PDL News Release
Thursday, June 5, 2014
TAMPA, Fla. – The PDL announced its Team of the Week for the fifth week of the 2014 season on Thursday, with FC Tucson forward Odaine Sinclair named Player of the Week. Sinclair led his side to an important 2-0 victory against Mountain Division rival the BYU Cougars with a spectacular bicycle kick that landed him a No.1 spot on ESPN’s SportsCenter Top 10.
Tucson trailed BYU by three points going into last Thursday night’s contest, but pulled even at the top of the division standings with the win. It was sparked by Sinclair’s bicycle kick, which arrived a minute before the halftime break. A ball into the penalty area was headed straight up, and the forward executed his effort perfectly to find the bottom-left corner.
Sinclair would add a second to put the game away for Tucson as they avenged their only loss of the season, which came on the road against the Cougars earlier in May. Another pair of two-goal scorers joined Sinclair on the PDL Team of the Week, as Winnipeg’s Moses Danto led his side to a 3-2 victory against defending Heartland Division champion the Thunder Bay Chill on Sunday, and Lane United’s Khiry Shelton had two goals and an assist in his side’s 4-1 win against the Puget Sound Gunners.
K-W United goalkeeper Darrin McLeod led the defensive contingent after a pair of standout performances in shutouts against FC London and the Michigan Bucks. MacLeod made 14 saves on the road against London, and another 12 against Michigan, as K-W claimed two 1-0 wins to remain undefeated in the young season.
Sounders FC U23 defender Clement Simonin leads a trio of defenders after two standout performances in his side’s shutout victories against Vancouver and Portland. Reading’s Robbie Sagel joins him after his goal helped United take victory and remain undefeated as it defeated F.A. Euro, while Albuquerque’s Travis Campbell played every minute as the Sol earned a pair of road shutouts to pick up a pair of points this past weekend.
The midfield quartet is led by the OC Pateadores Blues Mats Bjurman, who helped his side break a two-game losing streak with a goal and assist in a 3-1 win against the Fresno Fuego. Ocean City’s Jason Plumhoff also had a goal and assist as the Nor’easters took victory against Northern Virginia, while Jersey’s Noah Sadaoui led his side to victory and a share of first place with victory against the Long Island Rough Riders. CFC Azul’s Reco McLaren rounds out the group after his two goals led his side to a 4-1 win against GPS Portland Phoenix.
The PDL season continues this weekend with 34 games on the schedule between Friday and Sunday. The weekend’s action includes a key clash in the South Atlantic Division as top two sides the West Virginia Chaos and Carolina Dynamo meet on Saturday night at Schoenbaum Stadium. Saturday night also sees two undefeated sides meet in the Northwest Division as the Kitsap Pumas host Lane United FC, while Sunday sees the St. Louis Lions complete a two-game trip to face WSA Winnipeg as both look to boost their playoff hopes in the Heartland Division.
Follow all of the action from the 2014 PDL season via twitter (@USLPDL), and also on Facebook and Instagram as the league’s 20th season shines the spotlight on some of the top college and academy prospects from across the country.
PDL Team of the Week
| Pos | Player | Team | Highlights |
| GK | Darrin MacLeod | K-W United | Recorded two big shutouts as K-W defeated London, Michigan |
| D | Robbie Sagel | Reading | Had a goal, and helped United earn shutout win vs. F.A. Euro |
| D | Clement Simonin | Sounders U23 | Strong in two shutout victories against Vancouver, Portland |
| D | Travis Campbell | Albuquerque | Marshalled Sol’s backline in back-to-back road shutouts |
| M | Jason Plumhoff | Ocean City | Had goal, assist as Nor’easters got past Royals on road |
| M | Noah Sadaoui | Jersey | Scored winner, added assists in win against Long Island |
| M | Reco McLaren | CFC Azul | Pair of goals led side to victory, top of Northeast Division |
| M | Mats Bjurman | Orange County | Goal and assist helped Pateadores Blues defeat Fresno |
| F | Khiry Shelton | Lane United | Had two goals, assist as Lane continued strong start |
| F | Odaine Sinclair | Tucson | Highlight-reel bicycle kick was key in crucial victory |
| F | Moses Danto | Winnipeg | Pair of goals lifted Winnipeg to big win against Thunder Bay |
Honorable Mention – Austin: Chuy Cortes, Adam Black; Baltimore: Kingsley Onwuka, Marquez Fernandez; Carolina: Caue da Silva, Biko Brennan; Cincinnati: Tanner Petrick, Eric Osswald; Fresno: Omar Santoyo; Houston: Javier Vazquez; IMG Bradenton: Yussuf Olijide, David Abidor; Jersey: Eze Kene, Matthew Mahoney; Kitsap: Jesus Sanchez, Rene DeZorzi; Lane United: Casey Phillips; Long Island: Shaun Foster; Los Angeles: Kyrian Nwabuezem Javier Castro; Midland/Odessa: Rory Knibbs, Clint Long; Mississippi: Phillip Buffington, Tony Gavin; Montreal: Frederic Lajoie Northern Virginia: AJ Sheta; Ocean City: Zoncher Dennis, Shawn McLaws; Orange County: Kebe Mamdou, Tre Hayes; Portland: Omar Holness, Fatai Alashe; Puget Sound: Jason Dodson; Reading: Nicholas Surkamp, Oumar Ballo; Seacoast: Anthony Grant, James Goff; Sounders U23: Luis Esteves, Michael Bajza; Southern West Virginia: Itode Fubara; St. Louis: Carson Pryor; Thunder Bay: Vitor Huvoz, Nolan Intermoia; Toronto: Liam Collins, Leigh Veidman; Tucson: Connor Brandt, Trevor Morley; Washington: Tyler Vistern, Christian Roldan; West Virginia: Jake Szabo, Bijan Gloston; Winnipeg: Josh Partaker.