TAMPA, Fla. – The USL Championship announced the Team of the Week for Week 25 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 recording his second hat trick of the regular season in the Battery’s 6-0 victory against Orange County SC on Saturday night at Patriots Point.

Markanich has emerged as the breakout star of the 2024 USL Championship season, sitting as the league’s Golden Boot leader for much of the campaign. This past Saturday he drew a penalty kick and converted from the spot in just the seventh minute to open the scoring against OCSC, and then added a beautifully struck volley three minutes into the second half to put the Battery ahead by three. Markanich completed his hat trick with 15 minutes to play, finishing from seven yards after trailing an attack to find space for a pass from Emilio Ycaza.

With his performance, the 24-year-old moved to 24 goals in 26 appearances this regular season, making him the leading goalscorer in American domestic soccer this season. Markanich now needs only one goal to equal the Championship’s single-season scoring record of 25 goals, held by former Louisville City FC star Cameron Lancaster (2018) and former Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC star Hadji Barry (2021) with eight games to play in the campaign.

“It’s amazing, the season I’m having,” said Markanich. “It’s all credit to my teammates setting me up as always. I wouldn’t be scoring these goals without them. [Battery Head Coach] Ben [Pirmann] is a great, great guy, and an even better coach. I think hearing those words from him and the coaching staff is awesome.”

Markanich earned 67 percent of the ballot to claim the award. Rhode Island FC goalkeeper Koke Vegas and Hartford Athletic forward Mamadou Dieng finished tied for second on 17 percent after Vegas posted a five-save shutout that included a stoppage-time penalty save to earn his side a draw at Loudoun United FC while Dieng scored twice in Hartford’s 2-1 victory against Louisville City FC.

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 25
GK – Koke Vegas, Rhode Island FC: The Spanish shot-stopper posted a five-save shutout in RIFC’s scoreless draw against Loudoun United FC that included a stoppage-time penalty kick save to preserve a point on the road for the visitors at Segra Field.

D – Emmanuel Samadia, Hartford Athletic: The Sierra Leone native notched one assist and had three chances created while completing 53 of 62 passes overall and defensively won 2 of 2 tackles and 5 of 8 duels while making four interceptions and three recoveries.

D – Alexis Souahy, FC Tulsa: The Comoros international made eight clearances, six recoveries and one interception, recorded a pair of blocked shots, and won 4 of 6 duels as Tulsa earned a 1-0 victory on the road against Detroit City FC.

D – Luke Biasi, Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC: Biasi helped the Hounds keep Birmingham Legion FC’s attack in check, winning 4 of 5 tackles and 9 of 11 duels while making five clearances, six recoveries and blocking one shot at Protective Stadium

M – Christian Pinzón, Las Vegas Lights FC: The Mexican winger notched a pair of assists in the Lights’ 3-2 victory against Indy Eleven at Cashman Field and had six chances created overall while completing 43 of 44 passes and winning 4 of 7 duels.

M – Edwin Laszo, FC Tulsa: Lazso put in a strong performance in the center of midfield as Tulsa took victory against Detroit City to move above the playoff line, winning 4 of 4 tackles and 13 of 20 duels while making 11 recoveries, four interceptions and five clearances.

M – Valentin Noël, Las Vegas Lights FC: The French midfielder bagged his ninth goal of the season and had five shots and three chances created overall while completing 40 of 47 passes in the Lights’ 3-2 victory against Indy Eleven at Cashman Field.

M – Jack Blake, Indy Eleven: The English midfielder bagged a pair of assists in the first half of Indy’s loss in Las Vegas before coming off at the break in his first start since an injury on June 22, and completed 15 of 20 passes overall while winning 2 of 3 ground duels.

F – Nick Markanich, Charleston Battery: The Golden Boot leader recorded his second hat trick of the season in the Battery’s 6-0 victory against Orange County SC, scoring on all three of his shots in the game, while completing 17 of 22 passes and winning 7 of 9 ground duels.

F – Edward Kizza, Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC: Kizza bagged a pair of goals to lead the Hounds to a 3-0 victory against Birmingham Legion FC, recorded four shots and one chance created overall while winning 4 of 4 ground duels and completing 11 of 15 passes.

F – Mamadou Dieng, Hartford Athletic: Dieng scored both goals as Hartford rallied for a 2-1 victory against Louisville City FC, recording six shots overall and completing 10 of 12 passes while winning 5 of 11 duels.

Coach – Bob Lilley, Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC: The legendary coach notched the 400th victory of his career across all competitions as the Hounds took a 3-0 victory against Birmingham Legion FC to move the side within three points of the playoff positions.

Bench: Eric Dick (PIT), Akeem Ward (MEM), Jared Timmer (SAC), Mukwelle Akale (NM), Ben Morris (DET), MD Myers (CHS), Manuel Arteaga (TBR)