PDL Game Report
Thursday, July 17, 2014
TAMPA, Fla. – The PDL announced its Team of the Week for the 11th week of the 2014 season on Thursday, with Jersey Express forward Kene Eze named Player of the Week. Eze had four goals in two games as the Express moved top of the Mid Atlantic Division with big victories against NJ LUSO Parma and F.A. Euro.
An MLS SuperDraft selection by Toronto FC earlier this season after a strong college career at Rutgers, Eze had a hat trick to lead the Express past NJ LUSO Parma in a 5-0 win last Wednesday, July 9 as Jersey regained the division lead. Eze added another goal on Sunday in an 8-0 win against F.A. Euro, which put the Express in position to clinch the division title earlier this week.
Another pair of players to notch hat tricks joined Eze on the Team of the Week forward line. The Michigan Bucks’ Dzenan Catic led his side to a 5-0 win against FC London, while Kitsap’s Miguel Gonzalez scored the first hat trick in Pumas history as they clinched the Northwest Division with a 3-1 win against the Washington Crossfire
The midfield includes four players who made key contributions to their side’s postseason efforts, with Long Island’s Joseph Holland honored after his two goals and two assists for the Rough Riders against NJ LUSO. CFC Azul’s Reco McLaren scored twice as his side clinched its first postseason berth with victory against Westchester, while K-W United’s Jay Chapman had the game-winner in his side’s 3-1 win against the Chicago Fire U-23 last Saturday that moved United in a position to claim a postseason berth, which it did on Wednesday night. West Virginia’s Jake Szabo completes the group after his goal and assist lifted the Chaos past Cincinnati and into sole possession of first in the South Atlantic.
The defensive group is led by Seacoast United’s Dominic Dimaggio, who recorded his league-best eighth shutout as the Phantoms advanced to the playoffs with a 1-0 win against the Western Mass Pioneers. Laredo Heat defender Genaro Hernandez was selected as his two goals lifted the Heat to a crucial 3-2 victory against Mississippi last Thursday, and he was joined by Ventura County’s Tony Alfaro, who scored as the Fusion claimed the Southwest Division, and FC Tucson’s Austin Ledbetter, whose outstanding finish capped a fine regular season for the Mountain Division champions.
The PDL regular season concludes this weekend with 23 games on the schedule. The South Atlantic Division will be settled on Saturday night as the West Virginia Chaos visit the Southern West Virginia King’s Warriors, and the Cincinnati Dutch Lions visit the River City Rovers with all three of the Chaos, King’s Warriors and Dutch Lions still alive for the title.
The PDL Playoffs also pick up steam on Saturday as the first inter-divisional playoff round is set to be held at the University of Nevada Las Vegas’ Soccer Complex, with Mountain winner FC Tucson set to face Southwest runner-up the LA Misioneros, and the Southwest champion Ventura County Fusion ready to meet the Mountain runner-up the BYU Cougars. The winner of the two contests will advance to face the Kitsap Pumas or Vancouver Whitecaps FC U-23 in the conference semifinals next weekend.
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 | Dominic Dimaggio | Seacoast United | Eighth shutout of season helped Phantoms earn return to playoffs |
| D | Genaro Hernandez | Laredo | Scored twice as Heat took important win against Mississippi |
| D | Tony Alfaro | Ventura County | Had a goal as Fusion clinched Southwest title with win vs. Orange County |
| D | Austin Ledbetter | Tucson | Outstanding finish allowed Tucson to end regular-season on high |
| M | Reco McLaren | CFC Azul | Helped his side claim its first playoff berth with two goals vs. Flames |
| M | Jay Chapman | K-W United | Scored game-winner as United took crucial win against Fire U-23 |
| M | Jake Szabo | West Virginia | Goal and assist as the Chaos defeated Cincinnati in a key division game |
| M | Joseph Holland | Long Island | Two goals, two assists as Rough Riders defeated NJ LUSO |
| F | Dzenan Catic | Michigan | Hat trick against London put Bucks in position for postseason |
| F | Kene Eze | Jersey | Had four goals in two games as Jersey moved to top of Mid Atlantic |
| F | Miguel Gonzalez | Kitsap | Hat trick to lead the Pumas past Washington for Northwest title |
Honorable Mention – Austin: Marshall Tucker, Travis Golden; Baltimore: Mamadou Kansaye, Malcolm Harris; Boston: Reuben Resendes; Carolina: Monbo Bokar; CFC Azul: Ryan Kinne; Chicago: Joey Calistri; GPS Portland: Jonathan Redmond; Houston: Wessel Verharr; IMG Bradenton: David Abidor; Jersey: Walker Hines; K-W United: Shane Keely; Lane United: Josep Baldovi; Laredo: Yair Hernandez, Jorge Ortega; London: Danny Deakin; LA Misioneros: Chris Smith; Michigan: Brad Vanino; Midland-Odessa: Rory Knibbs, Walker Hume; Ocala: Ilija Ilic; Ocean City: Zoncher Dennis, Mitch Grotti; Reading: Quincy Thomas; San Jose: Matthew Sheldon, Maxwell Oldham; Vancouver: Ali Musse; Washington: Nik Besagno; West Virginia: Dion Peters.