TAMPA, Fla. – Phoenix Rising FC forward Chris Cortez has been voted the United Soccer League player of the week for Week 2 of this season.
Cortez recorded the first hat-trick in Rising FC history and added an assist to lead the side to a 4-1 victory against OKC Energy FC Saturday at the Phoenix Rising Soccer Complex.
Cortez received 72 percent of the poll conducted by a national panel of independent media representing every USL market. ATL UTD 2 midfielder Jon Gallagher finished second with 12 percent, while Swope Park Rangers forward Kharlton Belmar and San Antonio FC midfielder Mikey Lopez finished tied for third.
USL team of the week
GK – J.T. Marcinkowski, Reno 1868 FC: Marcinkowski recorded four saves, including an excellent stoppage-time stop that preserved a point in a 1-1 draw with Las Vegas Lights FC.
D – Alex Cooper, Fresno FC: Cooper scored the game-tying goal in the Foxes’ 1-1 draw with the LA Galaxy II, and completed 58 of 67 passes while notching three tackles and interceptions apiece.
D – Mitchell Taintor, Sacramento Republic FC: Taintor notched four clearances and three interceptions as Sacramento recorded a road shutout in its victory against Orange County SC.
D – Jarad van Schaik, Charleston Battery: Van Schaik notched four tackles and four interceptions as the Battery held Penn FC to only three shots in a 1-0 victory at MUSC Health Stadium.
M – Maikel Chang, Real Monarchs SLC: Chang recorded two assists on his debut for the Monarchs, including on Chandler Hoffman’s late goal that sparked a 3-2 comeback victory in Tulsa.
M – John Gallagher, ATL UTD 2: Gallagher scored twice to lead his side to victory in its inaugural USL outing, a 3-1 victory against the New York Red Bulls II.
M – Mikey Lopez, San Antonio FC: Lopez, a former New York City FC midfielder, had a goal and assist to lead San Antonio to a comeback 2-1 victory against Saint Louis FC.
M – Leo Fernandes, Tampa Bay Rowdies: Fernandes, who played for the Cosmos, scored once, had two key passes and finished with five shots on goal in Tampa Bay’s 2-0 victory against Bethlehem Steel FC.
F – Caleb Calvert, Charlotte Independence: Calvert notched a goal and assist to lead the Independence to their second consecutive win to start the season, a 2-0 win against Toronto.
F – Kharlton Belmar, Swope Park Rangers: Belmar continued his hot start to the second with another two-goal performance as the Rangers took a 4-2 win against Seattle Sounders FC 2.
F – Chris Cortez, Phoenix Rising FC: Cortez scored the first hat trick in Rising FC’s history and added an assist as Phoenix took a 4-1 victory against OKC Energy FC.
Bench: Jeff Attinella (POR), Sam Vines (CLT), Yosef Samuel (ATL), Jack McInerney (IND), David Estrada (SEA), Kris Tyrpak (SA), Joaquin Rivas (TUL)
