Swope Park Rangers defender Parker Maher has been named to the USL Team of the Week for Week 18, while fellow defender Oumar Ballo has been named to the bench of the Team of the Week.
Both Maher and Ballo started the 2-0 shutout victory over Seattle Sounders FC 2 at Starfire Sports Complex in Tukwila, Wash. last Thursday. Maher went the full 90 minutes, winning 19 of his 24 aerial and ground duels, while also adding four tackles and three interceptions. Ballo played the opening 85 minutes and recorded the game-winning assist on Lebo Moloto’s strike early in the second half.
The Rangers are now riding a seven-game unbeaten streak – part of a 10-game unbeaten run – and have posted shutouts in their last five matches, four of which have come away from home.
Maher has made 16 appearances in his first season with SPR, adding two assists from the backline. He was also in the 18-man squad for Sporting Kansas City’s 2-0 victory over the Houston Dynamo in the U.S. Open Cup Round of 16 on June 28, but did not feature.
Ballo is in his second season with the Rangers after a standout first year that saw the side reach the USL Cup Final in their inaugural season. He has made seven appearances, including four starts in 2017, adding his first assist of the year on Thursday.
Maher, Ballo and the Swope Park Rangers are back in action this Sunday, July 30 when the team faces expansion side Reno 1868 FC at Children’s Mercy Victory Field in Swope Soccer Village. Tickets for the game are available via SeatGeek.com, while the game will be live streamed on SportingKC.com.
USL Team of the Week
GK – Kendall McIntosh, Portland Timbers 2: McIntosh recorded seven saves against Reno 1868 FC on Saturday to allow T2 to earn a 1-1 draw at Greater Nevada Field.
D – Oscar Jimenez, Louisville City FC: Jimenez recorded a goal and assist as Louisville rallied from a halftime deficit to take a 4-1 victory against Saint Louis FC on Saturday to retain the Kings’ Cup.
D – Parker Maher, Swope Park Rangers: Maher won 19 regular and aerial duels and notched four tackles and three interceptions as SPR earned a 2-0 victory against Seattle Sounders FC 2.
D – Jordan Burt, Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC: Burt scored twice for the Switchbacks as their comeback effort against OKC Energy FC at Taft Stadium came up just short.
M – Alex Morrell, Tampa Bay Rowdies: Morrell had an assist and created three other scoring chances while providing positive energy to the Rowdies’ attack in a 2-0 win against the Charleston Battery.
M – Juan Pablo Caffa, Tulsa Roughnecks FC: Caffa provided one assist, created two more scoring chances and helped run the center of the field for the Roughnecks in a 3-0 win against Phoenix Rising FC.
M – Samuel Asante, Richmond Kickers: Asante scored the game-winning goal and completed 51 of 57 passes in midfield to marshal the Kickers to victory against Bethlehem Steel FC.
M – Miguel Gonzalez, OKC Energy FC: Gonzalez had two goals and one assist as Energy FC took a 4-3 victory against Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC on Saturday night.
F – Jose Angulo, OKC Energy FC: Angulo scored his first two goals for Energy FC and added an assist as OKC notched an exciting 4-3 victory against Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC.
F – Djiby Fall, FC Cincinnati: Fall scored the opening goal of the game and then provided the assist on FCC’s second in a 3-0 victory against the Harrisburg City Islanders on Saturday night.
F – Sammy Ochoa, Sacramento Republic FC: Ochoa recorded assists on both goals and also created two more scoring opportunities as Republic FC took a 2-0 victory against Seattle Sounders FC 2 on Sunday.
Bench: Brandon Miller (HAR), Max Lachowecki (SLC), Oumar Ballo (SPR), Devin Vega (SA), Dusan Stevanovic (OC), Vincent Bezecourt (NY), Gio Calixtro (POR)
