TicketsJuly 16, 2010
CINCINNATI - Members of the University of Cincinnati men's soccer team are keeping busy during the summer months playing for a variety of developmental and club teams around the country. Ten Bearcats are playing in the United Soccer League's Premier Development League (PDL), the nation's top amateur league.
DJ Albert, Matt Bahner, Mark Konitsch, Branden Stelmak, and Tristan Watson are playing with the Cincinnati Kings PDL squad. Dan Cooperider, and Danny Mortemore are with the Cleveland Internationals, Matt Williams and Nick Weightman with the Portland (Maine) Phoenix, and Chris Mitchell plays with the Toronto Lynx.
The Kings have started the PDL season 6-5-2, with all five Bearcats seeing action for the club. Stelmak is second on the squad with five goals, while Albert and Watson have added a goal apiece for the Kings.
Cooperider and Mortemore have played in three and four matches for the Internationals, respectively. Mitchell has seen action in six matches for the Lynx. Weightman leads the division-leading Phoenix with six goals, while Williams has seen action in two matches in goal.
The top U23 men's league in North America, the PDL features 68 teams within four conferences across the United States and Canada. The PDL season consists of 16 regular season matches for each team, eight home and eight away. The PDL provides elite collegiate players the opportunity to taste a higher level of competition while maintaining their eligibility. In addition to league play, PDL teams compete in the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup as well as various exhibitions.
The Bearcats open the 2010 season with an exhibition match at Northern Kentucky on Aug. 20. The regular-season opener is set for Sept. 1 against rival Dayton at Gettler Stadium.