TAMPA, Fla. – The USL Championship announced the Team of the Week for Week 15 of the 2023 regular season on Tuesday, with Charleston Battery forward Nick Markanicch voted the Championship Player of the Week presented by Konami eFootball after scoring a pair of goals in his side’s comeback 4-3 victory against Hartford Athletic on Saturday night at Trinity Health Stadium.

An offseason arrival, Markanich produced a return to form in his best performance since being sidelined with an injury in May with a pair of brilliant finishes as he ended the night with five shots overall. The 23-year-old struck first two minutes before halftime with a perfectly-placed free kick into the top-right corner of the net from 20 yards, and then fired home a finish in the 64th minute that sparked a three-goal comeback that was capped by AJ Paterson’s highlight-reel strike in the final minute. The result sent the Battery back to the top of the USL Championship’s Eastern Conference as the side claimed its fifth road win in seven outings so far this season.

Markanich earned 47 percent of the ballot to claim the award. Detroit City FC’s Ben Morris finished second on 40 percent after a breakout game that saw him record two goals and one assist in Le Rouge’s 3-1 victory against Hartford Athletic on Wednesday night.

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 – Antony Siaha, Monterey Bay F.C.: The Cameroonian recorded a five-save shutout and made five punched clearances as Monterey Bay took a 1-0 victory against Sacramento Republic FC, the first home defeat suffered by Republic FC in the league this season.

D – Carter Manley, San Antonio FC: Manley found the net in SAFC’s 2-2 draw on the road against San Diego Loyal SC and made two interceptions, three clearances and seven recoveries for the visitors at Torero Stadium.

D – Erik McCue, El Paso Locomotive FC: McCue scored the game-winning goal in Locomotive FC’s 2-1 win against Las Vegas Lights FC and was stellar defensively as the side took four points from two games, recording 15 clearances and winning 11 of 14 duels.

D – Morey Doner, Monterey Bay F.C.: Doney helped Monterey Bay claim a 1-0 victory on the road against Sacramento Republic FC, recording the assist on the lone goal of the game and winning 2 of 2 tackles and 4 of 6 duels while making five recoveries for the visitors at Heart Health Park.

M – Alejandro Guido, San Diego Loyal SC: Guido recorded one goal and had four shots and three chances created overall in SD Loyal’s 2-2 draw with San Antonio FC while winning 3 of 4 tackles and 7 of 11 duels in an impressive all-around display.

M – Arturo Rodriguez, Charleston Battery: Rodriguez helped drive the Battery’s comeback victory against Hartford, completing 56 of 62 passes and 8 of 8 dribbles while also winning 10 of 13 duels and 2 of 2 aerial duels defensively.

M – Justin Portillo, New Mexico United: Portillo put in a strong all-around display, completing 71 of 79 passes while winning 2 of 3 tackles and 4 of 4 duels defensively, that was capped by a stellar free kick in the first half to help New Mexico earn a 2-2 draw with Rio Grande Valley FC.

M – Christian Sorto, Miami FC: The El Salvador international shone in a losing outing for Miami, scoring a spectacular long-range free kick and recording four shots while completing 4 of 5 dribbles. Sorto also won 4 of 6 duels and made eight recoveries defensively.

F – Ben Morris, Detroit City FC: The English forward broke out with two goals and one assist as Le Rouge took a 3-1 victory against Hartford Athletic on Wednesday night as he recorded four shots and two chances created overall and completed 26 of 31 passes.

F – Nick Markanich, Charleston Battery: Markanich scored a pair of goals to help lead the Battery back from a two-goal deficit to a 4-3 victory against Hartford Athletic, ending the night with five shots and one chance created while winning 2 of 2 tackles.

F – Kyle Edwards, Hartford Athletic: The St. Vincent and Grenadines international scored a pair of goals in Hartford’s defeat against the Charleston Battery on Saturday and over two games had five shots and two chances created while completing 2 of 3 dribbles.

Bench – Luis Zamudio (PIT), Markus Nakkim (OC), Rhys Williams (DET), Anderson Asiedu (BHM), Taylor Davila (RGV), Connor Maloney (SA), Milan Iloski (OC)