USL News Release

Wednesday, May 13, 2009

TAMPA, FL – United Soccer Leagues announced today the USL Premier Development League Team of the Week for the fifth week of the USL season, honoring the Newark Ironbound Express’ Jerrod Laventure as Player of the Week. Laventure found the back of the net five times in the second week of PDL action.

First, Laventure reeled in a hat trick plus an assist in the first half of a 4-1 Ironbound win over the New Jersey Rangers on Saturday, May 9. Less than 24 hours later, Laventure was back at it, tying the match between the Express and the New Hampshire Phantoms in the 20th minute on an assist from Kyle Clancy. Ironbound took the lead in the 29th minute by way of an unassisted strike from Justin McGrath, but Laventure padded the lead in the 51st minute when he converted a penalty kick to make it 3-1 Newark. He rounded out his scoring when he assisted on Clancy’s second of the match, which made the score 4-1 Newark. The match ended 5-2 in favor of the first-place (Northeast Division) Express.

“Jerrod has an amazing ability to find holes in the defense,” said Ironbound Express teammate Oral Bullen. “When you have someone up top that you know you can count on each and every game, it sends a wave of confidence throughout the entire team.”

Aside from Laventure’s efforts, the majority of the Team of the Week commendations went to defenders and goalkeepers, who stole the show in the PDL’s second weekend. Leading the way was Northern Virginia goalkeeper Sean Kelly, who saw 18 shots and made eight saves in Reading, where the Royals escaped with a 1-1 draw against the defending PDL Eastern Conference Champions.

“He made eight saves and anchored a defense that stopped 17 of 18 shots by the Rage,” said Reading General Manager Art Auchenbach. “[That] included several point-blank chances.”

Also majoring in denial, Orange County’s Kris Minton picked up another of his league-leading shutouts (co-leader with Dustyn Brim of the Kitsap Pumas) in a 10 save, 1-0 win over the Bakersfield Brigade. That win was Minton’s fifth consecutive shutout dating back to last season.

On defense, Dwyane Demmin continued to shine for the Brilla, burying the game-winner in the 52nd minute of a 2-1 win in Mississippi. Adrian Vasquez contributed only 41 minutes in defense for West Texas, but managed to find the back of the net for the Sockers in their second-ever PDL match. The goal and the draw were both firsts for the Midland-based club. Along similar lines, Rochester’s Brian Pederson netted the Thunder’s first two goals in club history from his defensive position, unfortunately, the Thunder are still seeking their first victory after a pair of 2-1 losses to Des Moines and St. Louis.

Rounding out the defensive ranks, Central Florida’s Neil Patrickson emerged as one of the week’s top defenders in a 1-1 skirmish between the Nashville Metros and the Kraze. Down to 10 men, Central Florida allowed only one goal following an ejection in the 48th minute. Following a second send off in the 74th minute, Patrickson and the Kraze held the fort for 16 minutes of 11 vs. 9 action.

 

Pos	Name	Team	Highlights
GK	Sean Kelly	Northern Virginia	8 saves, 1 GA, 18 SHFC in 1-1 draw with Reading
D	Dwyane Demmin	Mississippi	Game-winner in 52nd minute of Brilla’s 2-1 win over Atlanta
D	Adrian Vasquez	West Texas	1G in Sockers 1-1 draw with RGV. First goal in club history
D	Neil Patrickson	Central Florida	"A leader" in the Kraze’s 9-man 1-1 draw with Nashville
D	Brian Pederson	Rochester	2G week: first two goals in Rochester Thunder history
M	Brandon Chagnard	Baton Rouge	1G: tied LA derby 1-1 via 25-yard free-kick in 87th
M	Matt Lacey	Fredericksburg	1G 1A in 3-2 win over Cary
M	Jarad Van Schaik	Portland	1G 1A in 2-2 draw with Victoria. First goal in Timbers U23 history
F	Jerod Laventure	Newark	5G 2A in 2 wins: 5-2 over Phantoms, 4-1 over Rangers
F	Albert Escobar	Laredo	2G in 3-1 win over Austin
F	Ryan Shaw	Southern California	2G 1A in 6-2 win over Bakersfield
Honorable Mentions
GK	Kris Minton	Orange County	10 saves, SO (5th consecutive) in 1-0 win over Bakersfield
GK	Kyle Bak	Rhode Island	6 saves, SO in 0-0 draw with Brooklyn
F	Fernando Monge	Seattle	2G: 23rd min. sub ties game in 37th, nets GWG in 45th.