Paw Prints is our daily look at the happenings for the UConn Huskies football, men's basketball and women's basketball teams as well as the other sports the student-athletes engage in. We will do our best to bring you the links from all of the media that covers the Huskies on a daily basis. As always, links can be found by clicking on the read more button below if you're on the home page.

Thank you for stopping by and making SOX & Dawgs your home for UConn Huskies news.

To open the links up in a new tab or window, use Control+click

UConn Women's Basketball links

Dolson gets milestone, UConn gets win [carl adamec – sny.com]

Stewart’s return gives UConn lift [carl adamec – snyuconn.com]

Notebook: Hartley on wrong kind of roll [carl adamec – snyuconn.com]

Stokes Back To Day-To-Day [john altavilla – hartford courant]

Let’s Look At The Dark Side Of UConn’s Season [john altavilla – hartford courant]

Duke-UConn: The Belief In The Power Of “Self” [john altavilla – hartford courant]

Stokes Misses Sixth Game Of Season For Huskies [rich elliott – ct post]

Hartley Again Rolls Her Ankle, Struggles Vs. Syracuse [rich elliott – ct post]

Stewart Scores 20 In Her Return For The Huskies [rich elliott – ct post]

UConn's new Big Three delivers [jim fuller – new haven register]

Stewart returns in impressive fashion [jim fuller – new haven register]

A milestone year on tap for the Huskies [john nash – the hour]

Dolson leads No. 3 UConn women past Syracuse [ct post]

Consistent Dolson can smile a little now [ct post]

UConn Beats Syracuse, 87-62 [hartford courant]

Breanna Stewart Roars Back From Injury To Score 20 [hartford courant]

Stefanie Dolson scores career-high 25 points in win over Syracuse [new haven register]

Dolson's career night ignites UConn women [the day]

Huskies roll past Orange [the hour]

UConn Men's Basketball links

Wrapping Things Up from Pitt [dom amore – hartford courant]

Kevin Ollie: 'We Played for 20 Minutes. You Can't Do That in the Big East' [david borges – new haven register]

Notes/Quotes from Pitt: “You can’t spot a good Pittsburgh team 13 points.” [kevin duffy – ct post]

Post-game breakdown, video: Pittsburgh [gavin keefe – the day]

Pittsburgh 69, UConn 61 [john silver – snyuconn.com]

Expectations [uconn huskies basketball]

Four times a winner over cancer, Calhoun a perfect spokesperson [ct post]

UConn men lose at Pittsburgh, 69-61 [ct post]

Boatright there to help, but UConn needed more [ct post]

Huskies Comeback Falls Short; Pitt Wins, 69-61 [hartford courant]

Napier Plays, But His Effectiveness Is Limited By Shoulder Injury [hartford courant]

Napier Gives It A Go, But Pitt Is Able To Stop Him [hartford courant]

Huskies' rally falls short at Pitt [new haven register]

UConn men dig too big of a hole in loss to Pitt [the day]

UConn Football links

Jory Johnson has a pair of tackles in Raycom Classic [jim fuller – new haven register]

Other UConn related links

W. Ice Hockey. UConn Falls to UNH, 3-1 [uconnhuskies.com]

M. Ice Hockey. Men's Hockey Upended By Mercyhurst, 5-0 [uconnhuskies.com]

Follow Ian on Twitter @soxanddawgs. And be sure to like us on Facebook as well.

All of the hard work that Stefanie Dolson put in during the offseason has really paid off for her and the UConn Huskies.

Dolson scored a career-high 25 points, including the 1,000th of her career, plus seven rebounds and six assists to help the Huskies past the Syracuse Orange 87-62 in front of 14,786 at the XL Center in Hartford, CT on Saturday afternoon.

UConn improves to 16-1 (4-1 Big East) while the Orange fall to 15-2 (3-1).

Kaleena Mosqueda-Lewis also added 25 points, nine rebounds and four steals. Breanna Stewart returned from an ankle injury to play her hometown team and had 20 points and six rebounds.

Kelly Faris had a nice game with eight points, nine rebounds and three assists. Caroline Doty tied Dolson's team-high of six assists to go along with her two points.

Carmen Tyson-Thomas came off the bench to lead the Orange with 12 points. Brianna Butler had 11 points while both Brittney Sykes and Rachel Coffey added 10 points a piece.

Shakeya Leary led Syracuse with seven rebounds and had seven points. The Orange's leading score Kayla Alexander battled foul trouble all game and finished with just four points and three rebounds in 11 minutes.

The Huskies made sure to find Dolson inside all game long and that helped get Alexander in foul trouble. And without Alexander, the Orange weren't the same team that had gotten off to the 15-1 start.

I've definitely been impressed with the improvement of Dolson. She looks nothing like the Dolson of the past two years. And they're going to need this Dolson to achieve their goal of winning another national championship.

It was also nice to see Stewart return to action. It also looked like she didn't miss a beat after being out for the past week with a sprained ankle.

Speaking of sprained ankles, Bria Hartley injured hers yet again and sat out the final eight minutes of the game. The Huskies are definitely going to need Hartley to be a quick healer with a big test against the only undefeated team in women's basketball on Monday night.

That undefeated team is the Duke Blue Devils who will visit Gampel Pavilion in UConn's annual Martin Luther King Day game. Tip is scheduled for 7 p.m.

To continue reading, please click on the continue reading button below if you're on the home page.

Syracuse Orange @ UConn Huskies 1-19-13 box score

Here are the postgame quotes from UConn head coach Geno Auriemma.

UConn Women To Debut Nike Hyper Elite Road Jersey on 3/4

Follow Ian on Twitter @soxanddawgs. And be sure to like us on Facebook as well.

photo credit:  cloe poisson – hartford courant (no. 6 in gallery)

Woman Reporter: (Running to catch up with McGinty heading to the locker room for halftime) Coach, what will Washington need to get back into this game?
Jimmy McGinty: (pause) You've got to have heart.

At halftime of the UConn Huskies men's basketball game on Saturday against the Pittsburgh Panthers, the above quote from "The Replacements" popped in my head. If UConn was to get back into the game, they were going to need to play with more heart.

While they did rally back, ultimately the Huskies fell short as Pitt pulled out a 69-61 win in front of 12,510 and nationally televised audience on ESPN2 at the Peterson Events Center in Pittsburgh, PA.

It's the first time this season, UConn had lost two games in a row as they fall to 12-5 (2-3 Big East). Pitt improves to 15-4 (3-3).

Ryan Boatright led the way for the Huskies with 20 points and six assists. Omar Calhoun was the only other Husky in double-digits with 14 points and he had five rebounds.

Tyler Olander led the Huskies with six rebounds to go along with four points.

Lamar Patterson paced the Panthers with 14 points and had five assists. Tray Woodall added 13 points and six assists while James Robinson had 12 points.

Steven Adams had just three points but led all rebounders in the game with nine.

UConn found themselves down by 13 at the half and it stayed that way early in the second half. Trailing 47-33, the Huskies battled back to tie the game behind Boat and Calhoun.

It was Niels Giffey who tied the game at 55 on a dunk but Robinson put them back ahead by three. Boatright got an old fashioned three-point play to tie the game at 58 but that's as close as the Huskies would get as the Panthers closed out the game on 11-3 run.

The Huskies had been doing a great job as of late on the boards. It all went to the wayside as the Panthers dominated the glass 38-27.

That was one of the biggest differences of the game and it really hurt the Huskies.

UConn will get a week to work out things as they return to the court next Sunday (Jan. 27) when they'll host the Rutgers Scarlet Knights at the XL Center at 2 p.m.

To continue reading, please click on the continue reading button below if you're on the home page.

UConn Huskies @ Pittsburgh Panthers 1.19.13 box score

Here are the postgame quotes from UConn head coach Kevin Ollie.

Follow Ian on Twitter @soxanddawgs. And be sure to like us on Facebook as well.

photo credit:  brad horrigan – hartford courant (no. 11 in gallery)

While there are no images available right now, we do know that the UConn Huskies women's basketball team will be debuting a new uniform this season.

When the Huskies take on the Notre Dame Fighting Irish on March 4th in South Bend, IN, they will be wearing a new Nike Hyper Elite Road Jersey. The Huskies are one of 12 schools to wear these special uniforms.

Once the images of the UConn women's uniform are available, we'll be sure to update you with them.

Here's the release from Nike and a look at the Gonzaga Bulldogs uniform:

In the quest for a title, protecting your own turf is key, but character and greatness are built on the road, in the harsh environs of the opponent.  The away team relies on its unified energy, collective swagger and every advantage to compete — each opposing player and fan standing in the way of victory.

This college basketball season, select men’s and women’s Nike and Jordan Brand teams will face that challenge in new away uniform designs.  The Nike Hyper Elite Road Jersey and Nike Hyper Elite Short offer lightweight performance through sustainable materials.  The short is made of 100% recycled polyester while the jersey is made from at least 96% recycled polyester — an average of 22 recycled plastic bottles per uniform.   A logo inspired by each team’s home court appears on the jersey’s center chest, a piece of “home away from home” to wear with pride.  The back nameplate also features iconic references to the team’s mascot and home crowd.  

The Gonzaga Bulldogs will debut their uniform on-court January 19. The other elite teams wearing these designs are:  

North Carolina Tar Heels on 1/26, Baylor Lady Bears on 1/30, Villanova Wildcats on 1/30, Southern California Trojans on 1/30, Ohio State Buckeyes on 2/5, Kentucky Wildcats on 2/12, Stanford Cardinal (Women) on 2/15, Georgetown Hoyas on 2/15, Duke Blue Devils on 2/16, Texas Longhorns on 2/16 and Connecticut Huskies (Women) on 3/4.

Additional features of the Nike Hyper Elite Road Jersey include:

• 3D-structured Dri-FIT fabric pulls sweat away to help reduce cling
• Slim cut reduces bulkiness
• Nike Aerographics construction provides lightweight ventilation
• Heat-transferred, sublimated lightweight twill logos, numbers and graphics

Additional features of the Nike Hyper Elite Road Short include:

• Laser-cut perforations increase ventilation
• Lightweight Dri-FIT stretch woven fabric moves with the player
• Waistband’s silicone elastic grips for a secure, comfortable fit. Engineered perforations enhance ventilation and comfort
• Unique sublimated pattern on the side panel

The men’s teams will also wear the Nike Hyper Elite Tourney Warm-Up Hoody, which offers functional tailoring for optimal mobility and performance fleece to help keep you warm and comfortable on your way to and from the game.

The Nike Hyper Elite Road Jersey ($120), Nike Hyper Elite Road Short ($80) and Nike Hyper Elite Warm-Up Hoody ($75) will be available at Nike.com

Follow Ian on Twitter @soxanddawgs. And be sure to like us on Facebook as well.

photo credit: nike, inc.

Paw Prints is our daily look at the happenings for the UConn Huskies football, men's basketball and women's basketball teams as well as the other sports the student-athletes engage in. We will do our best to bring you the links from all of the media that covers the Huskies on a daily basis. As always, links can be found by clicking on the read more button below if you're on the home page.

Thank you for stopping by and making SOX & Dawgs your home for UConn Huskies news.

It's game day for the UConn Huskies men's and women's basketball teams.

First up are the UConn men as they are in Pittsburgh to take on the Pitt Panthers at the Peterson Events Center. Tip is scheduled for 12 p.m. and the game will be broadcast nationally on ESPN2. The game is also available online at WatchESPN. You can also listen on the IMG/UConn Radio Network.

The UConn women will host the Syracuse Orange at the XL Center in Hartford, CT this afternoon. Tip is scheduled for 4 p.m. and the game will be broadcast on SNY. You can watch the game online for a small fee at SNYUConn.com. You can also listen on the IMG/UConn Radio Network.

My apologies for skipping out on yesterday's post. I had to take the day off from the site for personal reasons. Everything is fine and as you can see we're back up and running. Any posts you see from yesterday were back dated with the exeception of Steve's Patriots preview.

To open the links up in a new tab or window, use Control+click

UConn Men's Basketball links

Notes, Quotes From UConn Practice Thursday [dom amore – hartford courant]

Shabazz Napier Practices, But His Status for Pitt is Still Uncertain [dom amore – hartford courant]

Jim Calhoun to be Feted at Dick Vitale Gala in May [david borges – new haven register]

Shabazz Napier Sidelined by Shoulder Injury, Hopes to Play Saturday vs. Pitt [david borges – new haven register]

Shabazz Napier a Game Time Decision on Saturday [david borges – new haven register]

Notes/Quotes Jan. 17: “It’s hard for me to sleep some days” [kevin duffy – ct post]

Napier a game-time decision vs. Pitt [kevin duffy – ct post]

Napier sidelined with shoulder injury [gavin keefe – the day]

Napier's status a game time decision [gavin keefe – the day]

Napier (shoulder) misses practice, is day-to-day [neill ostrout – journal inquirer]

Updated: Napier questionable for Saturday [john silver – snyuconn.com]

Men's Basketball Heads To Pittsburgh [uconnhuskies.com]

Calhoun asks for help of 'family' with basketball facility [ct post]

UConn's Giffey a role player and realist [ct post]

UConn might play at Pitt without Napier [ct post]

UConn Men: Looking Back And Looking Forward [hartford courant]

UConn's Shabazz Napier Bothered By Shoulder; Playing Vs. Pitt Is Uncertain [hartford courant]

UConn, Pitt: Many Similarities [hartford courant]

Zoo-ology studies ending [journal inquirer]

Shabazz Napier hurt, may miss Pitt game [new haven register]

Shabazz Napier a game-time decision, but others ready to step up [new haven register]

Will UConn's Napier play Saturday? 'I really hope so' [the day]

Huskies may be forced to play without Napier [the day]

UConn Women's Basketball links

UConn’s Stewart ready for action [carl adamec – snyuconn.com]

Dolson becomes center of attention [carl adamec – snyuconn.com]

UConn’s Top 20 Hits Of 2012-13 [john altavilla – hartford courant]

Quentin Hillsman Offers Praise To Doug Bruno [john altavilla – hartford courant]

It Takes A Great Medical Trainer To Make A Championship Team [john altavilla – hartford courant]

Geno On Stokes – And Tonya Cardoza [john altavilla – hartford courant]

Stokes Questionable For Game Vs. Syracuse Saturday [rich elliott – ct post]

Stewart Ready To Get Back In The Game [rich elliott – ct post]

Stewart Looking To Snap Out Of Slump Vs. Syracuse [rich elliott – ct post]

Hartley Looking To Build On Performance Vs. Louisville [rich elliott – ct post]

UConn recruiting target on a roll [jim fuller – new haven register]

Moore one step closer to WCBA title [jim fuller – new haven register]

Breanna Stewart anxious to play again [jim fuller – new haven register]

No. 3 UConn Hosts No. 23 Syracuse on Saturday at 4 p.m. [uconnhuskies.com]

UConn women, so far, overcoming injuries [ct post]

UConn Women: Looking Back And Looking Forward [hartford courant]

A Patched-Up UConn Women's Team Prepares For Syracuse [hartford courant]

Grand gesture awaits [journal inquirer]

Healthy Stewart ready to step up again [journal inquirer]

Breanna Stewart to return against Syracuse, her hometown team [new haven register]

The Geno Auriemma Show: Road Game [snyuconn.com]

No. 3 UConn women expect a test from Syracuse [the day]

Healed Hartley playing like old self [graham hays – espnW]

UConn Football links

DC answered some questions in his mailbag [desmond conner – hartford courant]

St. Luke’s Noel Thomas Jr. signs with UConn [chris elsberry – ct post]

Three Huskies in action today [jim fuller – new haven register]

2012 report cards: Connecticut [matt fortuna – espn.com]

Other UConn related links

M. Track. Chapman Leads Huskies at URI Heptathlon [uconnhuskies.com]

M. Track. Huskies Capture First Place at the Great Dane Classic [uconnhuskies.com]

Field Hockey. Bolles to Compete at Australian Youth Olympic Festival with U.S. Junior Women [uconnhuskies.com]

M. Ice Hockey. Three Power-Play Goals Propel UConn Past Mercyhurst, 5-4 [uconnhuskies.com]

W. Track. Flowers Wins Shot Put & Weight Throw to Lead Huskies at Great Dane Classic [uconnhuskies.com]

Follow Ian on Twitter @soxanddawgs. And be sure to like us on Facebook as well.

When Jarrod Saltalamacchia signed a one-year deal on Thursday, the Boston Red Sox had eight players left to sign in order to avoid going to salary arbitration. On Friday, seven of those players signed deals.

The Red Sox agreed to terms with Alfredo Aceves ($2.65 million), Andrew Bailey ($4.1 million), Daniel Bard ($1.8625 million), Jacoby Ellsbury ($9 million), Joel Hanrahan ($7.04 million), Andrew Miller ($1.475 million), and Franklin Morales ($1.487 million).

The only player left for the Red Sox to sign to avoid arbitration is Craig Breslow. According to Peter Abraham of the Boston Globe, Breslow filed for $2.375 million and the Red Sox filed for $2.325 million.

Since that number is so close, I fully expect that we'll hear in the coming days that Breslow and the Red Sox have agreed on a deal.

To read the full release from the Red Sox, please click on the continue reading button below if you're on the home page.

BOSTON, MA— The Boston Red Sox today agreed to terms with right-handed pitchers Alfredo Aceves, Andrew Bailey, Daniel Bard and Joel Hanrahan, left-handed pitchers Andrew Miller and Franklin Morales, and outfielder Jacoby Ellsbury on one-year, non-guaranteed contracts for the 2013 season, thus avoiding salary arbitration.  Terms were not disclosed.  The announcement was made by Executive Vice President/General Manager Ben Cherington.

Aceves served as Boston's primary closer for much of the 2012 season and recorded a career-high 25 saves.  He finished second among AL relievers with 84.0 innings and averaged a career-high 8.04 strikeouts per nine innings while going 2-10 with a 5.36 ERA in a team-leading 69 appearances.  The 30-year-old leads the AL with 269.2 innings of relief work since 2009.  Signed by Boston prior to the 2011 season, he owns a 26-13 record (.667) with a 3.56 ERA over 183 career major league outings (nine starts) between the New York Yankees (2008-10) and Red Sox (2011-12).

The 28-year-old Bailey was limited to 19 games for the Red Sox last year after opening the season on the 60-day disabled list recovering from right thumb surgery.  He posted a 1-1 record with six saves, a 7.04 ERA, and 14 strikeouts with Boston and combined for a 1.42 ERA (1 ER/6.1 IP) with 10 strikeouts over six rehab appearances prior to his August 14 activation.  Acquired from Oakland in December 2011, Bailey has 81 saves and a career 2.47 ERA to go along with an 8-11 record and 188 strikeouts over a four-year major league career with the A's (2009-11) and Red Sox (2012).

Bard, 27, appeared in 17 games for the Red Sox last season, including the first 10 starts of his career, and went 5-6 with a 6.22 ERA.  In 209 big league appearances with the Red Sox over the last four seasons, he is 10-19 with five saves, a 3.65 ERA, and 251 strikeouts.  He set new club single-season records for holds in both 2010 (1st in AL, 32) and 2011 (T-1st in AL, 34), and his 79 career holds rank fifth in the AL since the start of 2009.  A first-round selection in the June 2006 draft, Bard also ranks among AL relief leaders in strikeouts (10th, 217) and opponent batting average (5th, .196) over the last four seasons.

Ellsbury, 29, hit .271 with 18 doubles, four home runs, 26 RBI, 43 runs and 14 stolen bases in 74 games with the Red Sox in 2012.  He missed 79 games after suffering a right shoulder subluxation on April 13.  He returned July 13 and played in 67 games.

Boston's first-round selection in the June 2005 draft, Ellsbury has a .297 career average with 124 doubles, 23 triples, 56 home runs, 261 RBI, 384 runs, and 189 stolen bases in 581 major league games, all with the Red Sox, from 2007-12.  He earned All-Star, Silver Slugger, Rawlings Gold Glove and American League Comeback Player of the Year honors in 2011, finishing second in AL MVP voting that year.

A two-time All-Star closer, Hanrahan was acquired by the Red Sox in a six-player trade with Pittsburgh on December 26.  The 31-year-old went 5-2 with a 2.72 ERA and 67 strikeouts over 59.2 innings in 63 games with the Pirates in 2012, finishing fifth in the NL with both 36 saves and a 90.0 percent save rate (40 chances).  He held opponents to a .187 average last year, sixth-best among qualifying National League relievers.  Hanrahan ranks fourth among NL relievers over the last two seasons with 76 saves and a 2.24 ERA (min. 100.0 IP).  Selected by the Dodgers in the second round of the June 2000 draft, he has compiled a 22-17 record with 96 saves, a 3.74 ERA and 436 strikeouts in 353 games (11 starts) over his six-year major league career with the Nationals (2007-09) and Pirates (2009-12).

Miller, 27, went 3-2 with a 3.35 ERA and 51 strikeouts compared to 20 walks in 53 relief appearances with the Red Sox in 2012.  He posted career-best marks in games, holds (13), ERA, WHIP (1.19) and opponent AVG (.194) en route to being named the Red Sox Fireman of the Year by the Boston BBWAA.  Miller limited left-handed batters to a .149 average (13-for-87) last year, the second-lowest mark in the AL (min. 100 batters faced) and top by a Sox lefty since at least 1974, and stranded 39 of 46 inherited runners (84.8 percent) for the AL's fifth-best rate.  Signed by the Red Sox as a minor league free agent in December 2010, Miller owns a 24-31 record with a 5.54 ERA and 339 strikeouts in 149 major league games (66 starts) over parts of seven seasons with the Tigers (2006-07), Marlins (2008-10) and Red Sox (2011-12).  He was originally a first-round selection of Detroit in the June 2006 draft.

The 26-year-old Morales made 37 appearances last season, including a career-high nine starts, in his first full season in the Red Sox organization before missing the club's last 37 games due to injury.  He totaled a 3-4 record with one save and a 3.77 ERA, including a 4.14 mark (21 ER/45.2 IP) as a starter and 3.23 (11 ER/30.2 IP) out of the bullpen.  The left-hander struck out 76 batters, including an average of 9.26 strikeouts per 9.0 innings as a starter (47 K/45.2 IP), and limited left-handed hitters to a .184 clip (18-for-98) with just two extra-base hits all year.  Acquired from the Rockies in May 2011, Morales is 11-16 with 11 saves, a 4.36 ERA, and 221 strikeouts in six major league seasons between the two clubs.

With today's agreements, left-handed pitcher Craig Breslow is the only remaining unsigned Red Sox player eligible for salary arbitration.

Follow Ian on Twitter @soxanddawgs. And be sure to like us on Facebook as well.

With the Boise State Broncos and San Diego State Aztecs deciding not to come to the Big East in 2013 for football, the conference had to realign the schedule for the UConn Huskies and other members of the conference.

Here's the release from UConn:

STORRS, Conn. – The University of Connecticut football team will play an eight-game league schedule and host seven games overall at Rentschler Field in the latest release sent out by the BIG EAST, revising the conference’s home and away schedule breakdown.  The schedule was originally established in December before the league’s membership went from 12 to 10 teams for 2013.

UConn will play home BIG EAST Conference games against Louisville, Memphis, Rutgers and USF. The Huskies’ non-league home games will be Maryland (Sept. 14), Michigan (Sept. 21) and Towson State (Aug. 29). The exact dates for BIG EAST games will be announced in early 2013.

Memphis was added to Connecticut’s home schedule to replace the departure of San Diego State to the Mountain West Conference, along with Boise State.

Road conference games for the Huskies in 2013 will be Central Florida, Cincinnati, SMU and Temple. UConn’s lone non-conference road game will be at Buffalo (Sept. 28).

UConn’s home schedule features three teams that played in bowl games this year, including: Louisville, winners of the Allstate Sugar Bowl vs. Florida; Michigan in the Outback Bowl vs. South Carolina; and Rutgers in the Russell Athletic Bowl vs. Virginia Tech.

The Huskies also play road games against three bowl teams: Central Florida, winners of the Beef ‘O’ Brady’s Bowl vs. Ball State; Cincinnati, winner of the Belk Bowl vs. Duke; and SMU, winners over Fresno State in the Sheraton Hawaii Bowl.

The BIG EAST Conference will have 10 football playing schools in 2013, the largest membership in the league’s 23 seasons of football. Each team plays eight conference games with four games at home and four on the road.

Editor's note: Not mentioned in the release is the fact that the only Big East team the Huskies will not play is the Houston Cougars.

Follow Ian on Twitter @soxanddawgs. And be sure to like us on Facebook as well.

Here's the release from UConn about UConn Huskies men's soccer player Carlos Alvarez being drafted No. 2 overall by Chivas USA in the 2013 MLS SuperDraft.

STORRS, Conn. – University of Connecticut senior Carlos Alvarez was selected No. 2 overall by Chivas USA in the 2013 MLS SuperDraft on Thursday afternoon in Indianapolis, Ind. Alvarez is UConn's 26th overall selection in the MLS Draft and ninth first-round selection.

"Carlos is a terrific young man, an incredible player that deserves everything he's earning right now," said UConn Head Coach Ray Reid. "He had opportunities to leave school early and knew the best way for him to succeed at the professional level was to continue to work on his game in college. Carlos stayed at UConn four years and now he gets to live his dream of playing professional soccer with the exact club he's wanted all along and he's also earned a great contract in the process."

"I'm so proud of Carlos for staying at UConn all four years and doing everything that a student-athlete can do. To say we'll miss him at UConn is an understatement."

Alvarez, a native of Los Angeles, Calif., stated early in the draft process that he wanted to play for Chivas USA. Alvarez's father played professionally for Chivas Guadalajara in Mexico. Chivas USA is based out of Carson, Calif., a suburb of Los Angeles.

"I had an unbelievable career in Storrs. The coaching staff was incredible. I learned so much from them," said Alvarez. "Honestly, that's the best coaching staff I've ever been with since I started playing soccer. I owe everything to them – the strength and conditioning coach too (Chris West). I came in weighing 135, I left weighing 172. That tells you a lot about the program. The way they work. In the spring we do double sessions and wake up at 5:45 to train. A lot of schools say they train hard, but I don't think they trained like we did at UConn. That's why it's such a successful program."

Alvarez was a two-time NSCAA Second Team All-American and the 2012 BIG EAST Midfielder of the Year. Alvarez led UConn to the 2009 and 2012 BIG EAST Regular Season Championship and finished his career third all-time at Connecticut with 42 assists. His 82 points placed him No. 14 all-time. As a senior, Alvarez notched seven goals and nine assists for 23 points. A two-time All-BIG EAST First Team selection, Alvarez was named 2009 BIG EAST Rookie of the Year.

UConn had two first round selections in 2012 with Andrew Jean-Baptiste drafted No. 8 overall by the Portland Timbers and Tony Cascio chosen No. 14 by the Colorado Rapids. Nickardo Blake was selected No. 14 in first round of the supplemental draft by Toronto FC.

Follow Ian on Twitter @soxanddawgs. And be sure to like us on Facebook as well.

Here's a press release from the Boston Red Sox about "Red Sox Kid Nation Winterfest":

BOSTON, MA – Third Baseman Will Middlebrooks will welcome children to a “Red Sox Kid Nation Winterfest” on Saturday, January 26, at Fenway Park.  The event, which takes place from 10 a.m. until 4 p.m, is free and open to fans of all ages.

Middlebrooks is scheduled to take part in the festivities, which include a youth video game competition featuring Sony’s “MLB 12: The Show.”  Sony donated 40 games and 40 consoles for the event.

Red Sox 2013 tickets, which go on sale at redsox.com and via telephone (888-REDSOX6) at 10 a.m., will also be available at the Fenway Park Box Office.

Fans of all ages will be welcome to step up to the microphone and showcase their vocal talents as the club seeks a new Public Address Announcer and performers of the National Anthem at Fenway Park.  Children will also be able to hit baseballs in the actual Fenway Park Batting Cages.

The concourse inside Gate D, which serves as the main entrance, will offer activities for children.  Wally the Green Monster will take photographs and sign autographs, and his Wally’s World neighborhood will include a booth to test the speed of your pitch, carnival games, a bounce house, a beanbag toss, face painters, balloon artists, a magician, a caricature artist, and trackless train rides.

Fans will be able to play baseball video games on Sony’s “MLB 12: The Show,” and those who choose to register for a competition will be eligible for special prizes.  Tournament winners and runners-up will receive Kid Nation memberships and tickets to a Red Sox home game this season.  More details on registration will be announced in the coming days.

Hood has been the presenting sponsor of Red Sox Kid Nation since its inception in 2005.

Follow Ian on Twitter @soxanddawgs. And be sure to like us on Facebook as well.

One down, eight to go for Boston Red Sox GM Ben Cherington as the team and Jarrod Saltalamacchia have avoided salary arbitration by agreeing to a one-year, $4.5 million deal.

Here's the release from the Red Sox:

BOSTON, MA—The Boston Red Sox today agreed to terms with catcher Jarrod Saltalamacchia on a one-year, non-guaranteed contract for the 2013 season, thus avoiding salary arbitration.  Terms were not disclosed.  The announcement was made by Executive Vice President/General Manager Ben Cherington.
Saltalamacchia, 27, hit .222 with 25 home runs and 59 RBI in 2012.  He led the Red Sox in home runs, the first catcher to do so since Carlton Fisk, who in 1973 and 1977 hit 26, the club record for a catcher.

The switch-hitter set career highs in home runs, RBI, games (121), runs (55), and walks (38).  Nearly half (43) of his hits (90) went for extra bases.  He ranked third among major league catchers in home runs and finished with the fourth-best slugging percentage (.454) among American League catchers (minimum 375 PA).  As a catcher, his 104 games and 852 innings ranked fifth in the league, and his 95 starts tied for fifth.  His .991 fielding percentage ranked sixth.

Acquired by Boston from Texas for three minor leaguers (and cash considerations) on July 31, 2010, the native of West Palm Beach, FL, has hit 41 homers over the past two seasons, tied for the fourth-most among AL catchers.  Saltalamacchia, who hit 16 home runs in 2011,  is the fourth Red Sox catcher to hit at least 16 homers in back-to-back seasons, joining Carlton Fisk (1972-73, 1976-78), Rich Gedman (1984-86) and Jason Varitek (2003-05).

Active in the community again in 2012, he was among team leaders with 26 appearances, served as co-captain of the Jimmy Fund, and earned the BoSox Club’s “Man of the Year Award” for community service.

Originally a supplemental first-round selection by Atlanta in the June 2003 draft, Saltalamacchia owns a .239 average with 81 doubles, 5 triples, 64 home runs and 210 RBI in 474 career games over six seasons with the Braves (2007), Rangers (2007-10) and Red Sox (2010-12).

The Red Sox have eight arbitration-eligible players remaining: right-handers Alfredo Aceves, Andrew Bailey, Daniel Bard, and Joel Hanrahan, left-handers Craig Breslow, Andrew Miller and Franklin Morales, and outfielder Jacoby Ellsbury.

Follow Ian on Twitter @soxanddawgs. And be sure to like us on Facebook as well.