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There are 30 teams in USL 2017, so making the official Team of the Week can be a tougher proposition than it is in other, smaller, leagues. But New York Red Bulls II opened up their new season with a 3-3 draw in Pittsburgh, and that result clearly caught the eye of the USL ToTW selection panel.
NYRB II's Vincent Bezecourt bagged a brace, and has a knack for doing entertaining things when he has the ball.
.@Vince_Bzcrt GOAL, ASSIST Tinari, 16th minute.#PGHvNY | #DefendTogether pic.twitter.com/ebuu7rXSB7
— NYRB II (@NYRBII) March 25, 2017
.@Vince_Bzcrt GOAL, 77th minute.#PGHvNY | #DefendTogether pic.twitter.com/AsWEABMCP6
— NYRB II (@NYRBII) March 26, 2017
67' - @Vince_Bzcrt with the nutmeg.....
— NYRB II (@NYRBII) March 25, 2017
2-2 #PGHvNY | #DefendTogether pic.twitter.com/vHFYCxrnqj
He made the USL's official TotW roster for Week 1 of the 2017 season.
Here is the #USL Team of the Week for Week 1! #RaiseYourGame #USLKickoff
— USL (@USL) March 28, 2017
Find out who made the full team ➡️ https://t.co/rw3liBMheZ pic.twitter.com/LtVyIXUXFW
Pittsburgh's Corey Hertzog, who also scored twice in the match, was named USL Player of the Week (and to the TotW, of course).
Hertzog was the 13th overall pick of the 2011 MLS SuperDraft, selected by RBNY. He made seven appearances in all competitions for the Red Bulls in 2011, scored one goal, was loaned out to Wilmington Hammerheads in USL in 2012, and subsequently released by RBNY. Pittsburgh is the seventh team he's played for since turning pro. At 26, he is a reliable lower-league goal scorer and may once again attract the attention of MLS teams if his form holds for another year.
.@Hertzog_Corey named @USL Player of the Week following two-goal performance on Saturday -> https://t.co/2EPYSCnnGV #HertzSoGood #UNLEASH pic.twitter.com/wk2eHYqsIH
— PGH Riverhounds (@PghRiverhounds) March 28, 2017
Hertzog was also nominated to the USL Goal of the Week competition, as was NYRB II's Florian Valot.
The quest for the #USLGOTY starts now! Check out all the goals from Week 1 in the #USL!
— USL (@USL) March 28, 2017
Cast Your Vote: https://t.co/aPVg7Lq3IB pic.twitter.com/nWQEtvUiwm
Also among this week's top USL performers: former NYRB II man Konrad Plewa was named to the TotW bench for his work in St. Louis FC's 0-0 draw with Louisville City (a match that also featured Devon 'Speedy' Williams, another former II teamer).