USL News Release
Wednesday, June 11, 2008 TAMPA, FL – United Soccer Leagues announced today the Premier Development League Team of the Week following the eighth week of USL competition. Highlighting the list as Player of the Week was goalkeeper Dan Williams of the Des Moines Menace. Williams led his team to a 1-0-1 week by posting a shutout against the Thunder Bay Chill in Thunder Bay, Ontario on Saturday. He followed that performance with a seven save match the following night.
In the first match, Williams posted 16 saves in a 0-0 draw, silencing the season opening crowd of 687 in Thunder Bay’s Chapples Park. But Des Moines General Manager Todd Meiners is quick to point out that the second match of the weekend was Williams’ best performance.
“He had an excellent first match in which he made a lot of good saves, but in the second match the game turned on his performance in goal,” Meiners said. “He was playing like a man possessed.”
In the 41st minute of a 1-1 match, the Thunder Bay Chill faithful were preparing to celebrate their first go-ahead goal of the 2008 season when midfielder, Alvaro Zendejas, who had already netted the game-tying goal in the 26th minute, stepped to the mark to take a penalty shot awarded to the Chill.
Williams had other plans.
“He anticipated the shot and made a phenomenal save to the lower left corner,” said Meiners. “From that moment on the game was ours. That save stole any momentum Thunder Bay had.”
The save may count for more than the three points the Menace picked up on Sunday. Meiners believes it could be the turning point for a Des Moines team that entered week seven with a 2-2-1 record.
“We got a lot of clarity as to where we stand as a team following that win,” he said Wednesday. “Right now we are 100% more focused on what we want to do.”
“Thunder Bay is not a place you expect to come home from with four points,” added Meiners. “I was proud of the performance we got out of all our players this weekend – but I was especially proud of Dan. We are fortunate to have him.”
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Week 8
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PDL Team of the Week
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Pos
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Name
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Team
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Highlights
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GK
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Dan Williams
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Des Moines
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23 Saves, 1 SO in 1-0-1 week against Thunder Bay
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D
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John Fletcher
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Ocean City
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Goal in 1-1 draw vs Northeast Division leading Brooklyn
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D
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Sheldon Williams
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Carolina
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Goal in 2-0 win at Nashville
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D
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Matt Tracy
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San Fernando
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Goal in 4-2 win vs Lancaster
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D
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Graham Munro
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Cape Cod
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Goal, 180 minutes in 1-0-1 week for Crusaders
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M
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Chase Tangey
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Tacoma
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2 goals, 157 minutes in 2-0-0 week for Tide
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M
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Nate Belcher
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Virginia
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All 3 Legacy goals in a 1-0-1 week
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M
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Lucas Almeida
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Baton Rouge
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GWG in 86th min of 1-0 win vs Mississippi, 2-0-0 week
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F
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Pablo Campos
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Fresno
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5 of the Fuego’s 8 goals in a 2-0-0 week
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F
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Felix Garcia
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Laredo
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3 goals in 1-0-1 week for Heat
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F
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Ronnie Bouemboue
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Cary
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2 goals & assist in 3-2 win over Atlanta (4-2-1)
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Honorable Mentions
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M
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Eric Alexander
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Kalamazoo
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Goal & assist in 2-0 win over Cincinnati
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F
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Adrian Kekel
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Abbotsford
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Hat trick in 5-0 win vs Cascade
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F
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Andres Cuero
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Austin
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Hat trick in 4-0 win at DFW, 2-0-0 week for Aztex
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