PDL Release 2016 All-League Team Roster
As the 2016 PDL season comes to a close, the roster for the All-League Team includes seven players named to the fifth edition of the 2016 PDL Top Prospects list. The PDL Final will be held on Saturday between the Michigan Bucks and Calgary Foothills FC with kickoff set for 7:30 p.m. ET.
PDL Soccer News: Nine teams, including the Michigan Bucks, Calgary Foothills FC, Fresno Fuego and OKC Energy U23, are featured in the 2016 PDL All-League Team.
The three forwards named to the All-League Team, Ocean City Nor’easters’ Chevaughn Walsh, Foothills FC’s Dominic Russo and Fuego’s Christian Chaney, combined for 33 goals during the 2016 regular season.
Seven of the players named to the All-League Team were named to the fifth edition of the 2016 PDL Top Prospects list, including Bucks defender Alhassan Abubakar and South Florida Surf midfielder Lucas Coutinho.
Three All-League players have one game left for their respective sides, as Bucks defenders Tom Owens and Abubakar face off against Russo and Foothills FC in the 2016 PDL Final at 7:30 p.m. ET on Saturday – watch here.
All-League honors are based solely off regular-season performance, and players were voted on by teams across the league.
PDL All-League Team
GK – Ryan Cretens, Carolina Dynamo: UNC Wilmington’s Cretens earned five shutouts in a difficult South Atlantic Division. The 20-year-old netminder made 32 saves and recorded a 0.35 goals against average in nine appearances for the Dynamo during the 2016 season.
D – Alhassan Abubakar, Michigan Bucks: The University of Dayton’s Abubakar is ranked fourth in the fifth edition of the 2016 PDL Top Prospects list, and he dominated the Great Lakes Division in 2016. The 21-year-old center back played in 12 games, helping the Bucks record nine shutouts en route to a division title.
D – Marquez Fernandez, Baltimore Bohemians: Fernandez was key for the Bohemians in 2016, playing in all 14 games for the club. Scoring one goal during the campaign, the 23-year-old defender led the Bohemians’ back line to six shutouts in the regular season.
D – Josh Taylor, OKC Energy U23: Taylor is ranked sixth in the fifth edition of the PDL Top Prospects list. The St. Edward’s University defender shined in the 14 games he played in for the Energy U23 during the 2016 campaign. The 21-year-old scored three goals and provided two assists while also helping the Energy U23 concede only 15 goals during the regular season.
D – Tom Owens, Michigan Bucks: Owens joins teammate Abubakar in the All-League Team after starting 11 games for the Bucks during the 2016 regular season. The 24-year-old defender provided two assists during the year, while also helping the Bucks secure eight shutouts en route to a Great Lakes title.
M – Arun Basuljevic, New York Red Bulls U23: Basuljevic is ranked 13th in the fifth edition of the PDL Top Prospects list, and the Georgetown University talent appeared in all 14 games for the Red Bulls U23 in the 2016 regular season. The dynamic midfielder scored eight goals and provided five assists during the season, leading the Red Bulls U23 in both statistics.
M – Lucas Coutinho, South Florida Surf: Palm Beach Atlantic University’s Coutinho, who will turn 23 on Aug. 12, was the driving force behind the Surf’s run to a 2016 PDL Playoffs berth. Coutinho made 13 appearances in the Southeast Division, and he led the Surf in assists with five during the season. The creative midfielder also scored three goals.
M – Noah Keats, OKC Energy U23: Keats scored a Southern Conference-high 13 goals during the 2016 regular season. The 24-year-old midfielder also provided three assists in his 14 appearances for the Energy U23, leading the club to a Mid South Division title.
F – Christian Chaney, Fresno Fuego: Chaney took the Central Pacific Division by storm. The 22-year-old forward is ranked first in the latest PDL Top Prospects list, playing in 12 games during the 2016 regular season. He scored a Western Conference-high 13 goals, and he also provided one assist while leading the Fuego to a division title.
F – Dominic Russo, Calgary Foothills FC: The University of Calgary’s Russo, who is ranked 25th in the latest PDL Top Prospects list, led Foothills FC to its first Northwest Division in club history. The 21-year-old forward scored a team-high six goals and provided one assist in 11 games during the 2016 regular-season campaign.
F – Chevaughn Walsh, Ocean City Nor’easters: Walsh, formerly of Jefferson College, is ranked second in the fifth edition of the PDL Top Prospects list. The 21-year-old led the PDL in goals scored with 14, and he also provided three assists during the Nor’easters’ run to a 2016 PDL Playoffs berth.
Source: United Soccer League. Photo Credit: Michigan Bucks
