ST PETERSBURG, Fla (May 11, 2021) – Two Tampa Bay Rowdies players have been named to the USL Championship’s Team of the Week for Week 3 of the 2021 season. Center back Forrest Lasso and Steevan Dos Santos earned a spot on the team for their performances in the Rowdies’ 3-0 victory over Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC.
Dos Santos notched his first goal of the match and his first as a Rowdies a half hour in, heading home a fantastic cross from the left wing by Leo Fernandes. The Rowdies newcomer continued to be a threat up top against his former team the rest of the night. He recorded four shots in the match, won 10 of 14 duels, set his teammates up for several scoring chances, and also drew the penalty Sebastian Guenzatti converted to double the lead in the 75th minute. All in all, Dos Santos demonstrated why Rowdies Head Coach Neill Collins and his staff plucked him off Pittsburgh in the offseason.
Lasso, who was voted the USL Defender of the Year in 2020, had an impressive shift himself against the Riverhounds. He and the rest of the Rowdies defensive unit held the visitors to just one shot on frame all night, a dipping from kick by Tommy Williamson from 25 yards out. Lasso won 9 of 11 duels, made four interceptions and six clearances while also completing 76 of 90 passes.
The Championship’s Player of the Week is selected by the USL National Media Panel, which is made up of representatives from each media market in the Championship.
USL Championship Team of the Week – Week 3
GK – Tyler Deric, Rio Grande Valley FC: Deric posted a three-save shutout to keep the Toros in the game against San Diego Loyal SC last Thursday night before the hosts grabbed a late winner for their second win of the season.
D – Josh Drack, LA Galaxy II: Drack recorded his first professional assist in LA’s victory against Las Vegas Lights FC on Wednesday night, and for the week completed 77 of 96 passes, won 16 duels and made seven interceptions defensively.
D – Abdoulaye Cissoko, Tacoma Defiance: Cissoko earned the Defiance a point on Sunday evening with a beautiful penalty kick in a 1-1 draw at the LA Galaxy II, and also completed 39 of 45 passes and made three interceptions.
D – Forrest Lasso, Tampa Bay Rowdies: Lasso won 9 of 11 duels, made four interceptions and six clearances while completing 76 of 90 passes in Tampa Bay’s 3-0 victory against Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC on Saturday night.
D – Bradley Bourgeois, FC Tulsa: Bourgeois earned his second consecutive selection after recording an assist on Joaquin Rivas’ opening goal and winning 8 of 13 duels and 6 of 8 aerial duels and winning two tackles in his side’s win against Indy Eleven.
M – Ibrahim Bancé, Real Monarchs SLC: Bancé made a stellar debut for the Monarchs in the club’s 2-2 draw with San Antonio FC, scoring once while completing 31 of 41 passes, winning 8 of 11 duels and making 10 recoveries in midfield.
M – Corben Bone, Louisville City FC: Bone had an early assist on Patrick McMahon’s goal, notched two key passes overall and completed 62 of 70 passes, and won 4 of 4 duels while making 12 recoveries in LouCity’s 1-1 draw with Birmingham Legion FC.
M – Marcus Epps, San Antonio FC: Epps scored his first goal for SAFC and finished with four shots overall while winning 11 of 18 duels and 5 of 7 aerial duels and recording seven recoveries in his side’s 2-2 draw with Real Monarchs SLC.
F – Solomon Asante, Phoenix Rising FC: Asante recorded his first two goals of the season while recording two key passes, completing 26 of 33 passes overall and winning 6 of 7 duels in Phoenix’s win against Oakland Roots SC.
F – Joaquin Rivas, FC Tulsa: Rivas recorded his second two-goal outing of the campaign to lead Tulsa past Indy Eleven, becoming the club’s all-time leading scorer in the process, and had two key passes while completing 17 of 22 passes overall.
F – Steevan Dos Santos, Tampa Bay Rowdies: Dos Santos scored the opening goal of Tampa Bay’s 3-0 win against Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC, and also drew a penalty kick while winning 10 of 14 duels and recording four shots overall.
Bench: Justin Vom Steeg (LA), Ben Di Rosa (CHS), Emil Cuello (SA), Harry Swartz (NM), Rodrigo Lopez (RGV), Jorge Hernandez (LA), Preston Tabort Etaka (HFD)
