Soccer Watch

In what is widely assumed to be a historic first, Long­horn goalie Dianne Pfenninger was named offensive player of the Big 12 tournament. She scored the winning goal in each of the Longhorns' first two games, which they won in penalty-kick shoot-outs, then notched an assist on the winning goal in the championship game, as the Horns beat Texas A&M, 2-1, to avenge a regular-season loss to the Aggies and claim the Big 12 title. But despite their No. 6 national ranking, the Horns failed to get one of the NCAA's 16 seeds – instead they have to go to College Station to take on Brigham Young in the NCAA first round, today, Thursday, Nov. 15, at 3pm. The winner advances to a second-round match at 5:30pm Saturday, against the Stephen F. Austin-Texas A&M winner. See www.texassports.com for ticket info or this column online for more NCAA info.

The St. Edward's women, meanwhile, were bounced out of the NCAAs in their first game, losing at home to Central Oklahoma, 2-1 in overtime. Fine season, though.

The MLS Cup is this Sunday, Nov. 18, at 11am (live on ABC). The Houston Dynamo – which advanced to the final by beating Kansas City, 2-0, with goals by Nate Jaqua and Dwayne De Rosario – faces New England in Washington, D.C., in a rematch of last year's final.

Qualifying for next summer's Euro Championship wraps up this week, with some 43 games on Saturday and Wednesday, Nov. 17 & 21. None is bigger than Saturday's Italy at Scotland, a virtual elimination game in the Group B "Group of Death." It's on ESPN Deportes at 11am. England hosts Croatia on Wednesday at 2pm; it's closed-circuit only, and Fadó (214 W. Fourth) will be hopping, though England may well already be eliminated, depending on Saturday results. See full schedule online.

Lastly, intriguing news on the local front: a new franchise for Austin's USL Premier Development League team. As of the next spring season, the Austin Stampede will take over from the star-crossed Austin Lightning, with some of the same management but a new coach and other improvements to be named. More details in the near future.