USL CHAMPIONSHIP NAMES FRANK YALLOP COACH OF THE WEEK AND RAFA BACA PLAYER OF THE WEEK FOR WEEK 2
SEASIDE, California (Tuesday, March 19, 2024) – Monterey Bay F.C. earned its first win over Phoenix Rising FC in the Club’s home opener over the weekend with a 1-0 shutout, just four days after securing a point away from home in El Paso. As a result, Monterey Bay has been awarded with both Coach and Player of the Week honors for Week 2 of the 2024 USL Championship regular season. Frank Yallop has been named USL Championship’s Coach of the Week, while midfielder Rafa Baca – who scored the game-winning goal in the match against Phoenix – has been named the league’s Player of the Week. In addition, goalkeeper Antony Siaha has been named to the Team of the Week bench.
Baca earned USL Championship Player of the Week honors for Week 2 for his play over both of the Club’s first two matches of the campaign. Defensively, Baca recorded seven tackles, five clearances and four interceptions, and won 10 of his 12 duels on the week. Plus, he finished with an 89.3% passing accuracy on over 100 passes, all culminating in scoring the game-winning goal in the Club’s home opener against Phoenix Rising FC.
Siaha’s top-18 performance this week was highlighted by his first clean sheet of the season in the Club’s home opener on Saturday – the 14th clean sheet of his career in just 35 professional games so far to bring his career total to an impressive 40%. He also recorded seven saves on eight shots faced during the week.
Below is USL Championship’s full Team of the Week for Week 2 lined up in a 3-5-2 formation:
Goalkeeper – Colin Shutler (OC)
Defenders – Matt Mahoney (COS), Aedan Stanley (IND), Sean Totsch (LOU)
Midfielders – Rafa Baca (MB), Blaine Ferri (TUL), Jack Blake (IND), Kalil ElMedkhar (LOU), Clay Holstad (RI)
Forwards – Zach Ryan (LOU), Phillip Goodrum (TUL)
Bench – Antony Siaha (MB), Ryan Doghman (OC), Jack Gurr (SAC), Memo Diaz (OAK), Aaron Molloy (CHS), Pacifique Niyongabire (TBR), Milo Yosef (TUL)