By tradition, when Birmingham Legion FC’s Matt VanOekel gets a shutout, it means donuts for the team.

This past Saturday, the veteran goalkeeper achieved a notable landmark in his impressive career that made the latest edition of that tradition a little sweeter.

Find out more details on that, how Aodhan Quinn could achieve USL Championship history this weekend as Indy Eleven plays host to the Tampa Bay Rowdies, and the club that Orange County SC’s Milan Iloski joined in his side’s victory this past weekend.

We’ve also got our weekly look at upcoming player landmarks, and the Week 20 Discipline Report.

Let’s dig in. 

NEWS AND NOTES

LEGION FC’S MATT VANOEKEL REACHES 40-SHUTOUT LANDMARK

Birmingham Legion FC’s Matt VanOekel became just the fifth goalkeeper in the USL Championship’s history to reach 40 regular season shutouts on Saturday night when his two-save performance helped Legion FC to a 1-0 victory against the Tampa Bay Rowdies at Protective Stadium.

VanOekel reached the mark in 130 regular season appearances in the USL Championship and ranks second to New Mexico United’s Alex Tambakis (43) among active goalkeepers. The three other players to have reached the mark are Evan Newton, Brandon Miller and Odisnel Cooper.

Most Shutouts in the USL Championship Regular Season
1. Evan Newton – 58 / 189 appearances
T-2. Alex Tambakis – 43 / 181 appearances*
T-2. Brandon Miller – 43 / 134 appearances
T-4. Matt VanOekel – 40 / 130 appearances*
T-4. Odisnel Cooper – 40 / 110 appearances

* - active players

INDY ELEVEN’S AODHAN QUINN SURPASSES 20,000 REGULAR SEASON MINUTES

Indy Eleven’s Aodhan Quinn became just the second player in the USL Championship’s history to surpass 20,000 regular season minutes last Wednesday night when he played the full 90 minutes in his side’s 1-1 draw against the Charleston Battery.

Quinn joins former Charleston Battery and Tacoma Defiance defender Taylor Mueller in surpassing the mark, with Quinn now having the chance to pass Mueller for the league’s all-time regular-season minutes mark in his next appearance. Quinn (20,006) trails Mueller (20,077) by 71 minutes going into Indy’s contest with the Tampa Bay Rowdies on Saturday night.

Mueller and Quinn could be joined in reaching the 20,000-minute mark in short order by three other Championship veterans. New Mexico United’s Josh Suggs sits at 19,992 minutes, Monterey Bay F.C.’s Hugh Roberts sits at 19,977 minutes, and Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC’s Kenardo Forbes sits at 19,952 minutes, all within range in their next outing.

Most Regular Season Minutes in the USL Championship
1. Taylor Mueller – 20,077
2. Aodhan Quinn – 20,006*
3. Josh Suggs – 19,992*
4. Hugh Roberts – 19,977*
5. Kenardo Forbes – 19,952*

* - active players

MILAN ILOSKI SCORES 30TH GOAL FOR ORANGE COUNTY SC

2022 USL Championship Golden Boot winner Milan Iloski scored his 30th regular season goal for Orange County SC on Saturday night in the side’s 3-1 victory against Loudoun United FC, becoming the 18th player in the USL Championship’s history to reach that mark for a single club.

Iloski’s 30th regular season goals came in 51 appearances. Earlier this season, he became the leading goalscorer in the club’s history, passing Michael Seaton. There are currently six players in the USL Championship with the club for which they recorded 30 regular season goals, with Louisville City FC’s Cameron Lancaster leading the group all-time with 71 regular season goals in 139 appearances for the club.

Most Regular Season Goals for One Club in USL Championship History
1. Cameron Lancaster, Louisville City FC – 71*
2. Sebastian Guenzatti, Tampa Bay Rowdies – 59
3. Cameron Iwasa, Sacramento Republic FC – 57
4. Solomon Asante, Phoenix Rising FC – 49
5. Enzo Martinez, Charlotte Independence – 44

* - active with club

DETROIT CITY FC ATTACK STRUGGLES

Detroit City FC has recorded only 13 goals through its first 20 regular season games of the season, a mark that has seen the side be held scoreless in 12 contests – or 60 percent of its games – so far.

As it stands, the side is on pace to become the first team to end a full season with fewer than 25 goals in a USL Championship regular season since the Richmond Kickers scored only 24 times in 32 games in the 2017 campaign.

Fewest Goals in a USL Championship Regular Season
1. Antigua Barracuda FC (2013) – 11 in 26 games
2. Antigua Barracuda FC (2012) – 16 in 24 games
T-3. Dayton Dutch Lions (2012) – 20 in 24 games
T-3. Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC (2012) – 20 in 24 games
5. Dayton Dutch Lions FC (2011) – 21 in 24 games
6. Wilmington Hammerheads FC (2015) – 22 in 28 games
7. Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC (2011) – 23 in 24 games
T-8. Richmond Kickers (2017) – 24 in 32 games
T-8. Charleston Battery (2011) – 24 in 24 games

Quick Hits

- San Antonio FC’s comeback 2-1 victory against El Paso Locomotive FC last Wednesday night marked the first time it had won a road game after trailing at halftime since August 29th, 2018 against Rio Grande Valley FC.

- Inversely, El Paso Locomotive FC’s defeat to San Antonio FC last Wednesday night marked the first time the side had lost after leading at halftime in the USL Championship since the Western Conference Final of the 2019 USL Championship Playoffs against Real Monarchs SLC on November 9th, 2019.

- Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC’s shutout streak sits at 408 minutes as it heads to face the Charleston Battery on Saturday night. The Hounds have recorded four consecutive shutouts during their current 13-game undefeated streak.

- San Diego Loyal SC’s 5-0 victory against Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC marked the first time in club history the Switchbacks had conceded five goals at home in a USL Championship contest, and only the third time overall in club history.

- Hartford Athletic’s current six-game losing streak is the club’s longest since an eight-game losing streak at the start of the club’s inaugural 2019 season, when all eight games were played away from home.

Upcoming Player Milestones

Appearances
Approaching 250 regular-season appearances
Kenardo Forbes (PIT) – 249
Hugh Roberts (MB) – 248

Approaching 200 regular-season appearances
Phanuel Kavita (BHM) – 199
Christian Volesky (MB) – 199 
Speedy Williams (COS) – 198

Approaching 150 regular-season appearances
Chris Wehan (NM) – 148
Solomon Asante (IND) – 146

Approaching 100 regular-season appearances
Deklan Wynne (CHS) – 99
Douglas Martinez Jr. (IND) – 99
Andrew Fox (OC) – 98
Rashid Tetteh (TUL) – 98
Sergio Rivas (NM) – 98
Camden Riley (SD) – 98
Jorge Hernandez (SA) – 98
Joe Kuzminsky (COS) – 98
Yuma (ELP) – 97
Akeem Ward (MEM) – 97

Minutes
Approaching 20,000 regular season minutes
Josh Suggs (NM) – 19,992
Hugh Roberts (MB) – 19,977
Kenardo Forbes (PIT) – 19,952

Approaching 15,000 regular season minutes
Paco Craig (MIA) – 14,797
Conor Donovan (SAC) – 14,774
Joe Farrell (PIT) – 14,624

Approaching 10,000 regular season minutes
Tyler Gibson (LOU) – 9,970
Luiz Fernando (MEM) – 9,891
Tyler Pasher (BHM) – 9,843
Anderson Asiedu (BHM) – 9,820
Graham Smith (MEM) – 9,731

Goals
Approaching 75 regular season goals
Neco Brett (BHM) – 73

Approaching 50 regular season goals
Romario Williams (COS) – 49
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
Niall McCabe (LOU) – 27
Charlie Adams (SD) – 27
Rodrigo Da Costa (MEM) – 27

Saves
Approaching 300 regular season saves
Trey Muse (CHS) – 294

Approaching 200 regular season saves
Jake McGuire (MIA) – 188
Kyle Morton (LOU) – 187

Shutouts
Approaching 30 regular-season shutouts
Joe Kuzminsky (COS) – 29
Danny Vitiello (SAC) – 28
Jordan Farr (SA) – 27

Discipline Report – Week 20

TAMPA, Fla. – The following is the USL Championship’s discipline report for Week 20 of the 2023 USL Championship season:

San Antonio FC assistant coach Dario Pot has been suspended for one game following his red card for abusive language during his side’s contest against El Paso Locomotive FC on July 12. Pot will serve his suspension during San Antonio’s contest against Miami FC on Saturday night.

San Antonio FC’s Lamar Batista has been suspended for one game following his red card for two cautionable offenses against El Paso Locomotive FC on July 12. Batista will be unavailable for selection in San Antonio’s contest against Miami FC on Saturday night.

Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC’s Romario Williams has been suspended for one game following his red card for violent conduct against San Diego Loyal SC on July 14. Williams will be unavailable for selection in Colorado Springs’ contest against Phoenix Rising FC on Saturday night.

The Charleston Battery’s Arturo Rodriguez has been suspended for one game following his red card for abusive language against Miami FC on July 15. Rodriguez will be unavailable for selection in Charleston’s contest against Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC on Saturday night.

Indy Eleven’s Robbie Dambrot has been suspended for one game following his red card for two cautionable offenses against the Charleston Battery on July 12. Dambrot will be unavailable for selection in Indy’s contest against the Tampa Bay Rowdies on Saturday night.

Loudoun United FC’s Yanis Leerman has been suspended for one game following his red card for two cautionable offenses against Orange County SC on July 15. Leerman will be unavailable for selection in Loudoun’s contest against Miami FC on July 29.

Loudoun United FC’s Tommy Williamson was suspended for one game following his red card for violent conduct against Detroit City FC on July 12. Williamson served his suspension during Loudoun’s contest against Orange County SC on July 15.

Oakland Roots SC’s Neveal Hackshaw was suspended for one game following his red card for violent conduct against Memphis 901 FC on July 12. Hackshaw served his suspension during Oakland’s contest against Monterey Bay F.C. on July 15.

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) – Anderson Asiedu

• El Paso Locomotive FC (1) – Bence Pavkovics

• Indy Eleven (1) – Cam Lindley

• Loudoun United FC (1) – Houssou Landry

• Memphis 901 FC (1) – Graham Smith

• Miami FC (1) – Callum Chapman-Page

• Monterey Bay F.C. (1) – James Murphy

• Phoenix Rising FC (1) – Renzo Zambrano

• San Antonio FC (1) – Alen Marcina

• FC Tulsa (1) – Milo Yosef