The 30-team United Soccer League on Tuesday named Louisville City FC’s Cameron Lancaster its Player of the Week after the forward recorded LouCity’s first multi-goal performance of the season.
Lancaster got scoring started early in Saturday’s 3-0 win over the Pittsburgh Riverhounds, curling in a free kick from distance in the 8th minute. The 24-year-old from London, England, tapped in another goal in the 64th minute on the assist from Brian Ownby, who was also named to the USL Team of the Week, a listing of the league’s top 11 players.
Lancaster’s Player of the Week nod marked the club’s first such designation since former striker Chandler Hoffman earned it in April of 2016. Ownby has now made Team of the Week three times this year amid a big season by the veteran midfielder.
“It means a lot,” Lancaster said. “It’s nice to get recognized for all the hard work you put into training. It’s a credit to the whole team. I wouldn’t have scored those goals if I didn’t get the assist and the foul earned by George (Davis IV) to set them up.”
Lancaster, who came up through English Premier League power Tottenham Hotspur’s academy, received 43 percent of votes cast by a national panel of independent media representing every USL market. Bethlehem Steel FC midfielder Adam Najem finished second with 26 percent of the vote.
Lancaster’s goals helped LouCity to its third straight win, moving the side to second place in the USL Eastern Conference standings in front of 8,741 fans at Louisville Slugger Field. He now has four goals on the year, tied for the team lead with Davis IV, while Ownby’s three assists pace LouCity.
USL Team of the Week
GK – C.J. Cochran, OKC Energy FC: Cochran recorded four saves, all in the first half, to keep Energy FC in the game, allowing OKC to earn a 3-1 comeback win against the Portland Timbers 2.
D – Mitch Taintor, Toronto FC II: Taintor had a strong defensive showing with four interceptions, and also completed 89 percent of his 59 passes in a 1-0 win against Orlando City B.
D – Ryan Felix, Rochester Rhinos: Felix scored the only goal, and was solid defensively with five interceptions, as the Rhinos extended their undefeated run to eight games with a 1-0 win against Ottawa Fury FC.
D – Forrest Lasso, Charleston Battery: Lasso recorded his fifth goal of the season with a deft half-volleyed finish and also had a strong game defensively in Charleston’s 2-2 draw with FC Cincinnati.
M – Brian Ownby, Louisville City FC: Ownby was a menace throughout as he recorded an assist on Cameron Lancaster’s second goal and created four other chances in Louisville’s 3-0 win against the Pittsburgh Riverhounds.
M – Alejandro Covarrubias, LA Galaxy II: Covarrubias provided strong leadership and an attacking threat from the center of the midfield as the Galaxy II earned a 1-0 victory on the road against Rio Grande Valley FC.
M – Adam Najem, Bethlehem Steel FC: Najem recorded Steel FC’s first goal ever against the New York Red Bulls II, and added an assist, as Bethlehem took a 2-0 win for its first victory against the defending USL Cup champions.
M – Kris Tyrpak, San Antonio FC: Tyrpak scored the opening two goals as San Antonio earned a 3-1 victory against Tulsa Roughnecks FC in front of 7,361 fans at Toyota Field to remain undefeated.
F – Jorge Herrera, Charlotte Independence: Herrera notched the opening goal in the Sportsplex at Matthews’ history as he led the Independence to a 2-0 win against the Harrisburg City Islanders.
F – Didier Drogba, Phoenix Rising FC: Drogba notched both goals, including a late equalizer from the penalty spot, as Phoenix earned a 2-2 draw against the Swope Park Rangers at Children’s Mercy Victory Field.
F – Cameron Lancaster, Louisville City FC: Lancaster scored a pair of goals, including an outstanding free kick, as Louisville took a 3-0 victory against the Pittsburgh Riverhounds.
Bench: Eric Lopez (LA), Auston Trusty (BST), Damion Lowe (TBR), Agustin Cazarez (SAC), Andrew Wiedeman (CIN), Andy Craven (OKC), Franck Tayou (RIC)
