April has come and gone, and it's time to recognize some of the top performers across MLS NEXT Pro.
Houston Dynamo 2 kept their hot start rolling to earn Team of the Month, with interim head coach Jeremy Hurdle and goalkeeper Pedro Cruz also taking home honors as Coach and Goalkeeper of the Month, respectively, for Dynamo Dos.
Riley Lynch led St Louis CITY2 through an unbeaten April to claim Player of the Month, while Dylan Vanney continued his breakout run with Ventura County FC to earn Rising Star of the Month.
Let’s take a closer look at all the winners:
Team of the Month: Houston Dynamo 2
After a perfect March, Houston Dynamo 2 carried that momentum straight into April, adding two wins and a shootout victory to remain firmly on top of the Western Conference.
The month also marked the start of a daunting stretch with 10 consecutive road matches, but with the results they obtained in April, Houston showed no signs of slowing down away from home.
Austin FC II became the first team to take points off Dynamo 2 thanks to a stoppage-time penalty, but Dynamo 2 responded by handling the shootout thanks to some Pedro Cruz magic.
From there, they closed out April with back-to-back wins over Real Monarchs and Sporting KC II to finish the month unbeaten.
Houston’s strong start has them leading the standings in the West, and even with a month and a half left playing on the road ahead of them, they have already put themselves in a prime position to return to the playoffs after missing out last season.
Player of the Month: Riley Lynch, St Louis CITY2
Riley Lynch showed out during April.
Three goals, two assists, and a perfect 3W-0L-0T record during the month powered St Louis CITY2 and earned him MLS NEXT Pro Player of the Month honors.
“I am extremely grateful for this recognition and to be surrounded by amazing teammates and coaches who push me every day to be the best,” said CITY2 forward Riley Lynch.
"The performances we have put out on the field in April are a reflection of the strong foundation we have built within the team.”
The Chandler, Arizona native is in his first season in St. Louis after spending two years with San Jose Earthquakes II, where he quickly became a focal point in the attack and hit double-digit goal contributions in his debut season.
Injuries slowed him down last year, but the 2026 version of Lynch looks ready to take over games once again.
His defining moment during April came against Colorado Rapids 2. Down 2-0, Lynch entered in the second half and flipped the match in CITY2's favor, setting up one goal before scoring a stoppage-time equalizer to force a shootout that CITY2 would go on to win.
Lynch leads the league in assists and is becoming one of the most dangerous players for a CITY2 attack that is just getting started, which is bad news for the Western Conference.
Coach of the Month: Jeremy Hurdle, Houston Dynamo 2
Houston Dynamo 2 interim head coach Jeremy Hurdle commanded his side to another unbeaten month of play, guiding his side through April without a loss and earning consecutive Coach of the Month Awards.
“It is a tremendous privilege to receive this monthly award again,” said Hurdle.
“The credit and recognition goes to the entire group of players and staff, and the club. This is always a team effort, and our continued momentum this past month is a result of all the work everyone has put in together. We will continue challenging ourselves each day with a focus on improvement.”
His group picked up eight out of a possible nine points, continuing to set the tone in the Western Conference and being one of only four remaining teams in MLS NEXT Pro without a regulation-time loss.
What makes the run even more impressive is how it has come together.
Dynamo 2 spent the entire month of April on the road, yet still boasts the league’s top defense, allowing just two goals across the first two months of the season.
Hurdle has also leaned into the club’s youth movement, regularly trusting players under 16 like Mattheo Dimareli and Matthew Arana in the starting eleven.
Dimarelli has proved invaluable to the team's offense, providing 16 key passes, good enough for a top-10 mark in the league.
With his side firing on all cylinders, the question now is how long Hurdle and his group can keep the unbeaten run going.
Goalkeeper of the Month: Pedro Cruz, Houston Dynamo 2
Pedro Cruz does it again.
The Brazilian goalkeeper earned MLS NEXT Pro Goalkeeper of the Month honors in back-to-back months, continuing his outstanding run between the sticks.
“I am honored to earn another Goalkeeper of the Month award this season,” said Cruz.
“I want to give thanks to God, as well as my coaches and teammates, who continue to challenge me and support my growth every day. This recognition reflects the hard work of the entire team, especially the defensive efforts from our backline. We have had a strong start to the season, and we are focused on building upon it.”
In April, Cruz kept one clean sheet and allowed just one goal from open play across three matches, anchoring the league’s top defense.
His performance against Real Monarchs in Matchweek 7 stood out, making seven saves to earn Player of the Week honors and help his side earn the three points.
This season, Cruz has posted a save percentage above 90 percent with 28 total saves.
He has been a key piece in Houston Dynamo 2’s early success, and right now, one of the toughest goalkeepers to beat in the league.
Rising Star of the Month: Dylan Vanney, Ventura County FC
Dylan Vanney has earned another Rising Star of the Month Award as he continues to be at the center of the offense for Ventura County FC this season.
The 18-year-old added another goal in April to bring his season total to five (*now six after his goal against SKC II on 05/06*), keeping VCFC among the top teams in the West.
He's already among the league’s top scorers and one of its most active chance creators, generating 13 opportunities across nine matches up to April.
Vanney has accounted for nearly a third of Ventura County’s goals this season, a clear sign of how much the VCFC attack runs through him.
