TAMPA, Fla. (October 16, 2018)– North Carolina FC forward Daniel Rios has been selected to the USL Team of the Week for Week 31 of the 2018 season. Rios scored twice in a North Carolina Derby match against the Charlotte Independence on the way to a 3-1 victory.
The win over the in-state rivals clinched the 2018 Southern Derby Cup for North Carolina FC. Rios’ two goals brought him to 20 on the season, which equaled the club record for most goals in a single season, previously set by Etienne Barbara in 2011.
This marks the 12th time a player from North Carolina FC has been named to the USL Team of the Week and the fourth time that Rios has earned the honor.
NCFC USL Team of the Week Selections:
Week 5: Futty Danso
Week 7: Kyle Bekker – Player of the Week
Week 14: Steven Miller
Week 15: Daniel Rios
Week 16: Austin da Luz
Week 19: Daniel Rios
Week 22: Aaron Guillen
Week 24: Zach Steinberger
Week 27: Daniel Rios
Week 28: Donovan Ewolo – Player of the Week
Week 29: Kyle Bekker – Player of the Week
Week 31: Daniel Rios
USL Team of the Week
GK – Andrew Putna, Real Monarchs SLC: Putna recorded a six-save shutout in the Monarchs’ 1-0 win against Fresno FC that sealed the No. 4-seed in the Western Conference on Saturday night at Chukchansi Park.
D – Paco Craig, Louisville City FC: Craig won 18 of 25 duels and recorded 13 clearances, three tackles and one assist as Louisville swept to a pair of victories against North Carolina FC and Indy Eleven.
D – Sean Reynolds, Saint Louis FC: Reynolds recorded four interceptions, 11 clearances and won 9 of 10 duels to help STLFC record a pair of shutouts and clinch its first trip to the USL Cup Playoffs with four points over two games.
D – Adrian Diz Pe, Portland Timbers 2: Diz Pe recorded four tackles, three interceptions and nine clearances while winning 14 of 15 duels overall in T2’s 1-0 victory on the road against Phoenix Rising FC on Saturday night.
D – Carter Manley, Las Vegas Lights FC: Manley recorded nine interceptions, eight clearances and 7 of 10 duels across two contests and won a penalty kick in Las Vegas’ midweek victory against Phoenix Rising FC at Cashman Field.
M – Jared Stroud, New York Red Bulls II: Stroud scored in both the Red Bulls II’s victories over the week against Penn FC and Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC that secured a fourth consecutive postseason berth.
M – Corben Bone, FC Cincinnati: Bone recorded a pair of goals to reach double-digits for the season in Cincinnati’s 3-3 draw with Nashville SC on Saturday night at First Tennessee Park.
M – Matthew Harding, Sacramento Republic FC: The Make-A-Wish signing became the youngest goal-scorer in Republic FC history when he found the net in the first minute against Las Vegas Lights FC on Saturday night.
M – Wan Kuzain, Swope Park Rangers: Kuzain scored the opening goal in SPR’s 5-1 victory against the LA Galaxy II and completed 29 of 33 passes while winning five of seven duels as the Rangers sealed their place in the postseason.
F – Cameron Lancaster, Louisville City FC: Lancaster recorded three goals in two games to lift Louisville to a pair of victories and set the USL single-season scoring record as he concluded the regular season with 25 goals.
F – Daniel Rios, North Carolina FC: Rios scored three goals in two games as North Carolina claimed the Southern Derby with its victory against the Charlotte Independence on Saturday only to just miss out on a place in the 2018 USL Cup Playoffs.
F – Brandon Allen, Nashville SC: Allen recorded two goals and one assist across two contests as Nashville clinched a place in the USL Cup Playoffs in its first professional season.
Bench: Caleb Patterson-Sewell (TOR), Neveal Hackshaw (CHS), Giuseppe Gentile (RIC), Antoine Hoppenot (RNO), Alec Diaz (SEA), Lagos Kunga (ATL), Sammy Ochoa (LV)
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TAMPA, Fla. (October 16, 2018)– North Carolina FC forward Daniel Rios has been selected to the USL Team of the Week for Week 31 of the 2018 season. Rios scored twice in a North Carolina Derby match against the Charlotte Independence on the way to a 3-1 victory.
The win over the in-state rivals clinched the 2018 Southern Derby Cup for North Carolina FC. Rios’ two goals brought him to 20 on the season, which equaled the club record for most goals in a single season, previously set by Etienne Barbara in 2011.
This marks the 12th time a player from North Carolina FC has been named to the USL Team of the Week and the fourth time that Rios has earned the honor.
NCFC USL Team of the Week Selections:
Week 5: Futty Danso
Week 7: Kyle Bekker – Player of the Week
Week 14: Steven Miller
Week 15: Daniel Rios
Week 16: Austin da Luz
Week 19: Daniel Rios
Week 22: Aaron Guillen
Week 24: Zach Steinberger
Week 27: Daniel Rios
Week 28: Donovan Ewolo – Player of the Week
Week 29: Kyle Bekker – Player of the Week
Week 31: Daniel Rios
USL Team of the Week
GK – Andrew Putna, Real Monarchs SLC: Putna recorded a six-save shutout in the Monarchs’ 1-0 win against Fresno FC that sealed the No. 4-seed in the Western Conference on Saturday night at Chukchansi Park.
D – Paco Craig, Louisville City FC: Craig won 18 of 25 duels and recorded 13 clearances, three tackles and one assist as Louisville swept to a pair of victories against North Carolina FC and Indy Eleven.
D – Sean Reynolds, Saint Louis FC: Reynolds recorded four interceptions, 11 clearances and won 9 of 10 duels to help STLFC record a pair of shutouts and clinch its first trip to the USL Cup Playoffs with four points over two games.
D – Adrian Diz Pe, Portland Timbers 2: Diz Pe recorded four tackles, three interceptions and nine clearances while winning 14 of 15 duels overall in T2’s 1-0 victory on the road against Phoenix Rising FC on Saturday night.
D – Carter Manley, Las Vegas Lights FC: Manley recorded nine interceptions, eight clearances and 7 of 10 duels across two contests and won a penalty kick in Las Vegas’ midweek victory against Phoenix Rising FC at Cashman Field.
M – Jared Stroud, New York Red Bulls II: Stroud scored in both the Red Bulls II’s victories over the week against Penn FC and Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC that secured a fourth consecutive postseason berth.
M – Corben Bone, FC Cincinnati: Bone recorded a pair of goals to reach double-digits for the season in Cincinnati’s 3-3 draw with Nashville SC on Saturday night at First Tennessee Park.
M – Matthew Harding, Sacramento Republic FC: The Make-A-Wish signing became the youngest goal-scorer in Republic FC history when he found the net in the first minute against Las Vegas Lights FC on Saturday night.
M – Wan Kuzain, Swope Park Rangers: Kuzain scored the opening goal in SPR’s 5-1 victory against the LA Galaxy II and completed 29 of 33 passes while winning five of seven duels as the Rangers sealed their place in the postseason.
F – Cameron Lancaster, Louisville City FC: Lancaster recorded three goals in two games to lift Louisville to a pair of victories and set the USL single-season scoring record as he concluded the regular season with 25 goals.
F – Daniel Rios, North Carolina FC: Rios scored three goals in two games as North Carolina claimed the Southern Derby with its victory against the Charlotte Independence on Saturday only to just miss out on a place in the 2018 USL Cup Playoffs.
F – Brandon Allen, Nashville SC: Allen recorded two goals and one assist across two contests as Nashville clinched a place in the USL Cup Playoffs in its first professional season.
Bench: Caleb Patterson-Sewell (TOR), Neveal Hackshaw (CHS), Giuseppe Gentile (RIC), Antoine Hoppenot (RNO), Alec Diaz (SEA), Lagos Kunga (ATL), Sammy Ochoa (LV)
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