The USL Championship announced Tuesday that Charleston Battery goalkeeper Luis Zamudio and defender Joey Akpunonu were named to the league’s Week 23 Team of the Week following the Battery’s 0-1 road victory over Loudoun United FC.
The defensive duo turned in standout performances to notch the Battery’s second consecutive shutout win.
Zamudio recorded four saves, two clearances and a match-high nine recoveries en route to his fifth clean sheet of the year. Three of Zamudio’s saves were from shots inside the box, and the clutch performance amid the razor-thin margins of the game ensured a crucial road victory for the Battery.
Akpunonu posted a match-high seven clearances and 96 touches, along with seven recoveries, one block, seven accurate long balls and 96% passing accuracy (80 of 83 completed passes). His block in the 49th minute proved to be a decisive moment of the match, as he placed himself perfectly along the goal line to deny Richard Aman.
Charleston’s pair of accolades brings their total to 15 Team of the Week/Round selections in 2026.
The Battery’s next match will be away, against Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC on August 15. Charleston’s next home game is Sat., Aug. 22, against Miami FC, as the club celebrates Back to School Night at Patriots Point. Tickets for the match are on sale now via SeatGeek.com, the club’s exclusive digital ticketing provider.
USL Championship Team of the Week – Week 23
GK – Luis Zamudio, Charleston Battery
D – Frank Nodarse, Rhode Island FC
D – Joey Akpunonu, Charleston Battery
D – Jordan Scarlett, Hartford Athletic
M – Valentin Noël, New Mexico United
M – Jorge Hernández, San Antonio FC
M – Jamie Webber, FC Tulsa
M – Ousman Jabang, New Mexico United
F – Sebastian Lletget, Monterey Bay FC
F – MD Myers, Tampa Bay Rowdies
F – Alex Méndez, El Paso Locomotive FC
Coach – Junior Gonzalez, El Paso Locomotive FC
Bench – Charlie Lanphier (LV), Arturo Ortiz (ELP), Ben Ofeimu (LV), Blaine Ferri (LEX), Christian Pinzón (LV), JJ Williams (RI), Rubio Rubín (ELP)
