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Top U20 Players: Defenders

By COLTON CORESCHI - colton.coreschi@uslsoccer.com, 08/28/18, 1:15PM EDT

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Red Bulls U23’s O’Toole, Reading’s Conte among those named

While the Premier Development League Top Prospects list and Top College Prospects highlight those players nearing the jump to the professional level, many young athletes compete in the PDL in the early stages of their careers, seeking to establish themselves as top up-and-coming talents.

The PDL Top Under-20 Players lists will highlight those players at each position who have shown themselves to be among the league’s rising stars. Over four days, the top goalkeepers, defenders, midfielders and forwards under the age of 20 (as of July 15, 2018) will be honored.

Monday, Aug. 27: Goalkeepers
Tuesday, Aug. 28: Defenders
Wednesday, Aug. 29: Midfielders
Thursday, Aug. 30: Forwards
Friday, Aug. 31: Recap

Top U20 Defenders

There is no shortage of talented, young defenders gaining valuable minutes in the PDL, with several notable youngsters becoming vital cogs for their teams’ deep playoff runs.

Of the 16 defenders named to this list, five helped guide their clubs to the 2018 PDL Playoffs and six played over 1,000 minutes this season. Leading the talented group is the New York Red Bulls U23’s Kevin O’Toole, who logged 1,054 minutes over 12 appearances this season and recorded four clean sheets for the Eastern Conference wildcard team - while also contributing five assists on the campaign.

Also impressing were another pair of playoff defenders, hailing from the top seeds in the Eastern and Western Conferences. While guiding Reading United AC to an undefeated season and the club’s first PDL Championship appearance, Lamine Conte helped the team to six shutouts over 10 appearances (744 minutes). Across the nation on the opposite coast, FC Golden State Force defender Tyler Allen appeared in 12 matches (945 minutes) and recorded seven clean sheets in that span.

Another two playoff defenders also earned recognition for their division title-winning clubs. Harvey Slade appeared in 12 matches and logged 1,080 minutes for the Dayton Dutch Lions as the team won its first Great Lakes Division championship - tallying one assist and four clean sheets along the way. While appearing in seven matches for one of the league’s top defenses, SIMA Aguilas centerback Moussa Gueye helped log four clean sheets en route to the Southeast Division title.

Here’s a look at 16 young defenders who impressed in the 2018 PDL season.

Name

PDL Team

DOB

GP

Min.

G

A

SO

Tyler Allen 10/12/1998 12 945 0 0 7
Lamine Conte 8/15/1998 10 744 0 0 6
Luca Fava 9/29/1999 12 1044 0 0 3
Kyle Ferguson 9/24/1999 13 1035 0 0 3
Vicente Gallardo 3/31/1999 10 801 1 0 1
Patricio Garcia 7/21/1999 12 788 0 1 1
Joshua Graham 5/18/1999 12 1005 0 0 4
Christopher Guerreiro 3/8/1999 12 639 0 0 0
Moussa Gueye 12/28/1998 7 423 0 0 4
Thomas Haney 9/29/1999 10 775 1 1 1
Trey Jackson 12/7/1998 8 505 3 0 3
Garrett Lillie 2/25/1999 9 742 0 1 2
Tyler Moss 12/27/1998 14 1177 0 0 3
Kevin O'Toole 12/14/1998 12 1054 0 5 4
Harvey Slade 8/11/1998 12 1080 0 1 4
Carson Vom-Steeg 2/1/1999 6 367 0 0 3

Check back tomorrow for the next installment, where we examine the top young midfielders from the 2018 PDL season.


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