Goals over weekend earn Dwyer his fifth consecutive Team of the Week honors

TAMPA, Fla. – USL PRO named its Team of the Week for Week 12 of the season on Tuesday, with VSI Tampa Bay FC forward Mauricio Salles earning Player of the Week honors after scoring a league-record five goals in his side’s 8-0 win against Antigua Barracuda FC on Friday night. Salles broke the record previously held by Jhonny Arteaga and Peter Byers, who each had four-goal games in the 2011 season.

Salles’ five goals all came in the opening half-hour, with the Brazilian opening the scoring in the first minute off a through-ball by Shawn Chin. Another pair of goals came in the 11th and 12th minutes, and he added a fourth in the 16th minute, timing his runs in behind the Barracudas’ defense perfectly before finishing well. The fifth goal came 10 minutes later, a strong right-footed drive into the left corner of the net, and Salles also added an assist late as Karamba Janneh capped the scoring.

Joining Salles in the Team of the Week’s attack was Orlando City’s Dom Dwyer, who had a pair of goals to set a USL PRO record for goals in a season. Dwyer broke the record on Friday night in the Lions’ 2-0 win against Phoenix FC, and added his 15th goal of the season on Sunday in a 2-0 win against Antigua. Charleston’s Heviel Cordoves also earned selection after providing the spark for the Battery off the bench, recording a goal and an assist in a 2-2 draw against Charlotte on Wednesday night.

Charleston’s Nicki Paterson was also named after scoring two goals in the Battery’s 4-1 win against the Houston Dynamo Reserves. Joining Paterson are Rochester’s J.C. Banks, whose perfect cross allowed Tam McManus to give the Rhinos the lead in their 1-1 draw against the Montreal Impact Reserves, and Charlotte’s Drew Yates, whose stoppage-time goal earned the Eagles a 2-2 draw against Charleston last Wednesday. Wilmington’s Daniel Roberts rounds out the quartet after providing the assist on Steven Perry’s game-tying goal for the Wilmington Hammerheads in a 1-1 draw against Richmond.

Jason Yeisley leads a trio of defenders selected after a solid performance for the Richmond Kickers in their draw against Wilmington. Conventionally a forward, Yeisley stepped in and led the back line well as Richmond remained undefeated. Harrisburg’s Coady Andrews also earned selection, scoring a goal while helping the City Islanders record a shutout in their 2-0 win against Wilmington last Wednesday. Dayton’s Shane Smith was also honored after scoring the game-tying goal in Dayton’s 4-4 draw with Columbus. Pittsburgh’s Hunter Gilstrap took goalkeeping honors after a solid performance helped the Riverhounds earn a point against the Toronto FC Reserves on Friday night.

The USL PRO season continues on Friday night as the Charlotte Eagles host the Chicago Fire Reserves at Queens Sports Complex at 7 p.m. ET, while the Richmond Kickers host Antigua Barracuda FC, also at 7 p.m. ET. Tampa Bay begins its weekend trip in Rochester, with kickoff against the Rhinos set for 7:35 p.m. ET at Sahlen’s Stadium.

Saturday night brings more interleague play, with the New York Red Bulls Reserves visiting the Wilmington Hammerheads at Legion Stadium at 7:35 p.m. ET. Out west, Phoenix FC hosts Real Salt Lake Reserves at Sun Devil Soccer Stadium, and the Los Angeles Blues host the LA Galaxy Reserves at the StubHub Center, with both games set to kick off at 10:30 p.m. ET. The night begins in Pittsburgh, where the Riverhounds host the Charleston Battery at 7 p.m. ET.

Sunday returns to regular league action, with Antigua Barracuda FC visiting the Harrisburg City Islanders at 4 p.m. ET. The Charleston Battery complete their weekend trip as they face the Rochester Rhinos at 4:05 p.m., and Tampa Bay visits the Dayton Dutch Lions at Beavercreek Stadium at 6:30 p.m. ET in the final game of the weekend.

Every game of the USL PRO season can be seen on USLNation.com, with live updates also available via Twitter (@USLPRO), Facebook and Google+.

Photo: Alex Schierholtz



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Teams GP Pts
Orlando City SC 28 62
Sacramento Republic FC 28 55
LA Galaxy II 28 51
Richmond Kickers 28 51
Charleston Battery 28 41