By CARL SETTERLUND
USL Pro announced the league’s top 22 players on Wednesday.
The Richmond Kickers led the 14-team league with three members of the First XI — William Yomby, George Davis and Matthew Delicâte — while championship finalist Sacramento Republic FC and future MLS expansion squad Orlando City featured two players apiece.
The Harrisburg City Islanders, who will face Sacramento in the league championship this weekend, only had one player on the list, and he was on the second team.
There were several players with MLS connections on the teams, including LA Galaxy II players Chandler Hoffman, Daniel Steres, Andre Auras.
Orlando City striker Kevin Molino was an All-League first-team member and has already been signed to the team’s 2015 MLS team. Meanwhile, second-team member Luke Boden is currently in negotiations to join the Lions in the top flight.
D.C. United goalkeeper Joe Willis (Richmond Kickers) and Columbus Crew forward Aaron Schoenfeld (Dayton Dutch Lions) were both on loan this season and made the second team.
Here’s a full breakdown of the 2014 USL Pro first and second All-League teams:
First Team
GK – John McCarthy, Rochester Rhinos
D – Luke Boden, Orlando City SC
D – Ashani Fairclough, W. Hammerheads FC
D – Nemanja Vukovic, Sac. Republic FC
D – William Yomby, Richmond Kickers
MF – George Davis, Richmond Kickers
MF – Rodrigo Lopez, Sac. Republic FC
MF – Kevin Molino, Orlando City SC
F – Matthew Delicâte, Richmond Kickers
F – Chandler Hoffman, LA Galaxy II
F – Dane Kelly, Charleston Battery
Second Team:
GK – Joe Willis, Richmond Kickers
D – Matt Bahner, Harrisburg City Islanders
D – Gareth Evans, OKC Energy FC
D – Brad Rusin, Orlando City SC
D – Daniel Steres, LA Galaxy II
MF – Andre Auras, LA Galaxy II
MF – Jorge Herrera, Charlotte Eagles
MF – Allan Russell, Orange County Blues FC
F – J.C. Banks, Rochester Rhinos
F – Aaron Schoenfeld, Dayton Dutch Lions
F – Long Tan, Arizona United SC
USL Pro will announce the finalists for the league’s major awards — Coach of the Year, Defender of the Year, Goalkeeper of the Year, Rookie of the Year and Most Valuable Player — on Wednesday.
The awards will be presented at the USL Pro Championship news conference on Friday in Sacramento.
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What do you think of the All-League teams? Which players do you agree or disagree with? Who else would you have included?
Share your thoughts below.
Funny… Had the same exact thoughts when I saw him on the list.
Then I tried to come up with the USL All League team list that I made and drew a blank.
Seriously though, wondered why he ever left the Rowdies.
Long Tan is still around, huh…played for the Rowdies for a season. Has a nice step over to take people one-on-one, but that’s about it, from what I remember…
People always ask how the MLS All-Stars would do in Europe, I’d be curious what someone who pays attention to both leagues thinks this team would be able to do in MLS.
Molino, Rusin, Hoffman, Lopez, Boden and Schoenfeld could all hack it in MLS, Molino the best of the bunch, IMO. A few others could be depth or rotational players for MLS clubs, haven’t seen enough of the rest on this list.
No Bradford Jamieson IV? Harsh.