USL News Release
Thursday, May 17, 2007
TAMPA, FL -- United Soccer Leagues announced the USL Premier Development League Team of the Week for the fourth week of the USL season and the first edition of the W-League Team of the Week for the year, honoring Hampton Roads’ Andrew Wheeler and Charlotte’s Kelly Schmedes as the Players of the Week, respectively.
The Hampton Roads Piranhas have long been a standout club in the W-League, but the expansion PDL Piranhas are quickly establishing a similar tradition of success with a pair of shutout wins which were highlighted by a four-goal outing from Andrew Wheeler in a 4-0 win over Northern Virginia Sunday.
Wheeler and the rest of the Piranhas wasted little time in establishing the outcome of the match. In the 13th minute, defender Steve Danbusky sent a high curving ball from the mid-line to the right side of the box where Wheeler chested the ball, took a dribble between a pair of Royal defenders, and blasted a right-footed shot into the far left corner of the goal for his first goal and first points of the season.
For Wheeler, the team’s persistent attack paid off three more times in the closing 20 minutes. The York College junior’s second goal came on the Piranhas second consecutive corner kick of the drive. The first corner sent by KK Lima drew a save, but Lima’s second found Wheeler, who sent the ball into the right upper-90 in the 72nd minute.
Five minutes later, Wheeler flicked another header into the net off a long cross from Stephen Nsereko to put the match out of reach for the Royals. He capped off his unforgettable night with a 20 yard blast off his right foot after receiving a long through ball from Lima in the 84th minute.
The defending W-League Central Conference champion Charlotte Eagles picked up where they left off last season with an outstanding 3-0 victory over the visiting Atlanta Silverbacks Friday in the league opener. Returning from a year away from the club and time playing in Sweden, Kelly Schmedes made an immediate impact.
Eleven minutes in, the former U.S. National Team player put the Lady Eagles up 1-0 with a breakaway goal. Heidi Drummond made pass forward onto the run of Schmedes. Schmedes, who had 11 goals in eight games for Charlotte in 2005, poked a shot around advancing Atlanta goalkeeper Staci Pugh into the bottom right corner.
Schmedes helped the Lady Eagles to a 2-0 lead in the 28th minute. This time it was Schmedes with the assist. She pushed down the right side to the end line and crossed a ball in for Tina Murphy. Murphy hit a hard one-timer into the back of the net from 10 yards out for the 2-0 lead.
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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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G
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Chris Austin
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West Michigan
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Ten saves, two shutouts at Toronto
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D
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Gary Sullivan
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Long Island
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Goal in 1-0 win over Rhode Island
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D
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Juan Viveros
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Yakima
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Goal in 2-1 win over Cascade
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D
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Brandon McDonald
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San Jose
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Goal in 2-1 win over Ventura County
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M
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Xavier Delgado
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Central Florida
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Goal, two assists in 3-2 win over Palm Beach
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M
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Tomas Boltnar
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Des Moines
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Hat-trick in 5-0 win over Sioux Falls
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M
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Nick Torres
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Austin
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Two goals in 3-1 win over New Orleans
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M
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Jordan Evans
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Richmond
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Two goals in 3-3 draw against No. Virginia
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F
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Ryan Shaw
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San Fernando Valley
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Four goals in 5-2 win at Lancaster
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*
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F
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Andrew Wheeler
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Hampton Roads
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Four goals in 4-0 win over No. Virginia
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F
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Francis McCardle
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Northern Virginia
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Hat-trick in 3-3 draw at Richmond
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W-League 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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G
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Katherine Forbis
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Charlotte
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Seven saves in 3-0 win over Atlanta
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D
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Bonnie Young
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Jersey
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Led team in 4-0 win over Western Mass
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D
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Jaclyn Raveia
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Richmond
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Led team in 2-0 win at Hampton Roads
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D
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Eleri Earnshaw
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New York
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Assist in 2-0 win at Long Island
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M
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Callie Lanphier
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New York
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Goal in 2-0 win at Long Island
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M
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Tobin Heath
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Jersey
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Two goals in 4-0 win over Western Mass
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M
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Formiga
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Jersey
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Two assists in 4-0 win over Western Mass
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M
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Amy Hemingway
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Richmond
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Goal in 2-0 win at Hampton Roads
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F
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Jen Parsons
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Richmond
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Goal in 2-0 win at Hampton Roads
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*
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F
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Kelly Schmedes
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Charlotte
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Goal, assist in 3-0 win over Atlanta
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F
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Noelle Meeke
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New York
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Assist in 2-0 win at Long Island
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* Players of the Week
