USL Names Week 14 Teams of the Week
Published on July 26, 2005 under USL First Division (USL-1) News Release
TAMPA, FL - United Soccer Leagues announced Tuesday the Week 14 Teams of the Week, honoring Montreal's Mauro Biello, Charlotte's Jacob Coggins, Cape Cod's Andrew Metcalf and Cleveland's Virginia Bondi as the Players of the Week. The U19 Parsippany SC Girls and U17 Ottawa Fury Boys were honored as the Super Y-League Team Clutch Performances of the week.
The Montreal Impact took over first place in the USL First Division this week with two wins over the Toronto Lynx. Impact forward Mauro Biello notched the game-winning goals in both of those games, moving the Impact into first place.
On Friday, Montreal traveled to Toronto and got the only goal they would need in the 38th minute when Biello took a pass from midfielder Sandro Grande and sent a short lob over Lynx âkeeper Theo Zagar. The 1-0 score would stand in Biello's 250th game in an Impact uniform.
Sunday the two teams would meet again with Biello again providing the game-winning score. His fifth goal in four games came in the 72nd minute when fellow forward Ali Gerba fed him a centering pass. His initial shot was blocked by Zagar but he drilled home the rebound to record his fifth goal of the year. With his three assists, Biello now has 13 points, leading the team.
The team captain since the 2001 season, Biello is the lone player on the squad to have played in the Impact's initial campaign (1993). He helped lead Montreal to the USL First Division championship last season and the league's regular season crowns in 1995, 1996 and 1997.
Eagles forward Jacob Coggins continued to show his goal-scoring prowess this weekend, recording two goals in a weekend win over the Wilmington Hammerheads.
Coggins opened the scoring in the second minute when midfielder Clay Roberts touched the ball to him in front of goal mouth and his shot inside the left post could not be saved by Hammerheads goalkeeper Bart Creasman. Charlotte found themselves down 2-1 in the second half before Coggins pulled them back even in the 75th minute. Chris Lemons' corner kick was bent perfectly into the box where Coggins headed it into the back of the net.
Coggins currently leads the USL Second Division in points (with 27) and in goals (with 12). The 2004 USL Second Division player of the year is in his fifth professional USL season where he has amassed over 40 career goals.
The Cape Cod Crusaders picked up road wins over third-place Ottawa and fifth-place Vermont over the weekend to secure the Northeast Division championship over Ocean City, who posted two home wins over the weekend. Andrew Metcalf was key in the road swing with four goals and an assist.
The Crusaders weekend began Saturday in Vermont with a 5-2 win over the Voltage. Metcalf scored the opening goal 20 minutes in that held for a 1-0 halftime lead. Five minutes into the second half he set up Chris Joyce for a 2-0 lead and the Crusaders never looked back.
The following night in Ottawa Metcalf again scored the opening goal, finding the back of the net 14 minutes in. Kevin Omokhua tied it up for Ottawa in the 25th only to see Metcalf score the go-ahead goal in the 31st and PJ Scheufele make it 3-1 two minutes later. Soulemane Gagou scored twice to tie it up in the second half before Metcalf would convert a penalty kick in the 65th for the win.
Chasing the final playoff berth in the W-League, the Cleveland International made certain of their postseason plans with a pair of Virginia Bondi shutouts as they beat out London to lock up the final spot.
Cleveland opened the weekend at home Friday with a 4-0 win over the West Michigan Firewomen. Bondi posted eight saves as the International exploded with three goals from halftime substitute Jessica Rostedt in the second half.
Two nights later Bondi posted three saves against the Cincinnati Ladyhawks, who hung seven on West Michigan the night before. Amanda Cinalli scored in the first half and Keri Sarver added two in the second stanza for the win to move onto the postseason.
The U19 Parsippany SC Girls clinched a spot in the North American Finals in two weeks in Trenton, New Jersey with a 2-0 win over the City Islanders Academy. Allie Caldwell and Illiana Blackshear tallied a goal and assist each in the win as Robin Gerber and Caitlin Nazarecnuk each posted a half in goal for the shutout.
The U17 Ottawa Fury Boys moved into a three-way tie for first in the New England Division with a 2-1 overtime road win over first-place Seacoast United. Edward Edson scored both goals for Ottawa with goalkeeper Dan St-Jacques posting the win.
USL First Division Team of the Week
Pos Name Team Highlights
G Preston Burpo Seattle Three saves in 1-0 win over Minnesota
D Ben Hollingsworth Charleston Game-winner in 2-1 win over Puerto Rico
D Peter Luzak Richmond Solid play in 0-0 draw against Rochester
D Scott Schweitzer Rochester Solid play in win at Minnesota, draw at Richmond
M Kirk Wilson Rochester Goal, assist in 3-1 win at Minnesota
* M Mauro Biello Montreal Two goals in pair of wins against Toronto
M Brent Whitfield Seattle Game-winner in 1-0 win over Minnesota
M Darren Caskey Virginia Beach Assist in 2-1 win over Rochester
F Ali Gerba Montreal Two assists in 2-1 win over Toronto
F Jason Jordan Vancouver Two goals in 2-1 win over Minnesota
F Sean Fraser Toronto Goal, assist in 2-1 win over Atlanta
USL Second Division Team of the Week
Pos Name Team Highlights
G Alex Hall Northern Virginia Seven saves in 3-1 win over New Hampshire
D Brandon Curran New Hampshire Goal in 2-2 tie at Harrisburg
D Derek Smith Cincinnati Solid play in 2-0 win over Long Island
D Gary Sullivan Long Island Solid play in 1-0 win at Pittsburgh
M Chris Bagley Wilmington Goal, assist in 3-2 loss at Charlotte
M Vinnie Bastidas Pittsburgh Solid play in 1-0 loss to Long Island
M Matt Chulis Long Island Solid play in 1-0 win at Pittsburgh
M David Schofield Harrisburg Assist in 2-2 tie against New Hampshire
* F Jacob Coggins Charlotte Two goals in 3-2 win over Wilmington
F Matt Osborne Northern Virginia Two goals in 3-1 win over New Hampshire
F George Kithas Cincinnati Goal in 2-0 win over Long Island
USL First Division Stories from July 26, 2005
- Whitecaps women's jersey auction - Vancouver Whitecaps
- Two for One Tickets Wednesday, July 27th - Seattle Sounders
- USL Names Week 14 Teams of the Week - USL-1
- Rhinos ready for rematch - Rochester Rhinos
- Lynx Travel to Seattle and Welcome Richmond This Week - Toronto Lynx
- Whitecaps top Thunder - Vancouver Whitecaps
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