Swope Park Rangers goalkeeper Christian Herrera enjoyed a career day on Sunday, making seven saves to help his side snap a three-game losing skid in a 0-0 stalemate with Rio Grande Valley FC at Children's Mercy Park.
The 21-year-old Herrera was recognized for his standout performance today, landing USL Team of the Week honors for the first time as one of Week 19's best players.
Making his second appearance of the season for SPR, Herrera was tested early an often by an upstart RGV outfit. The 6-foot-6 goalkeeper produced a splendid double-save in the eighth minute, denying Jordan Jones before smothering Connor Donovan's rebound effort while still on his side. Herrera added another pair of all-important saves in second-half stoppage time to preserve a point for SPR and register his first clean sheet of 2018.
Herrera and the Rangers (9-7-5, 32 points) currently occupy sixth place in the USL's Western Conference standings and return to action next Wednesday, Aug. 1, with a visit to LA Galaxy II at StubHub Center in Carson, California. Kickoff is set for 9:30 p.m. CT and the match will stream live on ESPN+.
USL Team of the Week (Week 19)
GK – Christian Herrera, Swope Park Rangers: Herrera produced numerous spectacular stops as part of a seven-save shutout to earn the Rangers a 0-0 draw with Rio Grande Valley FC on Sunday.
D – Forrest Lasso, FC Cincinnati: Lasso scored his first two goals of the season as FC Cincinnati took victories against both the Charlotte Independence and New York Red Bulls II.
D – Taylor Mueller, Charleston Battery: Mueller was strong in the center of defense for the Battery, winning three tackles and recording nine clearances in 1-0 victory against Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC.
D – Nana Attakora, Ottawa Fury FC: Attakora recorded 13 clearances and completed 21 of 24 passes to help Fury FC record a shutout in its 2-0 victory against Nashville SC on Saturday night.
M – Aodhan Quinn, Orange County SC: Quinn had a goal and two assists as Orange County took four points from its road trip through the Midwest in contests against the Swope Park Rangers and Saint Louis FC.
M – Junior Flemmings, Tampa Bay Rowdies: Flemmings recorded a goal and two assists to lead the Rowdies to a 3-1 victory against Indy Eleven on Saturday night at Al Lang Stadium.
M – Charlie Ward, San Antonio FC: Ward scored an outstanding first professional goal to cap a performance that saw him complete 59 of 65 passes to help San Antonio to a 4-2 win against Real Monarchs SLC.
M – Sebastian Velasquez, Real Monarchs SLC: Velasquez scored both Monarchs goals, the first an outstanding solo effort, in a losing effort as Real fell 4-2 to San Antonio FC.
F – Marty Maybin, Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC: Maybin scored twice as the Switchbacks took a 4-2 victory against Tulsa Roughnecks FC that provided a major boost to their playoff hopes.
F – Ilija Ilic, Louisville City FC: Ilic had a goal and assist, completed 25 of 30 passes overall and had four key passes as Louisville swept to a 4-1 victory against the Charlotte Independence.
F – Daniel Rios, North Carolina FC: Rios had a goal and assist and completed 20 of 23 passes to help North Carolina FC to a 3-1 victory against Toronto FC II on Saturday night.
Bench: Joe Kuzminsky (CHS), Cristian Casseres Jr. (NY), Kyle Bekker (NC), Emmanuel Ledesma (CIN), Giovanni Godoy (OC), Omar Salgado (LV), Georgi Hristov (TBR)
