Nevio Pizzolitto, Matt Jordan And Leonardo Di Lorenzo Named To All-League Teams
September 30, 2008 - USL First Division (USL-1)
Montreal Impact News Release
TEGUCIGALPA, Honduras - Three Montreal Impact players were selected Tuesday to the United Soccer Leagues First Division All-League Teams. Defender Nevio Pizzolitto was selected to the first team, while goalkeeper Matt Jordan and midfielder Leonardo Di Lorenzo received second-team honours.
Selections were made based on voting by the league's coaches and general managers.
Pizzolitto, 32, was named to the first team for the first time of his career, after being selected to the second team for three consecutive seasons (2004 to 2006). After playing only four games in 2007 and suffering a shoulder injury at this season, Pizzolitto came back strong. He started 15 of the 18 games he played for a total of 1,253 minutes, helping the Impact to end the season with the league's second best defense, tied with Vancouver with 28 goals conceded.
"Nevio has been one of our better players throughout the season," said Impact head coach John Limniatis. "He's done very well and I'm happy that the league recognized his work because he is one of the best defenders in the league."
Goalkeeper Matt Jordan received second-team honours for a second consecutive season after ending the campaign first among goalkeepers in the league with a goals-allowed average of 0.760. He also registered 10 wins and nine shutouts in 25 games.
"Matt is definitely among the best two goalkeepers in the league. If the Islanders had not had the season they had, he would have won the Goalkeeper of the Year award," said Limniatis.
Since his arrival in Montreal, midfielder Leonardo Di Lorenzo was selected to the second team for a third consecutive season. Di Lorenzo ended the season third in team scoring, with three goals and two assists for eight points in 24 games and 1,940 minutes of play.
"Leonardo was very valuable to us this season. He's an excellent player who can play in various positions, but more importantly, he works very hard so it's a well-deserved honour," concluded Limniatis.
USL FIRST DIVISION ALL-LEAGUE TEAM
FIRST TEAM
GK - Bill Gaudette - Puerto Rico Islanders
D - Cristian Arrieta - Puerto Rico Islanders
D - Taylor Graham - Seattle Sounders
D - David Hayes - Atlanta Silverbacks
D - NEVIO PIZZOLITTO - MONTREAL IMPACT
M - Osvaldo Alonso - Charleston Battery
M - Stephen deRoux - Minnesota Thunder
M - Martin Nash - Vancouver Whitecaps
M - Jonathan Steele - Puerto Rico Islanders
F - Alex Afonso - Miami FC
F - Macoumba Kandji - Atlanta Silverbacks
SECOND TEAM
GK - MATT JORDAN - MONTREAL IMPACT
D - Wesley Charles - Vancouver Whitecaps
D - Takashi Hirano - Vancouver Whitecaps
D - Cameron Knowles - Portland Timbers
D - Scott Palguta - Rochester Rhinos
M - LEONARDO DI LORENZO - MONTREAL IMPACT
M - Johnny Menyongar - Rochester Rhinos
M - Ricardo Sanchez - Minnesota Thunder
M - Matt Watson - Carolina RailHawks
F - Sébastien Le Toux - Seattle Sounders
F - Eduardo Sebrango - Vancouver Whitecaps
USL First Division Stories from September 30, 2008
- Nevio Pizzolitto, Matt Jordan And Leonardo Di Lorenzo Named To All-League Teams - Montreal Impact
- Impact faces CD Olimpia Wednesday in Honduras - Montreal Impact
- Four Whitecaps Named In All-League Teams - Vancouver Whitecaps
- Whitecaps Semifinal Playoff Tickets Now On Sale - Vancouver Whitecaps
- Timbers' Knowles Captures All-League Honors - Portland Timbers
- Graham And Le Toux Earn First And Second Team Honors - Seattle Sounders
- Matt Watson named to All-League Second Team - North Carolina FC
- Alonso named to USL First Division All-League First Team - Charleston Battery
- 2008 USL-1 All-League Teams announced - USL-1
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