The following is the U.S. national team roster for the Gold Cup and alternates, as provided by CONCACAF. Goalkeepers 1 Friedel 18 Meola Defenders 12 Agoos 5 Brown 4 Fraser 16 Llamosa 23 Pope 3 Vanney Midfielders 14 Armas 9 Kirovski 7 Lewis 19 Olsen 10 Reyna 21 Williams Strikers 13 Jones 20 McBride 22 Razov 11 Wynalda Alternates 17 Deering 6 Harkes 2 Hejduk 15 Lassiter 24 Presthus 8 Stewart 25 Talley

If a picture is worth a thousand words, the shot of U.S. star Michelle Akers at the White House with President Bill Clinton sums up the state of the pay dispute between U.S. Soccer and the womenÆs national team. On the publicity front, like on the field, the women are scoring goals. Akers joined Clinton at a White House event at which Clinton pressed the case for enforcement of equal-pay laws. Akers was under a gag order not to discuss the womenÆs soccer dispute, but her mere presence with Clinton, a big womenÆs soccer supporter, was enough. …

The 12 most talked-about prospects in the SuperDraft A mantra repeated every year around draft time in the other American professional sports: "We'll take the best player available when our number is called." In Major League Soccer, however, that phrase is seldom heard. Coaches and general managers have so many factors to consider ùpositional needs, experience vs. youth, salary cap, foreign status ùthat drafting is never as simple as ranking the available players by ability and picking the highest one remaining. Rebuilding teams such as New England and the MetroStars need to select players who can start …

The United States got an 88th-minute strike from forward Cobi Jones to down host Chile, 2-1, at Estadio Francisco Sanchez Rumoros in Coquimbo, Chile, on Jan. 29. The U.S. team earned its first win of the year and first win on South American soil that dates back to 1995. U.S. midfielder Eddie Lewis scored the first goal and set the winning goal. The 25-year-old San Jose Earthquakes midfielder opened the scoring in the 55th minute when he sent a header just inside the far post off an Eric Wynalda free kick from the left side. Lewis also assisted on the …

The MetroStars have acquired defender Thomas Dooley from the Columbus Crew in exchange for defender Mike Duhaney. Dooley, who has 81 caps with the U.S. and played in the '94 and '98 World Cups, had fallen out with Crew coach Tom Fitzgerlad. He will join the MetroStars Feb. 1 for Spring Training in Fort Lauderdale, Fla. "The chemistry and professionalism of this team is extremely important to our objective of rebuilding, " said MetroStars GM Nick Sakiewicz on his first MetroStars' trade. "Any time we can acquire a player of Dooley's experience and professionalism, we will do it." Dooley spent …

The U.S. U-23s lost their second game on their Portuguese tour, falling to Estoril of the First Division, 1-0. They lost their first game to Portugal's U-23 team on a penalty kick. They lost the Estoril game on an own goal. Jan. 26 in Lisbon Estoril (Portugal) 1 USA U-23s 0. Goal: Own goal 62. USA -- Kirk, Corrales, Califf (McCarty, 46), Dunseth, Whitfield (Chulis, 46), Otero (Beasley, 46), Winters (Parra, 62), Victorine (Vagenas, 46), West (Thorrington, 46), C.Brown (Donovan, 46), Albright (Casey, 46).

All reserved seats for the Gold Cup will be available through Ticketmaster in each of the three venues with prices for each of the doubleheaders as low as $25. General Admission tickets for Miami begin at $16. San Diego and Los Angeles General Admission tickets begin at $20. In Miami: Call Ticketmaster: Dade County (305) 358 5885, Broward County (954) 523-3309, and Palm Beach County (561) 966-3309. For more information and to purchase General Admission tickets call (305) 377-2767. In Los Angeles: Call Ticketmaster: (213) 480-3232, (714) 740-2000 or (805) 583-8700. In San Diego: Call Ticketmaster: (619) 220-TIXS.

Young attacker in search of a club can leave Germany at the end of the season "I want to get out of Germany. I've been there four years and have had four different coaches, and it hasn't worked out." - Jovan Kirovski As the young man with the polemical past played 10 minutes against Iran, the rust he'd accumulated during the past few months cluttered up his touch and flaked at his feet. Jovan Kirovski didn't impress anybody in the Rose Bowl Jan. 16, and it would have been a sensation if he had. He's been banished to the training …

Soccer America currently has a job opening for someone interested in the position of Associate Editor working primarily on SoccerAmerica.com. This will be one of several positions to be created in connection with the expansion of SoccerAmerica.com over the next few months. If you are interested in applying for this position, please contact Managing Editor Paul Kennedy by Feb. 21. ASSOCIATE EDITOR Position: Regular, Full-Time Department: Editorial Location: Berkeley, Calif. Job Requirements: The ideal candidate will have an interest in Internet publishing, a passion for soccer and broad knowledge of the game. Among the qualities this candidate will have are: …

The U.S. U-23 team lost to Portugal's U-23 team, 1-0, in a friendly played Jan. 25 in Alverca, Portugal. The Portuguese, who were eliminated from Olympic qualifying in Europe's round of 16, scored on a penalty kick in the 65th minute after U.S. defender Chad McCarty got tangled with a Portugal player in the box. The tour concludes with games against Estoril on Jan. 27 and Offenbach (German Second Division) on Jan. 30. Jan. 25 in Alverca Portugal U-23s 1 USA U-23s 0. Goal: Hugo Leal (pen.) 65. Portugal -- Sergio Leite (Pedro Alves, 70), Esteves (Felipe Annunciacio, 70), Caneira, …

Former MetroStars coach Alfonso Mondelo is MLS's new Director of Player Development and head coach of the U.S. Pro-40, the MLS development team that competes in the A-League. In addition to guiding the Project-40 players through the 2000 A-League season, Mondelo, 41, will serve as director of player development and will pilot the scouting program for the 12 MLS clubs, including college, youth and the loaning and replacement of players between MLS and the USL teams. Mondelo, the third coach of U.S. Pro-40, has been involved in professional and youth coaching since 1981. "Major League Soccer has continued to emphasize …

With the top selection in hand, MetroStars hope ZambranoÆs knack for scouting brings better fortune Octavio Zambrano is thrilled to have the first pick in FebruaryÆs MLS ôSuperdraft,ö but he knows one pick alone does not stack his hand as he begins the task of rebuilding the leagueÆs most maligned franchise. The MetroStarsÆ coach said the biggest drawback to his teamÆs draft holdings this year is that after that first pick, they wonÆt select again until the fourth round. It is unlikely that a player capable of starting this season will be available by that 37th overall pick. Furthermore, Zambrano …

Notre Dame men's head coach Mike Berticelli died of a heart attack Jan. 25 at the age of 48. Berticelli had a career mark of 291-135-42, winning back-to-back NCAA Division III titles at UNC Greensboro in 1982 and 1983. He then spent six years as head coach at Old Dominion (76-27-16) before moving to Notre Dame, where he spent 10 years. He rebuilt a struggling Irish program, going 104-80-19 in 10 years. Three of his squads went to the NCAA tournament. He was also vice president of the NSCAA, in charge of education, putting him in line for the NSCAA …

The Columbus Crew named Jim Smith its new general manager Jan. 25, replacing Jamey Rootes. Smith spent the past four years as an associate athletic director at Ohio State University. He began at OSU in January 1996 as director of marketing and promotions and moved on to director of marketing and communications in March 1998. "We are thrilled to be able to attract an individual of Jim's quality with an outstanding background in sales, corporate marketing, advertising and administration," said Clark Hunt, speaking on behalf of Hunt Sports Group, the CrewÆs operator-investor. "The organization believes Jim's close ties to the …