Swope Park Rangers defender Amer Didic has been named to the USL Team of the Week for Week 14 of the 2016 season. Didic was instrumental in preserving the Rangers’ second shutout of the season in Sunday’s 2-0 victory over Seattle Sounders FC 2.
Didic has played in all 14 games for SPR this season, starting seven, and the rookie out of Baker University has played the full 90 minutes in each of the Rangers’ shutouts this season. On May 28, the 21-year-old was named Man of the Match after a standout defensive display in a 1-1 draw with Sacramento Republic FC at Bonney Field.
Didic and the Rangers are back in action this Saturday, hosting cross-state rivals Saint Louis FC at Swope Soccer Village. That game will kick off at 7:30 p.m. CT and will be live streamed on SportingKC.com, while tickets are available here.
USL Team of the Week (Courtesy of USLSoccer.com)
GK – Lalo Fernandez, Real Monarchs SLC: Fernandez recorded an eight-save shutout, including a handful of standout stops, as the Monarchs took a 1-0 win in Colorado Springs.
D – Shawn Ferguson, Charleston Battery: Ferguson led the Battery defense as it held Toronto FC II to only one shot on goal in a 1-0 win on Sunday night.
D – Amer Didic, Swope Park Rangers: Didic put in a strong performance to limit Seattle to only two shots on goal as the Rangers took a 2-0 victory on the road on Sunday.
D – Henry Kalungi, Charlotte Independence: Kalungi helped limit Harrisburg’s attack, and also connected passes well out of defense as the Independence took a 3-1 road victory.
M – Mike Garzi, Rochester Rhinos: Garzi scored the game-winning goal as the Rhinos took a 2-1 win against the Pittsburgh Riverhounds on Saturday night.
M – Dan Metzger, New York Red Bulls II: Metzger distributed well and helped the Red Bulls II dominate midfield in a 4-0 win against Wilmington Hammerheads FC.
M – Didier Crettenand, Orange County Blues FC: Crettenand had three goals and one assist in two games, including both goals as the Blues edged out Rio Grande Valley FC on Sunday.
M – Guy Abend, Louisville City FC: Abend scored his first two goals of the season as Louisville took a 4-1 win against Toronto FC II last Tuesday.
F – Irvin Herrera, Saint Louis FC: Herrera menaced Portland’s defense regularly, and was rewarded with the only goal in a 1-0 win for Saint Louis on Saturday.
F – Jacques Francois, San Antonio FC: Francois assisted on a pair of goals as San Antonio rallied to take a 3-2 victory against Orange County last Thursday night.
F – Tyler Blackwood, Arizona United SC: Blackwood scored two goals in two games as Arizona took a pair of draws against Rio Grande Valley and Sacramento.
Bench: Samir Badr (BST), Hugh Roberts (RIC), Corben Bone (CIN), Devon Williams (NY), Fatawu Safiu (VAN), Hadji Barry (ORL), Anthony Jackson-Hamel (MTL)
