PDL News Release
Thursday, June 19, 2014
TAMPA, Fla. – The PDL announced its Team of the Week for the seventh week of the 2014 season on Thursday, with Kitsap Pumas midfielder Chuy Sanchez earning Player of the Week honors after scoring both goals in a comeback win at Lane United FC Sunday that allowed the Pumas to remain undefeated.
Trailing 1-0, the Pumas got on the board in the 66th minute when Sanchez one-timed a volley from just inside the box that beat the Lane United keeper for the equalizer. After a foul just outside the box in stoppage time, the former Cal State Bakersfield star stepped up and executed the free kick perfectly, bending it over the wall and past the keeper for the winning score. The win helped the Pumas extend their lead to five points in the Northwest Division.
Other strong Player of the Week candidates included Forest City London midfielder James Pucci, who tallied four goals and an assist in a pair of games, and Western Mass Pioneers midfielder Will Daniels, who scored three in a pair of wins. Rounding out the midfield corps is Midland/Odessa’s Rory Knibbs, who accounted for a pair of goals and an assist in a 5-1 win vs. Mississippi.
Floridians FC goalkeeper Jeremy Crumpton had a standout week, recording consecutive shutouts against Southeast Division powers Orlando City and Ocala. The defensive selections included a trio of players who scored for their teams in important wins – Ocala’s Darion Copeland, CFC Azul’s Tobias Esche and Austin’s Kalen Ryden.
K-W United’s Stefan Vukovic recorded two goals and three assists in a 2-0-0 week to earn a spot on the forward line, and he was joined by Anthony Grant of the Seacoast United Phantoms (3 goals, assist in win vs. Real Boston) and Kharlton Belmar of the Portland Timbers U-23s, who tallied three goals in two games.
The PDL season continues this weekend with 37 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 | Jeremy Crumpton | Floridians | Recorded consecutive shutouts vs. Orlando City & Ocala |
| D | Darion Copeland | Ocala | Scored in win at PCB, led team to shutout vs. Floridians |
| D | Tobias Esche | CFC Azul | Tallied goal in 2-1 win vs. Vermont |
| D | Kalen Ryden | Austin | Scored GWG in 4-1 win vs. Laredo |
| M | Will Daniels | Western Mass | Netted 3 goals in pair of wins |
| M | Rory Knibbs | Midland/Odessa | Tallied 2 goals, assist in 5-1 win vs. Mississippi |
| M | James Pucci | FC London | Tallied 4 goals, assist in 1-1 week |
| M | Chuy Sanchez | Kitsap | Scored both goals in 2-1 comeback win vs. Lane Utd. |
| F | Kharlton Belmar | Portland | Scored 3 goals in 1-0-1 week |
| F | Anthony Grant | Seacoast | 3 goals, assist in win vs. Real Boston |
| F | Stefan Vukovic | K-W United | Recorded 2 goals, 3 assists in pair of wins |
Honorable Mention – Albuquerque Sol: Lucas Champenois, Isaiah Madrid; Austin Aztex: Travis Golden; Chicago Fire: Tyler Engel, Tyler Miller; Cincinnati Dutch Lions: Chris Harmon; Des Moines Menace: Chris Hellman; FC London: Yannis Becker, Eddie Jones; FC Tucson: Odaine Sinclair; Jersey Express: Walter Hines; Midland/Odessa Sockers: Conrad Goulbourne, Byron Knowles, Fabio Pena; Ocala Stampede: Kenny Hogg; Monteal Impact U23: Anthony Jackson Hamel; San Jose Earthquakes: Joshua Smith; Thunder Bay Chill: Ivan Argos Ocerin; Vancouver Whitecaps FC U-23: Cody Cook, Niall Cousens; Ventura County Fusion: James Kiffe; Victoria Highlanders: Ryan Ashlee.