ST. PETERSBURG, FL – On Tuesday, Tampa Bay Rowdies attacking midfielder Leo Fernandes was named to the USL Championship Team of the Week for his two goals in the club’s 5-2 victory on the road against Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC, the first away win for the Rowdies at Pittsburgh’s Highmark Stadium.
Fernandes has been red hot for the Rowdies in June, notching five goals to help the Rowdies remain unbeaten throughout the month. After the win in Pittsburgh, Fernandes is now tied with striker Jake LaCava at seven goals for most goals on the squad so far this year. With half the season left to play, Fernandes is already just two shy of his 9-goal total from last year.
This is Fernandes’ first selection to the Team of the Week this season. He has previously been named to the bench of the Team of the Week twice this year. He joins teammates Juan Tejada, CJ Cochran, Lewis Hilton, and Laurence Wyke, who have all earned a spot on the Team of the Week once this year.
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 16
GK – Colin Shutler, Orange County SC: Shutler marked his debut in the Championship with a key penalty kick save to keep OCSC level with Loudoun United FC early in the second half, part of a three-save performance in the club’s eventual 3-1 victory.
D – Owen Lambe, LA Galaxy II: Lambe had a strong two-way performance in Los Dos’ 3-1 victory at Miami FC, notching a pair of assists and four chances created while winning 5 of 6 duels, completing 3 of 3 dribbles and recording two interceptions and seven recoveries.
D – Alvaro Quezada, Las Vegas Lights FC: Quezada recorded the opening goal in Lights FC’s 3-2 victory against Phoenix Rising FC and completed 59 of 66 passes while making 10 recoveries, four interceptions and winning 3 of 3 tackles and 7 of 8 duels.
D – Graham Smith, Memphis 901 FC: Smith recorded goals in each of Memphis’ two victories over the week against FC Tulsa and Detroit City FC while helping the side record a pair of shutouts with seven clearances and three interceptions while winning 6 of 8 duels.
D – Jonathan Dean, Birmingham Legion FC: Dean delivered at both ends of the field in Birmingham’s 2-0 road win at New Mexico United, notching one assist and four chances created while winning 3 of 3 tackles and 4 of 6 duels defensively.
M – Danny Crisostomo, Las Vegas Lights FC: The central midfielder recorded two assists and eight chances created in Lights FC’s 3-2 win against Phoenix Rising FC on Friday night, while completing 73 of 78 passes and making 14 recoveries defensively.
M – Eric Calvillo, El Paso Locomotive FC: The El Salvador international recorded a pair of goals on three shots, and also notched three chances created while completing 28 of 34 passes overall to lead Locomotive FC’s 5-0 victory against the New York Red Bulls II.
M – Leo Fernandes, Tampa Bay Rowdies: Fernandes scored a pair of goals, giving him five in the past four games overall, and had four shots and eight recoveries as the Rowdies claimed a 5-2 victory at Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC, the first road win for Tampa Bay against the Hounds at Highmark Stadium.
F – Milan Iloski, Orange County SC: Iloski recorded a pair of goals as Orange County SC rallied from an early deficit to take a 3-1 victory against Loudoun United FC, finishing the game with four shots and one chance created.
F – JJ Williams, FC Tulsa: Williams scored both goals as Tulsa broke a six-game winless streak in a 2-1 victory on Saturday against the Charleston Battery, and finished the game with five shots while winning 4 of 6 aerial duels.
F – Maalique Foster, Sacramento Republic FC: The Jamaican forward came off the bench and scored two goals in three minutes to turn a one-goal deficit into a 2-1 win for Republic FC against NorCal rival Monterey Bay F.C. on Saturday night at Cardinale Stadium.
Bench: Richard Sanchez (LA), Jasser Khmiri (SA), Amadou Dia (LOU), Memo Diaz (OAK), Aaron Molloy (MEM), Josue Aaron Gomez (ELP), Kyle Vassell (SD)
