TAMPA, Fla. – The USL Championship announced the Team of the Week for Week 33 of the 2024 regular season on Tuesday, with Oakland Roots SC forward Johnny Rodriguez voted the Championship Player of the Week presented by Konami eFootball after recording two goals in a 3-2 victory against Las Vegas Lights FC to lead his side into the 2024 USL Championship Playoffs presented by Terminix.

A Roots stalwart, Rodriguez is having a career season for the club in his fifth season. The 26-year-old continued that campaign as he scored the opening goal for Roots against the Lights at Cashman Field on Saturday night in just the third minute. He then added his 12th goal of the campaign with 18 minutes to play, putting home a cross by Irakoze Donasiyano with a sharp first-time finish, a goal that proved key as Las Vegas Lights struck late to cut Oakland’s lead to one before the visitors held on for victory.

Rodriguez’s performance helped Roots clinch a postseason berth, and both ended a six-game winless streak for the side and ended an 11-game home undefeated streak for the Lights. His 12 goals this campaign have equaled his total from a season ago and place him tied for second in goals in the USL Championship’s Western Conference.

Rodriguez earned 67 percent of the ballot to claim the award, with Indy Eleven’s Jack Blake, Hartford Athletic’s Emmanuel Samadia and Orange County SC’s Colin Shutler finishing tied for second on 11 percent apiece.

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.

USL Championship Team of the Week – Week 33
GK – Colin Shutler, Orange County SC: Shutler continued his recent run of form with another pair of shutouts against El Paso Locomotive FC and New Mexico United, recording six saves and a -1.07 Goals Prevented mark across the two outings to lead OCSC back into the postseason.

D – Emmanuel Samadia, Hartford Athletic: Straight off international duty, the Sierra Leone full back recorded four chances created and two big chances created in Hartford’s 2-1 win at FC Tulsa while winning 2 of 2 tackles, recording three clearances and seven recoveries, and completing 50 of 59 passes overall.

D – Tony Alfaro, El Paso Locomotive FC: The veteran center back delivered a pair of impressive performances over the week, winning 4 of 5 tackles and 8 of 11 duels while completing 131 of 144 passes, and scored from the penalty spot in Locomotive’s 2-1 victory on Saturday night against Sacramento Republic FC.

D – Langston Blackstock, Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC: Blackstock provided the assist on Bertin Jacquesson’s second-half goal as the Hounds took victory against Loudoun United and completed 26 of 38 passes overall while recording three interceptions, three recoveries and three clearances defensively.

M – Rhys Williams, Detroit City FC: Williams put in a strong two-way performance that saw him score the opening goal in Le Rouge’s 3-0 victory against Miami FC and notch four shots overall, record three chances created, two big chances created, and win 3 of 3 tackles and 5 of 7 grounds duels.

M – Zach Zandi, Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC: The 28-year-old scored the only goal as the Switchbacks took a 1-0 victory against Monterey Bay F.C. to remain in contention for a top-two finish in the Western Conference while also completing a perfect 24 of 24 passes and winning 3 of 5 duels.

M – Rida Zouhir, Birmingham Legion FC: The 20-year-old Canadian had a stellar display in a losing cause as Legion fell to Indy Eleven, recording six shots and four chances created while completing 71 of 83 passes and winning 7 of 13 duels before capping his night with a brilliant 35-yard strike late in the game.

M – Jack Blake, Indy Eleven: Blake led Indy to a playoffs-clinching victory against Birmingham Legion FC as he notched one goal and had three chances created while completing 29 of 41 passes and recording seven recoveries and two clearances defensively.

M – Lucas Stauffer, El Paso Locomotive FC: Stauffer scored an outstanding finish in Locomotive’s victory against Sacramento Republic FC on Saturday night and over two games completed 31 of 39 passes and recorded seven recoveries defensively.

F – Johnny Rodriguez, Oakland Roots SC: The Roots stalwart scored a pair of goals to pave their way into the postseason with a 3-2 victory against Las Vegas Lights FC and had four shots overall as Oakland broke the Lights’ 11-game home undefeated streak.

F – Bertin Jacquesson, Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC: Jacquesson scored his fifth goal for the Hounds in six appearances in the side’s crucial 2-0 victory at Loudoun United FC while also completing 2 of 4 dribbles and winning 8 of 12 ground duels defensively at Segra Field.

Coach – Gavin Glinton, Oakland Roots SC: Glinton’s side earned its place in the postseason with a standout display that saw it end Las Vegas Lights FC’s 11-game home undefeated streak while recording a 16-11 advantage in shots, 8-3 in shots on goal, and an Expected Goals margin of 1.93 to 0.45 against its hosts at Cashman Field.

Bench: Eric Dick (PIT), Lamar Batista (NC), Ryan Doghman (OC), Danny Barrera (HFD), Seth Casiple (OC), Jose Sinisterra (OAK), Dylan Borczak (MEM)