PDL Feature
Wednesday, November 7, 2012
Xavier’s men’s soccer team completed one of its most successful regular season campaigns this past Sunday, with the Cincinnati Kings’ Luke Spencer leading the way. After a pair of emphatic victories that sealed the No. 3 seed in the Atlantic 10 tournament, Spencer was honored for his two goals and three assists by being named TopDrawerSoccer.com’s Men’s Player of the Week, leading the PDL players who picked up weekly honors as some conferences began their postseason tournaments.
Spencer, who was also named the Atlantic 10 Offensive Player of the Week, opened his week with a goal and an assist in the Musketeers’ 6-0 victory against Rhode Island. He then had a goal and two assists as Xavier claimed a school-record 13th victory with a 5-0 win against Massachusetts. After scoring two goals and two assists for the Kings this past summer in 11 appearances, the senior had 13 goals and six assists for the Musketeers this fall, leading the team with 32 points.
Other players honored by TDS on its Team of the Week included the Sounders FC U23’s Sean Okoli, who had a goal and an assist in Wake Forest’s 4-2 victory against Maryland. The sophomore, who also won the ACC’s Player of the Week award for the second time this season, leads the Demon Deacons with 11 goals and 25 points, and his three-point night handed the Terrapins their first defeat of the season, robbing them of a chance to complete an undefeated regular season in the ACC.
Former Ogden Outlaws forward James Rogers was also selected after recording a goal and assist in New Mexico’s 6-0 victory against Houston Baptist. Rogers is tied for second on the Lobos with 19 points in 15 games, where he is matched by the Austin Aztex’s Blake Smith. The Lobos now enter the MPSF Tournament as the top seed after going 8-2-0 in conference play this fall.
Around the conferences, the Chicago Fire PDL’s David Meves was named the Mid-American Conference Player of the Week after recording an NCAA record 51st shutout of his career in Akron’s 1-0 victory against Michigan State. Meves broke the record held by Wake Forest’s Sean Ford, and now will try to help the Zips as they aim for the MAC Championship, and another run at the College Cup.
Meves’ teammate with the Fire PDL, Joey Calistri, claimed the Big Ten’s Offensive Player of the Week honor after earning his side a draw against Indiana. The goal was Calistri’s seventh of the season, which leads the Wildcats, as the freshman took his second conference honor of the season.
UCLA’s Fernando Monge claimed the Pac-12’s Player of the Week award, with the Sounders FC U23 standout leading the Bruins to a 2-0-1 record during the week to put them on the verge of the Pac-12 title. Monge was a strong defensive presence as the Bruins edged out title challenger Washington to open the week, and then scored the game-winning overtime goal in their 2-1 win against Stanford.
Portland Timbers U-23s standout, and 2012 All-League selection, Mark Sherrod took the Conference USA Offensive Player of the Week award after leading Memphis to a pair of victories in the final week of the regular season. Sherrod, who recorded 10 goals for the Timbers this summer, scored in the Tigers’ 3-1 victory against UAB last Wednesday night, and then had both goals to lead his side to a 2-1 victory against No. 14 South Carolina.
Former IMG Bradenton Academics forward Mitchell Cardenas claimed the Big South’s Attacking Player of the Week award after the Campbell senior had a goal and an assist in the Camels’ 2-0 victory against Gardner-Webb. He was joined by FC Jax Destroyers goalkeeper Federico Bertele, who took the conference’s Defensive Player of the Week honors after recording a shutout for Coastal Carolina in its 1-0 win against High Point.
Former Fort Wayne Fever player Mitch Falkenstern took the Summit League’s Offensive Player of the Week award after scoring the game-winning goal for IPFW in its clash with IUPUI. The goal, and 1-0 victory, sent the Mastodons into the Summit League Championships, set to take place this weekend in Macomb, Ill.