Local Keeper Wins Weekly Award

Thorpe, Three Pioneers Make USL-2 Team of the Week

June 10, 2009

Western Mass. Pioneer goalkeeper James Thorpe was honored as the USL Second Division Player of the Week.

The former Franklin Pierce ‘keeper has been a key contributor to the Pioneers’ recent success, leading the club to a 3-1-1 record in its last five games. Thorpe has posted two shutouts during that stretch, helping Western Mass. out of the basement of the USL-2 division.

James Thorpe, shown here at Franklin Pierce, won the USL-2 Player of the Week.

Thorpe had an inauspicious start to the week when he tweaked his groin in the first half of Friday’s home fixture against Crystal Palace, but he fought through the injury as Adrian DuBois gave the club a 2-0 lead. Thorpe posted seven saves on 11 shots in the match with the lone goal in the 2-1 victory coming via a late 82nd minute penalty kick.

The following night against Real Maryland, Thorpe again took the field and posted his second shutout of the year, posting six saves on 11 shots in a 2-0 victory as they hosts were outshot for the second night in a row.

Thorpe spent last year with DC United after two seasons in the PDL, where he excelled with the Cape Cod Crusaders (2007) and Colorado Rapids U-23 (2006). In 14 PDL matches he had an impressive 14-3-4 record and eight shutouts with a goals against average of 0.94.

His career with DC included just one start, but instead of the CONCACAF Champions League appearance being a highlight, he found himself sent off just 32 minutes in against Mexico’s Cruz Azul. In reserve league play he made seven appearances (five starts), earning a 3-2 record with a 2.85 GAA.

Three of Thorpe’s teammates joined him on the USL-2 Team of the Week. Defender Ben Clark, midfielder Mike Videira, and midfielder Adrian Dubois all made the team.

Clark notched an assist in the 2-0 win over Real Maryland and Dubois scored twice in the 2-1 victory against Crystal Palace Baltimore. Videira, on loan from the New England Revolution, added a goal in the Real Maryland game.