First place in Southeast Division up for grabs as Tropics travel to meet Aguilas Friday

MONTVERDE, Fla. – First place in the USL Premier Development League's southeast division will be up for grabs Friday night as the 4-0-1 Lakeland Tropics travel to meet the 3-0-2 SIMA Aguilas. Kickoff is at 7 p.m.

Lakeland is ranked No. 1 in the Week Five PDL Power Rankings of the 23 teams in the Southern Conference. The Soccer Institute of Montverde Academy is ranked No. 3.

Juan Tejada, with four goals in his last three games including two in a 3-1 win over IMG Academy Bradenton last weekend, also was named to the Week Five PDL Team of the Week in the 74-team league.

The Tropics only blemish is a 3-3 tie at home on May 27 against North County United. They managed a point when Ricardo Diegues, who scored a goal in each of the Lakeland's first four games, got the equalizer in the 88th minute. Diegues is tied for the team lead with Tejada in goals with four each.

The Aguilas only blemishes are a 0-0 draw Tuesday on the road against The Villages SC (3-0-1) and a 0-0 season-opening draw at home against Weston FC. The Tropics took a 3-0 win on the road against Weston on May 30.

The two teams will rematch at historic Bryant Stadium on June 30, capping a three-game homestand for the Tropics in which they will play the three teams, in addition to Lakeland, that played in the 2018 U.S. Open Cup. The Villages SC will visit on June 16, with Miami City FC in town on June 23.

The Tropics next game will be Tuesday, June 12, on the road against North County United. For more information, including tickets for all home games, visit www.tropicssoccer.com.