USL announces Week 1 honors
Tuesday, April 20, 2004
TAMPA, FL -- United Soccer Leagues announced today the first set of weekly honors for the 2004 season, honoring Charleston's Greg Simmonds, Charlotte's Jacob Coggins and Fresno's Orlando Ramirez as the Players of the Week for the A-League, Pro Soccer League and Premier Development League, respectively. The first edition of the PSL Team of the Week was also announced.
Former Richmond Kicker Greg Simmonds made a triumphant return to Richmond Saturday night as he led the 2003 A-League champion Charleston Battery to a 2-0 victory in the A-League Season Opener.
Simmonds caused the Kickers problems all night and was rewarded in the 31st minute as he struck for the first goal of the game. The ball was played up to the edge of the box where it was flicked through by forward Paul Conway. Simmonds reacted first and beat Richmond goalkeeper Ronnie Pascale to the ball, poking it past him into the empty net.
Simmonds picked up where he left off after the half-time interval as he continued to harass the Kickers defense. In the 54th minute he hit a first-time shot from the edge of the box that bounced off the underside of the cross bar. Midfielder Chris Goos followed-up from the left side and drove the ball home for the second goal.
The Charlotte Eagles kicked off their Pro Soccer League season with authority, defeating the Pittsburgh Riverhounds by a score of 3-0. Charlotte native Jacob Coggins led the offense with two goals and an assist.
"Jacob is a big guy and he's got some speed. He earned a starting position with his play through the preseason, and seems to make things happen when he is on the field," commented Eagles Head Coach Mark Steffens.
The Eagles got on the scoreboard early in the match, off a restart. Ishmael Mintah, an Eagles defender from Ghana, took a free kick from the right side of the Riverhounds box. Mintah sent the ball across the goalmouth where a rushing Coggins was able to finish with a diving header.
Just two minutes later Coggins was on the assist side of a goal, finding veteran midfielder Nate Watkins inside the 18-yard box. Watkins controlled the ball with his chest and fired a low shot inside the left post to beat Pittsburgh goalkeeper Chris Robinson.
Defender Josh Rife played strong defensively and pushed forward to help the Eagles offense, earning an assist on the second half Charlotte goal. Rife served a long ball into the box for Coggins, who sent a looping header to the far left post for his second goal of the evening.
The Fresno Fuego got off to a hot start in the Premier Development League with a 5-1 thumping of the PSL's Gauchos in San Diego Saturday night.
Already ahead 1-0, Orlando Ramirez gave the Fuego a 2-0 lead with what proved to be the game-winner in the 38th minute on an assist from Eddie Gutierrez.
Ramirez found the back of the net again in the 68th minute courtesy of Fabricio Codeceira, who had three assists on the night, to give Fresno a two goal lead. He turned provider in the 80th minute, finding Milton Blanco to put the game out of reach.
Due to only two matches in each league, the A-League and PDL Teams of the Week will debut next week.
USL Teams of the Week
Pro Soccer League
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