If you think about it for a moment, what Rocco Ríos Novo continues to do for Phoenix Rising FC is staggering.

What’s more, he’s doing it as a 21-year-old who’s finally in his last year of eligibility for the Championship’s Young Player of the Year award.

The Argentine U-23 international – again with Rising on loan from historic club Lanus this season – pulled out another sterling display to add to his highlight reel on Saturday night. Ríos Novo’s 10-save shutout against Las Vegas Lights FC not only stole a point for Phoenix at Cashman Field, but it set a new individual single-game high for his career and served as the Championship’s single-game high in saves this season.

For the Los Angeles native, this sort of thing isn’t anything new.

We saw flashes of it when he was on loan with Atlanta United 2 during the 2021 season. Yes, his goals-against average of 1.85 and save percentage of 67 percent weren’t great, but even then he was outperforming the underlying numbers with a -3.46 Goals Prevented mark.

Last season as he joined a Rising squad with more experience and a better structure, all of the numbers got better. Ríos Novo was busy, posting a 73.08 save percentage of 116 saves across the regular season and playoffs while his goals-against average dropped to 1.14 across the regular season and playoffs. His Goals Prevented mark? An outstanding -6.58.

Here are some of the other young players that stood out over the past week’s action

- Elijah Wynder, Louisville City FC – The 21-year-old midfielder notched his third goal of the season – equaling his total from a season ago – with a deft header against Miami FC and won 17 of 27 duels and 4 of 5 tackles in 163 minutes across two wins for LouCity.

- Shawn Smart, Las Vegas Lights FC – The 20-year-old right back had another impressive two-way showing, being denied by Ríos Novo in the first half and posting four shots and two chances created overall while winning 12 of 17 ground duels and 2 of 2 tackles.

- Kobe Hernandez-Foster, Birmingham Legion FC – The 20-year-old midfielder notched his first assist for Legion and was solid in the center of the park against El Paso, winning one tackle, one duel and making seven recoveries

- Bryce Jamison, Orange County SC – The United States youth international bagged the game-winner for OCSC against Detroit City FC for his first goal this season, and also completed 4 of 4 passes and won 4 of 6 duels in 18 minutes of action.

 - Josh O’Brien, Indy Eleven – The 21-year-old center back scored his first goal for the Boys in Blue and won 4 of 6 duels and 2 of 2 tackles defensively as the side won its sixth consecutive league outing.