Welcome to this week’s edition of the USL Championship’s News & Notes, where today we look back at career nights for Louisville City FC’s Brian Ownby and Enoch Mushagalusa, find out who Enzo Martinez joined in an elite group after his 50th regular season goal, and an unwanted streak for the New York Red Bulls II.

All of that and more, plus upcoming landmarks for the players across the league and the Week 19 Discipline Report.

NEWS AND NOTES

CAREER NIGHTS PUT LOUCITY’S MUSHAGALUSA, OWNBY IN EXCLUSIVE COMPANY

Louisville City FC’s Enoch Mushagalusa and Brian Ownby each had career-best nights on Saturday night during his side’s 6-0 win against the New York Red Bulls, and each joined exclusive company in the process. Mushagalusa’s first career hat trick also saw him notch an assist, becoming the third LouCity player and 14th overall to record three goals and one assist in a game since the start of 2014, while Ownby became the second LouCity player to record two goals and two assists in a game, and only the 13th player in the Championship’s regular season since the start of the 2014.

Mushagalusa joined current teammate Cameron Lancaster and former LouCity standout Matt Fondy in recording three goals and one assist for the club in a game. Fondy did so in a 6-2 victory against OKC Energy FC on June 27, 2015, while Lancaster accomplished the feat in LouCity’s 6-4 victory on the road against the New York Red Bulls II on August 10, 2018.

Ownby joined former LouCity standout Magnus Rasmussen in recording two goals and two assists in a single game, with Rasmussen having done so in the same 6-2 victory against Energy FC on June 27, 2015 as Fondy’s three goal, one assist performance.

Players Who Have Recorded Three Goals, One Assist in a Single Game (2014-Present)
Enoch Mushagalusa, Louisville City FC – 3 goals, 1 assist – vs. New York Red Bulls II, 7/9/22
Jackson Conway, Atlanta United 2 – 3 goals, 1 assist – vs. Charleston Battery, 3/27/22
Tyler Wolff, Atlanta United 2 – 3 goals, 1 assist – vs. Indy Eleven, 8/8/21
Danny Musovski, Reno 1868 FC – 4 goals, 1 assist – vs. Tacoma Defiance, 9/10/19
Cameron Iwasa, Sacramento Republic FC – 3 goals, 1 assist – vs. OKC Energy FC, 3/24/19
Cameron Lancaster, Louisville City FC – 3 goals, 1 assist – at New York Red Bulls II, 8/10/18
Neco Brett, Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC – 3 goals, 1 assist – vs. Toronto FC II, 4/6/18
Thomas Enevoldsen, Orange County SC – 3 goals, 1 assist – at FC Tulsa, 3/30/18
Chris Cortez, Phoenix Rising FC – 3 goals, 1 assist – vs. OKC Energy FC, 3/24/18
Jorge Herrera, Charlotte Independence – 3 goals, 1 assist – vs. Saint Louis FC, 7/8/17
Trevin Caesar, Sacramento Republic FC – 3 goals, 1 assist – vs. Rio Grande Valley FC, 6/21/17
Romario Williams, Charleston Battery – 3 goals, 1 assist – vs. Rochester Rhinos, 4/15/17
Brandon Allen, New York Red Bulls II – 3 goals, 1 assist – vs. Sporting Kansas City II, 10/23/16*
Matt Fondy, Louisville City FC – 3 goals, 1 assist – vs. OKC Energy FC, 6/27/15
Kevin Molino, Orlando City SC – 3 goals, 2 assists – vs. Dayton Dutch Lios FC, 8/30/14

* - Postseason Contest

Players Who Have Recorded Two Goals, Two Assists in a Single Game (2014-Present)
Brian Ownby, Louisville City FC – 2 goals, 2 assists – vs. New York Red Bulls II, 7/9/22
Danny Trejo, Las Vegas Lights FC – 2 goals, 2 assists – at El Paso Locomotive FC, 3/23/22
Yann Ekra, Tampa Bay Rowdies – 2 goals, 2 assists – vs. New York Red Bulls II, 9/11/21
Sebastian Guenzatti, Tampa Bay Rowdies – 2 goals, 2 assists – vs. New York Red Bulls II, 9/11/21
Danny Barrera, Hartford Athletic – 2 goals, 3 assists – vs. New York Red Bulls II, 6/5/21
Cristian Parano, San Antonio FC – 2 goals, 2 assists – vs. New Mexico United, 8/24/19
Mour Samb, Ottawa Fury FC – 2 goals, 2 assists – vs. Charlotte Independence, 6/2/19
Kharlton Belmar, Sporting Kansas City II – 2 goals, 2 assists – at Reno 1868 FC, 3/16/18
Chris Wehan, Reno 1868 FC – 2 goals, 2 assists – vs. LA Galaxy II, 7/3/17
Magnus Rasmussen, Louisville City FC – 2 goals, 2 assists – vs. OKC Energy FC, 6/27/15
Luke Vercollone, Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC – 2 goals, 2 assists – vs. Real Monarchs SLC, 4/17/15
Rob Vincent, Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC – 2 goals, 2 assists – vs. Harrisburg City Islanders, 3/28/15
Kevin Molino, Orlando City SC – 3 goals, 2 assists – vs. Dayton Dutch Lions FC, 8/31/14

ENZO MARTINEZ JOINS CHAMPIONSHIP’S 50-GOAL CLUB

Enzo Martinez became the 16th player to reach a half-century of regular season goals in the USL Championship in the past week, scoring in each of Birmingham Legion FC’s contests to arrive at 50 goals this past Saturday night against the Charleston Battery at Patriots Point.

Martinez is only the second player to record at least 50 regular season goals and 30 regular season assists in the Championship’s history, joining legendary Charlotte Independence forward Jorge Herrera, who ended his career with 72 goals and 35 assists in the league. Others who could soon join that duo include Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC’s Alex Dixon (48 goals, 30 assists), Hartford Athletic’s Corey Hertzog (74 goals, 29 assists), Indy Eleven’s Solomon Asante (49 goals, 44 assists), and New Mexico United’s Chris Wehan (46 goals, 30 assists).

RED BULLS II SCORING DROUGHT REACHES FIVE GAMES
The New York Red Bulls II were shut out for the fifth consecutive game during their defeat against Louisville City FC, marking the first time that had occurred in the club’s history in the USL Championship and the first instance of such a scoreless streak since OKC Energy FC was held without a goal in five consecutive games during the 2020 regular season.

The Red Bulls II’s scoreless streak currently sits at 516 minutes, with its most recent goal having come in the 24th minute of a 2-2 draw against San Diego Loyal SC at Red Bull Arena on June 2. That has surpassed the scoreless streak of Energy FC, which went 493 minutes between goals on July 22, 2020 against Rio Grande Valley FC and August 30, 2020 against Austin Bold FC.

DETROIT CITY FC’S DEKLAN WYNNE ON ASSISTS STREAK

Detroit City FC’s Deklan Wynne recorded an assist for a third consecutive game on Saturday in Le Rouge’s 1-0 victory against Indy Eleven, putting him one helper away from joining a short list to have recorded assists in four consecutive games in the league’s history.

Only eight players in the Championship’s history have recorded assists in at least four consecutive games – one of them being Wynne’s current DCFC teammate Antoine Hoppenot – with the all-time record held by former LA Galaxy II standout Raul Mendiola, who went on a run of seven consecutive games with an assist during a 2015 season that saw Los Dos claim the Western Conference title.

CHAMPIONSHIP REFEREES SEEING RED
This past Saturday saw eight red cards officially awarded by referees in the Championship, the most in a single matchday so far this season and tied for the most in a single matchday in the league’s history. The last time eight red cards were awarded in one day was on June 2, 2018 during a 13-game slate of action that saw two matches end 10 vs. 10. Overall, Saturday marked only the third occasion in the league’s history that saw eight red cards shown.

One of those red cards has since been rescinded, with San Diego Loyal SC’s Kyle Adams dismissal from his side’s contest against the LA Galaxy II at Torero Stadium for denial of a goalscoring opportunity overturned on appeal by the Independent Review Panel. 

Upcoming Player Milestones

Appearances
Approaching 150 regular-season appearances
Zach Carroll (MEM) – 149
Joey Calistri (PHX) – 148
Alex Tambakis (NM) – 147
Neveal Hackshaw (IND) – 147
Augustine Williams (CHS) – 147

Approaching 100 regular-season appearances
Rodrigo da Costa (TUL) – 99
Sebastian Velasquez (ELP) – 98
Sean Okoli (OC) – 98
Jack Blake (SD) – 98
Isidro Martinez (RGV) – 97
Joe Kuzminsky (CHS) – 97

Minutes
Approaching 15,000 regular-season minutes
Kyle Greig (TBR) – 14,631
Sean Totsch (LOU) – 14,621

Approaching 10,000 regular-season minutes
Russell Cicerone (PIT) – 9,984
CJ Cochran (TBR) – 9,899
Karl Ouimette (DET) – 9,866
Chris Cortez (MB) – 9,861
Kevon Lambert (PHX) – 9,860
Jack Metcalf (SD) – 9,800

Goals
Approaching 75 regular season goals
Corey Hertzog (HFD) – 74
Hadji Barry (COS) – 73
Cameron Lancaster (LOU) – 73

Approaching 50 regular season goals
Solomon Asante (IND) – 49
Kyle Murphy (MIA) – 48
Alex Dixon (PIT) – 48
Christian Volesky (MB) – 47

Assists
Approaching 40 regular season assists
Antoine Hoppenot (DET) – 37
Rodrigo Lopez (SAC) – 37

Approaching 30 regular season assists
Corey Hertzog (HFD) – 29
Santi Moar (PHX) – 29
Oscar Jimenez (LOU) – 29

Saves
Approaching 300 regular season saves
Matt VanOekel (BHM) – 287

Approaching 200 regular season saves
Eric Lopez (LA) – 196

Shutouts
Approaching 60 regular-season shutouts
Evan Newton (ELP) – 58

Approaching 40 regular-season shutouts
Alex Tambakis (NM) – 37

Approaching 30 regular-season shutouts
Joe Kuzminsky (CHS) – 29
CJ Cochran (TBR) – 28
Kyle Morton (LOU) – 27 

Discipline Report – Week 19

TAMPA, Fla. – The following is the USL Championship’s discipline report for Week 19 of the 2022 USL Championship season:

San Diego Loyal SC’s Kyle Adams will not serve a one-game suspension following the successful appeal of his red card during the club’s contest against the LA Galaxy II on July 9 to the Independent Review Panel. Adams will be available for selection in San Diego’s contest against Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC next Monday.

FC Tulsa’s Ronald Rodriguez has been suspended for one game following his red card for two cautionable offenses against Atlanta United 2 on July 9. Rodriguez will be unavailable for selection in Tulsa’s contest against New Mexico United on Wednesday night.

Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC’s Matt Mahoney has been suspended for one game following his red card for violent conduct against El Paso Locomotive FC on July 9. Mahoney will be unavailable for selection in Colorado Springs’ contest against the LA Galaxy II on Friday night.

The Tampa Bay Rowdies’ Jordan Scarlett has been suspended for one game following his red card for serious foul play against Hartford Athletic on July 9. Scarlett will be unavailable for selection in Tampa Bay’s contest against Loudoun United FC on Saturday.

Atlanta United 2’s Noah Cobb has been suspended for one game following his red card for two cautionable offenses against FC Tulsa on July 9. Cobb will be unavailable for selection in Atlanta’s contest against San Antonio FC on Saturday.

El Paso Locomotive FC’s Luis Solignac has been suspended for one game following his red card for two cautionable offenses against Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC on July 9. Solignac will be unavailable for El Paso’s contest against Oakland Roots SC on Saturday.

The LA Galaxy II’s Jalen Neal has been suspended for one game following his red card for two cautionable offenses against San Diego Loyal SC on July 9. Neal will be unavailable for selection in LA’s contest against Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC on Friday night.

Phoenix Rising FC’s Ryan Flood has been suspended for one game following his red card for violent conduct against Memphis 901 FC on July 9. Flood will be unavailable for Phoenix’s contest against Louisville City FC on July 20.

San Diego Loyal SC’s Grant Stoneman was suspended for one game following his red card for two cautionable offenses against Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC on July 4. Stoneman served his suspension during San Diego’s contest against the LA Galaxy II on July 9.

The following players enter the upcoming matches one caution away from a yellow card accumulation suspension for their eighth yellow card of the season. Here is the breakdown per club:

• Charleston Battery (2): Romario Piggott, Tristan Weber

• Hartford Athletic (1): Younes Boudadi

• LA Galaxy II (1): Liam Doyle

• San Antonio FC (1): Mitchell Taintor

• FC Tulsa (2): Gabriel Torres, Adrian Diz Pe

The following players enter the upcoming matches one caution away from a yellow card accumulation suspension for their 11th yellow card of the season. Here is the breakdown per club:

• LA Galaxy II (1): Preston Judd