The USL Championship announced Tuesday that Charleston Battery forward Nick Markanich (pictured) was named the Week 6 Player of the Week, presented by Konami eFootball. Emilio Ycaza and Head Coach Ben Pirmann also earned selections to the league’s Team of the Week.
Markanich and Ycaza turned in stellar performances in both Week 6 games, against Louisville City FC and Indy Eleven. Coach Pirmann’s leadership in navigating the team through three games in eight days to win seven of nine possible points earned him Coach of the Week honors.
MD Myers received an honorable mention on the Team of the Week Bench for recording a goal in both Week 6 games.
Markanich led the way in Week 6, tallying three goals and one assist across both matches. His brace against Louisville helped knock off the Eastern Conference leaders and his one goal and one assist showing powered Charleston to a second consecutive victory. He additionally recorded a staggering 19 duels won between both contests.
The Player of the Week selection is Markanich’s first since he won the award in Week 15 of last season and comes on the heels of him being a nominee for the league’s Player of the Month honor.
Ycaza was an engine in the midfield all week and especially shined in the victory over Indy. The midfielder scored the opening tally against Indy after expertly dispossessing the ball before running a give-and-go with Markanich. He then put the game on ice with his assist to Myers. While not credited with an assist, Ycaza played a heavy hand in winning the ball back from Indy which immediately led to Markanich’s goal.
Pirmann (L) and Ycaza
Pirmann made a pair of starting lineup adjustments going into the Louisville that tactically tilted the game in the Battery’s favor. The Black and Yellow subsequently shut down the Eastern Conference leaders and reigning Player of the Week to take over the No. 1 spot. With only a few days of rest and preparation with travel to Indiana, Charleston then achieved the six-point week under his guidance with the victory in Indy.
The trio of Team of the Week nods brings the Battery’s season total of the honor to seven.
Charleston return home on Sat., April 27, against Las Vegas Lights FC after an away match against FC Tulsa on April 20. Tickets for the April 27 fixture are on sale now via SeatGeak.com, the club’s exclusive digital ticketing provider.
USL Championship Team of the Week – Week 6
GK – Jackson Lee, Rhode Island FC
D – Carlos Guzman, Monterey Bay F.C.
D – John Stenberg, Phoenix Rising FC
D – Kwame Awuah, Loudoun United FC
M – Blake Bodily, Tampa Bay Rowdies
M – Rodrigo Lopez, Sacramento Republic FC
M – Florian Valot, Loudoun United FC
M – Emilio Ycaza, Charleston Battery
F – Johnny Rodriguez, Oakland Roots SC
F – Cal Jennings, Tampa Bay Rowdies
F – Nick Markanich, Charleston Battery
Coach – Ben Pirmann, Charleston Battery
Bench: Duran Ferree (OC), Niall Logue (OAK), Patrick Seagrist (TUL), Ezra Armstrong (NC), Memo Diaz (OAK), Joshua Perez (TBR), MD Myers (CHS)
