USL Release
Tuesday, April 19, 2011
TAMPA, Fla. – United Soccer Leagues announced the USL PRO Team of the Week for Week 3 of the 2011 season today, honoring Los Angeles Blues forward Walter Gaitan as Player of the Week after the Argentinean scored three goals and added an assist in the Blues’ opening two games of the season.
Gaitan recorded a goal and an assist as the Blues defeated Sevilla FC Puerto Rico 3-0 in their opening game of the season on Friday. He then scored twice, including a spectacular free kick, to help the Blues rally from an early deficit to take a 2-1 victory against Antigua Barracuda FC.
Antigua’s Tamarley Thomas was one of the newcomers to the team this week, as players who achieved personal or club milestones were honored. Thomas scored the first goal in the Cudas’ history when he opened the scoring against Los Angeles on Sunday night.
Dayton’s Kolby LaCrone was also named to the team after he scored the first goal in the Dayton Dutch Lions’ professional history in their 2-1 defeat against Charleston, while Orlando City’s Rob Valentino scored the first goal of his professional career to lift the Lions to a 1-0 win against Charlotte.
A pair of rookies from the Wilmington Hammerheads were also selected, with goalkeeper Brock Duckworth recording a shutout against the Rochester Rhinos in his professional debut and Luke Mulholland, a former Reading United AC standout in the Premier Development League, scoring the game-winning goal for the Hammerheads.
Other players honored were Charleston’s Nicki Paterson, who had a goal and an assist in the Battery’s 2-1 win against Dayton, Richmond’s Yomby William, who helped the Kickers record a shutout and their third victory of the season in a 1-0 victory against Rochester, and Orlando City’s Lawrence Olum, who was the key figure in the Lions’ midfield in their 1-0 win against Charlotte.
USL PRO Team of the Week
| Pos | Player | Team | Highlights |
| GK | Brock Duckworth | Wilmington | Recorded shutout of Rochester in professional debut |
| D | Rob Valentino | Orlando City | Scored game-winning goal for Lions against Charlotte |
| D | Yomby William | Richmond | Key player in shutout of Rochester, third win of season for Kickers |
| D | Nelson Akwari | Los Angeles | Strong performance as Blues recorded shutout in season-opener |
| D | Jorge Herrera | Charlotte | Strong defensively as Eagles were edged out by Orlando |
| M | Luke Mulholland | Wilmington | Scored game-winner in professional debut for Hammerheads |
| M | Nicki Paterson | Charleston | Had goal, added assist in Battery’s 2-1 win against Dayton |
| M | Lawrence Olum | Orlando City | Dominated midfield in return from preseason injury |
| F | Walter Gaitan | Los Angeles | Scored three goals, added assist in Blues’ opening two wins |
| F | Kolby LaCrone | Dayton | Had first goal in Dutch Lions’ professional history |
| F | Tamarley Thomas | Antigua | Powerful forward gave Barracuda FC lead in home opener |