USL Press Release
Wednesday, May 19, 2010
United Soccer Leagues announced today the Premier Development League (PDL) Team of the Week honoring West Texas United Sockers’ defender Omar Tena as Player of the Week.
Tena played the full 90 minutes on defense against a strong Laredo Heat side led by Felix Garcia. After Garcia scored to give the visiting Heat a 1-0 lead in the 19th minute, Tena took the offensive burden off his teammates by equalizing in the 40th minute. The defender then added an assist just three minutes later on a goal scored by Uli Guillen.
Tena combined with fellow defenders Angel Zapata and Jesus Munoz, goalkeeper Leif Craddock and midfielder Koffi Innocent to shut out Laredo in the scoreless second half. The match at West Texas’ Grande Communications Stadium in Midland, Texas was attended by an astounding 4,992 fans.
Tena was not the only PDL defender to have a strong week. Five other backs, including Ironbound’s Mohammad Mashriqui, earned Team of the Week nods.
“Mohammad played great defense in our match against the Central Jersey Spartans,” Ironbound Express GM Gali Maimon said. “He sealed the win with his goal at the beginning of the second half.”
Defender Colin Henry also drew words of praise from MPS Portland Phoenix Head Coach Paul Baber.
“Colin was very strong in defense,” Baber said. “He communicated excellently and provided cover for his teammates at all times. He had an all-around great performance.”
Other defenders that contributed offensively included Vancouver’s La’Vere Corbin, who netted a pair of goals against Abbotsford in a 3-3 draw. Abbotsford’s backs answered with a goal and an assist performance from Simon Crocker and a 29th minute strike from defender James Farenhorst.
The Goalkeeper of the Week was Orange County’s Patrick McLain, who while on the road made nine saves in a lopsided win over Fresno before stealing a game from Lancaster the following night.
“He had a solid game in goal,” Orange County Head Coach Jon Spencer said. “He made two game-saving saves in the second half to preserve the tie. The one goal he allowed came on a perfectly-placed free kick in the first half. Patrick was directly responsible for Orange County getting a 1-1 tie on the road against Lancaster.”
|
PDL Team of the Week
|
|
Pos
|
Name
|
Team
|
Highlights
|
|
GK
|
Patrick McLain
|
Orange County
|
12 Saves, 3GA in 1-0-1 week for Blue Star
|
|
D
|
Omar Tena
|
West Texas
|
1G, 1A in 2-1 win over Laredo
|
|
D
|
Mohammad Mashriqui
|
Ironbound
|
1G, SO in 2-0 win over Central Jersey
|
|
D
|
La'Vere Corbin
|
Vancouver
|
2A in 3-3 draw with Abbotsford
|
|
D
|
Jesus Ochoa
|
Los Angeles
|
2G in 3-0 win over Hollywood
|
|
M
|
TJ Popolizio
|
Albany
|
180MP, 2G in 1-0-1 week for BWP Highlanders
|
|
M
|
Juan Rodriguez
|
New Orleans
|
2G, 1A in 5-0 win over IMG Bradenton
|
|
M
|
Stephen McCarthy
|
Carolina
|
1G in 1-1 draw with Central Jersey
|
|
F
|
Jonathan Glenn
|
Vermont
|
2A in 1-1-0 week for Voltage
|
|
F
|
Brent Richards
|
Timbers U23s
|
2G in 3-1 win over Washington
|
|
F
|
Matt Pele
|
Victoria
|
2G in 95MP in 2-0-0 week for the Highlanders
|
|
Honorable Mentions
|
|
D
|
James Farenhorst
|
Abbotsford
|
1G in 3-3 draw with Vancouver
|
|
D
|
Colin Henry
|
MPS Portland
|
180MP, SO in 0-0-2 week for Phoenix
|
|
F
|
Sergi Raad
|
Central Florida
|
1G in 3-1 win over Fort Lauderdale
|
