TRANSFERS: Goalkeeper Craig Hill Moves to KuPS in Finland

Photo: svenskafans.com

Goalkeeper Craig Hill has left Kultsu FC and moved to KuPS in Finland. Craig who joined Kultsu in 2015 had a mixed time with the Kakkonen (third tier) side, being loaned out to KTP in Ykkonen (second tier) for 4 months before returning. The move to Veikkausliiga's KuPS (first tier) happened today, and would seem like a good move on his part.

Craig played at SMU before being drafted by FC Dallas in 2011, form there he spent a short time at River Plate in Puerto Rico and the San Antonio Scorpions (Craig's home town) before moving to Finland. Craig had 5 shut-outs in 18 games for Kultsu.

Good Luck to Craig at KuPS

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DAILY WRAP: 4/29/2016 - Features Finish League's, 2 goals in Germany

A lot of action today, although nothing particularly news-worthy. Mario Rodriguez scored for M'Gladbach II and Dominic Robinson for Memmingen, both in Germany's Regionalliga. In Finland it was a busy day, with 9 US players on display (2 in Veikkausliiga, 7 in Ykkonen) so it looks like the Yanks are back in Finland again. Julian Green v Jann George ended in a Bayern victory with both players giving 90 minutes.
Lets go to the list.....


Daniel Schmidt played all 90 and gained another shut-out for his club Yamaga in Japan's J-League 2. Yamaga visited Ehime and played to a goalless draw. The away point was enough to move Yamaga up to 6th place - they have a 3 win / 2 draw unbeaten streak going.

Brian Span, Started went 85 minutes in Mariehamn's 0 - 1 win at Ilves in Finland's Veikkausliiga

Also in Veikkausliiga, Christian Eissele started and went 79 minutes in Kemi's 1 - 0 win over HJK

In Finland's Ykkonen, Josue Soto entered the game for the 2nd half as Jaro drew 1 - 1 with TPS Turku

Also in Ykkonen, Gabriel Witz (90) and Jazz Pori faced off with Haka and Etchu Tabe (90) in a game that saw Haka with 2 second half goals and an away win 1 - 2

GK Tim Murray in his 2nd appearance for EIF Ekenas, fell 3 - 0 at JJK. EIF are yet to register a point this season

Mike Banner (90) and KPV faced off with GrIFK and Dan Stevens (14) with KPV providing the beating 3 - 0

Dual (US/Liberia) Isaac Kannah went 90 in KTP's 1 - 1 draw with Oulu, to finish (no pun intended) up today's Finland Ykkonen games.

Shawn Barry came off the bench at the 74th minute as FSV Frankfurt were unable to get out of the drop-zone today losing 1 - 4 to Kaiserslautern in Germany 2Liga

Caleb Stanko was in the 18 (DNP) as Freiburg visited Paderborn and came away with a 1 - 2 win

No heroics from Fafa Picault today as St Pauli fell 0 - 2 to 1860 Munich. With 2 games left St Pauli are to far behind for promotion this season (currently 4th)

Bobby Wood went 90 today as Union Berlin best Bochum 1 - 0 in Germany 2Liga

Mario Rodriguez came off the bench to play the 2nd half and Scored M'Gladbach II's first goal today, as they fell 3 - 2 at Dusseldorf II in Regionalliga West Justin Kinjo played 85 minutes for Dusseldorf II

Russell Canouse went 69 minutes as Hoffenheim II fell to Steinbach in Regionalliga Sudwest

Julian Green went 90 for Bayern II as they faced Jann George and Regensburg. Bayern got the only goal in there win in Regionalliga Bayern

Also in Regionalliga Bayern, Burghausen beat David Spies and Augsburg II 2 - 1

Dual (US/Ger) Dominic Robinson came off the bench at 83rd minute and Scored at 89th as Memmingen beat Ingolstadt II 4 - 2

In Poland, Hunter Gorskie continues to start for Legnica in Division 1 play. Today he went 90 minutes in Legnica's goalless draw at Suwalki

Jochen Graf came of the bench at minute 65 for Oskarhamns as they barely hang on for a 2 - 2 home draw against Husqvarna in Sweden's Division 1 (Sodra)

In the Slovakia Cup Final - Slovan Bratislava collapsed in the final 15 minutes, after leading, giving up 3 goals and losing 1 - 3. Nermin Crnkic came off the bench at the 84th minute

Jonathan Spector came off the bench at the 90th minute and Birmingham held on to a 2 - 2 scoreline in the English Championship against leaders Middlesbrough

In Ireland's Premier League, Sligo Rovers won 0 - 2 at Derry City, with GK Ciaran Nugent on the bench

In Ireland's Division 1, Joseph Jackson was in the 18, but saw no action today as # 2 Drogheda won 1 - 0 over # 3 Cobh Ramblers

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FINLAND 2016: American's Playing in Finland, League Changes (Detailed)

Over the past decade, Finland has been a place where young US players have chosen to get a taste of European football, opting out of their home leagues after they leave college. The number of US players has remained fairly constant until recently. The expansions of NASL and USL has provided an alternative route for college players and the numbers traveling to Finland, Sweden and other Scandinavian leagues is down this coming season. US players who have a year or two of experience in Scandinavia are also returning to the US to play.  It should also be noted that equally the numbers of young Fin's, Swede's playing in the lower leagues is up, and the development of young football players will increase because of this.

So lets look at the current crop of US players in Finland (which is the most popular Scandinavian country for young US soccer players) First the leagues;

Veikkausliiga is the premier division of Finnish football, comprising the top 12 clubs of the country.

Ykkonen is the second highest level of the Finnish football league system (after the Veikkausliiga), although it is the highest league managed by the Football Association of Finland.

For the 2016 season the format of the Kakkonen has been changed with the league divided into 3 groups of 12 teams. Each club plays the others in its group twice. The group winners and the best second place team have a chance of winning one of two promotion places to Ykkönen after a four team playoff. The bottom three teams in each group 10, 11 and 12 will be relegated to Kolmonen.

Now, lets see who is playing where (as of today) If you believe I have left anyone out, please let me know.........

Veikkausliiga (Season Starts April 2nd)

• Christian Eissele, is a forward, from Orlando Florida, who play's for Kemi Kings. (Nickname Kemi) After a very successful campaign with Kemi in 2013/14, Christian spent a year with  IK Brage in Sweden, before returning to Kemi last July.
• Tyler Back, is one of the goalkeeper's on the books for Rovaniemi (Nickname RoPs) Tyler joined RoPs from Oregon State early February this year, he has already made 2 appearances in pre-season competition, both of which were shutouts.
• Brian Span is a forward with Mariehamn. Brian, a New Yorker, played college at Virginia, went to Sweden first, then joined FC Dallas. Spent the 2014/15 season on loan to Orlando SC (pre-MLS) before moving to Mariehamn a year ago February.

Ykkönen (Season Starts April 24th)

• Scott Angevine is one of the goalkeepers on the books for Kokkolan Pallo-Veikot (Nickname KPV) Scott, who is from Kansas, has traveled a bit between the US and Finland, joined KPV in January of 2015.
• Mike Banner, a mid-fielder from Washington DC, joined KPV this January. Mike has also spent time moving back and forth between US club's (incl. Chicago) and Finland (FF Jaro)
• Kyle Curinga, a center back from Clearwater Florida, joined FF Jaro from Finland's GBK this February
• Josue Soto, a mid fielder from Ft Worth Texas also joined FF Jaro at the beginning of January this year. Josue had spent time with Chivas USA and Houston, ending up with San Antonio. Finland will be his first 'overseas' club
• Tim Murray from Massachusetts is a goalkeeper who played college at providence before joining the New England Revolution. Like a lot of young players Tim spent time on loan with several US clubs before joining Ekenas SC the junior team of his current club Ekenas IF in January this year.
• Daniel Stevens is a New Yorker, who is one of the senior players (31) playing in Finland. Daniel has been in Finland since 2011, (he has played for Kemi, BK46 & Viikingit) prior to that a few lower level US clubs. Daniel joined Grankulla IFK (Nickname GRIFK) at the beginning of February this year.
  
• Isaac Kannah is a dual national, USA/Liberia forward, who joined Koparit (Nickname KTP) in mid January this year. Prior to that he had been playing for Mikkelin Palloilijat (Nickname MP)

Kakkonen - New Groupings (Season Starts 1st week of May)

GROUP A:

• Craig Hill,  GK,  Kultsu
• Elias McCalip, Forward,  KaPa
• Nathan Stokie,  GK,  PEPO 1
• Jakeem Johnson,  Forward, PEPO 1
• Harrison Hanley, Forward, MP
• Walter Kromholtz,  Center Back, MP

GROUP B:

• Kevin Sawchak,  Defender, FC Honka
• Olutolani "Tolani" Ibikunle,  Defender, Ekenas SC
• James (JC) Mack,  Winger,  Ekenas SC

GROUP C:

• Kyle Knotek, Mid Fielder,  Kraft Narpes
• Lawrence Smith, Defender, GBK
• Chris Corcoran,  Center Back,  GBK
• Cameron Roget, Forward, VIFK

With a number of months still to go till opening day I expect that there will be additions and changes going on, which I will track here. 

Please note that the Kolmonen League has 104 teams in 9 Groups, way to much to add in this article. 

NEXT UP - SWEDEN

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TRANSFERS: UMW Goal Keeper Tyler Back Signs First Pro Contract in Finland

Photo: Brad Mills

 UMW is reporting that;

"Former University of Mary Washington soccer goalie Tyler Back has signed a professional contract with Rovaniemen Pallosuera (RoPs) of the Finnish Premier League, Veikkausliga, for the 2016 season. Back, who played three years at UMW, posted 24 victories in goal for the Eagles, with a 1.18 GAA in 48 career starts. After missing the majority of his junior season with injury, he gained a medical hardship waiver, and played this season at Oregon State University.

Back is currently in Finland training for the season, which begins in April."

Tyler has already started for Rovaniemi in their League Cup game v KuPs which they won 2 - 0 (Tyler picked up a yellow)

Tyler (from Falls Church, Virginia) began his career  at George Mason High School in Virginia

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