USL PRO News Release
Tuesday, June 19, 2012
TAMPA, Fla. – USL PRO announced its Team of the Week for the 11th week of the 2012 season today, honoring Los Angeles Blues forward Bright Dike as Player of the Week after a standout weekend that saw him score the game-winning goal in each of his side’s victories against the Dayton Dutch Lions.
Dike, who joined the Blues on loan from Major League Soccer’s Portland Timbers in May, gave the Blues a 1-0 victory in their opening game against the Dutch Lions on Friday night, making a strong run into the left side of the penalty area before tucking his shot into the right corner of the net. In the second contest of the weekend on Sunday evening, Dike again gave the Blues a 1-0 win as he collected a pass 20 yards from goal at the top of the penalty area, turned and curled a shot into the right corner of the net. The two victories lifted the Blues into the sixth and final playoff position in the USL PRO standings.
A former first-round MLS SuperDraft selection, Dike has scored four goals in six games since joining the Blues. One of the first four players signed by the Timbers when they moved into MLS, Dike has had success in the lower divisions before, scoring 10 goals for the Timbers in 2010 in the USSF Division 2 Pro League.
Dike was joined on the Team of the Week by teammate Amir Abedzadeh, who recorded a pair of shutouts in the two victories. Another MLS player on loan to a USL PRO club was selected as well, with Wilmington’s Corey Hertzog being honored for his goal and assist in the Hammerheads’ 2-1 win against the Richmond Kickers, while Harrisburg’s Lucky Mkosana completed the attacking trio after scoring a late winner for the City Islanders in their 2-1 win against the Rochester Rhinos.
While his side was unable to find victory, Rochester’s Michael Tanke was selected after the midfielder recorded a goal and an assist in a pair of games. He was joined by Charleston’s Nicki Paterson, who had a pair of goals in the Battery’s 3-0 win against Antigua to give him a league-leading eight goals this season, and Miguel Ferrer, who had a goal and an assist in Charlotte’s 4-1 win against Richmond on Saturday night.
Other honorees including Pittsburgh’s Stefan Lundberg, who had an assist and a strong overall performance in the Riverhounds’ 1-1 draw with Rochester, and Keiron Bernard, who had the opening goal for Orlando City in their 2-0 win against Antigua Barracuda FC.
USL PRO Team of the Week
| Pos | Player | Team | Highlights |
| GK | Amir Abedzadeh | Los Angeles | Pair of shutouts helped Blues take maximum points from week |
| D | Keiron Bernard | Orlando | Scored opening goal as Lions defeated Antigua 2-0 |
| D | Josh Rife | Charlotte | Played key role as Eagles limited Richmond’s attack in 4-1 win |
| D | Gareth Evans | Wilmington | Consistent performance to help Hammerheads take victory |
| M | Nicki Paterson | Charleston | Pair of goals led Battery to victory against Antigua |
| M | Jorge Herrera | Charlotte | Had a goal and assist as Eagles took 4-1 win against Kickers |
| M | Stefan Lundberg | Pittsburgh | Was bright and had assist in Riverhounds’ draw with Rhinos |
| M | Michael Tanke | Rochester | Bright spot for Rhinos had goal and assist in two contests |
| F | Lucky Mkosana | Harrisburg | Had late game-winner to lift City Islanders past Rhinos |
| F | Bright Dike | Los Angeles | Two game-winning goals as Blues jumped up standings |
| F | Corey Hertzog | Wilmington | Goal and assist led Hammerheads past Richmond in 2-1 win |
Honorable Mention – Charleston: John Wilson, Jose Cuevas; Charlotte: Joseph Kabwe, Nate Thornton; Dayton: Joel DeLass, Greg Preciado; Harrisburg: Jason Pelletier, Yann Ekra; Los Angeles: Bryan Burke, Allan Russell; Orlando: Matt Luzunaris, Anthony Pulis; Richmond: Christopher Agorsor; Rochester: Quavas Kirk; Wilmington: Andriy Budnyy, Manny Guzman.