The past week of action in the USL Championship saw a notable debut for one of the league’s top defensive prospects, and some impressive all-around displays in the battle for the postseason race among the 45 players aged 22 and younger who featured in Week 22 of the regular season.

Here are seven players who stood out, leading off with one of the players who continues to lead one of the impressive turnaround seasons in the USL Championship this year.

Abdellatif AboukourA, Loudoun United FC

There are a handful of players who could be termed as the faces of Loudoun United FC’s shift into playoff contention this season, but 19-year-old attacking midfielder Abdellatif Aboukoura is certainly among them.

Aboukoura delivered another bright display in United’s 4-1 victory against Miami FC on Saturday night at Segra Field, converting from the penalty spot just before halftime to start the side’s comeback to take an important victory that sent Loudoun into sixth place in the Eastern Conference standings, only two points off a top-four spot.

The goal was Aboukoura’s fifth of the season, surpassing his total two seasons ago when he last featured for Loudoun as a USL Academy signing, but there’s much more that he’s bringing to the table this season. In addition to a game-high five shots, Aboukoura completed 26 of 27 passes and had one chance created.

With the side having lost only once in its last 11 league outings, there’s a positive feeling around Segra Field that Aboukoura’s personality is helping lift in training and on gameday, too.

“Just playing with a smile on my face, it helps with the guys that are on the field as well as the team overall,” he said on Saturday night. “Everyone is just enjoying the grind and enjoying the days. That helps me as well.”

Chibi Ukaegbu, Sacramento Republic FC

The United States youth international was called on for his USL Championship debut early in Republic FC’s clash against Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC on Saturday night, and while the night didn’t go to plan for the hosts at Heart Health Park it felt like a positive overall outing for the 17-year-old center back.

Having made his First Team debut for the club earlier this season in the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup, Ukaegbu recorded four interceptions, four recoveries and three clearances against the Hounds after coming on in the 19th minute for Shane Wiedt. He also won 3 of 5 duels and one tackle and sounded ready to deliver more when the opportunity comes.

“I've been training for this day, every day in training,” said Ukaegbu postgame. “I think for us young players, it’s just a chance for us to get the opportunity to bring a shock factor to the game. Show everyone what you got.”

Mamadou Dieng, Hartford Athletic

The 20-year-old center forward took a while to settle in Hartford, but he’s started to prove a handful and bagged his third goal of the season in the Athletic’s dramatic comeback to earn a 2-2 draw against Birmingham Legion FC on Saturday night.

A native of Senegal, Dieng had a busy week after going the full 90 minutes in Hartford’s home victory against Detroit City FC but managed to make an impact shortly after coming on as a second-half substitute in Birmingham. Dieng’s put home a headed finish with 18 minutes to go and was then brought down in the penalty area inside the final five minutes to allow Michee Ngalina to equalize from the spot, while he ended the night completing 9 of 10 passes and winning 3 of 4 duels.

Kobe Hernandez-Foster, Birmingham Legion FC

The 21-year-old central midfielder produced another strong performance against Hartford Athletic, including a 50-yard dime from inside his own half over the Athletic back line to set up Enzo Martinez for the opening goal of the game for his third assist of the season.

Hernandez-Foster notched two Big Chances Created for Legion overall against Hartford while completing 35 of 44 passes overall and making one interception and two recoveries in 75 minutes of action.

Grayson Doody, Las Vegas Lights FC

The 22-year-old right back didn’t take long to make a good impression on loan from Club de Foot Montreal, setting up Valentin Noël’s opening goal in Las Vegas’ 2-1 victory last Wednesday night in his first start for the side as the Lights became the first team to win away at New Mexico United this season.

Doody was sharp in possession overall, completing 27 of 28 passes overall and he won 4 of 7 duels while making five recoveries defensively to help the Lights extend their current undefeated streak to 10 games.

Samuel Careaga, Memphis 901 FC

The Argentine couldn’t find a breakthrough against El Paso Locomotive FC on Saturday night as 901 FC was stymied by Jamaican international Jahmali Waite but was impressive again otherwise. Careaga recorded three shots and four chances created for Memphis and completed 57 of 61 passes overall while winning one tackle and making four recoveries defensively.

Damian Las, Louisville City FC

Las posted his first shutout since June with a four-save performance against New Mexico United on Saturday night that allowed LouCity to come away with a 1-0 victory at Isotopes Park. The 22-year-old has now notched seven clean sheets this season to sit tied for fourth in the Championship.