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Dempsey lifts Seattle past Colorado, 1-0

By WTOP Staff

MARK MOSCHETTI
Associated Press

SEATTLE (AP) — Clint Dempsey is scoring again for the Seattle Sounders.

Dempsey converted off a corner kick in the 52nd minute and the Sounders beat the Colorado Rapids 1-0 on Saturday to extend their overall MLS lead.

Dempsey has scored in consecutive game for the Sounders (15-7-3) after a five-match drought. He got one last week in a 4-2 victory at rival Portland, a much more wide-open contest than the grind-it-out battle against the Rapids (8-12-6).

“When we play at home, most teams sit back, and it opens up in the second half,” Dempsey said. “In an ideal world, you can open the game up in the first half and get some goals, and it makes the game easier for you. But the most important thing is the three points and getting two wins in a row and try to keep going from there.”

Seattle goalkeeper Stefan Frei had his league-leading eighth shutout. The Sounders boosted their points total to 48, assuring that they’ll retain the Western Conference and Supporters Shield leads, regardless of any other results this weekend.

“It’s important to get points and stay up the table, make the playoffs, and make sure you’re going into the playoffs on a good run of form,” Dempsey said. “You don’t want to limp in.”

Dempsey scored his 11th goal to move within two of the Sounders’ season record. Fredy Montero and Eddie Johnson each had 13 goals in 2012.

Marco Pappa’s corner kick from the right side floated into the middle of the penalty area, Dempsey ran onto it and blasted a right-footed shot from 11 yards past goalkeeper Joe Nasco.

The 30-year-old Nasco was making his MLS debut. He finished with five saves — three of them on point-blank shots by Seattle’s Obafemi Martins, who had a shot bang off the crossbar early in the second half.

Sounders coach Sigi Schmid was especially pleased with the result.

“We felt we made a statement last week. But a statement doesn’t mean anything unless you back it up,” Schmid said. “But also when you come off an emotional game, it’s natural that your team is a little flatter, as well. I thought we did a good job of backing up our statement, getting the three points, winning at home, and getting the shutout.”

Colorado lost its sixth straight, tying the franchise record set in 1999 and matched in 2012. The Rapids, who haven’t won since beating Chivas USA 3-0 on July 25, have been shut out three times and outscored 16-6 during the losing streak.

“Seattle is a high-powered offense, so they’re always going to get chances,” Colorado midfielder Dillon Powers said. “But I thought we did a great job limiting them. We looked strong defensively throughout the entire game. Their goal came off a set piece, which just came down to situational defending. We didn’t create too many opportunities, but we’re still a young squad out there and still learning.”

In six years, the Rapids have never won in Seattle, managing just one tie in nine games.

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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