PDL Feature
Wednesday, September 18, 2013
TAMPA, Fla. – After falling in its opening game of the season, Northwestern has made a strong move up the national rankings to with four consecutive wins with Chicago Fire PDL forward Joey Calistri leading the way. The Wildcats, who sit at No. 16 in the latest NSCAA rankings, took a pair of victories this past weekend at the NIU Tournament as Calistri took not only Big Ten Offensive Player of the Week honors for a second consecutive occasion, but also College Soccer News’ Player of the Week honors.
Calistri led a number of current and former PDL alumni to earn national and conference honors after the third weekend of action in Men’s Division I NCAA soccer. The sophomore had the fourth hat trick in Northwestern history as he led the Wildcats to a 4-0 victory against Green Bay on Friday night, and then scored the opening goal in a 2-0 win against Butler on Sunday to take MVP honors for the tournament.
Calistri was also a selection on TopDrawerSoccer.com’s Team of the Week, where he was joined in attack by Reading United’s Larry Ndjock, who continued his strong performance this fall for Loyola, Md. with game-winning goals against both Quinnipiac and Campbell. The sophomore now has six goals this season for the Greyhounds.
Also named to the TDS Team of the Week was former Des Moines Menace midfielder Matt LaGrassa of Cal Poly, who had three goals in two games as a the Mustangs rallied past Penn before taking a 6-1 victory against San Jose State. He was joined by the LA Misioneros’ Trevor Morley, who was named the Defensive MVP of the Lobo Invitational as Cal State Northridge took victory against Central Arkansas and No. 9 New Mexico. Eric Stevenson of Sounders FC U23 was also named as he scored twice to lead Akron to victory against San Diego State on Sunday afternoon.
In conference honors, the Michigan Bucks’ Matt Walker had a standout week for Xavier to claim Big East Offensive Player of the Week honors. Walker, who had two goals and six assists for Michigan this summer, had a hand in all four of the Musketeers’ goals as he scored the game-winner in a 2-0 against Cal-Irvine, and the assist on the game-winner in a 2-1 win against Kentucky.
Reading United’s Keegan Rosenberry also took Big East Honors as the Georgetown sophomore was named Defensive Player of the Week, while former Jersey Express standout Rafael Diaz took Goalkeeper of the Week honors for a second consecutive week as he recorded 11 saves in two 1-0 shutouts against South Carolina and West Virginia.
IMG Bradenton Academy goalkeeper Ryan Coulter claimed Atlantic Sun Defensive Player of the Week honors as he recorded a pair of shutouts for East Tennessee, including a 1-0 victory against No. 8 UAB. Coulter’s goals-against average this season for the Buccaneers is now 0.18. His teammate at IMG, Ryan Lemasters, claimed the Mid-American Conference’s Player of the Week honor as he led Western Michigan to a pair of victories at the Eastern Illinois 50 Years of Soccer Tournament.
Carolina Dynamo standout Mamadee Nyepon claimed Big South Attacking Player of the Week honors after leading High Point to a big upset of No. 15 UNC-Greensboro. The forward from Cote D’Ivoire scored twice against the Spartans, and then added a goal and an assist in the Panthers’ victory against Navy to cap the weekend.
Nyepon was joined in being honored by the Ocean City Nor’easters’ Shawn McLaws, who was named Big South Defensive Player of the Week as he anchored Coastal Carolina’s defense in victories against South Carolina and No. 15 UNC-Greensboro. McLaws, who made 11 appearances for the Nor’easters this summer, transitioned seamlessly between three different positions in the two contests, playing as a holding midfielder, center back and right back at different points.
Fellow Nor’easters standout Brian Billings was named the Missouri Valley Conference Defensive Player of the Week as he helped Bradley claim a 1-0 upset of No. 3 Connecticut with five saves. Billings has recorded three shutouts in his first five appearances this season for the Braves after posting a 0.933 GAA for Ocean City this summer.
Fresno Fuego goalkeeper Cesar Castillo took Big West Defensive Player of the Week honors after he only conceded one goal in two games for Sacramento State during the weekend. Castillo made 16 saves as the Hornets earned a 1-1 draw with San Francisco, and a 0-0 draw with St. Mary’s.
Panama City Beach Pirates goalkeeper Sean Lewis, who played every minute for the Pirates this summer, claimed the Horizon League’s Defensive Player of the Week honors, while former CFC Azul forward Peter Jacobson was named Ivy League Player of the Week as he had a hat trick and an assist in Yale’s 4-1 win against Sacred Heart.
The Westchester Flames’ Kevin Correa took the Northeast Conference’s Player of the Week honors as he had a hand in five of St. Francis’ eight goals in its pair of victories during the weekend. Correa starred in a 4-1 win against Howard, in which he had two goals and two assists to take the conference lead with 12 points.
Bucknell’s Jesse Klug, formerly of the North Sound SeaWolves, was named the Patriot League’s Offensive Player of the Week as he scored in a third consecutive contest to lift the Bison to a 1-0 win against Albany and 2-0 win against Siena.
SC United Bantams midfielder Nestor Jaramillo earned the Southern Conference’s Player of the Week award after he scored three goals and added an assist for Wofford as it defeated Liberty and Jacksonville.