TAMPA, Fla. – Portland Timbers 2 defensive midfielder Tim Payne was named to the USL Team of the Week for the final week of the 2015 regular season. Payne helped T2's defense earn a clean sheet in its 1-0 win over LA Galaxy II on September 16.
Pittsburgh Riverhounds midfielder Lebo Moloto has been voted the USL Player of the Week for the 27th week of the 2015 season after he scored twice in as many games to lead the Riverhounds to a place in the 2015 USL Playoffs. Moloto had the opening goal in both Pittsburgh’s 1-1 draw with Rochester on Wednesday, and its 2-1 win against Harrisburg on Saturday.
Moloto received 43 percent of the poll conducted by a national panel of independent media representing every USL market. OKC Energy FC goalkeeper Evan Newton and Harrisburg City Islanders midfielder Jason Plumhoff finished tied for second with 21 percent.
USL Team of the Week
GK – Evan Newton, OKC Energy FC: Posted an eight-save shutout to help Energy FC take a 1-0 win against Arizona, which led to a top-two seed in the Western Conference Playoffs
D – Tim Payne, Portland Timbers 2: Made a number of important tackles and interceptions as T2 ended its season with a 1-0 win on the road against the LA Galaxy II
D – Bradley Diallo, LA Galaxy II: Put in a strong effort alongside Daniel Steres as the 10-man Galaxy II held on for a 1-0 win against Colorado Springs on Saturday
D – Nick Miele, Seattle Sounders FC 2: Had a goal and assist as S2 clinched the final playoff berth in the Western Conference after a 3-2 win against Austin
M – Brett Levis, Vancouver Whitecaps FC 2: Scored twice in his comeback from injury, including an outstanding finish from 30 yards, in WFC2’s final game of the regular season
M – Mozzi Gyorio, Austin Aztex: Found incisive passes, and had the assist on the game-winning goal, as Austin rallied for a 3-2 win against Vancouver to close the season
M – Lebo Moloto, Pittsburgh Riverhounds: Helped the Riverhounds claim four points from their final two games with a pair of goals as Pittsburgh earned a place in the playoffs
M – Jason Plumhoff, Harrisburg City Islanders: Had a hat trick as the City Islanders took a 5-0 win against Montreal last Wednesday night
F – Jason Yeisley, Richmond Kickers: Opened the scoring, and was a menace throughout, as the Kickers took a 2-1 win against Toronto that proved decisive in reaching the playoffs
F – Dane Kelly, Charleston Battery: Scored his 42nd career goal in the USL regular season to become the league’s all-time leading goal scorer in a 3-1 win against Charlotte
F – Kingsley Bryce, Saint Louis FC: Had the game-winning goal and an assist as Saint Louis FC closed the season on a positive note with a 2-1 win against Louisville
Bench: Carl Woszczynski (AZ), Ashani Fairclough (SEA), George Davis IV (RIC), Sean Totsch (ROC), Marius Obekop (NY), Kevin Kerr (PGH), Chuy Sanchez (OKC)
