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Two streaks collide as Copa Tejas kicks off this weekend | News and Notes

By USLChampionship.com Staff, 06/07/23, 4:05PM EDT

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Hounds Head Coach Bob Lilley reaches major milestone, while large contingent of players are on Gold Cup alert


El Paso Locomotive FC is on a seven-game winning streak, and has won four straight road games, as it heads to face San Antonio FC on Saturday night in the opening Copa Tejas clash this season. | Photo courtesy Ivan Pierre Aguirre / El Paso Locomotive FC

There’s one thing we’re guaranteed this weekend when San Antonio FC hosts El Paso Locomotive FC in the first game of this year’s Copa Tejas – someone’s streak is coming to an end.

We’ve got more on that, a major landmark for Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC Head Coach Bob Lilley, and a complete list of all the players from the USL Championship, League One and League Two named in provisional rosters for the 2023 Concacaf Gold Cup.

Plus your regular look ahead to notable upcoming landmarks for players across the USL Championship, and the Week 14 Discipline Report.

Let’s dig in.

NEWS AND NOTES

LOCOMOTIVE FC CARRIES WINNING STREAK INTO SAN ANTONIO

El Paso Locomotive FC recorded its seventh consecutive victory in league play on Saturday night with a 1-0 result against Derby de Camino Real rival New Mexico United, moving into a tie for the sixth-longest winning streak in the USL Championship’s regular season while taking sole possession of second place in the USL Championship’s Western Conference.

Locomotive FC has now also won four consecutive road games after its victory at Isotopes Park on Saturday, a streak that began with the club’s 2-1 victory on April 29 against San Diego Loyal SC at Torero Stadium. That ranks tied for the 15th-longest away winning streak in the Championship’s history, with three teams a season ago recording a run of five consecutive away victories during the regular season campaign.

Longest Road Winning Streak in the USL Championship Regular Season.
1. Phoenix Rising FC – 9 games, 2019
T-2. Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC – 6 games, 2019-20
T-2. Orlando City SC – 6 games, 2012-13
T-4. Tampa Bay Rowdies – 5 games, 2022
T-4. Miami FC – 5 games, 2022
T-4. Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC – 5 games, 2022
Eight additional prior instances

El Paso will try to continue that streak on Saturday night as it visits San Antonio FC for the first game in this year’s Copa Tejas, with the defending USL Championship title holders aiming to continue a streak of their own. San Antonio is undefeated in its last 22 regular season games in the Championship at home, a streak that began with a 1-0 win against Locomotive FC on April 16, 2022.

San Antonio is currently 11 games behind the Championship’s all-time record for the longest home undefeated streak in the regular season, with the Richmond Kickers having gone 33 games without defeat at City Stadium between the 2012 and 2014 seasons to hold the mark.

Longest Home Undefeated Streak in the USL Championship Regular Season
1. Richmond Kickers – 33 games, 2012-14
T-2. Charleston Battery – 28 games, 2014-16
T-2. Indy Eleven – 28 games, 2018-20
T-4. Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC – 25 games, 2018-20
T-4. Orlando City SC – 25 games, 2011-13

PITTSBURGH RIVERHOUNDS SC’S BOB LILLEY RECORDS 150TH REGULAR SEASON WIN


Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC Head Coach Bob Lilley recorded his 150th regular season victory in the USL Championship this past Saturday as the Hounds defeated Phoenix Rising FC 1-0 at Highmark Stadium. | Photo courtesy Mallory Neil / Pittsburgh Riverhounds S

Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC Head Coach Bob Lilley became the first in the USL Championship’s regular season to reach 150 wins on the sidelines on Saturday night as the Hounds took a 1-0 victory against Phoenix Rising FC. Currently the longest-tenured Head Coach in the Championship, Lilley has posted a record of 84-32-46 in the regular season with the Hounds since his arrival prior to the start of the 2018 season.

Lilley stands 20 wins ahead of longtime contemporary Mike Anhaeuser, formerly of the Charleston Battery, with Pittsburgh set to host Charleston in a matchup of the top two current teams in the USL Championship’s Eastern Conference this Saturday night at Highmark Stadium.

Most Head Coaching Wins in the USL Championship Regular Season (2011-present)
1. Bob Lilley (PIT) – 150*
2. Mike Anhaeuser – 130
3. John Wolyniec – 88
4. Leigh Cowlishaw – 85
5. Neill Collins (TBR) – 82*
* - Currently Active

USL CHAMPIONSHIP, LEAGUE ONE, LEAGUE TWO PLAYERS ON ALERT FOR GOLD CUP


The Charleston Battery's AJ Paterson (Grenada), Phoenix Rising FC's Kevon Lambert (Jamaica), Oakland Roots SC's Bryan Tamacas (El Salvador) and Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC's Duke Lacroix (Haiti) could feature at the 2023 Concacaf Gold Cup.

Forty-one currently registered players from the USL Championship, League One and League Two were named by their respective countries in the preliminary rosters for the 2023 Concacaf Gold Cup last week, representing 12 of the nations set to compete when the tournament begins with its final qualifying round on June 16.

Among the group are a collection of players who competed at the Gold Cup two years ago, including Amando Moreno of New Mexico United and Joaquin Rivas of Miami FC for El Salvador, Speedy Williams of Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC for Jamaica, and Neveal Hackshaw of Oakland Roots SC, Jelani Peters of Memphis 901 FC and Triston Hodge of Hartford Athletic for Trinidad and Tobago.

2023 Concacaf Gold Cup Preliminary Roster Selections from USL Championship, League One, League Two

Cuba (2) – Raiko Arozarena (Tampa Bay Rowdies), Jorge Corrales (FC Tulsa)

El Salvador (6) – Eric Calvillo (El Paso Locomotive FC), Nelson Blanco (North Carolina FC), Jairo Henriquez (Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC), Amando Moreno (New Mexico United), Joaquin Rivas (Miami FC), Bryan Tamacas (Oakland Roots SC)

Guadeloupe (1) – Luther Archimede (Sacramento Republic FC)

Grenada (2) – AJ Paterson (Charleston Battery), Kharlton Belmar (Richmond Kickers)

Haiti (2) – Duke Lacroix (Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC), Francois Dulysse (Central Valley Fuego FC)

Jamaica (4) – Amal Knight (Lexington SC), Kevon Lambert (Phoenix Rising FC), Jahmali Waite (Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC), Speedy Williams (Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC)

Nicaragua (1) – Max Glasser (Monterey Bay F.C.)

Panama (1) – Carlos Harvey (Phoenix Rising FC)

Puerto Rico (11) – Nicolas Cardona (Chattanooga Red Wolves SC), Rodolfo Sulia (Fort Wayne FC), Christopher Dilan (NONA FC), Sebastian Cutler (Long Island Rough Riders), Andre Cutler (Long Island Rough Riders), Jaden Servania (North Carolina FC), Sidney Paris (AFC Ann Arbor), Giovanni Calderon (Ventura County Fusion), Aurie Echevarria (Fort Wayne FC), Parker O’Ferral (North Carolina FC U-23), Samuel Robinson (Kings Hammer FC)

St. Kitts and Nevis (2) – Raheem Somersall (North Carolina FC), Ronaldo Belgrove (FC Miami City)

Trinidad and Tobago (8) – Leland Archer (Charleston Battery), Ryan Telfer (Miami FC), Shannon Gomez (San Antonio FC), Neveal Hackshaw (Oakland Roots SC), Triston Hodge (Hartford Athletic), Samory Powder (Hudson Valley Hammers), Jelani Peters (Memphis 901 FC), Jesse Williams (Des Moines Menace)

United States (1) – Joshua Wynder (Louisville City FC)

Quick Hits
- Monterey Bay F.C. forward Christian Volesky moved into a tie for 15th in the Championship’s regular season history with the 57th goal of his career on Saturday night against Loudoun United FC.

- Jeremy Kelly’s goal for Memphis 901 FC after 58 seconds against Miami FC this past Saturday is the fastest in the USL Championship this season. The club record for 901 FC is held by Phillip Goodrum, who scored after 20 seconds against the Tampa Bay Rowdies on April 27, 2022.

- San Diego Loyal SC’s comeback to earn a 3-3 draw against San Antonio FC on Saturday night at Toyota Field marked the first time SAFC had failed to win after holding a three-goal lead in the USL Championship.

- Both Monterey Bay F.C.’s Alex Dixon and Louisville City FC’s Sean Totsch surpassed 17,000 regular season minutes in the USL Championship on Saturday night. There are now eight players to have reached that mark in the USL Championship’s regular season history.

- The red card issued to the Charleston Battery’s Leland Archer was the second-fastest in the USL Championship’s regular season history. The fastest was shown to Paul Nicholson of Wilmington Hammerheads FC, who was sent off after 14 seconds against Orange County SC on April 26, 2013.

Upcoming Player Milestones


Monterey Bay F.C. defender Kai Greene could surpass 15,000 minutes of action in the USL Championship's regular season on Saturday night when the side visits Las Vegas Lights FC. | Photo courtesy Kiera Winslow / Monterey Bay F.C.

Appearances
Approaching 200 regular-season appearances
Enzo Martinez (BHM) – 199
Bolu Akinyode (MIA) – 199
Emrah Klimenta (OAK) – 196

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

Approaching 100 regular-season appearances
JJ Williams (TBR) – 99
Napo Matsoso (OAK) – 99
Joe Kuzminsky (COS) – 98
Aidan Apodaca (CHS) – 98
Shane Wiedt (SAC) – 97
Yuma (ELP) – 97

Minutes
Approaching 20,000 regular season minutes

Josh Suggs (NM) – 19,938

Approaching 15,000 regular season minutes
Kai Greene (MB) – 14,927
Kalen Ryden (NM) – 14,846
James Musa (COS) – 14,819

Approaching 10,000 regular season minutes
Alex Crognale (BHM) – 9,985
Austin Yearwood (NM) – 9,951
Elijah Martin (SD) – 9,856
Luiz Fernando (MEM) – 9,698

Goals
Approaching 75 regular season goals

Neco Brett (BHM) – 72

Approaching 50 regular season goals
Aodhan Quinn (IND) – 48
Lucky Mkosana (TBR) – 48

Assists
Approaching 60 regular season assists

Kenardo Forbes (PIT) – 59

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) – 492

Approaching 200 regular season saves
Jordan Farr (SA) – 199
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 14

TAMPA, Fla. – The following is the USL Championship’s discipline report for Week 14 of the 2023 USL Championship season:

San Diego Loyal SC’s Grant Stoneman was suspended for one game for violent conduct following a review by the Independent Discipline Panel of an incident during the side’s contest against San Antonio FC, but due to a error in the IDP process the suspension was subsequently overturned. As a result, Stoneman is available for selection in San Diego’s contest against Sacramento Republic FC on Friday night.

The Charleston Battery’s Leland Archer has been suspended for one game following his red card for denial of a goalscoring opportunity against Indy Eleven on June 2. Archer will be unavailable for selection in Charleston’s contest against Detroit City FC on Wednesday night.

The Tampa Bay Rowdies’ JJ Williams and Conner Antley have each been suspended for one game following their red cards for two cautionable offenses against Sacramento Republic FC on June 3. Williams and Antley will be unavailable for selection in Tampa Bay’s contest against New Mexico United on Saturday night.

San Antonio FC’s Tani Oluwaseyi has been suspended for one game following his red card for two cautionable offenses against San Diego Loyal SC on June 3. Oluwaseyi will be unavailable for selection in San Antonio’s contest against El Paso Locomotive FC on Saturday night.

San Diego Loyal SC’s Nick Moon has been suspended for one game following his red card for two cautionable offenses against San Antonio FC on June 3. Moon will be unavailable for selection in San Diego’s contest against Sacramento Republic FC on Friday night.

Miami FC’s Bolu Akinyode has been suspended for one game following his red card for two cautionable offenses against Memphis 901 FC on June 3. Akinyode will be unavailable for selection in Miami’s contest against Rio Grande Valley FC on Saturday night.

Memphis 901 FC’s Jelani Peters has been suspended for one game following his red card for two cautionable offenses against Miami FC on June 3. Peters will be unavailable for selection in Memphis’ contest against Louisville City FC on Saturday night.

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:

  • San Antonio FC (1) – Lamar Batista

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