TAMPA, Fla. – The USL Championship announced the Team of the Week for Week 24 of the 2024 regular season on Tuesday, with New Mexico United forward Harry Swartz voted the Championship Player of the Week presented by Konami eFootball after coming off the bench to record a two-goal performance for New Mexico United last Wednesday night in a 3-3 draw against FC Tulsa at Isotopes Park.

Currently in his fourth season with New Mexico, Swartz has suffered an injury-hit campaign in 2024 but emerged to deliver key performances as United took seven points in seven days to cement its position at the top of the Western Conference across Weeks 23 and 24.

Last Wednesday night in his 11th appearance of the league campaign, Swartz came off the bench at halftime with United trailing Tulsa by a pair of goals and quickly restored parity, scoring from close range in the 49th minute before winning possession and producing a thunderbolt finish from just outside the penalty area just past the hour-mark to level the game.  

“I just try to keep my head down and work hard,” said Swartz, whose first three goals of the season have come in August 12th victory at Indy Eleven and last Wednesday night against Tulsa. “Right now, the goals are coming, and I’m super thankful. But whether they’re coming or not, it's about just keeping my head down and working hard for the team and doing what I can.”

“When guys have a strong mentality, they're great, like Harry Swartz,” added United Head Coach Eric Quill. “Tonight, Harry Swartz and Sergio [Rivas] came on with that really aggressive mentality and changed the game. Just the two of them at the start of the second half. And it’s everything. You can have the most talented human being in the world. But if he doesn’t have a mentality to be great, it doesn’t do anything for you.”

Swartz earned 55 percent of the ballot to claim the award. Sacramento Republic FC defender Jared Timmer finished second on 27 percent after scoring his first goal in the USL Championship to cap a standout defensive display against El Paso Locomotive FC last Wednesday night in which he recorded two interceptions, 10 recoveries and won 6 of 8 duels.

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 24
GK – Hugo Fauroux, Loudoun United FC: Fauroux recorded a three-save shutout and posted a -1.1 Goals Prevented mark as Loudoun recorded its first victory in club history on the road against the Tampa Bay Rowdies with a 2-0 result at Al Lang Stadium.

D – Robby Dambrot, Loudoun United FC: Dambrot notched one assist and completed 42 of 49 passes overall while defensively he won 3 of 4 tackles and 7 of 12 duels while recording two clearances and six recoveries in Loudoun’s victory against the Tampa Bay Rowdies.

D – Jared Timmer, Sacramento Republic FC: The veteran defender scored his first goal in the USL Championship in his 134th appearance in the league to cap a great defensive display that saw him win 2 of 2 tackles and 8 of 11 duels while making 13 recoveries and two interceptions.

D – Emmanuel Samadia, Hartford Athletic: Samadia notched one assist in Hartford’s victory against Las Vegas Lights FC and had a stellar game defensively, recording two interceptions, four clearances and nine recoveries while winning 3 of 4 tackles and 6 of 7 duels.

M – Alvaro Quezada, Memphis 901 FC: The 25-year-old helped lead Memphis to a pair of victories over the week, recording a goal and assist against Miami FC before a sterling defensive display over 90 minutes against FC Tulsa that saw him win 13 of 16 duels and 7 of 7 tackles across his two appearances.

M – Nick Ross, Sacramento Republic FC: The Scottish veteran notched one assist and was desperately unlucky to not find the net in Sacramento’s victory against El Paso, hitting the woodwork three times as he also completed 19 of 23 passes and had two chances created.

M – Mukwelle Akale, New Mexico United: Akale led the way as New Mexico took a 3-2 victory against Monterey Bay F.C. on Saturday night, scoring a brilliant early free kick and adding an assist while completing 24 of 28 passes and notching three chances created and three shots overall.

M – Taylor Davila, Louisville City FC: Davila put in a superb two-way display in LouCity’s 3-1 victory against the Charleston Battery, recording one assist and three chances created and completing 25 of 33 passes while winning 3 of 3 tackles and 7 of 9 ground duels at Lynn Family Stadium.

F – Harry Swartz, New Mexico United: Swartz provided the spark off the bench to rally New Mexico to a 3-3 draw against FC Tulsa on Wednesday night, scoring a pair of goals on three shots and completing 8 of 9 passes while also winning 4 of 6 ground duels in just 45 minutes of action.

F – Michee Ngalina, Hartford Athletic: The Congolese forward led Hartford to an essential victory against Las Vegas Lights FC, scoring once, recording three shots on target and two chances created while also winning 4 of 5 tackles and 10 of 16 ground duels and recording seven recoveries and two interceptions defensively.

F – Jansen Wilson, Louisville City FC: The 23-year-old scored his sixth goal of the season as LouCity took victory against the Charleston Battery and also hit the woodwork as he notched a game-high six shots overall while completing 14 of 17 passes and recording two chances created.

Coach – Danny Cruz, Louisville City FC: Cruz’s side took a decisive 3-1 victory against the Charleston Battery before a crowd of 13,526 at Lynn Family Stadium to move four points clear in the race for the Players’ Shield with two games in hand on its closest rival in the Eastern Conference.

Bench – Raiko Arozarena (LV), Brett Levis (DET), Sean Suber (PIT), Bruno Lapa (MEM), Eric Calvillo (ELP), Samuel Careaga (MEM), Mamadou Dieng (HFD)