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USL Championship Team of the Week – Week 16

By USLChampionship.com Staff, 06/28/22, 2:30PM EDT

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Sacramento Republic FC’s Maalique Foster earns Player of the Week for two-goal outing in comeback win

TAMPA, Fla. – The USL Championship announced the Team of the Week for Week 16 of the 2022 regular season on Tuesday, with Sacramento Republic FC forward Maalique Foster voted the Championship Player of the Week presented by Konami eFootball after recording both goals in Republic FC’s 2-1 comeback victory against NorCal rival Monterey Bay F.C. at Cardinale Stadium after coming on as a second-half substitute.

The Jamaican had played fewer than 100 minutes in the league this season due to injuries, with his lone prior goal a late winner against the New York Red Bulls II on May 8. Foster came on as a substitute with 25 minutes remaining in Monterey Bay with Sacramento trailing by a goal but turned the game around with two goals in three minutes, the first in the 74th minute as he broke onto a beautifully played pass by Rodrigo Lopez into the right side of the penalty area and finished low to the left corner. Two minutes later he notched the winner, rising high to head home a cross by Jack Gurr to send Republic FC to its fourth consecutive league win and fifth in a row in all competitions following its Quarterfinal victory in the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup last Tuesday night against the LA Galaxy.

Foster earned 59 percent of the ballot to claim the award. Memphis 901 FC’s Graham Smith finished second on 18 percent after scoring and helping 901 FC record a shutout in both of the club’s victories during Week 16 against FC Tulsa and Detroit City 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. 

GK – Colin Shutler, Orange County SC: Shutler marked his debut in the Championship with a key penalty kick save to keep OCSC level with Loudoun United FC early in the second half, part of a three-save performance in the club’s eventual 3-1 victory.

D – Owen Lambe, LA Galaxy II: Lambe had a strong two-way performance in Los Dos’ 3-1 victory at Miami FC, notching a pair of assists and four chances created while winning 5 of 6 duels, completing 3 of 3 dribbles and recording two interceptions and seven recoveries.

D – Alvaro Quezada, Las Vegas Lights FC: Quezada recorded the opening goal in Lights FC’s 3-2 victory against Phoenix Rising FC and completed 59 of 66 passes while making 10 recoveries, four interceptions and winning 3 of 3 tackles and 7 of 8 duels.

D – Graham Smith, Memphis 901 FC: Smith recorded goals in each of Memphis’ two victories over the week against FC Tulsa and Detroit City FC while helping the side record a pair of shutouts with seven clearances and three interceptions while winning 6 of 8 duels.

D – Jonathan Dean, Birmingham Legion FC: Dean delivered at both ends of the field in Birmingham’s 2-0 road win at New Mexico United, notching one assist and four chances created while winning 3 of 3 tackles and 4 of 6 duels defensively.

M – Danny Crisostomo, Las Vegas Lights FC: The central midfielder recorded two assists and eight chances created in Lights FC’s 3-2 win against Phoenix Rising FC on Friday night, while completing 73 of 78 passes and making 14 recoveries defensively.

M – Eric Calvillo, El Paso Locomotive FC: The El Salvador international recorded a pair of goals on three shots, and also notched three chances created while completing 28 of 34 passes overall to lead Locomotive FC’s 5-0 victory against the New York Red Bulls II.

M – Leo Fernandes, Tampa Bay Rowdies: Fernandes scored a pair of goals, giving him five in the past four games overall, and had four shots and eight recoveries as the Rowdies claimed a 5-2 victory at Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC, the first road win for Tampa Bay against the Hounds at Highmark Stadium.

F – Milan Iloski, Orange County SC: Iloski recorded a pair of goals as Orange County SC rallied from an early deficit to take a 3-1 victory against Loudoun United FC, finishing the game with four shots and one chance created.

F – JJ Williams, FC Tulsa: Williams scored both goals as Tulsa broke a six-game winless streak in a 2-1 victory on Saturday against the Charleston Battery, and finished the game with five shots while winning 4 of 6 aerial duels.

F – Maalique Foster, Sacramento Republic FC: The Jamaican forward came off the bench and scored two goals in three minutes to turn a one-goal deficit into a 2-1 win for Republic FC against NorCal rival Monterey Bay F.C. on Saturday night at Cardinale Stadium.

Bench: Richard Sanchez (LA), Jasser Khmiri (SA), Amadou Dia (LOU), Memo Diaz (OAK), Aaron Molloy (MEM), Josue Aaron Gomez (ELP), Kyle Vassell (SD)

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