TEAM OF THE WEEK | Fall Season Week 7

Jacksonville Armada FC midfielder Jaime Castrillón, Minnesota United midfielder Daniel Mendes, and Fort Lauderdale Strikers defender James Marcelin all scored game-winning goals for their sides during Week 7 action. Their goals - and overall performances - landed each of them a spot on the latest edition of the NASL Team of the Week.

The full team for Week 7 of the Fall Season is listed below:

GK: David Sierra (Jacksonville Armada FC) – With Jacksonville in action twice last week, the Spanish goalkeeper was unblemished, helping the Armada FC to a 3-0 win over the Carolina RailHawks on Wednesday and a 1-0 win against the Atlanta Silverbacks on Saturday.

DEF: Roversio (New York Cosmos) – Despite conceding a goal to the San Antonio Scorpions moments before halftime, the Cosmos put in a strong overall performance in a 2-1 win at home. The Brazilian center back was crucial in defense for New York, helping the club extend its overall unbeaten run to five games. The Cosmos are now unbeaten in their last 16 home matches.  

DEF: Fabricio Ortiz (Jacksonville Armada FC) – Jacksonville is known for scoring goals, but it was their defense that was the star in Week 7. Ortiz helped the side post a pair of shutouts, commanding the back line in wins over Carolina and Atlanta.

DEF: James Marcelin (Fort Lauderdale Strikers) – Not typically deployed as a center back, Marcelin turned in a “Man of the Match” performance in the Strikers’ 2-1 win over their intrastate rivals, the Tampa Bay Rowdies. The Haitian international was strong at the back and also pounced on a rebound just before halftime for his first Strikers goal, which stood as the game-winner in the Coastal Cup clash at Lockhart Stadium.

DEF: Kareem Moses (FC Edmonton) – The Eddies moved into second place with their 3-0 win against the RailHawks, who struggled to get any rhythm going in the attacking third. Defender Kareem Moses was a big reason why Carolina had so much trouble, leading the way in the club’s shutout win. The Trinidad native was also involved in the move that led to Lance Laing’s seventh goal of the season.

MID: Dustin Corea (FC Edmonton) – The Salvadoran international has fit in seamlessly with the FC Edmonton squad since signing earlier this month, and on Sunday against Carolina, he made sure to leave his mark on the game. After assisting on Tomi Ameobi’s opening goal, Corea found the net for his first Eddies goal.

MID: Adam Moffat (New York Cosmos) – The Scottish veteran patrolled the middle of the park and put in a well-rounded shift against the Scorpions. Moffat helped disrupt San Antonio’s rhythm in attacking positions, and played a part in creating several scoring chances for the Cosmos at the other end.   

MID: Daniel Mendes (Minnesota United) – The Brazilian midfielder’s late-game heroics snapped Ottawa Fury FC’s 12-game unbeaten run. With the game in the dying minutes, Mendes stepped up to take a free kick and kissed it off the post for the winner at TD Place in Ottawa.

MID: Jaime Castrillón (Jacksonville Armada FC) – The Colombian international found the net in back-to-back games last week, and both proved to be game-winners for Jacksonville. Castrillón opened the scoring with a smart finish against Carolina, and then turned in a rebound for the lone goal against the Silverbacks over the weekend.

FWD: Christian Ramirez (Minnesota United) – With a goal in the first half against Ottawa, the 2014 Golden Boot winner extended his scoring streak to seven games. It was a solo effort for the California native that led to the Loons’ opening goal. Ramirez stole the ball off defender Rafael Alves and then drove into the 18-yard box before firing past Fury FC goalkeeper Romuald Peiser. Ramirez can tie the NASL Modern Era record for most consecutive games with a goal if he’s able to find the net this weekend.

FWD: Stefano Pinho (Fort Lauderdale Strikers) – The Strikers jumped all over the Rowdies from the moment the opening whistle blew, and it was Pinho who was at the forefront of the onslaught. In the fourth minute, the Brazilian picked out the top corner in superb fashion, sending the Strikers on their way in a 2-1 win against Tampa Bay.