The United Soccer League on Tuesday listed goalkeeper Greg Ranjitsingh and midfielder Richard Ballard on its Team of the Week after the pair keyed wins for Louisville City FC.
Ranjitsingh secured eight saves across a 1-0 win over the Charlotte Independence and 3-0 result at New York Red Bulls II. Ballard, a Louisville native, scored his first USL goal against the Independence and added another in stoppage time in the New York game.
Defender Kyle Smith, who opened scoring against New York with his first goal of the year, was named to the Team of the Week “Bench.”
LouCity jumped to No. 3 in the Eastern Conference standings with games in hand after a perfect week. Next, aa 7:30 p.m. Saturday return to Slugger Field ahead as the Pittsburgh Riverhounds visit.
Ranjitsingh came up particularly big late against Charlotte, when he recorded multiple punch-outs in stoppage time, including at the death. The third-year keeper’s saves in the 19th and 51st minutes Sunday against Red Bulls II made it two straight clean sheets.
Last Wednesday, Ballard found a deflected ball off teammate Cameron Lancaster and drove in his first USL goal in the 57th minute. It ended up the game-winner as well.
“It’s just that much sweeter to do it in front of my hometown and celebrate with my city,” said Ballard, who graduated from DuPont Manual High School before attending Indiana University.
Ballard made it a scoring streak by firing a left-footed strike from teammate Kyle Smith into the goal during stoppage time at New York.
USL Team of the Week
GK – Greg Ranjitsingh, Louisville City FC: Ranjitsingh recorded back-to-back shutouts as Louisville earned victories against the Charlotte Independence at home and New York Red Bulls II on the road.
D – Onua Obasi, Ottawa Fury FC: Obasi had a dynamic two-way performance, leading Ottawa with 57 passes and three tackles and three interceptions in a 1-0 win against the Harrisburg City Islanders.
D – Kyle Hyland, OKC Energy FC: Hyland’s standout second-half goal put Energy FC ahead for good in a 3-2 midweek win against Phoenix Rising FC, and was also solid in a 0-0 draw against San Antonio FC.
D – Amadou Dia, Phoenix Rising FC: Dia had a strong debut for Rising FC, providing the assist on the opening goal by Didier Drogba and performing well up and down the left flank.
M – Richard Ballard, Louisville City FC: Ballard scored his first two league goals, including the game-winner against the Charlotte Independence, as Louisville won twice over the week.
M – Justin Portillo, Charleston Battery: Portillo scored the only goal, and was a strong presence in central midfield as the Battery defeated the Richmond Kickers 1-0 in the 60th all-time meeting between the clubs.
M – Sebastian Velasquez, Real Monarchs SLC: Velasquez recorded the assist on both goals as the Monarchs claimed their eighth consecutive victory with a 2-0 win against the Portland Timbers 2.
M – Antoine Hoppenot, Reno 1868 FC: Hoppenot record the game-winner against Sacramento Republic FC after having notched an assist in 1868 FC’s win against Rio Grande Valley FC earlier in the week.
F – Wojciech Wojcik, OKC Energy FC: Scored twice, including the game-winner, as Energy FC defeated Phoenix Rising FC 3-2 in the USL Game of the Week last Tuesday night.
F – Dane Kelly, Reno 1868 FC: Extended his goal-scoring streak to six games with goals against both Rio Grande Valley FC and Sacramento Republic FC as 1868 FC took a pair of wins.
F – Kevaughn Frater, Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC: Recorded a pair of goals, including a 90th-minute game-winner, to lift the Switchbacks past the LA Galaxy II.
Bench: Angelo Cavalluzzo (TOR), Justin Hoyte (CIN), Kyle Smith (LOU), Jorginho James (RGV), Seku Conneh (BST), Mark Anthony Gonzalez (SPR), Didier Drogba (PHX)
