A busy week of action across the USL Championship and League One resulting in another collection of the top U-22 talent in both leagues make the most of their the opportunity, including some impressive midfield performances and the frontrunner for the USL Championship Young Player of the Year continuing his outstanding campaign.

Here are seven players who made a big impression for their clubs as the regular season begins to approach its midway point.

1. Osvaldo Lay, AV ALTA FC

The Panamanian midfielder made a splash earlier this season with his outrageous goal against FC Dallas in the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup, but on Sunday night, Osvaldo Lay played a central role in Antelope Valley’s dramatic comeback against Westchester SC that saw the side reel off five consecutive goals in a 5-2 victory at The Stadium at Memorial Field.

The 22-year-old recorded his first goal and assist in USL League One this season, recording two shots and two chances overall, and put in a strong shift on the defensive side of the ball with seven recoveries, four clearances and one interception while completing 42 of 55 passes overall. AV ALTA has trusted in its young talent this season – five players aged 22 and younger featured in Sunday night’s contest – and Lay is proving one of the most consistent after his move to the United States from his homeland.

2. Abdellatif Aboukoura, Loudoun United FC

We’re running out of superlatives for Abdellatif Aboukoura, who starred again for Loudoun United on Saturday as the side took a 3-2 victory against Detroit City FC to maintain its push for a first postseason berth in club history while also keeping pace with Louisville City and the Charleston Battery at the top of the Eastern Conference.

Aboukoura’s two goals against Le Rouge highlighted his quality in close control, the first coming as he wove through two defenders from the left and struck home a pin-point finish to the bottom-right corner. The second showed his understanding of space as he peeled away from a potential defender to create space for Florian Valot’s pass before a crisp finish home.

But it was his contribution to Loudoun’s winner that might have been the moment that showed where Aboukoura is as a player. The 20-year-old’s deft touch to play Kwame Awuah into the left channel with the outside of his right boot to set up Zach Ryan’s finish was top class. Aboukoura has already doubled his season-best goal total with 10 tallies this year, but his well-rounded game is consistently on display as well.

• READ MORE: Loudoun United’s Abdellatif Aboukoura is rising to meet the moment

3. Colby Quiñónes, Portland Hearts of Pine

Ollie Wright’s hat trick might have stolen the show for Hearts of Pine at Fitzpatrick Stadium on Sunday evening, but Colby Quiñónes also put on a show on the defensive end as the hosts claimed a 3-1 victory against Union Omaha for their second league win of the campaign.

The 22-year-old Puerto Rico international recorded a League One season-high in winning 6 of 6 tackles while also winning 7 of 8 ground duels at right back without committing a foul on the night. A product of the New England Revolution Academy, Quiñónes has had some ups and downs after jumping on board in Portland, but Sunday was his best performance to date and offers an opportunity to build on as the side looks to push on in both the league and USL Jägermeister Cup.

4. Patrick Leal, Las Vegas Lights FC

Las Vegas Lights FC was looking to turn the page as it entered Saturday’s contest with Monterey Bay FC on a five-game losing streak. With the help of Portuguese midfielder Patrick Leal, the hosts did so at Cashman Field as the 22-year-old delivered a positive performance to help get the Lights back into the win column with a 2-0 victory.

An offseason arrival, Leal has been a consistent presence in the Las Vegas midfield this season, starting in eight of his nine league appearances. He notched his second assist of the season on Saturday, setting up Johnny Rodriguez’s opening goal on the hour-mark, and connected play well throughout, completing 31 of 33 passes overall. Leal was also solid defensively, winning 2 of 2 tackles and 5 of 6 duels, putting together arguably his best all-around performance of the season so far.

5. Christopher Jaime, Charlotte Independence

The Charlotte Independence faced a test in Week 15, going cross country for two games in the space of five days, including a visit to League One leader Spokane Velocity FC. It came through with flying colors, with Christopher Jaime among the key pieces to that success.

The 21-year-old right-sided defender didn’t go the full 90 minutes in either the club’s 1-1 draw against Velocity or its 1-0 victory against Greenville Triumph SC on home turf on Sunday night, but he made an impact in both games. Jaime completed 52 of 59 passes across the two contests while also notching three chances created while being reliable defensively, winning 14 of 19 duels and 5 of 7 tackles and making four recoveries.

The Independence still have a good contingent of young players in their lineup after the transfer of Luis Álvarez to the Tampa Bay Rowdies, and the LAFC Academy product looks like a good fit for the side as it contends for the Players’ Shield.

6. TJ Presthus, Hartford Athletic

Hartford Athletic produced a solid performance without the end reward against the Charleston Battery on Saturday night, but one silver lining was the performance of defender TJ Presthus, who scored his first professional goal and put in a good all-around display in the side’s 2-1 defeat to the Players’ Shield contender.

A first-year pro who competed collegiately at Yale University, Presthus slotted into the right side of a back three against the Battery and won 6 of 8 aerial duels while making two clearances and two recoveries defensively. The 22-year-old was also clean in possession, completing 36 of 42 passes, and showed his aerial threat at set pieces, tying for the team high with four shots and finding the net with 10 minutes with a good header after Hartford had recycled possession from a corner kick to set up the second opportunity.

7. Ascel Essengue, Phoenix Rising FC

Phoenix Rising FC had to hold firm to continue its recent undefeated streak against fellow contender FC Tulsa on Saturday night, and center back Ascel Essengue was a key part of the rearguard effort that earned the visitors a 1-1 draw at ONEOK Field.

The 22-year-old LA Galaxy loanee recorded two blocked shots, 11 recoveries and eight clearances while winning 3 of 3 tackles and 9 of 13 duels to help keep Tulsa at bay while also completing 44 of 53 passes. Essengue has yet to experience defeat since joining Rising at the start of May – Phoenix is 4-0-2 in league play and has conceded only four goals in that span – while building his own resume as and when he returns to the Galaxy.