USL News Release
Thursday, May 19, 2011
TAMPA, Fla. – United Soccer Leagues today announced the USL Premier Development League Team of the Week for Week 3 of the season, honoring Portland Timbers U-23s forward Brent Richards as Player of the Week after he scored a hat trick in his first game of the season, a 6-0 victory against the Washington Crossfire on Sunday evening.
Richards, who was named the PDL Most Valuable Player in 2010, scored three consecutive goals as the Timbers earned their first victory of the season. It was the third hat trick in the club’s history.
Richards was joined on the Team of the Week by fellow forwards Nathanial Foster, who had a pair of goals in Mississippi Brilla’s 3-1 victory against the FC JAX Destroyers, and Keith Detelj, who scored three goals in two games for the Long Island Rough Riders in a pair of victories last week.
Real Maryland’s Ryan Gracia was named to the side after two strong midfield performances saw him record a pair of goals as Real won its opening two games in the South Atlantic Division. Gracia was joined in the midfield by Adrian Avila, whose dominant performance in midfield and goal helped Orange County earn a 1-1 draw against BYU, and David Walker, who had a goal and two assists in Ventura County’s 4-0 victory against the LA Blues 23.
The Jersey Express’ Shaun Foster led the defenders, putting in a strong performance at the heart of his side’s defense as they earned a 3-0 victory against the Westchester Flames. He was joined by Carolina Dynamo goalkeeper Scott Goodwin, who recorded a shutout in his side’s 2-0 victory against the West Virginia Chaos, and Stephen Okai from Reading United, who helped his side continue its strong start to the season with a 4-0 victory against New Jersey.
Completing the side are another pair of defenders in the Laredo Heat’s Leone Cruz, who scored an 87th-minute goal to give his side victory against West Texas United, and MPS Portland’s Brian Fekete, who scored his first goal of the season as the Phoenix remained perfect on the season with a 2-0 victory against the Vermont Voltage.
USL Premier Development League Team of the Week
| Pos | Player | Team | Highlights |
| GK | Chase Goodwin | Carolina | Recorded shutout as Dynamo opener the season with 2-0 win |
| D | Shaun Foster | Jersey | Was strong in center of defense as Express beat Westchester 3-0 |
| D | Stephen Okai | Reading | Led United defense with physicality and clearing dangerous crosses |
| D | Brian Fekete | MPS Portland | Scored first goal of season as Phoenix remained undefeated |
| D | Leone Cruz | Laredo | 87th-minute game-winner gave Heat victory against West Texas United |
| M | Adrian Avila | Orange County | Scored key goal as Blue Star remained undefeated |
| M | David Walker | Ventura County | Had a goal and two assists in 4-0 win against LA Blues 23 |
| M | Ryan Gracia | Real Maryland | Had a goal in each of Real’s opening weekend victories |
| F | Brent Richards | Portland U23s | Had third hat trick in team history against Washington Crossfire |
| F | Nathanial Foster | Mississippi | Had a pair of goals as Brilla opened their season win with |
| F | Keith Detelj | Long Island | Scored three goals in two games as Rough Riders won both contests |
Honorable Mention: BYU – Junior Lartey; Carolina – Hakan Ilhan; Central Florida – Keneil Baker; Chivas El Paso – Areil Chavez; Rodrigo Morin; Des Moines – Deshorn Brown; FC JAX – Kareem Yearwood; IMG Bradenton – Andre Mittoo, Andrew Bulls; Jersey – Josh Trott; North Sound – Vinicius Oliveira; Reading – Hasani Sinclair; Lasse Sohrweide; Schulz Academy – William Suedois; Tacoma – Daniel Gray; Ventura County – Andy Rose; West Texas United – Leif Craddock, Ben Everson.