American Professional Soccer League

The Salsa, which reached the American Professional Soccer League final last season, opens training camp today at Cal State Fullerton. League MVP Paulinho was invited to camp and is expected to join returning starter Paul Wright, the league's second-leading scorer last season, among others. The Salsa open the season July 1 at Colorado.

Professional soccer makes its Ventura County debut when the Valley Golden Eagles play host to the L.A. Salsa tonight at 8 p.m. at Moorpark High. The Eagles (1-0) and Salsa (1-1) are two of 55 teams in the U.S. International Soccer League, which includes teams in the United States, Canada and Puerto Rico, and is accredited by the U.S. Soccer Federation as a third-division professional league.

Paulinho scored two goals and the Salsa defeated Houston, 3-0, in a American Professional Soccer League game Thursday at Robertson Stadium in Houston. Paulinho started the scoring with a header in the 26th minute. The goal came off a cross from Mike Fox, who had worked the ball down the right side and then kicked it into the penalty box, where Paulinho was stationed. Paulinho added his second goal 22 minutes into the second half when he scored from about 10 yards.

The Salsa, which has competed the last two seasons in the American Professional Soccer League, has decided to sit out the 1995 season. Owner William De La Pena is reorganizing and restructuring the franchise and has asked the APSL to allow him to maintain his franchise rights, logo and player contracts. He also is considering a merger with the Vancouver 86ers, one of seven remaining APSL teams.

The Salsa has sold Ian Feuer, a 6-foot-6 goalkeeper who started 19 American Professional Soccer League games for the team last season, to West Ham United of England's Premier Division for an undisclosed amount. Feuer, who had four shutouts and a 1.476 goals-against average, will be the first U.S. goalkeeper to join England's top level of soccer, the team said. The Salsa released midfielder Dale Ervine, a former indoor star who scored two goals in 18 starts last season.

The Salsa could not find the goal against the Montreal Impact, losing 2-0 in an American Professional Soccer League game Wednesday in front of 3,246 at Claude Robillard Stadium in Montreal. Montreal's Lloyd Barker scored the first goal, which was unassisted, 22 minutes into the game and the Impact's second goal came after its top scorer, Jean Harbor, kicked in the ball from the right corner at the 56-minute mark.

The Splash, Anaheim's new entry in the Continental Indoor Soccer League, selected Fullerton resident Phillip Gyau with its first pick in Wednesday's league draft in Washington, D.C. Gyau, a 6-foot-1, 170-pound forward, was most valuable player of the American Professional Soccer League in 1990 but has no indoor pro experience. The Splash selected him 38th overall.

The Salsa, which opens the American Professional Soccer League season May 1 against the Toronto Blizzard at Cal State Fullerton, put the finishing touches on its team Thursday by signing three players, including former UCLA standout and U.S. national team member Dale Ervine, to contracts.

The Salsa, which has competed the last two seasons in the American Professional Soccer League, has decided to sit out the 1995 season. Owner William De La Pena is reorganizing and restructuring the franchise and has asked the APSL to allow him to maintain his franchise rights, logo and player contracts. He also is considering a merger with the Vancouver 86ers, one of seven remaining APSL teams.

The Salsa took advantage of timely scheduling and a slumping opponent to move into second place by beating Ft. Lauderdale Wednesday night at Titan Stadium. The Salsa, winners of five of their last six games, defeated the Strikers, 5-1, before 2,852 in an American Professional Soccer League game. The loss was the eighth in a row for the last-place Strikers (3-9). The victory moved the Salsa (8-6) past Montreal in the standings.

The Salsa took advantage of timely scheduling and a slumping opponent to move into second place by beating Ft. Lauderdale Wednesday night at Titan Stadium. The Salsa, winners of five of their last six games, defeated the Strikers, 5-1, before 2,852 in an American Professional Soccer League game. The loss was the eighth in a row for the last-place Strikers (3-9). The victory moved the Salsa (8-6) past Montreal in the standings.

Star Salsa midfielder Paulinho has a flair for the dramatic that, well, a guy better have to make that one-name thing work. And true to form Saturday night, the high-scoring Brazilian provided his best by saving it for last. Slowed by the flu and doubtful to play, Paulinho scored two goals in the second half of the Salsa's 2-1 American Professional Soccer League victory over Vancouver in front of 3,396 at Titan Stadium.

Armando Valdivia thought he had a future in professional soccer when his playing days ended at Cal State Northridge. But he never expected his livelihood would depend on his ability to bounce balls--and opponents--off plexiglass walls in arenas throughout the country. Welcome to the Continental Indoor Soccer League and the Anaheim Splash. Valdivia has proved a quick study to the high-paced, frenetic game.

Armando Valdivia felt he had a future in professional soccer when his playing days at Cal State Northridge ended. But he never expected his livelihood would depend on his ability to bounce balls--and opponents--off plexiglass walls in arenas throughout the country. Welcome to the Anaheim Splash of the Continental Indoor Soccer League. Valdivia, however, has proved a quick study to the high-paced, frenetic game.

The Salsa could not find the goal against the Montreal Impact, losing 2-0 in an American Professional Soccer League game Wednesday in front of 3,246 at Claude Robillard Stadium in Montreal. Montreal's Lloyd Barker scored the first goal, which was unassisted, 22 minutes into the game and the Impact's second goal came after its top scorer, Jean Harbor, kicked in the ball from the right corner at the 56-minute mark.

Paulinho scored two goals and the Salsa defeated Houston, 3-0, in a American Professional Soccer League game Thursday at Robertson Stadium in Houston. Paulinho started the scoring with a header in the 26th minute. The goal came off a cross from Mike Fox, who had worked the ball down the right side and then kicked it into the penalty box, where Paulinho was stationed. Paulinho added his second goal 22 minutes into the second half when he scored from about 10 yards.

The Salsa, which reached the American Professional Soccer League final last season, opens training camp today at Cal State Fullerton. League MVP Paulinho was invited to camp and is expected to join returning starter Paul Wright, the league's second-leading scorer last season, among others. The Salsa open the season July 1 at Colorado.

The Salsa has sold Ian Feuer, a 6-foot-6 goalkeeper who started 19 American Professional Soccer League games for the team last season, to West Ham United of England's Premier Division for an undisclosed amount. Feuer, who had four shutouts and a 1.476 goals-against average, will be the first U.S. goalkeeper to join England's top level of soccer, the team said. The Salsa released midfielder Dale Ervine, a former indoor star who scored two goals in 18 starts last season.