You could consider them the first names on the lineup sheets for their respective clubs each week.

This week in the USL Championship’s News and Notes, we look at the four players who have the potential to play every minute of this 2023 regular season campaign, and four more who are close behind in providing a consistent game-in and game-out presence for the clubs over the course of the season.

We also take a look at a notable achievement for Rio Grande Valley FC veteran Christiano Francois, and the company he now keeps in league history, and the players that Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC’s forward Albert Dikwa joined in reaching the 20-goal milestone this past week.

We’ve also got our regular look at upcoming milestones for individual players in the final weekend of the 2023 regular season, as well as the Week 32 Discipline Report.

Let’s dig in.

NEWS & NOTES

FOUR PLAYERS TAKE AIM AT IRONMAN STATUS

Four players remain in contention to close the 2023 USL Championship regular season having played every minute of the campaign. Goalkeepers Paul Blanchette of Oakland Roots SC and Benny Díaz of El Paso Locomotive FC and defenders Morey Doner of Monterey Bay F.C. and Sean Totsch of Louisville City FC have played 33 games and logged 2,970 minutes so far this season.

For Totsch, it would mark the second time in his career he has played every minute of a regular season, having also logged 2,880 minutes in 32 appearances for LouCity during the 2021 USL Championship season. Doner, meanwhile, logged 34 starts a season ago for Monterey Bay and was absent for only 13 minutes of the campaign, a streak of successive starts that he has continued in the club’s second season.

Four additional players could also surpass 3,000 minutes of play in this year’s regular season this weekend in Miami FC’s Aedan Stanley, Monterey Bay F.C.’s Kai Greene, Oakland Roots SC’s Danny Barbir, and the Charleston Battery’s Derek Dodson.

Most Minutes Played in the 2023 USL Championship Regular Season
T-1. Paul Blanchette, Oakland Roots SC – 2,970
T-1. Benny Díaz, El Paso Locomotive FC – 2,970
T-1. Morey Doner, Monterey Bay F.C. – 2,970
T-1. Sean Totsch, Louisville City FC – 2,970
5. Daniel Barbir, Oakland Roots SC – 2,968
6. Kai Greene, Monterey Bay F.C. – 2,956
7. Derek Dodson, Charleston Battery – 2,953
8. Aedan Stanley, Miami FC – 2,917

PITTSBURGH RIVERHOUNDS SC’S ALBERT DIKWA JOINS 20-GOAL CLUB

Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC’s Albert Dikwa became the 13th player to record 20 goals in a single USL Championship regular season on Saturday night as he opened the scoring in the Hounds’ 2-0 victory against the Tampa Bay Rowdies at Al Lang Stadium.

The 25-year-old has almost doubled his career total for regular season goals in the USL Championship this season, building on his first season with double-digit goals (11) a season ago for the Hounds. Dikwa made his Championship debut in 2017 for Orlando City B and competed for Saint Louis FC for two seasons before joining the Hounds prior to the 2020 season.

Players with 20+ Goals in a USL Championship Regular Season (Alphabetical)
Solomon Asante – 22 (2019)
Hadji Barry – 25 (2021)
Albert Dikwa – 20 (2023)
Thomas Enevoldsen – 20 (2018)
Matt Fondy – 22 (2015)
Phillip Goodrum – 21 (2022)
Sebastian Guenzatti – 21 (2021)
Danni Konig – 21 (2015)
Cameron Lancaster – 25 (2018), 20 (2021)
Milan Iloski – 22 (2022)
Kevin Molino – 20 (2014)
Kyle Murphy – 20 (2021)
Daniel Ríos – 20 (2018), 20 (2019)

RIO GRANDE VALLEY FC’S CHRISTIANO FRANCOIS JOINS 35-35 CLUB

Haitian international Christiano Francois scored the 35th regular season goal of his career in the USL Championship last Wednesday night in Rio Grande Valley FC’s 2-2 draw with Hartford Athletic, and in turn became the eighth player to have recorded at least 35 goals and 35 assists in the league’s history.

Players with 35 goals, 35 assists in the USL Championship’s Regular Season
Jorge Herrera – 72 goals, 35 assists
Enzo Martinez – 69 goals, 45 assists*
Aodhan Quinn – 54 goals, 50 assists*
Solomon Asante – 52 goals, 53 assists*
Antoine Hoppenot – 41 goals, 47 assists*
Brian Ownby – 39 goals, 46 assists*
Rodrigo Lopez – 36 goals, 46 assists*
Christiano Francois – 35 goals, 38 assists*

* - active player

USL CHAMPIONSHIP, LEAGUE ONE PLAYERS SELECTED FOR NATIONAL TEAM DUTY
Twenty-four players from the USL Championship, USL League One and USL League Two have been called up for international duty during the October FIFA window, with players set to compete on three continents in the Concacaf Nations League, UEFA Euro 2024 Qualifying, and in international exhibitions.

USL Championship, League One Players Called Up for October International Window
Belize (2) – Michael Salazar (Miami FC), Deshawon Nembhard (South Georgia Tormenta FC)

Burkina Faso (1) – Trova Boni (San Antonio FC)

Cuba (3) – Raiko Arozarena (Tampa Bay Rowdies), Modesto Mendez (Hartford Athletic), Jorge Corrales (FC Tulsa)

El Salvador (3) – Walmer Martinez (Monterey Bay F.C.), Amando Moreno (New Mexico United), Bryan Tamacas (Oakland Roots SC)

Faroe Islands (1) – Petur Knudsen (El Paso Locomotive FC)

Grenada (1) – Kharlton Belmar (Richmond Kickers)

Guatemala (1) – Ricardo Jerez (Chattanooga Red Wolves SC)

Haiti (2) – Mechack Jerome (Indy Eleven), François Dulysse (Central Valley Fuego FC)

Jamaica (2) – Romario Williams (Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC), Jahmali Waite (Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC)

Puerto Rico (4) – Nicolas Cardona (Chattanooga Red Wolves SC), Rodolfo Sulia (Fort Wayne FC), Devin Vega (Des Moines Menace), Jaden Servania (North Carolina FC)

Trinidad and Tobago (4) – Neveal Hackshaw (Oakland Roots SC), Noah Powder (Northern Colorado Hailstorm FC), Jesse Williams (Central Valley Fuego FC), Ryan Telfer (Miami FC)

Quick Hits
- New Mexico United’s Kalen Ryden became the 32nd player to record 200 regular season appearances in the USL Championship this past Saturday when he went the full 90 minutes in his side’s victory against Phoenix Rising FC.

- Hartford Athletic’s Antoine Hoppenot became the 36th player to record 15,000 regular season minutes in the USL Championship last Wednesday night when he came on as a second-half substitute in his side’s contest with Rio Grande Valley FC.

- Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC would become the 12th team to win 20 regular season games in a single season in the USL Championship’s history with a victory against Detroit City FC on Saturday. A win would also see the Hounds set a new club record for points, having recorded 68 in the 2019 regular season.

- Oakland Roots SC’s Paul Blanchette enters the final game of the regular season with 113 saves, which currently ranks eighth all-time in USL Championship single-season history. Blanchette would move into the top four in single-season saves with at least five stops in Oakland’s final game of the regular season.

- El Paso Locomotive FC’s two total shots against Memphis 901 FC matched the fewest shots in a game in the USL Championship this season, equaling the mark set by Birmingham Legion FC against Memphis 901 FC on September 20. It also marked Locomotive FC’s fewest shots in a USL Championship game – regular season or playoffs – in club history.

Upcoming Player Milestones

Appearances
Approaching 200 regular-season appearances
Joe Farrell (PIT) – 199
Santi Moar (NM) – 198
Neco Brett (BHM) – 198

Approaching 150 regular-season appearances
Chris Wehan (NM) – 148
Bryam Rebellon (IND) – 148
Rodrigo Da Costa (MEM) – 148
Nick Hinds (ELP) – 148  
Matt Sheldon (HFD) – 147
Will Seymore (NM) – 147
Albert Dikwa (PIT) – 147

Approaching 100 regular-season appearances
James Murphy (MB) – 99
Drew Skundrich (COS) – 99
Kevin Partida (OC) – 99
Connor Maloney (SA) – 99
Yuma (ELP) – 99
Andrew Carleton (LV) – 99
AJ Paterson (CHS) – 98
Grant Stoneman (SD) – 98
Aedan Stanley (MIA) – 97
Younes Boudadi (IND) – 97
Ben Ofeimu (MIA) – 97
Conor McGlynn (HFD) – 97
Prince Saydee (HFD) – 97

Minutes
Approaching 15,000 regular season minutes
Aaron Guillen (TBR) – 14,893

Approaching 10,000 regular season minutes
Tyler Pasher (BHM) – 9,983
Sam Hamilton (NM) – 9,731

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

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

Approaching 40 regular season assists
Christiano Francois (RGV) – 38

Approaching 30 regular season assists
Niall McCabe (LOU) – 28
Rodrigo Da Costa (MEM) – 28

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

Approaching 200 regular season saves
Christian Herrera (COS) – 197
Adrian Zendejas (MIA) – 191
Kyle Morton (LOU) – 187

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

Discipline Report – Week 32

TAMPA, Fla. – The following is the USL Championship’s discipline report for Week 32 of the 2023 USL Championship season:

Orange County SC’s Mark McNulty has been suspended for two games following his red card for violent conduct against San Antonio FC on October 7. McNulty will be unavailable for selection in Orange County’s contest against Monterey Bay F.C. on Saturday, and for the club’s opening game in the 2023 USL Championship Playoffs.

Louisville City FC’s Wesley Charpie has been suspended one game for caution accumulation following his eighth yellow card of the season against Hartford Athletic on October 7. Charpie will be unavailable for selection in Louisville’s contest against the Tampa Bay Rowdies on Saturday night.

El Paso Locomotive FC’s Liam Rose 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.

Indy Eleven’s Douglas Martinez Jr. 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.

Rio Grande Valley FC’s Taylor Davila 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 their eighth yellow card of the season. Per league rules, caution accumulation suspensions do not roll into the USL Championship Playoffs, and as a result players would solely receive a fine should they be awarded a yellow card in the final game of the regular season.

Here is the breakdown per club:

• Birmingham Legion FC (2) – Anderson Asiedu, Enzo Martinez

• Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC (1) – Deshane Beckford

• Detroit City FC (1) – Maxi Rodriguez

• El Paso Locomotive FC (1) – Eder Borelli

• Hartford Athletic (2) – Danny Barrera, Conor McGlynn

• Indy Eleven (1) – Jack Blake

• Las Vegas Lights FC (1) – Andres Jimenez

• Loudoun United FC (1) – Cole Turner

• Monterey Bay F.C. (1) – Mobi Fehr

• New Mexico United (2) – Will Seymore, Harry Swartz

• Oakland Roots SC (5) – Memo Diaz, Neveal Hackshaw, Napo Matsoso, Johnny Rodriguez, Bryan Tamacas

• Orange County SC (1) – Markus Nakkim

• Phoenix Rising FC (2) – Manuel Arteaga, Alejandro Fuenmayor

• Rio Grande Valley FC (1) – Gabriel Benitez

• San Diego Loyal SC (1) – Alejandro Guido

• FC Tulsa (1) – Collin Fernandez

The following players enter the upcoming matches one caution away from their 11th yellow card of the season. Per league rules, caution accumulation suspensions do not roll into the USL Championship Playoffs, and as a result players would solely receive a fine should they be awarded a yellow card in the final game of the regular season.

Here is the breakdown per club:

• Birmingham Legion FC (1) – Alex Crognale

• Las Vegas Lights FC (1) – Jacob Bushue

• New Mexico United (1) – Justin Portillo

• Orange County SC (1) – Kyle Scott

• San Antonio FC (1) – Lamar Batista

• FC Tulsa (1) – Phillip Goodrum