TAMPA, Fla. – The USL Championship announced the Team of the Week for Week 18 of the 2024 regular season on Tuesday, with Charleston Battery forward Nick Markanich voted the Championship Player of the Week presented by Konami eFootball after he both goals in the Battery’s 2-0 victory against Birmingham Legion FC on Friday night at Patriots Point.

Currently in his second season with the Battery, Markanich’s brace moved him to a league-leading 15 goals in the Championship this season. The 24-year-old had broken a recent scoreless run in the side’s victory against North Carolina FC the week prior and was active throughout the game against Legion with a game-high eight shots overall and 13 touches inside the attacking penalty area.

“It's awesome,” said Markanich of the side’s return to form. “I know we had a little bit of a slump in scoring goals last month. We scored five last game, two this game. We're on a good roll right now. We just go to keep it up and keep scoring. Everyone is just in good spirits right now. We don't put our heads down. We just keep going. We believe in ourselves.”

With the win, the Battery moved within two point of Louisville City FC for the lead in the race for the Players’ Shield. Markanich individually now has 26 goals in two seasons in the Championship across the regular season and playoffs. He is one goal from equaling the club’s Championship-era single-season scoring record of 16 goals set by former teammate Augustine Williams in the 2022 season.

Markanich earned 55 percent of the ballot to claim the award. Loudoun United FC forward Wesley Leggett finished second on 27 percent after he recorded one goal and two assists in a 3-0 victory against Hartford Athletic last Wednesday night that extended Loudoun’s club-record undefeated streak to seven games.

The Championship’s Player of the Week is selected by the USL National Media Panel, which is made up of representatives from each media market in the Championship.

USL Championship Team of the Week – Week 18
GK – Carlos Herrera, Monterey Bay F.C.: Herrera posted a nine-save shutout, posting a -1.32 Goals Prevented mark, to keep MBFC in the game as the visitors claimed a 1-0 victory at Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC in second-half stoppage time.

D – Owen Lambe, Orange County SC: The 23-year-old scored a standout finish in Orange County’s 4-1 victory against Memphis 901 FC on Saturday night and won 2 of 2 tackles while making two interceptions, two recoveries and five recoveries defensively.

D – Frank Nodarse, Rhode Island FC: The Cuban center back scored a pair of goals off set pieces and won 5 of 7 aerial duels while making four interceptions and completing 34 of 40 passes in RIFC’s 3-3 draw with Indy Eleven.

D – Devon Amoo-Mensah, Detroit City FC: The Le Rouge veteran provided a smart headed assist on his side’s goal in a 1-1 draw against the Tampa Bay Rowdies on Saturday night and recorded seven clearances and three blocked shots while winning 6 of 6 duels at Keyworth Stadium.

M – Rafael Mentzingen, North Carolina FC: The Brazilian scored in the opening goal for NCFC as it rallied from a halftime deficit to take a 4-1 victory against Miami FC and recorded three shots on target while also making seven recoveries and completing 30 of 39 passes overall.

M – Kyle Scott, Orange County SC: Scott recorded a pair of assists and completed 41 of 48 passes overall in Orange County’s 4-1 victory against Memphis 901 FC on Saturday night while also winning 2 of 3 tackles, 8 of 11 duels and making two interceptions defensively. 

M – Marc Ybarra, Rhode Island FC: Ybarra had a pair of assists on four chances created in Rhode Island’s 3-3 draw against Indy Eleven on Friday night and completed 40 of 49 passes overall.

M – Marco Micaletto, New Mexico United: Micaletto recorded one assist and had seven chances created overall while completing 31 of 37 passes in New Mexico’s 2-0 victory against Orange County SC and also completed 2 of 2 dribbles and won 5 of 8 duels at Isotopes Park.

F – Nick Markanich, Charleston Battery: The current Golden Boot leader scored both goals as the Battery took victory against Birmingham Legion FC and had eight shots overall and four chances created while winning 3 of 3 tackles and making nine recoveries defensively.

F – Evan Conway, North Carolina FC: Conway scored twice in 77 seconds to power NCFC to a 4-1 victory against Miami FC and had five shots overall while winning 9 of 12 duels and one tackle defensively.

F – Wesley Leggett, Loudoun United FC: The 23-year-old recorded one goal and two assists in Loudoun’s 3-0 victory against Hartford Athletic last Wednesday night and had four shots overall while completing 3 of 5 dribbles.

Coach – Dennis Sanchez, Las Vegas Lights FC: Sanchez led his side to its first away victory against Sacramento Republic FC in club history last Wednesday night as the Lights blocked five shots and held the hosts to an Expected Goals mark below 1.00xG.

Bench – Raiko Arozarena (LV), Memo Diaz (OAK), Koa Santos (COS), Chris Allan (CHS), Jorge Hernandez (SA), Zach Ryan (LDN), Juan Agudelo (SA)