September 6, 2022 – United Soccer League Championship (USL) – Indy Eleven News Release
TAMPA/INDIANAPOLIS – The USL Championship announced the Team of the Week for Week 26 of the 2022 regular season on Tuesday, with Indy Eleven forward Stefano Pinho voted the Championship Player of the Week presented by Konami eFootball.
The Brazilian striker became the second Indy Eleven player to earn the weekly accolade in 2022, following fellow forward Manuel Arteaga’s Week 13 honoring, thanks to his pair of goals in last Wednesday’s 2-1 win over Louisville City FC that gave Indy the season series between the archrivals for a second straight year. This also marks Pinho’s club-high third Team of the Week placement this season, following recognitions from Weeks 5 & 7 back in April.
Pinho entered last week’s rivalry row against LouCity as the team’s leading scorer on seven tallies, but also with a nearly three-month scoreless streak in tow dating back to early June. That changed when he led the Eleven’s rally from an early deficit with an equalizer in the 28th minute, as he stole in to clip a finish past Louisville goalkeeper Kyle Morton and head home from close range before a covering defender could clear. Pinho then converted from the penalty spot with 12 minutes remaining, shooting low to the left corner to earn Indy all three points for the second time against a USL Championship conference leader in five days’ time.
Pinho’s brace put him on nine goals in his debut season with the Eleven, lifting him back into the Eastern Conference’s top ten chart in scoring (tied for 9th place) during a renaissance year for the veteran striker. He is also among eight different Boys in Blue who have been recognized with Team of the Week placements on a combined 11 occasions across 2022:
FW Manuel Arteaga – Week 13 (Player of the Week) & Week 15 (bench)
FW Solomon Asante – Week 14 (bench)
DF Robby Dambrot – Week 25 (bench)
DF Mechack Jerome – Week 5 (bench)
MF Nicky Law – Week 6
GK Elliot Panicco – Week 3
FW Stefano Pinho – Week 5 (bench), Week 7 & Week 26 (Player of the Week)
GK Tim Trilk – Week 25 (bench)
Pinho earned 41 percent of the ballot to claim the award, followed by Monterey Bay F.C. midfielder Sam Gleadle on 29 percent. The Championship’s 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.
USL Championship Team of the Week – Week 26
GK – Luis Zamudio, Loudoun United FC: Zamudio recorded a…