USL News Release
Wednesday, July 25, 2007
TAMPA, FL – United Soccer Leagues announced the USL Premier Development League and W-League Teams of the Week for the 14th week of the USL season, honoring Thunder Bay’s Brandon Swartzendruber and San Diego’s Maribel Dominguez as the Players of the Week, respectively.
In a wide open race for the two Heartland Division berths going into the week, the Thunder Bay Chill made the biggest splash in wrapping up not only their first-ever playoff spot in eight seasons, but the division title in the process. The Canadian side dominated the perennial power Des Moines Menace for two wins after previously having a 5-2 loss and narrow 1-0 win in Des Moines.
Appearing to be headed to halftime scoreless, Swartzendruber changed the complexion of the entire match with an opening salvo in the 42nd and a second tally in the 45th. Another lengthy stretch of scoreless soccer ended in the 80th to make it 3-0 before Swartzendruber completed his hat-trick in the 90th to cap the 4-0 victory Friday as they celebrated their first playoff berth.
The following night Swartzendruber did not take quite as long to get on the board, finding the back of the net 13 minutes in for the lead. Des Moines leveled the match at 1-1 in the 25th with Swartzendruber connecting for the game-winner in the 63rd minute to give the Chill a surprising division championship after finishing in last place in 2006 with a record of 2-11-3.
Swartzendruber finished the season with 13 goals and four assists in 15 games played for the club.
With Seattle having clinched one of the two Western Conference W-League playoff berths Thursday, the pressure was on the expansion San Diego Sunwaves to continue their stellar first season through the final weekend to ensure their spot in place of the defending champion Vancouver Whitecaps, who were lurking in third hoping for a slip. That opportunity never came for the Caps, however, as the Sunwaves clinched a berth and went on to win the division with a pair of wins.
In a rough game Friday night, Mexican international Maribel Dominguez opened the scoring in the 36th minute and went on to add a second in the 81st to put the game well of reach as they went on to clinch the second playoff berth with a 5-2 win over Fort Collins.
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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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Patrick Mitrovich
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Atlanta
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Six saves in 2-0 win over Carolina
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D
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Geoff Marsh
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Cleveland
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Goal in pair of wins
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D
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Lyle Adams
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Carolina
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Goal in 3-0 win at Nashville
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D
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Anthony Santiago
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Central Florida
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Led team in 3-0 win over Palm Beach
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M
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Spencer Schmidt
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Abbotsford
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Two goals, assist in 4-1 win over Tacoma
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M
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Nate Jafta
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Michigan
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Two goals, two assists in pair of wins
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M
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Antonio Barrera
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El Paso
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Game-winner in 2-1 win over New Orleans
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M
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Kyle Evans
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Ocean City
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Three goals, assist in win and loss
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F
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Pablo Campos
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Fresno
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Two goals, assist in 3-1 win at San Francisco
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*
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F
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Brandon Swartzendruber
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Thunder Bay
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Five goals in pair of wins over Des Moines
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F
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Dwight Barnett
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Cape Cod
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Four goals in pair of wins
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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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Shannon Lynn
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Fort Wayne
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Eight saves in 2-1 win at Cleveland
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D
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Lexi Martin
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Toronto
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Led team to win and draw
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D
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Ashley Swinehart
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Charlotte
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Goal, led team to two shutouts
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D
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Carla Arbulo
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Rochester
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Goal, assist in pair of wins over Hamilton
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D
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Alexandra Singer
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Washington
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Goal in 4-2 win at Boston
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M
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Adrian Radhke
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Boston
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Three goals, assist in win and loss
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M
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Katherine Reynolds
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Seattle
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Goal in 3-1 win over Colorado
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M
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Leah Tapscott
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Jersey
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Goal, assist in 3-0 win at Long Island
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F
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Sarah Steinmann
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Atlanta
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Two goals, two assists in pair of wins
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*
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F
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Maribel Dominguez
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San Diego
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Two goals in 5-2 win over Fort Collins
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F
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Kim Dimitroff
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London
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Three goals in wins over Minnesota, Michigan
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* Players of the Week
