TAMPA, Fla. – North Texas SC forward Ricardo Pepi has been named the USL League One Player of the Week for Week 1 of the league’s inaugural 2019 season.

Making his professional debut, the U.S. Youth international recorded a hat trick to lead North Texas to a 3-2 victory against Chattanooga Red Wolves SC at Toyota Stadium. The three-goal performance was the first hat trick in League One history, and capped a series of firsts that occurred during the new league’s historic opening weekend.

USL League One Team of the Week

GK – Pablo Jara, South Georgia Tormenta FC: Jara recorded a key save late to preserve his shutout and Tormenta FC’s victory in League One’s inaugural contest on Friday night.

D – Austin Ledbetter, FC Tucson: Ledbetter won 6 of 8 duels and made six clearances and six recoveries to help Tucson claim victory in its first game of the season.

D – Josh Phelps, South Georgia Tormenta FC: Phelps marked his professional debut with 15 clearances, and also made four recoveries and one interception in Tormenta FC’s shutout victory.

D – Grant Stoneman, Lansing Ignite FC: Stoneman won nine of 12 duels, made four recoveries and four interceptions and completed 39 of 51 passes overall in his side’s victory.

M – Steven Beattie, Chattanooga Red Wolves SC: Beattie began the Red Wolves attempted comeback with a long-range goal, and overall won 3 of 3 tackles and made five recoveries.

M – Kevin Politz, Greenville Triumph SC: Politz won 7 of 8 duels, made seven recoveries and three interceptions in Triumph SC’s debut against Tormenta FC.

M – Xavier Gomez, Lansing Ignite FC: Gomez had a goal and assist, made seven recoveries and completed 29 of 36 passes overall to lead Lansing to its first victory in club history.

M – Alfusainey Jatta, North Texas SC: Jatta had a strong two-way game as he recorded three key passes, won 8 of 10 duels, made 10 recoveries and completed 65 of 77 passes overall.

F – Marco Micaletto, South Georgia Tormenta FC: Micaletto marked his professional debut with the assist on Alex Morrell’s game-winner, and also notched three key passes and won 9 of 14 duels.

F – Ricardo Pepi, North Texas SC: The U.S. Youth international recorded the first hat trick in league history to lead NTSC in a 3-2 victory against Chattanooga Red Wolves SC.

F – Guillermo Delgado, FC Tucson: Delgado notched two goals and one assist to lead Tucson to a comfortable victory against Orlando City B on Saturday night.