TAMPA, FL – Charlotte Independence forward Enzo Martinez has been voted the USL Player of the Week for Week 5 of the 2017 season. Martinez scored both goals as the Independence rallied from an early deficit to take a 2-1 victory against Saint Louis FC, the club’s first win of the season. Martinez’s goals were his first of the new year after being nominated as a finalist for the 2016 USL Most Valuable Player award.
Martinez received 48 percent of the poll conducted by a national panel of independent media representing every USL market. San Antonio FC midfielder Billy Forbes finished second with 28 percent of the vote.
USL Team of the Week
GK – Earl Edwards Jr., Orlando City B: Edwards recorded seven saves across two games – including a five-save shutout against Bethlehem – as OCB took four points from the week.
D – Hugo Arellano, LA Galaxy II: Arellano completed 83.5 percent of his 55 passes and recorded two tackles and five clearances in Los Dos’ 1-1 draw with Orange County.
D – Francisco Ugarte, Tulsa Roughnecks FC: Ugarte made five clearances, three tackles and two interceptions as the Roughnecks earned a shutout win against Rio Grande Valley.
D – Shane McEleney, Ottawa Fury FC: McEleney had a solid game defensively as Ottawa held Toronto FC II without a shot on goal, while also completing 80 percent of his 50 passes.
M – Kevin Oliveira, Swope Park Rangers: Oliveira’s two goals almost led an improbable comeback for the Rangers against Phoenix as the Cape Verde playmaker proved a threat throughout.
M – Billy Forbes, San Antonio FC: Forbes scored the game-winning goal and added another assist, leading San Antonio to a victory against Vancouver to open a three-game road trip.
M – Richie Laryea, Orlando City B: Laryea scored both goals and completed all 18 of his passes as Orlando took a 2-0 victory against Bethlehem on Sunday evening.
M – Brian Tah Anunga, Charleston Battery: Anunga’s late game-winner against Tampa Bay lifted the Battery to the top of the Eastern Conference as he also completed 81 percent of his passes in the contest.
M – Luke Rooney, Phoenix Rising FC: Rooney had a goal and assist as Rising FC recorded its second consecutive victory, defeating Swope Park 4-3 on Sunday night.
F – Victor Arboleda, Portland Timbers 2: Arboleda completed 92.3 percent of his passes for the game and scored the second goal in a 2-0 win against Sacramento for T2’s first victory of the season.
F – Enzo Martinez, Charlotte Independence: Martinez’s first two goals of the season lifted the Independence to their first win as Charlotte overcame an early deficit to defeat Saint Louis.
Bench: Angelo Cavalluzzo (TOR), Roy Meeus (OC), Jordan Murrell (RNO), Raul Gonzalez (RIC), Maikel Chang (CHS), Alessandro Riggi (PHX), Kenardo Forbes (ROC)
