Menyongar and Khumalo Players of the Week
TAMPA, FL – United Soccer Leagues announced the USL First Division and USL Second Division Team of the Week honors Tuesday for Week 14 of the season, honoring Rochester’s Johnny Menyongar and Pittsburgh’s Boyzzz Khumalo as the Players of the Week, respectively.
After spending much of the first half of the season at or near the bottom of the cellar, the Rhinos have made a two-week run from last place to a tie for third, winning twice on the road in the past week with veteran USL-1 midfielder/forward Johnny Menyongar leading the charge with a goal and two assists.
Rochester got onto the board on a counterattack at the outset of the 15th minute. Johnny Menyongar gained control of the ball about a third of the way into Seattle’s zone and sent it to a streaking Luke Kreamalmeyer down the right wing side. Easily catching up to it behind the Sounders defense, Kreamalmeyer took it into the right side of the box. From about 15 yards away, he fired a shallow shot that flew across the goalmouth just out of the reach of goalkeeper Chris Eylander, caught the inside of the left post and bounced into the net in the 15th minute.
Leighton O'Brien would equalize two minutes later, but Menyongar responded in the 25th minute when he stole the ball from Kenji Treschuk in the defensive third and drove 15 yards up the middle to the box before dishing it to his left to an open Andrew Gregor. Gregor calmly put away what proved to hold as the winner, his first goal as a Rhino. The result was the first regular season defeat for the Sounders in club history at Starfire.
Two nights later against his former side, Menyongar personally delivered the blow that maintained Minnesota's status of last place. In the 19th minute, Menyonger scored for the Rhinos after a cross from Luke Kreamalmeyer. Menyonger volleyed the ball into the net, scoring the only goal of the game.
After spending most of the season in last place, the Riverhounds have made strides to move up the table and posted two victories on the week that lifted them to eighth place, keeping them in hunt for the sixth playoff spot held by Western Mass six points away. Boyzzz Khumalo provided three of the four goals.
Pittsburgh opened the weekend with a 2-0 draw over the Bermuda Hogges Saturday with Khumalo scoring unassisted in the sixth minute and tallying again in the 77
th
to secure the victory.
The following night the Riverhounds surprised playoff contenders Crystal Palace 2-1 with Jason Kutney giving the Hounds the initial lead right before the break and Crystal Palace Baltimore evening in the 72
nd
minute.
But Khumalo took the kickoff after the Palace goal and drove straight down the middle. He split two Baltimore defenders, slipped into the 18-yard box, and bodied home his fifth goal of the season in the 73rd minute.
USL First Division Team of the Week |
| Pos | Name | Team | Highlights |
| G
| Scott Vallow
| Rochester
| One goal allowed in two road wins
|
| D
| Stefano Pesoli
| Montreal
| Goal in 3-1 win over Miami
|
| D
| Scott Jones
| Puerto Rico
| Led team in 2-0 win at Carolina
|
| D
| Danny Earls
| Rochester
| Assist in 3-1 win at Seattle
|
| M
| Lawrence Olum
| Portland
| Goal in 1-1 draw at Atlanta
|
| M | Johnny Menyongar | Rochester | Goal, two assists in two road wins |
| M
| Stephan Armstrong
| Charleston
| Goal in 2-0 win over Puerto Rico
|
| M
| Luke Kreamalmeyer
| Rochester
| Goal, assist in two road wins
|
| M
| Scott Buete
| Atlanta
| Goal in 1-1 draw against Portland
|
| F
| Fabrice Noel
| Puerto Rico
| Goal in 2-0 win at Puerto Rico
|
| F
| Severino Jefferson
| Montreal
| Goal in 3-1 win over Miami
|
USL Second Division Team of the Week |
| Pos | Name | Team | Highlights |
| G
| Andrew Keszler
| Pittsburgh
| Nine saves in 2-1 win over Crystal Palace
|
| D
| Shintaro Harada
| Crystal Palace
| Goal in 2-0 win over Western Mass
|
| D
| Trevor McEachron
| Richmond
| Led team in 3-1 win over Cleveland
|
| D
| Ben Clark
| Wilmington
| Goal in 5-2 win over Real Maryland
|
| M
| Justin Evans
| Pittsburgh
| Led team in 2-1 win over Crystal Palace
|
| M
| Joe Germanese
| Western Mass
| Goal in 2-2 draw at Harrisburg
|
| M
| Mo Oduor
| Harrisburg
| Goal, assist in 2-2 draw against Western Mass
|
| M
| Sascha Gorres
| Richmond
| Led team in 3-1 win over Cleveland
|
| F
| Jamie Holmes
| Wilmington
| Two goals, assist in 5-2 win over Real Maryland
|
| F
| Jorge Herrera
| Charlotte
| Five assists in 8-0 win over Real Maryland
|
| F | Boyzzz Khumalo | Pittsburgh | Three goals in pair of wins |