TAMPA, Fla. – Tampa Bay Rowdies forward and former Cosmos midfielder Sebastian Guenzatti has been voted the United Soccer League player of the week, it was announced Tuesday.
Guenzatti recorded a hat-trick to lead the Rowdies to a 3-0 victory over North Carolina FC at Sahlen’s Stadium at WakeMed Soccer Park Saturday to help keep Tampa Bay’s playoff hopes alive.
He received 33 percent of the poll conducted by a national panel of independent media representing every USL market, narrowly edging out Toronto FC II’s Tsubasa Endoh on 29 percent after his standout display in TFC II’s 4-1 victory against Louisville City FC last Tuesday night.
USL Team of the Week
GK – Kendall McIntosh, Portland Timbers 2: McIntosh kept T2 in the game with a six-save shutout against Saint Louis FC that kept the game scoreless until the hosts grabbed a stoppage-time victory at Providence Park.
D – Je-Vaughn Watson, Charlotte Independence: The Jamaican international scored the only goal of the game in addition to winning four of four tackles and making 10 possession recoveries in a 1-0 win over Nashville SC on Saturday.
D – Allen Yanes, Red Bull II: Yanes won five of five tackles and recorded five interceptions, three recoveries and two clearances in New York’s 1-0 victory over Ottawa Fury FC.
D – Dekel Keinan, FC Cincinnati: Keinan scored the game-tying goal in Cincinnati’s comeback victory against Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC and won five of seven duels and recorded seven clearances defensively.
M – Saeed Robinson, Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC: Robinson scored a late game-winner for the Switchbacks against Real Monarchs SLC after coming on as a second-half substitute last Wednesday night.
M – Lance Laing, San Antonio FC: Laing recorded a goal and assist to lead SAFC back from an early deficit to take a 3-1 victory over Rio Grande Valley FC last Wednesday night.
M – Tsubasa Endoh, Toronto FC II: Endoh had two goals and one assist, as TFC II recorded a 4-1 victory last Tuesday night over Louisville City FC.
M – Michael Reed, Nashville SC: Reed recorded a three-assist night, as Nashville earned a 4-0 victory against the Richmond Kickers on Tuesday night and recorded 11 key passes for the week across two games.
F – Hadji Barry, Swope Park Rangers: Barry scored the game-winning goal in both of Swope Park’s victories over the week against Tulsa Roughnecks FC Wednesday night and OKC Energy FC Sunday evening.
F – Sebastian Guenzatti, Tampa Bay Rowdies: Guenzatti scored the first hat-trick for the Rowdies this season to lead the side to a 3-0 victory against North Carolina FC Saturday night.
F – Lagos Kunga, ATL UTD 2: Kunga scored both goals as Atlanta registered a road victory against Toronto FC II Friday night.
Bench: Daniel Vega (TBR), Joe Greenspan (PGH), Antoine Hoppenot (RNO), Aaron Dennis (PEN), Ariel Lassiter (LA), Cameron Lancaster (LOU), Ataulla Guerra (CHS)
