ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (April 24, 2018) — Tampa Bay Rowdies captain Joe Cole has been named to the USL Team of the Week for the first time in 2018 following a stellar performance in the Rowdies’ 2-0 win over Real Monarchs SLC on Saturday night.
Cole scored his second goal of the season and provided his first assist on the year in the win.
Additionally, Georgi Hristov was named as an honorable mention on the bench after scoring his 57th goal for the Rowdies, tying the all-time club record.
The full USL Team of the Week is below.
USL Team of the Week
GK – Diego Restrepo, San Antonio FC: Recorded a six-save shutout to earn SAFC a point on the road in a 0-0 draw against Fresno FC on Sunday night.
D – Sean Reynolds, Saint Louis FC: Reynolds recorded five clearances and four interceptions as Saint Louis held OKC Energy FC without a shot on goal in a 1-0 victory on the road.
D – Ken Tribbett, Penn FC: Tribbett capped a solid defensive performance – won 10 of 14 duels overall and made five interceptions – with a spectacular bicycle-kick goal that served as a late equalizer against the Charleston Battery.
D – Taylor Hunter, Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC: Hunter recorded eight interceptions and won eight of 13 duels as the Switchbacks limited Seattle to one shot on goal in a 0-0 draw at Weidner Field.
M – Villyan Bijev, Sacramento Republic FC: Bijev scored the game-winning goal, recorded three key passes, won 10 of 14 duels and completed 35 of 41 passes in Republic FC’s 2-1 victory against Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC.
M – Joe Cole, Tampa Bay Rowdies: Cole notched a goal and assist while putting in a solid all-around performance in midfield, completing 23 of 26 passes as the Rowdies defeated Real Monarchs SLC 2-0.
M – Thomas Vancaeyezeele, Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC: Vancaeyezeele scored the Hounds’ second goal, but he was also stellar all over the field as he won 10 of 12 duels and recorded nine clearances, three interceptions and two tackles.
M – Solomon Asante, Phoenix Rising FC: Asante had a goal – a late equalizer – and an assist while also recording three key passes in Phoenix’s 2-2 draw with the Swope Park Rangers.
F – Kharlton Belmar, Swope Park Rangers: Belmar continued his stellar season with a pair of goals while also completing 36 of 42 passes in the Rangers’ 2-2 draw on the road against Phoenix Rising FC.
F – Jon Bakero, Tulsa Roughnecks FC: Bakero had a goal – a stoppage-time equalizer – and an assist as the Roughnecks earned a 2-2 draw with Fresno FC.
F – Danny Musovski, Reno 1868 FC: Musovski’s two goals in the final 15 minutes led 1868 FC to a comeback 2-1 victory against the Portland Timbers 2.
Bench: Calle Brown (SEA), Billy Forbes (PHX), Kenney Walker (CIN), Georgi Hristov (TBR), Antoine Hoppenot (RNO), Kevin Oliveira (OTT), Foster Langsdorf (POR)
