Hansen and Brooks Players of the Week
TAMPA, FL – United Soccer Leagues announced the USL First Division and USL Second Division Teams of the Week for the 14th week of the season, honoring California Victory’s Josh Hansen and Crystal Palace Baltimore’s Gary Brooks as the Players of the Week, respectively.
Forward Josh Hansen was a critical element in California’s three-game schedule this week, posting two goals and an assist in a win at home and two draws on the road.
The week started off well on at home Tuesday night when Hansen set up midfielder Federico Bianchi in the 39
th
minute for what proved to be the game-winner, ending the four-game win streak of the visiting Atlanta Silverbacks 1-0.
The expansion side then hit the road to visit the tropics and in another pair of one-goal games for the Victory, Hansen provided both in a pair of 1-1 draws. Ten minutes after Puerto Rico took the 1-0 lead Friday, Hansen beat three defenders on the left end line and sent a shot past an onrushing Josh Saunders from a narrow angle for the equalizer in the 77
th
.
Two nights later in Miami Hansen put the visitors on the board just four minutes into the match, scoring from a similar angle from two nights prior. An own goal from teammate Yuri Morales spoiled a potential win, but the draw moved the Victory off the bottom of the table for the first time on the year.
A new addition to Crystal Palace Baltimore just a few weeks ago, USL-1 veteran Gary Brooks is proving an immediate impact as helped lead the club to three wins on the road last week with three goals and an assist along the way.
The week started in Bermuda Monday, where Brooks struck twice in the first half in the 28
th
and 40
th
minutes to give Palace the lead. The Hogges were only able to reply with one as their fellow expansion side held on for the 2-1 victory.
On Friday against Western Mass, the Pioneers and Palace appeared to be headed toward a scoreless stalemate when defender Alex Ughiovhe found the Jamaican striker in the 89
th
minute for the game-winner.
The following night in New Hampshire it was nearly an identical storyline only with Brooks providing the assistance on the 89
th
minute winner to midfielder Sean Rush, who had entered the game just two minutes prior. The victory moved Palace, in the midst of a four-game unbeaten run, up to fifth in the table. The club has lost only one game in their last 12.
USL First Division Team of the Week | ||||
Pos | Name | Team | Highlights | |
G | Nic Platter | Minnesota | Ten saves in 1-1 draw against Minnesota | |
D | Tim Karalexis | Charleston | Led team to 2-0 win over Portland | |
D | Simon Gatti | Montreal | Led team in 1-1 draw at Minnesota | |
D | Marco Velez | Puerto Rico | Led team to pair of wins | |
D | Chris Schwarze | California | Led team to win and two road draws | |
M | Tom Poltl | Portland | Assist in 2-1 win over Vancouver | |
M | Noah Delgado | Puerto Rico | Two goals in 3-1 win over Carolina | |
M | Roger Levesque | Seattle | Goal, assist in 3-2 win at Rochester | |
F | Sean Fraser | Miami | Two assists in 2-1 win over Carolina | |
F | Josh Hansen | California | Two goals, assist in win and two road draws | |
F | Chris Bagley | Portland | Goal, assist in pair of wins |
USL Second Division Team of the Week | ||||
Pos | Name | Team | Highlights | |
G | Brian Rowland | CP Baltimore | Ten saves, 1 GA in three road wins | |
D | Richard Moodie | Cincinnati | Goal, led team in 1-0 win over Richmond | |
D | Alex Ughiovhe | CP Baltimore | Assist in 1-0 win at Western Mass | |
D | Evan Harding | Cleveland | Led team in pair of draws | |
M | David Schofield | Harrisburg | Goal in 2-1 win over Cincinnati | |
M | Kwame Steed | Bermuda | Led team in 0-0 draw against Cleveland | |
M | Adam Moffat | Cleveland | Goal in 1-1 draw against Richmond | |
M | Sascha Gorres | Richmond | Led team in 1-1 draw at Cleveland | |
F | Patrick Daka | Charlotte | Goal in 1-0 win over Wilmington | |
F | Gary Brooks | CP Baltimore | Three goals, assist in three road wins | |
F | Nathan Micklos | Cincinnati | Two goals in win and loss |
* Players of the Week