TEAM OF THE WEEK | Week 10
San Antonio Scorpions’ Daryl Sattler, Indy Eleven’s Victor Pineda, and Tampa Bay Rowdies’ Brian Shriver all put in match-winning performances in Week 10. Sattler helped the Scorpions earn a hard-fought win on the road, Pineda’s efforts earned the Boys in Blue a dramatic victory in interim head coach Tim Regan’s debut, while Shriver helped keep the Rowdies in the Spring Season title hunt. For their contribution in their teams’ victories, they all earned Team of the Week honors.
Find out the rest of the key performers below:
GK: Daryl Sattler (San Antonio Scorpions) – Holding on to a 1-0 lead, the Scorpions faced an onslaught by the Atlanta Silverbacks throughout the second half. The visitors would stand firm, though. Sattler made six saves in the match to preserve the clean sheet, and his most notable save may have been in the 81st minute when he stopped Hans Denissen’s free-kick attempt.
DEF: Erick Norales (Indy Eleven) – Through nine games in the Spring Season, Norales has been the constant, steady presence in the Eleven back line. On the road in interim head coach Tim Regan’s first match, the Honduran international marshaled the defense, helping Indy to a morale-boosting 2-1 win against the Fort Lauderdale Strikers.
DEF: Tamika Mkandawire (Tampa Bay Rowdies) – Missing his usual center back partner with Stefan Antonijevic out due to red card suspension, Mkandawire was key. The Malawi native was strong in the air, dealing with any crosses FC Edmonton sent into the box. He also made several interceptions and tackles, especially when the Eddies were threatening to equalize in the second half, to help the Rowdies earn a 2-1 win.
DEF: Rafael Alves (Ottawa Fury FC) – Fury FC hasn’t given up a goal in the last four matches, and the play of Alves continues to be a major reason why. Jacksonville Armada FC held the lion’s share of possession and created most of the attacking opportunities, but the Brazilian center back and the Fury FC rearguard were able to keep Jacksonville out. Ottawa also had to battle the weather on a hot, Florida afternoon, but were able to head back to Canada with a point.
MID: Tiyi Shipalane (Carolina RailHawks) – The Shipalane- Nacho Novo connection has been crucial to the RailHawks’ success over the course of the Spring Season, and in the club’s final game in the first half of 2015, that partnership was pivotal once again. The South African’s cross late in the second half found the head of the former Rangers forward who beat Loons goalkeeper Sammy Ndjock for the equalizer in the 1-1 draw. The goal not only sunk Minnesota United’s Spring title hopes, but put Carolina in good standing heading into the Fall Season.
MID: Pascal Millien (Jacksonville Armada FC) – The Armada FC couldn’t find the final touch in a scoreless draw with Ottawa, but it certainly wasn’t without a strong effort. Millien was dangerous, using his speed and trickery on the outside, throughout the match. The Haitian international came the closest to scoring as well, but his shot went just wide in the second half.
MID: Brian Shriver (Tampa Bay Rowdies) – Getting his first start in the Spring Season, Shriver made quite the impression. The Florida native fired the shot in the first half, which was spilled by FC Edmonton goalkeeper John Smits before Darwin Espinal scored from close range. In the second half, the midfielder had the crucial touch to ensure the Rowdies are in the title race for the final week of the season. After Smits punched clear from a Tampa Bay free kick, Shriver controlled the ball with his chest, let the ball bounce, and then fired his shot into the top corner on the half volley for the eventual winner.
MID: Victor Pineda (Indy Eleven) – After head coach Juergen Sommer was relieved of his duties in midweek, the Boys in Blue needed a response against the Strikers. Pineda was in the forefront of that performance, scoring twice in the match in the road win, which moved Indy out of the bottom spot in the standings. Indy fell behind midway through the first half, but Pineda pulled Indy level just before the halftime whistle. The U.S. youth international would beat the whistle, and Strikers goalkeeper Josh Ford, again in second-half stoppage time, scoring from a similar distance to start the Tim Regan Era on the right foot.
FWD: Omar Cummings (San Antonio Scorpions) – The Jamaican international can’t stop scoring at the moment and remains at the top of the NASL leader board with his latest tally, a game-winning goal against the Silverbacks. He fired home Billy Forbes’ cut back in the first half, which was enough for the Scorpions to leave Atlanta with three points. Cummings was a threat the entire match, and very nearly scored a second goal on an acrobatic, bicycle-kick effort that just went inches wide later in the match.
FWD: Darwin Espinal (Tampa Bay Rowdies) – Recently learning of a call-up to a Honduras U-23 camp, Espinal showed a poacher’s instinct on the opening goal in the Rowdies’ win. After Shriver’s effort was deflected in front of goal, the 20-year-old was the first to react and found the back of the net. Despite the rain-soaked pitch, Espinal was still a threat on the flanks throughout the match and will carry confidence into his first taste of the youth international level.
FWD: J.C. Banks (Minnesota United) – With Miguel Ibarra on international duty with the U.S. men’s national team, there was a hole to fill for the Loons, and Banks stepped into the lineup and delivered. Working on both sides of the ball, it was the Milwaukee, Wis., native who scored Minnesota’s goal. He cut in from the left-hand side, and with the help of a deflection, beat RailHawks goalkeeper Akira Fitzgerald. The tally, however, wasn’t enough to keep the Loons in the title race after conceding a late equalizer though Novo’s headed effort in the draw.
