This is Aaron St. Bernard with your preview this week.

This week the league’s stinginess defense the Orange Crush look to avenge their only defeat of the season in a rematch against the league’s highest scoring offense, The Scorpions. Last year’s Player of the Year picked up where he left off as Dillon Suresh once again leads the league in goals scored. Orange Crush should be familiar with Dillon’s skills as he was loaned to the Top Dogs last week in a game where both keepers Murat Cokgezen and Jeff Simsons were sensational as the two teams played to a 0-0 draw. The Scorpions, also played to a draw last week need points to keep pace with the Rebels.

In the 2nd early game of the day, the Bandits will play the Sharks. The Bandits are undefeated in their last 2 games with 2 draws after battling for a hard-earned point against the Scorpions.  Yet another keeper displayed other worldly skill as Prathesh Senthil was the savior on numerous occasions as he produced a string of superb saves to deny the Scorpions attack. Mo Talwar scored for the Bandits with a cool left footed finish after some great work from John Levi. The Sharks defeated the Bandits in the season opener and come into this game red-hot as winners of 2 straight allowing just a single goal over the last 2 contests.

In the late match ups, the Legacy and Titans look to avoid the basement in what will surely be an intense battle. Titans escaped with a 1-0 victory the first time these teams met but luck has not been on their side since Week 1. This week they call Luis Malandrim from the minors to put a halt to the skid that has seen the Titans earn only a single point in the last 4 games despite strong play. Legacy’s played with a depleted roster last week but hope to get things back on track with the return of key players Fernando Ayala, Valeria Nunez, and Julio Araujo.

Finally the Top Dogs face the Rebels in the evenings other late game.  Despite losing promising rookie Zain Esmail for the season the Rebels minor league system continues to produce solid players, as evidence by Michael Jemczyk’s debut with a two goal effort. Rebels keeper Brad Hughes stood tall in net when counted, robbing Rajesh with a cat-like lunge to snag the ball out of his legs on a breakaway and secure the clean sheet. Rebels currently sit atop the table and look to get some breathing room between themselves and the rest of the league. Top Dogs are looking to keep pace with the top 4 teams as they bring one of the league’s best goal differentials into the match up.  They have earned 7 points in the last 3 games behind the efforts of a promising rookie of their own as Cedric Ngabonziza who has notched 5 goals in 6 games.

This looks to be a big week of statement games!