DS Talk » sway the result.VANCOUVER - Carl Robinson need

Jill Ellis has been named the U.S. national team coach in the run-up to the womens World Cup next summer in Canada and beyond. Ellis has been the interim coach since Tom Sermanni was surprisingly dismissed in early April after an exhibition victory against China. It was Ellis second stint as an interim coach with the team; she also took over when previous head coach Pia Sundhage resigned in 2012 to become head coach of Swedens national team. Ellis has a 6-0-3 record overall as the teams interim coach. Ellis was an assistant to both Sermanni and Sundhage. She was on the staff of the gold medal-winning U.S. teams at the Beijing and London Olympics. The 47-year-old coach, who is well respected among national team players, has had a lengthy coaching career, including 12 seasons at UCLA. "Not beating around the bush, I know the expectation, embrace the expectation," Ellis said Friday. "I know that we want to win, and I think this group is capable of winning. Thats what we want, it is always the expectation. People ask me if thats intimidating and I say no, because when you work for U.S. soccer its about winning gold medals and standing on the first-place podium." The U.S. womens team, which has been ranked No. 1 for the past six years, next plays a pair of exhibition matches against France in Tampa, Florida, and East Hartford, Connecticut, in mid-June. The United States will host the eight-team CONCACAF qualifying tournament in October for the 2015 World Cup, according to an announcement Friday. The tournament was originally scheduled to take place in Mexico but there were "issues" concerning the venues, U.S. Soccer President Sunil Gulati said. The venues and schedule for the tournament have yet to be determined. Despite the teams success on the international stage in recent years, the U.S. women havent won a World Cup title since 1999. Japan won the 2011 World Cup in Germany, defeating the United States on a penalty shoot-out following a 2-2 draw after extra time. "The job description is to win next summer," Gulati said during a conference call Friday announcing Ellis appointment. Beyond that, the U.S. team will also look to defend back-to-back-to-back Olympic titles in Brazil the following year. Sermanni helped the U.S. to a 13-0-3 record last year, but the Americans went 1-2-1 at the Algarve Cup in March, the last major tournament for the U.S. before qualifying this fall. The seventh-place Algarve Cup finish included a 1-0 loss to Sweden and Sundhage, ending a two-year, 43-game unbeaten streak. That was the first loss following a 16-0-4 start under Sermanni. Ellis led the team to a 3-0 exhibition win in the second match against China after Sermanni was dismissed. "Were comfortable with Jill, we love Jill, we have a lot of respect for Jill, and she didnt really miss a beat. She put the pen on the board and she just started coaching," U.S. goalkeeper Hope Solo said following the match. "Im always honoured to be coached by Jill. Every time she has something to say, I always perk up and listen." Ellis will step down from her position as U.S. Soccer womens development director now that she is the head coach, the organization said. "We think Jills got all the right credentials, both in terms of experience, and how she relates to the players -- weve been able to see that firsthand in the two times shed been with the senior team and previously with our youth teams," Gulati said. "She gets top marks in all the work shes been doing on the technical side with all of our programs in the last several years. Its all of those things." Charles Barkley Jersey . What they did need, the Devils got from Patrik Elias. Elias scored a power-play goal 40 seconds into overtime to give the New Jersey Devils a 3-2 victory over the Dallas Stars. Richaun Holmes Jersey . Coming off a 6-0 drubbing at Chelsea on Saturday, Arsenal endured another demoralizing result after rallying for a 2-1 lead -- only to concede a fluke equalizer. http://www.officialsunsfanstore.com/drag...er-suns-jersey/. Here at TSN.ca we will take a look back at the season by bringing together a panel of experts to help pick the best 50 players of the season. Steve Nash Suns Jersey . Sixteen teams have moved on. Sixteen teams have gone home. Jason Kidd Jersey . As each game passes (each has played close with the exception of last night) it becomes clearer just how evenly matched these two teams are and how one mistake, or one bad inning, is likely to sway the result.VANCOUVER - Carl Robinson needs a little bit extra from the Vancouver Whitecaps. The rookie head coach has watched his team earn points in seven of its last Major League Soccer games but with just one win over that span Vancouver has tumbled out of a Western Conference playoff position. While he hasnt had any complaints about the Whitecaps effort, Robinson will be looking for another gear when defending-champion Sporting Kansas City visits B.C. Place Stadium on Sunday. Watch the game on TSN starting at 8pm et/5pm pt. "I think thats a daily thing. I think youve always got to give more," said the Welshman. "The day you think that youve done it or you stop giving more will be in the day that youre in the wrong sport. Well continue to work hard, whatever the results." The Whitecaps rocketed out of the gate to start the season thanks to an attack-minded and free-flowing system that had them scoring plenty of goals. But for all the good vibes early on, the last two months have seen Vancouver (6-4-11) pick up just a single victory to go along with four straight ties, including an dreary 0-0 road draw against the Chicago Fire on July 30. "Were very close to turning those draws into wins, but also were very close to having them taken away from us and (turned) into losses," said Robinson. "Were not getting carried away, were not losing many games, but I want to win more games." The Whitecaps were tied for the fewest losses in MLS heading into the weekend, but their 11 draws include games they really shouldve won going away if even one of a number of golden opportunities had been converted. "Weve missed chances, and in football its all about taking your chances. Thats why the big guys are paid the big bucks, because theyre able to take those chances," said Robinson. "Weve got ourselves in good positions but we havent been able to take them. Well continue to work at it. "Hopefully we can maybe get one in off a backside that might help us get flowing again." The killer instinct Vancouver showed early in the season has dried up since the beginning of June with just six goals in the last eight games — including a 30-shot performance in a 2-2 draw against FC Dallas on July 27 — and is in direct correlation with the clubs current 1-2-6 run. "When weve had the other team by the neck and playing well and creating a lot of chances, we need to put the games away scoring those goals," said Whitecaps goalkeeper David Ousted. "Thhats whats going to kill the other teams.dddddddddddd "I feel like our offensive play has been brilliant at times and when were playing like that we definitely need to put the chances away so we capitalize on our good periods." At the other end of the pitch, the Whitecaps have struggled to keep the ball out of their net at times thanks in large part to mental lapses at key moments. "I think weve been giving up some goals here and there that are our fault," said defender Jordan Harvey. "Once we clean that up I think well get the three points because weve been creating a lot of chances at home and playing really well. "We are a little frustrated with all the ties." Kansas City (11-5-6) entered the weekend tops in the Eastern Conference and has not lost in MLS play since May 31, a stretch of eight games (6-0-2). Sporting had four players take part in Wednesdays MLS all-star game against German powerhouse Bayern Munich, including defenders Aurelien Collin and Matt Besler, midfielder Graham Zusi and striker Dom Dwyer, who has 14 goals this season. The Whitecaps, meanwhile, didnt have any of their players involved in the showcase game in Portland, Ore., which seemed to suit them just fine as they look to pick up three points for the first time since a 1-0 victory over the Seattle Sounders on July 5. "Weve had a lot of draws, too many draws for my liking, and not enough wins," said Robinson. "It shows how close we are, but we just cant get over that line. Sundays a big game for us." Hes hopeful a good result in that big game will also give the Whitecaps the confidence moving forward as they look to climb back up the standings "Its a good test for this young group," Robinson said. "I think if we can give them a good game and show what were capable of — like we have most home games this year — were in with a chance. "If we do that do that hopefully we get better luck and get a victory." Notes: The Whitecaps bolstered their backline Friday by officially announcing the signing of defender Kendall Waston. The six-foot-five centre back joins Vancouver from Costa Rican club Deportivo Saprissa. ... Kansas City has won five straight road games, and a sixth Sunday would tie the club with the 2005 San Jose Earthquakes for most consecutive away wins in MLS history during the non-shootout era (2000-present). ... The Whitecaps next game is Aug. 16 at Chivas USA, while Kansas City hosts Toronto FC the same day. ' ' '