Photo: Barb Colligon

Philadelphia Union

John Hackworth explains why the Union has abandoned the practice initiated by Peter Nowak of continuing to train together as a team after the end of the regular season. “It’s a very long year. There are guys in the locker room who know they’re not going to be here next year. That’s the reality. And any time you try to merge players who know they’re going to be here next year with players that know they’re not going to be here, all you get is a bunch of worthless training sessions and usually a fistfight or two. We experienced that the last couple of years…We want them to shut it down for a little while and take a true offseason break” Fistfights? Do tell!

Union Dues argues that bringing Sebastien Le Toux back would be a terrible idea. Can we get both Le Toux and Kenny Cooper from New York and just move on?

A belated happy birthday to Bakary Soumare.

Local

Haverford drew 2–2 and then prevailed 4–2 on penalty kicks over Wesleyan (Conn.) University in their first NCAA Division III tournament match in 31 years. On Sunday, they fell 3–0 to No. 5-ranked Stevens Institute of Technology.

Swarthmore defeated Albertus Magnus 3–0 in the first round on Saturday and then defeated Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute 3–0 to advance to the final 16 for the third time in the past five years. They next face Amherst at a date and time to be determined.

Rutgers-Camden defeated Medaille College 2–0 in the first round of Division III tournament play before losing to York College on penalty kicks.

Cabrini College lost their first round math to No. 15 Susquehanna University 6-5 in a penalty kick shootout.

Lafayette College won their seventh Patriot League championship on Sunday, defeating American 2–0. With the win comes an automatic bid into the NCAA Division I tournament.

The La Salle women’s team’s record-breaking season is over after they were defeated 4–1 by Virginia in the first round of the NCAA tournament.

Old City residents may have a new place to watch games after the word that a British-style pub will be opening on Front street.

MLS

Barring a significant turn-around in the second leg of the conference finals, it’s looking like the MLS Cup final will be a repeat of last year. On Sunday afternoon, Houston Dynamo came from behind to defeat DC United 3–1. On Sunday night, LA Galaxy ran circles around Seattle Sounders to win 3–0.

DC United will be without Andy Najar through the rest of the Eastern Conference final after the league suspended him for two games for throwing the ball at the ref. Seattle are without Mark Burch for the rest of the season after he was suspended for three games by the league when he was caught on camera using a homophobic slur during the Sounders 1–0 win over Real Salt Lake in the Western Conference semifinals.

Housecleaning time at Chivas USA and New York Red Bulls. Bet you didn’t see that coming.

A survey commissioned by the league says 71 percent of Queens residents support the plan to build a new stadium at Flushing Meadows-Corona Park.

US

Here’s some historical background ahead of Wednesday’s friendly in Russia. The roster will be announced later today.

According to his club team, Timothy Chandler will be called up.

Jozy Altidore just keeps scoring goals.

Is Clint Dempsey good enough for Tottenham?

Looks like the USWNT will face Germany away on April 5 but there’s been no confirmation from US Soccer.

Elsewhere

Lionel Messi has surpassed Pele’s 1958 record of 75 goals in one calendar year and is now only ten goals from surpassing Gerd Muller’s 1972 record of 85. I can’t wait to hear about how Pele dismisses Messi’s accomplishment.

The international players union FIFPro will ask FIFA to reconsider staging afternoon matches at tropical venues during the 2014 World Cup.

Here’s a great story from the New York Times on the One World Futbol, a virtually indestructible ball that is being shipped to poor countries.