USL PRO News Release
Tuesday, April 23, 2013
TAMPA, Fla. – USL PRO named its Team of the Week for Week Five of the season on Tuesday, with Orlando City midfielder Jamie Watson earning Player of the Week honors after recording two goals and an assist in his side’s 3-2 victory against the Los Angeles Blues on Friday night.
Watson had a good first half against the Blues, creating opportunities while also coming close to scoring himself. He finally provided the breakthrough for the Lions in the 57th minute, finishing a move from close range after Long Tan had sent a low cross to the top of the six-yard box. Five minutes later, Watson’s corner from the left was met at the back post by Yann Songo’o, doubling the Lions’ lead.
Los Angeles pulled a goal back, with Team of the Week selection Rodrigo Lopez’s corner being headed home by Conor Hearn in the 70th minute, but almost immediately Watson restored the Lions’ two-goal advantage. After being brought down in the penalty area, Watson himself finished from the spot for his third goal of the season.
Joining Watson and Lopez in the Team of the Week’s midfield was Charleston’s Ben Fisk, who had a goal and an assist in the Battery’s 4-0 victory against Antigua Barracuda FC on Saturday night. Fisk, on loan from the Vancouver Whitecaps, created the Battery’s opening goal before adding one of his own two minutes later. Rounding out the quartet was VSI Tampa Bay FC’s Shawn Chin, who capped a strong performance with a fine goal from the top of the penalty area in his side’s 3-2 win against Los Angeles on Sunday.
Harrisburg’s Cris Hernandez was also named to the Team of the Week after recording a goal and an assist as the City Islanders became the first USL PRO side to defeat an MLS Reserve side in interleague play against the Colorado Rapids Reserves on Saturday night. He was joined in attack by Wilmington’s Kyle Greig, who scored his first professional goal in the Hammerheads’ 2-0 win against Antigua.
Hernandez is joined by his City Islanders teammate and fellow Philadelphia Union loanee, Greg Jordan, who scored the game-winning goal in the City Islanders’ 2-1 win against the Rapids Reserves. He is joined by Charlotte’s Matt Gold, who helped the Eagles earn a shutout against Rochester on Friday night, and Sean Reynolds, who scored his first professional goal in VSI Tampa Bay FC’s 3-2 win against Los Angeles. Richmond veteran Sascha Görres also earned a place on the team, while Dayton goalkeeper Matt Williams’ strong six-save performance that helped the Dutch Lions edge out Pittsburgh, 2-1.
The 2013 USL PRO season continues on Tuesday night as the Charlotte Eagles host Orlando City at 7 p.m. ET. Friday night brings three more contests, with the Pittsburgh Riverhounds visiting Charlotte at 7 p.m. ET, VSI Tampa Bay FC hosting the Dayton Dutch Lions at 8 p.m. ET, and the Wilmington Hammerheads visiting the Los Angeles Blues at 10:30 p.m. ET.
Saturday night sees the renewal of one of USL PRO’s strong rivalries, with the Harrisburg City Islanders hosting the Rochester Rhinos in their home opener at 7 p.m. ET. Pittsburgh and Dayton also continue their weekend trips, with the Riverhounds visiting the Charleston Battery and Dutch Lions visiting Orlando City, with both games kicking off at 7:30 p.m. ET. The week’s action concludes on Sunday night, with the Wilmington Hammerheads completing their west-coast swing with a visit to Phoenix FC at 10:30 p.m. ET.
Every game of the USL PRO season can be seen on USLNation.com, with live updates also available via Twitter (@USLPRO), Facebook and Google+.
USL PRO Team of the Week
| Pos | Player | Team | Highlights |
| GK | Matt Williams | Dayton | Made six saves as 10-man Dutch Lions defeated Pittsburgh |
| D | Sascha Görres | Richmond | Was good getting up flank, and defensively, against Rhinos |
| D | Greg Jordan | Harrisburg | Strong performance capped by game-winning goal |
| D | Matt Gold | Charlotte | Marshaled defense in shutout of Rochester |
| D | Sean Reynolds | Tampa Bay | First career goal helped VSI past Los Angeles |
| M | Jamie Watson | Orlando | Two goals, assist led Lions to 3-2 victory against Blues |
| M | Rodrigo Lopez | Los Angeles | Had goal, assist as Blues came up short in Orlando |
| M | Ben Fisk | Charleston | Impressed throughout, recording goal, assist in victory |
| M | Shawn Chin | Tampa Bay | Excellent goal, and was dangerous on flank for duration |
| F | Cris Hernandez | Harrisburg | Goal, assist to lead City Islanders past Rapids Reserves |
| F | Kyle Greig | Wilmington | Scored first professional goal in win against Antigua |
Honorable Mention: Antigua – Randolph Burton; Charleston – Zach Prince, Nicki Paterson; Charlotte – Fejiro Okiomah, Stephen Okai; Dayton – Gibson Bardsley, Remco Klaasse; Harrisburg – Morgan Langley, Nick Noble; Los Angeles – George Davis IV, Shay Spitz; Orlando – Yann Songo’o; Pittsburgh – Kevin Kerr, Matt Dallman; Richmond – Nate Robinson, Joseph Ngwenya; Rochester – Michael Tanke, Lance Rozeboom; Tampa Bay – Andriy Budnyy, J.T. Noone; Wilmington – Paul Nicholson, William Heaney.