Charleston Battery’s Nick Markanich earns Player of the Week after four-goal performance against Las Vegas

TAMPA, Fla. – The USL Championship announced the Team of the Week for Week 8 of the 2024 regular season on Tuesday, with Charleston Battery forward Nick Markanich voted the Championship Player of the Week presented by Konami eFootball for the second time in the past three weeks after he recorded four goals and an assist to lead the Battery to a 6-0 victory against Las Vegas Lights FC at Patriots Point.

The 24-year-old has made a remarkable start to his second season with the Battery, recording 11 goals in nine appearances to lead the Championship’s Golden Boot race while also sitting with the most goals of an individual player across the men’s professional domestic landscape. Markanich recorded a first-half hat trick against Las Vegas on Saturday, his first in the professional ranks, and added a fourth just before the hour-mark to become the first Battery player to record a four-goal game in the USL Championship era.

Markanich has now equaled his goal total across the Championship’s regular season and playoffs a season ago when he helped the Battery claim the Eastern Conference title. His goals have helped the side open the new campaign on a nine-game undefeated streak to sit on top of the Players’ Shield standings.

“Nick just keeps getting better,” said Battery Head Coach Ben Pirmann. “As a footballer, a human being, and mentality-wise, he’s becoming more and more dominant. … The performance, he’s confident. Head down, he’s always working with momentum going forward.”

Markanich earned 92 percent of the ballot to claim the award. Orange County SC goalkeeper Colin Shutler finished second on 8 percent after posting a six-save shutout that helped his side earn a 2-0 victory against Monterey Bay F.C. at Championship Soccer Stadium on Saturday night.

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 8

GK – Colin Shutler, Orange County SC: The 25-year-old posted a six-save shutout as Orange County took a 2-0 win against California rival Monterey Bay F.C., posting a Goals Prevented mark of -1.84 at Championship Soccer Stadium.

D – Mark Segbers, Charleston Battery: Segbers recorded one assist and completed 46 of 53 passes in the Battery’s victory against Las Vegas while defensively he notched 13 recoveries and three interceptions.

D – Pat Hogan,…