July has come and gone, and with that, several teams have begun making their playoff push in hopes of making the postseason. With that come several standout performances across the league.
Let's take a look at all the winners:
Houston Dynamo 2 earned their second Team of the Month vote with a dominant three-win July that inches them closer to a return to the MLS NEXT Pro Cup playoffs.
Expansion side CT United FC boss Shavar Thomas is also probably thinking about that playoff line, and his Coywolves are peaking at the right time. He earned his first Coach of the Month vote for leading his team to a maximum-points July.
Fellow independent side Carolina Core FC have much to celebrate this month thanks to Striker Arnaud Tattevin's six-goal July, which made him Player of the Month. On the goalkeeper side, Portland Timbers2 had a low-drama month thanks to Sam Joseph, who earned Goalkeeper of the Month.
New England Revolution Academy winger Matthew Jean Baptiste had a breakout month where he helped Revs II stay in the Eastern Conference elite, earning July's MLS NEXT Rising Star of the Month.
Read more about July's winners below.
Team of the Month: Houston Dynamo 2
Houston Dynamo 2 continues to show why they belong among the top teams in the West, reeling off three wins in July to earn Team of the Month honors.
Jeremy Hurdle’s side picked up 11 of a possible 15 points and ended July jockeying for the top spot in the Western Conference with 42 points.
They also have two games in hand (six of their last nine at home) on conference leaders Austin FC II, putting them in an excellent position to secure home-field advantage in the playoffs if they can continue their run of form.
The attacking duo of Austin Brummett, who scored twice in July, and Arthur Sousa, who added three goals, has been deadly in the final third.
In the back, Vinicius Silva and Gustavo Dohmann have helped lock down opposing teams.
With two months left in the regular season, Houston Dynamo 2 has shown they have what it takes for a serious postseason push.
“This recognition is another direct reflection of the consistent commitment and dedication our players and staff bring to their roles each day,” said Hurdle. “I am proud of how the team has continued to evolve and thrive through the challenges of the season so far."
Player of the Month: Arnaud Tattevin, Carolina Core FC
Could there have been anyone else?
Caroline Core FC's Arnaud Tattevin earned July's Player of the Month after scoring six goals in five appearances during July, including a Player of the Week performance during Matchweek 22 action.
Tattevin's defining performance took place against Atlanta United 2, where he not only scored a hat trick but had a goal featured on SportsCenter's Top 10.
His play in July brought him to 11 goals for the season and put him in serious contention for the Golden Boot award during the last stretch of the season.
"I want to thank my teammates and the entire coaching staff for helping me get to this point, and thank you, MLS Next Pro, for this award. I'm incredibly happy and honored to have been selected." Tattevin said.
Coach of the Month: Shavar Thomas, Connecticut United FC
CT United FC's lofty goal of making the playoffs in their maiden voyage is definitely for the taking after winning all four of their matches in July.
Head coach Shavar Thomas and the Coywolves are recovering from a road-heavy first half of the season and making the most of an extended homestand.
The first-year head coach led his side to statement wins against defending MLS NEXT Pro Cup champs Red Bull New York II and snapped the momentum of an eight-game unbeaten run for Columbus Crew 2.
Those results helped build a five-game winning streak that propelled CT United back into the Top 10 Power Rankings. All adding up to be great momentum as the sprint to Decision Day rages on.
"This award is a reflection of the hard work and commitment from our staff, players, and most importantly our CT United family," Thomas said. "I am grateful to be a part of this dedicated group."
Thomas joined CT United ahead of this year's expansion season, bringing over 20 years of experience in the Concacaf region. As a player, he was a mainstay in MLS for nearly a decade while also earning over 50 caps for Jamaica. His coaching stops include Portmore United, Turks and Caicos, and assistant at FC Cincinnati 2.
Goalkeeper of the Month: Sam Joseph, Timbers2
If Timbers2 are on the cusp of their first-ever MLS NEXT Pro playoff berth, the man between the sticks will have been a big part of it.
Sam Joseph was excellent in July, allowing only two goals in five matches and posting three clean sheets. Now with nine clean sheets this year, the 23-year-old has the most in MLS NEXT Pro.
Dream fuel: Joseph joined T2 as an undrafted trialist in February and is putting together a Best XI-caliber season in his professional debut.
In college, he played for Virginia Tech in his senior season after representing UCLA in his freshman-junior years.
MLS NEXT Rising Star of the Month: Matthew Jean Baptiste, New England Revolution II
In a crowd of Academy players breaking out in MLS NEXT Pro in July, Matthew Jean Baptiste stood above the rest.
The New England Revolution Academy winger added his first two professional goals in July, including a game-tying stoppage-time thriller against Columbus Crew 2 that forced a shootout where Revs II picked up the valuable extra point.
Jean Baptiste, 16, made his MLS NEXT Pro debut in June and has quickly picked up 431 minutes across seven appearances, producing three goals and one assist.
