Tulsa Roughnecks FC forward Cristian Mata knew he had big shoes to fill last week with the team’s leading goal scorer and captain, Sammy Ochoa, suspended for the match with Arizona United SC. On Saturday, Mata picked up the slack very nicely, scoring both goals in Tulsa’s 2-1 road victory. Today, Mata was rewarded for his big game by being voted the USL Player of the Week for the 19th week of the 2016 season.
He received 47 percent of the votes in a poll conducted by a national panel of independent media representing every USL market. Orange County Blues FC’s Trevin Caesar finished second with 41 percent.
It is the third time that a Roughnecks player has received the honor this season. Ochoa has twice previously been named the USL Player of the Week.
Mata’s big night in Arizona began quickly with his first goal coming just three minutes into the match to give Tulsa an early lead.
An own goal allowed Arizona to even the score in the second half, but Mata came to the rescue in second-half stoppage time. Two minutes into the four added minutes, he netted his second goal of the night to give the Roughnecks the full three points.
Mata is a local product for the Roughnecks having played for the TSC Hurricane as a youth before also starring at Union High School and the University of Tulsa.
The complete USL Team of the Week is below.
USL Team of the Week
GK – Spencer Richey, Vancouver Whitecaps FC 2: Richey set a franchise record with nine saves as WFC2 earned a 1-1 draw against Colorado Springs.
D – Taylor Hunter, Rio Grande Valley FC: Hunter helped the Toros defense limit a dangerous Sacramento attack in a 0-0 draw on Saturday night.
D – Amer Didic, Swope Park Rangers: Didic helped the Rangers defense hold San Antonio to only two shots in the side’s 2-1 victory on Saturday night.
D – Cyprian Hedrick, OKC Energy FC: Hedrick put in a big performance as Energy FC held Saint Louis FC to only three shots on goal in a 0-0 draw on Saturday.
M – Maikel Chang, Charleston Battery: Chang had an assist for a second consecutive game to set up Heviel Cordoves’ equalizer in a 1-1 draw at FC Cincinnati.
M – Keegan Smith, Orlando City B: Smith capped a good all-around performance with a stoppage-time game-winner against Louisville on Saturday night.
M – Jackson Eskay, Richmond Kickers: Eskay’s first professional goal lifted Richmond in stoppage time to a 2-1 win against the New York Red Bulls II.
M – Kevin Kerr, Pittsburgh Riverhounds: Kerr scored the opening goal and was strong throughout as the Riverhounds took a 4-1 win at Wilmington.
F – Cristian Mata, Tulsa Roughnecks FC: Mata scored both of the Roughnecks’ goals, including a stoppage-time winner, in a 2-1 victory against Arizona.
F – Shaan Hundal, Toronto FC II:Named to the USL 20 Under 20 list last week, Hundal scored twice to lead TFC II to a 3-2 win against Bethlehem on Sunday.
F – Trevin Caesar, Orange County Blues FC: Caesar had both goals as Orange County took a 2-0 victory against the LA Galaxy II in the I-405 Derby.
Bench: Matt Cardone (SA), Mikey Ambrose (ORL), Enzo Martinez (CLT), Omar Cummings (CIN), Raheem Edwards (TOR), Corey Hertzog (PGH), Mark Anthony Gonzalez (SPR)
FOLLOW THE USL
Every game of the 2016 USL season can be seen live, free and in HD through the league’s official Match Center (www.uslsoccer.com/match-center), with updates from across the league also available via Twitter, Facebook, Vine and Instagram.
Tulsa Roughnecks FC forward Cristian Mata knew he had big shoes to fill last week with the team’s leading goal scorer and captain, Sammy Ochoa, suspended for the match with Arizona United SC. On Saturday, Mata picked up the slack very nicely, scoring both goals in Tulsa’s 2-1 road victory. Today, Mata was rewarded for his big game by being voted the USL Player of the Week for the 19th week of the 2016 season.
He received 47 percent of the votes in a poll conducted by a national panel of independent media representing every USL market. Orange County Blues FC’s Trevin Caesar finished second with 41 percent.
It is the third time that a Roughnecks player has received the honor this season. Ochoa has twice previously been named the USL Player of the Week.
Mata’s big night in Arizona began quickly with his first goal coming just three minutes into the match to give Tulsa an early lead.
An own goal allowed Arizona to even the score in the second half, but Mata came to the rescue in second-half stoppage time. Two minutes into the four added minutes, he netted his second goal of the night to give the Roughnecks the full three points.
Mata is a local product for the Roughnecks having played for the TSC Hurricane as a youth before also starring at Union High School and the University of Tulsa.
The complete USL Team of the Week is below.
USL Team of the Week
GK – Spencer Richey, Vancouver Whitecaps FC 2: Richey set a franchise record with nine saves as WFC2 earned a 1-1 draw against Colorado Springs.
D – Taylor Hunter, Rio Grande Valley FC: Hunter helped the Toros defense limit a dangerous Sacramento attack in a 0-0 draw on Saturday night.
D – Amer Didic, Swope Park Rangers: Didic helped the Rangers defense hold San Antonio to only two shots in the side’s 2-1 victory on Saturday night.
D – Cyprian Hedrick, OKC Energy FC: Hedrick put in a big performance as Energy FC held Saint Louis FC to only three shots on goal in a 0-0 draw on Saturday.
M – Maikel Chang, Charleston Battery: Chang had an assist for a second consecutive game to set up Heviel Cordoves’ equalizer in a 1-1 draw at FC Cincinnati.
M – Keegan Smith, Orlando City B: Smith capped a good all-around performance with a stoppage-time game-winner against Louisville on Saturday night.
M – Jackson Eskay, Richmond Kickers: Eskay’s first professional goal lifted Richmond in stoppage time to a 2-1 win against the New York Red Bulls II.
M – Kevin Kerr, Pittsburgh Riverhounds: Kerr scored the opening goal and was strong throughout as the Riverhounds took a 4-1 win at Wilmington.
F – Cristian Mata, Tulsa Roughnecks FC: Mata scored both of the Roughnecks’ goals, including a stoppage-time winner, in a 2-1 victory against Arizona.
F – Shaan Hundal, Toronto FC II:Named to the USL 20 Under 20 list last week, Hundal scored twice to lead TFC II to a 3-2 win against Bethlehem on Sunday.
F – Trevin Caesar, Orange County Blues FC: Caesar had both goals as Orange County took a 2-0 victory against the LA Galaxy II in the I-405 Derby.
Bench: Matt Cardone (SA), Mikey Ambrose (ORL), Enzo Martinez (CLT), Omar Cummings (CIN), Raheem Edwards (TOR), Corey Hertzog (PGH), Mark Anthony Gonzalez (SPR)
FOLLOW THE USL
Every game of the 2016 USL season can be seen live, free and in HD through the league’s official Match Center (www.uslsoccer.com/match-center), with updates from across the league also available via Twitter, Facebook, Vine and Instagram.
