PDL News Release
Thursday, June 26, 2014
TAMPA, Fla. – The PDL announced its Team of the Week for the eighth week of the 2014 season on Thursday, with Western Mass Pioneers forward Alencar Junior named Player of the Week. The PDL’s leading scorer earned Player of the Week honors for the second time in three weeks as his four-goal game led the Pioneers to a 4-2 victory against the Real Boston Rams on Wednesday, June 18.
Junior struck twice in the opening 15 minutes against the Rams, and after Real Boston pulled level midway through the first half he completed his hat trick five minutes before the halftime break. Junior then added a fourth with 12 minutes to go to put the game away. The victory, and the Pioneers’ subsequent win against the Montreal Impact U-23, kept Western Mass undefeated this season and in a strong position to reach the PDL Playoffs at the midway point of the campaign.
Fellow Northeast Division standout Anthony Grant joined Junior on the Team of the Week’s forward line, as the Seacoast United Phantoms striker had a first-half hat trick to key a 4-0 win against the Westchester Flames. Michigan’s Zach Steinberger also earned selection as his two goals moved Michigan top of the Great Lakes Division with a 2-1 win against FC London.
Baltimore’s Austin Martz and Carolina’s Marco Sunol also scored two goals apiece as their sides took important victories to lead the four midfield selections. Martz helped lift the Bohemians past Long Island 3-1, while Sunol was vital in the Dynamo’s 3-1 win against Southern West Virginia. Ocala’s Lewis Hilton also earned selection as he led the Stampede back to the top of the Southeast Division standings with a 3-0 win against Orlando City U23, and San Jose’s Luis Martinez had two goals and an assist in the Earthquakes U-23’s 5-0 drubbing of the LA Misioneros.
Thunder Bay’s Nolan Intermoia led the defensive selections as he scored in both of the Chill’s shutout victories during the weekend. He is joined by Clement Simonin of the Sounders FC U-23s, who had an assist and was strong defensively in their victory against Lane United, and Long Island’s Thomas Wharf, who had a standout game as the Rough Riders handed Reading United its first loss of the season. River City’s Dalyan Hawes earned the goalkeeper spot as he recorded 11 saves to help the Rovers defeat the West Virginia Chaos 2-1 on the road.
The PDL season continues this weekend with 35 games on the schedule between Friday and Sunday. The weekend’s action includes a battle between the top two teams in the South Atlantic Division on Friday night as the division-leading West Virginia Chaos visit the Cincinnati Dutch Lions. Saturday sees a big Mid South Division clash as the Austin Aztex host the Laredo Heat, while Sunday brings a big Mid Atlantic Division rivalry game as Reading United hosts the Jersey Express.
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 | Dalyan Hawes | River City | Recorded 11 saves as the Rovers defeat West Virginia |
| D | Nolan Intermoia | Thunder Bay | A goal in each of the Chill’s shutout wins against Winnipeg |
| D | Clement Simonin | Sounders U23 | Had an assist, solid at the back, in win against Lane United |
| D | Thomas Wharf | Long Island | Helped contain Reading’s attack in Rough Riders’ victory |
| M | Marco Sunol | Carolina | Pair of goals led Dynamo past King’s Warriors |
| M | Luis Martinez | San Jose | Scored twice, added assists in Earthquakes U-23 victory |
| M | Austin Martz | Baltimore | Two goals led Bohemians to victory against Long Island |
| M | Lewis Hilton | Ocala | Goal and assist earned Stampede win, first in Southeast |
| F | Anthony Grant | Seacoast United | First-half hat trick led Phantoms to important victory |
| F | Alencar Junior | Western Mass | Hot streak continued with four-goal game against Rams |
| F | Zach Steinberger | Michigan | Both goals for Bucks as they defeated FC London |
Honorable Mention – Austin: Chuy Cortes, Tony Rocha; Baltimore: Kingsley Onwuka, Andrew Harris; Carolina: Jordan McCrary, Mamadee Nyepon; CFC Azul: Ryan Kinne, James Doig; Des Moines: Nico Wright; Houston: Emmanuel Frias, Rimario Gordon; IMG Bradenton: Raul Gonzalez; Lane United: Matt Bersano, Martin Lukaschik; Laredo: Salvador Luna, Irving Villanueva; Long Island: Joseph Holland, Stephen Roche; Kitsap: Miguel Gonzalez, Jesus Sanchez; K-W United: Darrin MacLeod; Michigan: Adam Grinwis, Brandon Beresford; Midland-Odessa: Tucker Hume, Walker Hume; Ocala: Paco Craig, Ilija Ilic; Ocean City: Eric Klenofsky, Shawn McLaws; Orange County: William Reygoza, Kebe Mamado; Pittsburgh: Arkangelo James, Colini Phillips; Reading: Darius Madison; River City: Ace Gonya, Robbie Tarver; San Jose: Nick Cashmere, Daniel Kuczynski; Southern West Virginia: Bryan Ramirez; Thunder Bay: Dominic Roberts, Declan Rodriguez; Toronto: Triston Henry; Vancouver: Cody Cook, Niall Cousens; Victoria: Ian Greedy; West Virginia: Sean Teepen.