Hoffman and Velasquez voted to 2017 USL All-League First Team

Sebastian Velasquez and Chandler Hoffman have both been selected to the 2017 USL All-League First Team after team management and league-wide media voted for the top performers from the 2017 USL Regular Season. The duo are the first Monarchs ever selected for the USL All-League Team and the only players on the the 2017 team from a MSL-owned side.

Their coach, Mark Briggs, is among the first to applaud their play over the course of this season and feels that the recognition is well deserved

“Credit to Chandler and Sebastian for the honors they received for their performances this year,” Briggs said. “For Chandler the goals he scored obviously helped us a lot but his leadership around the team helped us have the season we did. For Sebastian his incredible talent gave us a spark in the midfield this year. To use the talent the way he did over the course of the season was definitely worth a USL First-Team nod. Congratulations to both of them.”

J Engels Photgraphy

Hoffman was signed from Louisville FC during the off-season and set personal bests in goals and assists ranking in the top 10 USL players in both categories. A true team leader, Chandler appeared in all but one of the Monarchs regular season matches and was second only to Nick Besler in minutes played with 2699 for the season.

“To be voted onto the USL’s First-Team side means a lot to me personally and I think it is a huge honor,” Hoffman said of his selection. “I think it’s a reflection of what we achieved as a group this season. My teammates, coaching staff and front office made this year truly special, and it shows the direction this organization and team is headed.”

J Engels Photography

Velasquez filled the play maker spot on the 2017 Monarchs which won the regular Season Championship Shield while adding 9 goals and 6 assists of his own. Sebastian’s inspirational contribution spanned 26 matches and 2,148 minutes in a season that saw a couple of minor injuries.

“To be voted onto the USL’s First-Team side means a lot to me personally and I think it is a huge honor,” Hoffman said of his selection. “I think it’s a reflection of what we achieved as a group this season. My teammates, coaching staff and front office made this year truly special, and it shows the direction this organization and team is headed.”

The full 2017 USL-First Team also included former Real Salt Lake Player Enzo Martinez and is as follows: Goalkeeper Diego Restrepo (San Antonio FC); defenders Paco Craig (Louisville City FC), Harrison Delbridge (FC Cincinnati), Sebastien Ibeagha (San Antonio FC), Forrest Lasso (Charleston Battery); midfielders Marcel Schäfer (Tampa Bay Rowdies), Sebastian Velasquez (Real Monarchs SLC), Chris Wehan (Reno 1868 FC); and forwards Chandler Hoffman (Real Monarchs SLC), Dane Kelly (Reno 1868 FC) and Enzo Martinez (Charlotte Independence).