TAMPA, Fla. – Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC midfielder Shane Malcolm has been voted the USL Championship Player of the Week for Week 1 of the 2019 season. The Guam international recorded the first hat trick of the new season as the Switchbacks romped to a 4-1 victory against the LA Galaxy II on Saturday night at Dignity Health Sports Park.
Malcolm received 43 percent of the poll conducted by a national panel of independent media representing every USL Championship market. OKC Energy FC forward Deshorn Brown finished second with 35 percent after tallying twice in his side’s 3-1 victory on the road against El Paso Locomotive FC.
GK – Brendan Moore, ATL UTD 2: Moore recorded a six-save shutout as Atlanta opened its season with a 2-0 victory against Hartford Athletic.
D – Phanuel Kavita, Saint Louis FC: Kavita scored the game-tying goal and recorded six clearances as STLFC rallied for victory against Indy Eleven.
D – Papé Diakité, Tampa Bay Rowdies: The center back recorded 13 clearances, won 11 of 12 duels and 8 of 9 aerial duels as the Rowdies earned a road shutout in Memphis.
D – Alex Cooper, Fresno FC: Cooper recorded the assist on the Foxes’ goal, finished with three key passes overall and won 3 of 4 duels in Fresno’s 1-1 draw with New Mexico.
M – Zach Zandi, Bethlehem Steel FC: Zandi scored the second goal in Steel FC’s victory against Birmingham while also completing 37 of 42 passes in his professional debut.
M – Tommy McCabe, North Carolina FC: McCabe notched what proved to be the winner on his professional debut in NCFC’s 4-1 win against Louisville and completed 30 of 34 passes overall.
M – Shane Malcolm, Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC: Malcolm recorded the first hat trick of the 2019 season as the Switchbacks swept to a 4-1 win against the LA Galaxy II
M – Billy Forbes, San Antonio FC: Forbes scored a fine goal, recorded two key passes and completed 12 of 14 passes overall in SAFC’s 3-3 draw with Phoenix Rising FC.
F – Tom Barlow, New York Red Bulls II: Barlow struck twice as the Red Bulls II opened the season with a 3-1 win against the Swope Park Rangers
F – Deshorn Brown, OKC Energy FC: Brown scored the second-fastest goal in Championship history after just 12 seconds, then added a second in a 3-1 win against El Paso Locomotive FC.
F – Devon Sandoval, New Mexico United: Albuquerque native Sandoval scored the first goal in New Mexico’s history as the expansion side earned a 1-1 draw with Fresno FC.
Bench: David Ochoa (SLC), Jordan Burt (COS), Matt LaGrassa (NSH), Marcus Epps (NY), Shandon Hopeau (TAC), Marios Lomis (NC), Junior Flemmings (PHX)
Tag(s): News Team of the Week Nashville SC San Antonio FC CO Spring Switchbacks OKC Energy FC Phoenix Rising FC Real Monarchs SLC Philadelphia Union II New York Red Bulls II Saint Louis FC Tampa Bay Rowdies Jordan Burt Shane Malcolm Billy Forbes Matt LaGrassa Junior Flemmings Deshorn Brown Shandon Hopeau Marcus Epps Fresno FC David Ochoa Atlanta United 2 North Carolina FC Marios Lomis Phanuel Kavita Alex Cooper Tom Barlow Devon Sandoval New Mexico United Papé Diakité Tacoma Defiance Zach Zandi Tommy McCabe Brendan Moore