Las Vegas Lights FC forward Coleman Gannon and defender Grayson Doody were named to the USL Championship’s Team of the Week for Week 32 of the 2024 regular season on Tuesday morning.
Gannon, 21, recorded a goal – his fifth of the season – and an assist in the second half of the Lights’ 3-0 win at Birmingham Legion FC to secure his place on the league’s weekly best XI. The Atlanta United Academy product also completed 14 of 18 passes and made one interception and four recoveries during his 90-minute performance.
Doody, who joined the Lights on loan from Major League Soccer’s CF Montréal, put in a clinical defensive performance along the flank throughout the evening after making 4 of 5 tackles and winning 9 of 12 ground duels, while also creating three scoring chances throughout the night.
This marks the first appearance for both players in the Team of the Week XI this season. Lights forward Joe Gyau and defender Shawn Smart also earned Team of the Week plaudits in Week 32 with appearances on the league’s bench.
Previous TOTW honorees on the Lights roster include forwards Khori Bennett (Weeks 14, 16, 17) and Christian Pinzón (Week 25); midfielders Shawn Smart (Weeks 4, 5, 21, 29), J.C. Ngando (Weeks 17, 30), 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 in second place (50 points) on the Western Conference table with the opportunity to secure a home playoff game this Saturday, October 19 at Cashman Field against Oakland Roots SC. A win over the Roots would be one of three scenarios that would clinch a Top Four finish in the standings for the Lights.
Saturday’s home regular season finale against the Roots also marks the club’s Fan Appreciation Night, which includes numerous giveaways, food & drink specials, merchandise discounts, and more to celebrate the fan’s support at Cashman Field all season long. Tickets start at just $20 for the 7:30 p.m. PT kickoff and are available at lasvegaslightsfc.com/tickets.
USL Championship Team of the Week – Week 32
GK – Pablo Sisniega, San Antonio FC: The Mexican shot-stopper recorded 15 saves across two games – including a season-high 11 saves against El Paso Locomotive FC on Wednesday night – to post a save percentage of 83.3 percent as SAFC emerged with four points to keep their playoff hopes alive.
D – Grayson Doody, Las Vegas Lights FC: Doody put in a stellar defensive display in the Lights’ 3-0 win against Birmingham Legion FC, winning 4 of 5 tackles and 9 of 12 ground duels while completing 45 of 52 passes and recording three chances created at Protective Stadium.
D – Ben Ofeimu, Indy Eleven: Ofeimu led Indy’s back line to a pair of shutouts over the week, recording a team-high 20 clearances while winning 9 of 14 duels and notching the assist on the side’s game-winning goal against Loudoun United FC on Tuesday night.
D – Jacob Erlandson, Loudoun United FC: Erlandson produced a pair of stellar performances for Loudoun across its two outings, winning 18 of 26 duels and recording seven clearances and nine recoveries while also completing 91 of 107 passes across 120 minutes of action.
M – Danny Barrera, Hartford Athletic: The veteran notched his second two-goal game in the USL Championship and added an assist in Hartford’s 4-3 victory against North Carolina FC while completing 22 of 29 passes and 2 of 4 crosses.
M – Amadou Dia, Louisville City FC: Dia proved instrumental in LouCity’s 2-1 comeback victory against the Tampa Bay Rowdies, winning a penalty kick that began the rally, while also putting in impressive work defensively, winning 6 of 7 tackles and 10 of 12 ground duels.
M – Marlon Hairston, Hartford Athletic: The veteran midfielder recorded a pair of assists and hit the woodwork with his lone shot of the game while also completing 35 of 38 passes and winning 3 of 3 tackles and 3 of 3 ground duels in Hartford’s 4-3 victory against North Carolina FC.
M – Coleman Gannon, Las Vegas Lights FC: The 21-year-old notched a goal and assist in the Lights’ 3-0 victory against Birmingham Legion FC and completed 14 of 18 passes while making one interception and four recoveries defensively.
F – Luis Solignac, San Antonio FC: The Argentine veteran recorded two goals and one assist across two appearances as SAFC claimed four points to keep its playoff bid alive, with Solignac notching a goal and assist in his side’s comeback victory against Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC on Saturday night while recording seven shots and four shots on target for the week.
F – Evan Conway, North Carolina FC: Conway found the net in each of NCFC’s contests over the week as the side took victory in midweek against FC Tulsa, and overall notched 11 shots and six shots on target while going the full 90 minutes in both contests.
F – Ethan Zubak, Orange County SC: Zubak found the net as Orange County continued its recent undefeated streak with a 2-0 victory against Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC last Wednesday night and was a physical presence in attack throughout the night, winning 4 of 5 aerial duels and 4 of 7 ground duels while completing 18 of 22 passes.
Coach – Diego Gomez, Phoenix Rising FC: Gomez’s side earned a six-point week with road victories against New Mexico United and Oakland Roots SC to move within reach of a return to the USL Championship Playoffs with two games to go in the regular season.
Bench: Hunter Sulte (IND), Shawn Smart (LV), Rece Buckmaster (SA), Mikey Maldonado (NC), Seth Casiple (OC), Joe Gyau (LV), Rodrigo Da Costa (NC)
