USL News Release
Tuesday, August 7, 2007
TAMPA, FL – United Soccer Leagues announced the USL First Division and USL Second Division Teams of the Week for the 16th week of the season, honoring Montreal’s Joey Gjertsen and Cleveland’s Hunter Gilstrap as the Players of the Week, respectively. Also announced was the W-League Championship All-Tournament Team.
It had not been a good year for the current USL First Division MVP Joey Gjertsen. After finishing among the league leaders in goals and assists last season, Gjertsen found himself with just three goals and one assist in 19 games this season before Vancouver dealt him to Montreal in a four-player trade.
Gjertsen made an immediate impact for Montreal in his first week with the club, setting up three goals in a pair of wins as they downed the Carolina RailHawks 4-1 and the Rochester Rhinos 1-0.
In her first game with the club on Wednesday, Gjertsen needed just 23 minutes to register his first point with the Impact when he found Mauro Biello, who sent a long-range effort into the upper corner for the lead. With the club up 2-1, he found Charles Gbeke for an insurance tally in the 62nd minute as Montreal scored three goals for just the second time on the season.
On Sunday, Gjertsen connected with Gbeke again for the lone goal of the match against rival Rochester in the 37th minute as the club held on for the win.
Friday night’s fixture between the Cleveland City Stars and Harrisburg City Islanders, both tied for second, would play a key role in the push for positioning for the two playoff-bound clubs and give them a shot at first place, albeit briefly with Richmond playing the following night.
On the strength of an eighth minute penalty from defender Chris Lemons and seven saves from Hunter Gilstrap, the expansion Stars would post the victory to sweep the season series and move into first place for one night as Richmond would go on to win Saturday.
Gilstrap’s shutout was his sixth of the season, ranking tied for fourth in the league. His goals against average of .500, however, is the top mark in the USL Second Division with one week left to play.
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USL First Division Team of the Week
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Pos
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Name
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Team
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Highlights
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G
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Chris Eylander
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Seattle
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Ten saves in pair of shutout wins
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D
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Geordie Lyall
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Vancouver
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Led team in 1-1 draw against Puerto Rico
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D
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David Hayes
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Atlanta
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Goal in 2-1 win over Charleston
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D
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Mauricio Vincello
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Montreal
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Goal in 4-1 win over Carolina
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M
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Brian Farber
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Minnesota
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Assist in 1-1 draw against Portland
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M
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Josh Gardner
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Seattle
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Goal in 2-0 win over Portland
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M
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Alfredo Valente
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Vancouver
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Goal in 1-1 draw against Puerto Rico
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M
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Lawrence Olum
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Portland
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Goal in 1-1 draw at Minnesota
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F
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Connally Edozien
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Carolina
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Goal, assist in 2-0 win over California
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*
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F
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Joey Gjertsen
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Montreal
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Three assists in pair of victories
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F
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Andre Toussaint
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Charleston
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Goal, assist in 3-0 win over Miami
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USL Second Division Team of the Week
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Pos
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Name
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Team
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Highlights
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*
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G
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Hunter Gilstrap
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Cleveland
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Seven saves in 1-0 win over Harrisburg
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D
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Omar Shakir
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Bermuda
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Goal in 1-0 win at New Hampshire
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D
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Chris Lemons
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Cleveland
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Goal in 1-0 win over Harrisburg
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D
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Anthony Calvano
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Harrisburg
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Goal in 2-0 win at Cincinnati
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D
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Evan Harding
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Richmond
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Assist in 2-0 win over Western Mass
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M
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Matthew Mbuta
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CP Baltimore
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Goal, assist in 3-0 win over Wilmington
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M
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Ricky Schramm
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Richmond
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Goal in 2-0 win over Western Mass
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M
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Adam Clay
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Harrisburg
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Goal in 2-0 win at Cincinnati
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F
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Gary Brooks
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CP Baltimore
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Goal in 3-0 win over Wilmington
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F
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Harold Urquijo
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CP Baltimore
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Goal in 3-0 win over Wilmington
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F
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Nowaf Jaman
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Richmond
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Goal in 2-0 win over Western Mass
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* Players of the Week
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W-League Championship All-Tournament Team
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G
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Kati Jo Spisak
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Washington Freedom
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D
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Katie Eriksson
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Atlanta Silverbacks
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D
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Sharolta Nonen
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Atlanta Silverbacks
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D
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Emily Janss
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Washington Freedom
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M
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Sarah Huffman
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Washington Freedom
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M
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Michelle French
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Seattle Sounders
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M
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Camie Bybee
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Rochester Rhinos
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M
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Casey Zimney
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Washington Freedom
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F
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Christie Welsh *
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Washington Freedom
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F
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Lindsey Patterson
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Seattle Sounders
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F
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Christine Latham
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Atlanta Silverbacks
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* W-League Championship Game MVP
