Week 17 pro honors announced
August 4, 2009 - USL First Division (USL-1) News Release
TAMPA, FL -- United Soccer Leagues announced the Team of the Week honors for the 17th week of the USL season, honoring Vancouver's Tyrell Burgess as the USL First Division Player of the Week and Wilmington's Phil Hufstader as the USL Second Division Player of the Week.
The Vancouver Whitecaps hit the road for two and started things off with a bang as they handed the Rochester Rhinos a 3-1 loss Friday evening to jump eighth to playoff position tied for sixth.
After an initial late first half penalty converted by Marlon James served as the opener, Tyrell Burgess became a thorn in the Rhinos side attacking up the left flank. On the hour mark he drove up the left side and sent a low cross along the top edge of the penalty area to James, who ran onto the ball and one-timed it straight into the back netting to double the advantage.
A nice goal from Tiger Fitzpatrick three minutes cut into the deficit, but a fantastic individual effort from Burgess a further six minutes later capped the game. The Bermuda international received the ball from Gordon Chin, turned toward goal and after a few touches launched a well-driven swerving shot that rifled past goalkeeper Tim Melia and under the bar for his first goal of the year to make 3-1 in the 69th minute.
The Wilmington Hammerheads ensured a spot in the top three in the USL Second Division, avoiding the First Round meeting between the fourth and fifth seeds, by posting a 2-0 victory on the road over the Pittsburgh Riverhounds.
The Hammerheads scored in the fifth minute as they swarmed Pittsburgh's penalty area. After receiving a perfect feed from midfielder Kenny Bundy, forward Phil Hufstader blasted the ball to the lower right post after a pivot move in front of the Riverhounds goal.
In the 37th minute, Zeke Dombrowski finished off a Wilmington attack that featured three quick touches inside the Pittsburgh penalty area. Mark Briggs carried it to the right side of the area before tapping a centering pass to Hufstader, who gently sent it to Dombrowski. Dombrowski then popped it past Riverhounds goalkeeper Danny Waltman for the Hammerheads second goal of the evening.
In his nine appearances, Hufstader has four goals and two assists for the Hammerheads, who are in position to potentially win the regular season title over the next two weeks after missing the postseason the past three years.
USL First Division Team of the Week
Pos Name Team Highlights
G Evan Bush Cleveland Four saves in 0-0 draw against Vancouver
D Matt Bobo Charleston Led team in 1-0 win over Austin
D Marco Reda Vancouver Led team in win and draw on the road
D Quavas Kirk Minnesota Led team in 1-1 draw against Portland
M Scott Buete Charleston Goal in 1-0 win over Austin
M Tyrell Burgess Vancouver Goal, assist in 3-1 win at Rochester
M Joseph Kabwe Carolina Goal in 3-0 win over Austin
M Ryan Pore Portland Goal in 1-1 draw at Minnesota
M Ciaran O'Brien Montreal Assist in 1-1 draw at Miami
F Marlon James Vancouver Two goals in 3-1 win at Rochester
F Alen Marcina Miami Goal in 1-1 draw against Montreal
USL Second Division Team of the Week
Pos Name Team Highlights
G Dave Kern Maryland Eight saves in 0-0 draw against Harrisburg
D Henry Kalungi Richmond Led team in 1-0 win at Harrisburg
D Kevin Richards Bermuda Goal in 1-1 draw agianst Charlotte
D Sascha Gorres Richmond Assist in 1-0 win at Harrisburg
D Dustin Bixler Harrisburg Led team in 0-0 draw at Maryland
M Mark Briggs Wilmington Led team in 2-0 win at Pittsburgh
M Mike Burke Richmond Goal in 1-0 win over Maryland
M Zeke Dombrowski Wilmington Goal in 2-0 win at Pittsburgh
M Ben Hunter Richmond Goal in 1-0 win at Harrisburg
M Jorge Herrera Charlotte Goal in 1-1 draw at Bermuda
F Phil Hufstader Wilmington Goal, assist in 2-0 win at Pittsburgh
USL First Division Stories from August 4, 2009
- USL-1 Islanders advance in Champions League - USL-1
- Impact Take Shootout Loss - Montreal Impact
- Timbers' Pore Selected to Team of the Week - Portland Timbers
- Evan Bush Named To USL-1 Team of the Week - Cleveland City Stars
- Week 17 pro honors announced - USL-1
- Kabwe named to USL-1 Team of the Week - North Carolina FC
- RailHawks meet Rochester with shot at first place - North Carolina FC
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