PDL News Release
Thursday, July 3, 2014
TAMPA, Fla. – The PDL announced its Team of the Week for the ninth week of the 2014 season on Thursday, with Des Moines Menace forward Chris Hellmann named Player of the Week. Hellmann had three goals in two games as the Menace took a pair of victories against the Thunder Bay Chill to move into sole possession of first place in the Heartland Division.
Hellmann scored the only goal on Saturday night as the Menace took a 1-0 victory against the defending division champion Chill, and then bagged another pair in a 2-1 win on Sunday to push the Menace forward in their pursuit of a first playoff berth since 2011. All three goals were assisted by Honorable Mention Sean Dong.
Hellmann was joined in the Team of the Week attack by Fresno’s Tyler Reinhart, who had a pair of goals in the Fuego’s 3-0 win against the LA Misioneros, and the Vancouver Whitecaps U-23’s Brett Levis, who scored twice in his side’s 4-0 win against the Sounders FC U-23.
Midland Odessa’s Conrad Goulbourne led the midfield selections as he played a crucial role in the Sockers’ two victories on the road this past week, while the Chicago Fire U-23’s Andrew Conner was also named as the Fire moved top of the Great Lakes Division with a 2-1 win against K-W United. Reco McLaren’s return to the line-up provided a major boost for the CFC Azul as he scored twice in a victory against the Westchester Flames that moved CFC top of the Northeast Division, while Southern West Virginia’s Elijah Ukpong had the game-winning goal as the King’s Warriors defeated the Carolina Dynamo for the first time in their history.
Real Boston goalkeeper Nick Thomson earned selection after he conceded one goal in two victories that saw the Rams pull their way back into the playoff race, and he was joined by a trio of defenders led by Jersey’s Sylvain N’Guasian, who had a goal and a strong all-around performance in the Express’ 4-1 win against Ocean City. IMG Bradenton’s David Butzke was selected after a strong performance in his side’s 2-1 win against the SW Florida Adrenaline, while Reading’s Wes Charpie rounded out the side after a positive display in United’s 2-1 victory against Jersey.
The PDL season continues this weekend with 28 games on the schedule for the holiday weekend. Games to watch include a meeting between the top two teams in the Mid South Division on Saturday night as the Midland-Odessa Sockers visit the Austin Aztex, while the Cincinnati Dutch Lions and Carolina Dynamo will both try to push for the South Atlantic division title as they meet at Xavier University Soccer Stadium.
Sunday’s action brings the final meeting of the regular season between IMG Academy and the SW Florida Adrenaline, as the two teams that sit tied for second in the Southeast Division look to get the inside track on a playoff berth.
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 | Nick Thomson | Real Boston | Conceded once in two wins to push the Rams into playoff contention |
| D | Sylvain N’Guasian | Jersey | Scored and was strong defensively in win against Ocean City |
| D | Wes Charpie | Reading | Assisted on opening goal as United handed Express first defeat |
| D | David Butzke | IMG Bradenton | Strong defensive play in IMG’s key win against Adrenaline |
| M | Andrew Conner | Chicago | Solid in the center as Fire U-23 move top of Great Lakes |
| M | Conrad Goulbourne | Midland-Odessa | Goal, assist in win against Mississippi to strengthen Sockers position |
| M | Elijah Ukpong | SW Virginia | Game-winning goal as King’s Warriors downed Dynamo for first time |
| M | Reco McLaren | CFC Azul | Scored twice as Azul moved top of Northeast by defeating Flames |
| F | Brett Levis | Vancouver | Pair of goals kept Whitecaps U-23’s winning streak moving |
| F | Chris Hellmann | Des Moines | Three goals in two games as Menace swept Thunder Bay |
| F | Tyler Reinhart | Fresno | Put Fuego back in playoff picture with two goals against Misioneros |
Honorable Mention – Baltimore: Andrew Harris, Jeremy DeGraffenreidt; Cincinnati: Jeff McClure, Austin Pierce; Des Moines: Nico Wright, Sean Dong; Houston: Kelvin Iloba, Jorge Contreras; IMG Bradenton: Raul Gonzalez, Bakie Goodman; Jersey: Matt Turner, Ansger Otto; Kitsap: Pat Kelly; K-W United: Jarek Whiteman, Nicolas Perea; Lane United: Conner Bevans; Laredo: Salvador Luna, Yair Hernandez; London: Yannis Becker; Long Island: Keith Detelj; Los Angeles: Kyrian Nwabueze, Saeed Robinson; Midland-Odessa: Walker Hume; Ocala: Karamba Janneh, Ilija Ilic; Ocean City: Jason Plumhoff, Frank Tweneboa; Portland: Hudson Rhoads, Dennis Castillo; Reading: Alex Bono, Ignacio Maganto; SC United: JP Rafferty; Sounders U-23: Austin Dunker, Jordan Schweitzer; Southern California: Matt Raines; Toronto: Leigh Veidman; Ventura County: James Kiffe, Abu Danladi; Victoria: Brandon Watson, Alex Rowley; West Virginia: Nick McDonald, Jake Szabo.