Indy Eleven midfielder Soony Saad has been voted the USL Player of the Week for Week 5 of the 2018 season. Saad scored both goals, including a 35-yard blast that landed at No. 5 on ESPN’s SportsCenter Top 10 on Saturday night, in the Eleven’s 2-1 victory against Nashville SC at Lucas Oil Stadium.
Saad now stands as Indy Eleven's top goal scorer with forward Jack McInerney and Tyler Pasher tied in second with one goal each. Additionally, Saad has completed 100 percent of his tackles during the 303 minutes he's been on the pitch this season.
Saad received 50 percent of the poll conducted by a national panel of independent media representing every USL market. Orange County SC goalkeeper Andre Rawls finished second with 32 percent, while the New York Red Bulls II’s Stefano Bonomo and Real Monarchs SLC’s Masta Kacher finished tied for third.
In 2011, Saad signed his first professional contract with MLS’ Sporting Kansas City after a successful collegiate career at Michigan University. During his first four years with SKC, Saad scored eight goals in 58 appearances. Additionally, Saad collected a MLS Cup in 2013, as well as Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup honors in 2012. In 2016, Saad signed for Thai League 1 side Police Tero FC, where he scored nine goals in 28 appearances. Saad made his return to SKC last season, making a total of 12 appearances and tallying a single assist.
Outside of club play, Saad has represented the United States Under-17, Under-20 Men’s National Team and well as the Lebanese Senior Men’s National Team on several occasions.
Indy Eleven return to action on the road in Week 7 when they take on Charlotte Independence on Saturday, April 28 at 7:00 p.m. Days later, the “Boys in Blue” return home to welcome back FC Cincinnati on Wednesday, May 2, at 7:00 p.m. and Louisville City FC on Saturday, May 5, at 12:00 p.m. Tickets are available for both home fixtures at www.www.indyeleven.com or by calling (317)685-1100.
USL Team of the Week
GK – Andre Rawls, Orange County SC: Rawls posted an eight-save shutout, as Orange County took a 3-0 win on the road against San Antonio FC on Saturday night.
D – Tobi Adewole, Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC: Adewole scored the late winner in a 1-0 victory against Ottawa Fury FC, while also recording eight clearances and winning all 10 duels and aerial duels.
D – Amadou Dia, Phoenix Rising FC: Dia won 14 of 21 duels overall and recorded two tackles, two interceptions and three clearances, as Rising FC took a 1-0 victory on the road against the LA Galaxy II.
D – Futty Danso, North Carolina FC: Danso helped hold the Charlotte Independence to only two shots on goal with 10 clearances and also won 12 of 16 duels and aerial duels during his side’s 2-0 road victory.
D – Kyle Smith, Louisville City FC: Smith scored the tying goal from the penalty spot, completed 89 of 103 passes and recorded two key passes to help Louisville rally to a 2-1 victory against the Richmond Kickers.
M – Luke Vercollone, Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC: Vercollone recorded a goal and an assist and completed 20 of 24 passes to lead the Switchbacks to victory against Reno 1868 FC.
M – Joey Calistri, Saint Louis FC: Calistri scored the game-winning goal in STLFC’s 1-0 win against the LA Galaxy II, and finished with four shots overall.
M – Soony Saad, Indy Eleven – Saad scored both goals, including a 35-yard strike that landed on ESPN's SportsCenter Top 10, in Indy's 2-1 win against Nashville SC on Saturday afternoon.
F – Masta Kacher, Real Monarchs SLC – Kacher scored twice to lead Monarchs to a fourth consecutive win to start season in their 3-1 victory against Seattle Sounders FC 2 last Wednesday night.
F – Stefano Bonomo, New York Red Bulls II – Bonomo had a goal and two assists as the Red Bulls II romped past the Tampa Bay Rowdies 5-0 on Saturday afternoon.
F – Felix Chenkam, Seattle Sounders FC 2 – Chenkam scored twice, as S2 rallied for a 3-2 victory against Rio Grande Valley FC on Saturday evening.
Bench: Trevor Spangenberg (RIC), Derrick Jones (BST), Justin Portillo (SLC), George Davis IV (LOU), Brian White (NY), Didier Drogba (PHX), Thomas Enevoldsen (OC)
Indy Eleven midfielder Soony Saad has been voted the USL Player of the Week for Week 5 of the 2018 season. Saad scored both goals, including a 35-yard blast that landed at No. 5 on ESPN’s SportsCenter Top 10 on Saturday night, in the Eleven’s 2-1 victory against Nashville SC at Lucas Oil Stadium.
Saad now stands as Indy Eleven’s top goal scorer with forward Jack McInerney and Tyler Pasher tied in second with one goal each. Additionally, Saad has completed 100 percent of his tackles during the 303 minutes he’s been on the pitch this season.
Saad received 50 percent of the poll conducted by a national panel of independent media representing every USL market. Orange County SC goalkeeper Andre Rawls finished second with 32 percent, while the New York Red Bulls II’s Stefano Bonomo and Real Monarchs SLC’s Masta Kacher finished tied for third.
In 2011, Saad signed his first professional contract with MLS’ Sporting Kansas City after a successful collegiate career at Michigan University. During his first four years with SKC, Saad scored eight goals in 58 appearances. Additionally, Saad collected a MLS Cup in 2013, as well as Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup honors in 2012. In 2016, Saad signed for Thai League 1 side Police Tero FC, where he scored nine goals in 28 appearances. Saad made his return to SKC last season, making a total of 12 appearances and tallying a single assist.
Outside of club play, Saad has represented the United States Under-17, Under-20 Men’s National Team and well as the Lebanese Senior Men’s National Team on several occasions.
Indy Eleven return to action on the road in Week 7 when they take on Charlotte Independence on Saturday, April 28 at 7:00 p.m. Days later, the “Boys in Blue” return home to welcome back FC Cincinnati on Wednesday, May 2, at 7:00 p.m. and Louisville City FC on Saturday, May 5, at 12:00 p.m. Tickets are available for both home fixtures at www.www.indyeleven.com or by calling (317)685-1100.
USL Team of the Week
GK – Andre Rawls, Orange County SC: Rawls posted an eight-save shutout, as Orange County took a 3-0 win on the road against San Antonio FC on Saturday night.
D – Tobi Adewole, Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC: Adewole scored the late winner in a 1-0 victory against Ottawa Fury FC, while also recording eight clearances and winning all 10 duels and aerial duels.
D – Amadou Dia, Phoenix Rising FC: Dia won 14 of 21 duels overall and recorded two tackles, two interceptions and three clearances, as Rising FC took a 1-0 victory on the road against the LA Galaxy II.
D – Futty Danso, North Carolina FC: Danso helped hold the Charlotte Independence to only two shots on goal with 10 clearances and also won 12 of 16 duels and aerial duels during his side’s 2-0 road victory.
D – Kyle Smith, Louisville City FC: Smith scored the tying goal from the penalty spot, completed 89 of 103 passes and recorded two key passes to help Louisville rally to a 2-1 victory against the Richmond Kickers.
M – Luke Vercollone, Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC: Vercollone recorded a goal and an assist and completed 20 of 24 passes to lead the Switchbacks to victory against Reno 1868 FC.
M – Joey Calistri, Saint Louis FC: Calistri scored the game-winning goal in STLFC’s 1-0 win against the LA Galaxy II, and finished with four shots overall.
M – Soony Saad, Indy Eleven – Saad scored both goals, including a 35-yard strike that landed on ESPN’s SportsCenter Top 10, in Indy’s 2-1 win against Nashville SC on Saturday afternoon.
F – Masta Kacher, Real Monarchs SLC – Kacher scored twice to lead Monarchs to a fourth consecutive win to start season in their 3-1 victory against Seattle Sounders FC 2 last Wednesday night.
F – Stefano Bonomo, New York Red Bulls II – Bonomo had a goal and two assists as the Red Bulls II romped past the Tampa Bay Rowdies 5-0 on Saturday afternoon.
F – Felix Chenkam, Seattle Sounders FC 2 – Chenkam scored twice, as S2 rallied for a 3-2 victory against Rio Grande Valley FC on Saturday evening.
Bench: Trevor Spangenberg (RIC), Derrick Jones (BST), Justin Portillo (SLC), George Davis IV (LOU), Brian White (NY), Didier Drogba (PHX), Thomas Enevoldsen (OC)