LOUISVILLE, Ky. — For the second week running, Louisville City FC forward and USL leading-scorer Chandler Hoffman earned USL Team of the Week honors, the league announced on Tuesday. The 25-year-old MLS Cup-winning striker scored a pair of goals in LouCity’s, 3-2, victory over Harrisburg City Islanders on Friday night.
Hoffman leads all USL goal scorers with six goals — all coming in LouCity’s last three games. He was named USL Player of the Week for Week 4. He is LouCity’s representative on the Week 5 Team of the Week at forward.
“It’s truly humbling,” Hoffman said. “Any individual honor is great, but these types of accolades are a testament to the workrate and success of the team. It is a representative of the quality, chemistry and heart of all of Louisville City. I’m excited to wear this shirt and to play here, and the success of one is the success of everyone.”
Hoffman, who had a hat trick against FC Cincinnati, put the visitors ahead 2-0 in the first half. Hoffman’s first goal, just like in Cincinnati, came off of a penalty after a Harrisburg defender took Kadeem Dacres down in the box in the 22nd minute.
Hoffman extended the LouCity lead to two after Niall McCabe snuck an aerial through ball past Harrisburg defenders, allowing Hoffman to take a touch past Harrisburg goalkeeper Nick Noble before scoring from the tightest of angles along the left side of the goal in the 44th minute.
All in all, Louisville City has seen six players named to the Team of the Week through Week 5, with goalkeeper Scott Goodwin (Week 1) and Hoffman (Week 4) earning Player of the Week accolades.
USL Team of the Week
GK – Billy Thompson, Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC: Thompson recorded three big saves after coming off the bench in the 20th minute to help Colorado Springs take a 1-0 win against San Antonio.
D – Tyler Turner, Orlando City B: The fullback was a threat all evening, and scored a pair of fine goals to lead OCB to a 2-1 win against Pittsburgh, its first in club history.
D – Cyprian Hedrick, OKC Energy FC: Hedrick had a stellar performance at the center of OKC’s defense as Energy FC handed the Swope Park Rangers their first defeat with a 1-0 win.
D – Shawn Ferguson, Charleston Battery: Ferguson helped contain a strong Bethlehem Steel FC attack as the Battery rebounded from their first loss to earn a point on the road.
D – AJ Cochran, Saint Louis FC: Cochran marshaled STLFC’s defense impressively, as the visitors earned a 1-0 victory on the road against Sacramento Republic FC.
M – Fatawu Safiu, Vancouver Whitecaps FC 2: Safiu came off the bench to record a goal and assist as WFC2 rallied for a 2-2 draw on the road against the LA Galaxy II.
M – Enzo Martinez, Charlotte Independence: Martinez earned his second consecutive selection as his goal paved the way for another big win, this time against the Richmond Kickers.
M – Dan Metzger, New York Red Bulls II: Metzger scored the only goal, his first since an injury midway through the 2015 season, to keep New York undefeated with a 1-0 win against Wilmington.
F – Kharlton Belmar, Portland Timbers 2: Belmar earned a second consecutive selection as he was a threat all game in Tulsa, where he scored the opening goal in the first half, and played a key role in the second.
F – Christian Volesky, Rochester Rhinos: Volesky continued his dominant form of a season ago against FC Montreal, scoring both goals as the Rhinos rallied for a 2-1 victory in their home opener.
F – Chandler Hoffman, Louisville City FC: Hoffman’s hot streak continued with another pair of goals as Louisville took its third consecutive win with a 3-2 victory against Harrisburg.
Bench: Mitch Hildebrandt (CIN), Christian Duke (SPR), Paul Wilson (HAR), Jack McBean (LA), Trevin Caesar (OC), Jose Escalante (RGV), Raheem Edwards (TOR)
Louisville City FC faces the Pittsburgh Riverhounds (7:30 p.m. | TICKETS) on Wednesday. A limited number of LouCity Match Packs (4 tickets | 4 shirts | On-field VIP experience) are available now for $60 with promo code 4FOR60 when selecting the Group Zone.
LouCity then embarks on a two-match road trip with visits to MLS-affiliates Bethlehem Steel (3 p.m. | MATCH CENTER) on May 1 and Toronto FC II (7:30 p.m. | MATCH CENTER) on May 4.
