Thunder’s Sanchez and Lightning’s Cline Both Win Honors as Player of the Week
The Minnesota Thunder and Lightning each received Player of the Week awards from the United Soccer Leagues for individual performances by Ricardo Sanchez and Chelsea Cline.
Ricardo Sanchez
The Thunder’s Sanchez was awarded with USL-1 Player of the Week for a fantastic free kick just eight minutes into the match that left the visitors reeling, with Brian Cvilikas delivering the second blow when he beat Matt Jordan to the ball at the edge of the box, sending it into an open net. The Sanchez goal was his fourth of the campaign.
In the second half, Sanchez drove deep down the left flank, sending a cross back to the top of the area for Melvin Tarley, who put the game out of reach with a searing shot in the 72nd. It was Sanchez’s fourth assist of the year.
In his second season with the Thunder, the 27-year old former Mexican youth international ranks in the top ten in the league in goals and assists, placing him third in the points table with 12.
Sanchez also awarded USL-1 Goal of the Week
Ricardo was also given the Week #14 Goal of the Week with his bending free kick that put Minnesota up 1-0 in the eighth minute of the game. Go Here to see Ricardo’s Beckham-esk free kick.
Chelsea Cline
The Lightning’s Cline was honored in as Player of the Week following her five-goal, one-assist performance in the Lightning’s three wins last week, all on the road.
In Minnesota’s first match of the week against the Fort Wayne Fever, Cline scored the first goal of the game in the 20th minute. Her second goal of the eventual 6-0 win came in the 59th minute and her third strike rounded out the scoring in the 85th minute. Cline added an assist on teammate Caroline Smith’s goal in the 58th minute.
Two days later, Cline played 45 minutes in a 4-0 win over West Michigan before netting her fifth goal of the week in the 50th minute of a 5-0 win over Kalamazoo on Sunday, July 12.
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