March 12, 2024 – United Soccer League One (USL1) News Release
TAMPA, Fla. – USL League One today announced the Team of the Week for Week 1 of the 2024 regular season with Greenville Triumph SC forward Leo Castro named Player of the Week presented by Konami eFootball with a goal in Greenville’s season-opening victory.
The 2023 USL League One All-League Second Team goalscorer – a one-time Player of the Week and nine-time member of the Team of the Week a season ago – bagged the third goal of Greenville’s goal-heavy, 3-1 victory over expansion side Spokane Velocity FC on Saturday evening at Paladin Stadium. The goal was the 34-year-old’s 79th professional score in his 329th professional appearance, cementing the Colombian as Greenville’s oldest-ever goalscorer.
“You all saw such a great performance from a team that has a tremendous desire to win,” Greenville Head Coach Rick Wright said. “They proved it tonight, and we’re going to continue to prove it.”
Greenville’s big win propelled the league’s winningest club to a week-high five players and one coach named to the Team of the Week. All six clubs that played in Week 1 earned representation on the Team of the Week.
COACH – Rick Wright, Greenville Triumph SC: In his debut as a professional head coach, Wright guided Greenville to a big victory to kick off the post-John Harkes era in the Upstate. Triumph SC’s goal difference minus expected goal difference mark of 3.25 was the most in the league – more than six times more than the second-highest.
GK – Amal Knight, Lexington SC: Knight was one of two goalkeepers in Week 1 to keep a clean sheet and added to his side’s scoreless draw with Northern Colorado with three saves and the second-best goals minus expected goals mark on the week.
D – Ashkanov Apollon, Central Valley Fuego FC: The 32-year-old Apollon bagged the first match-winning goal of the Jermaine Jones era in the 21st minute – Apollon’s first goal since April 2022.
D – Jorge Corrales, Lexington SC: The Cuba international and former MLS defender put in a solid shift in his Lexington debut, racking up nine recoveries, five duels won, three interceptions, two tackles won and maintained a passing accuracy of 88%.
D – Lucky Opara, Northern Colorado Hailstorm FC: Kicking off his second season with the Hailstorm, Opara helped Northern Colorado to a season-opening clean sheet with his seven recoveries, four duels won, two tackles won and an 81% passing accuracy.
D – Nate Shultz, Greenville Triumph SC: Shultz recorded his…