LOUISVILLE, Ky. — Fresh off Louisville City FC’s (2-1-0, 6 points) second victory of the season, two attacking midfielders earned USL Team of the Week honors for week 3. Niall McCabe (2 assists) and Kadeem Dacres (1 goal) each received their first accolades of the year in the their first start of 2016 — a 4-1 thumping of Orlando City B at Louisville Slugger Field on Saturday.
McCabe made a beautiful run to the endline and crossed the ball onto an on-rushing Chandler Hoffman, who was able to score and equalize for LouCity in the 26th minute. He later produced LouCity’s fourth goal by feeding former Young Harris teammate Ilija Ilic in the center of the box, allowing the Serbian striker to tap the finish in.
Dacres, named to the TOTW bench, made an immediate impact on the wing. He benefitted from a beautiful bending strike from 25 yards away, beating Orlando keeper Mark Ridgers in the 65th minute.
USL Team of the Week
GK – Lalo Fernandez, Real Monarchs SLC: Fernandez recorded his first shutout of the season and made a pair of spectacular saves to keep the game scoreless as the Monarchs won 1-0 in Tulsa.
D – Braeden Troyer, Richmond Kickers: Troyer put in an excellent performance to limit the Rochester Rhinos’ attack as the Kickers earned a 1-0 victory at City Stadium.
D – Taylor Mueller, Charleston Battery: Mueller recorded the game-winning goal, and an assist, while also putting in a strong performance against a rejuvenated Wilmington attack.
D – Tommy Meyer, Swope Park Rangers: Meyer put in a standout defensive display as the Rangers earned a point against a San Antonio FC side that welcomed more than 8,000 fans to its home opener.
D – Sem de Wit, Vancouver Whitecaps FC 2: De Wit made numerous timely blocks and clearances to allow WFC2 to remain undefeated in a scoreless draw against Sacramento.
M – Derrick Etienne Jr., New York Red Bulls II: Etienne recorded his first goal of the season, and was the standout performer as the Red Bulls II romped to victory against Bethlehem 4-0.
M – Niall McCabe, Louisville City FC: McCabe was a standout in midfield throughout and recorded a pair of assists as Louisville bounced back from an early deficit to take a 4-1 win against Orlando.
M – Vince Cicciarelli, Saint Louis FC: Last week’s Player of the Week had another good performance as he scored his third goal of the season in a 2-2 draw against OKC Energy FC.
F – Raheem Edwards, Toronto FC II: Edwards posed a threat all night to FC Montreal’s defense, and finally broke through with a late winner to give TFC II a 2-1 win in the 401 Derby.
F – Sean Okoli, FC Cincinnati: Okoli’s spectacular early goal, which landed at No. 4 on SportsCenter’s Top 10 that night, paved the way for Cincinnati’s win in front of 14,658 at Nippert Stadium.
F – Mike Seth, Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC: Seth had a strong all-around game that was capped with a fine goal as the Switchbacks made it two wins from two to start the season.
Bench: Jon Kempin (SPR), Austin Berry (CIN), Danny Garcia (SA), Kadeem Dacres (LOU), Martin Maybin (COS), Coy Craft (OKC), Didier Crettenand (OC)
Louisville City FC will return to action April 16 with a visit to USL-expansion side FC Cincinnati (7 p.m | WATCH). LouCity returns to Slugger Field on April 27 to host Pittsburgh Riverhounds (7:30 p.m. | TICKETS).
