ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (April 11, 2017) — Tampa Bay Rowdies defender Luke Boden has earned a spot in the United Soccer League’s Team of the Week, announced by the league Tuesday.
Boden helped the Rowdies to their third-consecutive clean sheet Saturday night in a 1-0 win over the Ottawa Fury FC, but also pitched in at the offensive end. It was Boden’s deflected cross in the 47th minute that Georgi Hristov headed home for the game’s only goal.
In addition, goalkeeper Akira Fitzgerald received an honorable mention and was placed on the Team of the Week bench.
The full Team of the Week is below.
GK – Calle Brown, Rio Grande Valley FC: Brown made a key penalty kick save against OKC Energy FC to earn a shutout in the Toros’ first win of the season.
D – Luke Boden, Tampa Bay Rowdies: Boden had a strong two-way performance, helping set up the only goal, as the Rowdies earned a third shutout of the season in a 1-0 win against Ottawa.
D – Deklan Wynne, Vancouver Whitecaps FC 2: Wynne scored the opening goal, and performed well down the left flank as WFC2 earned a 3-0 win against Seattle.
D – Jamie Thomas, Harrisburg City Islanders: Thomas recorded five tackles, three clearances and two interceptions as the City Islanders defeated New York 1-0 on the road.
M – Victor Pineda, Orange County SC: Pineda scored a spectacular game-winning goal as Orange County took its second win of the season on the road against Portland.
M – Hadji Barry, Orlando City B: Barry scored the game-winning goal, and finished the game with four shots and one created chance, as Orlando secured its first win against Toronto.
M – Sebastian Velasquez, Real Monarchs SLC: Velasquez had a goal and assist, and also linked up play well as the Monarchs remained perfect with a 5-3 victory against Reno.
M – Luke Rooney, Phoenix Rising FC: Rooney scored both goals as Rising FC took its first win of the club’s new era with a 2-1 victory against the LA Galaxy II.
F – Seku Conneh, Bethlehem Steel FC: Conneh scored both goals as Steel FC recorded its first win of the season with a 2-0 victory against FC Cincinnati.
F – Jose Angulo, Saint Louis FC: Angulo recorded the game-tying goal and then the game-winning assist as Saint Louis remained undefeated with a 3-2 win against New York.
F – Corey Hertzog, Pittsburgh Riverhounds: Hertzog scored a stoppage-time game-winner as the Riverhounds defeated Charleston 2-1 for their first win against the Battery since 2011.
Bench: Akira Fitzgerald (TBR), Sean Totsch (LOU), Seth Rudolph (STL), Manolo Sanchez (HAR), Dane Kelly (RNO), Adam Najem (BST), Sammy Ochoa (SAC)
