Former Coyotes earn awards as Rattlers
From: www.avsports.com

The Lancaster Rattlers held their inaugural awards banquet this past Saturday. The team handed out their Golden Boot Award, the Most Valuable Player Award, and the Defensive Player of the Year Award, and two former Kansas Wesleyan players brought home two of the three awards.

Forward Tremayne Thompson took home the Golden Boot Award as the team's top offensive player. Thompson joined the team late and played in only 10 of 18 games. He is from Arizona, and came to the Rattlers via Kansas Wesleyan University. He scored 7 goals and 14 assists in his sophomore year at KWU, and added 12 goals and 10 assists in his junior year. He also won the conference's Offensive Player of the Year and was named first team all conference and first team all region, and an Honorable Mention for All American. Trey finished off his college career with a great senior campaign, notching 18 goals and 6 assists, and for the second year in a was named to the first team All Conference and All Region teams.

The Rattler MVP award was given to a KWU teammate of Thompson's, Joel Gunterman. Joel made a huge impact with his skill, ability, and leadership. Joel was also named to the first team All Conference, All Region, and was also an Honorable Mention All American . Joel is from Lancaster and attended Lancaster High School and College of the Canyons. Joel will attend the Under 23 Show case in December where their will be scouts from every MLS Division 1 and 2 teams as well as from Europe.

The final award, the Defenseman of the Year Award, has been renamed after this year's recipient, Tony Lawson. Tony was an inspiration to the entire team, demonstrating a high level of professionalism and sportsmanship all season long. This award shall be known from this year forward as the Tony Lawson Award. From 1995 to 1997 Tony's club team won the Cal south Open Cup Championship in 1996. In 1998 through 2000 Tony played for the Claremont stars and helped his team to Cal South National Cup Championships in 1998, 1999 and in 2000. They also were USYSA Region IV champions in 1998. In 1999 Tony went on to play at UCLA. His Bruins were PAC-10 Champions in 2002 and 2003 and in 2002 they won the NCAA National Championship. Tony was all PAC-10 second team in 2002 and was Captain in 2003. Tony possesses an impressive level of skill, an extensive level of understanding of the game strategy and is a versatile, valuable, and motivated player. The Rattlers hope to keep Tony in the organization for years to come.

Congrats to all three of these fine athletes and their accomplishments this first year.

ABOUT THE USL
As United Soccer Leagues starts its third decade of operation, soccer at all levels continues to grow in the U.S., Canada, and Caribbean. The largest organization of elite-level soccer leagues in North America, United Soccer Leagues is dedicated to growing the sport at the grassroots level in every community.  The USL First Division and Second Division (North American men’s professional soccer), the USL Premier Development League (U23 North American men’s amateur), the USL W-League (North American women’s amateur), the USL Super-20 League (U20 North American men’s and women’s amateur) and the USL Super Y-League (North American boy’s and girl’s elite youth amateur) have provided a platform for thousands of players to reach their dreams since 1986.  This vision and commitment to develop a soccer nation by fans, investors, administrators, coaches, and players has created the foundation for the growth of the sport, while presenting affordable, exciting family entertainment in over 100 cities and towns on the continent.  

ABOUT THE PDL
The top U23 men’s amateur league in North America lives in the USL Premier Development League (PDL), the development ground for elite players. The 2007 campaign features a 63-team format within four conferences, consisting of 16 regular season matches, 8 home and 8 away. The schedule is augmented by participation in the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup, and various exhibitions. Players have the ability to compete in the PDL throughout the summer months in a professionalized setting while maintaining their collegiate eligibility. The league is the proving ground for players that aspire to reach the highest-levels of the game, while providing affordable family entertainment within their city.

 -- KWU SI --