Las Vegas Lights FC Head Coach Dennis Sanchez was named the USL Championship’s Coach of the Week for Week 18 of the 2024 regular season on Tuesday morning.
The weekly honor is Sanchez’s third since taking charge of the Lights, having previously earned plaudits in Weeks 5 and 14 this season. The latest honor comes after his Lights side tallied the club’s first-ever win at Sacramento Republic in a 1-0 victory last Wednesday. The Lights are currently on a seven-game undefeated streak with two consecutive wins heading into Week 19.
Lights goalkeeper Raiko Arozarena earned his second consecutive placement on the league’s Team of the Week bench after recording five saves and a clean sheet on the road.
The Lights will be traveling to El Paso Locomotive this Friday, July 12 in its second of four away games throughout July. Vegas will next return to Cashman Field on August 10 against Detroit City FC. Tickets to the next home match featuring post-game fireworks are available at lasvegaslightsfc.com/tickets. Fans can use code FIREWORKS at checkout for $5 off tickets.
USL Championship Team of the Week – Week 18
GK – Carlos Herrera, Monterey Bay F.C.: Herrera posted a nine-save shutout, posting a -1.32 Goals Prevented mark, to keep MBFC in the game as the visitors claimed a 1-0 victory at Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC in second-half stoppage time.
D – Owen Lambe, Orange County SC: The 23-year-old scored a standout finish in Orange County’s 4-1 victory against Memphis 901 FC on Saturday night and won 2 of 2 tackles while making two interceptions, two recoveries and five recoveries defensively.
D – Frank Nodarse, Rhode Island FC: The Cuban center back scored a pair of goals off set pieces and won 5 of 7 aerial duels while making four interceptions and completing 34 of 40 passes in RIFC’s 3-3 draw with Indy Eleven.
D – Devon Amoo-Mensah, Detroit City FC: The Le Rouge veteran provided a smart headed assist on his side’s goal in a 1-1 draw against the Tampa Bay Rowdies on Saturday night and recorded seven clearances and three blocked shots while winning 6 of 6 duels at Keyworth Stadium.
M – Rafael Mentzingen, North Carolina FC: The Brazilian scored in the opening goal for NCFC as it rallied from a halftime deficit to take a 4-1 victory against Miami FC and recorded three shots on target while also making seven recoveries and completing 30 of 39 passes overall.
M – Kyle Scott, Orange County SC: Scott recorded a pair of assists and completed 41 of 48 passes overall in Orange County’s 4-1 victory against Memphis 901 FC on Saturday night while also winning 2 of 3 tackles, 8 of 11 duels and making two interceptions defensively.
M – Marc Ybarra, Rhode Island FC: Ybarra had a pair of assists on four chances created in Rhode Island’s 3-3 draw against Indy Eleven on Friday night and completed 40 of 49 passes overall.
M – Marco Micaletto, New Mexico United: Micaletto recorded one assist and had seven chances created overall while completing 31 of 37 passes in New Mexico’s 2-0 victory against Orange County SC and also completed 2 of 2 dribbles and won 5 of 8 duels at Isotopes Park.
F – Nick Markanich, Charleston Battery: The current Golden Boot leader scored both goals as the Battery took victory against Birmingham Legion FC and had eight shots overall and four chances created while winning 3 of 3 tackles and making nine recoveries defensively.
F – Evan Conway, North Carolina FC: Conway scored twice in 77 seconds to power NCFC to a 4-1 victory against Miami FC and had five shots overall while winning 9 of 12 duels and one tackle defensively.
F – Wesley Leggett, Loudoun United FC: The 23-year-old recorded one goal and two assists in Loudoun’s 3-0 victory against Hartford Athletic last Wednesday night and had four shots overall while completing 3 of 5 dribbles.
Coach – Dennis Sanchez, Las Vegas Lights FC: Sanchez led his side to its first away victory against Sacramento Republic FC in club history last Wednesday night as the Lights blocked five shots and held the hosts to an Expected Goals mark below 1.00xG.
Bench – Raiko Arozarena (LV), Memo Diaz (OAK), Koa Santos (COS), Chris Allan (CHS), Jorge Hernandez (SA), Zach Ryan (LDN), Juan Agudelo (SA)
