CHESTER, Pa. (July 23, 2019) – After a career-high 11 saves and a clean sheet at back-to-back USL Cup Champions Louisville City FC, Bethlehem Steel FC goalkeeper Tomás Romero was named as the USL Championship Player of the Week for Week 20.
The accolade marks the first-ever time that a Philadelphia Union Academy player has been named as the USL Championship Player of the Week and just the second such honor for Steel FC all-time, with Seku Conneh being the first in 2017. Romero was a wall in the club’s 1-0 win over Louisville City on the road, making 11 saves en route to Steel FC’s third clean sheet of the season and first all-time victory over LouCity. His 11 stuffs tie Jake McGuire for Steel FC’s most in a single match.
“I’m happy for Tomás,” said Steel Head Coach Brendan Burke. “In the first half I thought we were organized, limited [Louisville City FC’s] opportunities at goal and he made the one good save that he had to make. In the second half he simply stood on his head, made three outstanding saves and held the ball well in a couple other situations. All in all you couldn’t possibly ask more from your goalkeeper.”
The Cherry Hill, N.J. native has been a staple in the Steel lineup over the years. He holds the club records as the youngest goalkeeper to ever start a match (16 years, three months, 13 days), earn a win (16 years, seven months, 17 days) and record a clean sheet (18 years, six months, 18 days). Romero previously earned USL Championship Team of the Week honors earlier this year following a 3-0 shutout performance over Hartford Athletic.
Bethlehem Steel FC next travels to take on Saint Louis FC on Saturday, July 27 at 8:30 p.m. ET. The match is set to be broadcast on ESPN+.
