USL News Release
Thursday, May 28, 2009
TAMPA, FL – United Soccer Leagues announced today the Premier Development League Team of the Week for the seventh week of USL competition, honoring Reading Rage midfielder Adam Gazda as Player of the Week for his three goals in as many matches, leading the Rage to just their second U.S. Open Cup berth.
"Having only trained once with the team, Adam was the difference maker in our match with Hampton Roads, scoring the game winner in the 73rd minute and showing why he named to the PDL Best XI last year," said Reading general manager Art Auchenbach.
After defeating Hampton Roads 3-2 on May 20, Gazda tallied once each in away victories over Carolina (5-2 on May 22) and Cary (4-0 on May 24), putting Reading at the top of the PDL’s Mid Atlantic Division (3-0-1, 10 pts.) and into the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup for the first time since 2001.
Another player who helped his team qualify for the Open Cup was Ocean City goalkeeper Tunde Ogunbiyi. The Nigerian youth international backstopped the Barons to away victories over New Hampshire (1-0 on May 22) and Rhode Island (3-0 on May 23), making a combined eight saves in the two matches. The Boston College goalkeeper has yet to allow a goal this season in 270 minutes played.
"Tunde was a major factor in our qualifying for the Open Cup, making some tremendous saves in our wins over the weekend. After three straight clean sheets, its hard to ask for much more from your goalkeeper," said Ocean City head coach Neil Holloway.
After throwing away their chance to qualify for the Open Cup following a 2-1 loss to the Fort Wayne Fever on May 20, the Michigan Bucks rebounded over the holiday weekend with a solid performance from first-year centerback Julian Robles. The University of Michigan defender scored twice in the Bucks 3-0 win over Cincinnati on May 23, before holding down the backline in a 1-0 victory at Indiana on Memorial Day.
"Having a solid defensive centerback that can be dangerous going forward is always a huge asset. Julian’s work so far this season has been outstanding," said Bucks head coach Dan Fitzgerald.
Out west, Casey Cunningham scored a hat trick in Seattle’s 3-1 come from behind win against Portland on May 20. Entering the match as a sub in the 26th minute, Cunningham equalized a minute after coming on and then tallied twice in the second half, clinching the victory for the Wolves. The University of Washington striker has six goals this season. With a 3-1-1 record, Seattle is currently tied on points with Portland and Kitsap atop the competitive PDL Northwest.
"Casey was a dominant holding forward for us, being able to bring him off the bench shows the depth in squad we have this season
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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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Tunde Ogunbiyi
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Ocean City
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8 saves, 2SO week for USOC-bound Barons
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D
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Leone Cruz
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Austin
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2G in 4-0 win over USOC-bound El Paso Patriots
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D
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Eddie Gutierrez
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Fresno
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1G 2A in 5-5 draw with Lancaster
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D
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Julian Robles
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Michigan
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270MP 2G in 2-1-0 week for Bucks
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D
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David Mueller
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St. Louis
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1A on GTG, sent Lions to USOC, 2-2 draw vs. Des Moines
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M
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Adam Gazda
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Reading
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226MP 3G in 3-0-0 week for USOC-bound Rage
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M
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Mark Blades
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Chicago
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270MP assisted on GWG in 1-0 win over Cleveland. 3-0-0 week
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M
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Christian Hernandez
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Lancaster
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2G 1A in 5-5 draw with Fresno
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M
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Anteneh Lemma
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Mississippi
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1G 2A in 1-1-1 week for USOC-bound Brilla
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F
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Casey Cunningham
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Seattle
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3G in 64MP against unbeaten Timbers U23, 3-1 win
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F
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Zak Boggs
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Bradenton
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3G 1A in 2-0-0 week for Academics
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Honorable Mention
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M
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Nick Kohlschreiber
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Hollywood
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2G 126MP in 1-1-0 week for Hitmen
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F
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Dominic Barone
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Kalamazoo
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161MP 3G in 1-0-1 week for Outrage
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F
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Michael Griego
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El Paso
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180MP 2G in 1-1-0 week for USOC-bound Patriots
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F
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Long Tan
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Atlanta
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3G in 3-0 win over Panama City Pirates
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F
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Teteh Bangura
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Cascade
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3G in 4-0 win over Spokane
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