Vancouver Whitecaps midfielder
Tyrell Burgess
was named USL First Division Player of The Week for the first time in his career. Burgess’ teammates in defender
Marco Reda
and striker
Marlon James
also made the USL-1 Team of the Week.
After earning a spot in the Week 16 all-star team, Burgess earned Player of the Week accolades for his efforts in Week 17 after registering a goal and an assist in a 3-1 victory at Rochester Rhinos on Friday evening. The Bermuda international assisted Marlon James on the 'Caps second goal, as he made a good run down the left side, near the edge of the Rochester box, before delivering a perfectly placed low cross to the unmarked James, who found the net for a 2-0 Vancouver lead. Then on 69 minutes, the young winger took a pass from
Gordon Chin
near the edge of the Rhinos box before cutting inside and unleashing an unstoppable right-footed shot to give the 'Caps a 3-1 win. It was the Bermudan rookie's first-ever goal for Vancouver and his first in USL-1. In total this season, Burgess has one goal and two assists in 539 minutes of action.
Reda earned Team of the Week honours for the second time this season, previously making the weekly all-star team in Week Three when he scored his first goal with the 'Caps in a 1-1 away draw versus expansion club Austin Aztex. During the Whitecaps most recent road trip, Reda had a solid defensive performance in the 3-1 win over Rochester before helping his team earn a clean sheet in the goalless draw at Cleveland City Stars. The Woodbridge, Ontario, native has played 985 minutes and scored two goals in 11 appearances this season.
James earned his spot on the weekly all-star team after a sensational two-goal performance in Rochester. The talented striker was awarded a penalty kick just before halftime, which he converted to give Vancouver a 1-0 lead at the break. He then added the eventual match-winner in the hour mark when he controlled Burgess’ cross before drilling a low right-footed shot off the inside of the post. The Saint Vincent and the Grenadines international has scored eight goals in just ten league appearances. This puts him in a tie for the USL-1 goalscoring lead, even though he missed most of the first half of the season through injury.
James was one of two strikers to be selected this week, as Miami FC Blues and former Whitecaps forward Alen Marcina was the other striker to be selected.
Burgess, meanwhile, was one of five midfielders to be chosen. Montreal Impact newcomer Ciaran O’Brien earned a spot on the team for a second consecutive week, while Charleston Battery’s Scott Buete, Carolina RailHawks' Joseph Kabwe, and Portland Timbers' Ryan Pore were also selected.
Charleston’s Matt Bobo and Minnesota Thunder’s Quavas Kirk join Reda as the defenders to be chosen this week, while Cleveland's Evan Bush was selected as the team's goalkeeper.
