two years ago, before getting fired midway through the season by then-owner Michael Vandale, who left the team floundering last summer.

Niendorf knows a winning team helps get people into the stands and this time around, the club has the resources to attract a few seasoned players to mix with the young crop of local talent.

"What we have to do right off the bat is get those four or five players in here who have the experience and I have the commitment from the ownership to do this," said Niendorf, adding those footballers will come from Europe.

"We have the means to recruit those players, we have the network to recruit those players and the potential in Europe is there. Combined with some players we've had last year and some from the universities, we feel that we're going to have a very strong, consistent group of players."

Among the players already signed for this season are Aaron Richer, a defender from Vancouver who played with the UBC Thunderbirds. He was the Mustangs' first pick (3rd overall) in the A-League draft in December, striker Nick Zuniga and defender/midfielder C.J. Pesznecker.

Pesznecker, a 20-year-old Calgarian, is recently returned from a stint with the Canadian under-20 team and is looking forward to a fresh beginning with the 'stangs.

"It's nice to get a off to a new start. The last couple of years didn't go as planned, so it's good to try things a different way and hopefully it succeeds this time," he said.

Calgary's first home game is May 9 against the Minnesota Thunder.

Calgary Herald - Mustangs Are Off And Running

By Murray Rauw - Calgary Herald - January 23, 2003 - mrauw@theherald.canwest.com

For the first time, the Calgary Mustangs were kicking up the dust and showing signs of life.

The new A-League franchise proved it was more than rumour when it paraded its ownership team, soccer operations staff, and eight players on the Calgary Soccer Centre turf on Thursday.  The message was that the team really will be ready for its May 9 home opener - at a still to be determined location.

"There has be a long 'to do' list, but we're set up now; but it's nice to see some guys with a soccer ball," said Mustangs' president, John Torrode, who will lead a non-profit organization into Calgary's latest soccer venture.  "We're set up for staff, office space, and the schedule is finalized.  We have not started selling tickets because we don't have our venue.   We hope to announce that at the end of the month."

Torrode and Juergen Hanne are the chief investors, but they said the team has made a mandate to return any revenues back to the club or other soccer projects.

"We aren't in this to make money," said Torrode.  "We're in this because our own boys play soccer and we think it's a good thing.  If it does make money, it stays with the club.  If we make a lot of money, then we can take some of that money and put it into minor soccer."

The Mustangs didn't accept the rejection of their bid to play in Burns Stadium as a sentence that they had to play at sub-standard Foothills Stadium.  The club has rented office space in Burns Stadium and is making a pitch for a different facility.

"We'll either make an interesting announcement, or we'll quietly go back to Foothills," said Torrode, who said the idea of taking over Burns Stadium baseball field has been abandoned.  MacMahon Stadium is next door to the office space and it has been speculated it will be the site - artificial turf and all.  Torrode declined to comment further on the search for a venue.

Instead, the attention was on the return of Thomas Niendorf to the Calgary soccer scene.  He was the first coach of the now-defunct Calgary Storm, a team that didn't have a chance because it didn't have the resources to extensively recruit players in Canada and abroad.  There is a strong indication that has changed.  The Mustangs promise to go to great efforts to be competitive.

Among the players attending the light workout was midfielder Mesut Mert of Halifax, a two-time Canadian university Most Valuable Player at St. Mary's University.  His last visit to Calgary came in 2002 when he was a finalist for the Howard Mackie Awards.

The 25-year-old Mert excelled at the Canadian college level, but his play didn't generate any interest from professional soccer in Europe.  It was discouraging, but playing in the A-League became an option.

"Like any sport, you need to be noticed," said Mert, who learned the Canadian college game didn't attract that profile.  "I played in the CIS and was the Most Valuable Player and I didn't get any calls."

But playing for Niendorf was given a high recommendation.  Mert won't come out and make the boast, but he was recruited to be a franchise player for the Mustangs.

"I'll do what I can," said the soft-spoken Mert.

Mustangs Announce New Signings

January 22, 2004

In front of most of Calgary's sports media, the Calgary Mustangs paraded the club's newest signings.

Present were three players who are no strangers to Calgary's loyal soccer fans.  Last year's team captain, Jamie Auvigne, last season's leading scorer, Nicholas Zuniga, and last season's most improved player and perennial fan favourite, C.J. Pesznecker, were on hand to show off their talents during an informal kick-around at the Calgary Soccer Centre.

Joining them were four exciting players who have been garnering accolades and numerous awards during their time in the CIS (Canadian Interuniversity Sport). 

Mesut Mert was two time CIS Player of the Year during his time at St. Mary's University, in Halifax.  The midfield general recently represented Canada at the World University Games.

Aaron Richer and Steve Frazao join us from the University of British Columbia.  Richer is a talented defender, who was 2002 CIS Player of the Year.  Frazao is a dangerous striker, who finished first in scoring for Canada West and was a First Team All-Canadian.  Both Richer and Frazao competed in the World University Games.

Chris Stefanazzi, a defender from the University of Western Ontario, has shone for his school and was also awarded with a place as a CIS First Team All-Canadian.  He previously played for Glen Shields of the CPSL.   Like the other three, Stefanazzi represented our country at the World University Games.

An unidentified 8th player in the kick-around was rumoured to be on a trial with the club.

Calgary's New Logo???

Is this the new face of the Calgary Mustangs???

A quick check of the official website would indicate that it is.  Initial fan reaction is an unequivocal "Yuck!!!"

Check out the reaction on the Forum and tell us what you think.

Calgary Sun - 'Stangs Schedule Set

By CAMERON MAXWELL, CALGARY SUN - Friday, January 9, 2004
http://www.canoe.ca/CalgarySports/cs.cs-01-09-0081.html

They've got a new name and now they've got a schedule.

The Calgary Mustangs now know which clubs they will face this season after the United Soccer Leagues yesterday released its 2004 A-League schedule.

The 'Stangs start off the 28-game season on the road against the Minnesota Thunder, last year's runner up, in Minneapolis, then the two sides tangle May 9 in Calgary as the Mustangs open up with a couple of tough games.

"It's a difficult start playing Minnesota back-to-back," said Mustangs coach Thomas Niendorf.

"Minnesota and Milwaukee are both new teams to the conference and both have won A-League championships before and are traditionally successful teams."

Calgary plays the bulk of its games (four each) against Portland, Seattle, Vancouver and the expansion Edmonton Aviators, who will no doubt be a big rival because of where they're from.

The Mustangs play the Aviators for the first time on May 28, in Calgary, at 6:30 p.m., which marks the first of the four games against each other.

The club wraps up the season in Edmonton on Aug. 29. which, they hope, will be big game with playoff implications.

Many of the Mustangs' home matches are on the weekend, which team officials are thankful for because of the chance to draw better crowds.

One item of note with the schedule is the fact there's no facility listed for the Calgary home games.

Niendorf said the team is still working on the stadium problem and will decide where to play, whether it's Foothills Athletic Park or somewhere else, by the end of this month.

The 2004 A-League Schedule Has Been Released

Check the "Schedule" page for all of Calgary's dates, or go to www.uslsoccer.com to see all of the dates for all of the teams.

New Draftees Expected to Sign

Aaron Richer - Defence - University of British Columbia

The 6', 175 lb. defender was named the Canada West player of the year for the second consecutive season.

Richer, a fifth-year defender, and last year’s CIS player of the year and a three-time Canada West all-star, was on the field for every minute of every game this season, scoring three times.

Matthias Mueller - Defence - Embry-Riddle University

The 5'9", 160 lb. Mueller, from Cottbus, Germany, received 2003 Men’s Soccer First Team All-America honours. Mueller, who was selected to the All-FSC and All-Region XIV teams, played in every game of the 2003 season and anchored a defense that allowed only 22 goals in 21 matches.

A tenacious defender with great distribution…skilled at initiating attacks from the back…had another standout season in bolstering the defense.

Coach’s Comments: “Matthias is perhaps the best central defender in the region if not the NAIA. He is a tough tackling defender who is very comfortable on the ball. In his final year we will be looking for Matthias to lead from the back, and to finish off his superb career.”

Rumour Mill

Calgary is attracting the attention of talented Steve Frazao of UBC.

Frazao, a striker/midfielder with the Thunderbirds, was the leading scorer in Canada West, and named a first team All-Canadian. He has been approached by the Whitecaps, but by the sounds of it, he's going to be a Mustang. According to one Calgary fan "He should be able to pot a hand full of goals for the Stangs next summer."

Aaron Richer and Steve Frazao both competed for Canada at the World University Games this past summer in Korea, where Richer led the squad with three goals and Frazao netted a pair. Frazao has developed into one of the nation’s best strikers in his third season, pacing Canada West with 10 goals and nine assists. In 2002, he was also named to the conference all-star team after tying for the CIS lead with 12 markers.

A New Site For a New Team

The Mustangs Alley website has moved to a new address and has a new look for the 2004 season.  The old site shall remain as an archive for the previous season.

Visitors are welcomed to comment on anything regarding the new site.  If you have any suggestions for additions or changes, please feel free to let me know.

Blue and Gold

In a major departure from the traditional colours of virtually every Calgary sports team since the beginning of time, the Calgary Mustangs appear to have adopted the colours blue and yellow. 

Just what shades and hues of blue (Navy? Royal? Sky?) or yellow (Gold? Canary? Sunflower?) is yet to be seen.  Rest assured, you will read it here first!

Calgary Sun - A-League Team Gets A Name

By CAMERON MAXWELL, CALGARY SUN - November 18, 2003

Calgary's reborn professional soccer team has a new general manager, a new head coach and, officially, a new name.

The team formerly known as the Calgary Storm will be called the Calgary Mustangs and the former coach of the Storm, Thomas Niendorf, will be the bench boss and GM.

Niendorf confirmed yesterday he'd be at the helm when the team opens the 2004 A-League season after being assured by club president John Torode he'd be able to recruit players as he sees fit.

"I needed confirmation that I can do proper recruiting, that was really important and that's why I didn't commit earlier," he said.

He's already been scouting players to fill the club's roster.

"I'll be able to bring some professional experienced players to the franchise and with my connections in Europe, I have strength in that area,"said Niendorf, adding the team will have a mix of local talent as well and probably some players from last season's team that ended with a dismal 4-21-3 record.

Team officials wanted a name with a western theme that hadn't been used or wasn't being used by any current Calgary teams.

But, much to their chagrin, they found out the Calgary Mustangs represented the city in the Canadian Professional Soccer League in 1983.

The Mustangs, a non-profit organization, had also hoped to play in Burns Stadium.

But the City of Calgary rejected the proposal to have soccer games in the facility, declaring Burns a baseball only facility for next year.

So the Mustangs, as of right now, will likely be back at Foothills Athletic Park.

USL AOM starts Friday

120 clubs to meet at the Annual Operations Meeting this weekend

Tuesday, November 4, 2003

TAMPA, FL -- United Soccer Leagues will hold its Annual Operations Meeting this coming weekend as its teams come together to plan for the 2004 season at the Hilton in Clearwater Beach, Florida Friday, November 7 to Sunday, November 9.

Team representatives from 120 teams in the A-League, Pro Soccer League, Premier Development League and W-League, which is entering its 10th Anniversary season, will meet to work on details for the upcoming season such as league regulations and schedules.

Among the attending will be representatives from 19 expansion clubs in the four leagues, including the previously announced Edmonton Aviators of the A-League and Harrisburg City Islanders of the PSL. Among the 12 expected new W-League teams will be Western Mass, Richmond, West Michigan, Sudbury, Edmonton Aviators, Detroit Jaguars. The Ajax Orlando Prospects will be one of four projected expansion clubs in the PDL along with provisional clubs from last year Abbotsford Rangers and Jersey Shore Boca, who will be full official members in 2004.

Also on the agenda for the AOM is the annual presentation of seasonal team awards such as Organizations and Executives of the Year. In addition, USL will hold the Second Annual Hall of Fame ceremony Friday evening, inducting the previously announced six Builders (Brian Davidson, Tom Engstrom, Neil Farnsworth, Bill George, Chuck Jacob, Manuel ‘Buzz’ Lagos), two Coaches (Buzz Lagos, Bill Palladino), two Players (Mark Baena, Kim Wyant) and six 10+ Clubs (Cape Cod Crusaders, Des Moines Menace, Long Island Rough Riders, Minnesota Thunder, Montreal Impact, Seattle Sounders).

Selling Soccer Again

Thursday, October 9, 2003 - By CAMERON MAXWELL, CALGARY SUN

Thomas Niendorf knows successfully running a professional soccer franchise in Calgary is easier said than done.

And after seeing the turmoil of the Calgary Storm over the past three years, he knows what not to do when it comes to handling a soccer team. That's something he'll be taking on as the technical director of Calgary's unnamed A-League side, which will operate as a non-profit organization.

Niendorf has been around the game in Calgary for years and got involved with the Storm in 2001 as technical director/head coach. He learned a lot of lessons but was fired in 2002.

"You have to develop a better system of accountability for all elements of the franchise from the office to the technical program," said Niendorf.

He heads a group -- including two Calgary developers, John Torode and Juergen Hanne -- that purchased the team from the United Soccer Leagues, which had been running it since former owner Michael Vandale walked out in early July.

"You have to utilize the financial resources in a better way. There wasn't enough of an effort made to set up everything or to continue to do everything properly. (Former Storm GM) Mark McLoughlin and myself ran the organization much better without facing the interference of Michael Vandale all the time."

That was in 2001, when the Storm played in the PDL and lost in the league championship game in its first season. The club moved into the A-League the next year and the wheels fell off.

"Then Mike basically took it into his own hands and no one really knew what was going on anymore because it changed, basically, from day to day," said Niendorf.

"I have a pretty good understanding now of the pros and cons. This is something I've passed on to the new management group. I've made them aware of the challenges we will face."

Niendorf, who isn't sure if he'll coach the team, said Hanne, the team's chairman, and Torode, the president, have committed to the 2004 season. But should the franchise fail to upgrade and get a certain amount of fans, they will pull their financial backing.

A big part of the club's future will revolve around how competitive it is and where it plays its home games.

Foothills Athletic Park is a track- and-field facility -- not a soccer pitch -- yet it has been the home of Calgary's pro soccer team the past three years. Niendorf said the side has to play at Foothills in 2004 but is looking at other long-term possibilities.

"Burns Stadium is a possibility, we could work with the U of C on a project to build a small stadium within their plans for the next two or three years and McMahon Stadium could be an option as well if they put field turf in over the next two or three years," said Niendorf.

Group Buys Soccer Side

By CAMERON MAXWELL, CALGARY SUN - Wednesday, October 8th, 2003

New owners of Calgary's A-League soccer franchise will operate the club as a non-profit team next season.

The local group includes former Calgary Storm head coach Thomas Niendorf.

"There's still some paperwork in terms of setting up the team as a non-profit corporation," said David Askinas, executive director of the United Soccer Leagues, which operates the A-League.

Askinas wouldn't comment yesterday on another Calgary group that was in the running to purchase the team.

Niendorf's group, backed by two local developers, all but saves professional soccer in Calgary. The Storm had to be run by the league after former owner Michael Vandale bolted in late June.

Being a non-profit organization will help the team get back to its roots in the community, said Askinas.

"You never have to worry about the team being sold or moved because it becomes community property ... It's accepted as a part of the community, like a public trust," said Askinas.

When the season begins next spring, the A-League's only other non-profit club -- the Charlotte Eagles -- won't be part of the landscape.

Faced with declining revenues and the lack of a permanent stadium, the Eagles have stepped down a rung to the USL's ProSelect League.

The Calgary team also faces a facility problem. For the last two seasons, the Storm played at Foothills Athletic Park, a facility the team and league has deemed as inadequate.

"That's a major issue. We're concerned, as is the new ownership group, and we'll continue to work with them to come up with a solution," said Askinas.

New team president John Torode said now the agreement with the league is complete, the group can focus on the stadium.

"We're working on that and there are a number of alternatives out there. Foothills isn't ideal but it is a good location, so if we've got to use it for now, we'll use it," said Torode.

Niendorf Arranges New Team

Murray Rauw - Calgary Herald - Tuesday, October 07, 2003

Professional soccer will be relaunched in Calgary next year.

"Absolutely, it's 100 per cent certain," said Thomas Niendorf, the mastermind behind the formation of new ownership which will keep Calgary in the A-League.

John Torode and Juergen Hanne, two Calgary developers, are financing the start-up of the team, which will give soccer another chance and replace the Calgary Storm, which reverted to A-League ownership from Michael Vandale on July 1.

Torode will be club president and Hanne will be the club chairman. Niendorf takes on the role of technical director and is a strong candidate to be the coach.

"It will be a non-profit organization," said Niendorf. "It will be a management group taking the franchise rights that will allow the community to be involved. The team should be able to tap into financial support that hasn't been available."

That opens the way for government support and lotteries.

The still unnamed team has met all financial obligations. All that's left is finding a date for A-League executive director David Askinas to travel to Calgary to participate in the formal announcement. That is expected before the end of October.

Niendorf says the initial cash will be available to cover day-to-day business and more money will be available to upgrade the talent level.

"I'm more than excited about it," said Hanne. "It's a fast-growing sport and both of my kids play in Calgary."

Turning avid players into fans is the trick. Participation in soccer has been booming for years, but the task now is to reach that population and attract them to dilapidated Foothills Stadium.

For the Storm, it was a tough sell.

The concept of the new organization is to operate a community-minded, non-profit organization that will work with Calgary minor soccer groups across the city.

"You have to be in soccer. You have to understand the game. You have to have your heart in it," said Hanne, who moved to Calgary from Germany in 1980. "It will be a non-profit organization because you will never make a profit from soccer anyway."

Niendorf was instrumental in the formation of the Storm, which began with great success in the Premier Development League before proving a disaster in the A-League. Niendorf was fired midway through his first A-League season.

"I wouldn't think about this if Thomas wasn't in," said Hanne.

Niendorf still believes pro soccer can survive with the proper public face.

"I can put my name behind this because we all know this is not a money-making proposition," said Niendorf.

mrauw@theherald.canwest.com