TAMPA, Fla. – USL League One today announced the Team of the Week for Week 31 of the 2025 regular season, with Spokane Velocity FC goalkeeper Carlos Merancio named Player of the Week presented by Konami eFootball with a nine-save shutout in a 1-0 victory against the Charlotte Independence.

"I'm so honored to be named Player of the Week," Merancio said. "The last game was very important and against a difficult team, and the whole team put in a great performance to get the three points, which wouldn't be possible without all the team's effort. We continue growing with humility to reach the best version of ourselves."

Despite playing down a man for 56 minutes, the veteran USL League One goalkeeper led Spokane to its first victory in nearly a month, recording nine saves in Velocity FC's shutout win against Charlotte. Merancio's performance represented the 15th time in league history that a goalkeeper has made nine or more saves in a single match, and his mark of 3.06 goals conceded below expected was the most in a single match by a goalkeeper in league history, per Opta.

GK - Carlos Merancio, Spokane Velocity FC: Merancio made nine saves in Spokane's shutout victory against Charlotte on Friday. The 27-year-old also completed 11 long balls and recorded 10 recoveries.

D - Jaheim Brown, One Knoxville SC: In a 1-1-0 week for Knoxville, Brown recorded a goal in a loss at Richmond. Across 180 minutes, the 23-year-old finished with 11 completed long passes, an 83% passing accuracy rate, six clearances, five duels won and four recoveries.

D - Sivert Haugli, One Knoxville SC: In a one-win, one-loss week for Knoxville, Haugli registered 17 duels won, 17 completed long passes, 16 clearances, 10 recoveries, an 89% passing accuracy rate, four blocks and three tackles won across 180 minutes.

D - Charlie Ostrem, Union Omaha: Ostrem—now leading the Golden Playmaker race after dishing out the match-winning assist against Portland—contributed to Omaha's two-win week with 12 duels won, eight clearances, seven total chances created, seven recoveries, four dribbles completed, four completed long passes, three interceptions and three fouls won across 180 minutes.

D - Maxi Schenfeld, Richmond Kickers: The 32-year-old defender bagged the winner against Knoxville on Saturday, going on to tally a 79% passing accuracy rate, four recoveries, three duels won, two clearances and two tackles won.

M - Conor Doyle, South Georgia Tormenta FC: South Georgia's captain scored the winner against Westchester—his first league goal of the season—before concluding his evening with an 80% passing accuracy rate, four duels won, three recoveries and two chances created through 80 minutes.

M - Prosper Kasim, Union Omaha: Kasim notched goals in each of Omaha's two Week 31 victories, adding eight recoveries, seven completed long passes, three duels won, two chances created and an 81% passing accuracy rate through 144 minutes.

M - Niall Reid-Stephen, South Georgia Tormenta FC: With his brace against Westchester over the weekend, the Barbados international has nine goals in as many matches and is now two goals shy of taking the Golden Boot lead. In 80 minutes, the first-year Ibis also completed 85% of his passes, created three chances, recorded three recoveries and won three duels.

F - Babacar Diene, One Knoxville SC: Diene provided an assist in each of Knoxville's two Week 31 matches, finished the week with nine duels won, five total chances created and three recoveries through 180 minutes.

F - Derek Gebhard, Forward Madison FC: Returning to his home state, Gebhard scored once and drew the decisive penalty kick in Madison's 3-1 win at Portland. Gebhard also won nine duels, drew five fouls and completed four dribbles across 80 minutes.

F - Stéfano Pinho, Union Omaha: Pinho played all 90 minutes of Omaha's 1-0 victory against Portland before providing a goal and an assist off the bench in the Owls' 2-1 win against Naples. Through 135 minutes, the 34-year-old Brazilian totaled 10 duels won, five recoveries and three fouls won.

Coach – Vincenzo Candela, Union Omaha: Candela's side knocked off a pair of teams above the playoff line, downing Portland and Naples en route to its sixth consecutive postseason berth. 

Bench – Rashid Nuhu (OMA), Adrian Billhardt (RIC), Mark Doyle (KNX), Dean Guezen (WES), Shavon John-Brown (SPK), Pierre Reedy (SPK), Ajmeer Spengler (TXO)