USL PRO News Release
Tuesday, August 7, 2012
TAMPA, Fla. – USL PRO announced its Team of the Week for week 18 of the 2012 season today, honoring Orlando City midfielder Jamie Watson as Player of the Week after he scored three goals in two games as the Lions took a pair of victories on the road in Harrisburg and Rochester last week.
Watson, the 2009 USL Second Division MVP, bagged a pair of goals as Orlando took a 4-2 victory against Harrisburg this past Wednesday night. He opened the scoring in the sixth minute, following up the rebound of his initial shot for his third goal of the season. While the City Islanders tied the game moments later, Watson gave the Lions the lead for good in the 32nd minute, heading home after Dennis Chin’s initial shot was saved.
On Friday night Watson scored the only goal in the Lions’ 1-0 win against the Rhinos at Sahlen’s Stadium. Matching his performance in the same stadium from the 2011 season, when his goal produced the same result, Watson picked up possession on a counter-attack in the left channel, cut past a defender and shot into the opposite corner.
Watson was joined on the Team of the Week by goalkeeper Sean Kelley, who put in a pair of good performances as the Lions took their two victories. Kelley recorded nine saves in two games, including a shutout of the Rhinos, as the 2011 USL PRO Championship Game MVP deputized for the Lions’ regular starter Miguel Gallardo.
The Wilmington duo of Gareth Evans and Corey Hertzog both earned selection to the Team of the Week after Hertzog first provided the assist for Evans’ first professional goal on Saturday night before scoring the game-winner in their 2-1 win against the Charleston Battery. Hertzog, who now has eight goals in 15 games since joining Wilmington on loan from the New York Red Bulls, was joined in attack by Los Angeles’ Max Griffin, who had a goal and an assist in the Blues’ 2-0 win against Pittsburgh.
Two other players who had a goal and an assist were also selected in the Team of the Week midfield, with Richmond’s Gerson dos Santos making a big impact off the bench in the Kickers’ 2-0 win against Antigua, and Charlotte’s Jorge Herrera helping keep the Eagles tight in the playoff race after their 4-0 win against the Barracudas. The quartet is rounded out by Los Angeles’ Erlys Garcia, who due to injuries moved into the midfield from his normal defensive position and helped the Blues control the flow of the game in their win against the Riverhounds.
Joining Evans in defense are Jose Rife, who had his first goal of the season for Charlotte in its win against Antigua, and Charleston’s Taylor Mueller, who scored his first professional goal in the Battery’s 2-2 draw with Wilmington on Friday night. Richmond’s Sascha Goerres rounds out the side after another stellar performance for the Kickers in their win against Antigua.
USL PRO Team of the Week
| Pos | Player | Team | Highlights |
| GK | Sean Kelley | Orlando | Had nine saves in two games as Lions won twice |
| D | Gareth Evans | Wilmington | First professional goal aided key win against Battery |
| D | Sascha Goerres | Richmond | Strong two-way game helped Kickers earn key win |
| D | Josh Rife | Charlotte | Scored a goal as Eagles took dominant victory |
| D | Taylor Mueller | Charleston | Had his first goal as a pro to help Battery earn a point on Friday |
| M | Gerson Dos Santos | Richmond | Late goal and assist lifted Kickers to crucial victory |
| M | Jamie Watson | Orlando | Scored three goals in two games as Lions continued to roll |
| M | Erlys Garcia | Los Angeles | Controlled the flow of the game as Blues beat Riverhounds |
| M | Jorge Herrera | Charlotte | Goal and assist helped Eagles cruise to 4-0 victory |
| F | Corey Hertzog | Wilmington | Game-winning goal, and assist, as Hammerheads took big win |
| F | Max Griffin | Los Angeles | Had goal and assist as Blues remained in playoff hunt |
Honorable Mention – Charleston: Nicki Paterson; Charlotte: Juan Guzman, Darryl Roberts; Harrisburg: Garret Pettis, Jimmy McLaughlin; Los Angeles: Andrew Jean-Baptiste; Orlando: Dennis Chin, Erik Ustruck; Pittsburgh: Matt Dallman; Richmond: Matt Delicate, Ronnie Pascale; Rochester: Danny Earls; Wilmington: Paul Nicholson, Steven Perry.