August 4, 2012
PDL AWARDS
Michigan Bucks nearly sweep

GREENSBORO, N.C. – The Michigan Bucks nearly pulled off a sweep of the Premier Development Leagu Awards, taking honors for Rookie of the Year, Coach of the Year, Defender of the Year and Goalkeeper of the Year. The only award not won by the Bucks was Most Valuable Player which went to the Thunder Bay Chill's Sullivan Silva.


Silva added the league’s Most Valuable Player award to his Scoring Champion award after he helped lead his side to the Heartland Division title with 13 goals and six assists. Silva also shared the PDL’s Goal-Scoring Champion award with Reading United’s Deshorn Brown as he played a role in almost half his side’s goals this season.

Michigan's Adam Grinwis scooped both the Rookie of the Year and Goalkeeper of the Year awards after a standout season that saw him record a miniscule 0.444 goals-against average and record five shutouts in nine games. Grinwis did not concede more than one goal in any regular-season contest for the PDL’s regular season champion.

Grinwis was joined by Bucks teammate Kevin Cope, who claimed Defender of the Year honors after a season that saw him appear in all but one of the Bucks’ regular season contests. The former Chicago Fire PDL standout continued his stellar form with Michigan, scoring four goals in addition to his defensive duties.

With two of his players also taking awards, Bucks coach Gary Parsons was named Coach of the Year for the second consecutive season as he presided over not only the Bucks’ third PDL regular season title, but also a remarkable run in the U.S. Open Cup that saw the side reach the fourth round of the competition, defeating Major League Soccer’s Chicago Fire 3-2 in the third round.

2012 PDL Award Winners
MVP
Sullivan Silva, Thunder Bay Chill

Rookie of the Year
Adam Grinwis, Michigan Bucks

Coach of the Year
Gary Parsons, Michigan Bucks

Defender of the Year
Kevin Cope, Michigan Bucks

Goalkeeper of the Year
Adam Grinwis, Michigan Bucks