Orange and Blue’s dynamic attacker earns his first monthly USL honor
CINCINNATI – FC Cincinnati midfielder Emmanuel Ledesma was voted the United Soccer League’s Player of the Month for June, the USL announced today.
A 30-year-old native of Quilmes, Argentina, Ledesma scored four goals and added one assist while creating 16 chances in June. In six league games last month, FC Cincinnati went 4-0-2 including wins over New York Red Bulls II, North Carolina FC, Richmond Kickers and Ottawa Fury FC.
In 2018, Ledesma has earned a place on the USL Team of the Week five times while capturing the league’s Player of the Week and Goal of the Week awards once apiece. On the season, Ledesma has scored eight goals and added eight assists. Ledesma is the only USL player who ranks in the top 10 in both goals and assists: he is tied for eighth in the USL in goals – one back of the seven league leaders tied with nine goals each – and shares the league lead in assists.
An online fan vote comprises 51 percent of the final ballot, while the USL Technical Committee’s selections add another 25 percent to the final tally. A national panel of USL media make up the final 24 percent of voting.
Ledesma earned June’s award over Penn FC’s Lucky Mkosana, Las Vegas Lights FC’s Sammy Ochoa, Real Monarchs SLC’s Chandler Hoffman and Phoenix Rising FC’s James Musa.
FC Cincinnati will play its next six USL games – and seven games overall – at Nippert Stadium between July 14 and August 18. First up, on Saturday, July 14, the Orange and Blue will host the Tampa Bay Rowdies at 7:30 p.m. The game will be televised live on WSTR 64, carried live on ESPN 1530 and streamed live on ESPN+.
In the middle of the homestand, FCC will also host an international friendly against La Liga’s RCD Espanyol on Saturday, July 28, at 7:30 p.m. Tickets for all games – including the international friendly – are available at www.fccincinnati.com/tickets or by calling 513-977-KICK (5425).
