TAMPA, Fla. – The USL Championship today announced the Team of the Week for Week 3 of the 2025 regular season, with Monterey Bay FC forward Ilijah Paul named Player of the Week presented by Konami eFootball with a brace and an assist in a victory at Orange County SC.

In his first season in the USL Championship after spending time in MLS, USL League One and MLS NEXT Pro, Paul has registered five goal contributions in his first four appearances across all competitions for Monterey Bay this season. On Saturday, the 22-year-old forward led MBFC to its largest league victory since June 2023, recording a 14-minute brace to go along with an assist in the 90th minute as the visitors took a 3-0 victory at Championship Soccer Stadium for its third win across an eight-day span.

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. Paul finished with 100% of the ballot.

GK – Damian Las, Louisville City FC: Las recorded his first clean sheet of the season and 10th of his LouCity career, helping Louisville to a 2-0 victory against Loudoun United FC. In addition to his three saves, six completed long passes and nine recoveries, Las led all goalkeepers in goals prevented (-0.73), over the week's contests.

D – Nick Moon, Tampa Bay Rowdies: In his first start of the season, Moon helped the Rowdies to their first victory of 2025 with an assist on Woobens Pacius' first-half goal. Moon also completed 90% of his passes, reeled in eight recoveries, completed 3 of 3 dribbles and won 3 of 4 duels.

D – Paco Craig, North Carolina FC: Craig captained North Carolina to its first clean sheet of the season, winning 11 of 14 duels and recording nine clearances and nine recoveries in his first start of the 2025 season.

D – Kalen Ryden, New Mexico United: The 34-year-old defender helped New Mexico to its first shutout victory since September 2024, completing 104 of his 106 passes, recording six recoveries and three clearances and winning 4 of 5 duels.

M – Bruno Rendón, Indy Eleven: The 2024 USL League One Defender of the Year scored his first goal for the Boys in Blue as the side remained undefeated this season. Rendón won 9 of 11 duels and 4 of 5 tackles while recording six recoveries in Indy's 1-1 draw in Lexington.

M – Kobe Hernandez-Foster, Birmingham Legion FC: Hernandez-Foster helped Birmingham to a 2-2 draw against Detroit with an assist on Ronaldo Damus' opening score while also providing the delivery on a late own goal that earned the visitors a point at Keyworth Stadium. He also won 7 of 11 ground duels and 5 of 5 tackles while notching seven recoveries.

M – Taylor Davila, Louisville City FC: Davila tallied his first goal of the season, powering Louisville to a 2-0 victory against Loudoun to remain unbeaten on the young season. The 24-year-old also provided 10 recoveries, six accurate long balls and won 4 of 7 ground duels.

M – Anton Søjberg, Monterey Bay FC: A week after scoring the winning goal against Oakland, Søjberg provided the assist on Ilijah Paul's 60th-minute winner against Orange County. In the third match of his MBFC career, Søjberg recorded four chances created, four recoveries and won 3 of 3 ground duels.

F – Russell Cicerone, Sacramento Republic FC: The USL Championship veteran tallied his first multi-goal-contribution match since May 2023, providing a goal and an assist in Sacramento's 2-2 draw against Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC. Cicerone finished with 10 recoveries, four duels won and a league-leading three shots on target.

F – Ilijah Paul, Monterey Bay FC: Paul constructed the second three-goal-contribution match of his career, scoring twice and adding an assist to hand Orange County its largest loss since August 2024. The 22-year-old ended his day with four recoveries, three total chances created and two shots on target.

F – JJ Williams, Rhode Island FC: Williams became Rhode Island's all-time leading scorer with his 12th goal for the club, opening the scoring in the sixth minute to help RIFC to a 2-2 draw against Phoenix Rising FC. The 27-year-old also won 12 of 19 aerial duels and recorded four chances created and two shots on target. Per American Soccer Analysis, Williams led all players with a +0.55 goals-added mark.

Coach – Jordan Stewart, Monterey Bay FC: In his first full season at the helm in Seaside, Stewart has led Monterey Bay to back-to-back league victories for the first time since April 2024 with a 3-0 road victory against Orange County SC. The victory was MBFC's first against OCSC since 2022 and is tied for the second-largest league victory in club history.

Bench – Nico Campuzano (MB), Luke Biasi (PIT), Arthur Rogers (TUL), Junior Etou (PIT), Marcus Epps (LEX), Justin Dhillon (COS), Damián Rivera (PHX)