White Brothers, Lane Construction to Donate Playing Fields

PPH:

It wasn't long after Mike and Tim White started buying up property in 2004 for a quarry off Small Hardy Road that they started talking about donating land for athletic fields there. As kids growing up on Duck Pond Road, the brothers--former owners of White Bros. Construction--knew firsthand about the lack of recreational space in the northern end of the city.

[snip]

The multipurpose fields will probably be ready to use in 2013. Maria Dorn, Westbrook's community services director, said there's an ever-increasing demand for soccer fields in the city. "Everybody's on them all the time," she said. Priority for playing time on the fields will go to the Westbrook Soccer League, which serves 300 kids from age 3 to 13 years old.

- John C.L. Morgan

Levesque Enjoying Best MLS Season Yet

PPH:

[Roger] Levesque has two goals in three starts for the Sounders this season and has had another nine appearances off the bench. That is by far the most minutes he's played in three years with the team. He's nearly eclipsed last year's total minutes of 510. He has played 497 minutes in 12 games. Two seasons ago, he played just 260 minutes. He has evolved as a player since lighting up the field at Falmouth High a dozen years ago.

- John C.L. Morgan

An Online Guide to the 2011 FIFA Women's World Cup

The U.S. Women's National Team opens its 2011 World Cup tomorrow morning, when it takes on North Korea (11:45a ESPN, ESPN3.com). Below are some links you might find helpful as you follow the U.S. as it tries

FIFA 2011 Women's World Cup

U.S. Soccer Women's National Team

U.S. Women's National Team player profiles

ESPN Soccernet

- John C.L. Morgan

Roger Levesque Caps Supporters' Tifo

Supporters of the Seattle Sounders FC unveiled an impressive choreographed visual display, or a tifo, on May 14 prior to its game against rival Portland, and Maine native Roger Levesque's face highlighted the display.

Levesque, a Falmouth product, was celebrated for a first-minute goal he scored against Portland in a 2009 U.S. Open Cup game. Of course, the fact that he also appears to be the most hated player in Portland fans' eyes (see here or here) probably didn't hurt when Sounder fans picked which Sounders, past and present, would represent the club.

- John C.L. Morgan

MLS Birthplace Map

The MLS By Birthplace

Major League Soccer (MLS) has released its annual survey of its players' birthplaces.

As of March 23, 57% of the 487 players on MLS rosters were born in the United States. A breakdown by continent can be found below:

North America
71% (348)

South America
11% (52)

Europe
9% (46)

Africa
7% (34)

Oceania
0.8% (4)

Asia
0.6% (3)

- John C.L. Morgan

Soccer and Mud Season

Sun Journal:

While many local gyms are dark and most recreational sports programs are in a holding pattern, youth from the communities of RSU 58 and a few from Farmington are celebrating soccer. Indoor soccer, to be precise, played on a high school basketball court temporarily infused with the personality of a hockey or roller rink. "It’s dead time in the gym," association registrar Darren Allen said. "Mud season's here. What can you do outside, sink?"

- John C.L. Morgan