The USL Championship announced the Team of the Week for Week 6 of the 2022 regular season on Tuesday, with Phoenix Rising FC goalkeeper Ben Lundt voted the Championship Player of the Week presented by Konami eFootball following a standout five-save shutout that played a decisive role in Rising FC’s 1-0 victory against New Mexico United on Saturday night at Wild Horse Pass.
Previously voted the Championship’s Goalkeeper of the Year in 2020, Lundt delivered one of the best goalkeeping performances of the season on Saturday, making crucial saves early and late as Phoenix took its third consecutive victory in league action. The five-save display was capped in second-half stoppage time when he denied New Mexico’s Chris Wehan from the penalty spot with a low, diving save to his right to seal his second clean sheet of the season. Lundt now leads the Championship with 19 saves this campaign.
Lundt earned 53 percent of the ballot to claim the award. Fellow goalkeeper Nathan Steinwascher of Detroit City FC finished second with 18 percent of the ballot after a stellar four-save shutout in DCFC’s 1-0 victory against Birmingham Legion FC on Friday night.
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 6
GK – Ben Lundt, Phoenix Rising FC: Lundt recorded a five-save shutout that included a stoppage-time penalty kick save that capped a performance in which he produced a -1.54 Goals minus Expected Goals mark as Phoenix defeated New Mexico United 1-0 at Wild Horse Pass.
D – Emrah Klimenta, Oakland Roots SC: The former Montenegro international produced the assist on Roots SC’s game-tying goal in stoppage time in its 2-2 draw with San Diego Loyal SC on Wednesday night, then notched a goal, completed 42 of 50 passes and made 13 recoveries in a 4-1 win against Loudoun United FC on Saturday for Oakland’s first win of the season.
D – Fabien Garcia, San Antonio FC: Garcia played a key role in San Antonio’s 1-0 win against Copa Tejas rival El Paso Locomotive FC, recording six clearances and 12 recoveries defensively, and also hit the woodwork with his lone shot of the contest.
D – Wesley Charpie, Louisville City FC: Charpie scored late in the first half of LouCity’s 5-2 victory against San Diego Loyal SC to give the visitors a lead they wouldn’t relinquish and defensively made four interceptions and three clearances.
M – Nicky Law, Indy Eleven: The English midfielder recorded a goal and assist while ending the game with two shots and four chances created as Indy grabbed a late 2-1 victory against Atlanta United 2 at Michael A. Carroll Stadium.
M – Rhys Williams, Detroit City FC: Williams put in a strong defensive performance in midfield in DCFC’s 1-0 win against Birmingham Legion FC, winning 14 of 20 duels and 7 of 8 tackles while making four interceptions and 15 recoveries.
M – Aaron Molloy, Memphis 901 FC: The Irish midfielder had a goal and assist and completed 34 of 46 passes overall while defensively he won 3 of 3 tackles and made three interceptions and seven recoveries as 901 FC handed Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC its first loss of the season.
M – Edgardo Rito, Oakland Roots SC: The Venezuelan had a goal and assist as Oakland claimed its first win of the season in a 4-1 win against Loudoun United FC and had four chances created while completing 23 of 32 passes overall.
M – Duhaney Williams, LA Galaxy II: The Jamaican newcomer had a goal and assist in Los Dos’ 3-1 victory against Monterey Bay F.C. and notched two chances created overall while making five recoveries and completing 15 of 21 passes.
F – Danny Trejo, Las Vegas Lights FC: Trejo continued his strong start to the season, scoring his sixth goal of the campaign on his lone shot while also completing 28 of 33 passes and winning 2 of 3 tackles in Lights FC’s 1-0 win against Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC.
F – Michael Salazar, LA Galaxy II: The Belizean forward recorded a goal and assist, had four shots and three chances created overall, and completed 21 of 26 passes in the Galaxy II’s 3-1 victory against Monterey Bay F.C. on Saturday night.
Bench: Nathan Steinwascher (DET), Mark Segbers (MIA), Laurence Wyke (TBR), Juan Carlos Azocar (OAK), Damia Viader (SAC), Lewis Hilton (TBR), Greg Hurst (PHX).