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Mata, Rooney lift United to Cup title

By WTOP Staff

TIM REYNOLDS
AP Sports Writer

MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. (AP) — It’s only a preseason tournament, and the trophy isn’t exactly steeped in soccer history.

None of that mattered to Wayne Rooney and Manchester United.

Rooney and Juan Mata scored two minutes apart in a second-half flurry, Jesse Lingard added an insurance goal in the final minutes and Manchester United rallied to beat longtime rival Liverpool 3-1 in the title match of the International Champions Cup on Monday night.

“It’s obviously great to win the game and win the tournament,” Rooney said in an on-field interview after the match. “We worked hard in preseason and to go unbeaten gives us confidence.”

Steven Gerrard scored on a penalty kick in the 14th minute for Liverpool, which topped United twice last season in Premier League play.

Last season was wildly disappointing by United standards, but it is now unbeaten in five matches under new manager Louis van Gaal. And while his players were clearly thrilled, van Gaal offered a one-word assessment of what winning a preseason tournament means.

“Nothing,” van Gaal said.

Clearly, no disrespect was meant. But clubs like United are looking for the sport’s biggest prizes, and van Gaal wants his team thinking big.

“It’s nice for the fans in the United States of America and also at home that we beat Liverpool,” van Gaal said. “It’s not our favorite opponent, for Man United fans. I think we have gave a lot of pleasure to these fans and that’s very important. And of course, it is better to win in preparation time than to lose. But the most important game is against Swansea City, the first game at home in the Premier League. That, we have to win.”

The teams mingled on the field after the trophy presentation, though there is certainly no such thing as a true “friendly” between these clubs — which have combined for 38 English championships and well over 100 trophies worldwide.

And when Rooney got the equalizer, it was evident this was no meaningless match for him, either.

He volleyed home a long cross from Javier “Chicharito” Hernandez in the 55th minute, timing his run perfectly to knock the ball into the far side of the net — then leaping and punching the air.

Moments later, Luke Shaw found Mata at the top of the penalty box, and Mata’s quick blast deflected past Simon Mingolet for a 2-1 lead. After Lingard added the insurance goal, Rooney stood still for a few moments, his arms outstretched in celebration.

Both teams substituted liberally in the second half.

“Overall, I’m delighted with the whole tournament,” said Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers, who came away confident that his club will be ready for the start of Premier League play in about two weeks. “We worked very, very hard.”

The scoring opened in the 14th minute, on a play that Manchester United argued to no avail.

Liverpool’s Raheem Sterling chased down a ball on the left side of the box near the goal line, as Manchester United’s Phil Jones scurried over to defend. Jones went for a slide tackle and while replays showed he appeared to make contact with the ball, the play also sent Sterling to the grass — and referee Mark Geiger immediately signaled for a penalty kick

Gerrard went one way, Manchester United goalkeeper David De Gea guessed the other, and Liverpool had a 1-0 lead.

It’s the second straight year the tournament concluded with a high-profile title match in South Florida, which has a strong and diverse soccer following. That’s among the reasons why David Beckham, one of the sport’s biggest stars, has been trying to get a stadium built in downtown Miami for an expansion MLS franchise.

Real Madrid topped Chelsea in last year’s final.

Copyright 2014 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Don’t Settle for Student Loans to Pay for Online Education

By WTOP Staff
Online college programs are becoming a more popular choice for prospective students, with one study finding that more than 6 million students enrolled in at least one online course in fall 2015. The popularity of these courses can be attributed in part to their flexibility with working adults' schedules, students' ability to progress more quickly through online programs and, oftentimes, cheaper tuition. [See 10 low-cost online bachelor's programs for out-of-state students.]Online degrees can be beneficial to many college students, but some studies have shown online learners complete their programs at lower rates than students at traditional brick-and-mortar campuses. Individuals with student loans but no degree comprise two-thirds of defaulted borrowers. Though these numbers are not encouraging, just like for traditional programs, there are ways to reduce how much you'll need to borrow for an online program to ensure you won't become one of these statistics. Don't just settle on borrowing student loans to cover the whole cost of your program and living expenses. Instead, start thinking about how to cut costs and cover your balance in different ways, such as the following. -- Grants and scholarships: Even though you are taking an online course, you can still apply and receive grants and scholarships. But your first step should be to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, commonly referred to as the FAFSA, which will allow you to receive a Pell Grant if your expected family contribution is low enough. The EFC criteria and award amounts are adjusted annually, but the 2017-2018 academic year awards range from $606 to $5,920, which could significantly lower the amount you borrow annually. Your next step is to apply for scholarships. You can start by checking online scholarship search engines, such as the Salt Scholarship Search, College Board's BigFuture and Peterson's. But don't forget to take advantage of local organizations and your school's financial aid office. Both may offer scholarships that you can't find with a national scholarship search. [Review these 10 sites to kick off your scholarship search.]For instance, organizations like the Elks Club, Knights of Columbus or the Rotary Club typically offer scholarships annually to local students. Just because you're going to school online doesn't mean you're ineligible. Visit your local library for scholarship listings, and ask around town. You might be surprised how many local organizations offer scholarships. While these scholarships typically aren't large, every little bit counts. Each dollar you receive in a scholarship is a dollar you don't have to borrow and pay interest on. -- Work-study: Another option for online students may be work-study awards. Not all students enrolled in online programs are eligible, but students at some schools -- including, for example, SUNY Empire State College and Liberty University -- are. Work-study awards are not given upfront like scholarships and grants. In most cases, they are an offer to earn up to the awarded amount if you secure an eligible work-study job. While there is a misconception that all work-study jobs must be on campus, students can work for off-campus, nonprofit or public employers as long as the work is in the public's interest. You may be able to work for a for-profit employer if the job is relevant to your course of study. No matter who the outside employer is, it will need to have an established agreement with your college for you to receive work-study funds. Remember, to be eligible for federal financial aid, you must be enrolled and pursuing a degree or certificate. If you're not working toward a credential, Pell Grants and work-study won't be option, but you may still be able to take advantage of private scholarships -- just be sure to read the eligibility criteria carefully. [Explore what to know about financial aid in online programs.]-- Pay as you go: One of the great benefits to enrolling online is the flexible schedule, which can allow you to complete your college coursework around your responsibilities. But prospective students often overlook using their part- or full-time job earnings as an option for paying for college. Almost 80 percent of college students in 2015 worked at least part time while attending classes, according to the National Center for Education Statistics. By budgeting and thinking strategically about your college costs, you can likely reduce your dependence on student loans by paying a portion out of pocket. Many -- but not all -- online programs are less expensive than traditional programs and often have shorter payment periods. Six, eight or 10 weeks are common course durations. Because of the frequency of payments in an online setting, you may be well-placed to pay as you go and possibly avoid borrowing altogether. Attending college online and avoiding student loans may be challenging, but if you are willing to put in the effort, you can limit the amount you need to borrow. More from U.S. News Q&A: Understanding Student Loan Discharge Eligibility Student Loan Refinancing Isn't Right for All Borrowers
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