TAMPA, Fla. – USL League One today announced the Team of the Week for Week 17 of the 2022 regular season with Central Valley Fuego FC midfielder Victor Falck named Player of the Week. In the midst of the best season of his three-year professional career, Falck showed out against his former club with a pair of goals and one assist in Fuego FC’s 3-1 victory over an undermanned Kickers side.

Falck opened the scoring with an incredible free kick from outside the penalty area before completing his brace less than 20 minutes later with a headed score. Falck contributed to the third Fuego FC goal with an assist on Alexis Cerritos’ first Central Valley goal in the 58th minute. Falck’s three goal contributions led to Fuego FC’s second consecutive victory that saw the expansion side jump to fourth in the league table.

"I’m happy with my performance and the team’s performance," Falck said. "We made it difficult for Richmond in the run of play and created enough chances to win. Going forward we have to improve on our defensive set pieces and we should be in good shape to have a successful second half of the season."

“The goal for last night was to earn back-to-back victories,” Fuego FC Head Coach Martín Vasquez said after the win. “The team was consistent with the result and had the same effort that they had against Northern Colorado. We will continue to take one match at a time, but I’m very happy with the team’s performance tonight.”

Elsewhere, the Charlotte Independence lead the way with three players named to the Team of the Week following the side’s 3-2 victory over Tucson. Northern Colorado and FC Tucson see a pair of players named to the list, and in total, seven clubs are represented on the weekly list.

GK – Johan Peñaranda, Northern Colorado Hailstorm FC: Coming off a Save of the Week selection, Peñaranda’s seven saves to keep a clean sheet against Chattanooga were the most in Week 17.

D – Brecc Evans, Northern Colorado Hailstorm FC: Evans aided the Hailstorm defense in another shutout, recording seven recoveries, three clearances and three interceptions on a 75% ground and aerial duel success rate.

D – Kaelon Fox, FC Tucson: The only player in Week 17 to complete 100% of his passes, FC Tucson’s captain scored the first goal of his professional career and recorded four recoveries.

D – Timmy Mehl, Chattanooga Red Wolves SC: Mehl helped Chattanooga keep a clean sheet against Northern Colorado with his six clearances, five interceptions and five recoveries. Additionally, Mehl won four of six ground and aerial duels along with a pair of fouls.

D – Alex Touche, Union Omaha: In another Week 17 clean sheet, Touche completed over 80% of his passes and tallied four clearances, four recoveries and won 80% of his ground and aerial duels to go along with a pair of fouls won.

M – Omar Ciss, Charlotte Independence: Ciss netted his second professional goal – and second in the past month – in the Independence’s 3-2 road win in Tucson. After scoring the opener less than four minutes into the contest, Ciss completed 91% of his passes, 100% of his long balls and sent 100% of his shots on frame.

M – Victor Falck, Central Valley Fuego FC: The man from Landvetter, Sweden had the best match of his professional career on Saturday, recording a brace and an assist while completing 87% of his passes and creating a trio of chances.

M – Chris Hegardt, Charlotte Independence: In his third match for the Independence, the Charlotte FC loanee showed out in the most productive match of his three-year professional career. The 20-year-old midfielder tallied one goal and two assists, contributing to all three Charlotte goals.

M – Donny Toia, FC Tucson: Since returning to Tucson earlier this season, the hometown kid has showed out, scoring three goals in his last three matches played. Toia recorded his third goal in the past 139 minutes against Charlotte to go along with a 95% passing accuracy.

F – Tresor Mbuyu, Charlotte Independence: Since slowing down a tad after a red-hot start, Mbuyu has resumed his best professional campaign with a goal against Tucson. The Congolese forward also completed 85% of his passes and won five of eight ground duels.

F – Kazaiah Sterling, South Georgia Tormenta FC: Sterling registered his second brace in his last three matches against NCFC on Saturday. The Londoner added to his strong outing by winning a pair of fouls and recording four recoveries.