Tuesday, May 6, 2003

 

TAMPA, FL -- United Soccer Leagues announced its Teams and Players of the Week for the A-League, USL Pro Select League and Premier Development League for the third week of the USL season, honoring Seattle's Kyle Smith, Reading's Alex Radovic and Rhode Island's Zico Antunes.

The Seattle Sounders downed their rival Portland Timbers on consecutive night's to open the season and qualify for the Lamar Hunt US Open Cup for the second straight year. Forward Kyle Smith took part in all three goals in the 1-0 and 2-0 wins.

In the opening match in Portland Thursday night, Smith scored the game-winner in the 35th minute on an assist from Alex Bengard.

The following night in Seattle, he broke a scoreless match in the 78th minute when Leighton O'Brien set him for his second game-winner of the weekend. Smith would turn provider two minutes later, connecting with former college roommate Sean-Michael Callahan for an insurance goal.

Smith is in his third season with the club, having played a limited role in the past. He played just 459 minutes in 17 games for the Sounders last year, scoring two goals, and 689 minutes in 13 games, tallying a goal and an assist in 2001.

 

The Reading Rage are off to a hot start with a 3-0-0 mark, matching last year's entire win total. Leading the way in the club's two matches this past weekend was Reading forward Alex Radovich, who tallied two goals and an assist in their pair of wins over Northern Virginia and New Jersey.

At RFK Stadium Saturday, the Rage defeated the Northern Virginia Royals 1-0 on a goal from Radovich in the 56th minute of play.

The following night at home, the Rage fell behind 1-0 on a penalty kick in the 16th minute, but rebounded a minute later to tie the game when Radovich set up midfielder Eric Puls. Radovich would tally his second game-winner of the weekend in the 35th minute on an assist from Mike Fenger.

 

The Rhode Island Stingrays opened their second PDL season with a 3-0 victory over the Barons in South Jersey Saturday courtesy of a hat-trick from forward Zico Antunes.

Antunes, who tallied 12 goals and four assists for 28 points last season, broke the scoreless draw with his first strike in the 59th minute and then put the game away with goals in the 72nd and 83rd minutes.

Antunes was named to the Team of the Week twice last season with outstanding offensive performances, including a hat-trick versus Worcester, but was edged out for the Player of the Week honors both times.

 

With just two games played on Opening Night for the W-League Saturday, the first set of W-League honors will be announced next week.