USL PRO named its Team of the Week for Week 6 of the 2014 season on Tuesday and Orlando City midfielder Kevin Molino was named Player of the Week after he scored three goals in two games as the Lions took a pair of victories on the road.
Molino, the 2012 USL PRO Most Valuable Player, scored twice as the Lions took a 3-2 victory against the FC Dallas Reserves last Tuesday night. After fellow Team of the Week selection Adama Mbengue opened the scoring, Molino added his side’s second with a good near-post finish from a cross from the left. Molino added a second which proved to be the game-winner soon after Dallas had cut the Lions’ lead in half.
Molino also scored what proved to be the game-winning goal in the Lions’ win on Saturday night, with his finish from an acute angle after he had rounded OKC Energy FC goalkeeper Jon Kempin the Lions’ second in a 2-1 victory.
In addition to Molino and Mbengue, Harrisburg’s Matt Bahner and Arizona’s Paolo DelPiccolo earned selection to the Team of the Week midfield. Bahner played a key role for the City Islanders as they took a 2-1 win against Sacramento on Saturday, holding possession well before he switched to center back for the final 20 minutes following an injury and helped his side hold onto victory.
DelPiccolo, meanwhile, scored his first professional goal to earn United a 1-1 draw with the LA Galaxy II Friday night. The former River City Rovers player finished well after a good buildup to tie the game with just over 20 minutes to play.
The Team of the Week’s attack is led by Richmond’s Matt Delicâte, who had a pair of goals in his side’s 5-1 victory against Dayton. Orange County’s Christopher Santana also had a pair of goals in his professional debut as the Blues took victory against Harrisburg Thursday, while Rochester’s JC Banks earned selection after he scored in each of the Rhinos’ two wins last week.
Banks was joined on the Team of the Week by rookie goalkeeper John McCarthy, who recorded his first two shutouts as the Rhinos defeated the Chicago Fire Reserves and Charleston Battery. A standout for Reading United and the Ocean City Nor’easters in the PDL, McCarthy was excellent as the Rhinos moved into fifth place in the USL PRO standings.
The LA Galaxy II’s Rafael Garcia led a trio of defenders selected as he scored an outstanding free kick goal and helped control Orange County’s attack in a 3-0 victory on Sunday. He was joined by Charlotte’s J.J. Greer, who was central to the Eagles’ 2-0 shutout of the Wilmington Hammerheads on Saturday, and William Yomby, who led from the back in Richmond’s win against Dayton.
Honorable Mention – Arizona: Evan Newton, Brandon Swartzendruber; Charleston: Odisnel Cooper, Zach Prince; Charlotte: Jorge Herrera, Brock Duckworth; Dayton: Jesjua Cruyff, Shintaro Harada; Harrisburg: Robbie Derschang, Morgan Langley; LA Galaxy II: Travis Bowen, Alejandro Covarrubias; Oklahoma City: Steven Perry, Cyprian Hedrick; Orange County: Chris Cortez, Rauwshaun McKenzie; Orlando: Dennis Chin, Yordany Alvarez; Pittsburgh: Michael Lisch, Anthony Obodai; Richmond: Shay Spitz, George Davis IV; Rochester: Minh Vu, Pat McMahon; Sacramento: Adam Jahn, Max Alvarez; Wilmington: Ashani Fairclough, Tom Parratt.