The 2023 Major League Soccer playoffs begin today with the 8th and 9th seed play-in games and even though Colorado Rapids and the Portland Timbers are out of the playoffs, there is plenty to talk about. Or, at least when you get Ben, Troy, and Brad together — there’s stuff to talk about.
On today’s episode of From the Touchline, the three MLS chaplains talk about some of the highlights from this past season with their teams and the clubs that they serve. Troy Ready takes his first ever shot at Crosses with Rev— and it goes horribly wrong, no thanks to spotty internet in the Pacific Northwest. Ben gets inspired and writes two songs through the power of AI. It’s a fun podcast so tune in and listen!
From the Touchline is a short-feature (10-15 min) podcast with Rev Brad Kenney, Founder and Executive Director of Soccer Chaplains United and Volunteer Chaplain to the Colorado Rapids of Major League Soccer.
Rev Brad and occasional guests touch on various issues around the topics of faith, family, and football (soccer).
Also, don’t forget that you can listen in our app, SoccrChapUtd,in the Apple and Google store.
https://soccerchaplainsunited.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/From-the-Touchline-Cover-Art.jpg15001500Brad Kenney/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/SCU_Seal_Logo-300x300.pngBrad Kenney2023-10-25 00:00:002024-07-08 23:47:342023 MLS Season Review and Playoff Preview with special guests Ben Dudley and Troy Ready
The USL-Championship is the second division of professional soccer in the United States and, currently, Soccer Chaplains United’s largest contingent of chaplains (9 of 28) serving teams in this league. With the playoffs set to start this next weekend, I’ve invited the USL-C chaplains on the podcast today to give a quick look back at the 2023 season and preview the playoffs ahead.
On this episode of From the Touchline, Kurt Trempert shares some sad news with us. Robert Briggs (also known as “Briggsy”) will have his first ever shot at Crosses with Rev— the little game I like to play with podcast guests. So tune in and listen as we talk about USL playoff soccer today on the podcast.
From the Touchline is a short-feature (10-15 min) podcast with Rev Brad Kenney, Founder and Executive Director of Soccer Chaplains United and Volunteer Chaplain to the Colorado Rapids of Major League Soccer.
Rev Brad and occasional guests touch on various issues around the topics of faith, family, and football (soccer).
Also, don’t forget that you can listen in our app, SoccrChapUtd,in the Apple and Google store.
https://soccerchaplainsunited.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/From-the-Touchline-Cover-Art.jpg15001500Brad Kenney/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/SCU_Seal_Logo-300x300.pngBrad Kenney2023-10-18 00:00:002024-07-08 23:47:382023 USL Season Review and Playoff Preview with special guests Aydt, Trempert, and Briggs
The MLS Next Pro regular season has come to a close and today, on the podcast, I am joined by Jubal McDaniel (Tacoma Defiance) and Kevin Hasenack (Colorado Rapids 2). We take a look back at the 2023 season and look ahead to the playoffs. The chaplains share some of the highlights and challenges from the year and how they think it might end up for their teams. We all finish with a time of prayer for the MLS Next Pro teams as the get started this next week on the playoffs.
Please note: this podcast was recorded before the actual selection stage. MLS Next Pro teams are able to choose their opponents with a high enough seed.
From the Touchline is a podcast with Rev Brad Kenney, Founder and Executive Director of Soccer Chaplains United and Volunteer Chaplain to the Colorado Rapids of Major League Soccer.
Rev Brad and occasional guests touch on various issues around the topics of faith, family, and football (soccer).
Also, don’t forget that you can listen in our app, SoccrChapUtd,in the Apple and Google store.
https://soccerchaplainsunited.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/From-the-Touchline-Cover-Art.jpg15001500Brad Kenney/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/SCU_Seal_Logo-300x300.pngBrad Kenney2023-09-27 00:00:002024-07-08 23:47:492023 MLS Next Pro Playoff Preview with special guests Jubal McDaniel and Kevin Hasenack
Last week saw more of the Major League Soccer (MLS) 2021 playoff picture come into focus. Ben Dudley and Troy Ready’s Portland Timbers took down my own Colorado Rapids on Thanksgiving Day. It was a heartbreaking loss as Colorado fans packed out the stadium in hopes of seeing the #1 seed in the West advance. But it wasn’t to be with a 90th minute scramble in the box and a Timbers team that displayed the urgency to come away with the win. Billy Cerveny’s Nashville SC took down Orlando City FC but fell in penalty kicks (2-0) on Sunday to the Philadelphia Union after a 1-1 draw.
Beyond following Portland, most teams will now scatter for the season. Some players and coaches may continue to stay in their respective cities, while many will return home to be with family across the U.S. and around the world. Front office staff will have lighter weeks but begin to promote next season which will start early due to World Cup and other soccer considerations. The MLS Next Academy teams will be playing in a number of tournaments throughout December and have a few weeks break before beginning again in January.
Please take a moment to pray for our chaplains as they continue to serve the athletes, coaches, and staff in the what remains of the season and into the offseason. Pray for rest and rejuvenation for the ministry to continuing serving these teams.
Soccer Chaplains United is non-profit, 501(c)3 and depends upon the financial support of our partners to carry out our work of developing chaplaincy across all levels of soccer. Please consider making a contribution today to help us continue growing our work. You can text soccerchaplains to (833) 245-5091 to link through your mobile device or simply click the PushPay Logo on the bottom of the page below.
Portland advance to the Western Conference Finals
https://soccerchaplainsunited.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/Portland-Timbers-cutting-wood-chainsaw-soccer-1377774962d.gif180320Brad Kenney/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/SCU_Seal_Logo-300x300.pngBrad Kenney2021-11-30 10:36:072021-11-30 10:36:09And Then, There Was One…
Less than a month ago, a hefty majority of Soccer Chaplains United chaplains found that their teams were headed for playoffs in their perspective leagues. Hopes were high, but several teams stumbled in spite of achieving this pivotal milestone for a long season of soccer.
Of the teams that remain in the playoff hunt, Major League Soccer (MLS), Ben Dudley and Troy Ready’s Portland Timbers won against Minnesota United FC, 3-1. They will face my own Colorado Rapids this Thursday, on Thanksgiving Day in an MLS first — a national, televised match on Thanksgiving. Billy Cerveny’s Nashville SC play a home game this Tuesday night at 4:00 pm Eastern against Orlando City FC in a game televised on FS1 and Fox Deportes.
Below are the results of the other Soccer Chaplains United teams:
National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL) Portland Thorns lost in a semifinal against Chicago Red Stars, 2-0.
United Soccer League – Championship (USL-C)
El Paso Locomotive quarterfinal loss to Oakland Roots, 1-0.
Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC quarterfinal loss to Orange County Blues, 1-0.
Rio Grande Valley Toros FC upset #1 Phoenix Rising in penalty kicks 4-3 in their quarterfinal match, but then lost in the semifinals to San Antonio, 3-1.
Memphis 901 FC quarterfinal loss to Charlotte Independence, 3-1.
In Colorado High School Soccer, Valor Christian lost in the second round to Denver East, 1-0.
Please take a moment to pray for our chaplains as they serve the athletes, coaches, and staff in the what remains of the season and into the offseason. Pray for rest and rejuvenation for the ministry to continuing serving these teams.
Soccer Chaplains United is non-profit, 501(c)3 and depends upon the financial support of our partners to carry out our work of developing chaplaincy across all levels of soccer. Please consider making a contribution today to help us continue growing our work. You can text soccerchaplains to (833) 245-5091 to link through your mobile device or simply click the PushPay Logo on the bottom of the page below.
https://soccerchaplainsunited.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/r-xkiemql34.jpg10671600Brad Kenney/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/SCU_Seal_Logo-300x300.pngBrad Kenney2021-11-22 08:00:002021-11-22 08:15:23Soccer Chaplains United Team’s Playoff Update
A number of results this past Wednesday night solidified the playoff destinies of teams where Soccer Chaplains United chaplains are serving.
In Major League Soccer, while my own Colorado Rapids lost to league-leading New England, Ben Dudley and Troy Ready’s Portland Timbers won 2-0 to clinch a spot. In the Eastern Conference Billy Cerveny’s Nashville SC won with a thrilling come-from-behind victory over Cincinnati to clinch a playoff place with a few games in the season remaining.
In the National Women’s League, Christina Garber’s Portland Thorns clinched the league shield (most points in the season) and will have the top seed for postseason play.
In the United Soccer League Championship, Soccer Chaplains United chaplains are serving six different teams. In the Mountain Division, with four teams, there will be a tense playoff battle which will either see Chaplain Isidro Piña’s Rio Grande Valley Toros or Clint Moore’s New Mexico United go through. Erick Jiménez’s El Paso Locomotive clinched the top division spot weeks ago and Kurt Trempert’s Colorado Springs Switchbacks recently secured a home playoff game. In the Pacific Division, Jubal McDaniel’s Tacoma Defiance are in striking distance, but need results to go their way and a win against division leader Phoenix, this weekend. Elsewhere, Greg Aydt’s Memphis 901 FC finally secured a spot with Wednesday night’s home victory.
On the college front, Kim Beach’s work with Trinity International University will see the last home game and senior night this weekend. TIU has stumbled a bit this season to a 3-13 record and with an ever-shifting landscape from the ongoing effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, Kim’s work as chaplain will continue well into the offseason with the student athletes of TIU.
In High School, Greg Navitsky’s Valor Christian High School team advance out of the first round of the Colorado State High School playoffs with a 1-0 win over Doherty Wednesday night. Ryan Doyle’s boys team at Christ Presbyterian Academy play in the spring and Jordan Medas’ work in central Virginia is just getting going.
The extension of ministry due to the playoffs means that chaplains have more opportunities to serve and love and care for the athletes, coaches, staff, and families that they serve. More touch points and potentially some difficult places as teams flourish or fail — sometimes the failing places offering more space for a chaplain to represent God to people and to bring comfort in the midst of disappointment and loss.
Please keep our chaplains and their respective teams in your prayers.
Soccer Chaplains United is non-profit, 501(c)3 and depends upon the financial support of our partners to carry out our work of developing chaplaincy across all levels of soccer. Please consider making a contribution today to help us continue growing our work. You can text soccerchaplains to (833) 245-5091 to link through your mobile device or simply click the PushPay Logo on the bottom of the page below.
https://soccerchaplainsunited.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/g9sny0almf0.jpg7371600Brad Kenney/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/SCU_Seal_Logo-300x300.pngBrad Kenney2021-10-29 00:00:002021-10-28 12:55:16Playoffs at Fever Pitch with Soccer Chaplains United Chaplains
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