PDL News Release
Thursday, June 12, 2014
TAMPA, Fla. – The PDL announced its Team of the Week for the sixth week of the 2014 season on Thursday, with Western Mass Pioneers forward Alencar Junior leaving no doubt about the Player of the Week honors after tallying six goals in a pair of wins.
Junior was unstoppable last Wednesday against GPS Portland, scoring all five goals in a 5-1 Pioneers victory. He added another goal in 3-0 win against Vermont Saturday to move atop the PDL goal leaders with eight in only three games played. Junior was joined on the Team of the Week forward line by Seacoast forward Anthony Grant, who scored all four goals in a 4-1 win for the Phantoms, and Ocala’s Ilija Ilic, who netted three goals in a win against SW Florida.
Paul Islas of Fresno and Yannis Becker of FC London each recorded hat-tricks to lead the midfield selections, and they were joined by Bryan De La Fuenta of the LA Misioneros (2 goals in 4-2 win at Orange County) and Midland/Odessa’s Rory Knibbs (2 goals, assist in 4-2 win vs. Houston).
Austin’s Michael Ambrose leads the defensive trio after leading the Aztex to consecutive shutouts against Mississippi. He was joined by Des Moines’ Brandon Fricke, who scored in a 3-0 win against the Chicago Inferno, and Kitsap’s Cory Keitz, who was solid in a 1-0 win against Puget Sound. The Mississippi Brilla’s Carl Blundell rounded out the Team of the Week, earning the goalkeeper selection after making several crucial saves in a scoreless draw at Austin.
The PDL season continues this weekend with 38 games on the schedule between tonight and Sunday. 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 | Carl Blundell | Mississippi | Made crucial saves vs. Austin that earned a point in 0-0 draw Thursday |
| D | Michael Ambrose | Austin | Led Aztex to consecutive shutouts vs. Mississippi |
| D | Brandon Fricke | Des Moines | Solid at the back and scored in 3-0 win vs. Inferno |
| D | Cory Keitz | Kitsap | Solid all-around performance in 1-0 win vs. Puget Sound |
| M | Yannis Becker | FC London | Recorded hat-trick in 3-3 tie at Toronto |
| M | Bryan De La Fuente | LA | Tallied 2 Goals in 4-2 win at Orange County |
| M | Paul Islas | Fresno | Netted Hat-trick in 4-0 win against BYU |
| M | Rory Knibbs | Midland/Odessa | Scored twice, added assist in 4-2 win vs. Houston |
| F | Anthony Grant | Seacoast United | Scored all 4 goals in 4-1 win vs. GPS Portland |
| F | Ilija Ilic | Ocala | Hat-trick in 3-2 win vs. SW Florida |
| F | Alencar Junior | Western Mass | Scored 6 goals in wins vs. Vermont, GPS Portland |
Honorable Mention – Austin Aztex: Andres Cuero; Baltimore Bohemians: Joshua Yaro, Melvin Snoh; Chicago Fire U23: Charlie Lyon; Cincinnati Dutch Lions: Jordan Grant; FC London: Sam Orritt; FC Tucson: Billy Thompson; Fresno Fuego: Gustavo Silva, Jose Cuevas; Houston Dutch Lions: Javier Vasquez; Jersey Express: Brayan Martinez, Otto Ansger, Noah Sadaoui; LA Misioneros: Vincent Paldino; Laredo Heat: Felix Garcia, Francisco Lara; Long Island Rough Riders: Dominic Sarle; Michigan Bucks: Dzenan Catic, Ken Tribbett; Midland/Odessa Sockers: Fabio Pena; Ocean City Nor’easters: Aaron Dennis, Zoncher Dennis; Real Boston Rams: Zeiko Lewis; San Jose Earthquakes: Luis Martinez; Seacoast United Phantoms: Adrian Dubois; Southern WV King’s Warriors: Elijah Ukpong, Gideon Asante; St. Louis Lions: Carson Pryor; Toronto Lynx: Leigh Viedman; West Virginia Chaos: Nick McDonald.