July 16, 2024 – United Soccer League Championship (USL)
FC Tulsa News Release
TULSA – FC Tulsa goalkeeper Johan Peñaranda kept Monterey Bay F.C. out of the net in Week 19 to notch USL Team of the Week honors, the USL announced Tuesday.
Peñaranda, who helped FC Tulsa to a 0-0 draw versus Monterey Bay F.C. on July 13, collected the accolade after holding Monterey Bay F.C. scoreless across 16 shot attempts while saving all five shots on target. The USL Team of the Week nod marks Peñaranda’s first of his career and makes him the club’s 10th player to receive the honor this season.
A native of Long Beach, New York, Peñaranda fended off a pair of shots in the first 10 minutes of action and silenced Monterey’s five first-half shot attempts. In the 75th minute, he stuffed Alex Dixon on the right side of the box, meeting him at the ball for a save before clearing it away.
The game rested on Peñaranda in the 90th minute as, after Bradley Bourgeois committed a foul in the box, Monterey Bay F.C. was awarded a penalty kick. Peñaranda prevailed on the potential game-winner, laying out and deflecting a low drive to the right of the goal. Off of the rebound, he saved another shot that floated near the top of the goal.
Peñaranda’s performance etched his second clean sheet across four starts with the club. The 24-year-old joined FC Tulsa on a short-term contract last month before signing for the remainder of the season on June 26.
The complete lineup for the Week 19 USL Championship Team of the Week is below:
USL Championship Team of the Week – Week 19
GK – Johan Peñaranda, FC Tulsa: The 24-year-old posted a five-save shutout that included a stoppage-time penalty kick save to earn Tulsa a point on the road against Monterey Bay F.C. in a scoreless draw at Cardinale Stadium.
D – Junior Etou, Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC: The left back scored a pair of goals as the Hounds broke their scoreless streak in a 5-0 victory against Oakland Roots SC and won 6 of 7 duels while making three clearances and one interception defensively.
D – Jordan Doherty, Tampa Bay Rowdies: The Irish defender had a strong all-around performance in the Rowdies’ 2-0 win against Orange County SC, winning 3 of 3 tackles and 4 of 5 ground duels while completing 47 of 59 passes and notching three chances created.
D – Sean Suber, Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC: The first-year pro recorded his first goal in the Championship in the Hounds’ victory against Oakland Roots SC and also won 4 of 4 aerial duels and made three…