Cleared Off The Line

The soccer balance of power in Ohio may be shifting as the MLS season kicks off!

Forrest is joined by Kenta Hagiwara (Area Sports Network) and Justin Blair (Cincy Soccer Talk) to break down the expectations for two Ohio state superpowers.

FC Cincinnati has aced the test of signing replacements for several key departures, one of which is probably the best player in club history, to get ready for the new campaign.

00:00-16:30

Columbus Crew are in the hunt for players who can lead the line and the chase for another deep playoff run after two storied strikers left the Ohio capital just weeks before MLS ramps up.

16:30-28:00

Both have jockeyed for top Eastern Conference spots in years past and will look to do the same this season making the Hell is Real Derby a must-watch fixture.

The real questions is, no matter how well both sides are playing, will there be a rematch of the 2023 Eastern Conference Finals?

28:00-39:00

Women's soccer has seen a rollercoaster of a past 20 years.

Right now, the sport is seeing something that has never happened before. Does that sound familiar? 100%.

For the first time in United States soccer history, there are two women's professional leagues with Tier One status.

The United Soccer League Super League is playing in its inaugural season this fall.

Anna Witte, a sideline reporter, was one of the first people to see this league in action as Carolina Ascent FC beat DC Power in the inaugural match.

Witte is a native North Carolinian, former college player and has seen her sport rise to new heights for years.

On the podcast this week, Anna tells all about her once in a lifetime experience at that match and gives the lowdown on what the Super League is.

In the middle of the horse racing and Kentucky basketball kingdom a new soccer club is trying to make its way into the hearts of the Commonwealth.

Lexington Sporting Club is a United Soccer League franchise that's made it clear that it wants to succeed as one of the emerging powers of American lower and top league soccer.

Within three years of existence, the club has professional, pre-professional and academy teams on the men's and women's sides.

But, how is this possible? The short answer is ambition and investment.

While that's one question to be asked, there's more to consider especially as the club moves its men's side up a division in the USL.

As die-hard soccer fans are overjoyed that this club gives them a pro soccer option in the Bluegrass, will the wider audience within an already Kentucky Wildcats crazed city fall in love with the club?

To answer these questions and examine how LSC is a prime representation of modern American soccer, Forrest has some help from Lexington-based journalist Cameron Drummond.

Listen to hear what the pair thinks LSC must do to have an overwhelming return on investment and to make soccer a top of mind sport in Central Kentucky.

Interesting people happen to kick a ball for a living all over our world.

One of them is Lauren Chang, a player of FC Sparta Praha Zeny in Prague, Czech Republic.

Chang is someone who I've watched play for awhile, but off of the pitch she is just as interesting as on it. I covered her and the South Carolina Gamecocks Women's Soccer team in college.

Whether its being a bookworm, master (home) chef, LGBTQIA+ advocate, community volunteer or just an Atlanta native putting on for the 404 Lauren is one of a kind.

We talk about all those things plus her life in Prague as she adjusted and now is fully immersed in her local culture.

The most important coaching search in US Soccer history is happening right now.

Whoever comes in to manage the Yanks will have to take this team to new heights during the 2026 World Cup.

As names swirl and days pass, it's clear that US Soccer has to take its time with hiring a new manager at the most pivotal time in its history to date.

So, when will the new manager be in place? In time for the September friendlies? Who is the best choice anyway? What qualities are the best in the current pool of candidates?

Those questions answered (with a few different takes) and more on this episode of COTL, where we bring in Justin Blair of Cincy Soccer Talk.

Cincinnati is one of the next places that the USMNT will play in for the September window and perhaps a new head coach will be on the touchline.

Becoming and being a professional footballer is a challenge unlike any other in and of itself.

Nothing can diminish the hard work that players must pay to receive a trial, contract, spot in the match day squad and even a start or substitute appearance.

Goalkeepers have it harder than anyone because, unlike outfield players, they are one of one in the starting eleven.

Our guest today is a young, up and comer keeper in the United Soccer League Championship.

He’s the second choice at his club, but whenever he’s between the posts, showing up is the least he does.

On this episode we talk about how he handles being the second choice goalkeeper with a first class attitude.

Welcome in to Charleston Battery shot stopper Daniel Kuzemka.

Pundits and analysts are everywhere when you turn on a match of football.

Some have had illustrious playing careers. Others have had careers that are not as well known. Regardless, being a professional at any level is a remarkable accomplishment.

Whatever the caliber of their career, someone in the broadcasting industry has vetted these ex-pros to be on television or radio, which is a tough process in and of itself.

But, what if I told you that one pundit's path was nothing but zig zags, that he was working as an estate manager for high profile families for years at a time and that you might've never heard of him.

Well... you do now.

Devon Kerr is our guest on this week's pod. Listen to hear about how his life has come full circle in the broadcast booth.

Copa America, The Olympics, The Euros, International Friendlies, The Soccer Tournament, MLS, USL, NWSL, The Open Cup, The Leagues Cup AND SO MUCH MORE soccer is on the way to the American public this summer!

It's a schedule that many U.S. footy fans would've though was a pipe dream years ago, but not anymore!

So the question is... how much soccer is too much?

Men in Blazers Director of Marketing, Evan Raimist, kicks off the new season of COTL to let you know what one of the most popular soccer news outlets in the nation thinks about that question. Plus, how does he think the game will grow this summer to levels we have never seen before?

Forrest and Terry are going yankee soccer heavy on this episode of the podcast. 

From the jump they talked about Carli Lloyd's reveal to the LA Times that she spoke to her family for the first time in 12 years recently. The boys divulge into what this says about Lloyd and how this fits into the narrative of we already know about her.

Next, a 21 year old from Oklahoma is tearing up the English Championship. His name is Daryl Dike. Terry and Tuck are going to tell y'all all about him and why he is so special.

Lastly, the MLS is starting up at the same time the EPL winds down. The boys give you their spring footy do's and don'ts to round out the episode.

Thanks for listening!

Forrest and Terry have met their fair share of international students while at USC, one of them is Dom Kuhn from Switzerland. The boys wanted to give the COTL fam an idea of what the beautiful game is like in the land of good cheese and chocolate so they're joined by Dom to talk all things Swiss soccer.

Dom filled the lads in on what it was like playing as a kid in his home country, who he supports (and hates) in the Swiss professional league and his impressions of American soccer since he has spent much time stateside.

Thanks for listening