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Diskerud aims for larger US role in next 4 years

By WTOP Staff

TIM REYNOLDS
AP Sports Writer

BOCA RATON, Fla. (AP) — Mix Diskerud is not planning on becoming the next Landon Donovan.

He just hopes to have a role in filling the void the U.S. men’s national team will have to address going forward.

There’s something fitting that in Donovan’s final international appearance for the U.S. last week against Ecuador, he started a sequence that led to a goal by Diskerud, who was issued Donovan’s No. 10 jersey for this year’s World Cup.

And now Diskerud will get another chance to impress, as the post-Donovan era for the Americans gets under way in an exhibition against Honduras on Tuesday night.

“It was definitely memorable,” Diskerud said of his goal in the 1-1 draw against Ecuador on Friday, his fourth in 22 international appearances. “It was Landon’s last game, and it was fun to be a part of that, an honor. Turned around, he was the first one I saw, gave him a huge hug and he was a part of the goal. It was fun.”

It seemed appropriate that Donovan and Diskerud were part of what became the final goal the best scorer in U.S. men’s history would be a part of on the international stage. Diskerud made the U.S. team that went to Brazil for the World Cup. Donovan didn’t, and Diskerud wound up getting his number — though actually didn’t appear in any of the U.S. matches during the tournament.

Diskerud said he has no qualms about not seeing action in Brazil. The U.S. is already looking forward to the challenges of the next four years, which doesn’t leave the Norwegian-American midfielder any time to lament what might have been.

“Not difficult at all. It was huge to be part of the whole group,” Diskerud said. “It’s not only on the field you contribute, it’s off the field, the training sessions and everything. I feel I was a big part of the group and I learned from the best. Hopefully I’ll be a bigger part going forward.”

That’s what the mission these days is for the U.S., finding the new names that will play roles going forward and can mesh with longtime stalwarts of the program like Clint Dempsey, Jozy Altidore — who will be playing Tuesday in his hometown — and Michael Bradley.

“It’s the evolution of a team, especially of a national team,” Bradley said. “Somebody like Mix who has had the experience of being around for a few years now starts to get asked to take a bigger role.”

Diskerud’s mother is from Arizona and his father is from Norway. Diskerud played for Norway’s Under-18 and Under-19 teams before deciding to represent the U.S. going forward.

“Mix is growing,” U.S. coach Jurgen Klinsmann said. “I think the message to him after the World Cup was: If you want to break into this team as a starter one day, you’ve got to step it up. You have to become more aggressive. You have to challenge more one-against-one situations. You have to become physical. And can he play? Absolutely. Does he have tremendous vision? Yes. But he needs these other elements on the international stage to break through.”

When Diskerud plays, the Americans are 17-1-4.

“More than anything it’s so the young guys get some experience and get the opportunity to be on the field,” Bradley said. “It’s early on in the cycle. We’re trying to find some consistency and continuity.”

Diskerud might become more of a name in the U.S. soon. He’s currently playing for Rosenborg, a traditional power in Norwegian soccer, but there has been speculation that he could wind up in Major League Soccer next year.

“I’m playing for Rosenborg, I’m focused on that and the national team now going forward,” Diskerud said. “I know my advisers and agents have a dialogue with the club in Norway, and we’ll see what happens.”

NOTES: Klinsmann said MF Joe Gyau, who injured a meniscus Friday, needs surgery and is likely to be sidelined until January. … The Americans are 12-0-2 in their last 14 matches on U.S. soil. … Tuesday is a homecoming for both Altidore and Alejandro Bedoya, a native of nearby Weston. Altidore still maintains a home in Boca Raton and isn’t sure how many friends and family will be attending the match at Florida Atlantic University. “A lot,” he said. … Jermaine Jones, who had a memorable goal for the U.S. against Portugal in the World Cup, is with the national team for the first time since signing with New England.

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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