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New York Red Bulls midfielders Leo Stolz, Manolo Sanchez named to USL Team of the Week

The first of hopefully many professional honors for Stolz.

USA TODAY Sports

Leo Stolz was named to the starting lineup for the USL Team of the Week for Week 12.

M – Leo Stolz, New York Red Bulls II: Scored on a fine free kick and was influential throughout as New York finished tied 2-2 with Montreal.

Stolz, on loan from the MLS squad, had a goal and an assist against the Impact's reserve squad.

Manolo Sanchez, also on loan from senior team, was named to the "bench" for the Team of the Week after scoring a goal off a volley.

Here are the match highlights.

Stolz, a rookie out of UCLA, was drafted by the Red Bulls with the 18th overall pick in the first round of the 2015 MLS SuperDraft. Sanchez, also a rookie, was drafted with the 79th overall pick in the fourth round out of Clemson University.

Hopefully this is the start of Stolz inflicting his will upon USL matches culminating with consistent inclusion in the senior team roster. Despite winning the Hermann Trophy in 2014 (college soccer's player of the year), he has yet to play a single minute in MLS. There is a lot of talented competition ahead of him on the depth chart, but it's reasonable to have expected more of an impact from such a heralded acquisition who was considered "the best player in the draft." Stolz will probably feature in the Red Bulls' Open Cup match against the Atlanta Silverbacks (NASL) after being held out of New York Red Bulls II's match in the same competition (a 1-0 loss to the amateur Jersey Express of the PDL).

As for Manolo Sanchez, this is yet another well-deserved acknowledgment of the stellar season he is having in USL. Through 12 matches, he has two goals and one assist. Even when he isn't scoring, Sanchez has been a constant nuisance on the wing, pressuring defenders into mistakes and creating offensive opportunities.

New York Red Bulls II (3-5-4) play the Wilmington Hammerheads (1-6-4) on Saturday, June 13th at Legion Stadium in Wilmington, North Carolina.