USL News Release
Monday, July 30, 2007
TAMPA, FL – United Soccer Leagues announced the Goalkeeper of the Year honor and the Premier Development League All-League Team Monday, honoring the top 11 players for the 2007 season based on votes from the league’s coaches and general managers.
Eight teams were represented on the All-League team with the regular season champion Hampton Roads Piranhas seeing three players recognized and the defending champion Michigan Bucks having two honorees. Michigan’s duo are joined by a Fresno Fuego player as current PDL semifinalists set to take place Saturday, August 4 when Michigan hosts Brooklyn and Fresno visits Laredo.
2007 Premier Development League All-League Team
Goalkeeper of the Year – Evan Newton (Hampton Roads Piranhas)
Newton captured the Goalkeeper of the Year honor as voted on by the league’s coaches and general managers in addition to winning the GAA Championship for the league’s lowest goals average of 0.222. After opening the season by guiding the team to a league record 10-game shutout streak, it was no surprise that Hampton Roads Piranhas goalkeeper Evan Newton held on to the league’s lowest goals against average to earn the GAA Champion award. Newton allowed just three goals over the course of 14 games. He recorded eight shutouts along the way.
Defender – Dwyane Demmin (Mississippi Brilla)
The Trinidad & Tobago native returned to USL soccer in Mississippi, where he previously guided the Jackson Chargers to success in the PDL in 1997. He went on to play the next two seasons with the Michigan Bucks before moving on to play for the Indiana Blast and Charlotte Eagles in the USL First Division. Demmin played every minute of the season for the expansion club and registered two goals.
Defender – David Horst (Hampton Roads Piranhas)
Horst was one of the anchors of a back line that only allowed six goals on the season, playing every minute of the campaign as they finished unbeaten and won the regular season title. He also led the Virginia Beach Submariners to the division title last season, garnering All-League honors for his performance.
Defender – Josh Howard (Kansas City Brass)
Howard helped lead the Brass to an 11-game unbeaten run to open the season, anchoring a defense that allowed just 13 goals over that period. He played in 14 games for the second consecutive season, and also registered four goals on the campaign.
Midfielder – Sean Franklin (San Fernando Valley Quakes)
A former US youth international, the second-year Quakes midfielder led the club to the postseason, playing in all 16 games and registering two goals and seven assists, which was tied for fourth in the league.
Midfielder – Bruno Guarda (DFW Tornados)
In his third year with the club, Guarda has steadily grown into a leader on the team going from six games to 10 last year to 13 this season. His scoring output also made huge strides in 2007 as he produced seven goals and two assists in leading the club to third in division.
Midfielder – Nate Jafta (Michigan Bucks)
All Jafta does is set up goals for the defending PDL champion Bucks. After leading the league in assists last season with 11, he finished second with 10 in 2007 to earn his second consecutive All-League honor. He also netted seven goals to finish 15th in the league points table.
Midfielder – Ciaran O’Brien (Tacoma Tide)
Taking after his brother Leighton, who has won numerous honors in the USL First Division including the 2002 league MVP award, Ciaran helped guide the second-year club to the postseason under the guidance of his coach and father Fran. He played in 15 games, registering seven goals and five assists on the campaign.
Forward – Pablo Campos (Fresno Fuego)
Campos won the Scoring (points) and Goal Scoring Championship with 39 points and 18 goals. Campos started the season with a seven-game goal scoring streak from the team’s second game, netting 11 over the span, and secured the honors with five in the final two games of the year.
Forward – Kenny Uzoigwe (Michigan Bucks)
The star striker for the defending PDL champion Bucks was a potent force in the first half of the season coming off the bench and continued his fine form as a starter as they neared the postseason, finishing with 33 points on 14 goals and five assists. He ranked tied for third in points and goals. He scored 13 goals and two assists last season to earn All-Conference honors and went on to score the opener in the Bucks 2-1 PDL Championship victory.
Forward – Andrew Wheeler (Hampton Roads)
The Piranhas got most of the attention during their unbeaten regular season campaign for their defense, but at the other end of the pitch, it was Wheeler giving the club the victories with 14 goals and five assists for 33 points while playing in all 16 games. He finished tied for third in goals and points.
The recipients of the Defender of the Year and U19 Player of the Year awards will be announced Wednesday, August 8 and the Coach of the Year and Most Valuable Player will be unveiled Friday, August 10. The Finalists for the four honors will be announced Friday, August 3.
2007 PDL Semifinals
The two 2006 finalists will play host to PDL Semifinal matches Saturday, August 4. The defending champion Michigan Bucks take on the Cinderella 14-seed Brooklyn Knights while the Fresno Fuego visit the Laredo Heat. The winners advance to the PDL Championship Saturday, August 11. The championship will air on Fox Soccer Channel at 11:00 pm ET.
