Laing, Bracalello, and Trafford turn in top performances

FC Edmonton midfielder Lance Laing, Carolina RailHawks forward Simone Bracalello, and Ottawa Fury FC defender Mason Trafford all turned in match-winning performances to highlight the first edition of NASL Team of the Week for the 2015 Fall Season.

See the full list of top performers from Week 1 below:

GK: Matt VanOekel (FC Edmonton) – The Eddies had difficulty keeping balls out of the back of their net during the Spring Season, but there were no signs of those troubles against the San Antonio Scorpions. VanOekel recorded his first clean sheet of the season – the club’s second of the year – in a commanding 4-0 win.

DEF: Darnell King (Tampa Bay Rowdies) – Since returning to his hometown of Tampa Bay prior to the start of the Spring Season, King hadn’t found the back of the net until last Saturday. The veteran scored his first goal in front of the hometown support to kick off the Fall Season. The Rowdies defender received the ball on the right wing, cut in, and sent his left-footed shot past Atlanta goalkeeper C.J. Cochran in the 30th minute. The goal ultimately proved to be the game-winner. King also put forth a strong effort on the defensive side, limiting the Silverbacks to only a few chances in Tampa Bay’s 2-1 win.

DEF: Mason Trafford (Ottawa Fury FC) – When the final whistle blew in its match against Jacksonville Armada FC, Ottawa Fury FC clinched its sixth straight shutout and extended its record to 616 minutes of keeping their opponents from scoring. Trafford limited a normally high-flying Jacksonville attack, and he provided an attacking punch of his own - tallying his first career NASL goal to open the scoring in Fury FC’s 2-0 win.

DEF: Erick Norales (Indy Eleven) – The heart of the Indy defense, Norales was once again rock solid as the club visited the Cosmos on Sunday. The Honduran international helped neutralize a dangerous attack as the Boys in Blue played to a 1-1 draw – the club’s fifth consecutive stalemate against New York.

DEF: Connor Tobin (Carolina RailHawks) – The break between the split seasons hasn’t slowed down the RailHawks one bit. Tobin, who has turned in strong performances throughout the year thus far, contributed another against his former club. He kept Minnesota United at bay as Carolina opened the Fall Season with a decisive 3-1 victory.

MID: Austin da Luz (Carolina RailHawks) – After missing the entire Spring Season due to a foot injury, da Luz had an instant impact in his return. He played all 90 minutes in the win against the Loons, adding the RailHawks’ third goal when he followed up a rebound given off by Minnesota goalkeeper Sammy Ndjock.

MID: Richie Ryan (Ottawa Fury FC) – Ravaged by injuries in the Spring Season, Ottawa’s captain had a hard time making his usual impact on games. He got off to a great start in the Fall Season, though, helping Fury FC to a 2-0 win with a strong performance in the midfield.

MID: Lance Laing (FC Edmonton) – After returning from Chile after playing in all three of the Jamaican national team’s matches at Copa América, Laing is set to head back out on national team duty for the Gold Cup. He left Edmonton with a parting gift, however, tallying a pair of goals and drawing the penalty that opened the scoring for the Eddies. His play also earned him Player of the Week honors.

FWD: Simone Bracalello (Carolina RailHawks) – Facing his former club, Bracalello helped propel his new club to a 3-1 victory. Upon returning from an injury that kept him out for most of the Spring Season, the Italian forward’s stunning strike from distance opened the scoring against the Loons in the RailHawks’ strong start to the Fall Season.

FWD: Corey Hertzog (Tampa Bay Rowdies) – Hertzog played a pivotal role in the Rowdies’ game-winning goal on Saturday, and served as an attacking threat throughout the match for the Rowdies. With his side up 1-0, Hertzog provided the assist to teammate Darnell King, whose goal stood as the game-winner when it was all said and done.

FWD: Walter Restrepo (New York Cosmos) – With his team down by a goal against visiting Indy, the Cosmos brought on Restrepo, who made an immediate impact on the game. The Colombian was a constant threat on the wing after his introduction, and as the Cosmos’ leader in assists, he finally found the back of the net himself. His initial shot deflected off Indy goalkeeper Krisitan Nicht and the rebound came off the head of the San Diego-born midfielder for his first goal in a Cosmos jersey.