TAMPA, Fla. – The USL Championship announced the Team of the Week for Week 34 of the 2024 regular season on Tuesday, with FC Tulsa forward Taylor Calheira voted the Championship Player of the Week presented by Konami eFootball after recording a pair of goals in his side’s 3-0 victory against Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC at ONEOK Field.

One of the key figures in Tulsa’s rise to claim the No. 1 seed in the Western Conference ahead of the 2025 USL Championship Playoffs presented by Terminix, Calheira capped his sterling campaign with a pair of second-half goals that provided the final margin against the defending Championship title-holders.

The 23-year-old struck first just before the hour-mark, controlling an attempted clearance between two defenders in the penalty area before cutting back onto his left foot and shooting home to the right corner. He then completed his night with 11 minutes to go, getting in behind the Colorado Springs back line in the left channel before putting home a right-footed finish to the opposite corner.

Calheira ended the season with a club single-season record 15 goals in 28 appearances, averaging a goal every 153.1 minutes over the campaign while also notching two assists. Having helped the side post a 10-game home undefeated streak to end the regular season, he’s now looking forward to the Scissortails’ first home playoff game in club history, which arrives on Saturday against Colorado Springs.

“I’m super-excited,” said Calheira. “ONEOK Field I think it’s become a fortress, and the fans have been amazing. We’ve been winning games, so hopefully everyone can come out like they have heading into the playoffs.”

The USL Championship 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. Calheira earned the award with 55 percent of the poll, with San Antonio FC’s Mitchell Taintor finishing second on 36 percent after recording a goal and assist in his side’s 5-2 victory against El Paso Locomotive FC on Saturday night.

GK – Patrick Rakovsky, Phoenix Rising FC: Rakovsky posted a three-save shutout and a -1.07 Goals Prevented mark as Phoenix earned a 0-0 draw against Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC to clinch a trip to the postseason.

D – Daltyn Knutson, Miami FC: Knutson scored a late game-winner as Miami ended its campaign with a 1-0 victory against Sacramento Republic FC while also completing 28 of 35 passes, winning 6 of 9 duels and recording seven clearances defensively.

D – Mitchell Taintor, San Antonio FC: The veteran center back recorded one goal and one assist as SAFC swept to a 5-2 victory against Copa Tejas rival El Paso Locomotive FC and completed 35 of 38 passes overall while notching three chances created and winning 4 of 5 duels.

D – Neveal Hackshaw, Oakland Roots SC: The Trinidad and Tobago international recorded 13 clearances, four interceptions and four recoveries while winning 10 of 11 duels and completed 44 of 51 passes to help Roots earn a 3-0 victory against Lexington SC at the Oakland-Alameda Coliseum.

M – Alex Dalou, FC Tulsa: Dalou recorded one assist and had five chances created overall while completing 24 of 28 passes and winning 6 of 10 duels in the Scissortails’ 3-0 victory against Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC at ONEOK Field.

M – Aaron Molloy, Charleston Battery: Molloy recorded one assist and had three chances created while completing 91 of 100 passes in his side’s 2-1 victory against Birmingham Legion FC, completing 17 of 19 long passes and winning 7 of 10 duels defensively.

M – Eric Calvillo, El Paso Locomotive FC: The El Salvador international recorded the assists on both of Locomotive’s goals in its loss at San Antonio FC and completed 44 of 49 passes overall while winning 3 of 5 duels and 2 of 2 tackles and making two recoveries defensively.

M – Jorge Hernández, San Antonio FC: The attacking playmaker recorded a pair of assists in SAFC’s 5-2 victory against Copa Tejas rival El Paso Locomotive FC while completing 17 of 21 passes overall and winning 6 of 11 ground duels and making three recoveries defensively.

F – Wolfgang Prentice, Oakland Roots SC: Prentice recorded a goal and assist as Oakland ended its season on a high with a 3-0 victory against Lexington SC and also hit the woodwork while recording two shots and one chance created and winning 10 of 14 duels.

F – Taylor Calheira, FC Tulsa: The 23-year-old recorded a pair of goals in Tulsa’s 3-0 victory against Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC while recording six shots and two chances created, completing 16 of 21 passes and winning 3 of 4 ground duels.

F – Peter Wilson, Oakland Roots SC: The Liberian forward earned the Championship’s Golden Boot as he scored the opening goal in Roots’ 3-0 victory against Lexington SC, marking a record-equaling eighth consecutive game with goal, and also notched one assist and recorded three shots overall.

Coach – Benny Feilhaber, Oakland Roots SC: Feilhaber’s side produced arguably its most complete performance of the season in a 3-0 victory against Lexington SC, recording 2.23 Expected Goals and creating six big chances while hitting the woodwork twice in addition to its three tallies.

Bench – Oliver Semmle (NC), Lee Desmond (SAC), Guillaume Vacter (PIT), Taylor Davila (LOU), Faysal Bettache (OAK). Kalil ElMedkhar (TUL), Oalex Anderson (NC)