USL Announces Week 2 Honors
April 29, 2003 - A-League (A-League) News Release
TAMPA, FL â United Soccer Leagues announced today the Teams and Players of the Week for the A-League and USL Pro Select League, honoring Pittsburgh Riverhounds forward Thiago Martins and Westchester Flames midfielder Evaud Thompson as the Players of the Week.
Pittsburgh's Thiago Martins has found the right team. The third-year A-Leaguer's three-goal and two-assist performance in the club's two-game season opening road trip is the continuation of his development.
A rookie out of UC-Santa Barbara, the Brazilian helped lead the San Diego Flash to the postseason with three goals and four assists, but never really caught on with the Minnesota Thunder the following year. In limited action through 12 games, Martins had only registered two goals and was released by the Thunder.
The Riverhounds, however, gave him another shot and it proved successful in a year of dissapointment for the club. He registered eight goals in as many games to become the club's second leading scorer by season's end.
If last year's late-season run was not enough to secure a spot as a starter, the opening weekend performance did. His eight points in the first two games is half of his total of 16 from last year.
He opened the weekend by setting up another former Thunder forward Corey Woolfolk just four minutes into their match against the Eagles in Charlotte Friday, his first assist from his rookie campaign two years ago. Ten minutes later, he scored the first of his two goals on the night and three on the weekend. He also tallied in the 32nd minute to give the âHounds a commanding 4-0 lead in the 5-0 victory.
The following night in Atlanta, Martins, in a repeat of the night before, set up Woolfolk for the first goal four minutes into the match. He would go on to score the equalizer in the 68th minute to tie the match at what would be the final 2-2 score.
Westchester's Evaud Thompson is not a new name in USL, helping lead the Flames to the 2001 PDL Championship and earning the Championship Most Valuable Player honor in the process.
Thompson has, however, come out of nowhere twice now. Leading up to the PDL final two years ago, he had played in just one game for Westchester. Last year, he was quiet once again, seeing action in just eight games and scoring one goal.
In his second game of the season Saturday night, Thompson found the magic once again for the Flames, tallying two goals and an assist. He opened the scoring just three minutes into the match and with the Flames trailing 3-2 in the 51st leveled the score with his second of the night. After both clubs would add another goal each to send the game to overtime, Thompson would set up midfielder Freddy Nava for the game-winner six minutes into the extra frame.
Teams of the Week
A-League â Week 2
Pos Name Team Highlights
G Randy Dedini Pittsburgh Seven saves in 5-0 win at Charlotte
D Fred Degand Charleston Solid performance in 1-0 win over Montreal
D Nick DeSantis Montreal Solid performance in 1-0 loss at Charleston
D Kevin Knight Richmond Solid performance in 3-0 win over Indiana
M Justin Evans Pittsburgh Outstanding play in 5-0 win, 2-2 draw
M Jacob Fenger Virginia Beach Goal in 2-0 win over Indiana
M Freddy Juarez El Paso Assist in 2-1 win over Minnesota
M Jason Russell Richmond Goal and assist in 3-0 win over Indiana
F Thiago Martins Pittsburgh Three goals, two assists in 5-0 win, 2-2 draw
F John Barry Nusum Atlanta Goal in 2-2 draw against Pittsburgh
F Marshall Morehead Minnesota Game-winner in 1-0 win at El Paso
USL Pro Select League â Week 2
Pos Name Team Highlights
G Greg Sherwood Reading Six saves in 2-1 win at New York
D JT Dorsey Reading Solid play in 2-1 win at New York
D Alfredo Esteves New Hampshire Solid play in 2-1 loss at New Jersey
D Glenn Puckrin Utah Solid play in 2-1 and 3-1 wins at San Diego
M Evaud Thompson Westchester Two goals, assist in 5-4 OT win over Western Mass
M Federico Molinari Western Mass Two goals in 5-4 OT loss against Westchester
M Sterling Wescott Utah Two goals in 2-1 and 3-1 wins at San Diego
M Jeff Rigby New Jersey Goal, solid defensive play in 2-1 win over New Hampshire
F Martin Sims California Three goals, assist in 4-0 win and 4-2 loss
F Roger Kennedy New Jersey Game-winner in 2-1 win over New Hampshire
F Pat Stanco Reading Game-winner while two men down in 2-1 road win
A-League Stories from April 29, 2003
- USL Announces Week 2 Honors - A-League
- Riverhawks Ready for Home Opener - Cincinnati Riverhawks
The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.
