Orange County SC is on the longest winning streak in the USL Championship in the past two seasons, but where does it rank all-time in the league’s history?

In this week’s edition of USL Championship News & Notes, we dig into the numbers for the hottest team in the Championship right now, and which teams are within reach should their winning run continue this weekend.

On top of that, we look at the remarkable success Sebastian Guenzatti has achieved against a single opponent in his career, the achievement Phoenix Rising FC’s Danny Trejo and Manuel Arteaga have already accomplished in their standout campaign, and where Romario Williams slots in among the most prolific forwards in league history after a major landmark in the Jamaican’s career.

As always, we have a look at upcoming milestones for players across the USL Championship, and the Week 27 Discipline Report.

Let’s dig in.

NEWS AND NOTES

ORANGE COUNTY SC’S WINNING STREAK REACHES EIGHT GAMES

Orange County SC claimed its eighth consecutive victory on Saturday night with a 5-1 win against Las Vegas Lights FC at Cashman Field. The result set a season-high for consecutive wins in the 2023 USL Championship season, surpassing El Paso Locomotive FC’s seven-game winning streak, while moving the side into a tie for the fifth-longest winning streak in the league’s regular season history alongside Orlando City SC’s 2014 squad.

OCSC plays its next two games at home against El Paso Locomotive FC (Sept. 9) and Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC (Sept. 15), putting it within range of moving into a tie for the second-longest winning streak of 10 consecutive wins, held by FC Cincinnati’s 2018 squad. To match Phoenix Rising FC’s league record of 20 consecutive wins set in 2019, the side would need to win its remaining seven games this season, and then its opening five games of the 2024 campaign.

Longest Winning Streak in USL Championship Regular Season History
1. Phoenix Rising FC – 20 games (2019)
2. FC Cincinnati – 10 games (2018)
T-3. Tampa Bay Rowdies – 9 games (2021)
T-3. Real Monarchs SLC – 9 games (2017)
T-5. Orange County SC – 8 games (2023)*
T-5. Orlando City SC – 8 games (2014)

* - active streak

SEBASTIAN GUENZATTI HAS MIAMI FC’S NUMBER

Indy Eleven’s Sebastian Guenzatti recorded his ninth goal of the season on Saturday night to lead the Boys in Blue to a 1-0 victory against Miami FC at Michael A. Carroll Stadium. It also marked the ninth goal Guenzatti has scored against Miami in 12 appearances across the regular season and playoffs in the USL Championship, one of the best individual scoring records against a single club in the league’s history.

The current all-time leader is 2015 USL Championship MVP Matt Fondy, who recorded 11 goals in nine games against the Harrisburg City Islanders during his career. The lone other player to record double-digit goals against a single opponent in league history is currently Kris Tyrpak, who recorded 10 goals in 11 appearances against FC Tulsa in his career.

Most Goals Against a Single Opponent in USL Championship History (Regular Season & Playoffs)
1. Matt Fondy – 11 goals vs. Harrisburg City Islanders
2. Kris Tyrpak – 10 goals vs. FC Tulsa
T-3. Sebastian Guenzatti – 9 goals vs. Miami FC
T-3. Christian Volesky – 9 goals vs. FC Montreal
T-3. Cameron Lancaster – 9 goals vs. Sporting Kansas City II

RISING FC’S RIOS, ARTEAGA FORMING DYNAMIC DUO

Phoenix Rising FC’s Danny Trejo and Manuel Arteaga are each on three-game scoring streaks after recording goals in each of the club’s victories against Las Vegas Lights FC, Sacramento Republic FC and Rio Grande Valley across Week 25 and Week 26. In turn, they are only the second set of teammates to record at least 14 goals in a regular season campaign, with Trejo currently leading the Championship’s Golden Boot race with 15 goals and Arteaga one goal back in a three-way tie for second.

The lone prior instance of teammates recording at least 14 goals apiece in a USL Championship regular season was also at Phoenix Rising FC during the 2019 season when Solomon Asante (22 goals), Adam Jahn (17) and Junior Flemmings (15) all reached the mark.

Arteaga and Trejo would also become just the 11th set of teammates to record a combined 30 regular season goals in a regular season with the next goal for either player, with Asante and Jahn’s combined 39 goals in 2019 the current single-season league high.

Most Combined Goals by Teammates in a USL Championship Regular Season
1. Solomon Asante (22) & Adam Jahn (17), Phoenix Rising FC – 39 goals (2019)
2. Cameron Lancaster (25) & Ilija Ilic (11), Louisville City FC – 36 goals (2018)
3. Hadji Barry (25) & Michee Ngalina (8), Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC – 33 goals (2021)
4. Thomas Enevoldsen (20) & Michael Seaton (12), Orange County SC – 32 goals (2018)
T-5. Leo Fernandes (19) & Jake LaCava (12), Tampa Bay Rowdies – 31 goals (2022)
T-5. Milan Iloski (22) & Erick Torres (9), Orange County SC – 31 goals (2022)
T-5. Sebastian Guenzatti (21) & Steevan Dos Santos (10), Tampa Bay Rowdies – 31 goals (2021)
T-8. Chris Cortez (17) & Solomon Asante (13), Phoenix Rising FC – 30 goals (2018)
T-8. Dane Kelly (18) & Antoine Hoppenot (12), Reno 1868 FC – 30 goals (2017)
T-8. Matt Fondy (22) & Magnus Rasmussen (8), Louisville City FC – 30 goals (2015)

ROMARIO WILLIAMS REACHES 50-GOAL MILESTONE

Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC forward Romario Williams became the 25th player in the USL Championship’s history to record 50 regular season goals in the league on Saturday night with his two-goal performance against Louisville City FC moving the Jamaican international to 51 goals in 118 regular season games in the league.

Having reached the landmark, Williams slots in with the second-best strike rate in USL Championship regular season history among players to have recorded a half-century of goals, trailing only Louisville City FC’s Cameron Lancaster.

USL Championship Regular Season Mins/Goal Leaders (Min. 50 goals)
1. Cameron Lancaster – 79 goals, 115.08 mins/goal
2. Romario Williams – 51 goals, 146.24 mins/goal
3. Dane Kelly – 106 goals, 150.32 mins/goal
4. Chandler Hoffman – 66 goals, 156.21 mins/goal
5. Hadji Barry – 79 goals, 157.68 mins/goal
6. Jose Angulo – 53 goals, 167.21 mins/goal
7. Neco Brett – 79 goals, 171.04 mins/goal
8. Junior Flemmings – 57 goals, 171.04 mins/goal
9. Sebastian Guenzatti – 68 goals, 183.88 mins/goal
10. Chris Cortez – 51 goals, 197.94 mins/goal

Quick Hits
- Sacramento Republic FC Head Coach Mark Briggs recorded his 80th regular season win in the USL Championship with Saturday’s 1-0 victory against Oakland Roots SC. Briggs is currently sixth all-time in coaching victories in league history.

- The Charleston Battery recorded their eighth away win of the season on Saturday night at New Mexico United, extending the club’s single-season record for road victories in the USL Championship era. The Battery have now earned more away points (28) this season than the club recorded in the full 2022 campaign (25).

- Louisville City FC’s Paolo DelPiccolo could become the seventh player to record 250 regular season appearances in the USL Championship this Saturday when LouCity visits the Tampa Bay Rowdies. DelPiccolo currently ranks second in league history in regular season appearances for a single club, having played 195 regular season games for Louisville, five behind the 200 regular season appearances made by former Charleston Battery standout Taylor Mueller.

- 33 players representing 18 nations have been called up for senior international duty from the USL Championship, League One and League Two for the September international window, where they are set to compete in Concacaf Nations League and Africa Cup of Nations Qualifying. Overall, 50 players have now been called up for senior international duty from the USL’s three senior men’s divisions in the 2023 calendar year.

Upcoming Player Milestones

Appearances
Approaching 250 regular-season appearances
Paolo DelPiccolo (LOU) – 249

Approaching 200 regular-season appearances
Kai Greene (MB) – 196

Approaching 150 regular-season appearances
Chris Wehan (NM) – 148
Kyle Adams (LOU) – 147

Approaching 100 regular-season appearances
Yuma (ELP) – 99
Andrew Carleton (LV) – 98
Ray Serrano (LOU) – 98
Rashawn Dally (MEM) – 98
Trey Muse (CHS) – 97
Leston Paul (MEM) – 97
Elvis Amoh (HFD) – 97
Brian Iloski (OC) – 97

Minutes
Approaching 15,000 regular season minutes
Joe Farrell (PIT) – 14,934
Antoine Hoppenot (HFD) – 14,830
Aaron Guillen (TBR) – 14,665

Approaching 10,000 regular season minutes
Tyler Pasher (BHM) – 9,875
Jose Hernandez (PHX) – 9,867
Jack Blake (IND) – 9,659

Goals
Approaching 50 regular season goals
Lucky Mkosana (TBR) – 48

Assists
Approaching 30 regular season assists
Charlie Adams (SD) – 28
Niall McCabe (LOU) – 27
Rodrigo Da Costa (MEM) – 27

Saves
Approaching 400 regular season saves
Matt VanOekel (BHM) – 379

Approaching 350 regular season saves
Connor Sparrow (TBR) – 333

Approaching 200 regular season saves
Tyler Deric (RGV) – 196
Adrian Zendejas (MIA) – 189
Jake McGuire (MIA) – 188
Kyle Morton (LOU) – 187

Shutouts
Approaching 40 regular-season shutouts
Connor Sparrow (TBR) – 38

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

Discipline Report – Week 27

TAMPA, Fla. – The following is the USL Championship’s discipline report for Week 27 of the 2023 USL Championship season:

Miami FC’s Paco Craig has been suspended for one game following his red card for denial of a goalscoring opportunity against Indy Eleven on September 2. Craig will be unavailable for selection in Miami’s contest against Detroit City FC on Saturday night.

Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC assistant coach James Chambers has been suspended for one game following his red card for deliberately leaving the technical area in a provocative and inflammatory manner against Louisville City FC on September 2. Chambers will serve his suspension during Colorado Springs’ contest against San Antonio FC on Saturday night.

Sacramento Republic FC’s Arnold Lopez has been suspended for two games for caution accumulation after receiving his 11th yellow card of the season against Oakland Roots SC on September 2. Lopez will be unavailable for selection in Sacramento’s contests against El Paso Locomotive FC on September 16 and New Mexico United on September 20.

Indy Eleven’s Younes Boudadi has been suspended for one game for caution accumulation after receiving his eighth yellow card of the season against Miami FC on September 2. Boudadi will be unavailable for selection in Indy’s contest against New Mexico United on September 15.

Las Vegas Lights FC’s Jacob Bushue has been suspended for one game for caution accumulation after receiving his eighth yellow card of the season against Orange County SC on September 2. Bushue will be unavailable for selection in Las Vegas’ contest against Oakland Roots SC on Saturday night.

New Mexico United’s Sergio Rivas was suspended for one game for caution accumulation after receiving his eighth yellow card of the season against Las Vegas Lights FC on August 30. Rivas served his suspension during New Mexico’s contest against the Charleston Battery on September 2.

The following players enter the upcoming matches one caution away from a one-game yellow card accumulation suspension for their eighth yellow card of the season. Here is the breakdown per club:

• Birmingham Legion FC (1) – Anderson Asiedu

• Charleston Battery (1) – Nick Markanich

• El Paso Locomotive FC (1) – Eder Borelli

• Hartford Athletic (1) – Antoine Hoppenot

• Indy Eleven (1) – Douglas Martinez Jr.

• Las Vegas Lights FC (1) – Andres Jimenez

• Monterey Bay F.C. (1) – Mobi Fehr

• New Mexico United (2) – Justin Portillo, Will Seymore

• Orange County SC (1) – Kyle Scott

• Rio Grande Valley FC (1) – Taylor Davila

• San Antonio FC (1) – Mitchell Taintor

• San Diego Loyal SC (1) – Collin Martin

• FC Tulsa (1) – Phillip Goodrum

The following players enter the upcoming matches one caution away from a two-game yellow card accumulation suspension for their 11th yellow card of the season. Here is the breakdown per club:

• Phoenix Rising FC (1) – Renzo Zambrano

• San Antonio FC (1) – Lamar Batista