After last week’s announcement of the United States squad that will compete in the Men’s Soccer Tournament at the 2024 Paris Olympics, here’s our weekly look at the U-22 standouts who put in notable performances in the USL Championship over the past week.

We lead off with one of the young goalkeepers who’s shone this season, and who between the league and Open Cup has been putting together a breakthrough campaign.

Hunter Sulte, Indy Eleven

The 22-year-old has been impressive since getting his first chance to start this season on April 20 against Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC and on Saturday night he kept Indy in position to grab a point at home despite a flat overall performance. Sulte’s three saves saw him post a -1.57 Goals Prevented mark against Loudoun United FC, and he’s now at a -4 Goals Prevented mark overall this season while posting a save percentage of 74.4 percent in 11 appearances.

Coleman Gannon, Las Vegas Lights FC

The 21-year-old was in the right place at the right time to hammer home Las Vegas’ second goal in a 2-0 victory against El Paso Locomotive FC on Friday night, and that capped a strong all-around display. Gannon completed 17 of 17 passes and won 4 of 4 tackles playing on the right side of the Lights’ attack with his third goal of the season marking a new individual-best in the USL Championship in his young career.

Mamadou Dieng, Hartford Athletic

The 20-year-old Senegalese forward might not have known much about his first goal in the professional ranks, but he played a key role in the build-up to Hartford’s second goal against the Charleston Battery as well before being sacrificed following the side being reduced to 10 players. Dieng showed enough to illustrate why he’s the center forward the Athletic to allow Michee Ngalina and others to play around him at the top of the lineup.   

Shawn Smart, Las Vegas Lights FC

The 2023 College Cup champion at Clemson continued to hold things down on the right side for the Lights in its victory against El Paso Locomotive FC. Smart notched a pair of chances created and made two clearances and two interceptions and had 11 passes into the final third while completing 39 of 50 passes overall against El Paso while helping the Lights earn another shutout.

Kobe Hernandez-Foster, Birmingham Legion FC

The 22-year-old was solid in the center of midfield once again, completing 37 of 41 passes and recording seven recoveries and two interceptions, and his powerful shot resulted in Legion’s opening goal in a 2-1 comeback victory against Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC as Dawson McCartney cleaned up the rebound.

Aldair Sanchez, Sacramento Republic FC

The 22-year-old did work on the defensive end for Republic FC in its scoreless draw against North Carolina FC, winning 4 of 4 tackles and 6 of 6 ground duels before coming off after an hour at Heart Health Park.