1 – Jonathan Greenfield – D – San Antonio Scorpions: The expansion side continues to impress with its current run. On Saturday they blanked another club that has been hot of late, FC Edmonton, with Greenfield also picking up for an unusually silent offense by providing a goal and assist.
2 – Yann Ekra – F – Harrisburg City Islanders: Tallied a hat-trick in a 4-0 victory over the visiting Dayton Dutch Lions. Normally, this would be a number one performance, but Dayton had played a valiant 1-1 draw in Rochester the night before.
3 – Nick Noble – G – Harrisburg City Islanders: With the Open Cup looming Tuesday, he played the entirety of both games at home, getting a pair of shutouts against Pittsburgh, 0-0, and Dayton, 4-0, with eight saves.
4 – Dan Antoniuk – F – Tampa Bay Rowdies: He scored two goals on the road for a 3-2 victory against the Atlanta Silverbacks.
5 – Amani Walker – F – Minnesota Stars: In a 3-1 road win against the Fort Lauderdale Strikers he provided a goal and an assist.
Five Stars for the Season
First Five:
1 – Kristian Nicht – G – Rochester Rhinos: He started the season with six clean sheets so you can’t take the guy off the top spot for just giving up one in a draw. At this point, it would still take a run of bad form or a striker with a series of multi-goal games to take the top spot away from him. Previous: 1
2 – Darryl Sattler – G – San Antonio Scorpions: The keeper has arguably been a key element in the club’s rise, posting three shutouts and allowing just one goal in the last four games. Previous: 6
3 – JC Banks – M – Rochester Rhinos: The midfielder continues to be a consistent contributor for the Rhinos. This week he notched his third assist of the season. He’s had a hand in five of the team’s eight goals in seven games. Previous: 3
4 – Amani Walker – F – Minnesota Stars: The defending champions remain the only unbeaten team and Walker is becoming a large part of it. He added a goal and an assist in a big win this week, giving him three goals and two helpers in the past five games. Previous: 8
5 – Walter Restrepo – M – Fort Lauderdale Strikers: He was one of the hottest players in the league with two goals and four assists in four games, but has been shutout in the past two outings. Previous: 2
The Next Five: 6 Richard Martin (G, Puerto Rico Islanders), 7 Nicki Paterson (M, Charleston Battery), 8 Jonathan Greenfield (D, San Antonio Scorpions), 9 Dan Antoniuk (F, Tampa Bay Rowdies), 10 Yann Ekra (F, Harrisburg City Islanders)
Previously…
Week 1 | Week 2 | Week 3 | Week 4 | Week 5 | Week 6
About Five Stars:
WEEK: The top five professional lower division performers in the North American Soccer League and USL Pro.
SEASON: The top five professional lower division performers cumulatively for the year in the NASL and USL Pro. The list is updated weekly.
BONUS: Five Stars of the US Open Cup
Second Round
1 – Danny Barrera – Cal FC (USASA) – He scored twice for a road upset on the opposite coast in a stunning 4-0 win over USL Pro Wilmington.
2 – Francisco Lopez – Ventura County Fusion (PDL) - He negated an early own goal his teammate tallied and then provided the game-winner in overtime as they upset local USL Pro side LA Blues, 3-1.
3 – Aly Hassan – Fort Lauderdale Strikers (NASL) – He scored three of the team’s first four goals, which proved important as Fresno showed some moxie by scoring twice in the game as the NASL club cruised to a 7-2 road win.
4 – Brian Shriver – Carolina RailHawks (NASL) – The RailHawks had little trouble against the USASA side from the opposite coast in a 7-0 win with Shriver becoming the ninth player to score four goals in a single game in the Modern Pro Era.
5 – Stew Givens – Michigan Bucks (PDL) – The 2011 Defender of the Year provided his usual defensive skill, but provided the team’s lone goal in the 1-0 road win against the USL Pro Pittsburgh Riverhounds.
Tournament
1 – Danny Barrera – Cal FC (USASA) – Two goals in the opening game upset on the road against defending PDL champion Kitsap and two more in another road upset on the opposite coast in a stunning 4-0 win over USL Pro Wilmington.
2 – Francisco Lopez – Ventura County Fusion (PDL) – He converted the penalty early in overtime of the First Round to give the Fusion the win over the Fullerton Rangers. In the Second Round he negated an early own goal his teammate tallied and then provided the game-winner in overtime as they upset local USL Pro side LA Blues, 3-1.
3 – Adam Grinwas – Michigan Bucks (PDL) – Only three clubs from the First Round advanced to the Third, but Grinwas is the only goalkeeper to post two shutouts. He had an easy night in a 6-0 win against Jersey Shore Boca, but was tested on the road in Pittsburgh, needing the clean sheet to nab the 1-0 upset against the Riverhounds.
4 – Aly Hassan – Fort Lauderdale Strikers (NASL) – A hat-trick keeps him in the running for the tournament’s leading scorer.
5 – Brian Shriver – Carolina RailHawks (NASL) – Four goals against a weak opponent puts him in a tie for the tournament lead in scoring.
The Next Five: 6 Artur Aghasyan (Cal FC, USASA), 7 Zach Schultze (G, Georgia Revolution, NPSL), 8 Stew Givens (D, Michigan Bucks, PDL), 9 Troy Roberts (D, Rochester Rhinos, USL Pro), 10 Diego Barrera (Cal FC, USASA)
Previously: First Round
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