Orange County Blues FC News Release -- www.ocbluesfc.com

Friday, July 25, 2014

IRVINE, Calif. -- Orange County Blues FC is set to face their rival, the LA Galaxy II, for the final time in the 2014 USL PRO regular season. The Galaxy II will cross the Orange Curtain this Saturday night, with kickoff set for 7 p.m. PT at University of California Irvine’s Anteater Stadium.

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The rivals have met a total of three times so far this season. The first face-off was on March 22 in the Galaxy II's USL PRO debut, when LA hosted Orange County and took a 3-1 victory. The two met once more at the StubHub Center Track and Field Stadium on April 19, where Los Dos was victorious once more with another 3-1 final score. The last time the rivals met was at Anteater Stadium on April 27, where the Galaxy II scored yet another three goals on the Blues in a 3-0 win.

The Galaxy II comes to Irvine after a 1-0 victory against OKC Energy FC at Pribil Stadium last Saturday. The only goal of the match was scored by Raul Mendiola, a player to watch, who has a total of nine points with two goals and five assists.

Other players of note on Los Dos include Charlie Rugg, who has total of 14 points on six goals and one assist, and goalkeeper Cody Laurendi, who has played 16 games with a 1.187 goals against average. Los Dos sit in third spot of the USL PRO standings with a record of 10-5-4 for a total of 34 points.

Orange County returns to Anteater Stadium after a 3-0 shutout loss to another west-coast rival, Arizona United SC. The Blues have lost their last three games and will come to the match eager to get a win for Orange County.

For the Blues, keep an eye on a few standout players.Goalkeeper Patrick Mclain is ranked third in saves in USL PRO with 66 on the year so far, giving him an average of 4.4 per game. Midfielder and captain Allan Russell returns from suspension with a total of 16 points from six goals and four assists, while Steven Okai has started in every game this season for the Blues while recording two goals and one assist.

The Blues currently sit in seventh place in the USL PRO standings, with a record of 8-11-0, giving them a total of 24 points.

For information on how to witness this rivalry showdown, call (714)738-8011 or email seats@bluessoccerclub.com for ticket information.

Seacoast United Phantoms News Release -- www.seacoastunited.com

Thursday, July 24, 2014

PORTSMOUTH, N.H. -- The Seacoast United Phantoms head to the PDL's Eastern Conference Championships this weekend after having clinched the Northeast Division title last Saturday with a 3-1 victory over GPS Portland Phoenix. The Phantoms finished the regular season with a record of 11-1-2, tied for second-best in the PDL, and will face the West Virginia Chaos in Saturday evening's semifinal at 7:30 p.m. ET at Lubetkin Field in Newark, N.J.

After a stellar regular season, Phantoms goalkeeper Dom DiMaggio enters Saturday's game with a PDL regular-season honor after he was named Goals-Against Average Champion when the league announced its statistical awards on Tuesday. Dimaggio led the league with a 0.384 GAA to help lead Seacoast United to the Northeast Division title as he appeared in 13 of the Phantoms' 14 regular-season games and posted a league-high eight shutouts.

Phantoms striker Anthony Grant also came close to earning honors, as he finished second in both the Golden Boot and Scoring Champion categories with 14 goals and 29 points, surpassed on the last day of the season by Dzenan Catic of the Michigan Bucks.

The Phantoms will be looking for big performaces from both Dimaggio and Grant, and their teammates, as they return to the postseason for the  first time since 2011. The winner of Saturday's semifinal against the South Atlantic Division champion Chaos will face either the host Jersey Express or Northeast Division CFC Azul, who meet in the other semifinal, on Sunday evening at 5 p.m. ET.

The Eastern Conference champion will then advance to the 2014 PDL Championship, presented by Nike, which is set to be held from August 1-3.

W-20 Championship Report

Saturday, July 26, 2014

BRADENTON, Fla. - In a preview of Sunday's final, the Grand Rapids Crew Juniors defeated Michigan PDA 2-1 Saturday at the W-20 Championship presented by Nike. Grand Rapids finished group play at 3-0-0 and PDA finished 2-1-0, with both advancing to Sunday's final at 9 a.m. at IMG Academy Stadium.

“It’s good to win the group. We managed to get a number of players in and we rotated very well so everyone got some rest,” Grand Rapids Crew Juniors Head Coach Lewis Robinson said. “Coming into the game we just didn’t want to lose before the final, so it was great to get the win.”

Grand Rapids created the first good chance in the eighth minue when Jordyn Ryfiak took a ball down and fired low to the left, but Michigan goalkeeper Caitlyn Clem was equal to the challenge.

Not long after PDA midfielder Lulu Haidar found forward Eliza Van de Kerkhove, who opened up the scoring with a blistering shot from 30 yards out that left both teams stunned. 

PDA felt the momentum shift in its favor and created chance after chance, but Grand Rapids goalkeeper Marissa Platz did well to turn them away. Unfortunately, Platz was injured during a save and was replaced by Maddi Bunnell.

Clem managed several fine saves as well, but in the 45th minute a missed clearance saw the ball fall to Crew forward Michaela Kovacs, who buried her shot to tie the score, 1-1.

A fumbled ball in the 63rd minute gave Grand Rapids forward Brittany Tanner an open look at goal which she took and scored to make it 2-1.

TRIANGLE FC ALLIANCE 1, WASHINGTON SPIRIT ACADEMY 1: Triangle FC Alliance and Washington Spirit Academy played to a 1-1 draw in their final group game Saturday morning, with the goals separated by only a few minutes.

Washington Spirit Academy came out on the front foot and pushed the attack into Triangle’s half, but a resilient defense and stellar goalkeeper play from Triangle’s Susana Zigante kept the score level for 65 minutes. 

Abby Downey broke the tie for Washington when she latched on to a deflected pass and put the ball into the side-netting to make it 1-0.

Triangle bounced back quickly however, and Alliance midfielder Courtney Cash found forward Grace Bondurant at the top of the box. Bondurant put the ball onto her right foot and sent a hard shot low and to the corner to tie the game in the 69th minute.

Both teams went forward looking for the winner, but neither could find the net again.

“It wasn’t the tournament we were looking for, but we knew it was going to be hard,” Triangle Head Coach Tom Misuraca said.

“We have a young team and we will definitely learn from this. It was good for them to go out and see what the next level is like. A lot of the players we came up against were at great D1 programs, so for them to get that experience playing against the best was very valuable. Next year we will come back and we will be older and better and we will do things a bit differently.”

Richmond Kickers News Release -- www.richmondkickers.com

Friday, July 25, 2014

RICHMOND, Va. – The Richmond Kickers (10-1-9, 39 points) return to City Stadium this Saturday, July 26 to host Craft Beer Night and the Harrisburg City Islanders (5-7-6, 21 points) at 7 p.m. ET. More than 20 craft beers and ciders will be available on tap when the gates open at 5 p.m., featuring brewing companies such as SweetWater, Shiner, Boulevard, Foothills, Lonerider, Lost Rhino, Smartmouth and Wild Wolf, as well as small batch selections from Sam Adams and Sierra Nevada. Admission, plus one beer and a commemorative cup is just $12 in advance at RichmondKickers.com.

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The Kickers enter Saturday’s game on the heels of a 1-1 draw in Charleston on Tuesday night in a match that was rescheduled from June 27 due to persistent lightning. After conceding a seventh-minute penalty, the Kickers responded with a quick equalizer when a give and go between Luke Vercollone and Alex Lee moved the ball to the endline. Lee whipped the ball across the box, and connected with Jason Yeisley lurking at the back post, who buried a header for his second goal in as many games.

Closing out a three-game regular season series, the Kickers take on the City Islanders after narrowly edging their northern rivals in their first two home and away matches. Earning a dramatic 3-2 win in Harrisburg on May 31, the Kickers relied on late-game heroics after taking an early lead.  When Harrisburg leveled the score at 2-2 courtesy of a Richmond own goal, the Kickers avenged the defensive error in the final minute of stoppage time when Vercollone’s pass found Kyle Porter at the left edge of the box, who made no mistake blasting home the game-winner. 

Two weeks later, the two teams swapped home field advantage as the Kickers held on to a ninth-minute Matthew Delicate tally to shut out the City Islanders 1-0.  

Harrisburg enter Saturday’s match after playing to a thrilling 3-3 draw against OKC Energy FC. Pedro Ribeiro scored the equalizer for the City Islanders, who had taken a 2-0 lead before Energy FC rallied for three consecutive goals to take the lead. The City Islanders are undefeated in their past five games, with a 0-0 draw against Wilmington last weekend following 3-1 and 4-1 routs over Dayton and Charleston, respectively.  Forwards Jimmy McLaughlin and Morgan Langley lead the charge, combining for three goals and five assists over the last four games.

Following Saturday’s USL PRO contest, the Richmond Kickers conclude this summer’s Must See Games Series on Monday, July 28 when they host Crystal Palace of the world famous Barclay’s Premier League at City Stadium, presented by Elephant Insurance.  The historic match marks the first-time ever a team from England’s top flight will appear in Virginia and a sell-out is expected. Tickets are on sale now at RichmondKickers.com.

Players to Watch
Kickers: Forward Jason Yeisley tallied two goals in back to back games against Charleston last week, adding a tally to the 4-0 scoreline in Richmond before burying the equalizer in the 1-1 draw on the road.  Earlier this season, he made a triumphant return to the field in May, setting up the game-tying goal against Rochester, after a nearly 10-month hiatus due to injury. In his sixth season with the Kickers, defender Henry Kalungi anchors one of the best defensive units in the league, that has conceded just 18 goals in 20 games. The 2013 USL PRO All-League First Team honoree has earned 15 caps as captain of the Uganda National Team. New Zealand/American midfielder Shay Spitz signed with the Kickers prior to the 2014 campaign after spending two seasons with the Orange County Blues. After making 27 appearances and posting four goals in Orange County, he has notched three goals and three assists in a Kickers uniform this season.

Islanders: Forward Clesio Bauque recently signed with Harrisburg from Portuguese Premier League side S.L. Benfica. Making an immediate impact for the City Islanders with a pair of goals in the 5-3 win over Dayton in May, the 19-year old has earned nine caps with the Mozambique National Team. On loan from the Philadelphia Union, midfielder Jimmy McLaughlin added a goal and an assist in the 3-1 win over Dayton to bring his totals to four goals and three assists this season. The former Colgate Raider and graduate of the Philadelphia Union Youth Program is the club’s second ever-homegrown player. Defender Richie Marquez anchors the Harrisburg defense as the only field player to play every minute of every game this year. Joining the City Islanders on loan from their official MLS affiliate, Philadelphia Union, he was an NSCAA All-American at the University of Redlands.

W-League News Release

Saturday, July 26, 2014

TAMPA, Fla. – The W-League announced its 2014 regular season honors tonight, naming the Most Valuable Player, Rookie of the Year, Defender of the Year, Goalkeeper of the Year and Coach of the Year at its Awards Banquet at the 2014 W-League Championship presented by Nike in Bradenton, Florida. Voting was conducted by W-League coaches and general managers.

The 2014 W-League Championship concludes Sunday with the LA Blues facing the Washington Spirit Reserves at 2:30 p.m. ET at IMG Academy. The final, as well as the consolation match at noon ET between the Charlotte Lady Eagles and Ottawa Fury FC, will be streamed live on YouTube at www.youtube.com/uslwleague.

2014 W-League Award Winners

MVP - Mele French, LA Blues

The engine that drives the LA Blues, French tallied eight goals and eight assists from her midfield spot this season as the Blues posted their fourth undefeated regular season in seven years. A former standout at the University of Oregon, French has advanced to four championship finals in her five W-League seasons, capturing three titles.   

Coach of the Year - Daniel Clitnovici, Colorado Pride

It would be hard to argue against Clitnovici after the job he did leading the expansion Colorado Pride to a playoff berth in the ultra-competitive Western Conference. Clitnovici, an experienced coach who led the Colorado Rapids to the 2012 W-20 title, guided the Pride to a 9-2-1 mark and a spot in the Western Conference Championship, where they gave the LA Blues all they could handle in a 2-1 defeat.

Defender of the Year - Amanda Naeher, Charlotte Lady Eagles

A veteran leader in her fourth season with the Lady Eagles, Naeher is a big reason Charlotte captured the Southeastern Conference crown to advance to the championship weekend. A natural midfielder who dropped back into defense this season, Naeher tallied four goals while helping the Lady Eagles advance to the playoffs for the sixth time in seven years.

Rookie of the Year - Chloe Logarzo, Colorado Pride

Already with an appearance for the Australian Women’s National Team under her belt at age 19, Logarzo made her presence known in the Western Conference in 2014, tallying six goals and seven assists for the upstart Pride despite missing three games due to injury.

Goalkeeper of the Year - Genevieve Richard, Laval Comets

Claiming Goalkeeper of the Year honors for the second consecutive season, Richard was once again stellar for the Comets in 2014, finishing with six shutouts while playing every minute of the season. Preparing for her junior season at the University of Wisconsin, Richard has represented Canada at the U17 and U20 FIFA World Cup.

USL PRO Game Report

Saturday, July 26, 2014

CHARLESTON, S.C. -- Dane Kelly scored two first-half goals to lift the Charleston Battery to a 2-0 victory against Arizona United SC at Blackbaud Stadium in front of a crowd of 4,464 on Saturday night.

“We got our win here (at home),” said head coach Mike Anhaeuser. “We want to win the rest of our games at home and make a push for the playoffs. You've got to commend the players. They did their job tonight.”

Charleston dominated possession from the start of the match and finally broke through in the 25th minute. Kelly gained possession in the midfield and pushed forward as Arizona goalkeeper Evan Newton charged out to clear the ball. Kelly took advantage of the out-of-position keeper, and slotted a slow-roller under Newton from 25 yards out to make the score 1-0.

Kelly scored his second goal of the night in the 33rd minute with an assist from midfielder Maikel Chang. The Cuban midfielder used a first-time pass to find Kelly on the right side of the penalty area, and Kelly fired a shot past Newton from 12 yards out to increase the Battery's lead to 2-0.

Charleston continued to push forward in the second half but was unable to add a third goal. The Battery’s best chance came in the 62nd minute when defender John Wilson made a long run down the left side. Wilson played a pass into the middle of the penalty area, but Kelly struggled to control the ball and his shot was knocked over the bar by Newton.

The Battery defense made the night easy for goalkeeper Odisnel Cooper as he needed only two saves to preserve a clean sheet.

This win gives the Battery (5-8-6) 21 points and was the team’s first victory since June 14, a 3-0 defeat of the LA Galaxy II.

Charleston will travel to Canada for their next match against the Montreal Impact Reserves on Monday, July 28, at the Claude-Robillard Sports Complex in Montreal, Quebec, Canada at 10:30 a.m. ET in its next outing. 

The Battery then return home next Friday night as they host the Rochester Rhinos at 7:30 p.m. ET. Tickets for all Battery home games are available starting at $10. To purchase tickets or for more information please call 843-971-GOAL (4625) or visit www.charlestonbattery.com.

USL PRO Game Report

Saturday, July 26, 2014

RICHMOND, Va. – The Richmond Kickers took all three points on Saturday night by defeating the visiting Harrisburg City Islanders 2-1. A penalty from Luke Vercollone, and a long free kick from Sascha Görres, were enough to see the Kickers through despite a late goal from Matt Bahner.

Harrisburg’s first chance of the game came in the third minute. Forward Clesio Bauque found Robbie Derschang making a run to the goal line. Derschang centered a ball to Jose Barril near the penalty spot, and drew a diving save from Richmond keeper Joe Willis. Bahner was quick to follow up the shot, but his effort went well over the bar.

Richmond got on the board two minutes later on a Vercollone penalty kick. Richmond forward Jason Yeisley drew the foul on a challenge from Harrisburg City defender Coady Andrews, and Vercollone did the rest from the spot as he tucked his shot neatly in the left side-netting.

The Kickers would nearly get their second in the 16th minute on a shot from George Davis IV when the midfielder dispossessed Bahner on the left wing, and carried the ball to the top of the box. Davis IV’s shot caught goalkeeper Brian Sylvestre leaning to his left, but the keeper made a kick save.

Richmond would double its lead in the 23rd minute on a free kick from defender Sascha Görres. Görres’ effort from around 35 yards out took a deflection off a defender, and crossed up Sylvestre before finding the back of the net. Görres was again involved in the 30th minute when he sent a long ball into the box, which found forward Matthew Delicâte behind the defense. Delicâte’s header forced Sylvestre to make a save backing up on the goal line.

Richmond’s final chance of the half came in the 38th minute when Davis IV sent a dangerous ball into the box from the left wing. The cross was headed down by William Yomby to Delicâte near the penalty spot; his subsequent shot brought a diving save from Sylvestre to his right.

Richmond came out firing on all cylinders to begin the second half. Its first chance came in the 55th minute on a Shay Spitz backheel attempt. The movement began with Spitz finding Yeisley down the right, and the forward played a low cross back into the box, but Spitz couldn’t steer the ball on target with his finish.

On the ensuing goal kick, Davis IV stole the ball from Harrisburg City defender Richie Marquez, and found Delicâte all alone near the center of the box. Delicâte’s shot produced Sylvestre’s best save of the night as he knocked the ball away at full extension to his left.

In the 60th minute, Delicâte flicked the ball with head over the top of the defense to Spitz, who had timed his run perfectly, and was alone on Sylvestre. Spitz drew the goalkeeper off his line, and tried to go five-hole, but Sylvestre made another save for the highlight reel with his left leg.

Harrisburg's first chance of the half came in the 63rd minute on a shot from substitute Morgan Langley. Langley danced around Görres in the box, and forced Willis to make a diving save to his right. Nine minutes later Richmond’s came close to a third came when Görres was sprung down the left, and squared one up for substitute Juan Arbelaez at the spot, but Arbelaez’s shot just missed the target wide left.

Harrisburg would get one back in the 88th minute on a corner from Derschang. His inswinger, found the head of Bahner and the ball trickled between Willis and a couple of Richmond defenders, but it would prove as just a consolation as the Kickers took a season sweep of the City Islanders.

The Kickers return to City Stadium on Monday, July 28 to host Crystal Palace of the world famous Barclay’s Premier League.  Gates open at 5:30 p.m. and kickoff is slated for 7:00 p.m.  A sell out is expected and tickets are on sale now at RichmondKickers.com.

PDL Game Report

Saturday, July 26, 2014

TUCSON, Ariz. -- FC Tucson captain, Ricardo Velazco, winced in pain as two team physicians carried him around the perimeter of the field at the end of the match, his legs dangling above the grass. His season over.

The 2014 season for FC Tucson also came to a bruised and battered end following a 3-0 loss to the Kitsap Pumas in the Western Conference Final on Saturday night at the Kino Sports Complex. With the victory, the Pumas advanced to the PDL Championship for the first time since they claimed their first championship in 2011.

“Up and down the field, it just wasn’t our day,” said FC Tucson defender Greg Carter. “Sometimes that’s just the explanation you have, it wasn’t our day.”

FC Tucson struggled to keep possession from kickoff, falling behind early in the seventh minute. Pumas defender Cory Keitz, who outran most FC Tucson defenders, was on the receiving end of a cross he sent into the back of the net.

Both teams went scoreless the rest of the half, as Kitsap looked the better team with crisper pases, better touches and stout defense.

“I have to give all the credit to Kitsap,” FC Tucson Head Coach Rick Schantz said. “They’re extremely organized. The early goal took the wind out of the sails a little bit. … Kitsap’s a pro team. These guys are used to this.”

Ten minutes into the second half, Kitsap scored its second goal. Miguel Gonzalez got inside his defender as a teammate headed the ball back toward him. Alone on the net, Gonzalez slid the ball through a sprawled Billy Thompson.

The Pumas effectively put the match away in the 60th minute when Keitz and teammate Justin Ortinau put on a passing clinic, freeing Ortinau to slash his way through the defense and tuck his shot inside the far right side.

A straight red card given to Tommy Ramos in the 72nd minute made a loss likely. Losing Velazco to injury in stoppage time made the loss a certainty. A final red given to Vance Rookwood left the club beaten up with just eight men on the pitch.

Still, FC Tucson’s supporter’s group, the Cactus Pricks, continued chanting “F-C Tuc-son” well over 20 minutes following the end of the match.

“For lack of a better term, we got our butts handed to us, 3-0, and they’re still chanting like we won, 3-0,” Thompson said. “That tells you everything you need to know right there.”

Added Carter: “Tucson is my new home for the summer. I love the fans, I love the city, I love the management, everybody involved. … It means a lot.[ [This season] has been great.”

PDL Game Report

Saturday, July 26, 2014

WEST DES MOINES, Iowa – History repeated itself – just not in the way the Des Moines Menace had hoped.

The Michigan Bucks once again got the upper hand in a playoff battle between the PDL’s most accomplished franchises. With a 2-0 victory on Saturday night at Valley Stadium, the Bucks improved to 5-1 against the Menace in the postseason and booked their place at the 2014 PDL Championship as they claimed the Central Conference Championship.

Entering Saturday night’s encounter, the Menace aspired to repeat the franchise’s only postseason win against the Bucks – a 4-1 triumph on the way to the 2005 PDL championship.

David Goldsmith dashed those dreams with a pair of early goals. Goldsmith Capitalized on two of his three chances as the Michigan midfielder tallied goals in the 14th and 23rd minutes.

“We weren’t sharp at the beginning tonight, and that ended up dictating the game,” said Menace head coach Mike Jeffries, whose squad claimed the PDL’s regular-season championship with a memorable 12-1-1 record.

Snapping the Menace’s 11-match unbeaten streak, the Bucks brought their undefeated stretch to seven matches, and they move on to the national semifinals for the first time since getting to the PDL Championship Game in 2006 (champions) and 2007.

Michigan is the only PDL team to leave Valley Stadium with a win this season. During the regular season, the Menace went 6-0-1 at home, outscoring visitors 17-2.

“The boys were ready,” Michigan head coach Demir Muftari said of his team’s effort tonight. “We came out with a real edge – a real purpose.

“It’s a lot of fun when we play the Menace. Every time we get together, something’s on the line. Both teams have a rich history, and it’s a big deal for us. The Menace has great fan support, and we were excited to come here.”

The Bucks’ 17th playoff run continues, as the Menace’s 12th postseason appearance comes to a close. Des Moines bows out after reaching the PDL’s round of eight for the first time since 2009. On Friday night, in a thrilling shootout win over K-W United FC, the Menace tasted its first playoff success in five years.

Both of the Central Conference finalists played on tired legs. The Bucks needed overtime to tame the St. Louis Lions, 3-1, on Friday night.

Des Moines joined the Bucks in elite company this season, becoming one of just three PDL franchises to win a pair of regular-season titles. The Menace (also in 2002), the Bucks (2008, 2012) and the Jackson Chargers (1998, 1999) hold this distinction.

“I’m proud of these guys,” Jeffries said of the 2014 Menace. “A great season. They showed a lot of heart, a lot of character. We all enjoyed working with each other. A great group of guys.”

Sacramento Republic FC News Release -- www.sacrepublicfc.com

Saturday, July 26, 2014

SACRAMENTO, Calif. -- Sacramento Republic FC will host the Pittsburgh Riverhounds on Sunday night at 7 p.m. PT at Bonney Field. The match is anticipated to sell out, which would place Republic FC at the top of USL PRO single-season attendance records. Republic FC needs a match attendance tomorrow of 2,641 to break the current record of 112,748 set by Orlando City SC in 2013.

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The match will be the first and only matchup between the two sides this season.  Republic FC aim to remain unbeaten at Bonney Field in USL PRO play, while Pittsburgh will try to extend its winning streak to three and continue their rise in the standings.

Sunday’s Republic FC match is the final of a five-match home stand during the California State Fair which included three friendlies and two USL PRO matches. Republic FC’s home-field advantage has been evident in its 5-1-2 record in USL PRO play while at Hughes Stadium and its current home of Bonney Field. 

Republic FC will be led by midfielder Rodrigo Lopez, whose 16 points and six assists in USL PRO competition leads the club. Lopez is also tied with forward Thomas Stewart for the club lead in goals with five.

Republic FC goalkeeper Jake Gleeson will also look to make an impact after recording a shutout in a scoreless draw against Orlando City SC on July 17 in the team's last competitive outing. The shutout was the first for Orlando City SC this season and Gleeson’s third in USL PRO play.  Gleeson has allowed just three goals in his last five appearances, including three shutouts.

Pittsburgh enters the match on a two-match winning streak, including a 5-2 victory against the Real Salt Lake Reserves on Friday evening.  Pittsburgh started the season winless in its first 10 matches but since have gone 5-4-1 and are currently just four points from the eighth and final playoff spot.

Pittsburgh is led by forward Jose Angulo, who has scored eight goals in USL PRO play, which puts him tied for fifth in the league. Midfielder Joseph Ngwenya leads Pittsburgh with five assists. Ngwenya’s partner in the midfielder, Daniles Earls, has four assists. Together the pair has accounted for nine of the club’s 16 assists on the season.

The match will be streamed live at SacRepublicFC.com/matchday. Updates of the match will also be provided via Twitter @SacRepublicFC and by using #SRFCvPGH.

W-20 Match Report

Sunday, July 27, 2014

BRADENTON, Fla. – Michigan PDA and the Grand Rapids Crew Juniors took 120 minutes to separate themselves in the 2014 W-20 Championship presented by Nike final at IMG Academy Stadium. Michigan PDA took the honors with a 4-3 win courtesy of an Ashley Henderson goal as time expired in the second half of extra-time.

“Sweet revenge,” Michigan PDA Head Coach Skipper Mukhtar said. “They’re a great team and I think it just goes to show how good women’s soccer is in the state of Michigan... A great game.”

PDA took an early lead when Kelly Sweeney chipped a ball over the top for Madi Lewis, who sped through the center of Grand Rapids’ defense and slid the ball home to make it 1-0 in the fourth minute. Michigan’s Sweeney continued to press the attack and in the 16th minute she managed to intercept a central pass and fire off a shot, but it glanced off the crossbar and out of play.

Grand Rapids drew level in the 43rd minute when Gina Maddi followed up her own rebounding shot to make it 1-1. Her initial effort was pushed onto the post, but she was placed perfectly to gather the second ball and made an off-balance finish look easy.

PDA took the lead again in the 55th minute when Lewis took down a pass from Cassie Phillips and hit a curling shot to the far post to make it 2-1.

The game opened up as Crew Juniors went forward looking for the tying goal. In the 74th minute Grand Rapids was rewarded for its efforts. Crew Juniors midfielder Marti Corby took the ball from her own half and dribbled through three defenders before slipping a ball in to fellow midfielder Didi Dedvukaj, who lifted her head and sent a ball across the face of goal to forward Jordyn Ryfiak. The first shot from Ryfiak was denied with a fine save from PDA goalkeeper Caitlyn Clem, but Dedvukaj took the rebound and found Ryfiak again who put the ball in the back of the net.

In the 89th minute Grand Rapids thought they had the winner when Dedvukaj took a feed from Corby and hit an unstoppable shot into the right corner to make it 3-2, but PDA found a way to tie it in stoppage time.

Michigan sent its numbers forward to create one last chance and midfielder Joan Sieja was abled to provide it for them when she whipped in a cross to Henderson. The PDA forward went up and flicked the ball over the keeper into the net to send the game into extra time.

Extra time went back and forth and in the 108th minute Michigan’s Clem was forced to make two big saves to keep PDA in the game. Then, in the 118th minute of play, Henderson scored her second of the match and the championship-winning goal. Tournament MVP and PDA midfielder Lulu Haidar hit a hard cross to Henderson, who turned and finished to the near post.

USL PRO Game Report

Sunday, July 27, 2014

ROCHESTER, N.Y. -- The Rochester Rhinos claimed a 1-0 victory against Orlando City to hand the Lions their first loss of the season in of 8,378 fans at Sahlen's Stadium on Sunday evening. Colin Rolfe scored the game-winning goal in the first half off an assist from Levi Houapeu,while rookie goalkeeper John McCarthy kept his eighth clean sheet of the season. The victory was Rochester's first against Orlando in 10 tries in USL PRO play. 

The Rhinos opened the scoring in the 31st minute. Houapeu sparked a counter-attack when he surged through the Lions midfield and cut the ball back and held up play 25 yards from the Lions' goal. Houapeu attempted to pass the ball to his left to strike partner Rolfe at the top of the penalty area, and after his initial two attempts were blocked by Lions center back Tommy Redding, he picked up the loose ball and successfully played it to Rolfe, who took a touch before bending the ball up and over Orlando goalkeeper Miguel Gallardo into the upper-right corner of the net. The goal was Rolfe's second of the season.

The visitors had an excellent chance to level the score in the 33rd minute. After Orlando was awarded a free kick 24 yards out on the left side of the penalty area, Darwin Cerén got the ball over the wall and down on target, but McCarthy dove to his left and parried the ball around the post to leave the Rhinos ahead the the break.

Rochester had a chance to double its advantage early in the second half when Tyler Rosenlund sprung overlapping left back Onua Thomas Obasi down the left flank. Obasi took on Orlando right back Tyler Turner, dribbled past him, and then whipped in a cross from the  goal line. Obasi's cross skipped through the Lions' penalty area and found Houapeu on the spot, only for the well-struck shot to go straight at Gallardo .

Rochester had another golden opportunity to put the game away in the 70th minute. Michael Garzi picked up possession on the right flank 35 yards from goal, and played a perfectly weighted ball for Rosenlund's diagonal inside-out run. Rosenlund got around the corner and dribbled to the endline just before he played a cutback to the penalty spot. Rosenlund's pass found the feet of Garzi, who had made a run into the box unmarked, but the rookie could not hold his composure from 12 yards as his effort sailed over the crossbar.

With the weight of history bearing down on their shoulders, the Lions uncharacteristically lost their composure and had both Cerén and Luke Boden booked for dissent in the last 10 minutes. The visitor's break through seemed imminent in the 89th minute, however, when Boden played a one-two with Molino down the left flank. Boden played a driven service into the near post, but McCarthy was there to smother the ball.

The Lions had a final chance to preserve their undefeated season in stoppage time when Cerén chipped a central free kick from 32 yards out to Turner at the far post. When Turner's snap header sailed past the far post, Orlando's run at history ended.

The victory leaves Rochester in fifth place in the USL PRO table with 30 points from 21 games. Orlando remains at the top of the table with 46 points – a four-point advantage over second place Richmond with two matches in hand.

W-League News Release

Sunday, July 27, 2014

BRADENTON, Fla. – Sarah Killion had a goal and two assists and Katherine Stengel scored twice as the LA Blues captured the title at the 2014 W-League Championship presented by Nike with a 6-1 win against the Washington Spirit Reserves at IMG Academy Stadium.

Killion, a senior at UCLA and a member of the US U23 Women’s National Team, was named W-League Championship MVP as the Blues captured their fourth title in seven seasons.

“At the end of the day players win championships, and this is probably one of the best rosters I’ve ever had in my career,” Blues Manager Charlie Naimo said. “Not just talent-wise, but the way they became a team. I’m going to miss the hell out of this group.”

Washington had the first opportunity to get on the board in the fifth minute when Emily Bruder got in alone, but LA goalkeeper Aubrey Bledsoe stepped up to snare the shot.

The Blues opened the scoring in the 18th minute when a feed from the right wing by Taylor Smith eluded a defender, and Stengel was able to settle and send the ball into the left side of the net past keeper Adelaide Gay. LA’s Elizabeth Eddy nearly doubled the margin in the 35th minute, but her long shot from the right side of the box hit the post and was cleared.

Mele French made it 2-0 just before the halftime break when Killion received a pass behind the defense and laid it off to the regular-season MVP for an easy tap-in.

Stengel added her second in the 53rd minute, beating a defender and firing a hard shot inside the far post, and Killion made it 4-0 with a perfectly placed free kick inside the right post in the 68th minute.

Washington pushed back in the 74th minute when Virginia Tech star Katie Yensen tucked home shot at the far post after a nice play from Emily Bruder, but four minutes later LA’s Caprice Dydasco restored-the four-goal lead when she beat Gay to the near post with a 20-yard strike.

Paige Nielsen finished the scoring in the 84th minute after a good overlapping run and service from Abby Dahlkemper.

“We got some early goals and that really helped us to set the tone,” said Stengel, who tallied four goals in two games at the finals. “We all worked hard and played for each other and were very unselfish, especially going forward. We had a lot of different people scoring, so that definitely helps”

Consolation Final

CHARLOTTE LADY EAGLES 1, OTTAWA FURY FC 1 (Ottawa wins 4-1 in PKs): The Fury outlasted the Lady Eagles 4-1 in penalty kicks after a 1-1 draw in regulation during the W-League Consolation Final. All four Ottawa shooters were able to find the net from the spot, while Fury keeper Maryse Bard-Martel stopped Leah Fortune’s shot and Charlotte’s Amanda Naeher shot wide.

The match was marred by a long injury delay in the first half, as Charlotte goalkeeper Robyn Jones collided with an Ottawa forward and was removed from the field on a stretcher. She was taken to the hospital for precautionary reasons.

Not long after the delay Ottawa got on the board first when Courtney Raetzman took a feed from Teresa Rynier and fired a left-footed shot from 22 yards into the top left corner.

Charlotte found the equalizer in the 45th minute when it was awarded a free kick from the top of the Fury box and Fortune curled a shot over the wall and into the top left corner.

USL PRO Game Report

Sunday, July 27, 2014

SACRAMENTO, Calif. -- Sacramento Republic FC took a 5-0 victory against the Pittsburgh Riverhounds behind braces from Thomas Stewart and Rodrigo Lopez and a clean sheet from goalkeeper Jake Gleeson on Sunday night at Bonney Field. With a sellout crowd of 8,000, Republic FC broke the USL PRO single-season attendance record.  Republic FC’s 118,107 season attendance surpassed the previous record of 112,748 which was set by Orlando City SC in 2013. 

The first half of the match belonged to Republic FC, due in large part to Stewart’s brace. Stewart scored first in the 7th minute when he put a headed a Mickey Daly cross past Pittsburgh goalkeeper Mike Lisch.

Stewart would double up in the 30th minute, as he received a through-ball in stride from Lopez. Stewart had time and the space to chip the ball over the oncoming Lisch and into the back of the net putting Republic FC up 2-0. Republic FC maintained the lead going into halftime.

Republic FC again controlled possession in the second half, again pressuring the Pittsburgh defense. Republic FC added another goal in the 69th minute when substitute forward Gabe Gissie played through ball to Adam Jahn, whose shot was blocked. Jahn would claim the rebound and find Lopez at the edge of the penalty area, and he sidestepped the goalkeeper and sent a laser just below the crossbar for an 3-0 lead.

Republic FC would score twice more in the final 10 minutes of the match.  In the 84th minute, Jahn was perfectly positioned on a Lopez corner kick. The ball bounced right to Jahn, who flicked a shot off of keeper Mike Lisch and it deflected into the side netting for the fourth goal of the match. 

Lopez would notch his second goal of the match in the 85th minute. Midfielder Octavio Guzman found a wide-open Lopez, who wasted no time attacking and he sent a right-footed curling shot from 20 yards out up and over Lisch for the fifth and final goal of the match.

“We needed something like this”, said Lopez.  “We’ve been wanting this and we’ve been working hard for it.  We opened up the match and created a lot of chances.”

Republic FC will travel to Arizona to take on Arizona United SC on Saturday night. Kickoff is scheduled for 7 p.m. PT. The match will be streamed live at SacRepublicFC.com/matchday and updates will also be provided on Twitter @SacRepublicFC and using #AZUvSRFC.

PDL Game Report

Sunday, July 27, 2014

NEWARK, N.J. – Before the PDL Eastern Conference Final, Laurent Manuel told teammate Kene Eze to be ready and get open whenever he took the ball down the right side on the attack. Early in Sunday's second half, Manuel made his move, and Eze made sure he got open. Their combination resulted in a conference championship for the Jersey Express and a berth at the 2014 PDL Championship.

Eze took the feed just inside the penalty area and slotted a shot inside the lower-left corner of the net for the game-winning goal in the 53rd minute as the Express went on to defeat the West Virginia Chaos 3-1 at NJIT’s Lubetkin Field. 

“[Laurent] said whenever he gets the ball down the line, he’s going to be looking for me,” said Eze, who scored twice in Sunday's victory. “He drove the ball down the line, I made myself open. The defender gave me a little bit of space and I saw the keeper kind of cheating a little bit to the right, so I tucked it into the left corner.”

Spurred on by Eze’s go-ahead goal, the Express added to their lead just four minutes later when Juan Correa scored on a penalty kick in the 57th minute to put the game away. 

Eze’s first goal came in the 30th minute, when he delivered a right-footed blast off an Andrew Tinari cross for a 1-0 lead. The advantage proved short-lived as a foul in the penalty area gave West Virginia’s Dion Peters a penalty kick in first-half stoppage time. The forward capitalized on the opportunity, tying the game moments before the break.

“We told ourselves that we played a pretty good half and that we can’t be down on ourselves,” said Eze. “The first five to 10 minutes [of the second half] were going to be key. We had to keep attacking and we couldn’t let them score the next goal.”

Matthew Turner made three saves in net for the Express in the victory. West Virginia’s Sean Teepen had five saves. For the game, the Jersey Express held a 16-7 advantage in shots and a 3-1 edge in corner kicks.

“This means a lot. We’ve been training hard all season for the competitiveness of all the teams in the PDL,” Eze said. “We just told ourselves that we can compete with anybody. Now, we’re just going to get ready for the next stage.”

PDL Game Report

Sunday, July 27, 2014

AUSTIN, Texas -- The Austin Aztex's title defense came to an end Saturday evening when they lost 2-0 to the Ocala Stampede in the PDL Southern Conference Championship in front of 2,228 fans at House Park.

Fireworks started early, as the Aztex displayed an aggressive style of play with a sense of urgency to set the tempo. Just four minutes into the game, Jeff Harwell and Eddie Campbell had consecutive shots inside the penalty area, but the first one was deflected by a defender and the second one went wide right. Within the first 10 minutes, Austin controlled the middle of the field but they were unable to find holes in Ocala’s defense.

In the 11th minute, the Stampede took advantage of a misstep in the Aztex defense. Speedy forward Karamba Janneh outran an Aztex defender through the left side and took the ball all the way to the goal, where he was able to beat Aztex goalkeeper Devin Perales for the opening goal.

Ocala continued to play a counter-attacking game very efficiently, defending well against consistent Aztex pressure and using its speed to create separation. The Aztex got hold of possession and went all out against the Stampede trying to find the equalizer. In the 22nd minute, Sito Seoane was fouled outside the box and was awarded a free kick, only for Chuy Cortes to shoot a blast that kissed the upper post, missing by an inch.

However, the best chance for the Aztex to break through the Stampede came on a perfectly executed play by Eddie Campbell on the 27th minute. Campbell sent a through ball to Aztex forward Adam Black to set him up for a one-on-one with Ocala’s goalkeeper Lex Craggs. Black handled the ball well, but couldn’t finish the play with a score. The Aztex were still able to create to more chances in the half, as Campbell and Cortes led the offense evading defenders and shooting for goal, but Ocala’s defense was able to hold them off.

Aztex Head Coach Manuel Buentello decided to change up the pace of the game by Cruz Oronos and young star Bubacarr Jobe. The gamble nearly paid off quickly when in the 46th minute Jobe broke away through the right side and fired a shot that bounced into the goalkeeper. Three minutes later, Jobe wrestled the ball away from a defender deep in Ocala’s territory. He quickly spotted Campbell and passed the ball to him, but as Campbell blasted the shot, Ocala’s goalkeeper decisively closed the shooting angle and deflected the ball away.

After intense pressure from Austin in the opening five minutes of the second half, Ocala responded by taking control of the possession game in midfield and not conceding spaces to the Aztex. The building pressure ended up forcing a mistake in the Aztex back end in the 55th minute as attacker Ilija Ilic took the ball to get possession and firde a shot that found the back of the net to make the score 2-0.

Devin Perales kept the Aztex in the game three minutes later with a point-blank save from five yards away from goal.

Despite being down, the Aztex kept fighting, leaving everything on the field. By the 65th minute, the tables turned and Austin regained possession and began spreading the ball around looking for spaces to pierce through the defense. Chuy Cortes was able to do so with an opportunity to shoot in space, but the keeper was able to keep to ball under control.  On the 73rd minute, Campbell again flew up the left side of the goal to connect a header, but he couldn’t direct his attempt towards goal.

In a last attempt to revitalize the Aztex attack, Buentello sent forward Andrew Fox to the field to add an additional attacking option in 74th minute. The Aztex immediately dictated the tempo with these changes as Jobe registered a shot that the keeper saved, and two minutes later he served a great cross all the way to the right side to Fox, who juked a defender and then fired a fierce shot that the keeper was opportunistically able to deflect.

With the last seconds of the game winding down, the Aztex weren’t going out without a fight, but they were unable to break past the Stampede’s backline as the Stampede claimed the club's first conference championship.

Richmond Kickers News Release -- www.richmondkickers.com

Sunday, July 27, 2014

RICHMOND, Va. – The Richmond Kickers are pleased to host Crystal Palace of the world famous Barclay’s Premier League in an international exhibition at City Stadium this Monday, July 28.  The historic match marks the first-time ever a team from England’s top flight will appear in Virginia.  Gates open at 5:30 p.m., kickoff is slated for 7:00 p.m. and a sell out is expected.  General Admission tickets are $30 and are on sale at RichmondKickers.com.

“We are looking forward to the game,” commented Leigh Cowlishaw, Richmond Kickers Director of Soccer. “It's a great opportunity for the team to test ourselves against superior opposition in front of a packed City Stadium and a great opportunity for fans to show again why RVA is rapidly becoming a soccer town.”

The prestigious match in Richmond concludes Crystal Palace’s nine-day, three-game U.S. preseason tour which also included a 2-2 draw against the Columbus Crew on July 23 and a 1-0 win against the Philadelphia Union on July 25.

Established in 1905, the London-based club climbed to an 11th place finish with a 13-19-6 record and 45 points in the Premier League standings this season, under the guidance of Premier League Manager of the Year, Tony Pulis. Highlights from the momentous season include handing Chelsea a 1-0 defeat and a remarkable come-from-behind 3-3 draw against Liverpool in front of sell-out crowds at Selhurst Park.

Players to Watch
Kickers: Stalwart defender Sascha Görres contributed to the attack last weekend with a 35-yard free kick to edge the Harrisburg City Islanders 2-1.  In his 10th season with the Kickers, the player/assistant coach ranks second on the all-time career assists list with 47 and holds the club record for most consecutive games played, appearing in 107 successive matches. Veteran Luke Vercollone anchors the midfield and added his second goal of the season last weekend when he converted a 5th minute penalty against Harrisburg.  In his seventh season in Richmond, the 2013 Supporter’s Choice MVP has amassed over 13,000 minutes in a Kickers uniform. Forward Matthew Delicâte leads the league with 13 goals on the regular season, adding a 14th during this year’s U.S. Open Cup run.  Notching 84 goals over eight seasons in Richmond, the club’s all-time leading scorer surpassed the century mark in career goals with a tally over the New England Revolution in June.

Palace: A mainstay in the net for over a decade, goalkeeper Julian Speroni earned the club’s Player of the Year award for the fourth time in his career last season.  In 37 appearances, the 35-year old Argentinian backstopped Palace with 116 saves while posting 12 clean sheets. Since his Crystal Palace debut in 2011, midfielder Mile Jedinak has made 110 appearances, scoring five goals and played nearly every minute of every game last season.  He doubles as captain of the Australian National Team and converted a penalty against the Netherlands during the 2014 FIFA World Cup in Brazil. Forward Dwight Gayle led Palace in scoring last season with eight goals in his first year in the Premiership.  Returning from a late season injury, the 5-foot-9 Englishman tallied a pair of goals to bring CPFC level with Liverpool, denying them the Premier League Championship crown.

PDL News Release

Monday, July 28, 2014

TAMPA, Fla. – The Michigan Bucks were announced as the host for the 2014 PDL Championship presented by Nike as the Central Conference Champions will welcome the Jersey Express, Kitsap Pumas and Ocala Stampede to the Ultimate Soccer Arenas this weekend, August 1-3.

Friday’s semifinals will see the Western Conference champion Kitsap Pumas face the Southern Conference champion Ocala Stampede in the first semifinal at 5 p.m. ET, while the host Bucks will face the Eastern Conference champion Jersey Express at 7:30 p.m. ET. The semifinal pairings were based on regular-season records.

The 2014 PDL Championship Game between the two semifinal winners will be held on Sunday, August 3 at 1 p.m. ET.

Michigan earned its first conference championship since 2007 - when the Bucks reached the PDL Championship Game - with a 2-0 victory against the PDL regular-season champion Des Moines Menace on Saturday night. David Goldsmith had both goals for the Bucks in the opening 25 minutes to send his side through to this weekend’s semifinals, while PDL Golden Boot winner Dzenan Catic scored twice in the Bucks’ 3-1 conference semifinal victory against the St. Louis Lions.

The Bucks will face an Express side that finished the regular season with the best record of the four remaining sides. The Express had the most prolific attack in the PDL this season as they averaged more than three goals per game, and earned a 3-1 victory against the West Virginia Chaos on Sunday in the Eastern Conference Championship behind a pair of goals by Kene Eze.

The Kitsap Pumas return to the national semifinals for the first time since they claimed the first title in club history in 2011 after they took an emphatic 3-0 victory against FC Tucson on Saturday night. The Pumas needed a penalty shootout to get to the Western Conference Championship as they took a dramatic victory against the Ventura County Fusion in the conference semifinals. Kitsap rallied from a two-goal deficit to send the game to extra time tied 2-2, and after both sides found the net in the extra 30 minutes, the Pumas’ Matt Grosey made a pair of saves to send his side through.

Kitsap will face an Ocala Stampede side making its first appearance at the PDL Championship after it defeated defending champion the Austin Aztex for the Southern Conference Championship. The Stampede have won the Southeast Division in each of their first three seasons but finally claimed their first playoff victory this past weekend, and then stunned the Aztex on their home turf as Karamba Janneh had a goal and an assist in a 2-0 victory on Sunday.

All three games of the 2014 PDL Championship presented by Nike will be streamed live on the PDL’s YouTube channel (www.youtube.com/USLPDL), with live updates also available through the league’s official Twitter account (@USLPDL).

The 2014 PDL All-Conference Teams (Monday), All-League Team (Tuesday) and Award Finalists (Wednesday) will be announced this week, with the league’s award winners to be named as part of this weekend’s events at the Championship Luncheon on Saturday afternoon. 

USL PRO Game Report

Monday, July 28, 2014

MONTREAL -- Quinton Griffith's pace earned the free kick, Jarad van Schaik put it deftly into the penalty area, and Colin Falvey's header in the 20th minute made the difference for Charleston Battery as the visitors took three precious points with a 1-0 victory against the Montreal Impact Reserves on Monday morning at the Stade Claude-Robillard.

The rare 10:30 a.m. kickoff was a pattern-breaker for the Battery in several ways, but gave them their second two-game winning streak of 2014, their first three-match undefeated streak of the season, and pushed them into a three-way tie with Orange County and Charlotte for the final USL PRO playoff spot. 

Playing just two days after their 2-0 home win over Arizona United FC, the Battery's rescheduled match was played on a slippery pitch in 64-degree, rainy weather. Two of them were former Battery stars Nicki Paterson and Tony Donatelli, who came in from Ottawa to watch their old teammates play.

They witnessed an open and entertaining match. A Montreal lineup composed of seven MLS players and four academy prospects attacked the Battery from the opening whistle and at several points in the first 10 minutes appeared to be on the verge of taking the lead before the visitors ever found their footing. 

Charleston's veterans got things settled down around the 10th minute, and attacking midfielder Jose Cuevas began unlocking the Impact back line, picking out teammates and sustaining possessions that probed dangerous parts of the field. 

The sequence that produced the morning's only goal began in the 19th minute when Griffith gave up the ball in a vulnerable area, and the Impact surged forward. The Battery won the ball back quickly and got it wide to Griffith, the speedster from Antigua and Barbuda. His swift counterattack with the ball at his feet took him down the right wing.

With Impact defenders scrambling to get back into position, one of them knocked down Griffith's ensuing cross with a hand-ball just inches outside the penalty box. Van Schaik put the free kick in to Falvey for the headed finish. It was the captain's second league goal of 2013 -- both of which have come in shutout wins. 

The Battery came close to adding to their advantage several times before the first half. As the second half wore on, however, fatigued Charleston legs and Impact inexperience opened chances at either end. Like two weary fighters trading round-house punches in the rain, the teams came close to devastating connections on multiple occasions -- including an apparent Montreal equalizer that came back on an offside call.

Dane Kelly and Aminu Abdallah both came close for the Battery down the stretch, but it took saves by goalkeeper Eric Shannon and clutch stops by Falvey and defender Taylor Mueller to preserve the Battery lead.

The match ended just moments after an Impact header off a corner kick sailed over the crossbar with about a minute remaining in stoppage time. 

The match was the final installment in the Battery's two-year interleague series, which concluded with the club going 3-0-1 against MLS reserve teams in matches that counted in the standings for both USL PRO and the MLS Reserve League.

Charleston next plays at Rochester at 7:35 p.m. on Friday and then returns to Blackbaud Stadium on Friday, Aug. 8, to face the Dayton Dutch Lions. Tickets range from $10 to $18 and can be purchased over the phone at 843-971-GOAL or online at charlestonbattery.com.

PDL News Release

Monday, July 28, 2014

TAMPA, Fla. – The PDL announced its 2014 All-Conference Teams on Monday, with nine players set to compete at this weekend’s 2014 PDL Championship presented by Nike among the 44 players honored for their performances this season. The 2014 PDL All-Conference Teams were selected through a vote of team management.

Both the Michigan Bucks and Ocala Stampede had a trio of players selected to the All-Central and All-Southern Conference teams respectively, with the Bucks being led by standout forward Dzenan Catic. The league’s Golden Boot winner with 16 goals, Catic was joined by defender Ken Tribbett and midfielder Zach Steinberger, who earned his second consecutive All-Conference selection.

The Stampede were led by forward Ilija Ilic, who had eight goals and two assists to guide the club to its third consecutive Southeast Division title. He was joined by defender Ben Knight, who appeared in all but one of the Stampede’s games this season as they went undefeated on home turf, and midfielder Karamba Janneh, whose electrifying pace posed a challenge to opposing defenses throughout the season.

The Jersey Express had a pair of players selected to the All-Eastern Conference Team, as midfielder Walter Hines’ six goals and five assists played a key role for the highest-scoring side in the PDL. Defender Kouassi Sylvain N’Guessan also earned selection after an outstanding campaign at the heart of the Express’ defense.

Kitsap’s lone selection in the All-Western Conference side was defender Cory Keitz, who appeared in every contest and missed just 34 minutes of action as the Pumas conceded only nine goals in 14 games during the regular season.

In addition to Steinberger, five other players earned second consecutive All-Conference selections, led by the Austin Aztex duo of goalkeeper Devin Cook Perales and Antonio Rocha on the All-Southern Conference Team. The Thunder Bay Chill’s Nolan Intermoia and WSA Winnipeg’s Moses Danto earned repeat selections to the All-Central Conference Team, while the Long Island Rough Riders’ Shaun Foster was again named to the All-Eastern Conference Team.

The 2014 PDL All-League Team is set to be announced on Tuesday, with the finalists for the 2014 PDL Awards to be announced on Wednesday. The award winners will be announced at Saturday’s Championship Luncheon, part of the 2014 PDL Championship in Pontiac, Mich.

Both semifinals and the championship game at the 2014 PDL Championship presented by Nike will be streamed live on the PDL’s YouTube channel (www.youtube.com/USLPDL), with live updates also available through the league’s official Twitter account (@USLPDL).

2014 PDL All-Conference Teams
Eastern Conference
GK – Alex Bono, Reading United AC
D – Kouassi Sylvain N’Guessan, Jersey Express
D – Jake Stovall, Cincinnati Dutch Lions
D – Tom Wharf, Long Island Rough Riders
D – Travis Brent, West Virginia Chaos
M – Boluwatife Akinyode – NJ LUSO Parma
M – Shaun Foster, Long Island Rough Riders*
M – Walter Hines, Jersey Express
F – Anthony Grant, Seacoast United Phantoms
F – Jeff McClure, Cincinnati Dutch Lions
F – Alencar Junior, Western Mass Pioneers

Central Conference
GK – Yuta Nomura, Springfield Demize
D – Nolan Intermoia, Thunder Bay Chill*
D – Ken Tribbett, Michigan Bucks
D – Blake Jones, St. Louis Lions
D – Dan Keller, Chicago Fire U-23
M – Zach Steinberger, Michigan Bucks*
M – Drew Conner, Chicago Fire U-23
M – Ralph Lundy, Des Moines Menace
F – Chris Hellmann, Des Moines Menace
F – Moses Danto, WSA Winnipeg*
F – Dzenan Catic, Michigan Bucks

Southern Conference
GK – Devin Cook Perales, Austin Aztex*
D – Yair Hernandez, Laredo Heat
D – Walker Hume, Midland-Odessa Sockers FC
D – Ben Knight, Ocala Stampede
D – Kalen Ryden, Austin Aztex
M – Antonio Rocha, Austin Aztex*
M – Michael Lightbourne, Panama City Beach Pirates
M – Karamba Janneh, Ocala Stampede
F – Jesus Cortes, Austin Aztex
F – Ilija Ilic, Ocala Stampede
F – Adi Kavara, Panama City Beach Pirates

Western Conference
GK – William Thompson, FC Tucson
D – Ramon Martin Del Campo, San Jose Earthquakes U-23
D – James Kiffe, Ventura County Fusion
D – Cory Keitz, Kitsap Pumas
D – Jordan Farahani, Vancouver Whitecaps FC U-23
M – Ricardo Velazco, FC Tucson
M – Jose Cuevas, Fresno Fuego
M – Bryan de la Fuente, LA Misionarios
F – Javier Castro, LA Misionarios
F – Cody Cook, Vancouver Whitecaps FC U-23
F – Kharlton Belmar, Portland Timbers U-23s

* - Second consecutive selection