August 23, 2022 – United Soccer League Championship (USL) News Release
TAMPA, Fla. – The USL Championship announced the Team of the Week for Week 24 of the 2022 regular season on Tuesday, with FC Tulsa goalkeeper Austin Wormell voted the Championship Player of the Week presented by Konami eFootball after posting a seven-save shutout that proved crucial in his side’s 1-0 victory against Indy Eleven that moved the club’s postseason chances forward.
With his side in need of a run of victories to try and close the gap to the playoff positions over the final quarter of the regular season, the Tulsa native delivered a stellar display for the hosts at ONEOK Field. Wormell came to the fore particularly in the second half, with his best stop of the night coming in the 65th minute as he denied Indy’s Justin Ingram from close range to keep the game scoreless before Machuca grabbed victory with a 90th-minute winner.
“This is a huge process for him, and I think he is standing firm,” said FC Tulsa interim Head Coach and former Jamaican international goalkeeper Donovan Ricketts. “I cannot give him enough credit, for being a kid his age and his lack of experience, to be playing like he’s been playing. … he grew up here – he grew up in the second half and he stood firm, and he kept us in the game.”
Wormell earned 47 percent of the ballot to claim the award. San Diego Loyal SC’s Charlie Adams and the LA Galaxy II’s Josh Drack finished tied for second on 18 percent after Adams notched a pair of assists in SD Loyal’s 3-1 victory on the road against El Paso Locomotive FC, and Drack capped a stellar display with a late free kick finish that earned Los Dos a 1-1 draw with the Charleston Battery.
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.
GK – Austin Wormell, FC Tulsa: The Tulsa native recorded a seven-save shutout – including a brilliant second half stop to keep the game scoreless – as FC Tulsa grabbed a crucial 1-0 victory against Indy Eleven to keep their playoff chances alive.
D – Josh Drack, LA Galaxy II: Drack scored a spectacular late equalizer to earn Los Dos a 1-1 draw with the Charleston Battery to cap a performance in which he completed 65 of 68 passes, had one chance created and won 10 of 13 duels defensively.
D – Akeem Ward, Rio Grande Valley FC: The left back scored the second goal for the Toros in their 2-2 draw on the road at San Antonio FC…