Each week, Phoenix Rising FC is starting to look like the club that won two Western Conference titles in three years.

In this week’s edition of the USL Championship’s News & Notes, we’ve got a pair of reasons why the club’s current attack should be drawing comparisons to its predecessors, including where leading scorers Danny Trejo and Manuel Arteaga’s goals place them in the list of the highest-scoring teammates in a single season.

On top of that we look at the potential for Louisville City FC’s Oliver Semmle to match the Championship’s single-season shutout record with five games to go, and have a major reason why Hartford Athletic has struggled throughout the current campaign.

As always we also have a list of upcoming milestones that for individual players across the USL Championship, and the Week 29 Discipline Report.

Let’s dig in.

NEWS AND NOTES

RISING FC’S HIGH-FLYING, FIVE-STAR ATTACK

Phoenix Rising FC recorded a 5-0 victory against Detroit City FC on Saturday night, marking the third time this season the side had recorded at least five goals in a game. That matches the club record for most 5+ goal games in a season in Rising FC history, with the club having also recorded 5+ goals in three games during the 2019, 2020 and 2021 campaigns.

Rising FC is now one shy of the single-season USL Championship record for most games with 5+ goals in league history. Five clubs have previously recorded at least five goals in a game four times in the same regular season previously, with the New York Red Bulls II (2018 & 2019) the lone club to achieve the feat twice.

Most Games with 5+ Goals in a USL Championship Regular Season
T-1. Tampa Bay Rowdies (2022) – 4
T-1. Real Monarchs SLC (2019) – 4
T-1. New York Red Bulls II (2019) – 4
T-1. Orange County SC (2018) – 4  
T-1. New York Red Bulls II (2018) – 4
T-1. LA Galaxy II (2018) – 4

PHOENIX’S TREJO, ARTEAGA CONTINUE RISE UP SCORING DUOS LIST

Phoenix Rising FC’s Danny Trejo and Manuel Arteaga combined for three goals in their side’s victory against Detroit City FC on Saturday night and are now in a tie for fourth in league history for the most combined goals in a single season by a pair of teammates. Trejo and Arteaga have combined for 32 goals this regular season, accounting for 64 percent of Phoenix’s current regular season total of 50 goals.

Trejo and Arteaga are chasing a pair of predecessors at Phoenix Rising FC, with Solomon Asante and Adam Jahn having combined to record 39 goals in the 2019 regular season.

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)
T-4. Danny Trejo (17) & Manuel Arteaga (15), Phoenix Rising FC – 32 goals (2023)*
T-4. Thomas Enevoldsen (20) & Michael Seaton (12), Orange County SC – 32 goals (2018)
T-6. Leo Fernandes (19) & Jake LaCava (12), Tampa Bay Rowdies – 31 goals (2022)
T-6. Milan Iloski (22) & Erick Torres (9), Orange County SC – 31 goals (2022)
T-6. Sebastian Guenzatti (21) & Steevan Dos Santos (10), Tampa Bay Rowdies – 31 goals (2021)

* - Current Season

LOUCITY’S SEMMLE MAKES BID FOR SHUTOUT MARK

Louisville City FC’s Oliver Semmle recorded his 12th shutout of the season on Saturday night, putting him three behind the USL Championship’s record for clean sheets in a single season. Semmle has five games to equal the mark of 15 initially set by current Canada Men’s National Team goalkeeper Maxime Crepeau with Ottawa Fury FC in 2018 which was matched a season ago by San Antonio FC’s Jordan Farr.

Semmle is the 18th goalkeeper in the USL Championship’s regular season history to have recorded at least 12 clean sheets in a regular season, placing him in a tie for 10th place currently in league history. Semmle sits one behind Kyle Morton for the single-season club record for Louisville City FC, with Morton having recorded 13 shutouts a season ago for the club.

USL Championship Individual Single-Season Shutouts Record
T-1. Jordan Farr, San Antonio FC (2022) – 15
T-1. Maxime Crépeau, Ottawa Fury FC (2018) – 15
T-3. Evan Louro, Tampa Bay Rowdies (2022) – 14
T-3. Matt Pickens, Nashville SC (2019) – 14
T-3. Matt Pickens, Nashvile SC (2018) – 14
T-6. Kyle Morton, Louisville City FC (2022) – 13
T-6. Zach Lubin, Phoenix Rising FC (2019) – 13
T-6. Kyle Morton, Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC (2019) – 13
T-6. Brandon Miller, Rochester Rhinos (2015) – 13

HARTFORD ATHLETIC SEES ANOTHER LEAD SLIP AWAY

Hartford Athletic suffered a seventh defeat this season after holding a lead on Saturday night as it was mathematically eliminated from postseason contention following a 4-2 defeat against Memphis 901 FC. Hartford leads the USL Championship with 25 points dropped from winning positions overall this season, a mark that is among the highest in a single season in the league’s history.

Most Points Dropped from Winning Positions in a USL Championship Regular Season
T-1. Las Vegas Lights FC (2021) – 28
T-1. Las Vegas Lights FC (2018) – 28
3. Charlotte Independence (2019) – 26
T-4. Hartford Athletic (2023) – 25*
T-4. Rio Grande Valley FC (2018) – 25
T-4. Saint Louis FC (2017) – 25

* - Current Season

Quick Hits
- Indy Eleven’s Solomon Asante could face former club Phoenix Rising FC for the first time on Wednesday night after departing the club following the 2021 USL Championship season. Asante recorded 54 goals and 42 assists for Rising FC in 113 regular season and playoff appearances across four seasons (2018-2021), winning two USL Championship MVP awards.

- Birmingham Legion FC’s Matt VanOekel moved into fifth place in saves in the USL Championship’s regular season history with his six-save performance against Rio Grande Valley FC on Sunday night. VanOekel moved past former Harrisburg City Islanders goalkeeper Nick Noble and enters the week on 389 saves for his career.

- New Mexico United’s Justin Portillo became the second player in USL Championship history to record 20 goals via penalty kick in his career on Friday night against Indy Eleven. Portillo is 20 of 22 from the spot in his career in the USL Championship, and trails only Indy Eleven’s Aodhan Quinn (25 of 28) in the category. Portillo’s 20 penalty kick goals account for 58.8 percent of his 34 regular season goals overall.

- Oakland Roots SC’s Paul Blanchette became the 18th player to record at least 100 saves in a USL Championship regular season following Saturday night’s contest against FC Tulsa. He is the first to do so for Oakland since the club joined the USL Championship for the 2021 season.

- Monterey Bay F.C.’s 3-2 victory against Las Vegas Lights FC on Saturday night marked the first time in Monterey Bay’s history that the club had rallied to win after trailing by two goals in a game.

Upcoming Player Milestones

Appearances
Approaching 250 regular-season appearances
Alex Dixon (MB) – 247

Approaching 200 regular-season appearances
Kai Greene (MB) – 198
Santi Moar (NM) – 196
Kalen Ryden (NM) – 196
Joe Farrell (PIT) – 196  

Approaching 150 regular-season appearances
Kyle Adams (LOU) – 149
Chris Wehan (NM) – 148

Approaching 100 regular-season appearances
Yuma (ELP) – 99
Leston Paul (MEM) – 99
Andrew Carleton (LV) – 99
Trey Muse (CHS) – 99
Brian Iloski (OC) – 99
Conner Antley (TBR) – 98
Elvis Amoh (HFD) – 98
Danny Barbir (OAK) – 98
Steven Echevarria (COS) – 98
Dani Rovira (PIT) – 98
AJ Paterson (CHS) – 97
Robert Coronado (RGV) – 97

Minutes
Approaching 15,000 regular season minutes
Antoine Hoppenot (HFD) – 14,920
Aaron Guillen (TBR) – 14,803

Approaching 10,000 regular season minutes
Tyler Pasher (BHM) – 9,875
Jack Blake (IND) – 9,740

Goals
Approaching 50 regular season goals
Lucky Mkosana (TBR) – 48
Wilson Harris (LOU) – 47

Assists
Approaching 40 regular season assists
Christiano Francois (RGV) – 37

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) – 389

Approaching 350 regular season saves
Connor Sparrow (TBR) – 346

Approaching 200 regular season saves
Tyler Deric (RGV) – 196
Christian Herrera (COS) – 192
Adrian Zendejas (MIA) – 191
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 29

TAMPA, Fla. – The following is the USL Championship’s discipline report for Week 29 of the 2023 USL Championship season:

San Antonio FC’s Fabien Garcia has been suspended for one game following a review by the Independent Discipline Panel of an incident in San Antonio’s contest against the Tampa Bay Rowdies on September 16. Garcia will be unavailable for selection in San Antonio’s contest against Orange County SC on Saturday night.

The Charleston Battery’s Juan Sebastian Palma has been suspended for one game following his red card for two cautionable offenses against Loudoun United FC on September 16. Palma will be unavailable for selection in Charleston’s contest against FC Tulsa on Saturday night.

FC Tulsa’s Marcus Epps has been suspended for one game following his red card for violent conduct against Oakland Roots SC on September 16. Epps will be unavailable for selection in Tulsa’s contest against the Charleston Battery on Saturday.

Miami FC’s Bolu Akinyode has been suspended for one game following his red card for two cautionable offenses against Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC on September 16. Akinyode will be unavailable for selection in Miami’s contest against Louisville City FC on Wednesday night.

Oakland Roots SC’s Lindo Mfeka has been suspended for one game following his red card for two cautionable offenses against FC Tulsa on September 16. Mfeka will be unavailable for selection in Oakland’s contest against Monterey Bay F.C. on Saturday.

Phoenix Rising FC’s Renzo Zambrano has been suspended for two games for caution accumulation following his 11th yellow card of the season against Detroit City FC on September 16. Zambrano will be unavailable for selection in Phoenix’s games against Indy Eleven on Wednesday night and El Paso Locomotive FC on Saturday night.

Birmingham Legion FC’s Moses Mensah has been suspended for one game for caution accumulation after receiving his eighth yellow card of the season against Rio Grande Valley FC on September 17. Mensah will be unavailable for selection in Birmingham’s contest against Memphis 901 FC on Wednesday night.

The Charleston Battery’s Nick Markanich has been suspended for one game for caution accumulation after receiving his eighth yellow card of the season against Loudoun United FC on September 16. Markanich will be unavailable for selection in Charleston’s contest against FC Tulsa on Saturday night.

Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC’s Steven Echevarria has been suspended for one game for caution accumulation after receiving his eighth yellow card of the season against Orange County SC on September 15. Echevarria will be unavailable for selection in Colorado Springs’ contest against Sacramento Republic FC on Saturday night.

FC Tulsa’s Phillip Goodrum has been suspended for one game for caution accumulation after receiving his eighth yellow card of the season against Oakland Roots SC on September 16. Goodrum will be unavailable for selection in Tulsa’s contest against the Charleston Battery on Saturday night.

FC Tulsa’s Milo Yosef has been suspended for one game for caution accumulation after receiving his eighth yellow card of the season against Oakland Roots SC on September 16. Yosef will be unavailable for selection in Tulsa’s contest against the Charleston Battery on Saturday night.

New Mexico United’s Justin Portillo has been suspended for one game for caution accumulation after receiving his eighth yellow card of the season against Indy Eleven on September 15. Portillo will be unavailable for selection in New Mexico’s contest against Sacramento Republic FC on Wednesday night.

Orange County SC’s Kevin Partida has been suspended for one game for caution accumulation after receiving his eighth yellow card of the season against Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC on September 15. Partida will be unavailable for selection in Orange County’s contest against San Antonio FC on Saturday night.

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

• El Paso Locomotive FC (1) – Eder Borelli

• Hartford Athletic (1) – Antoine Hoppenot

• Indy Eleven (1) – Douglas Martinez Jr.

• Miami FC (1) – Mark Segbers

• Monterey Bay F.C. (1) – Mobi Fehr

• New Mexico United (1) – Will Seymore

• Oakland Roots SC (2) – Neveal Hackshaw, Johnny Rodriguez

• Rio Grande Valley FC (1) – Taylor Davila

• San Antonio FC (1) – Mitchell Taintor

• San Diego Loyal SC (1) – Collin Martin

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:

• Memphis 901 FC (1) – Graham Smith

• San Antonio FC (1) – Lamar Batista