USL PRO News Release
Tuesday, July 30, 2013
TAMPA, Fla. – USL PRO named its Team of the Week for Week 19 of the season on Tuesday, with Harrisburg City Islanders forward Lucky Mkosana earning Player of the Week honors after scoring a hat trick in his side’s 5-1 victory against the Dayton Dutch Lions, which kept the City Islanders back in third place in the USL PRO standings.
Mkosana opened the scoring for the City Islanders against Dayton in just the eighth minute, and then added a second in the opening minute of the second half as Matt Bahner charged down a clearance and sent a low cross that allowed Mkosana to finish. He then complete his hat trick after a good piece of interplay with Morgan Langley set up a near-post header that flashed into the left corner of the net.
Mkosana was joined on the Team of the Week attack by Charleston’s Dane Kelly, who had three goals in two games as the Battery took a pair of victories, and David Paul, who scored twice for Phoenix FC as the Wolves took their first road win in club history against the Charlotte Eagles.
Kelly’s Battery teammate Jose Cuevas joins him on the Team of the Week, with the 2012 USL PRO Rookie of the Year putting in two strong performances to propel the Battery attack, which scored eight goals in two games. Rochester’s Danny Earls was selected as his late game-winner kept the Rhinos’ playoff hopes alive with a win against Antigua, while Charlotte’s Jorge Herrera earns selection after recording a goal and two assists as the Eagles drew 3-3 with Los Angeles. Richmond’s Luke Vercollone rounds out the quartet after playing a key role in his side’s move to the top of the USL PRO standings as the Kickers extended their USL PRO-record undefeated streak to 21 games.
Richmond’s Conor Shanosky also earned selection after scoring the game-winning goal in the Kickers’ 2-1 win against the Vancouver Whitecaps Reserves. Joining him on the Team of the Week defense is Pittsburgh captain Rich Costanzo, who marshaled his back line in the Riverhounds’ 1-0 win against the Toronto FC Reserves. Tampa Bay’s Josh Rife earned his selection after scoring a goal and helping VSI earn four points in two games on the road, while Pittsburgh’s Hunter Gilstrap takes the goalkeeper position after recording a shutout in Toronto.
Stay up to date with every game from USL PRO venues in 2013 through the league’s free online streaming service, USLNation.com, and also follow the race for the playoffs via Twitter (@USLPRO), Facebook and Google+ for live updates from every game, every night of the season, plus news, previews and recaps of all the action.
USL PRO Team of the Week
| Pos | Player | Team | Highlights |
| GK | Hunter Gilstrap | Pittsburgh | Had a shutout as Riverhounds edged past Toronto FC Reserves |
| D | Conor Shanosky | Richmond | Scored the game-winning goal as Kickers downed Vancouver Reserves |
| D | Josh Rife | Tampa Bay | Helped VSI earn four points in two games on the road |
| D | Rich Costanzo | Pittsburgh | Strong performance to help Riverhounds shut out Toronto FC Reserves |
| M | Danny Earls | Rochester | Had the game-winning goal as Rhinos edged past Antigua |
| M | Jose Cuevas | Charleston | Played key role as Battery swept to pair of victories |
| M | Jorge Herrera | Charlotte | Had a goal, two assists as Eagles earned draw with Los Angeles |
| M | Luke Vercollone | Richmond | Solid two-way performances as Kickers remained undefeated |
| F | David Paul | Phoenix | Scored twice as Wolves took first road victory in club history |
| F | Lucky Mkosana | Harrisburg | Had a hat trick as City Islanders swept past Dayton |
| F | Dane Kelly | Charleston | Scored three goals in two games as Battery moved into fourth |
Honorable Mention: Antigua – Tamorley Thomas; Charleston – Colin Falvey, Michael Azira; Charlotte – Drew Yates; Dayton – Brandon Swartzendruber; Harrisburg – Morgan Langley, Matthew Bahner; Los Angeles – Chris Cortez, Shay Spitz; Phoenix: Scott Morrison, Donnie Toia; Pittsburgh – Jose Angulo, Seth C’deBaca; Richmond – Andrew Dykstra, Matt Delicâte; Rochester – Kristian Nicht; Tampa Bay – Chad Burt, Sebastian Thuriere; Wilmington – Shawn Nicklaw, Paul Nicholson.