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LMU SOCCER NEWS |
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LINCOLN MEMORIAL UNIVERSITY OFFICE OF SPORTS INFORMATION Sports Release Februaty 14, 2008 Busy Summer For LMU Soccer Coach Helio D’Anna HARROGATE, TN - Lincoln Memorial University Head Soccer Coach Helio D’Anna will have an exciting but busy summer ahead. Recently, the two-time NCAA Regional Coach of the Year announced that he will coach a summer league men’s team in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. The Baton Rouge Capitals (http://www.brcapitals.com) are a member of the PDL (Premier Development League - http://pdl.uslsoccer.com) which consists of 67 teams throughout North America, and are affiliated with the USL (United Soccer Leagues - http://www.uslsoccer.com). The PDL operates mostly with collegiate players allowing them to compete over the summer while preparing for their fall seasons, as well as for a possible future career as professional players. In this year’s MLS draft, (Major League Soccer) approximately 70% of the players drafted came from having PDL experience. This league is sometimes referred to as a “minor league” or a “semi-pro” league. “We have been encouraging our ladies and men to play in these leagues for a number of years,” says D’Anna. “They always return in great shape and energized for our fall season. So that is how I approach this opportunity, as a way to polish up my coaching skills and to return with new tools to apply with our LMU teams. I am excited and honored by the opportunity.” Although Coach D’Anna will not be able to take to Louisiana any of his returning players, he will have a chance to reconnect with former Railsplitters, as he is planning on inviting some of the recent grads to join the team. “Three things especially attracted me to accept this opportunity. One was the fact that the team is establishing itself as a non-profit organization and will raise funds for the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation. The second, was how accommodating the ownership was in allowing me to continue running my LMU camps and my normal operations at LMU. With Lincoln Memorial University building a new stadium and preparing for a pre-season trip to Brazil, I could not simply take the summer off. Lastly, this will be another way to get the LMU name out farther since They will re-broadcast their games via a highlight show on COX Cablevision, have a Radio show on ESPN Radio, as well as produce web cast of their eight home games via the internet.” The Baton Rouge Capitals compete in the PDL Southern Conference within the Mid-South Division against teams from El Paso, Laredo, Austin, Dallas, Houston, New Orleans and Clinton and Jackson, Mississippi. -LMU- For additional comments please contact, |