Tuesday, July 15, 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, honoring Pittsburgh's Ricardo Villar, Long Island's Derrick Etienne, Nashville's Ben Buerger and Vancouver's Phebe Trotman as Players of the Week.

The Pittsburgh Riverhounds picked up back-to-back wins with midfielder and Player of the Week Ricardo Villar leading the 'Hounds to a 3-2 overtime win in Indiana Sunday.

A night after a close-fought 2-1 victory over the visiting Richmond Kickers, the Riverhounds took to the field at Kuntz Memorial Stadium in Indianapolis, Indiana 93 minutes later left winners and in third place in the Northeast Divison.

Trailing twice in the match, Villar set up equalizers, connecting with defender Jamon Tripoli with a corner kick in the 67th minute and Thiago Martins for a diving header on a free kick. Three minutes into overtime, he turned provider once more, finding former Blast player John Dolinsky for the game-winner.

After suffering their second home loss to the New Hampshire Phantoms this season Tuesday, the Long Island Rough Riders rebounded for a 5-1 thrashing of the visiting Reading Rage Saturday. Leading the way for the club was forward and USL Pro Select League Player of the Week Derrick Etienne, who scored four of the five goals in the match.

Etienne opened the scoring with two straight in the 13th and 22nd minutes that stood for a 2-0 halftime lead. A Joey Fragoso tally made it 3-0 in the 59th and Etienne converted a penalty kick for his hat-trick in the 78th. After a Pat Stanco strike for Reading in the 82nd, Etienne finished the night with his fourth in the 89th minute.

In desperate need of wins to keep their playoff hopes alive, the Nashville Metros picked up two wins at home behind the play of midfielder and PDL Player of the Week Ben Buerger.

Nashville downed the Memphis Express, who are also in the hunt for the Mid South Division's second playoff berth behind New Orleans, Wednesday in a come-from-behind 3-2 match. Trailing 2-0, Buerger set up goals to Landy Mattison and Stephan Gathany in the 34th and 45th minutes, respectively, for a level 2-2 scoreline at the break. Nashville's Pasi Kinturi notched the winner in the 64th minute.

Nashville then turned up the offense a little more Saturday, dismantling the St. Louis Strikers 7-1. Pasi Kinturi, the league MVP in 1996, picked up where he left off with the opening marker 17 minutes into the match and then Buerger turned provider on back-to-back goals again. He set up Stephen Murray for two straight goals in the 24th and 30th minutes for a commanding 3-0 lead at halftime. Buerger would go on to score one of his own in the 65th minute to make it 5-0 as the Metros cruised to the win.

The Vancouver Whitecaps Women assured themselves of a spot in the postseason with a 3-2 win over the visiting Denver Lady Cougars Saturday courtesy of the play of forward and W-League Player of the Week Phebe Trotman.

Trailing 2-1, Trotman leveled the score with a header in the 28th minute on an assist from Kelly Haxton. Late in the second half, Trotman struck again for the game-winner, floating a shot over the goalkeeper from 15 yards out on an assist from Amy Apps.

Trotman now leads the team in goals with seven on the season and is tied in points at 14 with Diana Artuso (six goals, two assists).