Tuesday, June 24, 2003

TAMPA, FL - United Soccer Leagues announced today the Teams and Players of the Week for the A-League, USL Pro Select League, Premier Development League and W-League for the Week 10 of the season, honoring Richmond's Kevin Jeffrey, New Hampshire's Ebbie Kodiat, Southern California's Jake Ward and Charlotte's Ashley Swinehart.

The Richmond Kickers earned a draw and a victory over the weekend to extend their current unbeaten streak to six games. Leading the way in the two matches was forward Kevin Jeffrey, who was named the A-League Player of the Week.

After a scoreless first half in the initial match at home Friday, the Kickers inserted Jeffrey into the game in the 49th minute and he would go on to score in the 70th. On a short throw-in, he drove down the end-line and took a shot that was rebounded to Rob Ukrop, who sent it back Jeffrey's way to knock it home. The goal nearly proved to be the winner until Charlotte's Jacob Coggins found the back of the net in stoppage time for the eventual 1-1 draw.

The following night in Charlotte, the Kickers controlled from the beginning with Jeffrey in the starting lineup for the first time since their May 26 game at Pittsburgh. Twelve minutes into the contest, Jeffrey caught Charlotte goalkeeper Trevor Upton out of position and struck a long 40-yard shot over Upton for the lead.  Jeffrey would later set up Ukrop for a breakaway goal in the 75th minute to put the game out of reach with a three-goal lead in the eventual 3-1 win.

Jeffrey, who has scored in three straight, is in his fourth season in the A-League, third with Richmond. The Trinidad & Tobago native currently leads the team in scoring with four goals and three assists so far on the year. He was the team's top scorer in 2001 with 11 goals and seven assists and was second last year with seven goals and five assists.

The defending champion Long Island Rough Riders were the lone remaining men's side in USL with an unbeaten mark, but New Hampshire's Ebbie Kodiat snapped the run, which dated back to July 6 of last year - a span of 17 games, including playoffs.

The USL Pro Select League Player of the Week, Kodiat, came off the bench in the 80th minute of a 1-1 match for the Phantoms and nodded home a game-winning header in the 86th minute on a cross from Derrick Etienne. The goal also gave New Hampshire their third straight victory of the season.

Kobiat, who has not started for the Phantoms since May 16, has three goals on the season in six matches played. He is in his second year with the team and third in the league having played for the Boston Bulldogs in 2001.

In the PDL, the Southern California Seahorses prevented the high-flying Fresno Fuego from clinching a berth in the playoffs with a 2-1 win. Leading a stellar defensive performance against the potent Fuego offense was defender and PDL Player of the Week Jake Ward.

Ward played an outstanding game for the Seahorses, cutting down the Fuego attack in an intelligent and aggressive fashion. It marked just the second time this season Fresno, who has not been shut out, was held to one goal in a match. Fresno leads the league with 38 goals scored and has an average of 2.7 per game.

The Seahorses, who are four points back in their race with the Orange County Blue Star for second in the division, held onto a 2-0 halftime lead with goals from Beau Lawson and Dylan Martinez for the win.

Ward, who plays for Azusa Pacific University, is in his second season with the Seahorses. He saw action in 14 games last year, registering a goal and an assist. He has scored three goals through 12 games this year.

The Charlotte Lady Eagles took a rare trip west to play a pair of matches in Arizona and opened with a stunning 7-0 drubbing of the Fort Collins Force.

Taking a page out of her brother's book, Ashley Swinehart took on the role of offensive leader and propelled the Lady Eagles to a 4-0 lead 30 minutes into the game with two goals and two assists, earning the W-League Player of the Week honor.

Swinehart set up defender Deanna Kreidel for the first and third goals at the third and 22nd minute marks and registered her two goals in the seventh and 10th minutes before being subbed out in the 34th minute.

The 19-year old forward is tied for second on the team in scoring with Christine Timbers with 10 points on four goals and two assists, three points back of Tina Murphy. She has played in all 10 games so far this year after just seeing action in three last season. Her brother, Dustin, has led the A-League Eagles in scoring in each of the last four years.