USL Feature Article
Friday, May 1, 2009
First Friday
The first act of United Soccer Leagues (USL) 2009 Premier Development League (PDL) season gets underway Friday, May 1 as the Hollywood United Hitmen host the Fresno Fuego at Titan Stadium at the University of Cal State in Fullerton, California. That match, which doubles as the first PDL game in 2009 Lamar Hunt US Open Cup Qualifying, is set to begin at 4:00 PM PT. Approximately 20 hours north of Fullerton, the expansion Victoria Highlanders will meet the Spokane Spiders in Spokane, Washington to kick off the PDL’s Northwest Division at 7:00 PM PT.
Fresno Fuego @ Hollywood United
The Fuego ended the 2008 PDL regular season with a 9-5-2 record, good enough for second place in the parity-stricken Southwest Division. Unfortunately, the Fuego lost a 3-0 decision to the Tacoma Tide in the first round of playoffs.
Last season’s squad must do without Pablo Campos, who took his trade to MLS, where he netted his first goal just two weeks ago on Saturday, April 18. The goal was of the breakaway type and it earned the San Jose Earthquakes a 1-1 draw with the Los Angeles Galaxy, but Campos’ departure leaves a 1.28 goal per game deficit which the Fuego must rekindle if they hope to return to the top of the Southwest Division table in 2009.
The Fuego do return 12 goals and 17 assists from last season in the form of forward Adrian Alvarado and midfielders Fabricio Codeceira and Orlando Ramirez. Codeceira accounts for 13 of the 17 assists and will play a huge role in leading the Fuego this season. Defensively, Jamie Calvo and Raul Rivera will carry the load. Combined, the pair played every minute of every game they started last season.
This being the first official match of the 2009 US Open Cup, Hollywood United FC sits ironically atop the Open Cup schedule after catching the eye of many in the 2008 version of this tournament. Last season the side was able to defeat the USL First Division Portland Timbers before being knocked out by then USL-1 side and 2007 tournament semifinalists, the Seattle Sounders. From the side that toppled Portland last season, only Earl Alexander, a second-half substitute that netted the game-winner in stoppage time returns.
Highlanders @ Spiders
The Spiders are looking to turn things around after finishing last in the Northwest Division with a record of 3-11-2 in 2008. The club began last season with a 1-1 mark, losing the home-opener, 3-0 to the Yakima Reds, but rebounding well with a 5-2 win over the Tacoma Tide. Things fell apart after that, save a two-game set that saw Spokane draw Abbotsford 1-1 on Friday, July 11 and shock the Northwest Division Champion, Vancouver Whitecaps Residency 3-0 on Saturday, July 12.
Jay Vela, the Spiders leading scorer in 2008, will return for the 2009 season after netting three goals and an assist in over 700 minutes of PDL action last season. The club will also return midfield trio Keith Realing, Matt Miller and Conor Baranski back, who together accounted for two goals and three assists in 2008. Former Spiders Head Coach Dan Philp headlines a group of three returning defenders. Philp, Tyler Falco and Rawley Doggett logged nearly 2,000 minutes of action on Spokane’s back line in 2008.
Australian defender Tynan Diaz, who previously patrolled the back line of English Coca-Cola Championship League club Birmingham City and French Second Division side Amiens, highlights the roster of a potential Northwest Division contender – Highlanders FC. Rob Veenhof, a 30-year old, two-time MVP of the Vancouver Island Soccer League (VISL) will accompany Diaz on defense. Nicolas Reyes, a former USL First Division midfielder with the Calgary Storm will look to control the midfield while 2006 VISL Rookie of the Year Steve Scott (6’3”) will be counted upon to find the back of the net for the Highlanders.
