USL News Release
Wednesday, July 27, 2011
TAMPA, Fla. – United Soccer Leagues announced the 2011 PDL regular season honors today, with Fresno Fuego striker Milton Blanco leading the way by being named both Points and Assists Champion. Blanco is joined by Westchester Flames striker Jake Keegan, who struck for 16 goals in 16 games to take the Goals crown. Fronted by a defense that allowed only nine goals all season, Thunder Bay goalkeeper Stephen Paterson was named Goals-Against Average Champion after posting a miniscule .503 in 12 games.
Blanco, who will lead his team into the Western Conference Semifinals against Victoria on Saturday, was equal parts provider and finisher for the 13-0-3 Fuego, notching 12 goals and 14 assists to take the scoring crown by two points over the Orange County Blue Star’s Chandler Hoffman. Blanco, who enjoyed a brief stint in MLS with Chivas USA in 2005, was named PDL Player of the Week on July 14.
Keegan’s goal scoring title is made more impressive by the fact his team finished 6-6-4 and out of the playoff hunt in the PDL’s Mid Atlantic Division. A Binghamton University junior, Keegan scored all but nine of Westchester’s 25 goals in league play. Keegan edged Indiana’s Adam Mena, who tallied 14 goals, for the title.
After falling in the 2010 PDL Championship finals, the Thunder Bay Chill are back in the playoffs in 2011 and Paterson has been a big part of their season. Paterson was 9-1-2 with eight shutouts this season, while only allowing six goals for the 12-2-2 Heartland Division champions.
A Western Illinois University grad who was the named to the PDL’s 2007 All Central Conference Team, Paterson is in his eighth season with the Chill and backstopped their 2008 PDL Championship.
The 2011 PDL playoffs kicked off Tuesday with play-in games to determine the final four participants for the Eastern and Central Conference championships. The conference semifinals take place Friday through Sunday, with the four champions headed to the 2011 PDL Championship Presented by Umbro on August 5-6.
The 2011 PDL All-Conference Teams will be announced on Monday, August 1, followed by the All-League Team on Tuesday, August 2. The finalists for Coach of the Year, Defender of the Year, Rookie of the Year and Most Valuable Player will be announced on Wednesday, August 3, with the awards presented at the PDL Championship banquet. Goalkeeper of the Year will also be presented at the banquet.