Clan News » finishing with 13 points in the half.Texa

MONTREAL -- The new guys in Major League Soccer didnt take much time to get to the top. Halfway through their second season in the league, the Montreal Impact lead the Eastern Conference with a league-best 9-4-4 record. And although they have played fewer games than most clubs, their 31 goals also lead the 19-team league. "You see a team that knows how to get points in this league," fullback Jeb Brovsky said Monday. "Last year, we gave up a few goals. "The mental focus is what it takes. Weve learned what it takes to win." As an expansion team in 2012, Montreal went 5-9-3 through the first 17 games of the 34-game regular season. They ended up 12-16-6 for 42 points to finish out of the playoffs in seventh place in the East. This year, they already have 31 points -- a 13-point improvement from the halfway mark last year. They have done it with most of the same players they had by the end of the 2012 campaign, but with new coach Marco Schallibaum replacing MLS rookie Jesse Marsch. It seems the former Swiss international and veteran coach was just what a team led by older Italian stars needed to take the next step. Even if the fiery Schallibaum has already served three one-game suspensions. "I see the team is motivated on the field and is progressing, its all very positive," said Schallibaum. So far, the 2013 campaign has been all about winning. It started in the pre-season when they won the Disney Soccer Classic tournament in Orlando, Fla. While running off victories in regular season play, they also won the Voyageurs Cup by beating Toronto FC and the Vancouver Whitecaps in the Amway Canadian Championship. The challenge will be to keep that pace up through the second half with opponents tightening defences to shut down league-leading scorer Marco Di Vaio, who has 11 goals. Also, the Impact are playing four additional games thanks to their qualification for the CONCACAF Champions League. The team ended the first half in a mini-slump that saw them blow a lead to lose 4-3 at home to Colorado, then eke out ties with Toronto and Chivas USA, two of the leagues lowest ranked clubs. The question is whether it is a temporary slide or a sign they have already peaked. "Theres certainly been some wake-up calls and reality checks," said goalkeeper Troy Perkins. "Thats to be expected. "Were into July, halfway through the season. Its always like this. Good things will happen to the teams that can grind it out and stay the course. We look back and we have to understand we are a good team. In the first half, weve done great things. We should be able to do it again." The season started with surprise wins in Seattle and Portland, so they matched their total of away victories in 2012 in the opening two games. The Impact were winners through most of their 18 seasons in lower leagues before they joined MLS, so it is not a total surprise they were able to assemble a competitive squad in short order. Most of the current team were brought together in their expansion year, including striker Di Vaio and AC Milan great Alessandro Nesta. Both will be 37 by the end of July. There is a strong Italian accent with Nestas central defence partner Matteo Ferrari and two newcomers, Di Vaios former Bologna teammates Daniele Paponi and Andrea Pisanu. But raised in Europe where soccer is a winter game, they will be tested in the summer heat. "Certainly for the guys from Italy, this is a new thing for them," said Perkins. "Theyre in a for a rude awakening. "When we play some teams from the south, its going to be hot. You have to be willing to suffer through the pain to get the result." Fullbacks Brovsky and Hassoun Camara and midfielders Patrice Bernier, Felipe Martins, Davy Arnaud, Justin Mapp, Sanna Nyassi and Collen Warner all started last season in Montreal and remain key figures on the squad. Perkins was acquired late last season and has been an improvement in goal over the unhappy Donovan Ricketts. Under Schallibaum, the 33-year-old Bernier has thrived despite being moved to a more defensive position, and Mapp, a frequent target of fans invective last season, was a standout until sidelined by a recent injury (hes expected back for a game Saturday in New York). Warner and Nyassi have seen their minutes drop from last season, but have played well mainly as substitutes. The extra depth on the roster, including rookie midfielder Blake Smith and sophomore striker Andrew Wenger, has helped overcome some injuries. "Overall, were extremely happy with where we are," said sporting director Nick De Santis. "We know its going to be very hard to stay in first pace. "The objective from Day One was the make the playoffs. And, of course, its important if we can continue getting points and stay up there as well." With the international transfer window opening this week, De Santis said he would look for another "creative" offensive player and some long-term help on defence. Nesta is not expected back next season, and central defender Nelson Rivas missed most of last season and has yet to play in 2013. De Santis wants him on the field soon, if only to test his ailing knees. Pittsburgh Penguins Pro Shop . Now that hes hitting streaking teammates with pin-point passes for easy layups, Love is asserting himself as one of the true superstars in the league. Cheap Penguins Jerseys . Coach Tom Thibodeau says the former MVP will probably start travelling with the team in the next few weeks. Rose tore the meniscus in his right knee at Portland in November and was ruled out for the remainder of the season by the Bulls. https://www.cheappenguinsjersey.com/ .J. -- Seven games into a disappointing season, New York Giants defensive catalyst Jason Pierre-Paul is getting the feeling hes back. Penguins Jerseys 2019 . Paul Pierce couldnt believe he missed at the end. Young scored a season-high 26 points to spark a huge effort from the leagues most productive bench, and Los Angeles beat the Brooklyn Nets 99-94 on Wednesday night after blowing a 27-point lead. Pittsburgh Penguins Store . -- Damian Lillard and LaMarcus Alrdridge were again the go-to duo for the Trail Blazers against the Kings. NEW YORK -- Texas coach Shaka Smart does not have much time to try to fix the things that went wrong for his No. 22 Longhorns in a 77-58 loss to Northwestern late Monday night in the Legends Classic at the Barclays Center.The Longhorns (3-1) tip-off at 3:30 p.m. Tuesday against Colorado (3-1) in the consolation game of the tournament. Notre Dame faces Northwestern in the evenings title game.Texas led for only 3:23 against Northwestern and trailed by double digits for the entire second half.The Longhorns shot 48 percent from the line and 37 percent from the floor. They turned the ball over 14 times, were out-rebounded 40-31 and allowed Northwestern to score 18 second-chance points.It was the first time in nearly three years that Northwestern knocked off a Top 25 team.So where does Smart and his coaching staff start?I think the most important thing is to come with great energy and be able to turn the page quickly and what goes into winning this next game, he said. Obviously theres going to be a lot of things on tape that were going to want to practice and do better and get better at through practice, but we dont have that luxury between now and 3:30.Were going to have to get our guys rest tonight, wake up in the morning and talk about what we need to do and work together as a unit to be better that we were tonight.Tevin Mack paced Texas with 18 points.Northwestern set the tone early by opening the game on an 11-0 run en route to a 34-26 halftime lead.The Wildcats opened the first 3:14 of the second half with a big outburst, going on a 10-1 run for a 44-27 cushion.Northwestern closed out the first half on a 9-0 run to take a 34-26 advantage.ddddddddddddScottie Lindsey scored seven points in the spurt, finishing with 13 points in the half.Texas made just nine shots in the half, including five 3-pointers.A 3-pointer from Mack gave the Longhorns a 23-22 lead, their first of the half, with 7:13 remaining.A 20-9 blitz by Texas tied the score at 20 after Northwestern took a sizable early lead.The Wildcats forced six turnovers in the first seven minutes.I thought Northwestern did a great job of starting the game with aggressiveness, said Smart. They got that big lead. For us its an experience that we need to learn from and grow. Theres a lot of things that were going to take from the tape that we can fix and do better with slight adjustments.Earlier Monday, Colorado dropped an 89-83 decision to Notre Dame in the opener of the tournament.The Buffaloes trailed by 15 points at halftime and were able to get as close as four points twice in the final minute, but Notre Dame went 14 for 14 from the free throw line over the final 1:33.Xavier Johnson led the Buffaloes with 23 points, and Derrick White had 20 points and nine assists. .I liked our guys fight to get back. You dig yourself a hole in the first half, against a good team its tough, Colorado coach Tad Boyle said. They made free throws down the stretch when they had to. I knew they (Notre Dame) were a good free-throw shooting team. So its tough to come back on teams like that. We have to fight for 40 minutes, not for 20.The Buffaloes came in allowing 59.3 points per game. 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