Maria Burns Ortiz Archive

December 10, 2009
Burns Ortiz: College Cup Final Four preview
There will be impressive amounts of talent and experience on display this weekend in Cary, N.C. Just don't look for any potential Cinderellas to add to the drama at the 2009 College Cup Final Four, writes Maria Burns Ortiz.

December 3, 2009
Burns Ortiz: College Cup Elite Eight preview
Wake Forest's seniors have yet to play a season that didn't end in the College Cup Final Four, and they aren't interested in changing that trend now, writes Maria Burns Ortiz.

November 25, 2009
Burns Ortiz: Sweet Sixteen preview
The men's soccer NCAA tournament has seen some minor upsets, but for the most part the traditional powers have reached the Sweet Sixteen, writes Maria Burns Ortiz.

November 19, 2009
Burns Ortiz: Vetting the field for the men's College Cup
On the cusp of this year's men's College Cup, Akron has to be considered the favorite. But don't overlook a hardened Maryland team or locals North Carolina and Wake Forest, writes Maria Burns Ortiz.

November 12, 2009
Burns Ortiz: Title is true goal for 18-0 Akron
Caleb Porter played for an Indiana team that went undefeated in the regular season, then failed to win a national championship. Now the coach at Akron, Porter is trying to keep his 18-0 Zips focused on the ultimate prize: the College Cup.

November 5, 2009
Burns Ortiz: Louisville transforms from also-ran to national power
Under coach Ken Lolla, Louisville has been transformed into a burgeoning national power, writes Maria Burns Ortiz.

October 29, 2009
Burns Ortiz: Indiana no longer the top dog in the Big Ten
The Big Ten conference has been traditionally dominated by Indiana, but times have changed, writes Maria Burns Ortiz.

October 22, 2009
Burns Ortiz: McVea embraces leadership role
Loyola College has failed to live up to the lofty expectations precipitated by a strong campaign one year ago. But if anyone can lead his team through a difficult period, it's captain Tennant McVea.

October 15, 2009
Burns Ortiz: ACC rife with talent, but who's the best?
The ACC is irrefutably the best men's soccer conference in the country -- top to bottom. But with such a dominant assembly of teams, it's anyone's guess who emerges as the leader of the pack.

October 14, 2009
Burns Ortiz: Hispanic market part of DNA of MLS
There's no questioning the Hispanic fan base's passion for soccer, something that MLS is well aware of and keen to embrace, writes Maria Burns Ortiz.

October 8, 2009
Burns Ortiz: All Golden State final in the future?
The California schools had a miserable NCAA tournament run a year ago. But this is 2009, and there are teams aplenty that have the makeup to win a national championship.

October 1, 2009
Burns Ortiz: Monmouth building on last season's disappointment
The undefeated Monmouth Hawks know all too well that a stellar regular season can quickly morph into postseason disappointment, writes Maria Burns Ortiz.

September 25, 2009
Burns Ortiz: Multitalented Boggs leads surging Bulls
South Florida's start has been keyed by explosive forward Zak Boggs, who's proven he can excel at pretty much anything he puts his mind to, writes Maria Burns Ortiz.

September 17, 2009
Burns Ortiz: Keeper's scoreless streak buoys MSU
It's not as if Michigan State's Avery Steinlage has never allowed a goal. It only seems that way. The keeper's exceptional play, along with some fierce defense, has the Spartans picking up where they left off last year, writes Maria Burns Ortiz.

September 10, 2009
Burns Ortiz: Roberts a venerable institution at BU
Entering his 25th season at the helm of the BU program, coach Neil Roberts has become an institution for the Terriers, writes Maria Burns Ortiz.

September 3, 2009
Burns Ortiz: Small programs face make-or-break games early
It's early in the season, but for small programs hoping to reach the NCAA tournament, it's already make-or-break time, writes Maria Burns Ortiz.

August 27, 2009
Burns Ortiz: Men's Hermann watch list full of talent
The men's Hermann Trophy watch list gets a lot of hype from start to finish. But this season, it's worth it. From Ivy League hopefuls to netminding standouts, this year's field is wide open, writes Maria Burns Ortiz.

August 20, 2009
Burns Ortiz: Story lines to watch in 2009
While most of the attention will be focused on big-name programs, keep on eye on small-program sleepers like Loyola College and Daytona, writes Maria Burns Ortiz.

August 15, 2009
Burns Ortiz: 2009 men's college season preview
With the 2009 college season nearing kickoff, defending champion Maryland still looks like the cream of the crop, writes Maria Burns Ortiz.

July 25, 2009
Burns Ortiz: Top incoming freshmen to watch for 2009
Maryland's Taylor Kemp is one of a group of incoming freshman to keep an eye on during the 2009 season, writes Maria Burns Ortiz.

July 23, 2009
Burns Ortiz: Chelsea vs. AC Milan preview
Chelsea coach Carlo Ancelotti will be keen to settle the score against former club AC Milan when the teams meet in a game that's friendly in name only, writes Maria Burns Ortiz.

July 17, 2009
Burns Ortiz: Club America vs. Inter Milan preview
The World Football Challenge kicks off on Sunday, with Club America looking to make a statement against Inter Milan, writes Maria Burns Ortiz.

June 21, 2009
Burns Ortiz: Trio of MLS stars following in their fathers' footsteps
Following in the footsteps of one's father is a time-worn cliché, but for a trio of MLS stars, it was always inevitable, writes Maria Burns Ortiz.

May 31, 2009
Burns Ortiz: Revamped Tar Heels look to make another run
This year's edition of the North Carolina Tar Heels will be vastly different from the 2008 College Cup runner-ups, writes Maria Burns Ortiz.

April 13, 2009
Burns Ortiz: Fire a melting pot of diverse backgrounds
Ghana, Bosnia and Mali. The backgrounds were different, but the dream of professional soccer was the same for three members of the Chicago Fire, writes Maria Burns Ortiz.