The USL Championship announced today the Team of the Week for Week 5 of the 2023 regular season with Phoenix Rising FC’s Carlos Harvey and Gabi Torres earning a spot on the team via their efforts in the club’s 2-1 win in Birmingham on Sunday.
Harvey scored the game-winning goal for Phoenix and won 12 of 14 duels. The goal was his second of the week. Harvey scored the game-winner in Rising’s 1-0 win against Greenville Triumph in U.S. Open Cup play on Wednesday, April 5. Torres, who assisted on Harvey’s goal in the 66th minute of Sunday’s match, created two chances in 74 minutes of action. He now leads Rising in assists with two.
Monterey Bay, who Rising faces this Saturday, April 15, had Christian Volesky named USL Championship Player of the Week presented by Konami eFootball after recording two goals and one assist in his side’s 4-2 victory against New Mexico United on April 8 at Cardinale Stadium.
Volesky becomes the second Monterey Bay player to earn Player of the Week honors this season following Alex Dixon in Week 1 as that duo combined with Sam Gleadle for a brilliant attacking showing against New Mexico. Volesky bagged both of Monterey Bay’s goals in the second half, capitalizing on a quick break off a pass from Mobi Fehr five minutes into the second half before capping the display with 19 minutes to go off a clever backheeled assist by fellow Team of the Week selection Gleadle. The 30-year-old had previously set up Gleadle for his first-half tally as MBFC took its second league win of the season.
Volesky earned 36 percent of the ballot to claim the award. Oakland Roots SC goalkeeper Paul Blanchette and Phoenix Rising FC’s Carlos Harvey finished tied for second on 21 percent after Blanchette posted a six-save shutout in Roots SC’s 3-0 win at Indy Eleven, and Harvey produced a stellar display that included the game-winning goal in Rising FC’s 2-1 victory at Birmingham Legion FC.
The Championship’s Player of the Week is selected by the USL National Media Panel, which is made up of representatives from each media market in the Championship.
USL Championship Team of the Week – Week 5
GK – Paul Blanchette, Oakland Roots SC: Blanchette recorded a six-save shutout as Oakland took a 3-0 victory on the road against Indy Eleven, including three saves on shots inside the penalty area, while also claiming four crosses.
D – Gabriel Alves, Birmingham Legion FC: Alves produced an impressive individual performance in Birmingham’s loss to Phoenix, scoring Legion FC’s second-half goal while winning 10 of 13 duels and 4 of 6 tackles and recording three interceptions and 11 recoveries.
D – Lamar Batista, San Antonio FC: The center back continued his strong start to the season with an impressive defensive display in SAFC’s 0-0 draw with Sacramento Republic FC, winning 6 of 7 aerial duels and 2 of 2 tackles while making 13 recoveries, six clearances and three interceptions.
D – Joshua Wynder, Louisville City FC: Wynder was hard to beat defensively for Detroit City FC, winning 7 of 7 duels and 3 of 3 aerial duels while making nine recoveries and two interceptions in his side’s 1-0 victory at Lynn Family Stadium.
M – Denys Kostyshyn, El Paso Locomotive FC: The Ukrainian put in a strong two-way performance in El Paso’s 1-0 win against Orange County SC, recording six chances created, two shots and completing 3 of 4 dribbles while defensively making 10 recoveries and winning 9 of 14 duels.
M – Carlos Harvey, Phoenix Rising FC: The Panamanian international scored the game-winning goal as Phoenix took its first win of the season against Birmingham Legion FC and was a force throughout, completing 43 of 50 passes, winning 5 of 7 tackles and 12 of 14 duels.
M – Lindo Mfeka, Oakland Roots SC: The South African playmaker scored the opening goal in Oakland’s 3-0 victory against Indy Eleven and was sharp on the ball, completing 24 of 28 passes while also winning 4 of 6 duels.
M – Chris Wehan, New Mexico United: Wehan recorded his 50th regular season goal in United’s defeat in Monterey Bay and put in a positive individual display as he made 15 recoveries in midfield and won possession five times in the attacking third of the field.
F – Sam Gleadle, Monterey Bay F.C.: The English forward recorded one goal and two assists for his side in its win against New Mexico United, recording three chances created and three shots overall, and capping the night with a clever backheeled assist.
F – Christian Voleskey, Monterey Bay F.C.: The veteran forward recorded two goals and one assist in Monterey Bay’s victory against New Mexico United, scoring on both shots on target while completing 12 of 18 passes.
F – Nick Markanich, Charleston Battery: The 23-year-old scored once and had a strong all-around performance as the Battery took a 3-2 win against Hartford Athletic, recording five shots and two chances created while winning 7 of 12 duels and completing 16 of 19 passes.
Bench: Benny Diaz (ELP), Elijah Martin (SD), Mobi Fehr (MB), Conner Antley (TBR), Gabriel Torres (PHX), Dariusz Formella (OAK), Luis Solignac (ELP)