TRIO OF VCU MEN’S SOCCER RECRUITS SET TO MAKE RUN IN PDL

[BigE]

JACKSON, Miss. – Offseason conditioning is a key component of preparation for the regular season and playing competitively could pay huge dividends.

Virginia Commonwealth University men’s soccer recruits Lucas Paulini, Nicholas Rich and Josh Pantazelos hope that’s true as the trio prepares for a run in the Premier Development League playoffs Friday night with the Mississippi Brilla.

The PDL, which is recognized as the top U23 men’s soccer league in North America, features 68 teams within four conferences across the United States and Canada, and provides elite college players a training platform for professional soccer.

Paulini and Rich, midfield transfers from Division II Tusculum College, each enter postseason play with a pair of goals and two assists. However, Pantazelos, who spent the previous two seasons at the University of Akron, will miss the playoffs after suffering an injury just five games into the season. In 425 minutes in the net, Pantazelos posted a shutout with 20 saves and sported a team-low 1.27 goals against average.

After going 3-0-3 in its first six matches, Mississippi won the final eight games of the regular season to capture the Southeast Division title. The Brilla, who is one of two undefeated teams in the PDL, will host Mid South Division Runner-Up Houston on Friday, July 30 at 7:30 p.m.


http://vcuathletics.tv/mso/09results/PD ... 072910.php