PDL Feature
Friday, October 9, 2015
Continuing a trend seen at other levels of college soccer, many of the top-ranked Division II programs are relying heavily on players with PDL experience. Among the top five teams in the latest NSCAA ranking of Division II programs, 41 players have played in the PDL, including several of the league’s top professional prospects.
Midwestern State, Pfeiffer, Southern New Hampshire, Palm Beach Atlantic and Charleston (ranked from No. 1 to 5) all have key players on their rosters who have spent time in the PDL.
Top-ranked Midwestern State (7-0-1) has 12 players with experience in the league. The PDL contingent includes a group of four players from the Laredo Heat, and three from the Southern West Virginia King’s Warriors. Midfielder Leon Taylor has been a regular on the field for both Laredo and Midwestern State, appearing in 11 games during the PDL season, and all eight games so far this college season.
Likewise, defenders Ben Clarvis and Javan Toledo were first-team regulars for Southern West Virginia (19 combined appearances), and the duo has started every game so far this season for the Mustangs.
Pfeiffer College’s roster includes Charlotte Eagles All-League forward Nathan Regis, who finished second in the PDL in goals, with 11 in 2015. Regis has carried his goal-scoring form over to the college season, scoring 13 goals in the first 10 games for the Falcons, which is tied for the most in the country at the Division II level. Regis is also featured on the PDL Scouting Network’s Top 10 Forwards list.
The PDL Northeast Division has a heavy presence on the Southern New Hampshire roster. There are 12 players will PDL experience on the roster, and 11 of them have played in the Northeast Division. Five have suited up for the Western Mass Pioneers, while another four have played with the Seacoast United Phantoms.
Seacoast midfielder/forward Sofiane Tergou is currently leading SNHU in scoring with three goals and four assists. Tergou made 14 regular season appearances with the Phantoms this past season.
The Palm Beach Atlantic roster features seven players with PDL experience, including four who have played for Southern West Virginia. Forward Lucas Coutinho has already amassed seven goals and ten assists this college season, after scoring two goals and adding four assists for the King’s Warriors in the PDL.
Midfielder Tom Gavin is also a regular for the Sailfish, appearing in all 11 games this season. Gavin has played the last three PDL seasons with Mississippi Brilla, playing 30 regular season games for the club.
The fifth-ranked Charleston Golden Eagles have 11 players on the roster with PDL experience. Forward Will Roberts is second on the team with five goals and three assists this fall, after a strong PDL season with the Ocala Stampede in which he notched three goals and five assists.
All 41 players in the Top 5:
1) Midwestern State Mustangs (9 PDL Players):
Flavio Guzman, Alex Mullet, Evan Peterson, Leon Taylor (Laredo Heat), Laurence Chamberlain (Southern West Virginia King’s Warriors), Ben Clarvis (Southern Western Virginia, Golden State Misioneros FC, Midland-Odessa Sockers FC), Kyle Baccus (Houston Dutch Lions FC), and Noah Fazekas (St. Louis Lions).
2) Pfeiffer Falcons (2):
Nicolas Dulac (Southern West Virginia King’s Warriors) and Nathan Regis (Charlotte Eagles)
3) Southern New Hampshire Penmen (12):
Nate Fournier, Curtis Pereira, Ryan Reynolds, Jaytoe Teh, and Nick Zucco (Western Mass Pioneers); Dominic Samuel and Sofiane Tergou (Seacoast United Phantoms); Gilbert Manier and Jonathan Lupinelli (Seacoast United and GPS Portland Phoenix); Danny Milton (Thunder Bay Chill); Nate Horton (PDL alum).
4) Palm Beach Atlantic Sailfish (7):
Cleef Desir, Lucas Kuscevic, Steeven Raymont (Southern West Virginia King’s Warriors); Lucas Coutinho (Southern West Virginia and Ocala Stampede); Tom Gavin (Mississippi Brilla); Steven Fiema (Floridians FC); Michael O'Sullivan (Orlando City U23)
5) Charleston Golden Eagles (11):
Felipe Antonio, Ross Holland, Augusto Maciel, and Jake Young (Palm Beach Suns FC); Lewis Osborne and Leighton Richards (Pittsburgh Riverhounds U23); Conor Branson (Ocala Stampede); Will Roberts (Ocala Stampede and Michigan Bucks); Jordan Lavender (West Virginia Chaos); Jermaine Windster (Southern West Virginia King’s Warriors); Renan Ramos (Des Moines Menace);