Soccer

Annapolis resident Mike Greenhill is one of those rare guys who, even after he turned 50, could effortlessly sprint up and down a soccer field like he did as a much younger man. Until one evening last year, the 53-year-old took this ability for granted. Now, as Greenhill prepares to return to the game after an 11-month hiatus, he's happy to be alive. For this, he thanks a young woman whom he calls "his angel. " Last April Stephanie Andrews, a 22-year-old Howard County firefighter and emergency medical technician from Sykesville, agreed to play a soccer game on her friends' co-ed team because it was short a few players.

The elimination of the men's baseball and soccer programs at Towson State University is a tough pill to swallow ("Towson president: Cutbacks of baseball, soccer painful but necessary," March 15). It is a great disappointment to fans, the administration, friends of the university and the athletes in these two programs. Yet it is the only viable option if Towson is to comply with Title IX. Athletic Director Mike Waddell spent a year studying alternatives to cutting the two sports. University President Maravene Loeschke then appointed a task force to review his recommendations.

Recently, I announced with a heavy heart the discontinuation of men's soccer and baseball at Towson University. The decision was made after an extensive review following the initial recommendation from athletics leadership and the majority support of an independent task force charged to resolve three critical issues facing the university: long-term financial sustainability and affordability of the athletics budget; compliance with gender equity requirements...

Blast at Missouri Comets What: MISL championship Game 1 When: Thursday, 8:35 p.m. Site: Independence (Mo.) Events Center Video: mislnation.com Outlook: Surprise! Most people expected to see the two-time defending league champion Milwaukee Wave playing against the Blast for the Major Indoor Soccer League title, but the Comets upset Milwaukee in the semifinals. After dropping the first game in overtime last Thursday, Missouri came back to stun the Wave on Sunday in the second game, 9-8, and then advanced to the championship series with a 5-4 win in the deciding mini game.

In keeping with national trends, 60 percent more women than men enroll at Towson University. Graduation rates for women versus men are similar. It wasn't that long ago that universities were tripping over themselves to increase the enrollment and graduation of women. At a time when universities retain and graduate fewer men, baseball and soccer teams are excellent recruitment opportunities and incentives toward graduation ("Towson president decides to cut baseball, men's soccer," March 8)

Towson University president Maravene Loeschke was escorted by several police officers into a meeting with the school's baseball and men's soccer teams Friday morning to tell players she had decided to cut their sports. Her speech to members of the teams - some could not make it because they'd been given less than an hour notice and were in class - lasted only a few minutes, players said. As they left, they noticed that the cars carrying Loeschke and other officials were surrounded by about 10 additional officers.

Submitting sports notices The deadline for submitting sports copy is 9 a.m. on Monday. We prefer email (howardcountysports@patuxent.com). Questions? Call 410-332-6578. Soccer The Thunder Soccer Club's U14 girls Siafu, born on or after Aug. 1, 1998, are looking for experienced Division 1 players for the spring season. The team will compete in the Region 1 Colonial League and several competitive tournaments. Visit ThunderSoccerClub.org or email p.corbett10@gmail.com . Golf The First Tee of Howard County is accepting registration for its spring and summer sessions.

St. Mary's High School in Annapolis is searching for a head boys varsity cross country coach and for a girls JV soccer coach and/or varsity assistant for the 2013 season. Qualified candidates should submit a resume and three references to Trey Whitty, Athletic Director, twhitty@stmarysannapolis.org or 113 Duke Of Gloucester St. Annapolis, MD 21401.

The Blast has the ideal primer for the upcoming Major Indoor Soccer League playoffs as the team closes out its regular season at 1st Mariner Arena on Saturday - a game against the two-time defending league champion Milwaukee Wave. The rivalry is far and away the best and most intense in the MISL, with all the other franchises too new to have developed any on the same level. And this game - set for 7:35 p.m. - has plenty on the line with the teams tied for first place in the league.