The USL Championship announced the Week 21 Team of the Week today, with Rising goalkeeper Rocco Rios Novo earning an honorable mention for his six-save shutout against Monterey Bay on Saturday, July 29.
One of Rios Novo’s saves came on a penalty kick in the 53rd minute. The goalkeeper denied Monterey Bay’s Sam Gleadle with a diving save to his right side, preserving his third clean sheet of the season. Rios Novo also completed 60 passes with 88% accuracy on the night. He now ranks second in the USL Championship in saves with 65.
San Antonio FC forward Tani Oluwaseyi was voted the Championship Player of the Week presented by Konami eFootball after recording the first four-goal game in the league this season during San Antonio’s 5-2 victory against Hartford Athletic on Saturday night at Toyota Field.
The award is Oluwaseyi’s second of the season as he became the 12th player to record a four-goal game in the USL Championship’s regular season history. The 23-year-old struck twice in either half as SAFC pulled away for victory against Hartford, and in the process bagged his third hat trick of the season so far, equaling the league’s single-season record previously set by Louisville City FC’s Matt Fondy in the 2015 season. Oluwaseyi has now scored 13 goals this season in 12 appearances since arriving on loan from Minnesota United FC, moving him into first place in the race for the Championship Golden Boot, while scoring eight goals in the month of July.
Oluwaseyi earned 92 percent of the ballot to claim the award. Sacramento Republic FC’s Russell Cicerone earned the remaining eight percent after recording two goals and one assist in a pair of victories for the current Western Conference leaders against Phoenix Rising FC and Las Vegas Lights 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 21
GK – Paul Blanchette, Oakland Roots SC: Blanchette recorded 12 saves across two games, conceding only once for a -2.26 goals-minus-expected goals mark, as Oakland took four points to move into third place in the Western Conference.
D – Oscar Jimenez, Louisville City FC: The veteran defender recorded a pair of assists – surpassing 30 regular season assists for his career – and had five chances created overall while completing 7 of 13 crosses in LouCity’s 2-0 victory against Indy Eleven on Saturday night.
D – Forrest Lasso, Tampa Bay Rowdies: The three-time Championship Defender of the Year scored the opening goal in Tampa Bay’s 3-0 victory against FC Tulsa and had four shots overall as a set piece threat while winning 8 of 8 aerial duels and completing 51 of 58 passes.
D – Derek Dodson, Charleston Battery: Dodson scored the stoppage game-winner as the Battery rallied for a 2-1 victory against Birmingham Legion FC on Saturday and completed 28 of 35 passes and made four clearances and five recoveries defensively.
M – Jorge Hernandez, San Antonio FC: The 2021 All-League selection recorded two assists and seven chances created in San Antonio’s 5-2 victory against Hartford Athletic while completing 31 of 38 passes overall, winning 6 of 11 duels, and recording two interceptions and six recoveries.
M – Taylor Davila, Rio Grande Valley FC: Davila scored a pair of goals to lead the Toros to a 5-2 victory against Copa Tejas rival El Paso Locomotive FC while recording five shots overall and completing 31 of 36 passes at H-E-B Park.
M – Charlie Dennis, Tampa Bay Rowdies: The English midfielder recorded a goal and assist to help lead the Rowdies to a 3-0 win against FC Tulsa and completed 32 of 35 passes overall while recording three chances created and two shots while winning 3 of 5 duels defensively.
M – Jack Gurr, Sacramento Republic FC: Gurr recorded one goal and one assist in Sacramento’s 4-0 victory on Wednesday night against Phoenix Rising FC and across two games completed 37 of 55 passes while helping the side claim a pair of victories.
F – Tani Oluwaseyi, San Antonio FC: Oluwasyi recorded a four-goal game in San Antonio’s 5-2 victory against Hartford Athletic on Saturday night, the first since the 2019 season, and recorded 10 shots overall while notching three chances created and completing 4 of 4 dribbles.
F – Russell Cicerone, Sacramento Republic FC: Cicerone recorded two goals and one assist across two victories for Republic FC against Phoenix Rising FC and Las Vegas Lights FC while recording four shots on target and four chances created overall.
F – Augustine Williams, Charleston Battery: The Sierra Leone international notched both assists as Charleston rallied for a 2-1 victory against Birmingham Legion FC while completing 15 of 17 passes in a solid all-around display.
Bench: Rocco Rios Novo (PHX), Paco Craig (MIA), Joe Farrell (PIT), Rida Zouhir (SA), Keko (SAC), Milan Iloski (OC), Wilmer Cabrera Jr. (RGV)