USL Feature Article by Jeff Crandall
Monday, May 11, 2008
TAMPA, FL - The Great Lakes Division is one of the most competitive divisions across the 67- team Premier Development League. Featuring perennial PDL powers the Michigan Bucks and Chicago Fire, as well as more recent upstarts Cleveland Internationals, Kalamazoo Outrage and Toronto Lynx, the nine team Great Lakes Division promises to be even more competitive in 2009. The following is the first of three installments previewing the Great Lakes:
The Chicago Fire re-join the Great Lakes division in 2009 after going 8-2-6 en route to their seventh division title last year in the Midwest. Head Coach Larry Sunderland will miss the presence of midfielder and US youth international Peri Marosevic who was taken fourth overall by FC Dallas in January’s MLS SuperDraft. Also taken by Major League Soccer teams were Brandon Barklage (DC United) and Henry Ring (San Jose).
Key returning players are midfielder Tim Ream (St. Louis University) as well as the co-MVP’s of the 2008 Super-20’s Championship, Robert Younger (UIC) and Mark Blades (Northwestern).
New additions include a slue of players with previous PDL experience including former US youth international striker Andre Akpan (Harvard), goalkeeper Jimmy Mauer, defender Tyler Ruthven (University of South Carolina) and Pascal Millien (University of Tampa).
Chicago opens up at Cincinnati on Saturday, May 16, at 7:30 PM CT.
Quotable: “We’re used to losing quality players to the professional ranks every year and we’re always able to put another competitive team back in the PDL the next season. 2008 Super-20 MVP’s [Robert] Younger and [Mark] Blades will be a huge part of the PDL team this season and we’re looking forward to having some of the out-of-state products give our side another dimension.” – Fire Premier President John Dorn
The Cleveland Internationals enter the new season coming off the back of the best PDL campaign in the club’s history last season finishing with a 10-3-3 record and qualifying for the playoffs for the first time. Cleveland beat Toronto in the first round before falling to eventual league champion Thunder Bay, 2-0 in the Central Conference semifinals.
While losing striker Steve Zakuani, who was selected first overall by the Seattle Sounders in January’s MLS Superdraft, Head Coach George Nanchoff is returning a strong contingent of players from 2008 including midfielders Darlington Nagbe and Mike Nanchoff (Akron University). Nanchoff will also get defensive help from returning goalkeeper Mitch Harpel and central defender Mitch Boyer (Cleveland State).
A key addition for Cleveland in 2009 is that of Akron product Yoram Mwila. The Zambian youth international is expected to fill the void left by Zakuani.
Cleveland begins the 2009 season on Wednesday, May 13, at 7:00 PM CT, hosting the Kalamazoo Outrage.
Quotable: “Last season was our breakout in the PDL. We expect to be just as good if not better [in 2009] with our main goal to improve upon our playoff performance.” -- Internationals Head Coach George Nanchoff
The Cincinnati Kings bring back eight players in their sophomore PDL campaign with the team’s leading scorer in 2008, Brandon Stelmak (University of Cincinnati) leading the way. Head Coach Roby Stahl will also look to the returning central midfield partnership of Seth Eckerland (Northern Kentucky) and Adam Ross (Ohio Northern) to help the Kings improve upon last year’s 3-10-3 record.
New to the Kings in 2009 are two players with previous PDL experience in goalkeeper Dan Williams (University of Kentucky) and center back Kyle Segebart (Shorter College, GA). Additionally, University of Cincinnati striker Nick Whitman, a native of Scotland, will form a partnership with Eckerland in the King’s attack.
Cincinnati opens up the season at home on Saturday, May 16, at 7:30 PM CT against the Chicago Fire.
Quotable: “I’m really excited for the new season. Last year was one of transition for our organization [after moving down from USL-2] and not I or our players really knew what to expect. This year our fitness level is much better and I think we’re returning a solid group. Additionally, we’re bringing a number of guys into the mix that have more high-level college experience and better athletic ability.” – Cincinnati Kings Head Coach Roby Stahl
