TAMPA, Fla. – The USL Championship announced the Team of the Week for Week 32 of the 2024 regular season on Tuesday, with Hartford Athletic midfielder Danny Barrera voted the Championship Player of the Week presented by Konami eFootball after recording two goals and one assist in his side’s 4-3 victory against North Carolina FC on Saturday night.

The lone remaining player in Hartford’s squad from its inaugural season in 2019, Barrera notched his second career two-goal game in a crucial victory for the side in its home finale. The 34-year-old opened the scoring in the ninth minute with a precise finish from just outside the penalty area that tucked just inside the right post.

He doubled Hartford’s advantage 12 minutes before halftime as a well-timed run in behind NCFC’s high defensive line set up a one-on-one opportunity that Barrera fired home. Barrera capped his night with his third assist of the season, delivering a near-post corner kick from the left that picked out Beverly Makangila for a flicked header to the right corner. 

“To be playing meaningful games in October and still put ourselves in that hunt is amazing for this club,” said Barrera. “We have a lot of guys who are ready when their names are called. Obviously, at the beginning of the season I was waiting for my turn, and the way this season goes, there’s a lot of traveling, lot of injuries, a lot of things can happen.

“Our style of play is very aggressive, so it’s very demanding on the body, so one thing I think we’ve been fortunate to have is guys coming off the bench when we have guys on international duty, guys who are injured, to come and take care of the job.”

Barrera earned 55 percent of the ballot to claim the award. San Antonio FC goalkeeper Pablo Sisniega finished second on 36 percent after recording 15 saves across two outings as SAFC earned four points on the road against El Paso Locomotive FC and Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC to keep their postseason hopes alive.

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 32
GK – Pablo Sisniega, San Antonio FC: The Mexican shot-stopper recorded 15 saves across two games – including a season-high 11 saves against El Paso Locomotive FC on Wednesday night – to post a save percentage of 83.3 percent as SAFC emerged with four points to keep their playoff hopes alive.

D – Grayson Doody, Las Vegas Lights FC: Doody put in a stellar defensive display in the Lights’ 3-0 win against Birmingham Legion FC, winning 4 of 5 tackles and 9 of 12 ground duels while completing 45 of 52 passes and recording three chances created at Protective Stadium.

D – Ben Ofeimu, Indy Eleven: Ofeimu led Indy’s back line to a pair of shutouts over the week, recording a team-high 20 clearances while winning 9 of 14 duels and notching the assist on the side’s game-winning goal against Loudoun United FC on Tuesday night.

D – Jacob Erlandson, Loudoun United FC: Erlandson produced a pair of stellar performances for Loudoun across its two outings, winning 18 of 26 duels and recording seven clearances and nine recoveries while also completing 91 of 107 passes across 120 minutes of action.

M – Danny Barrera, Hartford Athletic: The veteran notched his second two-goal game in the USL Championship and added an assist in Hartford’s 4-3 victory against North Carolina FC while completing 22 of 29 passes and 2 of 4 crosses.

M – Amadou Dia, Louisville City FC: Dia proved instrumental in LouCity’s 2-1 comeback victory against the Tampa Bay Rowdies, winning a penalty kick that began the rally, while also putting in impressive work defensively, winning 6 of 7 tackles and 10 of 12 ground duels.

M – Marlon Hairston, Hartford Athletic: The veteran midfielder recorded a pair of assists and hit the woodwork with his lone shot of the game while also completing 35 of 38 passes and winning 3 of 3 tackles and 3 of 3 ground duels in Hartford’s 4-3 victory against North Carolina FC.

M – Coleman Gannon, Las Vegas Lights FC: The 21-year-old notched a goal and assist in the Lights’ 3-0 victory against Birmingham Legion FC and completed 14 of 18 passes while making one interception and four recoveries defensively.

F – Luis Solignac, San Antonio FC: The Argentine veteran recorded two goals and one assist across two appearances as SAFC claimed four points to keep its playoff bid alive, with Solignac notching a goal and assist in his side’s comeback victory against Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC on Saturday night while recording seven shots and four shots on target for the week.

F – Evan Conway, North Carolina FC: Conway found the net in each of NCFC’s contests over the week as the side took victory in midweek against FC Tulsa, and overall notched 11 shots and six shots on target while going the full 90 minutes in both contests.

F – Ethan Zubak, Orange County SC: Zubak found the net as Orange County continued its recent undefeated streak with a 2-0 victory against Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC last Wednesday night and was a physical presence in attack throughout the night, winning 4 of 5 aerial duels and 4 of 7 ground duels while completing 18 of 22 passes.

Coach – Diego Gomez, Phoenix Rising FC: Gomez’s side earned a six-point week with road victories against New Mexico United and Oakland Roots SC to move within reach of a return to the USL Championship Playoffs with two games to go in the regular season.

Bench: Hunter Sulte (IND), Shawn Smart (LV), Rece Buckmaster (SA), Mikey Maldonado (NC), Seth Casiple (OC), Joe Gyau (LV), Rodrigo Da Costa (NC)