s third appearance in the Maui Invitational, though it has never reached the finals. The Hoyas are 1-2 for the second straight year, the first time that has happened in back-to-back seasons since 1980-81 and

NEW YORK -- Brandi Chastain is confident the U.S. womens soccer team can win the gold medal again in Rio, is advocating for fewer headers in youth games and dealing with her sons diagnosis of Crohns disease.Its been 17 years since Chastains winning kick in a penalty shootout against China in the Womens World Cup at the Rose Bowl, and the celebratory photo of her overhead jersey twirl landed on magazine covers.These days, shes coaching youth, high school and college soccer in California. Chastain is keeping an eye on the current womens national team -- without retired star Abby Wambach -- after helping the U.S. win two golds and a silver in the Olympics during her career.We have a very deep roster, a nice balance of young players and veterans, she said. Those two components have always proved successful.Chastain, who transitioned from forward to defense on the U.S. national team, calls it humbling to be selected for induction into the Soccer Hall of Fame later this year at its new location at FC Dallas stadium.Here are a few things to know about Chastain, who plans to donate her brain for concussion research.SAFER SOCCER: Some think less heading in youth soccer games will lower the risk of concussions. Chastain works with the Safer Soccer initiative, which advocates for fewer headers. Since U.S. Soccer approved no headers for children under 11 last year, the whistle is blown for a foul if the ball is headed in a game. Chastain would like the ban to extend to 14 and under, but for now, its about reducing headers in practice and teaching kids spacial awareness, getting their head up and away from the ball. When the kids get fixated on the ball, their eyes never leave it, so they dont see any danger that potentially could be coming.She tells her boys youth team theyre not quite ready for headers and cautions her boys high school Bellarmine team. At the youth level, she says its best to avoid them.I hope U.S. Soccer educates refs on the rules, so its implemented at all levels and (teach) coaches about how to coach awareness skills for kids to protect themselves.Shes also a volunteer assistant coach at her alma mater, Santa Clara University, helping her husband Jerry Smith, who has been the head coach for 30 years.BELL RUNG: Chastains experienced her share of concussions during a 24-year career spanning college, national teams and pro soccer. The 48-year-old says shes donating her brain to the Concussion Legacy Foundation because she wont need it at the time and might as do some good with it. Chastain wants to leave soccer in a better place and if they can get some information out of looking at my brain, then Im happy to contribute.CROHNS CHALLENGE: Chastains 10-year-old son Jaden was recently diagnosed with Crohns disease, which causes inflammation of the gastrointestinal tract. Symptoms of the disease that affects about 700,000 people in the U.S. include cramping, diarrhea and fatigue. The cause isnt exactly known, but doctors think its a combination of genetics, an over-reactive immune system and environmental factors. Jaden, who plays soccer, baseball and swims, has a supportive school and a treatment plan to manage his symptoms.NEW ATTITUDE: Chastain acknowledges that helping her son deal with the emotional and social impact of the disease initially werent her strengths.As a pro athlete, my philosophy was you kind of grind it out, she said. Sometimes you wont feel good and you still have to do the work. I had to take a step back and know Im not always in control, and Jaden will take the lead. He knows when he needs to rest or cant play. That was a great lesson for me.SOCCER EQUITY: Shes been watching the efforts by the U.S. womens team to receive better wages and benefits from U.S. Soccer.Chastain says a lack of money is absolutely not the reason the federation offers different pay scales for the U.S. mens and womens teams. Its more about distribution, given the money the federation receives from TV revenue, sponsorships and FIFA.Im a big advocate for equal reward for the work we do on the field, she said. Its been a continual fight and a battle that, hopefully, well very soon win.She says its similar to the struggle for womens voting rights and Title IX, which opened opportunities for girls and women in education and sports. Chastain believes people will eventually look back at the wage issue and consider it archaic.Women -- and not just women, there are a lot of male advocates out there -- are saying, `Its time. Theres no logical reason for this to exist any longer.---Online: http://concussionfoundation.org/national...er-soccerOnline: https://www.ibdgameplan.com Custom Mariano Rivera Jersey . - The Oakland Raiders re-signed offensive lineman Khalif Barnes on Friday. Mike Mussina Jersey . The 26-year-old Ireland striker, who has four goals this season, has signed a three-and-a-half year contract with his new club. http://www.customyankeesjersey.com/custom-joe-torre-jersey-large-1184i.html . -- Aaron Murray threw for 408 yards and three touchdowns, ran for another score, and led No. Bill Dickey Jersey . The giant slalom world champion slipped during her first run in the morning, landing on her back and then twisting forward before getting her leg caught in the protective material on the side of the slope. Greg Bird Jersey . With their top three point guards and Kobe Bryant all sidelined by injury, the Lakers signed Marshall out of the D-League on Friday before their home game against Minnesota. The 33rd Maui Invitational tips off today and will feature another field loaded with basketball powers.The eight-team tournament consists of teams that have a combined 14 NCAA championships, 40 Final Four appearances and 192 NCAA tournament appearances. This years field includes Oregon, Tennessee, Georgetown, Wisconsin, Oklahoma State, UConn, North Carolina and host Chaminade.?The winner at Maui has gone on to win the the national title four times, with UConn in 2010-11 the most recent. North Carolina has won the title three times.No. 4 Georgetown and Oregon will play at 4:30 p.m. on ESPN2 and WatchESPN.Georgetown is making its third appearance in the Maui Invitational, though it has never reached the finals. The Hoyas are 1-2 for the second straight year, the first time that has happened in back-to-back seasons since 1980-81 and 1981-82 seasons. Georgetown did make the NCAA chammpionship in the 1981-82 season.dddddddddddd The Hoyas have lost at least 11 games in each of the last three seasons and have won just half of their conference games in that span. That is in contrast to John Thompson IIIs first nine years as head coach, when the Hoyas won 63 percent of their conference games.?Rodney Pryor and L.J. Peak both lead the Hoyas in scoring through three games at 17.7 PPG.?The Hoyas scored 105 points in their victory over South Carolina Upstate, their most points in a game since the 2007 season. The Hoyas problems have come on defense in the last year plus, as they averaged 22.9 fouls per game, the most in the Big East last season. In three games this season, the Hoyas have committed 24.3 fouls per game.?-- ESPN Stats & Info ' ' '