Short takes

By Barclay Kruse, NSC Chief Communications Officer (& Schwan's USA CUP Media Director)

For today's blog, just some short news items from Friday at Schwan's USA CUP presented by PUMA.

Take 1: Many of you have been following the quest of the 19 boys Rudbeckianska team from Sweden to complete their Schwan's USA CUP four-peat -- 2006 and 2007 championships in the Weekend and Weeklong tournaments. Staff writer Greg Hutton covered the quest in a Thursday article in the Soccer America Tournament Edition.

They'd completed three of the four steps, but this afternoon the four-peat came to a crashing halt in their quarterfinal game in the stadium. Rudbeckianska was holding a 3-2 lead against Quad Cities United of Illinois, when Quad Cities roared back with two late goals to steal a shocking win. The final goal came with barely over a minute left in the game.

Take 2: Our media staff was pretty proud yesterday. Minnesota Public Radio did a feature story Friday afternoon about the cutting edge technology at Schwan's USA CUP. Included on the radio segment was a feature about Kick TV done by reporter Roseanne Periera. You can read the script, see photos and even listen (if you have Real Player) by clicking here.

But after basking in their brief 15 minutes of radio fame, our intrepid production team of Tara Durheim and Taylor Kruse jumped right into filming the Saturday edition of Kick TV. Tomorrow's show will have a feature on referees and the girls team from Denmark. Tara and Taylor were also filming footage for a special Kick TV show about the Grand Dance.

Above:  With their typical attention to a proper dress code, Tara and Taylor dressed up before heading to film at the Grand Dance. And as you can see, eye protection is paramount.

Take 3: The annual referee banquet is being held in the Grand Hall of Schwan Center as I'm writing this blog Friday night. Here is a summary of this year's referee awards. Best out-of-country: Ross Joyce (England); Female referee: Kara Honthumb (Mass.); Out-of-state male: Frank Medrano (Tex.); Minnesota referee: Tom Spiess (Roseville, Minn.); Most contributing: Kevin Morrison (Jamaica); Youth referee: Josh Lugo (Tex.); Outstanding service: Steve Rospopo (New Mex.), John Fox (Coon Rapids, Minn.), Don and Linda Lockwood (Circle Pines, Minn.)

Above: Josh Lugo from Texas receives the Youth Referee of the Year award from Schwan's USA CUP referee director Bill Roll.