TAMPA, Fla. – USL League One today announced the Team of the Week for Week 8 of the 2024 regular season with Union Omaha midfielder Joe Gallardo named Player of the Week presented by Konami eFootball with the first three-goal-contribution match of his career.

After Nortei Nortey opened the scoring for the Owls less than 10 minutes into the contest, Gallardo helped double the hosts' lead after being credited with an assist off a shot that Pedro Dolabella deflected into the back of the net in the 12th minute. The former United States youth international and Liga MX attacker added to his impressive outing by slipping a low, slow-rolling ball beyond Tormenta FC goalkeeper Ford Parker at the back post before rounding out his day with an additional assist on Missael Rodríguez's long-range effort in the 81st minute.

"Good win tonight against a good Tormenta FC team that caused us problems," Omaha Head Coach Dominic Casciato said. "I think it's great for us to get four goals on the board. The game probably got a bit too chaotic at the end for us, but really pleasing to get the three points."

In total, each of the eight teams in action earned representation on the Week 8 Team of the Week. Omaha's impressive victory sees the Owls lead the league with three starters named to the Team of the Week.

COACH - Dominic Casciato, Union Omaha: Dominic Casciato and his Owls tied a club and league record - set by Omaha in their inaugural 2020 season - with their eighth consecutive win to start a season, across all competitions. With their 4-2 win, Casciato helped Omaha to its largest League One victory of the season to remain unbeaten all-time against South Georgia. According to American Soccer Analysis, Omaha won the most points above expected (1.94) and maintained the highest goal differential above expected goal differential (2.44).

GK - Ryan Shellow, Richmond Kickers: In his first League One appearance for the Kickers since joining over the offseason from Detroit City FC, Shellow recorded five saves and conceded on goal in his side's 1-1 draw with Knoxville. Shellow led all goalkeepers with his 0.42 goals conceded below expected and 0.62 goals added, per American Soccer Analysis.

D - Dion Acoff, Union Omaha: The 32-year-old Acoff provided the assist on Joe Gallardo's 70th-minute winner - the former's first goal contribution of the season. Acoff added four recoveries, three duels won, two clearances and completed 83% of his passes. 

D - Stuart Ritchie, One Knoxville SC: Returning to City Stadium for the first time since departing the Kickers following the 2022 season, Ritchie assisted Knoxville's lone goal in Richmond. The former United States youth international registered three clearances, three recoveries, two duels won and helped limit Richmond to one goal.

D - Jamie Smith, Greenville Triumph SC: Smith bagged his first goal of the season after converting his first professional penalty kick attempt. The Walsall FC youth product also tallied 12 completed long passes, six clearances, six duels won, four recoveries and three fouls won.

M - Pedro Dolabella, Union Omaha: Within the span of three minutes, Dolabella recorded an assist and a goal on Saturday. The Brazilian contributed to Omaha's big win against South Georgia with nine recoveries, five duels won, five accurate long passes, three clearances and three interceptions.

M - Conor Doyle, South Georgia Tormenta FC: The former title-winning Owl faced his former club for the first time since departing Omaha in the offseason and registered an assist on the day. The MLS and EFL Championship veteran also recorded an additional five completed crosses, three chances created and three interceptions.

M - Joe Gallardo, Union Omaha: The former U.S. youth international and Liga MX talent recorded the first three-goal-contribution match of his seven-year professional career. In addition to his two assists and one goal, the 26-year-old added seven recoveries, seven duels won, four accurate long balls and an additional two chances created. Gallardo's 0.38 goals added were the second-most on the week, according to American Soccer Analysis.

M - Wolfgang Prentice, Forward Madison FC: Prentice's sixth professional goal came within a minute of kicking off against Greenville on Saturday. The Oakland Roots SC loanee also contributed with an 86% passing accuracy, eight duels won, seven recoveries and three tackles won.

F - Pedro Fonseca, South Georgia Tormenta FC: Fonseca bagged his second goal of the League One season on Saturday, converting a penalty kick against Omaha in the 84th minute. The Brazilian added seven duels won, five recoveries, four completed long balls, four fouls won and completed 81% of his passes.

F - Juan Carlos Obregón, Jr., Charlotte Independence: Obregón, Jr.'s third professional brace confirmed his fifth and sixth goals in his previous five matches for the Jacks. The former Honduras youth international won one penalty, completed 88% of his passes and also registered six duels won, six duels won and five recoveries.

F - Lyam MacKinnon, Greenville Triumph SC: MacKinnon notched his 10th goal contribution on the young season across all competitions with an assist on Leo Castro's 53rd-minute score and a penalty won in the 55th minute. The 24-year-old added six duels won, three recoveries and two fouls won.

BENCH: Rashid Nuhu (OMA), Hugh Roberts (CLT), Luis Álvarez (CLT), José Carrera-García (CV), Robert Coronado (CV), Nortei Nortey (OMA), Sebastián Vivas (TRM)