TAMPA, Fla. – The United Soccer League today announced the Team of the Round for Round 2 of the 2025 USL Jägermeister Cup, with Hartford Athletic midfielder Samuel Careaga named Player of the Round after posting a two-goal performance in his side’s victory against Westchester SC.

An offseason arrival in Hartford, the Argentine helped rally Athletic with a pair of outstanding long-range finishes at The Stadium at Memorial Field, pulling the visitors level twice before Mamadou Dieng put home an 88th-minute winner for a 3-2 victory.

Careaga struck first in the 51st minute with a rasping shot that picked out the top-left corner before putting home a first-time finish from just outside the top of the penalty area that picked out the right corner of the net. The two-goal performance – which marked his first goals for the club – was part of a stellar all-around display that saw the 22-year-old complete 40 of 49 passes and win 2 of 2 tackles and 4 of 7 duels defensively.

The victory for Hartford kept the side in contention to advance from Group 4 of the USL Jägermeister Cup as it claimed its second regulation win in as many outings to sit with six points alongside El Clamico rival Rhode Island FC at the top of the group standings. The two New England rivals are set to meet in the final round of the group stage on Saturday, July 26.

The USL Jägermeister Cup's Player of the Round is selected by the USL National Media Panel. Careaga finished with 55 percent of the vote, while Charlotte Independence forward Christian Chaney and Portland Hearts of Pine midfielder Jay Tee Kamara finished tied for second on 18 percent.

GK – Gunther Rankenburg, Greenville Triumph SC: The 25-year-old posted a five-save shutout as Greenville stunned current USL Championship Players’ Shield leader the Charleston Battery with a 1-0 win at Patriots Point, posting a -0.56 Goals Prevented mark.

D – Shawn Smart, Las Vegas Lights FC: The 21-year-old recorded one assist and put in a stellar defensive display in the Lights’ 2-1 win against AV ALTA FC on April 30, winning 4 of 5 tackles and 7 of 13 duels while making eight clearances, two interceptions and three recoveries.

D – David Garcia, Spokane Velocity FC: The Spanish center back was impressive despite Velocity’s defeat to Monterey Bay FC on Wednesday night, making a goal-line clearance, winning 7 of 7 duels and recording three interceptions and eight recoveries defensively while notching two chances created and completing 50 of 63 passes overall.

D – Morey Doner, Oakland Roots SC: Making his debut for Roots as a second-half substitute, Doner recorded a goal and assist to put Oakland ahead against AV ALTA FC before the side fell in a penalty shootout, also completing 11 of 12 passes at Lancaster Municipal Stadium.

M – Ilijah Paul, Monterey Bay FC: The 22-year-old scored twice and had four shots overall as Monterey Bay took a 3-2 victory against Orange County SC on Saturday night and completed 17 of 20 passes overall while making one clearance and three recoveries defensively.

M – Jay Tee Kamara, Portland Hearts of Pine: The Sierra Leone midfielder recorded a pair of assists and had three chances created overall in Portland’s 4-2 victory against Detroit City while completing 20 of 23 passes, winning 2 of 3 tackles and recording two interceptions and six recoveries.

M – Samuel Careaga, Hartford Athletic: Careaga scored twice to lead Hartford’s comeback 3-2 victory against Westchester SC while completing 40 of 49 passes, winning 2 of 2 tackles and 4 of 7 duels, and recording one interception and two recoveries.

M – Hope Avayevu, Phoenix Rising FC: The Ghanaian recorded a goal and assist in Phoenix’s penalty shootout victory against New Mexico United as he recorded three shots and completed 21 of 24 passes while also winning 3 of 3 tackles and 5 of 6 ground duels.

F – JC Obregón Jr., Westchester SC: The Honduran international scored a pair of goals against former club Hartford Athletic and recorded one chance created while completing 10 of 11 passes despite his side falling late at home.

F – Christian Chaney, Charlotte Independence: Chaney scored a pair of goals, including a stoppage time equalizer, and had five shots and two chances created while winning 10 of 18 duels as he helped the Independence rally to a shootout victory against Lexington SC.

F – Francisco Bonfiglio, Miami FC: The Argentine maintained his strong recent run of form with a pair of assists in Miami’s 3-2 comeback victory against FC Naples at Pitbull Stadium and recorded three chances created overall while completing 24 of 32 passes and making eight recoveries defensively.

Coach – Bobby Murphy, Portland Hearts of Pine: Murphy’s side produced its best attacking display of its inaugural season to date in a 4-2 victory against the USL Championship’s Detroit City FC as four different players found the net.

Bench – Jared Mazzola (SAC), Josh Ramos (CHA), Lee Desmond (SAC), Diego Mercado (MIA), Abdellatif Aboukoura (LDN), Natty James (POR), Adam Larsson (MB)