Week 15 Pro honors announced
July 29, 2008 - USL First Division (USL-1) News Release
TAMPA, FL - United Soccer Leagues announced the USL First Division and USL Second Division Team of the Week honors Tuesday for Week 15 of the season, honoring Rochester's Danny Earls and Richmond's Mike Burke as the Players of the Week, respectively.
The Montreal Impact came into Rochester Friday for the first of a home-and-home weekend series with a commanding 24-13-5 advantage over their rivals in the all-time series. More impressive was its x-x-x record at home that would factor into Sunday's fixture. Instead, the weekend belonged to the Rhinos with a 1-1 draw at home and a surprising 2-0 win in Montreal.
On Friday, the two played to a stalemate until defender Danny Earls opened the score for the Rhinos in the 58th minute of play. Midfielder Steve Guppy centered a ball that Impact goalkeeper Matt Jordan managed to clear, but Earls recovered it and took a point blank volley shot in the top corner.
The Impact would level the score to split the points in Rochester, but would find no such answer at home in their first-ever meeting at Stade Saputo as the former Irish youth international helped lead defensive effort that allowed goals from Luke Kreamalmeyer and Matthew Delicate in the first half stand for the win.
The 19-year old from the Aston Villa Reserve squad has been a part of the Rhinos turnaround from a 1-4-4 start before his debut June 13 that has seen the club go 6-1-3 since.
Luke Vercollone flicked a Mike Burke corner to recent addition Fabian Dawkins nine minutes into Richmond's victory over Real Maryland for what proved to be the game-winner. Although Burke did not appear on the stat sheet for setting up the goal, he would be from that point on as the 2007 league MVP posted the next three goals and directly set up the final two en route to the 6-0 result.
Burke took charge and struck three times in a span of 28 minutes, recording his first natural hat trick in a Kickers uniform. The first of his hat-trick was perhaps the best. Deep on the left wing, the Kickers were awarded a free kick 15 yards out, inches from the box. Burke lined up the set piece and bent the ball around the defensive wall, glancing the far post as it curled into the net.
USL First Division Team of the Week
Pos Name Team Highlights
G Brad Knighton Portland Five saves in 0-0 draw against Carolina
* D Danny Earls Rochester Goal in 1-1 draw; 2-0 win against Montreal
D Frankie Sanfilippo Carolina Led team in 0-0 draw at Portland
D Cameron Knowles Portland Led team in 0-0 draw against Carolina
M Stephen deRoux Minnesota Assist in 2-1 win over Seattle
M Luke Kreamalmeyer Rochester Goal in 2-0 win at Montreal
M Edwin Miranda Puerto Rico Goal in 3-2 win at Minnesota
M Ricardo Sanchez Minnesota Goal, assist in 3-2 loss to Puerto Rico
F Sebastien Le Toux Seattle Goal in 1-0 win over Charleston
F Alex Afonso Miami Goal, assist in 3-0 win over Atlanta
F Charles Gbeke Vancouver Goal, assist in 1-0 win and 1-1 draw
USL Second Division Team of the Week
Pos Name Team Highlights
G Terry Boss Charlotte Shutout in 3-0 win over Crystal Palace
D Musa Otieno Cleveland Goal, assist in 5-1 win over Bermuda
D Dame Walters Wilmington Led team in 2-0 win at Western Mass
D Steve Shak Charlotte Goal in 3-0 win over Crystal Palace
M Shintaro Harada Crystal Palace Led team in 2-1 win at Harrisburg
* M Mike Burke Richmond Three goals, two assists in 6-0 win over Maryland
M Dustin Swinehart Charlotte Goal, assist in 3-0 win over Crystal Palace
M George Corrie Wilmington Assist in 2-0 win at Western Mass
F Jean Jerome Pittsburgh Goal, assist in 3-3 draw against Harrisburg
F Salliu Bundu Cleveland Two goals in 5-1 win over Bermuda
F Boyzzz Khumalo Pittsburgh Goal, assist in 3-3 draw against Harrisburg
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USL First Division Stories from July 29, 2008
- Miami loses a heartbreaker to Vancouver 2-1 - Fort Lauderdale Strikers
- Frankie Sanfilippo Named to USL Team of the Week - North Carolina FC
- Sebastien Le Toux Named To Team Of The Week - Seattle Sounders
- Week 15 Pro honors announced - USL-1
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