PDL Feature
Tuesday, September 25, 2012
Portland Timbers U-23s forward Emery Welshman gave his Oregon State side a nice boost as it prepares to begin conference play, scoring four goals in a pair of victories this past weekend as the Beavers moved to 5-2 this season. For his efforts, Welshman was named the TopDrawerSoccer.com and Pac-12 Player of the Week, leading the current and former PDL players who put in standout performances in NCAA Division I Men’s Soccer this past week.
Welshman scored the first hat trick for Oregon State in four years last Friday night as the Beavers romped to a 6-1 victory against UW-Green Bay, adding an assist for a seven-point night. In a tighter contest on Sunday, he then scored the overtime game-winner in a 1-0 victory against UC-Irvine.
Also earning national honors was former Carolina Dynamo forward Chris Thomas, who took the College Soccer News’ Player of the Week honor after scoring four goals for Elon in their two victories last week. Thomas scored twice against William and Mary last Wednesday night in a 2-1 victory for the Phoenix, and then again in a 2-0 win against Charlotte on Saturday. Thomas also picked up the Southern Conference’s Player of the Week award for his standout performances.
Welshman was joined by a handful of other PDL standouts on the TDS Team of the Week, with former Des Moines Menace forward Stephen Baker leading Penn to a pair of victories, including a four-goal game against Rider. Baker’s remarkable performance was the first four-goal game for Penn since 1977, and earned a share of the Ivy League’s Player of the Week award.
IMG Bradenton Academics and River City Rovers defender Andrew Farrell was also named after leading a pair of impressive victories for Louisville as the Cardinals defeated Ohio State and No. 4 Notre Dame. Taking Big East Defender of the Week honors as well, Farrell had a goal and assist in the Cardinals’ 2-1 win against the Fighting Irish.
Worcester Hydra midfielder Thomas McNamara rounded out the PDL alums on the TDS Team of the Week after recording a goal and two assists for Brown in their pair of victories on the road against Washington and Portland.
Elsewhere, Farrell’s Academics teammate Milovan Kapor was named the America East Player of the Week after having a hand in all four of UMBC’s goals in the past week. Kapor had a standout summer for the Academics, finishing with 19 points in 13 games, and has continued to shine for the Terriers, sitting tied for first in the nation with eight assists this fall. Kapor assisted on both goals last Wednesday night as UMBC took a 2-0 victory against Loyola before recording a goal and assist in a 2-1 win against George Washington on Saturday night.
Former Des Moines Menace forward Shane Lyons took the Mid-American Conference’s Player of the Week award after the Western Michigan forward had two goals and an assist in his return to action. Coming off an ACL tear that caused him to miss the opening four games of the Mustangs’ season, Lyons had a goal and an assist in a 2-1 double-overtime victory against Wright State last Tuesday. He then added his second goal of the week on Friday, but was unable to prevent a 2-1 defeat against Michigan State.
St. Francis’ Adam Maabdi took the Northeast Conference’s Player of the Week award after the former Brooklyn Knights forward helped the Terriers extend their undefeated streak with two goals and an assist in the past week.
