Wisconsin Soccer Central

Vancouver Whitecaps center back and captain Jay DeMerit(Green Bay/Bay Port) spoke with the media on Saturday for the first time since suffering a ruptured Achilles tendon a week earlier in the team's Major League Soccer opener.

The former U.S. national teamer said he doesn't blame the Whitecaps for the injury – he dealt with Achilles' tendinitis throughout 2012 and in training camp this year, leading some to ask if the team put DeMerit at risk by playing him.

He was injured as he jumped just 6 minutes into the match against Toronto FC.

The 33-year-old DeMerit, who had surgery to repair the tendon on Monday, added that he definitely plans to resume his playing career. Read more

• Two state players are on trial with North American Soccer League teams: Tony Walls (Wauwatosa East/UW-Green Bay) is with the Fort Lauderdale Strikers, whileAmilcar Herrera (Milwaukee Riverside/Marquette) is with Minnesota United FC. Walls, who spent last season with the Chicago Fire in MLS but was released last month, played in the Strikers' preseason matches against Florida International and the Copa Latina All-Stars this week. Goalkeeper Phil Boerger, who played for the Madison 56ers in the National Premier Soccer League, also is on trial with Fort Lauderdale. Herrera played with the Rockford Rampage in the Professional Arena Soccer League during the winter.
• Keeper Erin Kane (UW-Milwaukee) is headed to training camp with the Chicago Red Stars of the new National Women's Soccer League. Kane, who ranks third in NCAA Division I history with 45 career shutouts, spent 2009 with St. Louis Athletica of Women's Professional Soccer and was in camp with the Red Stars in 2010 before being released. Kane also coaches at FC Wisconsin Eclipse; the club's coaching director is Red Stars assistant Christian Lavers.
• Charles Kazluaskas (Milwaukee Thomas More) played the final 22 minutes as Helmond Sport rallied past host MVV Maastricht 3-2 in a Jupiler League match Friday night in the Netherlands. Kazluaskas had missed the past two games due to injury for Helmond Sport (12-4-9), which is third in the 17-team second division.