TAMPA, Fla. – USL League One today announced the Team of the Week for Week 16 of the 2024 regular season with Spokane Velocity FC midfielder Andre Lewis named Player of the Week presented by Konami eFootball with two goals and one assist across a pair of unbeaten matches.
Lewis helped Spokane jump back above the playoff line with a trio of goal contributions across a pair of road matches against South Georgia and Chattanooga. At Tormenta Stadium on Sunday, Lewis provided a goal and an assist to help Velocity FC salvage a draw against Tormenta FC, before scoring the match-winning goal at CHI Memorial Stadium on Wednesday to down the Red Wolves.
"It's exciting for me," said Lewis. "The most important things were the results we got on the road this week, and I'm happy to have contributed to the team's success by getting on the score sheet."
"The team has an incredible humility, growth mindset, and grit that's helped us on the road this week, so firstly the team as a whole deserves a lot of credit and I'm extremely proud of them," said Spokane Head Coach Leigh Veidman.
"Andre carries that same determination to refine his game daily and we saw the rewards he got for that mentality this week, so I'm really happy for him. It's important to note that although Andre is well known for his attacking presence, he deserves a lot of credit for his defensive performance in both games this week."
In total, Spokane led all teams with five starters named to the Team of the Week following its unbeaten, four-point week. Central Valley, Northern Colorado and Lexington also placed multiple representatives across the Team of the Week and Team of the Week bench after a trio of respective positive results.
COACH - Jermaine Jones, Central Valley Fuego FC: The former United States Men's National Team and German Bundesliga legend was named Coach of the Week for the first time since taking over Central Valley in the offseason. Jones' side has lost just once across its last seven fixtures, most recently claiming a 2-1 victory in Chattanooga. Fuego FC led all teams in Week 16 with 1.93 points won above expected and a goal differential above expected goal differential value of 2.37, per American Soccer Analysis.
GK - Carlos Avilez, Central Valley Fuego FC: In his first match at CHI Memorial Stadium since departing Chattanooga for Central Valley over the offseason, the 2019 USL League One champion registered 13 recoveries and five saves in a 2-1 victory. Avilez also conceded 1.02 goals fewer than expected and registered a 1.18 goals added value, according to American Soccer Analysis.
D - Jacob Crull, Forward Madison FC: The former title-winning Owl recorded the second goal against his previous team, smashing in the tying goal in stoppage time at Werner Park. Crull also won six duels, reeled in six recoveries, completed four long passes and tallied three clearances. According to American Soccer Analysis, the Austrian defender led all defenders in points added at 1.79.
D - Camron Miller, Spokane Velocity FC: The 25-year-old first-year professional makes his Team of the Week debut after helping Spokane to a four-point, unbeaten Week 16. Miller totaled 15 duels won, 10 recoveries, eight successful long passes, an 86% passing accuracy rate and led all players with nine clearances.
D - Bruno Rendón, Northern Colorado Hailstorm FC: The Cuban has continued his most prolific season as a professional with a goal against Richmond on Saturday. In 90 minutes of action, Rendón registered eight duels won, four completed long passes and two fouls won.
D - Derek Waldeck, Spokane Velocity FC: Enjoying success with his fourth unique League One club, Waldeck guided Spokane to a four-point week with a league-leading 7.64 passing score, per American Soccer Analysis. The 26-year-old completed 89% of his passes, completed 10 long passes, won six duels, registered five recoveries and created a pair of chances.
M - Luis Gil, Spokane Velocity FC: With a goal and an assist across two Week 16 matches, Spokane's inaugural captain has constructed the most productive season of his decorated 15-year professional career. The former United States international also contributed with an 86% passing accuracy rate and was either the leader or joint-leader with 10 chances created and four completed crosses on the week.
M - Real Gill, Northern Colorado Hailstorm FC: In his first season as a professional, the 21-year-old Trinidad and Tobago international has continued to contribute to a Northern Colorado side now situated above the playoff line. Gill produced the first multi-goal-contribution match of his career with a pair of assists against Richmond and totaled six duels won, five recoveries, and four total chances created.
M - Andre Lewis, Spokane Velocity FC: In his first season in League One, the USL Championship and Jamaica Premier League veteran is up to six goal contributions on the season across all competitions - matching a career-best with Hartford Athletic in 2022. Across a pair of Week 16 matches, Lewis contributed with two goals, one assist, 18 recoveries, 11 successful long passes, seven total chances created and an 85% passing accuracy rate. The 29-year-old also led all players with 1.29 goals scored above expected and 1.99 points added above expected, according to American Soccer Analysis.
M - Alfredo Midence, Central Valley Fuego FC: The reigning USL League One Player of the Month has extended his scorching form with Fuego FC, providing a pair of assists in his side's victory against Chattanooga, pushing his total number of goal contributions up to a team-leading 10 in his first seasons as a professional. The 22-year-old was tied for the league lead with his four completed dribbles and four completed crosses and added seven duels won, five total chances created and two recoveries.
M - Anton Sorenson, Charlotte Independence: The former Philadelphia Union Academy member and United States youth international tallied the first multi-goal-contribution match of his young professional career with a pair of assists against Lexington. The 21-year-old completed 80% of his passes, won nine duels, registered six recoveries, created four total chances and completed three dribbles.
F - Josh Dolling, Spokane Velocity FC: Dolling matched teammate Andre Lewis' week-high three goal contributions with a goal and two assists across two matches and 180 minutes of play. The 26-year-old added seven duels won, five total chances created, four recoveries and four shots on target.
BENCH: Brooks Thompson (SPK), Christian Lue Young (LEX), José Carrera-García (CV), Alexis Cerritos (LEX), Ates Diouf (LEX), Pedro Fonseca (TRM), Ethan Hoard (NCO)