Las Vegas Lights forward Khori Bennett and midfielder JC Ngando were named to the USL Championship’s Team of the Week for Week 17 of the 2024 regular season on Tuesday morning.
The weekly honor is Bennett’s third of the campaign, having earned nods in Weeks 14 and 16, after finding the back of the net in both halves of Lights’ 2-0 home victory against Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC last Saturday. Additionally, the forward recorded four shots and created one chance.
Ngando earned his first appearance on the TOTW lineup following a dominant performance through the middle of the pitch, notching one assist on two chances created while completing 54 of 61 passes. Defensively, Ngando stood firm winning 3 of 3 tackles and 9 of 11 duels on the evening.
Bennett is the lone Lights player with three TOTW honors, while midfielder Valentin Noël (Week 4, Week 14) and defender Shawn Smart (Week 4, Week 5) are tied in second with two apiece. Ngando joins defenders Gaoussou Samaké (Week 4) and Emrah Klimenta (Week 5) with one TOTW honor each.
Lights goalkeeper Raiko Arozarena also earned a spot on the TOTW bench after recording a remarkable double save from the penalty spot, ultimately earning a clean sheet at Cashman Field.
The Lights kick off its four-match away trip this Wednesday at Sacramento Republic, which will air nationally on CBS Sports Network at 7:30 p.m. PT. Las Vegas will next return to Cashman Field on Aug. 10 against Detroit City FC. Single-game and premium tickets to the next home match are available at lasvegaslightsfc.com/tickets.
USL Championship Team of the Week – Week 17
GK – Hugo Fauroux, Loudoun United FC: The French shot-stopper recorded a seven-save shutout as Loudoun earned a 2-0 victory against the Tampa Bay Rowdies, recording a -1.94 Goals Prevented mark at Segra Field.
D – Akeem Ward, Memphis 901 FC: The 28-year-old recorded a pair of assists in 901 FC’s 5-1 victory against Phoenix Rising FC on Friday night and completed 28 of 33 passes overall while winning 4 of 4 tackles and 6 of 6 ground duels defensively.
D – Michael Bryant, Detroit City FC: Returning to the starting lineup, Bryant found the net in Le Rouge’s 4-0 win against Miami FC and completed 65 of 68 passes and won 3 of 4 duels while recording two interceptions and one clearance defensively.
D – Carson Vom Steeg, Memphis 901 FC: The right back recorded one goal and one assist in Memphis’ 5-1 victory against Phoenix Rising FC and recorded four clearances, three interceptions and two recoveries defensively.
M – Jojea Kwizera, Rhode Island FC: The Rwandan international recorded a goal and assist in Rhode Island’s 3-0 victory against El Paso Locomotive FC and had three chances created and two shots while also winning 3 of 3 tackles in RIFC’s first home win in club history.
M – JC Ngando, Las Vegas Lights FC: The 24-year-old had a strong all-around game in the Lights’ 2-0 win against Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC, recording one assist and two chances created while completing 54 of 61 passes and winning 3 of 3 tackles and 9 of 11 duels defensively.
M – Zac Duncan, Memphis 901 FC: The Australian scored an impressive opening goal and completed 39 of 42 passes while making eight recoveries and one interception and winning 3 of 5 duels in his side’s victory against Phoenix Rising FC.
M – Abdellatif Aboukoura, Loudoun United FC: The 19-year-old found the net for a second consecutive outing and recorded four shots and two chances created overall while making seven recoveries in Loudoun’s 2-0 victory against the Tampa Bay Rowdies.
F – Khori Bennett, Las Vegas Lights FC: The 26-year-old rounded out a stellar month with both goals as the Lights took a 2-0 victory against Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC while recording four shots overall and one chance created.
F – MD Myers, Charleston Battery: The 23-year-old recorded a hat trick and had an assist as the Battery rallied for a 5-2 victory against Southern Derby rival North Carolina FC on Friday night.
F – Wilson Harris, Louisville City FC: The 24-year-old recorded one goal and one assist to lead Louisville City FC to a 4-1 victory against Birmingham Legion FC at Protective Stadium while recording four shots and two chances created and completing 15 of 17 passes overall.
Coach – Ryan Martin, Loudoun United FC: Martin’s side earned its most impressive win of the season so far with a 2-0 victory at home to the Tampa Bay Rowdies as it posted a season-high 2.57 Expected Goals and recorded 21 shots.
Bench – Raiko Arozarena (LV), Camden Riley (OAK), Abdi Mohamed (NM), Maxi Rodriguez (DET), Ryan Williams (DET), Juan Agudelo (SA), Nick Markanich (CHS)
