ST. PETERSBURG, FL – The USL Championship announced on Tuesday that Tampa Bay Rowdies forward Cal Jennings was voted Player of the Week for Week 27 of the regular season after notching three goals across two matches.
This is the second Player of the Week award this season for Jennings, who now leads the Rowdies with 14 goals and is two tallies behind current USL Championship Golden Boot leader, Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC’ Albert Dikwa. The 26-year-old attacker scored as a substitute in Tampa Bay’s match at Memphis on Wednesday and then followed that up with two goals as a starter in a 2-1 victory over Louisville City FC back at Al Lang Stadium on Saturday night.
The attacking contributions from Jennings over the last month have been crucial for the Rowdies in locking up a playoff spot early and continuing their pursuit of the top seed in the Eastern Conference and the Players’ Shield. Jenning has scored in five straight matches, a career-high streak for the striker and equal to the club record set by Sebastian Guenzatti in 2021.
Jennings earned 62 percent of the ballot to claim the award. Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC’s Albert Dikwa finished second on 15 percent after bagging a pair of goals in the Hounds’ 3-1 victory against Loudoun United FC.
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 27
GK – Carlos Herrera, Monterey Bay F.C.: Herrera posted a seven-save shutout to lead Monterey Bay to a 1-0 victory on the road against Memphis 901 FC on Saturday night, a third consecutive win for the side that moved it above the playoff line in the Western Conference.
D – Devon Amoo-Mensah, Detroit City FC: Amoo-Mensah scored for the second consecutive game in DCFC’s crucial 2-1 victory against Miami FC at Keyworth Stadium while winning 5 of 6 duels and making six recoveries defensively.
D – Derek Dodson, Charleston Battery: Dodson notched his fourth assist of the season and was solid defensively as Charleston clinched a playoff berth with its 2-0 win against San Diego Loyal SC, winning 3 of 3 tackles and making six recoveries and three clearances.
D – James Musa, Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC: The New Zealand international was impressive defensively in his side’s 1-1 draw against San Antonio FC, winning 6 of 7 duels and 2 of 2 aerial duels while recording a key goal line clearance and making two interceptions and nine recoveries.
M – Brett Levis, Detroit City FC: Levis recorded assists on both of DCFC’s goals in a crucial 2-1 win against Miami FC that moved Le Rouge back above the playoff line and defensively won 6 of 7 tackles and 10 of 13 duels and 3 of 4 aerial duels at Keyworth Stadium.
M – Kenardo Forbes, Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC: The Championship’s all-time assists leader notched his seventh helper of the campaign and had four chances created overall while recording three shots and completing 53 of 60 passes in the Hounds’ 3-1 win against Loudoun United FC.
M – Jorge Hernandez, San Antonio FC: The 23-year-old notched his league-leading ninth assist of the season in SAFC’s 1-1 draw against Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC and had seven chances created overall while completing 26 of 35 passes and winning 9 of 10 duels and 2 of 3 tackles.
M – Tristan Trager, Charleston Battery: Trager scored both goals as the Battery earned a return to the postseason in a 2-0 win against San Diego Loyal SC while completing 20 of 26 passes and recording one chance created.
F – Albert Dikwa, Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC: The Cameroonian scored a pair of goals to regain the league-lead in the Hounds’ 3-1 win against Loudoun United FC and completed 15 of 23 passes while recording three shots on target and winning 2 of 3 tackles.
F – Cal Jennings, Tampa Bay Rowdies: Jennings scored three goals in two games, including both goals in his side’s 2-1 win against Louisville City FC on Saturday, and recorded five shots on target and eight shots overall while notching two chances created.
F – Tyler Bagley, Las Vegas Lights FC: Bagley scored twice as Lights FC rallied for a 3-1 victory against Oakland Roots SC, including a spectacular late insurance marker, and took four shots overall while winning 2 of 2 tackles and 5 of 7 duels defensively at Cashman Field.
Bench: Matt VanOekel (BHM), Robbie Crawford (CHS), Mohamed Traore (PHX), Jeremy Kelly (MEM), Azriel Gonzalez (LV), Matthew Corcoran (BHM), Danny Rios (LV)
