Andre Lewis and Ariel Martínez have been named to USL Championship Team of the Week for Week 30. This marks the second pair of Hartford Athletic players to earn the league honors in the same week, as Martínez was joined by goalkeeper Yannik Oettl for their performances just two weeks ago.
Lewis and Martínez led the way in helping Hartford light up the scoreboard in their 6-3 victory over Charleston on Saturday. Martínez scored the game’s first and last goals, and Lewis bagged the club’s first ever hat trick along with an assist. Martínez played a ball from Juan Carlos Obregón Jr. brilliantly in the 10th minute, heading it down to himself off a bounce and beating the charging Charleston keeper Kuzemka. Lewis followed with his first goal of the night three minutes later, tapping a well-fed ball from Prince Saydee into the net. The Jamaican midfielder headed in his second goal off of a perfect cross from Danny Barrera early in the second half, and completed the hat trick with a successful penalty kick in the 87th minute. Lewis assisted Martínez’s second goal just before stoppage time, making the score 6-3 and sealing a victory for Hartford. The 36-year old Martínez has been magnificent for the Green and Blue in the second half of the season, and he currently leads the team with eight goals.
Hartford have now had seven total Team of the Week selections on the year. Martínez and Lewis have both been selected twice, and Yannik Oettl, Logan Gdula, and Tom Brewitt, have all been selected once.
USL Championship Team of the Week – Week 30 Detroit City FC’s Maxi Rodriguez earns Player of the Week after scoring hat trick
TAMPA, Fla. – The USL Championship announced the Team of the Week for Week 30 of the 2022 regular season on Tuesday, with Detroit City FC midfielder Maxi Rodriguez voted the Championship Player of the Week presented by Konami eFootball.
Rodriguez scored two goals with his right foot and one with his head as Le Rouge fought through a downpour at Segra Field to pick up a 4-0 win over Loudoun United FC. Rodriguez also contributed five tackles and two interceptions, as well as blocking a shot.
Rodriguez earned 38 percent of the ballot to claim the award. Hartford Athletic’s Andre Lewis finished second on 31 percent of the ballot after scoring a hat trick and adding an assist in a 6-3 victory over the Charleston Battery.
The Championship’s Player of the Week is selected by the USL National Media Panel, which is made up of representatives from each media market in the Championship.
GK – Ben Lundt, Phoenix Rising FC: Lundt recorded a total of eight saves and one clean sheet across two matches as Phoenix earned a pair of wins to keep its season alive.
D – Will Seymore, New Mexico United: Seymore played a vital role in earning his team a point in a scoreless draw in Las Vegas, recording four tackles, four clearances and three interceptions to stifle a talented Lights FC attack.
D – Carter Manley, San Antonio FC: Manley helped San Antonio keep its fifth clean sheet in six matches in a 1-0 road win over Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC and scored the game-winner in the 86th minute. Manley racked up three interceptions, two clearances and one tackle.
D – Joe Farrell, Phoenix Rising FC: Farrell recorded an astonishing 12 clearances, won 5 of his 6 duels, and completed 90 percent of his passes as Phoenix squeaked out a vital 1-0 road win over Sacramento Republic FC and then won all nine of his duels in a 5-1 victory over New York Red Bulls II.
M – Maxi Rodriguez, Detroit City FC: Rodriguez scored a hat trick in Detroit’s 4-0 win over Loudoun United FC on the road. Rodriguez also made two interceptions and five recoveries in midfield.
M – Ayoze, Indy Eleven: Ayoze scored from a free kick and from the penalty spot to bag a brace in a 4-2 loss to FC Tulsa.
M – Danny Trejo, Las Vegas Lights FC: Trejo scored twice and added an assist in a 4-0 win over Monterey Bay F.C. in a great attacking performance as Las Vegas stayed in the postseason hunt. Trejo also added seven recoveries.
M – Andre Lewis, Hartford Athletic: Lewis scored three goals and assisted another in Hartford’s 6-3 victory over the Charleston Battery, creating a total of five chances. Lewis also recorded two interceptions and six recoveries.
F – Luca Sowinski, FC Tulsa: Sowinski, 18, scored a hat trick on six shots in his second professional start as FC Tulsa beat Indy Eleven 4-2 on the road. Sowinski also made six recoveries.
F – Ariel Martínez, Hartford Athletic: Martinez opened and closed the scoring in a two-goal outing as Hartford romped to a 6-3 win over Charleston.
F – Dario Suarez, FC Tulsa: Suarez scored a goal, assisted another and created three chances while completing 86 of his passes in a 4-2 road win over the Indy Eleven.
Bench: Phil Breno (TBR), Robby Dambrot (IND), Mark Segbers (MIA), Charlie Dennis (OAK), Jack Blake (SD), Leo Fernandes (TBR), JJ Williams (PHX)
