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New York Times
01-07-2025
- Sport
- New York Times
Emma Hayes' rebuild of USWNT is focused on process, not hype
By the time Emma Hayes walked into Audi Field's windowless press conference room on this steamy Tuesday afternoon in Washington D.C. to talk about Wednesday's friendly against Canada, we already understood her strategy for the U.S. women's national team pretty clearly. Rotation? Check. Young players getting their shot? Check. Tactical clarity? Almost there. Advertisement Hayes isn't simply constructing a roster. It's a system, a culture and a framework designed to restore the U.S. to the top of the women's game, one deliberate decision at a time. 'My job is to make sure that they compete for when they're actually ready, and maybe it won't be all at the same time for all of them,' she told reporters. 'My job is to create sustained winning. It's not my job, it's what I live for. 2027 World Cup, 2028 Olympics, 2029 Gold Cup, 2031 regardless of how long I'm here, and that's what my job is.' Hayes sure takes her job seriously. In just over a year at the helm, she has turned the USWNT into a live laboratory. There are no guarantees. It does not matter where players come from. She's not afraid to test, tweak, and teach. 'The exciting thing about coaching is … you have a clear model,' she said. 'There's probably some particular things I don't want to talk about now, because I want to win the game, but we've really leaned into parts of our model in the last two camps and started to see a return on all of that intentional and deliberate practice.' Deliberateness is the key to Hayes's success. Her coaching philosophy hinges on trust in the process and long-term development over short-term success. Under her reign, the team has proven successful, scoring 15 goals in four games in this last international window. When asked about individual players she is picking and choosing for key positions in the team, Hayes responded confidently. There are no guarantees. Take Sam Coffey. Hayes surprised Coffey with the captain's armband on Sunday, a move all her players now understand will be the norm. 'She's an impeccable learner. She's always wanting to improve her game. It never ends. It's never enough … and I think her game has gone to a whole new level,' said Hayes. But when listening to Hayes, it is clear that Coffey's inclusion, like many others she decided to bring on for this camp, isn't just about form. Every call-up is a lesson, every minute on the pitch a test of tactical understanding in order for Hayes to place them within the big picture strategy for her team. Even against Canada, arguably the USWNT's toughest rival in the region and for this camp, Hayes is not changing her process for the opponent. Advertisement 'I only focus on us,' she said with a grin. 'And it's not because it's Canada or anyone. I only focus on that. Seventeen goal zone entries is exceptional, but still only four goals. Are we taking the right decision when we're in the right areas? Sometimes. Are we executing at the top level in the right situations?' Her approach is already reshaping the team's dynamic. In Sunday's friendly against Ireland, Hayes rotated her entire starting XI, something that hadn't happened with the U.S. in nearly 25 years. That kind of risk-taking only works if the system in place is sound and the players are prepped. Especially in a squad where the competition is brutal, where even star players and veterans like Rose Lavelle, Lindsey Horan and Lily Yohannes are fighting for a spot in the starting XI. But that's Hayes's plan for her team, and she is in it for the long run. 'Our motto is to make every second count in our interactions with them and also maximize the time we can build relationships. Because sometimes it means being with different groups at different times,' she said about her long-term plans. 'I pinch myself every day that I'm in this job. This is like the biggest honor to me, maybe even more so than I thought it would be. And so often people say, be careful what you wish for, because dreams don't necessarily match up with it. They're right about that. This one's better.' (Top photo of USWNT coach Emma Hayes with Rose Lavelle: Jason Mowry / Getty Images)
CBS News
27-06-2025
- CBS News
Cause of death determined for 13-year-old allegedly killed by soccer coach
The Ventura County Medical Examiner determined the cause of death for the 13-year-old boy whose soccer coach has been charged with his murder to be alcohol poisoning. Oscar Omar Hernandez's body was discovered alongside a Ventura County road on April 2. While the medical examiner listed the manner of death as homicide, the cause of death was acute ethanol intoxication. The boy's soccer coach, Mario Edgardo Garcia-Aquino, 43, is charged in his death as Hernandez was last seen leaving his Sun Valley home to meet Garcia-Aquino at his home in Lancaster. His family became concerned when the teen did not come home the next morning as planned. He was found dead in Oxnard five days later. The Los Angeles County District Attorney's Office charged Garcia-Aquino with murder, including special circumstances for lewd acts with a child. Garcia-Aquino is alleged to have killed the boy on March 28, two days before he was reported missing, according to the district attorney's office. Hernandez's family said they dropped the teen off at a San Fernando Valley Metrolink station the evening of March 28 so he could help his coach make soccer jerseys at his Lancaster home. According to the family, the two were introduced to each other through an after-school soccer program. "His soccer coach made soccer jerseys," Oscar's sister, Alejandra Hernandez said. "He had taken other soccer teammates to help him, and that's why my brother went." Family members called Oscar the same night that he left to check on him, but the coach answered the phone and said the boy couldn't answer because his hands were full of paint, Alejandra said. The family said the coach was expected to drive Oscar home the next morning, and after that time had passed, he told them that he had dropped the boy off in the afternoon. Calls to Oscar's phone went unanswered, but there was a response from the phone to a text, which said, "I'm going to a party," according to the family. According to Oscar's sister, a text from Oscar's phone to his family said that he was in North Hollywood and refused to be picked up at Whitsett Park. Those were the last texts relatives said they received from the 13-year-old's phone. They searched for Oscar throughout Saturday night but couldn't find him. The family called the Los Angeles Police Department on Sunday morning to report Oscar missing. Detectives, with help from the FBI, discovered a body matching the description of the missing teen in the small woodland area near McGrath State Beach. Garcia-Aquino was arrested by LAPD officers before he was transferred into the custody of the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department. The soccer coach also faces child sexual abuse charges stemming from a 2022 case that the Los Angeles Police Department investigated. Garcia-Aquino pleaded not guilty on June 18 to the charge of murder, including special circumstances for lewd acts with a child
CTV News
26-06-2025
- CTV News
Edmonton soccer coach charged with sexual assault of teen player
An Edmonton soccer coach has been charged in connection with the sexual assault of a teenage player. An Edmonton soccer coach has been charged in connection with the sexual assault of a teenage player. An Edmonton soccer coach has been charged in connection with the sexual assault of a teenage player. The Edmonton Police Service says it was contacted this month about a relationship between a teen and their adult soccer coach. Police say the relationship started late last year when the teen was 15 years old. On Wednesday, Vanessa Young, 30, was charged with sexual assault, sexual interference, sexual exploitation, luring a child under 18, and luring a child under 16. The teen is receiving support through the Zebra Child & Youth Advocacy Centre. Investigators believe there may be other victims, and are asking anyone with information to contact EPS at 780-423-4567.
Daily Mail
21-06-2025
- Daily Mail
Soccer coach admits drugging and raping young boys... after leaving sick evidence in plain sight
A Tennessee youth soccer coach admitted to drugging and raping young boys after disturbing sexually explicit content involving minors was discovered on his cell phone after he left it behind at a restaurant. Camilo Campos-Hurtado, 65, pleaded guilty to four counts of sexual exploitation of a minor and one count of receiving visual depictions of minors engaged in sexually explicit conduct on Tuesday, according to the US Attorney's Office for the Middle District of Tennessee. The egregious content came to light in 2023 when Campos-Hurtado lost his phone. While trying to identify the owner, staff members discovered 'dozens of unconscionable videos and pictures of children,' and immediately called police, McClatchy News reported. Investigators discovered a cell phone and several other electronic devices, belonging to Campos-Hurtado, which had hundreds of images of child sexual abuse material that he received, downloaded and produced between 2017 and 2021. The countless photos and videos showed the Franklin-native sexually assaulting unconscious boys ranging from 9 to 17 years old, according to the Department of Justice. Investigators later learned that Campos-Hurtado would recruit players from school playgrounds to play for his soccer team. 'After gaining their trust, Campos invited many of the kids to his home where he drugged and then raped them,' police stated, adding that some victims may not even be aware of what transpired. While investigators identified at least 10 victims, Campos-Hurtado pleaded guilty to the aforementioned five counts. According to an indictment, Campos-Hurtado's abuse dates back to 2013. In addition to the sexual exploitation charges, search warrants revealed fake IDs and immigration documents, including three counterfeit social security cards, two fake legal permanent resident cards and a fraudulent resident alien card. Campos-Hurtado, who prosecutors say lacks legal status in the US, was also charged with using or possessing fraudulent immigration documents and possessing a stolen or unlawfully produced identification document. 'Campos preyed on children in our community for years, using his position to gain the trust of his victims only to betray them by sexually abusing them,' Robert McGuire, Acting United States Attorney for the Middle District of Tennessee, said. 'Protecting children in our community and holding child sex offenders to maximum accountability is among the highest priorities of our office and of the Department of Justice. At sentencing, we will seek to guarantee that Campos does not have any chance to hurt another child.' Campos-Hurtado pleaded guilty to all seven charges he was indicted on and is scheduled for sentencing on October 29. He faces a mandatory minimum of 15 years in prison, after which he will be deported to Mexico, according to the US Attorney's Office. Campos-Hurtado's hometown of Franklin is about a 20-mile drive south from downtown Nashville.
Daily Mail
18-06-2025
- Daily Mail
Staggering number of times glamorous teacher is accused of sleeping with student as husband stands by her side amid fresh claims
A glamorous teacher accused of grooming an underage student allegedly slept the teen boy at least 50 times. Christina Formella, 30, faced an Illinois court on Tuesday as she was hit with 52 new charges, supported by her loyal husband Michael, who has stood by her side throughout the scandal. The teacher and soccer coach is now accused of additional counts of sexual assault, indecent solicitation of a child, grooming and aggravated criminal sexual abuse. According to the new complaint, Formella groomed a 15-year-old male student and then had sex with him at least 45 times at Downers Grove South High School while classes were in session, and another five times at her home. She was the boy's soccer coach and tutor. The alleged abuse began in January 2023 and continued through at least August 2024. It was only discovered when the student's mother found disturbing messages between the two when she logged into her son's iCloud account. 'The new allegations against Ms. Formella, including the allegations of grooming and that the abuse lasted nearly two years, are beyond disturbing,' State Attorney Robert Berlin said. 'I thank the victim in this case for having the courage to come forward during what I image is an extremely difficult time for him.' Prosecutor Jaclyn McAndrew told the court that the new evidence suggests Formella first began contacting the boy when he was just 14 years old. The contact, McAndrew said, lasted far longer than prosecutors initially believed when she was initially charged. Formella was arrested in March during a traffic stop outside of Chicago and initially charged with just three criminal counts. She has pleaded not guilty. 'She is unbelieving conniving, and she is unbelieving controlling,' McAndrew told the judge, according to the Daily Herald. McAndrew claimed Formella had told the boy she did not intend to marry her husband, and that he was having an affair with her best friend. Formella allegedly told him that her husband would leave her and she would come into millions of dollars. It is also alleged that she was texting the boy while on a vacation with her husband in Italy. Shocking police bodycam footage captured the moment she was arrested as she sat in her car next to her husband. DuPage County prosecutors claimed that during her police interview, Formella tried to portray her victim as a boy obsessed with a teacher because she's 'good looking' and claimed her husband was aware of the situation. 'Throughout her interview, [Formella] tried to paint [the accuser] as her 'stalker' and claimed that her husband was aware,' prosecutors said in court documents obtained by the New York Post. However, her husband told investigators it was the first time he had heard about a situation involving the boy. 'Oddly enough, her husband told detectives that he knows nothing about [the accuser] beyond his status as a soccer player,' prosecutors said. Formella allegedly sent shockingly lewd messages to the boy, telling him how much she 'loves him' and 'loves having sex' with him. The teacher has maintained that she never sexually assaulted the student and that 'everybody comes after her because she is good-looking,' according to court documents. She confessed to police that she 'cared too much' about the student, but claimed that he broke into her phone and sent the text messages as blackmail. 'She claimed that one day, [the boy], had grabbed her phone unattended, had entered her passcode... had sent the message to his phone, had then deleted the message from her phone, and had saved it to his phone as blackmail,' the documents said. Formella's next court appearance is scheduled for August 4, 2025.
