USL PRO News Release
Tuesday, July 1, 2014
TAMPA, Fla. – USL PRO named its Team of the Week for Week 15 of the 2014 season on Tuesday as Orlando City forward Corey Hertzog was named Player of the Week. Hertzog had a pair of goals as the Lions maintained their undefeated start to the season with a 3-0 victory against the LA Galaxy II on Saturday night at ESPN Wide World of Sports.
Hertzog’s movement put him in positive positions to score throughout the game against the Galaxy II, and he was on hand to put home a first-time finish from close range after a good piece of combination play by Adama Mbengue and Luke Boden set up Orlando’s opening goal. Fellow Team of the Week selection Kevin Molino then set up Hertzog’s second, another first-time finish after a beautiful heel-flick pass from the Trinidad & Tobago international, who later added his league-leading 11th goal of the season to wrap up victory.
OKC Energy FC also had a pair of players selected to the Team of the Week as midfielder Mikey Lopez and defender Mark Howard were both named after their side’s 2-0 win against Sacramento Republic FC. Howard was solid defensively as goalkeeper Jon Kempin had to make only one save, and headed home powerfully to give his side the lead. Lopez was influential throughout, and was rewarded with his first professional goal as OKC moved into the playoff positions.
Lopez and Molino were joined in the Team of the Week midfield by Charlotte’s Wells Thompson, who had the assist on both of the Eagles’ goals as they took four points from two games in Harrisburg and Rochester. Wilmington’s Tom Parratt completed the quartet after his goal gave the Hammerheads the lead in their 1-1 draw with Richmond. Orange County’s Allan Russell joined Hertzog in attack after his penalty kick and energetic play powered the Blues to a comeback 3-2 victory against Arizona on Saturday night.
The Kickers’ Hugh Roberts lined up alongside Howard in the defensive group, as the former Baltimore Bohemians standout first professional goal earned Richmond a point in Wilmington, while Sacramento’s Emrah Klimenta’s also bagged his first professional goal to give Republic FC a 1-0 win against Arizona United. Harrisburg’s Coady Andrews rounded out the group after his 90th-minute header earned the City Islanders a 1-1 draw with Charlotte, and Dayton’s Matt Williams claimed the goalkeeper position after a five-save shutout for the Dutch Lions in their 1-0 win against Pittsburgh.
The USL PRO season continues on Tuesday night as the Dayton Dutch Lions FC and Pittsburgh Riverhounds complete their home-and-home series at DOC Stadium at 7 p.m. ET. The holiday weekend of action then kicks off on Thursday night as Wilmington Hammerheads FC hosts Orlando City SC at Legion Stadium at 7:30 p.m. ET, while the Fourth of July brings a west-coast doubleheader as the LA Galaxy II host Arizona United SC at 7 p.m. ET, and Sacramento Republic FC host the Orange County Blues FC at 10:30 p.m. ET.
Every game of the 2014 USL PRO season can be seen live on YouTube, with live updates also available via Twitter (@USLPRO), Facebook and Google+. Stay up to date with news, previews and match reports from throughout the league via USLPROSoccer.com.
USL PRO Team of the Week
Honorable Mention – Arizona: Paolo DelPiccolo, Kadeem Dacres; Charlotte: Fred Sekyere, Alec Kann; Dayton: Eli Garner, Guilherme Felix; Harrisburg: Danny DiPrima; LA Galaxy II: Bradley Diallo; Oklahoma City: Kyle Greig, Kyle Miller; Orange County: Andrew Hoxie, Josh Suggs; Orlando: Cobi Span, Luke Boden; Pittsburgh: Jose Angulo, Sterling Flunder; Richmond: Matt Delicate, Conor Shanosky; Rochester: Alec Sundly, JC Banks; Sacramento: Rodrigo Lopez, Justin Braun; Wilmington: Paul Nicholson, Christian Davidson.