MLB

TENNIS

Simmons powers
Braves past Mets.

Nadal bounced in 4th

round of Wimbledon.

PAGE 6B

PAGE 4B

WEDNESday, JULY 2, 2014

OPELIKA-AUBURN NEWS

www.oanow.com

AU Hoops

World Cup

THE ASSOCAITED PRESS

Niagara guard Antoine Mason

averaged 25.6 points per game last
season.

Transfers
add lot to
roster
By Alex Byington

abyington@oanow.com
THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

United States goalkeeper Tim Howard reacts after Belgiums Kevin De Bruyne scored the opening goal during the World Cup match at the Arena
Fonte Nova in Salvador, Brazil on Tuesday.

the Worlds End

U.S. hopes end with overtime loss to Belgium

The Associated Press

Soccer

SALVADOR, Brazil They captured the

eyes and hearts of a suddenly awakened
soccer nation, who gathered in unprecedented numbers to watch the worlds
game.
But the end of the ride came at the exact
same point as four years ago: with a loss
in extra time in the World Cups round of
16.
Belgium scored twice in extra time then
held on for a 2-1 win Tuesday.
Its heartbreaking, goalkeeper Tim
Howard said. I dont think we could have
given it more.
Howard, playing the finest game of his
career, stopped a dozen shots with his
legs and arms to keep the Americans

BelgIUm 2, United States 1

even through regulation and force an additional 30 minutes. He wound up with
16 saves the most in the World Cup
since 1966.
Before exiting, the U.S. showed the
spunk that captured Americas attention.
Julian Green, at 19 the youngest player on

For more
World Cup
coverage and
complete list
of scores
see Page
2B and 3B.

the U.S. roster, stuck out his right foot to

volley in Michael Bradleys pass over the
defense in the 107th minute, two minutes after entering the game.

See LOSS, Page 2B

Watch parties draw thousands for US-Belgium

The Associated Press

AUSTIN, Texas They turned

out by the tens of thousands, some
painted in red, white and blue, waving flags and chanting I Believe! in
city parks, stadiums and sports bars
from coast to coast on Tuesday to
watch the U.S. national soccer team
play Belgium in the knockout round
of the World Cup.
Some were die-hard soccer fans.
THE ASSOCIATED PRESS Others were newcomers, spurred on
Josh Kerber (center) of Dallas, reacts with other fans after a by the rising tide of support for the
missed opportunity by the United States during extra-time at national team in the worlds biggest
tournament.
a watch party in Arlington, Texas on Tuesday.

They left without what they wanted: a win.

From Texas to Chicago to California, fans watched nervously as the
U.S. and Belgium played 90 scoreless
minutes before Belgium scored twice
in extra time.
The U.S. responded with a goal
but couldnt tie the match to send it
to penalty kicks. After 120 minutes
of soccer, the Americans World Cup
was over. America, in the middle of its
World Cup frenzy, got a reminder that
soccer can be a cruel, cruel sport.

See WATCH, Page 2B

Antoine Mason had never

planned to leave Niagara.
He was happy. And as the nations top returning scorer from
a year ago after averaging 25.6
points per game, Mason was
coming back to try to make a
name for himself on a national
stage.
Only, a new way of thinking by
a second-year coach changed
all that, forcing the son of former NBA player Anthony Mason
to entertain the idea of a new
home. He was going to transfer from the only college he
knew, one in his home state no
less.
With one season of eligibility
remaining as a fifth-year senior,
having already graduated in
early May, Mason was in the unenviable position of figuring out
the best place to help him pursue his dream of following in his
fathers NBA footsteps.
My goal is to make it to the
next level and in order to see
if Im ready for it, I might as
well step up and play in a bigger conference, Mason told
the Opelika-Auburn News last
week.
Still, the thought of reopening
his recruitment was scary, especially since an injury in high
school negated any chance of
being heavily recruited coming
into college.
Its very unique and I wanted
to take advantage of it and see
my options, Mason said. When
I cleared myself (and became)
free to all schools, I got a lot of
calls. That was kind of stressful, it
was like a new experience. It was
something that I always wanted coming out of high school,
with big schools coming after
me.

See TRANSFER, Page 5B

Online
For more Auburn University news,
read Alex Byingtons AUBlog at
OANOW.COM/SPORTS and follow
him on Twitter @AUBlog.

Auburn University Football

Tigers secondary could see changes with influx of new faces

By Alex Byington

abyington@oanow.com

EDITORS NOTE: For the last week and a

half, the Opelika-Auburn News has taken a
look at Auburns major positional groups
and how theyll likely shape out for the start
of fall camp in a 10-part series. The final
part will take a look at the last line of any defense, and a unit that left a lot to be desired
last season at Auburn the secondary.

Auburns defensive backfield

was by far the biggest culprit of
what defensive coordinator Ellis Johnson termed trash plays
last year as opponents threw all
over the Tigers secondary for an

average of 257.7 passing yards

per game, which ranked secondto-last in the Southeastern Conference, behind only the team it
beat for the SEC Championship:
Missouri.
The inability to keep anybody
from passing the ball despite what amounts to five to
six defensive backs on any given play put a lot of pressure
on the rest of Auburns defense
to compensate, leading to the
conferences 12th-ranked total
defense a year ago. All that, plus

the graduation of three starters

in the secondary, prompted the
Tigers coaches to focus on the
cornerbacks and safeties in the
2014 recruiting class, brining in
six newcomers including the nations No. 1 JUCO safety in early
enrollee Derrick Moncrief from
Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College.
Its safe to say Auburns coaches
expect wholesale improvements
Albert Cesare/Opelika-Auburn News
from its secondary.
Auburn defensive back Jermaine Whitehead celebrates with teammate
Robenson Therezie after his second interception of the day during a game
See INFLUX, Page 5B against Washington State last season.