Las Vegas Lights FC defender Shawn Smart was named to the USL Championship’s Team of the Week for Week 29 of the 2024 regular season on Tuesday morning.
Smart, 20, earned a spot on the league’s TOTW after tallying the match-winning assist and two shots on goal in last Saturday’s 2-1 comeback win against Sacramento Republic FC at Cashman Field. In addition to his efforts in front of goal, the former Clemson Tigers NCAA College Cup Champion put in an impressive defensive performance, winning 100% of his tackles, and making four interceptions and six recoveries throughout his 90-minute shift.
This marks Smart’s fourth appearance on the weekly best XI in his rookie season with the Lights, having previously earned plaudits in Weeks 4, 5, and 21.
Previous TOTW honorees on the Lights roster include forwards Khori Bennett (Weeks 14, 16, 17) and Christian Pinzón (Week 25); midfielders J.C. Ngando (Week 17) and Valentin Noël (Weeks 4, 14, 22, 25); and defenders Gaoussou Samaké (Week 4) and Emrah Klimenta (Week 5). Lights Head Coach Dennis Sanchez has earned Coach of the Week honors on three occasions throughout the 2024 season (Weeks 5, 14, 17). Bennett was named the league’s Player of the Week in Week 16 and the Player of the Month in June for his standout performances.
Las Vegas now sits fifth in the Western Conference with 43 points from 29 matches and seven points away from securing the club’s first-ever berth into the USL Championship Playoffs. The Lights are on the road this Saturday for a clash in Arizona at Phoenix Rising FC at 7:30 p.m. PT.
Las Vegas Lights FC will return to Cashman Field on Saturday, October 5 to host Orange County SC for its annual Kick Cancer Night, presented by Comprehensive Cancer Centers and Desert Radiology. Tickets start at just $20 for the 7:30 p.m. PT kickoff, and for all remaining home matches, and are available at lasvegaslightsfc.com/tickets.
USL Championship Team of the Week – Week 29
GK – Kris Shakes, New Mexico United: Making only his second league appearance, Shakes posted a four-save shutout against Loudoun United FC with a Goals Prevented mark of -1.18 to help United seal a six-point week with a 1-0 win at Isotopes Park.
D – Carlos Guzman, Monterey Bay F.C.: The Mexican veteran had a stellar all-around game in Monterey Bay’s scoreless draw with Orange County SC as he completed 95 of 106 passes while winning 2 of 2 tackles and 2 of 2 aerial duels while also making two interceptions and six recoveries.
D – Pape Mar Boye, Phoenix Rising FC: The 20-year-old center back scored the opening goal in Rising’s 4-0 victory against San Antonio FC and was stellar otherwise, completing 49 of 52 passes and winning 6 of 6 aerial duels while making two clearances and three recoveries.
D – Sean Totsch, Louisville City FC: The veteran center back had a strong individual performance against Detroit City FC, winning 4 of 5 tackles, 11 of 12 ground duels and 6 of 8 aerial duels while also converting from the penalty spot for LouCity’s lone goal of the contest.
M – Shawn Smart, Las Vegas Lights FC: Smart recorded one assist and had two shots on target and two chances created while completing 54 of 61 passes, winning a game-high 5 of 5 tackles and 12 of 18 duels, and making four interceptions and six recoveries in a 2-1 win against Sacramento Republic FC.
M – Charlie Dennis, Phoenix Rising FC: The English midfielder recorded his first goal and assist since joining Rising to lead a 4-0 victory against San Antonio FC and completed 37 of 38 passes overall while notching three chances created and making four recoveries defensively.
M – Maxi Rodriguez, Detroit City FC: Rodriguez notched a goal and assist to lead Le Rouge in a 2-1 victory against Louisville City FC on Sunday afternoon, had two shots and two chances created, and completed 26 of 33 passes overall while winning one tackle and making nine recoveries defensively.
M – Chris Allan, Charleston Battery: The English midfielder was outstanding in central midfield, winning 11 of 11 ground duels and 6 of 8 tackles while making nine recoveries and two interceptions and completing 45 of 49 passes to help power the Battery’s 3-1 win against the Tampa Bay Rowdies.
F – Greg Hurst, New Mexico United: The Scottish forward bagged a pair of goals in United’s 3-1 victory against Sacramento Republic FC last Wednesday night as he recorded three shots on target and won 2 of 3 ground duels defensively.
F – Nick Markanich, Charleston Battery: Markanich scored a pair of goals to lead the Battery to a 3-1 victory against the Tampa Bay Rowdies, setting the league’s single-season goalscoring record in the process, and completed 26 of 33 passes while winning 8 of 10 duels and 4 of 6 tackles defensively.
F – Noah Fuson, Rhode Island FC: The 24-year-old began RIFC’s comeback 2-1 victory against FC Tulsa with a sharp finish with just over 20 minutes to play and had six shots and three chances created overall at Beirne Stadium.
Coach – Eric Quill, New Mexico United: Quill’s side earned a six-point week with victories against Sacramento Republic FC and Loudoun United that moved the side’s advantage at the top of the Western Conference to 12 points and put it within reach of clinching the No. 1 seed in the conference.
Bench: Colin Shutler (OC), Abdi Mohamed (NM), Markus Nakkim (OC), Mukwelle Akale (NM), Jojea Kwizera (RI), Collin Martin (NC), Dariusz Formella (PHX)
