TAMPA, Fla. – The USL Championship announced the Team of the Week for Week 29 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 a two-goal performance in the Battery’s 3-1 victory against the Tampa Bay Rowdies at Patriots Point, through which he set a USL Championship single-season scoring record.

Markanich has been one of the stories of the domestic soccer season in North America as he has led the Battery to new heights in the final third of the field. Against the Rowdies, Markanich reached 27 goals in 30 appearances this season, surpassing the prior single-season USL Championship record of 25 goals held by former Louisville City FC star Cameron Lancaster and former Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC star Hadji Barry.

The 24-year-old struck first in the 37th minute as he crisply volleyed home a left-footed finish from 14 yards. He then fired home from just inside the top of the penalty area to the bottom-right corner on the hour-mark to notch his 27th goal of the campaign, equaling the Battery’s single-season record for goals across all competitions set by Paul Conway in 2001. The goal also saw Markanich and strike partner MD Myers set a Championship record for goals by a pair of teammates with Myers sitting fourth in the Golden Boot race with 13 goals this season.

“I was hoping I did it at home,” said Markanich. “I didn’t mean to, but I’m happy I did at home in front of the home crowd. It feels amazing. It’s all credit to my teammates for setting me up in the right positions. I just do my movements in the box and they find me. They've been doing that all season, so all credit to them. I wouldn’t be able to do all this without them.”

Markanich is currently the leading goalscorer in North American domestic soccer in 2024, sitting eight goals ahead of MLS Golden Boot leader Christian Benteke of D.C. United. His 27 goals have almost doubled the total of the leading American goalscorer in MLS, former USL League Two Player of the Year Brian White, currently of Vancouver Whitecaps FC, who has recorded 14 goals this campaign.

“Nick is special at finishing attacks. He is special at it. He had two or three more. He just finds the ball. He’s got a good knack at it,” said Battery Head Coach Ben Pirmann. “I think Nick would be the first one to tell you that when he makes a record like that, it’s all about the team and the performance and the selflessness. That’s something special for him and we're proud of him. He's done a great job.”

Set to join CD Castellón of LaLiga 2 this offseason after the Battery reached a transfer agreement for his departure in August, Markanich has four games remaining in the regular season to add to his record-setting campaign.

Markanich earned 69 percent of the ballot to claim the award. New Mexico United forward Greg Hurst finished second on 15 percent after recording a pair of goals in his side’s 3-1 victory against Sacramento Republic FC last Wednesday night at Isotopes Park.

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 29
GK – Kris Shakes, New Mexico United: Making only his second league appearance, Shakes posted a four-save shutout against Loudoun United FC with a Goals Prevented mark of -1.18 to help United seal a six-point week with a 1-0 win at Isotopes Park.

D – Carlos Guzman, Monterey Bay F.C.: The Mexican veteran had a stellar all-around game in Monterey Bay’s scoreless draw with Orange County SC as he completed 95 of 106 passes while winning 2 of 2 tackles and 2 of 2 aerial duels while also making two interceptions and six recoveries.

D – Pape Mar Boye, Phoenix Rising FC: The 20-year-old center back scored the opening goal in Rising’s 4-0 victory against San Antonio FC and was stellar otherwise, completing 49 of 52 passes and winning 6 of 6 aerial duels while making two clearances and three recoveries.

D – Sean Totsch, Louisville City FC: The veteran center back had a strong individual performance against Detroit City FC, winning 4 of 5 tackles, 11 of 12 ground duels and 6 of 8 aerial duels while also converting from the penalty spot for LouCity’s lone goal of the contest.

M – Shawn Smart, Las Vegas Lights FC: Smart recorded one assist and had two shots on target and two chances created while completing 54 of 61 passes, winning a game-high 5 of 5 tackles and 12 of 18 duels, and making four interceptions and six recoveries in a 2-1 win against Sacramento Republic FC.

M – Charlie Dennis, Phoenix Rising FC: The English midfielder recorded his first goal and assist since joining Rising to lead a 4-0 victory against San Antonio FC and completed 37 of 38 passes overall while notching three chances created and making four recoveries defensively.

M – Maxi Rodriguez, Detroit City FC: Rodriguez notched a goal and assist to lead Le Rouge in a 2-1 victory against Louisville City FC on Sunday afternoon, had two shots and two chances created, and completed 26 of 33 passes overall while winning one tackle and making nine recoveries defensively.

M – Chris Allan, Charleston Battery: The English midfielder was outstanding in central midfield, winning 11 of 11 ground duels and 6 of 8 tackles while making nine recoveries and two interceptions and completing 45 of 49 passes to help power the Battery’s 3-1 win against the Tampa Bay Rowdies.

F – Greg Hurst, New Mexico United: The Scottish forward bagged a pair of goals in United’s 3-1 victory against Sacramento Republic FC last Wednesday night as he recorded three shots on target and won 2 of 3 ground duels defensively.

F – Nick Markanich, Charleston Battery: Markanich scored a pair of goals to lead the Battery to a 3-1 victory against the Tampa Bay Rowdies, setting the league’s single-season goalscoring record in the process, and completed 26 of 33 passes while winning 8 of 10 duels and 4 of 6 tackles defensively.

F – Noah Fuson, Rhode Island FC: The 24-year-old began RIFC’s comeback 2-1 victory against FC Tulsa with a sharp finish with just over 20 minutes to play and had six shots and three chances created overall at Beirne Stadium.

Coach – Eric Quill, New Mexico United: Quill’s side earned a six-point week with victories against Sacramento Republic FC and Loudoun United that moved the side’s advantage at the top of the Western Conference to 12 points and put it within reach of clinching the No. 1 seed in the conference.

Bench: Colin Shutler (OC), Abdi Mohamed (NM), Markus Nakkim (OC), Mukwelle Akale (NM), Jojea Kwizera (RI), Collin Martin (NC), Dariusz Formella (PHX)