PDL News Release
Thursday, July 12, 2012
TAMPA, Fla. – The PDL announced its Team of the Week for the 10th week of the 2012 season today, honoring Real Maryland FC forward Alassane Kane as Player of the Week after he scored four goals in his side’s 7-1 victory against the Fredericksburg on Sunday afternoon.
After Patrick Pato opened the scoring for the Monarchs in the second minute, Kane scored twice five minutes to boost the lead. Entering the game with four goals for the season, Kane struck in the 12th and 16 minutes before Fredericksburg hit back to make it 3-1 at the halftime break.
The American University striker completed his hat trick in 64th minute, restoring the Monarchs’ three-goal advantage, before adding a fourth with eight minutes to go. The outburst was the third time a player had scored four goals in the PDL this season, following the Austin Aztex’s Kenuta Manneh on May 24 and Cincinnati Kings’ Stephen Williams on June 26.
Joining Kane in the Team of the Week attack is Ocean City’s Zoncher Dennis, who had four goals in two games as the Nor’easters sealed their place in the playoffs with victories against the New Jersey Rangers and Westchester Flames. The trio is completed by the Ottawa Fury’s Carlo Basso, who helped his side regain top spot in the Northeast Division with a 4-1 win against former leader GPS Portland Phoenix on Sunday night.
There were other key playoff performances made by other Team of the Week selections, with Austin Aztex defender Travis Golden earning selection after helping stifle the El Paso Patriots attack in a 1-0 victory that sealed the Aztex’s place in the playoffs. Carolina’s Sebastian Ibeagha was also selected in defense as the Dynamo recorded their eighth shutout of the season in a 2-0 win against the Palmetto FC Bantams, securing the South Atlantic Division title.
The continuation of Jordan Green’s outstanding season for the Kansas City Brass earned the midfielder his place on the team, as he had three goals and three assists as his side took two wins from three matches. Green is in line for end-of-season honors, as he currently sits tied with Tom Catalano of the Michigan Bucks for the PDL lead in assists, and tied for second in points.
The PDL regular season concludes this weekend, and the playoffs open, with 47 games scheduled from Friday through Sunday. Highlighting the schedule are the pair of Northwest Division playoff games that will determine which sides will advance to the Western Conference Championship the following weekend. The Sounders FC U23 host the Washington Crossfire at Frankling Pierce Stadium at 7:30 p.m. PT on Saturday night, while the Portland Timbers U-23s host the Kitsap Pumas at Gladstone High School on Sunday at 6:30 p.m. PT.
Elsewhere, the final playoff places, and standings, will be determined. The Ocean City Nor’easters can clinch the Mid Atlantic Division, and the best record in the Eastern Conference, on Friday night as they visit Reading United at Albright College’s Shirk Stadium at 7 p.m. Meanwhile, the Ottawa Fury will try to maintain their slim one-point lead over the GPS Portland Phoenix as they host the CFC Azul and Western Mass Pioneers on Friday and Saturday night.
The River City Rovers will try to hold on to third place in the Great Lakes Division, but face a challenge to do so as they play the PDL-leading Michigan Bucks in a home-and-home series. Michigan is aiming to complete an undefeated regular season, and finish with the best record in the PDL, which could allow the fourth-placed Chicago Fire PDL to jump past with victories in their games against the Cincinnati Kings (Thursday) and Chicago Inferno (Sunday).
Stay up to date with all of the action through the PDL’s Twitter feed and Facebook page, which will provide nightly updates of scores from across North America, and links to news, previews and game reports.
PDL Team of the Week
| Pos | Player | Team | Highlights |
| GK | Andrew Wildfong | North Sound | 18-year-old recorded 16 saves in two hard-fought contests |
| D | Sebastian Ibeagha | Carolina | Controlled the back as Dynamo recorded 2-0 win against Palmetto |
| D | Travis Golden | Austin | Played key role as Aztex defeated El Paso, sealed playoff berth |
| D | Sean Reynolds | Orlando | Solid performances in pair of victories for Lions U23 |
| M | Jacques Polak | Texas | Dutch Lions captain had goal, assist in win against Sockers |
| M | Jordan Green | Kansas City | Three goals, three assists in pair of wins by Brass |
| M | Carlos Montes | Tucson | Scored twice in 3-0 win against BYU that edged Tucson to playoffs |
| M | Nate Boyden | Michigan | Pair of goals in win against Cincinnati as Bucks remained undefeated |
| F | Alassane Kane | Real Maryland | Had four goals as Monarchs remained in South Atlantic playoff race |
| F | Carlo Basso | Ottawa | Pair of goals pushed Fury past GPS Portland into first in Northeast |
| F | Zoncher Dennis | Ocean City | Four goals in two games as Nor’easters clinched playoff berth |
Honorable Mention – Austin: Kris Tyrpak; Baltimore: Christian Barreiro; Carolina: Mamadee Nyepon; Chicago Fire: David Meves, Morgan Taylor; Des Moines: Kasey Kiarash; FC London: Jordan Ayris; Fredericksburg: Dylan Bowman; Jersey: Walter Hines; Kansas City: Pete Nechvatel, Kyle Greig; Kitsap: Ben Truax; Nashville: Jonathan Guadarram, Franklin Castellanos; New Jersey: Jack McVey, Hunter Gorskie; Ocala: Karamba Janneh, Alex Harrison; Ocean City: Frank Tweneboa; Orlando: Brendan Moore; Palmetto: Lee Squires; Portland: Mark Sherrod; Reading: Deshorn Brown, Pedro Ribeiro; Real Colorado: Luigi Clendenning; Real Maryland: Aboucarim Ndaw; Schulz Academy: Drinnan Sante; Sounders U23: Darwin Jones; Southern West Virginia: Carter Robbins; Tampa: Eusebio Montoya; Thunder Bay: Sullivan Silva; Toronto: Josh Portillo; Victoria: Ashley Burbeary; West Texas: Michael Griego; Worcester: Alencar Junior, Michael Bustamente.