September 19, 2022 – United Soccer League One (USL1) News Release
TAMPA, Fla. – USL League One today announced the Team of the Week for Week 25 of the 2022 regular season with Charlotte Independence goalkeeper Adrían Zendejas named Player of the Week. Zendejas’ 12 saves in a 3-0 shutout of Fuego FC on Saturday set a league record for most saves in a single match.
Squarely in the middle of a busy League One table, Charlotte were in need of three points in order to retain its favorable position in the upper half of the league as the postseason looms. In a high-pressure scenario on the road, Zendejas went on to record six saves in each half while facing the highest single-match expected goals-against mark in Week 25. Coming up huge on each Fuego FC shot, Zendejas made clutch saves three minutes into the match, in the sixth minute of stoppage time and at every point in between.
“I just want to start off with how proud I am of the boys tonight,” Zendejas said. “To have a performance like that in a tough place is going to give us momentum to secure a playoff spot. Happy with the clean sheet, but again shoutout to all the guys and the coaching staff, medical staff and our kitman.”
“We were very opportunistic, and we took our chances and our goals well,” Charlotte Head Coach Mike Jeffries said. “It was nice to get a set-piece goal early, and I thought we did well defending and getting a couple of good counters. I thought it was a gritty fight against a team that fought really well and didn’t get a result.
“We’re at the end of the season and hopefully we can continue to play with confidence and push and get results.”
The Richmond Kickers and Chattanooga Red Wolves SC each earn three spots on the Team of the Week, while Union Omaha and the Charlotte Independence place a pair of representatives on the list as well.
GK – Adrían Zendejas, Charlotte Independence: Zendejas exploded for a league-record 12 saves in a single match to keep the Jacks in the playoff conversation. Despite playing just 19 matches so far this season, the 27-year-old goalkeeper is now tied for fourth and third in saves and clean sheets, respectively.
D – Nicolás Cardona, Chattanooga Red Wolves SC: Making his second consecutive Team of the Week appearance, Cardona assisted Timmy Mehl’s late Red Wolves equalizer against Richmond. The Puerto Rico international also tallied seven duels won, five tackles won and four recoveries.
D – Timmy Mehl, Chattanooga Red Wolves SC: Mehl proved to be…