There’s no other way to describe Hugh Roberts as a USL Championship legend.

Now in his 10th season in the league, the former All-League selection has been a consistently strong defensive performer for numerous clubs in his travels.

This past weekend, that road brought the 30-year-old to a new landmark as he became the newest player to hold the mantle of the Championship’s all-time leader in regular season minutes.

We’ll look at why that occurred over the past week, plus a look at one of the great single-game goalkeeping performances in league history, the record that Louisville City FC’s Wilson Harris is poised to smash, where the Charleston Battery’s Fidel Barajas ranks among the youngest players to record double-digit goals in the league, and more.

There’s also your regular look at upcoming landmarks for players across the league, and the Week 30 Discipline Report.

Let’s dig in.

NEWS & NOTES

HUGH ROBERTS BECOMES ALL-TIME REGULAR SEASON MINUTES LEADER

Monterey Bay F.C.’s Hugh Roberts became the USL Championship’s all-time regular season minutes leader on Saturday night in his side’s contest against Oakland Roots SC, and could become the first player to record 21,000 minutes in the league’s history on Saturday night when Monterey Bay visits San Diego Loyal SC.

Currently tied for third in the USL Championship’s history in appearances, Roberts played the full 180 minutes in Monterey Bay’s contests against San Diego and Oakland last week. In turn he surpassed both Indy Eleven’s Aodhan Quinn and New Mexico United’s Josh Suggs, both of whom were sidelined for their respective club’s contests.

The lead in the league’s all-time minutes list could continue to exchange hands pending availability, with Roberts currently 61 minutes ahead of Quinn in the all-time list, and Suggs 111 minutes back.

USL Championship All-Time Regular Season Minutes Leaders
1. Hugh Roberts (MB) – 20,967*
2. Aodhan Quinn (IND) – 20,906*
3. Josh Suggs (NM) – 20,856*
4. Kenardo Forbes (PIT) – 20,627*
5. Taylor Mueller – 20,077

JAKE MCGUIRE’S CAREER DAY PLACES GK IN RARE COMPANY

Miami FC’s Jake McGuire posted a 12-save shutout on Sunday night in Miami FC’s 2-0 victory against Birmingham Legion FC, recording the most saves in a game so far this season in the USL Championship while also equaling the sixth-highest mark for saves in a regular season game in the league all-time.

McGuire’s performance was the first among goalkeepers to record a penalty kick save in a shutout of at least 12 saves, while also ranking tied for the second-most saves in a shutout in the USL Championship’s history.

Most Saves in a Shutout in the USL Championship’s Regular Season
1. Carl Woszczynski, Phoenix Rising FC – 13 vs. Orange County SC, 7/5/15
T-2. Jake McGuire, Miami FC – 12 vs. Birmingham Legion FC, 9/24/23
T-2. Alex Mangels, FC Tulsa – 12 vs. Rio Grande Valley FC, 3/26/16
T-4. Tomás Romero, Philadelphia Union II – 11 vs. Louisville City FC, 7/20/19
T-4. Cody Laurendi, OKC Energy FC – 11 vs. Las Vegas Lights FC, 9/29/18
T-4. Angelo Cavalluzzo, Toronto FC II – 11 vs. Louisville City FC, 4/29/17

LOUCITY’S WILSON HARRIS NEARS HALF-CENTURY MILESTONE

Louisville City FC’s Wilson Harris recorded the 49th regular season goal in his USL Championship career on Saturday night, scoring the game-winner in LouCity’s 2-1 victory against Loudoun United FC at Segra Field. The 2020 USL Championship Young Player of the Year is currently on a four-game goalscoring streak – equaling the club record – and at 23 years old is set to become the youngest player to record a half-century of goals in the USL Championship’s history.

Former USL Championship Golden Boot winner Junior Flemmings is currently the youngest player to have reached the mark, doing so aged 24 years, 247 days old. Harris is currently 23 years, 303 days old, providing ample time to reach the landmark.

Youngest Player to Reach 50 Regular Season Goals in USL Championship History
1. Junior Flemmings – 24 years, 247 days
2. Augustine Williams – 25 years, 9 days
3. Dane Kelly – 26 years, 56 days
4. Chandler Hoffman – 27 years, 285 days
5. Cameron Lancaster – 27 years, 319 days

CHARLESTON BATTERY’S FIDEL BARAJAS ENTERS TOP-10 FOR YOUNGEST BRACE

The Charleston Battery’s Fidel Barajas became the youngest player to record a two-goal game in the USL Championship this season, and the ninth-youngest in league history, with his brace against FC Tulsa on Saturday night. Barajas is also the youngest player to record a two-assist game in the league this season, and ranks fourth-youngest in the league’s history overall in that category.

Youngest Players to Record Multi-Goal Games in USL Championship History
1. Efrain Alvarez, LA Galaxy II – 15 years, 324 days
2. Ayo Akinola, Toronto FC II – 16 years, 171 days
3. Kristian Fletcher, Loudoun United FC – 17 years
4. Shaan Hundal, Toronto FC II – 17 years, 17 days
5. Christian Torres, Las Vegas Lights FC – 17 years, 62 days
6. Jack McGlynn, Philadelphia Union II – 17 years, 81 days
7. Caden Clark, New York Red Bulls II – 17 years, 105 days
8. Alfonso Ocampo-Chávez, Tacoma Defiance – 17 years, 121 days
9. Fidel Barajas, Charleston Battery – 17 years, 171 days
10. Bradford Jamieson IV, LA Galaxy II – 17 years, 219 days

Quick Hits
- The USL Championship is set to see its 1,000th goal of the 2023 regular season this week, with 997 goals having been scored through the opening 29 weeks of the regular season. So far this campaign, an average of 2.72 goals have been scored per game, with five teams currently having reached a half-century of goals, and only 25 scoreless draws in 367 games overall.

- The Tampa Bay Rowdies’ Connor Sparrow became the eighth goalkeeper to record 350 regular season saves, making four saves in his side’s contest against Memphis 901 FC on Saturday night at Al Lang Stadium. Sparrow has made 118 regular season appearances in the USL Championship in his career so far.

- Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC’s Kenardo Forbes recorded his 10th multi-assist game in the USL Championship’s regular season on Saturday night in the Hounds’ 2-1 victory against New Mexico United. The league’s all-time leader with 64 regular season assists has recorded more multi-assist games than any player in league history, two ahead of Solomon Asante (8).

- The Tampa Bay Rowdies’ Cal Jennings moved to 47 career regular season goals on Saturday night with two goals in his side’s contest against Memphis 901 FC at Al Lang Stadium. Jennings has reached that mark in just 86 games, putting him in line to become the fastest player to reach a half-century of goals in league history. The current mark is 50 goals in 100 games, held by two-time All-League First Team selection Chandler Hoffman.

- Memphis 901 FC’s Rodrigo Da Costa became the ninth different player to record a hat trick in the USL Championship this season in his side’s 4-2 victory against the Tampa Bay Rowdies on Saturday night, and the 98th different player all-time in the USL Championship’s regular season history.

- Miami FC took victory in a game in which it conceded the opening goal for the first time in more than a year last Wednesday night in its 4-3 comeback win against Louisville City FC at Riccardo Silva Stadium. Miami had last won after conceding the opening goal on Sept. 10, 2022 against the New York Red Bulls II.

- Monterey Bay F.C.’s Alex Dixon recorded the 60th regular season goal of his career this past Saturday night against Oakland Roots SC. The top 15 goalscorers in the USL Championship’s history have now all scored at least 60 goals in the league.

Upcoming Player Milestones

Appearances
Approaching 250 regular-season appearances
Alex Dixon (MB) – 249

Approaching 200 regular-season appearances
Kalen Ryden (NM) – 198
Santi Moar (NM) – 197
Joe Farrell (PIT) – 197
Neco Brett (BHM) – 196

Approaching 150 regular-season appearances
Chris Wehan (NM) – 148
Bryam Rebellon (IND) – 147
Rodrigo Da Costa (MEM) – 146 

Approaching 100 regular-season appearances
Yuma (ELP) – 99
Andrew Carleton (LV) – 99
Trey Muse (CHS) – 99
Conner Antley (TBR) – 99
Elvis Amoh (HFD) – 99
Danny Barbir (OAK) – 99
Dani Rovira (PIT) – 99
Steven Echevarria (COS) – 98
AJ Paterson (CHS) – 98
Robert Coronado (RGV) – 98
Connor Maloney (SA) – 97
James Murphy (MB) – 97
Jake LaCava (TBR) – 97  

Minutes
Approaching 15,000 regular season minutes
Antoine Hoppenot (HFD) – 14,998
Aaron Guillen (TBR) – 14,803

Approaching 10,000 regular season minutes
Jack Blake (IND) – 9,906
Tyler Pasher (BHM) – 9,894
Sam Hamilton (NM) – 9,700

Goals
Approaching 50 regular season goals
Wilson Harris (LOU) – 49
Lucky Mkosana (TBR) – 48
Cal Jennings (TBR) – 47

Assists
Approaching 50 regular season assists
Antoine Hoppenot (HFD) – 47

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

Approaching 30 regular season assists
Charlie Adams (SD) – 29
Niall McCabe (LOU) – 27
Rodrigo Da Costa (MEM) – 27

Saves
Approaching 400 regular season saves
Matt VanOekel (BHM) – 389

Approaching 200 regular season saves
Tyler Deric (RGV) – 196
Christian Herrera (COS) – 194
Adrian Zendejas (MIA) – 191
Kyle Morton (LOU) – 187

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

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

Discipline Report – Week 30

TAMPA, Fla. – The following is the USL Championship’s discipline report for Week 30 of the 2023 USL Championship season:

Memphis 901 FC’s Graham Smith has been suspended for two games for caution accumulation following his 11th yellow card of the season against the Tampa Bay Rowdies on September 23. Smith will be unavailable for selection in Memphis’ contests against Birmingham Legion FC this Saturday and El Paso Locomotive FC on October 7.

Hartford Athletic’s Antoine Hoppenot has been suspended for one game for caution accumulation after receiving his eighth yellow card of the season against Detroit City FC on September 23. Hoppenot will be unavailable for selection in Hartford’s contest against the Tampa Bay Rowdies on Wednesday night.

San Antonio FC’s Mitchell Taintor has been suspended for one game for caution accumulation after receiving his eighth yellow card of the season against Orange County SC on September 23. Taintor will be unavailable for selection in San Antonio’s contest against Oakland Roots SC on Saturday night.

San Diego Loyal SC’s Collin Martin was suspended for one game for caution accumulation after receiving his eighth yellow card of the season against Monterey Bay F.C. on September 20. Martin served his suspension during San Diego’s contest against Las Vegas Lights FC on September 24.

The Charleston Battery’s Mark Segbers was suspended for one game for caution accumulation after receiving his eighth yellow card of the season while playing for Miami FC against Louisville City FC on September 20. Segbers served his suspension during Charleston’s contest against FC Tulsa on September 23 following his subsequent transfer to the Battery on September 22.

New Mexico United’s Will Seymore is no longer on caution accumulation warning having had one caution removed under the USL’s Good Behavior incentive to place him on six cautions for the season.

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

• Indy Eleven (2) – Jack Blake, Douglas Martinez Jr.

• Las Vegas Lights FC (1) – Andres Jimenez

• Loudoun United FC (1) – Cole Turner

• Louisville City FC (1) – Wesley Charpie

• Monterey Bay F.C. (1) – Mobi Fehr

• Oakland Roots SC (3) – Neveal Hackshaw, Napo Matsoso, Johnny Rodriguez

• Orange County SC (1) – Markus Nakkim

• Rio Grande Valley FC (1) – Taylor Davila

• San Antonio FC (1) – Jacori Hayes

• FC Tulsa (1) – Collin Fernandez

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:

• San Antonio FC (1) – Lamar Batista