Dennis, Neilson Earn Team of the Week Honors

June 4, 2024 – United Soccer League Championship (USL)
Tampa Bay Rowdies News Release

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla – The USL Championship revealed the Team of the Week for Week 13 of the 2024 season on Tuesday, with Tampa Bay Rowdies midfielder Charlie Dennis earning a spot and Rowdies Head Coach Robbie Neilson earning Coach of the Week coming off of the team’s statement 1-0 win at Sacramento Republic FC over the week.

This is the second Team of the Week selection for Dennis, who also earned the honor in Week 11’s 5-0 win over FC Tulsa. After missing out on the first couple months of the campaign due to injury, Dennis has slotted comfortably right back into the swing of things with a goal and an assist. The Englishman recorded the Rowdies winning goal against Sacramento, controlling a long ball played forward by keeper Jordan Farr as it bounced between the last defender and Sacramento keeper Danny Vitiello before nestling the ball into the empty net.

Neilson also makes his second appearance on the Team of the Week, following his Coach of the Week selection in Week 11 in the victory versus Tulsa that kicked off Tampa Bay’s current three-match winning streak. The Rowdies have shut out the opposition in all three of their recent wins. In a dominant performance this past Saturday, Tampa Bay handed Sacramento their first loss of the season in all competitions, outshooting their hosts 20-6 and putting 10 shots on target while only allowing 18.5 percent of the play to occur in their defensive third.

The Rowdies remain in California this Saturday to face off against Dennis’ former club, Oakland Roots SC at 10 p.m. ET.

USL Championship Team of the Week – Week 13

GK – Antony Siaha, Monterey Bay F.C.: The Cameroonian goalkeeper posted 13 saves across two shutouts against the Charleston Battery and New Mexico United, including a penalty save against New Mexico, to record a Goals Prevented mark for the week of -3.55.

D – Ben Ofeimu, Indy Eleven: The 23-year-old posted 14 clearances and two goal line clearances among his five blocked shots while also winning 4 of 6 duels in Indy’s 2-1 victory on the road against Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC.

D – Delentz Pierre, Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC: The 23-year-old scored an outstanding long-range strike that proved to be the game-winner against Oakland Roots SC and then helped the Switchbacks preserve a shutout, winning 3 of 4 ground duels and making eight clearances at Weidner Field.

D – AJ Paterson, Birmingham Legion FC: The…