Week 22 Pro honors announced
Published on September 16, 2008 under USL First Division (USL-1) News Release
TAMPA, FL - United Soccer Leagues announced the USL First Division Team of the Week honors Tuesday for Week 22 of the season, honoring Minnesota's Melvin Tarley as the Player of the Week.
Having missed the postseason the past three years, the Minnesota Thunder are pushing hard to make the playoffs as they compete amongst the final few teams chasing the remaining playoff berths. With the already qualified Charleston Battery in town Saturday, the Thunder kept their lead in the race with a resounding 4-0 victory over the US Open Cup finalists.
With Nathan Knox providing the opening tally just before the break, star striker Melvin Tarley pushed the game out of the visitor's reach in the second half with two strikes.
John Greenfield sent a ball to Melvin Tarley in the 49th minute to double the advantage for the Thunder. Tarley collected the ball, went one on one with goalkeeper Keith Wiggins, whom he chipped it over to make the score 2-0.
Tension was high at the National Sports Center as the Thunder battled to keep the momentum up and hold on to their lead. In the 83rd minute Luchi Gonzalez set Tarley up for his second goal of the game. Gonzalez battled through a tackle and found Tarley on the opposite side of the box. Tarley slipped another shot in, making it 3-0.
The goal was the 10th of the year for Tarley, who has quietly worked his way into the league leaders, ranking fifth in goals and sixth in points (20).
The Thunder now currently sit one point away from eliminating Carolina from contention, but due to their 0-2-1 record in the head-to-head tiebreaker against Atlanta, do not control their own destiny. With one game remaining, the Thunder leads Atlanta, which has two games remaining, by three points in the table.
USL First Division Team of the Week
Pos Name Team Highlights
G Nic Platter Minnesota Four saves in 4-0 win over Charleston
D Cristian Arrieta Puerto Rico Goal in 2-0 win at Rochester
D Lyle Martin Vancouver Assist in 1-0 win over Montreal
D Ross Smith Rochester Goal in 1-1 draw at Carolina
D Stefano Pesoli Montreal Led team to two wins
M Matt Watson Carolina Led team in 1-1 draw against Rochester
M Antonio Ribeiro Montreal Goal in 2-1 win at Seattle
M Kenji Treschuk Seattle Assist in 1-1 draw against Atlanta
F Macoumba Kandji Atlanta Goal in 1-1 draw at Seattle
* F Melvin Tarley Minnesota Two goals in 4-0 win over Charleston
F Peter Byers Montreal Goal in 2-0 win over Portland
USL First Division Stories from September 16, 2008
- Impact faces Joe Public FC Wednesday - Montreal Impact
- Miami FC to play last two games of 2008 season at Tropical Park against Rochester and Atlanta - Fort Lauderdale Strikers
- Kenji Treschuk Selected To Team Of The Week - Seattle Sounders
- Week 22 Pro honors announced - USL-1
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