On Thursday, the Nevada Wonders had the third worst record in the 51-team Premier Development League. As early as today, and without even playing a game, they might improve to 2-13-1.
The United Soccer Leagues, the governing body of the A-League, Pro Select League and PDL, could make a decision this morning on whether the game last Saturday between the Orange County Blue Star and Nevada was official. The game, which Orange County won 5-2, started almost 45 minutes late because there weren't any referees. Blue Star officials then went to a local youth tournament being played at nearby UC-Irvine and rounded up three refs for their game, according to Nevada General Manager Randy Roser.
The only problem, Roser said, is that the USL requires all refs for its games to be at a minimum of level 6 on a scale of 1-8 (8 being the lowest level on the scale). But only two of the three referees who worked the game were level 6 officials. Roser filed a protest with the league and, since the Blue Star were responsible for providing the refs, they would be penalized if the USL finds a rules violation.
"Steve Clamp (USL official and PDL coordinator) emailed me this morning and said it's still under review," Roser said on Thursday. "He feels we have a pretty good case and that I could know as early as tomorrow (Friday) morning. They were really busy in the early part of the week putting together the field schedule for the end of the season playoffs. So we kind of got put on the back burner, but we should find out soon."
If Orange County is slapped with a loss instead of a win, it would shake up the Southwest Division standings. The Blue Star, who are in second place behind Fresno with a 12-4 record, would drop to 11-5 and their chances of winning the division would be slim. The Fuego (13-4) currently have 39 points and a win over BYU on Saturday would give them the division title.
Orange County, which currently has 36 points with two games left to play, could've tied Fresno with 42 points in the final standings. But if the USL rules in favor of the Wonders, the Blue Star would have only 33 points with two games to play and no chance of catching Fresno.
The ruling, however, doesn't change much for Nevada, which plays the Pro Select League's California Gold tonight at 8 at Carson High. The Wonders, who currently have four points with a 1-14-1 record, would be awarded three more points. But that would put them in a group of five other teams who also have seven points on the season.
Nevada is coming off two losses last weekend in Southern California, the other being a 3-2 OT defeat to the Southern California Seahorses. Carson High graduate Kirkwood Harris and Reed High player Anthony Grillo each scored goals in the loss. The Wonders' last game of the season is Saturday night against California in Modesto, Calif.
The Gold (10-5-2, 32 pts) will be a motivated bunch in tonight's game. Their unexpected loss to lowly San Diego last weekend dropped them behind the Utah Blitzz (10-5-3, 33 pts). California has three games remaining on its schedule, including a pivotal game Aug. 2 against Utah in Salt Lake City. Assuming neither team slips up before then, the winner of that game will get home field advantage for the Western Region championship game.
But the California team that beat Nevada 4-0 and 2-1 earlier this season might not be the same team tonight. Roser said the Gold's general manager, fired his five-person coaching staff and four players last week following a dispute over employee compensation laws.
Nevada Wonders Notes: John Blackley and Ken Otalor returned to England earlier this week after their 90-day visas had expired. Three other English players returned last month when their visas expired. That leaves just Chris Blackburn as the lone English player still suiting up for the Wonders..Recent signee Jeff White of Glendale, Ariz., won't be available this weekend because he had to return home following his grandfater's death...Nevada had only 14 players for its Southern California roadtrip.
PDL Notes: Southern California forward Jason Hotchkin was named to the PDL's Team of the Week for week 13. Hotchkin, who has 14 goals and four assists this season, scored three goals in the Seahorses' 3-2 OT win against Nevada last Sunday...The Wisconsin Rebels still have the worst record in the 51-team PDL at 0-15-1. Worcester (Mass.) is next at 1-16-0, followed by Nevada at 1-14-1...The Fresno Fuego plays the A-League's El Paso Patriots on Tuesday in the third round of the 2003 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup. The winner of that game will play at the MLS' Los Angeles Galaxy on Aug. 6 in the round of the 16. Fresno is the only PDL team still alive in the prestigious national tournament.
PDL Western Conference
Southwest Division Standings
TeamWLTGFGAPTS
Fresno1340462139
O. Cty.1240462736
So. Cal1062342932
BYU2313118457
Nevada114111484
Tuesday's Result
Utah Blitzz 2, BYU 1
Wednesday's Result
Southern California 1, San Diego Gauchos 0
Today's Games
Orange County vs. BYU, 7:30 p.m.
Nevada vs. California Gold, 8 p.m.
Saturday's Game
Fresno vs. BYU, 5:30 p.m.
