The #25 UCF women’s soccer team opened the season with a 2-0 loss to #11 Florida.

After a scoreless first half, UCF came out flat in the second, and gave up both goals in quick succession early on to Tahnai Annis; the first on a turnover at 48′, the second on a breakaway at 52′.

UCF did outshoot Florida, 7-6, and conceded no corner kicks.

The real story is the record crowd of 2,141 in attendance. This smashes the previous soccer attendance record of 1,142, set in a victory over Florida State last year.

UCF’s next game is this Friday at 7pm against San Diego State. The men’s soccer team hosts a preseason friendly against Tampa tonight at 7pm, and against Saint Leo this Saturday at 6pm.

Tonight I was at a watch party for the US v. Brazil game. In addition to Mark Dillon showing up, we were graced unexpectedly by the arrival of Orlando Pro Soccer president Steve Donner.

Donner and Dillon are currently in overdrive with our team, as the U.S. Soccer Federation has thrown a sudden monkey wrench into the Division 2 landscape by setting some rather draconian standards for any future Division 2 sports league:

1) Each team must provide a bond of $750,000 at least 120 days prior to the beginning of each season, to ensure players are paid.

2) Each team must have a plan to play in a soccer-specific stadium within 5 years.

3) Each team’s ownership group must have one member worth at least $20,000,000 USD.

These standards are understandable, as the USSF has likely grown tired of the churn in Division 2. On average, since the advent of what is now the USL First Division in 1995, roughly 3 out of 4 Division 2 teams that have ever existed have failed.

According to Donner, our ownership group fits this profile, though he is not yet ready to divulge who the ownership group consists of because we haven’t been able to finalize our European alliance deal yet. (Personally, I’d love to know who the person worth at least $20M is.) In fact, Donner tends to believe our current ownership group could get an MLS team if there were mutual interest from MLS.

That’s not the problem.

The problem is, there aren’t many D-2 ownership groups that fit this profile. Particularly those willing to pony up the bond. By Donner’s reckoning, there aren’t enough teams that qualify as such between USL and NASL, including Orlando and excluding the teams that are going to MLS (Portland, Vancouver, Montreal).

Some teams have already been scared off. According to Donner, FC New York, which was originally scheduled for USL-1, has decided to go to the third division instead, at the USL Second Division. And there’s no way the Puerto Rico Islanders qualify, to say anything of Antigua.

The bottom line is, the hold-up is having a D-2 league to play in. We either wait for the Division 2 league to materialize, or we press forward with a Division 3 league (namely, USL Second Division). Either way, the team is still on-course for 2011, and Donner stated that the Orlando soccer team will press on regardless. Regardless of where the team ends up, Donner is committed to having an elite-quality franchise that Orlando can be proud of.

Among the ideas being thrown around is to organize an international friendly at the Citrus Bowl toward the end of 2010. Donner is in serious discussions with several national teams. One possibility we discussed at the meeting is doing a benefit for Haiti. Donner hopes to have a prospect club representing Orlando by then, to set up for the pro team in 2011.

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As an aside, I would like to point out that the Orlando Titans are not quite dead yet. More details forthcoming. Just hold on to those deposits.

This article has been edited to fix some facts that I ended up screwing up. My fault.

The Orlando Predators will continue their road to the Arena Bowl this Saturday night when they face the Tampa Bay Storm. The game will be at 7:30pm on Bright House Sports Network (BH channel 47) and 740 the Game (104.1 FM HD-3).

Tickets are still available. And will you look at that? Ticketmaster finally put their fees in the price dropdowns, so you don’t have to wait until you get to the checkout counter to find out how badly you’re getting hosed. Prices w/fees are $26-$139.

The prices still don’t include shipping (and TicketFast really ought to be free) or the order processing fee. So you’re still paying a premium of twice the price for the cheapest tickets just for the honor of ensuring you don’t get sold out on.

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Sorry for short notice, but I only found out last night. We’re getting together for the U.S. Soccer friendly (soccer term for exhibition game) against Brazil tonight at Buffalo Wings & Rings in South Orlando. Mark Dillon of the Orlando Pro Soccer franchise will be in attendance. So if you have any questions about our coming USL-1 franchise, I’m sure he’ll be able to tell.

The story came on Saturday that the Orlando Titans were forced to suspend operations for the 2011 season.

Apparently Gary Rosenbach’s divestiture from the club was the result of undisclosed personal financial problems. While the team has restructured, they were unable to complete the necessary moves in time to successfully reapply for a National Lacrosse League franchise for 2011.

The NLL, however, doesn’t appear to care. They have quietly removed mention of the Titans from the league website, though advertisement for the team still appears in ad spots. The only mention, which makes no mention of the team itself, is a news article reporting the free agency of Pat Maddalena and Patrick Merrill. Oddly enough, several other Titans players, including goalkeeper Matt Vinc and forward Casey Powell, were denied free agency, meaning they remain the property of the Titans for now.

I’m not sure if the NLL will hold a dispersal draft for the remaining players. Whether or not that happens will be telling as to what the NLL thinks of the Titans’ real chance of returning to the league in 2012, as team president Steve Donner has assured me will happen. He also told me they plan to find another indoor lacrosse league to play in for the 2011 season.

Donner also assured me this does not affect the soccer franchise. The ownership structure of Orlando Pro Soccer is totally different, and the Titans group only owns 10% of that team.

Just because you’ve heard no news lately on Orlando Pro Soccer does not mean nothing has been happening. It’s actually been very busy behind the scenes.

I had a talk with Steve Donner last night at the Tuskers fan club organizational meeting.

(He was there because the Tuskers are running season ticket sales out of the Titans home office.)

There hasn’t been an announcement because of scheduling conflicts on the part of the team’s potential European partners. When they’re able to come here and make things official, which Donner hopes will be within the next month, an announcement will occur thereafter.

He did say a name-the-team contest will be forthcoming.

The Central Florida Kraze got back on the winning track as 425 fans braved the rain at Showalter Field to watch them take a 1-0 victory from Schulz Academy of Fort Lauderdale Friday night.

Jowayne Laidley had the lone goal at 42′.

That was the final home game of the 2010 season for the Kraze. Their last four games will all be on the road, beginning Friday night at Nashville.

Another UCF women’s soccer play has been tapped to play for her home country’s national team.

Last year, goalkeeper Aline Ries was first called to play for the Brazil national soccer team. Now, midfielder Andrea Rodrigues has been called up by Portugal to participate in UEFA qualifying for the 2011 Women’s World Cup.

The UCF junior, who scored one goal in three games in 2009 before suffering a season-ending injury, played 32 minutes in her first game, a 1-0 victory over Slovenia on June 23.

Portugal had already been eliminated in Group G when she received her first callup.

In addition to Ries and Rodrigues, head coach Amanda Cromwell participated in the U.S. women’s national team from 1991 through 1998.

Sorry I’ve been quiet the past week or so. Had some stuff to take care of in the real world.

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The Orlando Predators are currently sitting 5-7 with four games left in the regular season. That includes home games this Friday against Alabama, and on Saturday night, July 24, against Oklahoma City. The game on Friday night will air on NFL Network, and of course tickets are available. Game time is 8pm.

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The Kraze are 4-3-2 right now. Their next game is this Friday at Showalter Field in Winter Park. Game time is 7pm.

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The Florida Tuskers is planning the big kickoff for their Supporters Club. It will happen next Tuesday, July 13, at Ember, a high-end bar and grill in Downtown Orlando at 42 W. Central Blvd. There is parking right next door at 55 W. Central Blvd. (no, that’s not the 55 West… that’s a couple blocks south on Church St.)

Drink specials and complementary appetizers will be provided.

The Tuskers have not been sitting around in terms of personnel decisions. They have signed running back Dominic Rhodes. That name ought to be familiar. It’s the same guy who saved Peyton Manning’s hind quarters by rushing 113 yards with one touchdown in Super Bowl XLI. For his NFL career, he has 7,257 all-purpose yards with 32 TD.

Their provisional roster, which they will take into preseason training camp, was announced last Wednesday.

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The only recent news on the Orlando Titans is that they recently reshuffled their ownership structure. The primary owner, Gary Rosenbach, has sold some of his stake to other ownership partners.

Team president Steve Donner said there is interest in bringing in local partners. I’m certain we’ll get news when that happens.

The team stated there are no major difficulties with our NLL lacrosse team. Although not profitable their first year (what team is?), they did do better this year than during any year in New York City. Their financial goal is to break even during their third season in town.

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As for UCF… I scooped that Jeffrey Jordan would join his brother, Marcus, at UCF for men’s basketball. This was made official last week. He’ll sit out this coming season, and play his senior season, 2011-12.

Women’s basketball announced just today that assistant coach Courtney Locke has been promoted to recruiting coordinator. Locke has been an integral part of head coach Joi Williams-Felton’s staff. She played at Rutgers from 2002-2006.

It should be noted that all five starters in women’s basketball, and 4 of 5 starters in men’s basketball, return next year. So there are high hopes for improvement in 2010-11.

Season tickets for UCF football are on sale now. General season tickets are $190 on the sidelines and $130 in the end zone. Both prices are lower than the first-year prices in 2007 ($210 anywhere). Faculty/staff pricing is $156, and student pricing is $60 with valid UCF ID.

In baseball, Chris Duffy is being named first-team All-American by everybody: ABCA/Rawlings, Baseball America, NCBWA, and Yahoo! Sports, among others. Whether or not he wins the Golden Spikes Award (for which he’s one of 5 finalists) will be announced next Tuesday prior to the MLB All-Star Game.

Owen Dew signed his tender with the Cleveland Indians, and will report to Short-A Mahoning Valley in the New York-Penn League. Shane Brown signed with the Yankees, and will report to Short-A Staten Island in the same league.

Chris Duffy has been assigned to the rookie-level Gulf Coast League by the Phillies, meaning he’s playing in Clearwater. (Interestingly enough, he’s not the only Chris Duffy in the Phillies system.)

After one more exciting game, the United States ran out of miracles, falling to Ghana in extra time, 2-1, in the Round of 16.

The adventure does not end there. We need not wait four years to get the excitement of soccer back. All you need to do is look in your own backyard.

For now, there is the Central Florida Kraze, our top-level amateur development team. Their next home game is next Thursday, July 1, at Showalter Field in Winter Park.

Coming in September, UCF Soccer, both men and women, will ramp up, with high school soccer resuming in October.

And soon we will be getting new announcements on our second-tier professional team, still on track to begin play in 2011. I have it on good authority that an announcement is forthcoming, but I am not privy as to exactly what will be announced.

Don’t let the excitement only come around every four years. Keep the thrill of soccer going.

The United States got a miracle goal from Landon Donovan at dang near the absolute final second–in the second minute of stoppage time–to take the win they deserved, 1-0 against Algeria in Pretoria, to advance in the World Cup to the Knockout Stage.

We almost got jammed again, with a goal by Clint Dempsey getting pulled back midway in the first half on what, upon further review, turned out to be a bogus offsides call. Also, if not for two more hits on the framework, we could’ve easily scored four goals and won a lot more convincingly.

We got lucky early on when an Algerian striker got through and hit the crossbar on a defensive breakdown. Other than that, U.S. goalkeeper Tim Howard would not be denied.

With a 1-0 win over Slovenia in Nelson Mandela Bay, England got a desparately-needed win and also advanced. Both the U.S. and England finished with 5 points (1-2-0 W-L-D) and a +1 goal difference. But with 4 goals scored to England’s 2, the U.S. won the group, giving them the right to face the runner-up of Group D in the Round of 16. Their match will be held this Saturday, June 26, at 2:30pm on WFTV 9.1, airing from Rustenburg.

The Orlando Soccer Supporters Club will again be meeting at Buffalo Wings and Rings in South Orlando, on the corner of US 441 and Town Center Blvd. in the Target Plaza near SR 417 exit 11.

Group D involved Ghana, Germany, Serbia and Australia (in ladder/standings order), and is up-for-grabs as much as Group C was. Highly unlikely we’ll see Australia–that would effectively take a Ghana win and Australia win. Personally, I suspect we will end up facing either Ghana or Serbia.

(EDIT: With Germany beating Ghana, 1-0, and Australia beating Serbia, 2-1, the U.S. will face Ghana. Ghana and Australia each have 4 points, but Ghana has a goal difference of 0, while Australia has a goal difference of -3, giving Ghana the tiebreaker.)

Looking further ahead, the winner of that match will face the winner between Uruguay and South Korea. If Uruguay wins, I think we’re finished in the Round of 8. But bigger surprises have happened in South Africa. See: 2009 FIFA Confederations Cup, where we came alive in the Knockout Stage and took Brazil to the limit in the final.