Ja’s Bennett earns third team-of-the-week honour

TAMPA, Florida (CMC):

Jamaican forward Khori Bennett earned selection to the United Soccer League Championship team-of-the-week for the third time this season on Tuesday in the United States.

The 26-year-old earned the accolade after finding the back of the net in both halves of a 2-0 win for the Las Vegas Lights against Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC last Saturday on home soil at Cashman Field in the American city of Las Vegas in the state of Nevada.

Bennett, who was earned team-of-the-week selections in the 14th and 16th weeks of the season, also recorded four shots and created one chance in the win that edged the Lights above the playoff line for the first time this season.

He is the lone Lights player with three team-of-the-week selections for the season, while French midfielder and team captain Valentin Noel (Week 4, Week 14) and defender Shawn Smart (Week 4, Week 5) are tied in second with two apiece.

Midfielder JC Ngando, a teammate of Bennett, also earned selection to the team-of-the-week for Week 17.

Ngando earned his first appearance in the team-of-the-week line-up, following a dominant performance through the middle of the pitch, notching one assist on two chances created while completing 54 of 61 passes.

Defensively, he stood firm, winning three of three tackles and nine of 11 duels during the match

Lights goalkeeper Raiko Arozarena also earned a spot on the team-of-the-week bench after recording a remarkable double save from the penalty spot, ultimately earning a clean sheet.