ATLANTA PRO SOCCER CHALLENGE

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Atlanta is buzzing right now with the return of the Atlanta Silverbacks this summer. I am stoked to have a team to support here locally and hopefully one day we will have an MLS franchise. But for now, we take what we can get and what we have this week is Aaron’s Atlanta Pro Soccer Challenge! The Houston Dynamo, New England Revolution, and Columbus Crew are making their way to Kennesaw State University’s Soccer Stadium to play three matches this week. If you haven’t picked up your tickets yet, they start at 20 bucks and are available here through the Atlanta Beat’s website.

Columbus Crew vs New England Revolution | Wednesday |March 9th | 7:30PM

Columbus Crew vs Houston Dynamo | Friday | March 11th | 7:30PM

Houston Dynamo vs New England Revolution | Sunday | March 13th | 3:00

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Nicol hopes Crew loss serves as wakeup call

Comprehensive loss to Columbus shows there’s still work to be done with the season opener fast approaching

KENNESAW, Ga. – The New England Revolution didn’t plan any victory parades after opening the 2011 preseason with four consecutive victories.

Similarly, the club isn’t overly concerned about finally dropping a result with a 3-1 loss to the Columbus Crew on Wednesday night in the opening game of the Atlanta Pro Soccer Challenge.

“[This] is what the preseason is for – we’re still getting the kinks out,” said Chris Tierney, who started at left midfield but finished the match at left back. “We’re not as concerned with the results as we are with making sure we get ourselves better and better as we get closer to [the season opener].

www.revolutionsoccer.net/news/2011/03/nicol-hopes-crew-loss-serves-wakeup-call

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Dynamo suffer first preseason loss, 1-0

Hall saves penalty kick but Houston falls; Ching leaves due to injury

The Houston Dynamo lost their first game of the 2011 preseason, 1-0 to Columbus, and saw captain Brian Ching leave the game with a hamstring injury Friday night in Houston's first game of the 2011 Atlanta Pro Soccer Challenge. With the win, Columbus clinched the round-robin tournament title with a 2-0 record

www.houstondynamo.com/news/2011/03/dynamo-suffer-first-preseason-loss-1-0

[epjr]

Bruin double sinks New England 3-1

Rookie nets two spectacular finishes in first half in final game of preseason

Rookie forward Will Bruin made his case for a spot in the starting lineup with a pair of superlative first-half goals as the Houston Dynamo closed out their preseason with a 3-1 win over the New England Revolution Sunday afternoon in the Atlanta Pro Soccer Challenge.

Bruin scored in the 31st and 33rd minutes, finding the upper corner of the net each time, and rookie Alex Dixon added a late goal to provide the final 3-1 margin. Houston will open its season next Saturday at home, hosting the Philadelphia Union at 7:30 p.m. at Robertson Stadium.


www.houstondynamo.com/news/2011/03/bruin-double-sinks-new-england-3-1