TAMPA, Fla. – USL League One today announced the Team of the Week for Week 28 of the 2023 regular season with Chattanooga Red Wolves SC midfielder Jonathan Filipe named Player of the Week presented by Konami eFootball with his two-assist, one-goal performance in Chattanooga's victory over Lexington.
Jonathan Filipe - the New York Red Bulls academy product and Hartford Athletic loanee - confirmed the most productive season of his young career with a goal and pair of assists in Chattanooga's 5-3 win in Lexington on Saturday. The 24-year-old Danbury, Conn. native assisted Marios Lomis' opening score in the 13th minute, bagged his first goal in over a year in the 18th minute and wrapped up his Player-of-the-Week performance with an assist on Mayele Malango's 58th-minute goal.
"It feels great," Filipe said of his Player of the Week nod. "I have no words, and I’m really excited to continue and grow. The team did amazing on Saturday and we move from there."
"That was his best performance to date for the club," Chattanooga Interim Head Coach Scott Mackenzie said of Filipe. "In terms of him figuring out who he is as a player and living up to his identity, he’s a dribbler, he’s dangerous, he can run at players. He was driving at players, committing them, slipping players in, doing all the things he wants to do in front of goal. He was brave, scored a great goal. Really happy that who he is is starting to emerge."
North Carolina lead the way with four starters named to the Team of the Week following the first-place side’s six-point Week 28, while Chattanooga’s big win in Lexington sees the Red Wolves place a pair of starters on the Team of the Week. In total, nine clubs earn representation across the Team of the Week and Team of the Week bench.
GK - Pablo Jara, South Georgia Tormenta FC: One of the league's all-time greats between the posts, Jara tallied his fourth career seven-save match - tied for the second-most in his career - and recorded his 25th career clean sheet in a much-needed South Georgia win.
D - Dion Acoff, Union Omaha: Acoff assisted Joe Gallardo's clutch, stoppage-time winner against Central Valley to extend Omaha's record-breaking winning streak to 10. The veteran defender also created six chances, earned five recoveries, completed over 80% of his passes and registered the best passing score on the week, according to American Soccer Analysis.
D - David Garcia, North Carolina FC: The first-year professional helped North Carolina on to a pair of shutout victories in Week 28 to jump back to the top of the table. The Spanish defender registered a week-high 11 clearances and added 14 duels won, 11 recoveries, five interceptions and three blocks.
D - Ryley Kraft, Chattanooga Red Wolves SC: The former United States youth international and USL veteran recorded his first career multi-goal-contribution match with a pair of assists in Chattanooga's big victory over Lexington. The 25-year-old defender added 11 recoveries and two interceptions to his side's totals.
D - Arthur Rogers, Northern Colorado Hailstorm FC: The most efficient facilitator of chances in league history, Rogers created a quartet of chances, won 15 duels, recorded 11 recoveries, won five fouls and registered four clearances across a pair of matches for Northern Colorado.
M - Omar Ciss, Charlotte Independence: With his goal against Madison on Saturday, Ciss has matched the most productive season of his young career with five goal contributions. The Senegalese midfielder completed over 90% of his passes, won five duels, reeled in three recoveries and issued a pair of clearances.
M - Jonathan Filipe, Chattanooga Red Wolves SC: The only player to account for three or more goal contributions on the week and just the ninth on the season, Filipe recorded a goal and two assists in Chattanooga's victory over Lexington. The Hartford Athletic loanee added five duels won, three recoveries and two clearances to his side's victory.
M - Jaden Servania, North Carolina FC: The Puerto Rico international added to the most productive season of his career with an assist against Central Valley on Wednesday. In two Week 28 matches, Servania won five duels, recorded four recoveries, and created a pair of chances while completing 85% of his passes.
F - Oalex Anderson, North Carolina FC: Anderson continued to construct his MVP-caliber season with a goal against Central Valley and Northern Colorado in Week 28. The St. Vincent and the Grenadines international won seven duels, four fouls and completed 75% of his passes to record the best goals-added mark on the week, according to American Soccer Analysis.
F - Ates Diouf, Lexington SC: Diouf’s career-best campaign rolled along in Week 28 as the Senegalese forward tallied a brace after coming on as a halftime substitute. The 2022 USL Championship title-winner completed 100% of his passes and won a tackle and duel across 45 minutes of action.
F - Garrett McLaughlin, North Carolina FC: Now positioned behind only Emiliano Terzaghi for most goals in League One history, McLaughlin scored a goal in each of North Carolina's two Week 28 victories. The 25-year-old forward won seven duels, earned five recoveries and won three fouls.
Bench: Brooks Thompson (NC), Jake Crull (MAD), Mayele Malango (CHA), Noah Powder (NCO), Ryan Sierakowski (RIC), Raheem Somersall (NC), Noe Meza (OMA)
Tag(s): News Raheem Somersall Pablo Jara Alassane Ates Diouf Union Omaha Team of the Week Ryley Kraft Chatt Red Wolves SC Forward Madison FC Richmond Kickers So. Georgia Tormenta FC Mayele Malango Oalex Anderson Jake Crull North Carolina FC Garrett McLaughlin Hailstorm FC Charlotte Independence Lexington SC Noe Meza