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How San Antonio FC’s Tani Oluwaseyi stands with a two-time USL Championship MVP | News & Notes

By NICHOLAS MURRAY - nicholas.murray@uslsoccer.com, 05/17/23, 12:15PM EDT

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How many times have multiple hat tricks happened on the same day? A historic look at Albert Dikwa’s fast start


San Antonio FC's Tani Oluwaseyi became only the second player to record three goals and two assists in a regular season game in the USL Championship this past weekend. | Photo courtesy Charleston Battery

It had been nine years since anyone had accomplished what San Antonio FC’s Tani Oluwaseyi did this past Saturday night in Charleston, recording three goals and two assists in a USL Championship regular season game.

Here’s more on that – and who’s feat he equaled – as well as a look into the prior occasions we’ve had multiple hat tricks on the same day in the USL Championship’s history, how Albert Dikwa’s fast start for Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC has only previously been bested by a former United States international, and more.

We’ve also got our regular look at upcoming potential landmarks for players across the Championship, and this week’s Discipline Report.

Let’s dig in.

NEWS AND NOTES

SAN ANTONIO’S TANI OLUWASEYI’S INCREDIBLE OUTING

San Antonio FC’s Tani Oluwaseyi became only the second player in the USL Championship’s regular season to record three goals and two assists in the same game on Saturday night during SAFC’s 7-0 victory against the Charleston Battery. The 22-year-old joined former Orlando City SC player Kevin Molino – a two-time USL Championship Most Valuable Player – in accomplishing the feat and did so in his first start in the league.

Additionally, Oluwaseyi became only the fifth player to record five goal contributions in a single regular season game, with former VSI Tampa Bay FC forward Mauricios Salles (5 goals), former Reno 1868 FC forward Danny Musovski (4 goals, 1 assist), and current Hartford Athletic player Danny Barrera (2 goals, 3 assists) also having accomplished that feat.

A HAT TRICK OF HAT TRICKS

This past Saturday night also saw three different players record hat tricks on the same day in the USL Championship with San Antonio FC’s Tani Oluwaseyi being joined by the Tampa Bay Rowdies’ JJ Williams and Sacramento Republic FC’s Russell Cicerone in bagging three goals for their sides.

It stands as only the second time that three different players have recorded hat tricks in the same day in the USL Championship’s regular season history, and the second time in as many seasons the feat has occurred. On October 1, 2022, Hartford Athletic’s Andre Lewis, FC Tulsa’s Luca Sowkinski and Detroit City FC’s Maxi Rodriguez all scored bagged hat tricks for their respective squads.

Overall, there have been eight instances of multiple players recording hat tricks on the same day, with the first coming during the 2017 season. The only teammates to record hat tricks in the same game remain Efrain Alvarez and Ethan Zubak, who each scored three goals for the LA Galaxy II in a 6-3 victory against Saint Louis FC on May 9, 2018.

Multiple Players Recording Hat Tricks on the Same Day in the USL Championship Regular Season
May 13, 2023
– JJ Williams (Tampa Bay Rowdies), Tani Oluwaseyi (San Antonio FC), Russell Cicerone (Sacramento Republic FC)
Oct. 1, 2022 – Andre Lewis (Hartford Athletic), Luca Sowinski (FC Tulsa), Maxi Rodriguez (Detroit City FC)
Oct. 3, 2020 – Cal Jennings (Memphis 901 FC), Chandler Hoffman (Orange County SC)
Sept. 22, 2019 – Hadji Barry (Ottawa Fury FC), Kleber (Austin Bold FC)
Sept, 14, 2019 – Douglas Martinez Jr. (Real Monarchs SLC), Devon Sandoval (New Mexico United)
April 13, 2019 – Santi Moar (New Mexico United), Irvin Parra (Las Vegas Lights FC)
May 9, 2018 – Efrain Alvarez (LA Galaxy II), Ethan Zubak (LA Galaxy II)
April 15, 2017 – Romario Williams (Charleston Battery), Djiby Fall (FC Cincinnati)

RIVERHOUNDS SC’S DIKWA MAKES BLISTERING START

Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC’s Albert Dikwa moved into the lead in the Championship’s race for the Golden Boot on Saturday night with nine goals this season after notching a brace in the Hounds’ 2-1 victory at Highmark Stadium against Birmingham Legion FC.

Dikwa is off to one of the fastest starts in the USL Championship’s regular season history, with his nine goals by May 15 the most since the LA Galaxy II’s Jack McBean reached the same mark by the middle of May during the 2016 campaign. Both of those players sit one behind the all-time pacesetter, with former United States international Dom Dwyer having recorded 10 goals for Orlando City SC in eight games to start the 2013 season.

Most Regular Season Goals by May 15 in a USL Championship Season
10
– Dom Dwyer, Orlando City SC, 2013
9 – Albert Dikwa, Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC, 2023
9 – Jack McBean, LA Galaxy II, 2016
8 – Tom Barlow, New York Red Bulls II, 2019
8 – Kharlton Belmar, Sporting Kansas City II, 2018

ADENIRAN BROTHERS LINK UP IN SAN ANTONIO
San Antonio FC announced on Tuesday the club had signed defender Ayodeji Adeniran to a 25-day contract, bringing the 30-year-old into the squad alongside younger brother Samuel Adeniran, currently on loan from St. Louis CITY SC for the remainder of the 2023 season.

The Adeniran brothers are the fourth current pair of brothers on the same USL Championship roster, with Louisville City FC’s Elijah and Joshua Wynder, Orange County SC’s Brian and Milan Iloski, and the Charleston Battery’s USL Academy signings Charlie and Mattie Dennis also currently active as teammates. More than 50 pairs of brothers have competed in the Championship during its history, with Enzo Martinez and Alex Martinez – now player and assistant coach at Birmingham Legion FC – the lone siblings to currently have surpassed 100 appearances in the league’s regular season.

Most Combined Appearances by Brothers in the USL Championship Regular Season
316
– Enzo Martinez (197) and Alex Martinez (119)
213 – Danny Barrera (201) and Diego Barrera (12)
212 – Jaime Villarreal (158) and Jose Villarreal (54)
203 – Christian Duke (199) and Cameron Duke (4)
184 – Miguel Gonzalez (111) and Daniel Gonzalez (73)
163 – David Najem (87) and Adam Najem (76)
162 – Chris Wehan (144) and Charlie Wehan (18)

Upcoming Player Milestones


San Diego Loyal SC's Collin Martin could make his 100th regular season appearance in the USL Championship this Saturday against Miami FC. | Photo courtesy Ben Nichols / San Diego Loyal SC

Appearances
Approaching 200 regular-season appearances
Justin Portillo (NM) – 198
Enzo Martinez (BHM) – 197
Bolu Akinyode (MIA) – 196
Brent Richards (OC) – 196

Approaching 150 regular-season appearances
Lucky Mkosana (TBR) – 148
Matt LaGrassa (SAC) – 147
Luiz Fernando (MEM) – 147

Approaching 100 regular-season appearances
Sam Gleadle (MB) – 99
Collin Martin (SD) – 99
Joe Kuzminsky (COS) – 98
Connor Sparrow (TBR) – 98
Aidan Apodaca (CHS) – 98
Nick Ross (SAC) – 97
Yuma (ELP) – 97

Minutes
Approaching 20,000 regular season minutes

Josh Suggs (NM) – 19,868

Approaching 15,000 regular season minutes
Brent Richards (OC) – 14,932
James Musa (COS) – 14,819
Kalen Ryden (NM) – 14,671
Kai Greene (MB) – 14,657

Approaching 10,000 regular season minutes
Alex Crognale (BHM) – 9,895
Shannon Gomez (SA) – 9,769
Austin Yearwood (NM) – 9,726
Elijah Martin (SD) – 9,676

Goals
Approaching 75 regular season goals

Neco Brett (BHM) – 72

Approaching 50 regular season goals
Russell Cicerone (SAC) – 48
Lucky Mkosana (TBR) – 48

Assists
Approaching 50 regular season assists

Aodhan Quinn (IND) – 49
Solomon Asante (IND) – 48

Approaching 30 regular season assists
Oscar Jimenez (LOU) – 29
Justin Portillo (NM) – 28
Niall McCabe (LOU) – 27
Charlie Adams (SD) – 27

Saves
Approaching 500 regular season saves

Alex Tambakis (NM) – 486

Approaching 300 regular season saves
Connor Sparrow (TBR) – 293

Approaching 200 regular season saves
Paul Blanchette (OAK) – 198
Jordan Farr (SA) – 193
Kyle Morton (LOU) – 187

Shutouts
Approaching 40 regular-season shutouts

Matt VanOekel (BHM) – 38

Approaching 30 regular-season shutouts
Joe Kuzminsky (COS) – 29
Danny Vitiello (SAC) – 27 

Discipline Report – Week 11

TAMPA, Fla. – The following is the USL Championship’s discipline report for Week 11 of the 2023 USL Championship season:

Memphis 901 FC’s Bruno Lapa has been suspended for one game following his red card for violent conduct against Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC on May 13. Lapa will be unavailable for selection in Memphis’ contest against FC Tulsa on Friday night.

Memphis 901 FC assistant coach Caleb Patterson-Sewell has been suspended for one game following his red card for offensive and abusive language and gestures during the club’s contest against Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC on May 13. Patterson-Sewell will serve his suspension during Memphis’ contest against FC Tulsa on Friday night.

New Mexico United’s Sam Hamilton has been suspended for one game following his red card for two cautionable offenses against Monterey Bay F.C. on May 13. Hamilton will be unavailable for selection in New Mexico’s contest against Loudoun United FC on Wednesday night.

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