Welcome to the USL Championship’s News & Notes, your weekly look at landmarks and notable achievements around the league. This week, two of the league’s standout goalscorers each reach landmarks, while San Antonio FC continues to thrive on the road with a chance to match one of the league’s well-established records.

More on both of those and much more, plus a look at upcoming individual landmarks across the Championship and the weekly Discipline Report.  

NEWS AND NOTES

COLORADO SPRINGS’ BARRY, INDY’S ASANTE REACH GOALSCORING LANDMARKS
Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC’s Hadji Barry became the second player to reach 75 regular-season goals in the USL Championship’s history on Friday night against the Charleston Battery and set a new league-best mark for the number of games in which he reached the landmark, doing so in his 143rd regular season appearance in the Championship of his career.

Barry’s mark surpasses that of the Championship’s all-time leading regular season goalscorer Dane Kelly, who recorded his 75th regular-season goal in the league in his 191st regular-season appearance while competing for Indy Eleven in the 2019 season. Barry’s current minutes-per-goal strike rate of 155.7 minutes per goal still ranks below Kelly’s of 148.3, placing him third all-time among players with at least 50 goals, with Louisville City FC’s Cameron Lancaster boasting a strike rate of a goal every 108.5 minutes for 73 goals in 141 regular season games in his career so far.

Indy Eleven’s Solomon Asante then became the 17th player to reach 50 regular season goals in the Championship on Saturday night against Memphis 901 FC, doing so in his 114th regular season game in the league. The mark makes Asante the second-fastest in league history to reach 50 regular season goals, trailing only Chandler Hoffman, who reached the mark in 100 appearances, with Lancaster in third place as his 50th goal came in his 124th regular-season appearance in the league during the 2020 season.

ORANGE COUNTY SC’S MILAN ILOSKI JOINS TWO GOALS, TWO ASSISTS CLUB

Orange County SC’s Milan Iloski became the first player in club history to record two goals and two assists in the same game on Saturday night as the visitors claimed the 405 Derby with a 5-2 victory against the LA Galaxy II at Dignity Health Sports Park.

Iloski is the 14th player to have achieved the feat in a single game since the start of the 2014 USL Championship season, and the third this season following Las Vegas Lights FC’s Danny Trejo and Louisville City FC’s Brian Ownby.

Players Who Have Recorded Two Goals, Two Assists in a Single Game (2014-Present)
Milan Iloski, Orange County SC – 2 goals, 2 assists – at LA Galaxy II, 7/23/22
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

TAMPA BAY’S FERNANDES SETS UP SHOOTING GALLERY

The Tampa Bay Rowdies’ Leo Fernandes became the first player this season to record double-digit shots in a game in the USL Championship on Saturday night as he took 10 of the Rowdies’ season-high 28 shots in the club’s 3-1 victory against Atlanta United 2 at Al Lang Stadium. Fernandes’ tally ranked tied for seventh all-time for an individual player in a Championship regular season game, while sitting second in the Rowdies’ Championship history behind Junior Flemmings’ 11 shots against FC Cincinnati on August 25, 2018 at Al Lang Stadium.

Most Individual Shots in a USL Championship Regular Season Contest
T-1. Cameron Lancaster, Louisville City FC – 12 vs. Atlanta United 2, 9/29/18
T-1. Villyan Bijev, Sacramento Republic FC – 12 at San Antonio FC, 6/16/18
T-3. Kevaughn Frater, Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC – 11 vs. Portland Timbers 2, 8/5/17
T-3. Dane Kelly, Indy Eleven – 11 at Loudoun United FC, 6/15/19
T-3. Junior Flemmings, Tampa Bay Rowdies – 11 vs. FC Cincinnati, 8/25/18
T-3. Corey Hertzog, Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC – 11 vs. Philadelphia Union II, 8/26/17
T-7. Leo Fernandes, Tampa Bay Rowdies – 10 vs. Atlanta United 2, 7/23/22
T-7. Samson Sergi, Loudoun United FC – 10 at Miami FC, 5/2/21
T-7. Cameron Lancaster, Louisville City FC – 10 vs. North Carolina FC, 10/9/18
T-7. Cameron Lancaster, Louisville City FC – 10 at Atlanta United 2, 4/21/18
T-7. Solomon Asante, Phoenix Rising FC – 10 vs. Portland Timbers 2, 3/7/20

Tampa Bay’s 28 overall shots in Saturday’s game matched the season-high for a team in a single game this season previously set by Oakland Roots SC on June 25, also against Atlanta United 2.

Atlanta’s current mark of 426 total shots faced this season through 22 games – an average of 19.4 per game – has the side on pace to surpass to mark for the most shots faced in a regular season campaign, currently held by the Tacoma Defiance’s total of 636 shots faced in the 2019 season.

SAN ANTONIO FC REMAINS HOT ON ROAD

San Antonio FC claimed its first silverware in club history on Saturday night, winning the USL Championship edition of the 2022 Copa Tejas with a 1-0 victory on the road against El Paso Locomotive FC at Southwest University Park. The victory equaled SAFC’s club record for road victories in a season with nine in 11 games so far this campaign – previously set in the 2017 regular season – while moving SAFC within four road victories of equaling the league record for road victories in a regular season of 13, set by the New York Red Bulls II in 2016.

Most Away Wins in a Championship Regular Season
1. New York Red Bulls II (2016) – 13
T-2. Phoenix Rising FC (2019) – 11
T-2. FC Cincinnati (2018) – 11
T-2. Louisville City FC (2016) – 11
T-5. Tampa Bay Rowdies (2021) – 10
T-5. Reno 1868 FC (2019) – 10
T-5. Nashville SC (2019) – 10
T-5. Orange County SC (2018) – 10
T-5. Louisville City FC (2018) – 10

SHANE WIEDT GIVES HOUNDS DÉJÀ VU IN HARTFORD

Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC’s Shane Wiedt scored the game-winning goal in a 2-1 victory for his side against Hartford Athletic at the 93:52 mark this past Saturday night, marking the latest goal the Hounds had scored so far this season. It also marked the first time the Hounds had scored a game-winner in second-half stoppage time since Pittsburgh’s last trip to Trinity Health Stadium, when Russell Cicerone scored at 90:26 to give the Hounds a 3-2 victory against the Athletic. 

Upcoming Player Milestones

Appearances
Approaching 200 regular-season appearances
Brian Ownby (LOU) – 196

Approaching 150 regular-season appearances
Neveal Hackshaw (IND) – 149
Christiano Francois (ELP) – 148
Jack Metcalf (SD) – 148
Leo Fernandes (TBR) – 147
Jason Johnson (MB) – 147

Approaching 100 regular-season appearances
Sebastian Velasquez (ELP) – 99
Isidro Martinez (RGV) – 99
Tyler Gibson (LOU) – 98
Joe Kuzminsky (CHS) – 97
Mekeil Williams (PIT) – 97

Minutes
Approaching 15,000 regular-season minutes
Sean Totsch (LOU) – 14,801
Kyle Greig (TBR) – 14,687
Emrah Klimenta (OAK) – 14,682

Approaching 10,000 regular-season minutes
Augustine Williams (CHS) – 9,998
Eric Bird (TUL) – 9,936
Jack Metcalf (SD) – 9,906
Thomas Vancaeyezeele (TBR) – 9,905
Mechack Jerome (IND) – 9,870
Chris Cortez (MB) – 9,867
Amadou Dia (LOU) – 9,781
Malik Johnson (COS) – 9,777

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

Approaching 50 regular season goals
Kyle Murphy (MIA) – 48
Alex Dixon (PIT) – 48
Christian Volesky (MB) – 47
Augustine Williams (CHS) – 47
Chris Wehan (NM) – 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
Lewis Hilton (TBR) – 27

Saves
Approaching 300 regular season saves
Matt VanOekel (BHM) – 295
CJ Cochran (TBR) – 287

Approaching 200 regular season saves
Eric Lopez (LA) – 199

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) – 28

Discipline Report – Week 21

TAMPA, Fla. – The following is the USL Championship’s discipline report for Week 21 of the 2022 USL Championship season:

Birmingham Legion FC’s Ryan James will not serve a suspension following the rescindment of his second yellow card against FC Tulsa by the Independent Review Panel. James will be available for selection in Birmingham’s contest against Loudoun United FC on Wednesday night.

Oakland Roots SC’s Paul Blanchette has been suspended for one game following his red card for denial of a goalscoring opportunity against Las Vegas Lights FC on July 23, while Roots SC Head Coach Juan Guerra has been suspended for one game following his red card for leaving the technical area and dissent in the same contest. Both Blanchette and Guerra will serve their suspensions when Oakland hosts Phoenix Rising FC on Wednesday night.

Hartford Athletic’s Younes Boudadi has been suspended for one game following his eighth yellow card of the season in the club’s contest against Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC on July 23. Boudadi will be unavailable for selection in Hartford’s contest against Rio Grande Valley FC on Wednesday night.

Phoenix Rising FC’s Kevon Lambert has been suspended for one game following his eighth yellow card of the season in the club’s contest against Sacramento Republic FC on July 23. Lambert will be unavailable for selection in Phoenix’s contest against Oakland Roots SC on Wednesday night.

Monterey Bay F.C.’s James Murphy has been suspended for one game following his red card for serious foul play against the New York Red Bulls II on July 23. Murphy will be unavailable for selection in Monterey Bay’s contest against Loudoun United FC on Saturday night.

Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC’s Steven Echeverria and Aaron Wheeler were each suspended for one game following their red cards for two cautionable offenses against San Diego Loyal SC on July 18. Both Echeverria and Wheeler served their suspensions during Colorado Springs’ contest against the Charleston Battery on July 22.

San Antonio FC’s Mitchell Taintor is no longer on caution accumulation warning following his receipt of a good behavior credit following a fifth consecutive game without a yellow card. Taintor now sits on six cautions this season.

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:

• Birmingham Legion FC (1): Marlon

• Charleston Battery (1): Tristan Weber

• El Paso Locomotive FC (2): Eder Borelli, Yuma

• Indy Eleven (2): Raul Aguiliera Jr., Sam Brown

• Las Vegas Lights FC (1): Alex Lara

• Memphis 901 FC (1): Phillip Goodrum

• Tampa Bay Rowdies (1): Laurence Wyke

• FC Tulsa (1): Gabriel Torres

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