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USL Championship Talking Points – Week 1

By NICHOLAS MURRAY - nicholas.murray@uslsoccer.com, 03/11/22, 2:20PM EST

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Ten storylines to follow as the 2022 season opens with new arrivals, and high-profile matchups

The 2022 USL Championship season opens with a 13-game slate across the weekend, including a pair of new clubs making their debuts, a collection of new head coaching appointments, highly anticipated debuts after offseason transactions, and some high-profile matchups that feature rematches from last year’s USL Championship Playoffs.

Here are 10 storylines to follow as the weekend’s action unfolds.

1. EXPECTATIONS REMAIN AS DETROIT CITY FC MAKES DEBUT


Detroit City FC Head Coach Trevor James will lead his side into Texas on Saturday to face San Antonio FC in its USL Championship debut. | Photo courtesy Detroit City FC

If you want a measure of how dominant Detroit City FC has been in its professional history, how about this; DCFC Head Coach Trevor James has never seen his side experience defeat in an official game on the road since taking the reins in 2019. That record is going to be tested in DCFC’s USL Championship debut on Saturday night as it visits a San Antonio FC side that has won 16 of 27 games at Toyota Field under Head Coach Alen Marcina over the past two seasons, but for the returning players that have led Detroit to success the expectation to be competitive is a constant, no matter the step up the USL Championship’s level of competition.

“We’re expecting results,” DCFC center back Matt Lewis told WWJ's Zach Clark. “Nothing’s changed. We’re not just your average expansion team that comes in as new kids on the block. We have culture, we have expectation, we have pressure, we have pressure to win. These things are all things we come into the games with and when it comes to Saturday it’s important for us to win the game. It’s important for us to set the tone and say, ‘hey, we’re here to play, and we’re someone you need to watch out for.’”

2. MONTEREY BAY F.C. BRINGS FAMILIAR FACES BACK TO PHOENIX

There will be a sense of familiarity for Monterey Bay F.C. Head Coach Frank Yallop and some of his players as they embark on their first game of a seven-game road trip to start the club’s inaugural season at Phoenix Rising FC. Five years ago, Yallop was the Head Coach at Rising FC as it entered its new era with a new brand, a new home venue, and a new sense of optimism that provided the launching pad for what Phoenix has become – a perennial title contender in the Championship.

On Saturday night at Wild Horse Pass, the two-time Major League Soccer Coach of the Year will be on the visiting sideline as MBFC begins its path to what it hopes will be similar future success. Veteran forward Chris Cortez – who scored 31 of his 53 career goals in the Championship across the regular season and playoffs in Phoenix’s colors while bridging the divide between the old and new era – and goalkeeper Dallas Jaye – who served as a back-up at Rising FC during the 2018 campaign – could face their former club, with the experience Yallop has assembled as a backbone to the team giving Jaye hope MBFC is on the right track.

“There will be growing pains, but a lot of these guys are experienced USL guys,” Jaye told Monterey County Now’s David Faries. “We’re checking a lot of boxes you need to check early on.”

3. CUBO TORRES MAKES HIS FIRST BOW FOR ORANGE COUNTY


New Orange County SC signing Erick 'Cubo' Torres could make his debut for the club on Saturday against Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC. | Photo courtesy Orange County SC

Orange County SC has made major moves in its history – just see the influence of former United States international Michael Orozco and his impact on the club’s title success last season – but the arrival of Erick “Cubo” Torres marked the biggest name to arrive in the league this offseason. At 29 years old, the former Mexico international arrives still in his prime and with something to prove as he joins the defending Championship title holders this campaign.

Torres is coming off a frustrating season at Atlanta United FC that saw him fail to register a goal or assist in 22 appearances and only seven starts across Major League Soccer and the Concacaf Champions League. His overall record of 66 goals in more than 250 appearances in the top flight over his career – including a run of 22 goals in 44 games when he was last in Southern California playing for Chivas USA – has OCSC Head Coach Richard Chaplow confident he can be an important player this season.

“He brings a wealth of experience from playing at the highest level,” Chaplow told the Press-Enterprise’s Damian Calhoun. “His impressive qualities, both personally and as a player, will undoubtedly strengthen us.”

A debut could arrive on Saturday night in one of the weekend’s biggest games, with OCSC set to visit Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC, a side that both boasts its own impressive firepower but was eliminated from the playoffs last year by Orozco, Ronaldo Damus and co. on the way to the title.

4. NEW-LOOK ROWDIES DEFENSE, LEGION FC ATTACK IN SPOTLIGHT

Birmingham Legion FC plays its first official game at new home Protective Stadium on Sunday evening as the Tampa Bay Rowdies visit for the first nationally televised game of the USL Championship season on ESPN2, and the hosts could have little more motivation than to knock off the side that has eliminated them from the postseason in each of the past two campaigns.

For the continuity both teams have in some areas of the field, though, the most intrigue could come from the gaps both teams have had to fill this offseason. Both Jordan Scarlett and Aaron Guillen return to the Rowdies’ typical back three after each having earned Championship All-League honors over the past two season – Scarlett in 2020 and Guillen last year – but 2021 Championship Goalkeeper of the Year Evan Louro and three-time Championship Defender of the Year Forrest Lasso have both departed.

Last year, Legion FC’s attack could have been relied on to challenge the visitors, but that too has seen key departures. Junior Flemmings was transferred to FC Toulouse in France, while both Neco Brett and J.J. Williams departed in free agency. Hence, we get a matchup between two units that will be expected to succeed but could face opening-game nerves in the national spotlight.

5. HOUNDS’ KELLY ENTERS CAMPAIGN OFF PRESEASON ROLL

There will be plenty of eyes on new Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC signing Dane Kelly on Saturday as he looks set to make his debut for the club against Memphis 901 FC in search of his 100th regular season goal in the USL Championship. If the Jamaican’s preseason form is anything to go off, chances are good that could happen, with Kelly having notched four goals in the Hounds’ six exhibition contests alongside the club’s returning attacking pieces led by Russell Cicerone and Alex Dixon.

One of the few players remaining to have played in every season of the Championship’s history, Kelly’s experience and demeanor is proving a plus to the Hounds on and off the field, another good sign that the veteran could be in for a big season five years on from his Golden Boot and MVP award at Reno 1868 FC.

“From his experience throughout the league, playing with numerous teams, you get a different look from Dane,” Hounds midfielder Danny Griffin told the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette’s Adam Bittner. “But he’s a good locker room guy, energetic, scoring goals, having a good preseason. So, it’s good to add a piece like that to the group.”

6. BRETT RESTORES ATTACKING THREAT FOR NEW MEXICO


Neco Brett's offseason signing offers New Mexico United an attacking presence it hasn't had since Kevaughn Frater in the club's inaugural season. | Photo courtesy Josh Lane / New Mexico United

For those that were present for New Mexico United’s inaugural season, the exhilarating attacking play the side consistently produced with the trio of Kevaughn Frater, Santi Moar and Chris Wehan leading the way placed the club firmly on the map. Since Frater’s departure at the end of that season after scoring a goal every 138.2 minutes, though, the club hasn’t found a striker that could consistently find the net in the same manner.

Enter Neco Brett, whose offseason move from Birmingham Legion FC might have been the biggest inter-league free agent signing and gives United a chance to return to its high-flying ways. Brett’s 27 regular-season goals over the past two seasons came at a strike rate of a goal every 128 minutes, sixth-best in the league among players with at least 15 goals. The Jamaican will get his first chance to make an impression on Sunday night against Las Vegas Lights FC at Isotopes Park, and if his production remains consistent it could further unlock Wehan – who recorded 20 goals across the past two regular seasons – to deliver another strong return alongside him.

7. REPUBLIC FC FACES CHEMISTRY TEST

Sacramento Republic FC’s new-look squad came through its final test of the preseason last Saturday with a 3-2 victory against Monterey Bay F.C., but this Saturday’s home opener against El Paso Locomotive FC should offer a better litmus test for how all the club’s new arrivals this offseason might come together as the club bids to return to title contention.

Republic FC has fallen in all four of its prior meetings against Locomotive FC as it welcomes El Paso to Heart Health Park, including a 2-0 defeat last season when goals by Josue Aaron Gomez and Eder Borelli lifted El Paso at Southwest University Park. With El Paso bringing back many key players for new Head Coach John Hutchinson, Sacramento will need to be up for the challenge and find the same attacking fizz it had on display last weekend.

“I was really happy with some of the attacking play,” said Republic FC Head Coach Mark Briggs after his side’s win against MBFC. “Especially the speed of the ball and the movement of our front five or six. We scored three very good goals; I was really happy with the pressure. We showed a lot of good things.”

8. BATTERY CHARGED UP AHEAD OF TULSA OPENER


New Charleston Battery Head Coach Conor Casey will lead his side into the Championship for the first time on Saturday, one of nine new head coaching appointments in the league this offseason. | Photo courtesy Matt Peacock / Charleston Battery

There have been nine coaching changes since the end of the 2021 USL Championship season, with maybe the most notable the arrival of former United States international Conor Casey as the new Head Coach of the Charleston Battery. Taking up the mantle as the club enters its 30th anniversary season, Casey and his squad enter the campaign feeling positive ahead of what should be a contrast in styles when FC Tulsa visits Patriots Point on Saturday.

“It’s been a great last six weeks, very productive, [we’ve] been able to really start to build the culture and see these guys come together, in terms of their behaviors and the tactical things that we want to do,” said Casey. “We’re excited with where we’re at now and it will be great to have the test in a real match.”

Tulsa could provide an ideal measuring stick for how far the Battery have progressed since a season in which they conceded a club-high 60 goals, with Head Coach Michael Nsien’s side having reached the playoffs each of the past two seasons and anticipated as a likely postseason participant again this season. With only one win in the last four season-opening games, a victory in Casey’s debut would be an ideal start.

9. MORTON READY TO BE UPGRADE FOR LOUCITY

Louisville City FC’s new goalkeeper Kyle Morton will make his debut on Saturday against Atlanta United 2 at Lynn Family Stadium, a contest the hosts will be expecting to win given a history of four consecutive home victories against the visitors in their all-time series. Morton’s importance to the side over the course of this season, though, could be key as LouCity looks to earn top spot in the Eastern Conference after some up-and-down play in the defensive third a season ago.

By the numbers, LouCity recorded the lowest Expected Goals Against mark in the Championship last year in the regular season, sporting a 29.16xGA. On the field, the side conceded 37 goals, tied for the seventh-fewest in the league. Not bad, but not great, and something that Morton – a two-time Championship Goalkeeper of the Year finalist – should improve. For his part the newcomer is fitting into LouCity’s squad well ahead of Saturday’s opener.

“Coming in, you want to prove to the guys they can rely on you,” Morton said. “I feel like I’ve done a good job this preseason in getting to know them on and off the field.”

10. LEAGUE ONE STANDOUTS GET CHANCE TO STEP UP

One of the key storylines in the 2021 USL Championship season was the success of a pair of players that had made the move up after prior success in USL League One. Orange County SC standout Ronaldo Damus earned Championship Final MVP honors and bagged 18 goals overall after his move from North Texas SC, and 2019 League One MVP Arturo Rodriguez became a consistent part of Phoenix Rising FC’s sustained success, recording four goals, five assists and 52 chances created.

If that was the start of a trend, this offseason gave us seven more players to follow as they made the move to Championship clubs either in free agency or via transfer after being voted to the League One All-League Team last season. Phoenix dipped into the League One ranks again, signing Scottish forward Greg Hurst, a title winner a season ago at Union Omaha, while fellow Los Buhos standout Damia Viader – the 2021 League One Defender of the Year – is now at Sacramento Republic FC following a transfer.

For those two – and others like Rio Grande Valley FC signing Ricky Ruiz and Oakland Roots SC’s Charlie Dennis, whose sides will square off on Saturday at H-E-B Park, or new Memphis 901 FC teammates Devin Boyce and Aaron Molloy – the upcoming weekend will offer a first chance to make a mark at a higher level.

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