For the second time this season, Real Monarchs had a player named to the USL Team of the Week. After scoring two goals and adding an assist on Saturday in a 3-1 win over the Orange County Blues, Ricardo Velazco earned the weekly honor.
After the Monarchs fell behind 1-0 in the first half, Velazco caught fire in the second half at the University of Utah’s Ute Field. He opened with a goal in the 50th minute. In the 59th minute, he set up Alec Sundly for the go-ahead goal and then in the 69th minute he completed the brace with his second goal for the final 3-1 tally.
Velazco is now tied for the team lead with three goals and ranks second in the USL with three assists.
The Monarchs are eighth in the USL at 3-4-3 with only four of the first 10 matches at the club’s primary home venue at Rio Tinto Stadium. That includes two “home” matches at Utah Valley University’s Clyde Field and the University of Utah’s Ute Field. The Monarchs still have seven more matches before returning home to Rio Tinto Stadium on July 2 to host Vancouver Whitecaps FC 2.
Velazco was joined on Team of the Week by goalkeeper Cody Laurendi (OKC Energy); defenders Konrad Plewa (New York Red Bulls II), Shawn Ferguson (Charleston Battery), Dave Romney (LA Galaxy II) and Josh Suggs (Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC); midfielders Lebo Moloto (Pittsburgh Riverhounds) and Fatawu Safiu (Vancouver Whitecaps FC 2); and forwards Hadji Barry (Orlando City B), Aaron Wheeler (Harrisburg City Islanders) and Irvin Herrera (St. Louis FC).
Real Monarchs on USL Team of the Week
Week 3: Lalo Fernandez
Week 9 : Ricardo Velazco
