USL News Release
Wednesday, May 12, 2010
Brent Whitfield of Ventura County has been named the first United Soccer Leagues Premier Development League Player of the Week for the 2010 season after recording five goals and an assist in a pair of wins for the Fusion. Whitfield began the month with a hat-trick in a 5-0 win against the Lancaster Rattlers. One week later he tallied two goals in a 3-0 win against the Ogden Outlaws.
“Brent is a great all around player who knows how to put the ball in the net,” Ventura Assistant GM Brian Nowakowski said. “He has had a history of scoring goals in this league and is doing a great job of continuing that this season with us. Brent has also been aided by some great services from the supporting cast of players that we have.
“Despite Brent's goal scoring totals, he is a great team player that works well with the rest of the team and can distribute the ball just as well as he can finish.”
Whitfield scored 14 goals in nine games for the Los Angeles Legends last season, averaging a goal every 36 minutes he played. He is on pace to break that record. In 175 minutes this season he has scored five goals – one every 35 minutes.
Also tallying in both his team’s games this season was Felix Garcia of the Laredo Heat, who ended last week with two goals and two assists for the 2-0-0 Heat. In a home-and-away series with Rio Grande Valley, Garcia netted a goal and an assist in Laredo’s home-opener, a 3-1 win on Friday, April 30. One week and a day later, Garcia did the same in a 2-1 win in the Rio Grande Valley.
Four defenders came forward to score goals in the young PDL season. Those players included Rochester’s Ben Sippola, Ironbound’s Matia Damiani, Victoria’s Craig Robertson and Reading United’s Matt Hedges.
“Matt had a goal and helped the team keep a clean sheet,” Reading United AC’s President Art Auchenbach said. “His distributions and work with Eric Schoenle provided early indicators for a strong back line in Reading.”
In Dallas a fifth defender, Danny Woolard, drew praise from DFW Tornados President, Jim Mertz.
“Danny kept the back alive,” Mertz said. “He kept us in the game and provided very good leadership.”
The DFW Tornados drew in their home-opener, 1-1, against El Paso.
In club-openers, 2010 expansion side Fort Lauderdale fell, 1-0, to 2009 PDL Semifinalists IMG Bradenton Academy.
“IMG’s Brian Fekete scored a perfect game-winning goal,” Fort Lauderdale’s Stephan Lattorff said. “He was always a threat to our defense.”
In MPS Portland’s first-ever match, forward Chris Banks netted two goals to lift his team to a 3-0 win against Westchester.
In Atlanta, the Blackhawks got off to a four-goal start thanks to Nick Burton, who had two goals and an assist in a 4-2 victory against Nashville.
“He was active throughout the match,” Nashville’s Devinder Sandhu said. “He took advantage of the many opportunities given to him.”
Finally, in net for 2-0-0 Southern California, Cody Suppe picked up shutouts in Los Angeles and Hollywood to pull the Seahorses into a tie for first place.
“Even though the defense faltered at times, Cody stood his ground and made some brilliant saves,” Southern California’s Matt Morse said. “He made outstanding saves until the last minute of the game.”
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Pos
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Name
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Team
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Highlights
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GK
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Cody Suppe
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Southern Cal.
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14 Saves, 2SO on the road for 2-0-0 Seahorses
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D
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Ben Sippola
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Rochester
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1G, 1SO, 180MP on road for 1-0-1 Thunder
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D
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Matia Damiani
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Ironbound
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90MP 1G in 3-0 win against West Virginia
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D
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Craig Robertson
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Victoria
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90MP, 1G in 3-2 win against Vancouver
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M
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Oscar Aguero
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Orange County
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110MP 1G for 0-0-2 Blue Star
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M
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Bryan Fekete
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IMG Bradenton
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GWG in 1-0 win against Fot Lauderdale
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M
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Nick Burton
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Atlanta
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2G 1A in 4-2 win against Nashville
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M
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Milton Blanco
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Fresno
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270MP, 1G, 1A for 1-1-1 Fuego
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F
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Brent Whitfield
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Ventura County
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5G 2A in two wins for 2-0-0 Fusion
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F
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Chris Banks
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MPS Portland
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2G in 3-0 win against Westchester. First win in club history.
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F
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Felix Garcia
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Laredo
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2G 2A in two wins for the 2-0-0 Heat
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Honorable Mentions
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GK
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Emilio Xikis
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Westchester
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10 Saves, SO in 0-0 draw with New Hampshire
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D
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Matt Hedges
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Reading
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90MP 1G SO in 5-0 win against Hampton Roads
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D
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Danny Woolard
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DFW
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90MP in 1-1 draw with El Paso
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