Dan Montanye (Mukwonago/Mukwonago), a senior midfielder on the Warhawk men's soccer team, spent the summer in Thunder Bay, Ontario playing in the United Soccer League's (USL) Premier Development League for the Thunder Bay Chill. 

The USL is divided into seven leagues that range from USL First Division, the highest level of men's professional soccer, to the USL Super Y-League that showcases some of the most talented male and female youth players in North America. 

The Premier Development League is the top U23 (under 23 years of age) men's soccer league in North America that provides elite college athletes which a chance to play at a higher level of competition. The PDL consists of 67 teams divided into four conferences throughout the United States and Canada. With 16 regular season matches, each team has eight home and eight away matches a summer season.

Montanye went to Thunder Bay for a trial with the Chill and was offered a spot on the roster for the season. He was joined on the team by players from multiple countries including Brazil, Italy, Ghana, South Africa, Canada, Jamaica and Guatemala. Montanye was able to showcase his talents receiving 45 minutes of play time in each of five exhibition matches and around 15 mintues on the field in 15 of the 16 regular season matches. 

Montanye helped contribute to the team's conference and divisional titles this summer. As the playoffs neared, an injury sidelined Montanye for the first match but as the championship game rolled around, the senior was called upon to make an appearance as a substitute in the nationally televised game. Although the team took second, Montanye believes the season and summer was a rewarding one.

For Montanye's complete blog please follow the link: Montanye on playing with the Thunder Bay Chill

As Montanye enters his senior season with the Warhawks, Whitewater looks to defend their 2009 Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference title. UW-W is picked to win the crown again this year by the conference's sports information directors.

Whitewater begins the 2010 season Saturday, August 21 with an exhibition match against Madison Area Technical College at Fiskum Field in Whitewater, WI at 10:00 am. Regular season match-ups will begin September 1 with a home contest against Illinois Wesleyan University scheduled to begin at 7:00 pm.

For additional information: UW-W head soccer coach, Greg Henschel