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Kathrynpires2015
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VANCOUVER -- Vancouver Whitecaps forward Erik Hurtado was known more for his wild hair style than his ability on the pitch prior to Saturdays match against the Columbus Crew. That bleach blonde Mohawk still stands out, but not as much as his first goal in Major League Soccer -- a wonder strike in the first half that helped propel Vancouver to a 1-0 victory in Ohio. The fifth overall pick in the 2013 MLS SuperDraft, Hurtado has had to bide his time with the Whitecaps and he took full advantage of his first league start of the season. The 23-year-old controlled a long free kick in front of a Columbus defender on the right before cutting into the middle and unleashing a vicious left-footed shot from outside the 18-yard box that curled into the top corner. "You know how when you hit it on the sweet spot and you just know its going in? Thats what happened," Hurtado said after Mondays training session. "As soon as it left my foot, I was like Oh my God yes. Thank you God." The Fredericksburg, Va., native has played 22 MLS games since joining Vancouver last season, including five starts. But with the club parting ways with veteran striker Kenny Miller earlier this month, and with Darren Mattocks on the shelf with a hamstring injury, Hurtado is finally getting an opportunity under Whitecaps head coach Carl Robinson. "Im maturing as a player. I matured over my rookie season last year a lot," he said. "(Robinson) having faith in me has been great. Hes going to give players opportunities if they deserve it. "Ive been working really hard on the field and I got my chance and took it." Hurtado stands out because of his raw talent, but also for a hairstyle that has earned him an array of nicknames from teammates, including Rufio from the movie "Hook" and Sonic the Hedgehog, in honour of the video game character. "I dont know if its like a Brazilian blowout mixed with a mohawk and some bleach -- got in a fight with a bottle of bleach or something like that," Whitecaps defender Jordan Harvey said with a chuckle. "Thats his style and how he wants to express it and more power to him." Hurtado is fine with the jabs. "I dont know if Im trying to achieve anything," he said. "Im just trying to stay fresh." In his first season at the Whitecaps helm, Robinson couldnt care less what Hurtados hair looks like as long as he continues to develop and stays committed to his craft. "Hes an example to all the young players that things dont go your way sometimes," said Robinson. "Its important you put the work in and youll get your reward. It might not come in the next week or two weeks. It might come in the next two or three months, and thats what happened with Erik." Hurtados raw talent was evident to his teammates as soon as he arrived in Vancouver, but it was clear his game needed to be honed. "It was kind of like corralling a wild stallion, if you know what I mean," said Whitecaps captain Jay DeMerit. "Hes one of those guys (where) you can see his athletic ability. You can see his pace, his power, and its about corralling that and making sure that turns into good football. You can see it really start to take shape now, you can see him gaining in a little bit of confidence." Speaking of confidence, Hurtado and his teammates have loads of it heading into Wednesdays second leg of the Amway Canadian Championship semifinal against Toronto FC. Robinson fielded a "younger than young" squad in last weeks 2-1 away defeat in the first leg, but that result means that a 1-0 victory for Vancouver at B.C. Place Stadium would see the Whitecaps advance to the final on the away goals rule. DeMerit and many of Vancouvers other veterans watched from the sidelines as the baby-faced Whitecaps, including Hurtado, battled hard against Torontos star-studded roster. "Guys are contributing when asked upon. Guys are staying on the same page and as a collective were continuing to work on our brand of soccer," said DeMerit, who looks likely to sit out against Toronto again this week after playing Saturday in Columbus. "That needs to continue. That mentality needs to continue to shift and even get better." Apart from Hurtados recent success, former No. 1 pick Omar Salgado has impressed since rejoining the Whitecaps from the second-tier Charleston Battery last week. A big target who has been plagued by injuries in his young career, Salgado seems fitter and had a great chance late against Columbus that just bounced wide in the games dying minutes. "Im still a little disappointed I missed that but every striker in the world misses chances," said Salgado, the top choice in 2011. "Its something youve just got to get over and score against Toronto." Robinson said saying goodbye to Miller was difficult because of their personal friendship, but added that it was a move that had to be made with youngsters like Hurtado, Salgado and Kekuta Manneh clamouring for minutes. "It was the right decision for the club and me moving forward with this group of players that Ive got," said Robinson. "It will give the young players more opportunities to play and Ive said from Day 1 that I will give them more opportunities and I think you will see that more now." Custom San Jose Sharks Jersey Black Friday . Jan Hudec became the first Canadian in 20 years to win an Olympic medal in alpine skiing on Sunday when he captured a bronze in the mens super-G competition. Larry Robinson Jersey Black Friday . - Even on a night when the play was hampered by choppy ice, the puck still seems to find Joe Pavelski and he keeps finding the net. http://www.hockeygo.net/detroit-red-wings/. Matt Carkner got back into the Ottawa lineup, and made his presence felt right away by settling his clubs score in a one-sided fight with Rangers forward Brian Boyle. Travis Moen Jersey Black Friday . -- Gary Kubiak was bored and in need of a job, if for no other reason to give his wife some breathing room at home. Noah Juulsen Jersey Black Friday . 5 Baylor wiped out a 21-point deficit in the final 11 minutes to beat No. 9 TCU 61-58 on Saturday.MIAMI -- David Wright pulled an RBI single in the first inning, then sent three subsequent hits to the opposite field with a variety of trajectories. "Groundballs, home runs, bloopers, line drives," opposing pitcher Ricky Nolasco said. The net result: Three singles, one homer and three RBIs for Wright to help the New York Mets beat Nolasco and the Miami Marlins 9-3 on Saturday. It was the fourth consecutive multi-hit game for Wright, hiking his NL-leading average to .402. R.A. Dickey (5-1) pitched six innings and sent the Marlins to only their second loss in the past 11 games. The Mets have won six of seven. Wright put the Mets up 1-0 in the first, hit his fourth homer in the third, singled and scored in the sixth, and added an RBI single in the ninth. He finished 4 for 6 but dismissed the notion he can sustain a .400 average. "There is a long ways to go," he said. "Those are unrealistic goals. I think its realistic to go up there and try to have good at-bats. If the results come, great." Wrights on-base percentage of .489 leads the majors. "At the end of the year, David Wright is going to have some stinking really good numbers," manager Terry Collins said. Dickey also contributed to the offence, earning a painful RBI when he was hit on his pitching wrist in the fifth inning with the bases loaded. The right-hander received a visit from a trainer but stayed in the game and threw another two innings. "I was thankful that it hit me in the meatier part of the wrist, but you just never know" Dickey said. "Well see how it feels in the morning." He limited the Marlins to two runs even though his knuckleball was sub-par under the closed roof in the Marlins new ballpark. "It was a real fight," Dickey said. "I threw a lot of real tumbleweeds up there, balls that were kind of over-rotating on me. I didnt have my swing-and-miss knuckleball, but they were hitting enough pieces of it to give me some groundballs, and I was able to make a big pitch when I needed it." Dickey has allowed only seven runs in his past four starts. Nolasco (4-1) missed a chance to break the Marlins record for career victories by earning his 69th win. Instead, he endureed his 52nd defeat, allowing six runs in 4 2-3 innings for his shortest outing this year.dddddddddddd Nolasco walked three in the first inning and hit consecutive batters in the fifth, including Dickey. "I apologize to my teammates," Nolasco said. "It was pretty ugly, and something I havent done that ugly before. ... This one was on me completely. I took us out the game." Andres Torres had a two-run single in the fifth to knock Nolasco out of the game. Lucas Duda and Daniel Murphy each contributed three of the Mets 16 hits. The Marlins went 2 for 11 with runners in scoring position and are batting .199 in those situations, worst in the majors. They had two runners tagged out between second and third. "I hope the kids dont watch this," manager Ozzie Guillen said. "Its not the way to run the bases." The Mets have been winning lately with comebacks, but this time they scored in the first and never trailed. Catchers interference by Brett Hayes prolonged the Mets fourth inning, allowing them to score a run. With runners at second and third with two out, Torres flied out, but his swing knocked the glove off Hayes hand. Torres was awarded first base, and Kirk Nieuwenhuis followed with an RBI single. Wright singled in the sixth and later scored on Daniel Murphys single to put the Mets ahead 7-1. Wright dropped his final hit into short right field with two out in the ninth, and he has 11 hits in his past 21 at-bats. "Im getting some that are falling in, finding some holes," he said. "A lot of it is probably luck. This sport isnt like a lot of other sports. You can go up there and have good show for it results-wise. You can go up there and have bad at-bats, and have good results. Its funny how this game works, so you try to take advantage of it when you can." Notes: Wright improved his average against Nolasco to .400 (24 for 60) with five homers. ... Wright is batting .478 on the road. ... The Mets Mike Baxter doubled in the ninth to improve his average as a pinch hitter to .438 (7 for 16). ... Omar Infante is hitting .190 lifetime (4 for 21) against Sundays starter for the Mets, Jonathon Niese. cheap nfl jerseys cheap jerseys cheap jerseys cheap jerseys cheap nfl jerseys wholesale jerseys ' ' ' |
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