TAMPA, Fla. – Lexington SC forward Ates Diouf was named USL League One Player of the Week while midfielder Tate Robertson and defender Kaelon Fox also featured in the USL League One Week 21 Team of the Week, the league office announced Tuesday.
The honor marked the second time this season Diouf has been named Player of the Week while also marking the fifth time the first-year club has been home to the USL League One Player of the Week.
“We are all delighted for Ates, he’s been working very hard. For him to score a perfect hat trick – left foot, right foot, and a header – against a very very good team and for him to help us with our comeback and win was a delight for him,” head coach Sam Stockley said. “He’s working so hard. He’s a great character, a great person, and a fantastic player. It’s great to see him finally start getting the goals he deserves.”
Diouf’s claim to fame for the week was his showing in the club’s Saturday road affair against NC Hailstorm FC.
After being denied the honor in the club’s prior matchup on June 3rd, the other match that earned the Senegalese forward Player of the Week status, Diouf recorded the first hat trick in Lexington SC history, propelling his team to a 4-3 victory, the first on the road for the new club.
With the three goals to his name, Diouf’s tally now stands at nine goals on the season, making him the club’s leading scorer and ties him for third in the league.
“I am very happy to be announced as Player of the Week,” Diouf said. “This would not be possible without the help of my teammates and coaching staff. I look forward to continuing to improve my game.”
As for Robertson, the Springfield, Ohio, native was the other goal scorer for Lexington SC in its 4-3 road win, sending a free kick into the crossbar before it bounced down and across the goal line.
On top of scoring his second goal of the season, Robertson also recorded an assist on Diouf’s second goal, floating the ball into the box for Diouf to send home.
Robertson is also a former Player of the Week, earning the honors in Week 14 after scoring his first goal of the season in a 2-2 draw at North Carolina FC.
Fox, the final honoree of the week, did so without finding the net, instead opting to prevent the other team from finding the net with two breathtaking saves.
The first, in the club’s 2-0 loss to Union Omaha on Wednesday, saw the veteran fly through the air to kick the ball away before it could sail into the top corner of the goal. The second, in the win, required much less leaping ability but was impressive nonetheless as the former Kentucky Wildcat recorded a clearance after goalkeeper Amal Knight saved the ball but was unable to hold onto it.
Lexington SC will return to action in a revenge match against CV Fuego FC on August 12 at Toyota Stadium in Georgetown, Ky., where it will hope to continue its momentum.
Fans can purchase tickets to the match against Fuego here.
About Lexington Sporting Club
Lexington Sporting Club is a U.S. Soccer professional soccer club competing in USL League One (U.S. Soccer third division men’s professional soccer), and in USL Super League (women’s professional soccer launching in 2024). The two professional teams are the pinnacle of the soccer ecosystem in Lexington that features more than 1,400 players within its youth and academy systems. Lexington SC in the process of building the club’s formal stadium, performance center and training fields.