October 18, 2022 – United Soccer League Championship (USL) – Rio Grande Valley FC Toros News Release
TAMPA, Fla. – The USL Championship announced the Team of the Week for Week 32 of the 2022 regular season on Tuesday, with New Mexico United midfielder Harry Swartz voted the Championship Player of the Week presented by Konami eFootball after recording a pair of goals as New Mexico clinched its berth in the 2022 USL Championship Playoffs presented by Hisense with victory last Wednesday night against the LA Galaxy II.
Currently in his second season with United, Swartz’s two-goal performance was his first in the professional ranks and moved him to six goals this season for the club. With New Mexico trailing at the halftime break against Los Dos at Isotopes Park, the Massachusetts native struck first in the 49th minute with a beautiful finish on a give-and-go with Armando Moreno that was nominated for the Championship’s Goal of the Week award on Monday and then added a second five minutes later. That proved to be the winner in a 3-2 victory that sealed New Mexico’s third postseason trip in four seasons.
Martinez earned 50 percent of the ballot to claim the award. The Tampa Bay Rowdies’ Leo Fernandes finished second on 42 percent after recording three goals in two games to lead the two-time Eastern Conference title winner to victories against El Paso Locomotive FC and the New York Red Bulls II to wrap up the regular season.
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 32
GK – John Berner, Memphis 901 FC: Berner posted a four-save shutout as Memphis claimed the No. 2 seed in the Eastern Conference with a 3-0 victory on the road against FC Tulsa on Saturday night.
D – Jonathan Dean, Birmingham Legion FC: Dean recorded one assist and four chances created while completing 49 of 57 passes overall and winning 3 of 4 duels and 4 of 4 aerial duels in his side’s 3-1 victory against Indy Eleven last Wednesday night.
D – Akeem Ward, Rio Grande Valley FC: Ward scored once and had two shots overall while completing 50 of 54 passes and winning 2 of 2 duels as Rio Grande Valley clinched a playoff berth with a 4-1 victory against Monterey Bay F.C. on Saturday night.
D – Aaron Guillen, Tampa Bay Rowdies: Guillen put in two sterling displays as the Rowdies took victories against El Paso Locomotive FC and the New York Red…