Sacramento, Calif. – On Tuesday, the USL Championship announced Republic FC captain Rodrigo Lopez was named the Konami eFootball Player of the Week for Week 22. Lopez earned 36% of the vote, beating out Birmingham Legion FC’s Enzo Martinez with 29%.
Across two contests on August 3 and August 6, Lopez etched his name in the history books for Sacramento yet again. Against New Mexico United on Wednesday, he tallied two assists to pass Cameron Iwasa for the all-time club assists record at 21. After the club fell behind in the 54th minute, Lopez found Keko in the box for the equalizer and sent an unselfish pass along to Douglas Martinez for the eventual game winner. The assists also moved him into the top-5 all time in assists league-wide.
Against Rio Grande Valley FC – his former club – on Saturday, Lopez came off the bench to lead Sacramento to its fifth straight result. The midfielder led the club with four shots in just 26 minutes of action, entering for homegrown defender Tiago Suarez in the 64th minute. Lopez netted the equalizer for Sacramento in the 90th minute off a cross from defender Jack Gurr for his eighth goal of the season across all competitions and fourth in league play, tying him for the club lead in USL Championship matches.
The selection marks Lopez’s fifth of the season to the league’s weekly top squad. He is the second player this season for the club to be named the league’s weekly top performer; forward Maalique Foster earned the honor in Week 16 for his game-winning second half brace against Monterey Bay F.C. on July 25.
The USL Championship’s Player of the Week award is voted on by the United Soccer League’s National Media Panel, composed of representatives from each market in the league. The league’s full Team of the Week selection will be announced later today at 11:30 a.m. PT.
Lopez and Republic FC are back in action this Saturday, when they take on Monterey Bay F.C. for the final time this season. Kickoff from Cardinale Stadium in Seaside, CA, is set for 7:00 p.m., and the match will be broadcast live on Antenna TV 40.2, FOX40.com and the FOX40 App, and Streaming on ESPN+. Sacramento will return home the following Wednesday to take on Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC at Heart Health Park.
