USL PRO News Release
Tuesday, August 14, 2012
TAMPA, Fla. – USL PRO announced its Team of the Week for week 19 of the 2012 season today, honoring Charleston Battery midfielder Tony Donatelli as Player of the Week after he had two goals and an assist in the Battery’s victory against the Rochester Rhinos on Saturday night.
Returning to Sahlen’s Stadium for the first time since departing the Rhinos at the end of the 2011 season, Donatelli put in an outstanding performance to keep the Battery in contention for a bye to the semifinals of the USL PRO Playoffs, and snap the club’s five-game winless streak. He opened the scoring in the 18th minute, picking up possession near the top of the penalty area before curling a shot into the left corner of the net.
Donatelli struck again on the half-hour mark, heading home from Jose Cuevas’ cross from the right to double the Battery’s lead. He then added an assist late in the game, setting up an opportunity that Dane Kelly buried for his fifth goal of the season. Donatelli doubled his points total for the season with his performance, moving into double digits.
Donatelli was joined on the Team of the Week by a trio of midfielders who each had a goal and assist to lead their sides to victory, with Richmond’s Stanley Nyazamba leading the Kickers to a 2-1 victory against the Harrisburg City Islanders on Saturday night. Nyazamba opened the scoring for the Kickers, and then provided the assist for William Yomby’s game-winning goal in the 78th minute, which earned the defender a berth on the team as he rebounded from an earlier own goal to give his side victory.
Harrisburg’s Tom Mellor also had a goal and an assist in his side’s 3-0 win against the Charleston Battery this past Wednesday, curling a beautiful free kick in for the City Islanders’ second goal, while Antigua Barracuda FC’s Orlando Mitchum keyed his side’s come-from-behind 2-1 victory against the Los Angeles Blues Thursday, tying the game before setting up Kerry Skepple’s late winner.
Los Angeles had a pair of players selected, with forward Max Griffin earning a berth on the team for the second consecutive week after he scored in both of the Blues’ contests against the Barracudas. Griffin’s goal on Saturday night proved the difference in a 1-0 victory, but the win was preserved by goalkeeper Jose Miranda, who took the goalkeeper spot after his penalty save and shutout allowed Los Angeles to remain in with a chance at making the playoffs.
Charlotte’s Chris Salvaggione also played a big role in the Eagles’ push for the playoffs, scoring in each of their weekend games against Pittsburgh and Dayton. Salvaggione began the rally for Charlotte on Saturday night that was completed by fellow Team of the Week selection Josh Rife, as they took a 2-2 draw late against the Dutch Lions.
USL PRO Team of the Week
| Pos | Player | Team | Highlights |
| GK | Jose Miranda | Los Angeles | Penalty save keyed shutout as Blues stayed alive in playoff race |
| D | Greg Jordan | Harrisburg | Poised performance helped City Islanders shut out Battery |
| D | William Yomby | Richmond | Rebounded from early own goal to score game-winner vs. Harrisburg |
| D | Josh Rife | Charlotte | Had the game-tying goal as Eagles took a point in Dayton |
| M | Orlando Mitchum | Antigua | Goal and assist led Barracudas to first win since July 1 |
| M | Stanley Nyazamba | Richmond | Had a goal and assist and was driving force in Kickers’ victory |
| M | Tony Donatelli | Charleston | Two goals and assist led Battery to victory against former team |
| M | Chris Salvaggione | Charlotte | Had a goal in each game as Eagles took four points from road trip |
| M | Tom Mellor | Harrisburg | Goal and assist led City Islanders to win against Battery |
| F | Eli Garner | Dayton | Had opening goal, and could have had more, against Charlotte |
| F | Max Griffin | Los Angeles | Continued run of form with goal in each game against Antigua |
Honorable Mention – Antigua: Kerry Skepple, Tamarley Thomas; Charleston: Jose Cuevas, Ryan Richter; Charlotte: Nate Thornton, Juan Guzman; Harrisburg: Lucky Mkosana, Nick Noble; Los Angeles: Bryan Burke; Richmond: Chris Agorsor, Ronnie Pascale.