One of the major questions being asked as the soccer season prepares to get underway in earnest is: Where will Stephen Astwood end up?

The Bermuda international striker has confounded many, including PHC, whom he performed for last season, and Somerset, to whom he has been recently linked after receiving a late release from PHC.

Astwood has been spotted training with both clubs, going through the paces with PHC as recently as Tuesday night, but neither Mark Wade, the new Zebras coach, or anyone associated with Somerset could confirm his giving a firm commitment to either.

His departure from PHC would be a crippling blow to the Warwick club's chances of securing any silverware this season, with the gifted frontman a key cog in their attacking schemes, and despite having had a sub-par 2001-2002, his presence alone requires the opposition make special defensive provisions.

For Somerset the acquisition of Astwood, whose signature was sought by English First Division club Preston North End following trials last season only to be denied by the inability to secure a work permit, would only add to the cache of riches already at the west end.

Somerset were the hands-down winners in the off-season transfer market, and while Astwood would have to wait until at least November before taking the field in a Trojans uniform, coach Josef Gooden likely would not mind having the luxury of a national team striker on the books, especially considering Somerset's difficulty scoring goals last season.

Top female soccer player Raneika Bean made a spectacular debut for Howard University Wednesday night, blasting a hat-trick in leading the Washington DC based school to a 3-0 triumph over Canisius at the Caroline Pardee invitational in Akron, Ohio.

The speedy striker scored twice in under two minutes midway through the first half to stake Howard to the season-opening victory, the freshman finding the range in the 31st and 33rd minutes. Her third goal came five minutes after half-time.

Bean led a Lady Booter attack that kept the pressure on Canisius' keeper Christine Moran for a majority of the 90 minutes and she was credited with four shots.