Short Corners: Mass. USOC clash set, Greater Lowell United Joins NPSL

Thanksgiving may be right around the corner, but that doesn’t mean all is silent on the local soccer scene.

On Thursday, NPSL announced that Greater Lowell United FC will join the league as an expansion team in 2014.

The club is headed by Director of Operations Tim Melican, Director of Business Operations Manny Andrade, Director of Marketing Lee Pender, and Head Coach Joao “John” Ramos.

The expansion side will play their home matches at Cawley Stadium, which is located in Lowell’s Belvidere neighborhood.

“The NPSL presents the perfect opportunity for us to establish ourselves in a soccer-ready market and immediately jump into a high level of competition,” Melican said in a team release. “The NPSL’s stability and national profile will enable us to gain credibility and build fan interest from the first time our squad takes the pitch.”

Greater Lowell United will play in the Northeast Region’s Atlantic Conference, which includes fellow New England sides Rhode Island Reds, Seacoast United Mariners, and Seacoast United Phantoms, in addition to the Brooklyn Italians, New York Athletic Club and New York Red Bulls.

***

The Massachusetts state final for U.S. Open Cup qualifying is set for Sunday as reigning state champ Mass Premier will face Mass United FC at Clemente Field in Boston. Kickoff is set for 2pm.

Last year, Mass Premier overcame a fifth minute ejection to Tyler Macnee to push East Providence Sports to penalties, where they claimed the advantage 4-2 after overtime ended at 1-1.

Mass United enters the match fresh off its 1-0 state final Amateur Cup victory over Southie FC last Sunday.

***

The New England Soccer Hall of Fame will honor its newest inductees during Sunday’s 36th Annual Induction ceremony, which will take place at Hilltop Hotel in Seekonk, Mass.

This year’s inductees include former Rhode Island Oceaneers midfielder Juan Cano, Western Mass Pioneers club president Celso Correia, longtime USSF referee George Cortes,  former Providence College men’s soccer coach Bill Doyle, South Center Premier president Andrea Duffy, former University of Rhode Island men’s soccer coach Geza Henni, longtime youth administrator Kathy Palmeiro, PROJECT GOAL co-founder Darius Shirzadi and former Brown men’s soccer coach Cliff Stevenson.

The ceremony will kick off at 1pm.