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USL Championship Team of the Week – Week 5

By USLChampionship.com Staff, 04/09/24, 2:30PM EDT

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Louisville City FC’s Wilson Harris voted Player of the Week after first career hat trick in nationally televised victory against Indy Eleven

TAMPA, Fla. – The USL Championship announced the Team of the Week for Week 5 of the 2024 regular season on Tuesday, with Louisville City FC forward Wilson Harris voted the Championship Player of the Week presented by Konami eFootball after he recorded his first hat trick in the USL Championship to lead LouCity to a 5-3 victory against LIPAFC rival Indy Eleven in the first USL game to air on network television on CBS this past Saturday.

The 2020 Championship Young Player of the Year, Harris has made a phenomenal start to the 2024 season which continued this past Saturday. The 24-year-old opened the scoring for Louisville in the 16th minute with a precise finish to the far post from the left side of the penalty area, and then struck twice more in the second half to lead LouCity to its fourth consecutive win to start the new season.

Harris has recorded seven goals in four appearances this season at a strike rate of a goal every 46.7 minutes entering Tuesday night’s rematch of the Eastern Conference Final of the 2023 USL Championship Playoffs against the Charleston Battery on CBS Sports Network.

“This is a kid that came in this offseason with a point to prove,” said LouCity Head Coach Danny Cruz on Saturday. “His preseason was phenomenal. He's a part of our leadership group for a reason because he showed me the growth that he has had in the offseason and really what he's building towards.”

Harris earned 88 percent of the ballot to claim the award. Las Vegas Lights FC’s Shawn Smart finished second on 12 percent after scoring the decisive goal in Las Vegas’ 1-0 victory against San Antonio FC, the club’s third consecutive victory and its first against San Antonio since the 2019 season.

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 – Jackson Lee, Rhode Island FC: The Australian recorded the first shutout in Rhode Island FC history with a six-save performance to earn a scoreless draw against the Charleston Battery at Beirne Stadium.

D – Shawn Smart, Las Vegas Lights FC: The 20-year-old right back scored the decisive goal as Las Vegas defeated San Antonio FC for the first time since 2019 while also completing 2 of 2 dribbles and winning 9 of 10 duels overall.

D – Alexis Souahy, FC Tulsa: The Comoros international scored once, completed 42 of 47 passes and won 3 of 4 aerial duels while making two clearances, two interceptions and six recoveries in his side’s 3-3 draw with Phoenix Rising FC.

D – Emrah Klimenta, Las Vegas Lights FC: The former Montenegro center back recorded four interceptions and 10 recoveries while winning 6 of 8 duels as Las Vegas posted its third consecutive shutout – a club first – in its 1-0 win against San Antonio FC.

M – Edwin Laszo, FC Tulsa: The Colombian made a sparkling debut for his new club, scoring once and hitting the crossbar with a long-range effort while taking five shots overall and winning 3 of 4 tackles and 12 of 18 duels overall defensively.

M – Jack Blake, Indy Eleven: The English midfielder scored twice in a losing cause for the Boys in Blue against Louisville City FC and recorded five shots overall while winning 3 of 4 tackles and 7 of 10 duels and making seven recoveries.

M – Justin Portillo, FC Tulsa: The veteran midfielder notched two assists in Tulsa’s 3-3 draw with Phoenix Rising FC on Friday night while also completing 65 of 74 passes overall, notching four chances created and winning 2 of 3 tackles and 3 of 4 duels defensively.

M – Jansen Wilson, Louisville City FC: The local product scored his first professional goal to restore LouCity’s lead late in the first half against Indy Eleven and completed 27 of 33 passes while recording four interceptions and 12 recoveries in midfield.

F – Russell Cicerone, Sacramento Republic FC: The right winger recorded a goal and assist in Sacramento’s 2-0 victory against Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC while completing 22 of 26 passes overall and recording three shots and three chances created at Weidner Field.

F – Wilson Harris, Louisville City FC: The current Golden Boot leader continued his remarkable start to the season with his first professional hat trick and also notched an assist in LouCity’s 5-3 victory against Indy Eleven on Saturday afternoon.

F – Ray Serrano, Louisville City FC: The 21-year-old continued his sterling start to the season with a pair of assists against Indy Eleven to move into a tie for the league-lead and had four chances created and two shots overall while winning 5 of 6 ground duels.

Coach – Dennis Sanchez, Las Vegas Lights FC: Sanchez’s side took its third consecutive victory, equaling a club high set in 2022, and recorded its third consecutive shutout – a first in club history – as it dropped San Antonio FC from the ranks of the undefeated with a 1-0 win at Cashman Field.

Bench: Eric Dick (PIT), Triston Hodge (HFD), Lee Desmond (SAC), Adrien Perez (LOU), Marco Micaletto (NM), Remi Cabral (PHX), Deshane Beckford (HFD)

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