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USL Championship News & Notes | Week 29

By USLChampionship.com Staff, 09/21/22, 5:00PM EDT

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NEWS AND NOTES

PHILLIP GOODRUM SCORES TWICE TO TIGHTEN GOLDEN BOOT RACE

Memphis 901 FC forward Phillip Goodrum’s remarkable season continued last week with a pair of goals in a 5-0 thrashing of the Charleston Battery. The strikes were Goodrum’s 18th and 19th of the season, bringing him within one goal of Orange County SC’s Milan Iloski at the top of the scoring charts this season. Memphis has five games remaining in the regular season, one more than Iloski and Orange County, setting up an exciting finish. Last season’s Golden Boot winner, Hadji Barry, finished with 25 goals, a USL Championship record. Both Iloski and Goodrum are within touching distance of that mark if they finish the season strong.

Goodrum was named USL Championship Player of the Week in Week 27 after scoring a hat trick and followed that performance up with two goals in the opening 12 minutes against Charleston.

With Memphis fighting for seeding and Orange County all but eliminated from postseason contention, it’s anyone’s guess which player will end up with the award.

EASTERN CONFERENCE PLAYOFF FIELD IS CONFIRMED

With about a month left to go in the regular season, the seven Eastern Conference teams which will compete in the USL Championship Playoffs presented by Hisense are confirmed and clinched with only seeding left to be determined. Louisville City FC, Memphis 901 FC, the Tampa Bay Rowdies, Birmingham Legion FC, Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC, Detroit City FC and Miami FC will compete, with Detroit and Miami having clinched the final two spots this past weekend.

The race to earn the No. 1 seed and a bye to the Conference Semifinals looks like it’ll be between Louisville and Memphis, though the out-of-form Rowdies can’t be counted out just yet. Louisville holds a five-point edge over Memphis and nine points over Tampa Bay, but both teams have a game in hand. If the playoffs started today, Birmingham would host Pittsburgh in a Conference Quarterfinal match after overturning a halftime deficit to beat Pittsburgh at home last week. Had that match ended any other way, the venue would switch to Pittsburgh.

The hottest team in the conference might just be Detroit City, which is coming off back-to-back wins over Colorado Springs FC (third in the West) and the Rowdies (third in the East.) Currently sitting in sixth, Detroit has won three straight games away from home and is playing well enough to sneak into the top four and earn a home game.

JORDAN FARR SETS CLUB RECORD AS SAN ANTONIO CLOSES IN ON NO. 1 SEED IN WEST

San Antonio FC goalkeeper Jordan Farr posted his 13th clean sheet of the USL Championship season Tuesday night in a 1-0 victory over Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC, a new club record. San Antonio didn’t clinch the No. 1 seed in the Western Conference playoff field with the victory, but it’s hard to see them being caught. SAFC has a 12-point lead over San Diego Loyal SC at the top of the standings with four games to go.

Should San Antonio earn hosting rights throughout the Western Conference playoffs, it will feel confident. Tuesday’s result extended its home unbeaten run to 12 matches. SAFC hasn’t lost at Toyota Field since a 2-0 defeat to Phoenix Rising FC on April 2.

Farr was required to make just two saves against Colorado Springs as the Switchbacks FC attack faltered. Colorado Springs is now on a three-match losing streak and has scored just one goal in those three matches.

UPCOMING PLAYER MILESTONES

Appearances   

Approaching 200 regular-season appearances
Lewis Hilton (TBR) – 198

Approaching 150 regular-season appearances
Conor Donovan (SAC) – 150
Mikey Lopez (BHM) – 150
Paco Craig (MIA) – 149
Russell Cicerone (PIT) – 149
Wes Charpie (LOU) – 148

Approaching 100 regular-season appearances
Robbie Mertz (PIT) – 100
Sam Hamilton (NM) – 99
Alex Crognale (BHM) – 99
Laurent Kissiedou (MEM) – 97
Joe Kuzminsky (CHS) – 97
Jake Areman (TBR) – 97
Adrian Diz Pe (TUL) – 97

Minutes
Approaching 15,000 regular-season minutes
Justin Portillo (NM) – 14,920
Lebo Moloto (TUL) – 14,900
Lewis Hamilton (TBR) – 14,842
Kyle Greig (TBR) – 14,816

Approaching 10,000 regular-season minutes
Chris Cortez (MB) – 9,938
Thomas Vancaeyezeele (TBR) – 9,905
Thomas Vancaeyezeele (TBR) – 9,905
Matt Sheldon (CHS) – 9,886
Sebastian Guenzatti (TBR)– 9,801

Goals
Approaching 75 regular season goals

Cameron Lancaster (LOU) – 73

Approaching 50 regular season goals
Chris Wehan (NM) – 49
Alex Dixon (PIT) – 48
Lucky Mkosana (TBR) – 47

Assists
Approaching 30 regular season assists

Oscar Jimenez (LOU) – 29
Lewis Hilton (TBR) – 28
Leo Fernandes (TBR) – 28
Niall McCabe (LOU) – 27
Justin Portillo (NM) – 27

Saves
Approaching 250 regular season saves

Jeff Caldwell (COS) – 243

Shutouts
Approaching 60 regular-season shutouts

Evan Newton (ELP) – 58

Approaching 40 regular-season shutouts
Matt VanOekel (BHM) – 38
Alex Tambakis (NM) – 38

Approaching 30 regular-season shutouts
Joe Kuzminsky (CHS) – 29
CJ Cochran (TBR) – 29

DISCIPLINE REPORT – WEEK 29

TAMPA, Fla. – The following is the USL Championship’s discipline report for Week 29 of the 2022 USL Championship season:

The Charleston Battery’s Dionysius Harmon has been suspended for one game for red card violent conduct against Memphis 901 FC on September 16. Harmon will be unavailable for selection against Rio Grande Valley on September 23.

The Charleston Battery’s Mauro Cichero has been suspended for one game for receiving two cautions and a red card against Memphis 901 FC on September 16. Cichero will be unavailable for selection against Rio Grande Valley on September 23.

The Charleston Battery’s Leland Archer has been suspended for one game for receiving two cautions and a red card against Memphis 901 FC on September 16. Archer will be unavailable for selection against Rio Grande Valley on September 23.

Charleston Battery Head Coach Conor Casey has been suspended for one game for entering the field of play against Memphis 901 FC on September 16. Casey will serve his suspension against Rio Grande Valley on September 23.

Charleston Battery Assistant Coach Chris Duvall has been suspended for one game for entering the field of play against Memphis 901 FC on September 16. Duvall will serve his suspension against Rio Grande Valley on September 23.

Pittsburgh’s Jelani Peters has been suspended for one game for receiving two cautions and a red card in the Riverhounds’ match against Birmingham Legion FC on September. 14. Asiedu will be unavailable for selection against Orange County SC on September 24.

Phoenix Rising FC’s JJ Williams received a red card for violent conduct against San Diego Loyal SC on September 17, but the card and ensuing one-game suspension were overturned via appeal and Williams is eligible for selection against Monterey Bay F.C. on September 21.

Phoenix Rising FC Equipment Manager Elis Lagarza has been suspended one game following a red card for leaving the technical area. Lagarza will serve his suspension against Monterey Bay F.C. on September 21.

Orange County SC’s Michael Orozco has been suspended for one game for receiving a red card for a professional foul against Sacramento Republic FC on September 18. Orozco will be unavailable for selection against Pittsburgh on September 24.

Orange County SC’s Ian Hoffmann has been suspended one game for receiving his eighth yellow card of the season against Sacramento Republic FC on September 18. Hoffmann will be unavailable for selection against Pittsburgh on September 24.

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): Enzo Martinez

· Charleston Battery (1): Preston Kilwien

· Indy Eleven (1): Jesus Vazquez

· LA Galaxy II (1): Remi Cabral

· New York Red Bulls II (1): Curtis Ofori

· Orange County SC (1): Milan Iloski

· Rio Grande Valley FC (1): Erik Pimentel

· Sacramento Republic FC (1): Luis Felipe Fernandes

· San Diego Loyal SC (2): Kyle Adams, Alejandro Guido

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:

· El Paso Locomotive FC (1): Eder Borelli

· Hartford Athletic (1): Younes Boudadi

· Phoenix Rising FC (1): Kevon Lambert

· Sacramento Republic FC (1): Rodrigo Lopez

· San Antonio FC (1): Mitchell Taintor

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