Kreativecke » was good enough to be here. As

MONTREAL -- When Blake Smith scored his first goal in Major League Soccer, the rookie did a cartwheel followed by a perfectly executed back flip. The Montreal Impact hope to see more of those acrobatics from the energetic midfielder they selected eighth overall in this years MLS SuperDraft. The 22-year-old has been used off the bench as a substitute with increasing regularity and has begun to make an impact on the scoresheet with a goal and an assist in his last two league games. "At the start of the season I wasnt getting into games and I used that as motivation to work hard in practice," Smith said this week. "I think the coaches saw that and gained confidence in me, so Im getting more playing time and Im trying to take advantage of my moments." The natural left-footer has been subbing in for Andres Romero late in recent games and may see action again as the Impact (7-2-2) visit Sporting Kansas City (6-4-4) in a key Eastern Conference match-up on Saturday night. Montreal arrived on a high after a 2-2 draw in Vancouver on Wednesday night gave them the Voyageurs Cup as winners of the Amway Canadian Championship and a berth in the CONCACAF Champions League. They have also won two MLS games in a row, and Smith figured in both. In a comeback 3-2 win over Salt Lake two weeks ago, the five-foot-10 Texan fed Matteo Ferrari for the game-winner in added time. Last Saturday, he was sent in on the left side by Patrice Bernier to score the insurance goal, again in extra time, in a 5-3 victory over Philadelphia. That had him bounding across the Saputo Stadium grass in celebration. "Its pretty crazy -- all my friends and family have congratulated me -- but now that Ive got that behind me, Im onto the next game," said Smith, who has been doing the backflips since high school. None of Smiths success is a surprise to Jeremy Fishbein, his coach the last four years at the powerhouse University of New Mexico. Smith scored 13 times in 68 games for the Lobos, and was an NCAA all-star in 2012. "Hes got a lot of fire in him," Fishbein said this week. "I felt he was going to be an excellent pro player. "Like anyone, theres an adaptation period. Hes on a veteran team. Hes playing well in that role now, but everyone aspires to be a 90-minute player and I hope he gets that chance." Fishbein said one of Smith strength is "tremendous lung capacity" that is ideal for playing the full game. But with the team doing well, so far coach Marco Schallibaum has preferred to continue using Smith off the bench, even with injuries to midfielders Davy Arnaud (concussion) and Andrea Pisanu (thigh), as well as forward Daniele Paponi (thigh). Fishbein wonders how much feedback Smith gets on a team with a European coach that is dominated by European, mostly Italian, veterans. Smith is also playing in a different country where the majority language is French. But the El Paso native looks to be fitting in well. Fishbein has watched Impact games and noted his progression. "He played safe and thats good at the start, but theres another level to him where hes going to break teams down," he said. With the Impact, Smith finds himself lining up with stars like ex-Bologna and Italy forward Marco Di Vaio and former AC Milan giant Alessandro Nesta. "It took some getting used to for sure," he said. "There are some guys here where its pretty intimidating to say youre teammates. "Youve got a World Cup winner (Nesta), and here I am coming from a college. But the adaptation wasnt too difficult. "Honestly, I had no expectations," he added. "I wanted first of all just to prove to myself that I was good enough to be here. As soon as I realized I could play with these guys, then my expectations are to be on the field and to find minutes and ultimately, to be a game changer." He is not alone in MLS. Smiths UNM teammate, the bushy-haired Devon Sandoval, was drafted in the second round and is now a starting forward for Real Salt Lake. Sandoval got his first MLS goal May 8 against New England. The two players exchanged texts of congratulation. Smiths first appearance was on March 30 when he subbed for Di Vaio in a 2-0 loss at Kansas City. The Kansas City player who did most of the damage was midfielder Graham Zusi, but he and defender Matt Besler are away with the U.S. national team for friendlies in Belgium and Germany. The teams meet again July 27 in Montreal. Four days after that, the MLS all-star game will be held at Sporting Park, where the leagues top players will take on Italian Serie-A club AS Roma. Nike Vapormax Plus Sverige . But when it comes to determining if Raymond will find a place on the Leafs roster when training camp concludes in a week, well, that decision will ultimately fall to the head coach. Nike Air Zoom Pegasus 36 Dam . After Gasquet beat fifth-seeded Ivan Dodig of Croatia 7-5, 6-3, Tsonga followed up with a 6-7 (3), 6-2, 6-2 win against sixth-seeded Edouard Roger-Vasselin in an all-French match. http://www.airvapormaxsverige.com/air-max-plus-tn-rea.html . In taking its goal tally to 99 in all competitions already this season, City delivered another demonstration of its lethal firepower at Etihad Stadium to set up a fourth-round match at home to another second-tier team -- Watford. Nike Zoom Fly Herr . -- Ohio States Urban Meyer has never had any issue acclimating to the biggest stages in college football. Nike Air Zoom Pegasus 35 Herr . Dallas hasnt ruled out the star quarterback for Sunday nights game against Philadelphia, but all signs point to Romos back injury pushing Kyle Orton into the starting role after two years of limited play as the backup. Surely Ortons name isnt the first that comes to mind for fans wanting a change after years of damaging interceptions, fumbles or, most infamously, the field goal flub when Romo dropped the snap on a kick that could have won his first playoff game in 2006.TORONTO -- The Baltimore Orioles optioned right-hander Jake Arrieta to Triple-A Norfolk and designated right-hander Alex Burnett for assignment on Thursday. The moves were made to clear a roster spot for rookie right-hander Kevin Gausman, the fourth overall pick in the 2012 draft. He is being promoted from Double-A Bowie to make his major league against the Blue Jays on Thursday night. The 22-year-old Gausman has only 13 games of professional experience.dddddddddddd He went 2-4 with a 3.11 ERA at Bowie this season, striking out 49 and walking five in 46 1-3 innings. Arrieta is 1-1 with a 6.63 ERA in four starts this season. He went 3-9 with a 6.20 ERA last year. Burnett pitched in two games for the Orioles, allowing three runs and four hits in 1 1-3 innings. ' ' '