El Paso Locomotive, alongside the USL Championship, announced today Goalkeeper Evan Newton earned a nod on the Team of the Week for Week 12. This is Newton’s first appearance on the Team of the Week Starting XI with El Paso Locomotive, having previously been named to the bench in Week 9. Over the course of his USL Championship career, Newton has now recorded seven Team of the Week Starting XI appearances.
On Friday night, the Virgina Beach native recorded an incredible six-saves to earn the shut out against Las Vegas Lights FC. His work rate between the pipes extended his hold on the league records in all-time saves and shutouts to 513 and his shutout record to 54. Behind a 10-man Locomotive side, Newton held a Goals Minus Expected Goals mark of -1.46 to keep Vegas without a hope of finding an equalizing goal.
See below for the full USL Championship Team of the Week for Week 12:
GK – Evan Newton, El Paso Locomotive FC: Newton posted a six-save shutout and a Goals Minus Expected Goals mark of -1.46 to help a 10-man Locomotive FC take a 1-0 victory on the road at Las Vegas Lights FC on Friday night.
D – Junior Palacios, Miami FC: Palacios scored the opening goal for Miami in a 2-2 draw against Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC and won 8 of 9 duels and 3 of 4 aerial duels while completing 43 of 59 passes at Riccardo Silva Stadium.
D – Mitchell Taintor, San Antonio FC: Taintor scored once in SAFC’s 3-2 victory against Rio Grande Valley FC and won 10 of 14 duels, 4 of 6 aerial duels and 2 of 3 tackles while making five clearances and nine recoveries defensively at H-E-B Park.
D – Amadou Dia, Louisville City FC: Dia recorded one assist and had three chances created overall in the attacking third and also won 5 of 6 duels and 4 of 4 aerial duels defensively on top of three interceptions and six recoveries at Lynn Family Stadium.
M – Luis Manuel Seijas, Phoenix Rising FC: Seijas drove Rising FC creatively as the side rallied for a 2-1 victory at Hartford Athletic, recording one assist, nine chances created and three shots while completing 44 of 48 passes and winning 2 of 2 tackles and 4 of 7 duels at Trinity Health Stadium.
M – Luis Felipe Fernandes, Sacramento Republic FC: Fernandes scored the visitors’ goal in its 1-1 draw against NorCal rival Oakland Roots SC on Saturday night while completing 33 of 40 passes, winning 9 of 13 duels, and making 10 recoveries and four interceptions.
M – Justin Portillo, New Mexico United: Portillo recorded three goals and one assist across a pair of outings for New Mexico over the week, while completing 74 of 83 passes, winning 10 of 14 duels and notching five chances created in a pair of victories for his side.
M – Chase Boone, Monterey Bay F.C.: Boone recorded a goal and assist to lead Monterey Bay to a second consecutive victory while recording two shots and two chances created overall in his side’s 4-2 win against Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC.
F – Cameron Lancaster, Louisville City FC: The English forward marked his return to the starting lineup from injury with a pair of goals in LouCity’s 4-1 win against FC Tulsa on Saturday, recording four shots overall and completing 12 of 14 passes at Lynn Family Stadium.
F – Justin Dhillon, San Antonio FC: Dhillon scored a pair of goals on three shots as part of a strong all-around performance that saw him win 2 of 2 tackles and complete 12 of 18 passes in SAFC’s 3-2 victory at Rio Grande Valley FC in the South Texas Derby.
F – Enzo Martinez, Birmingham Legion FC: Martinez recorded the opening goal in Legion FC’s 2-1 victory on the road against the New York Red Bulls II and put in a strong shift elsewhere, winning 12 of 19 duels and making eight recoveries while winning two tackles and completing 3 of 4 dribbles.
Bench: Joe Kuzminsky (CHS), Noah Cobb (ATL), Kevon Lambert (PHX), Taylor Davila (LA), Kyle Vassell (SD), Russell Cicerone (PIT), Adrian Rebollar (MB)