Florida Soccer.
The Fort Lauderdale Strikers will continue to play at Lockhart Stadium through 2013 after an agreement was unanimously approved by the Fort Lauderdale City Commission. The deal, also approved by the Federal Aviation Administration, allows the Strikers operational control of the stadium until the end of next year……The Tampa Bay Rowdies of the NASL and the USL PRO Orlando City SC have announced that fans have voted the “I-4 Derby” as the official title for the new series between both clubs. The first match will be in Orlando at the Florida Citrus Bowl on Saturday, March 9, 2013, with the second to follow on Saturday, March 30 at Al Lang Stadium in St. Petersburg….Plant HS’ Jayne Hagan took a pass from Caroline Bado, dribbled around a defender and chipped a ball over the goalkeeper’s head for a 1-0 win over Wharton that ran the Panthers’ record to 11-1-1. It also gave her coach, Pam Smith, her 200th coaching victory. Smith has coached for 17 seasons, first at the Academy of the Holy Names and Tampa Prep. She’s been at Plant for two seasons ….University of Central Florida senior forward Tishia Jewell has received the C-USA Fall Spirit of Service Award. Jewell (Satellite Beach, FL) was the recipient of the prestigious Senior CLASS Award and adds this Spirit of Service recognition among her many honors including NSCAA/Adidas Collegiate Scholar All-American, three-time C-USA Academic Honor Roll, three-time all-Central Region honoree, three-time All-Conference USA selection and a 2011 NSCAA All-American distinction….The USL presented Orlando City’s Phil Rawlins the award for Executive of the Year in the USL PRO league at the USL HOF & Awards Dinner recently in Clearwater. Orlando City’s Alex Wolf received the Betsy McAdams Key Grip Award, and the Orlando City Lions were recognized as the USL Pro regular season champions…..Florida Gators alum Abby Wambach is one of three finalist for FIFA Player of the Year, along with U.S. WNT teammate Alex Morgan and Brazil’s Marta. Wambach finished 2012 with 150 career goals, only six behind Mia Hamm’s all-time record. Wambach is the Gators all-time leader in goals (96), assists (50) and points (242).