The expectations around Las Vegas Lights FC changed this offseason.

Now, the club is actively setting its bar higher than it ever has before.

In this week’s edition of the USL Championship’s News & Notes we look at how Lights history was made this past weekend in the side’s victory against San Antonio FC, and what else it could accomplish this weekend.

We also look at a historic four-game start to the season for Louisville City FC’s Wilson Harris, and why Tulsa is on the verge of a mark the club would rather avoid as it heads to face Sacramento Republic FC this weekend.

We’ve also got our regular look at upcoming potential landmarks for players across the USL Championship, and the Week 6 Discipline Report.

Let’s begin.

NEWS & NOTES

LAS VEGAS LIGHTS FC MAKING CLUB HISTORY

Las Vegas Lights FC’s new era under the ownership of José Bautista has seen the club make history less than a month into its first campaign on Saturday night. The Lights’ 1-0 victory against San Antonio FC at Cashman Field was the side’s third consecutive shutout, a first in Las Vegas’ seven-season history. Las Vegas’ current shutout streak is currently at 304 minutes, which could surpass the club’s record streak of 335 minutes set between September 24 and October 8, 2022.

The victory also saw the Lights equal their longest winning streak in club history, set with three consecutive wins in the 2022 campaign. The club now has the chance to both set a new club record for wins and equal the club’s longest single-season undefeated run of four games – which has occurred on three prior occasions – when Las Vegas plays Monterey Bay F.C. this Saturday at Cardinale Stadium.

LOUCITY’S WILSON HARRIS SETS MARK FOR FASTEST FOUR-GAME START

Louisville City FC’s Wilson Harris recorded his first hat trick in the USL Championship on Saturday during LouCity’s 5-3 victory against Indy Eleven on CBS at Lynn Family Stadium. In doing so, he also became the first player to record seven goals in their opening four appearances of a USL Championship season in regular season history.

Harris surpassed the mark of six goals in four appearances achieved by Senegalese forward Djiby Fall, who recorded six goals in four appearances for FC Cincinnati at the start of the 2017 USL Championship campaign.

Most goals in the opening four appearances of a USL Championship season
Wilson Harris, Louisville City FC (2024) – 7 goals in 4 appearances
Djiby Fall, FC Cincinnati (2017) – 6 goals in 4 appearances
Luca Lobo, FC Tulsa (2019) – 5 goals in 4 appearances
Kharlton Belmar, Sporting Kansas City II – 5 goals in 4 appearances

FC TULSA LOOKS TO BREAK SACRAMENTO REPUBLIC FC HEX

FC Tulsa will visit Sacramento Republic FC this Saturday aiming to record its first victory in the series between the two clubs since they first met in the 2015 season. Should Sacramento add to its current 9-0-3 record against the Oklahoma side, however, it would mark the most games played without a win for one side in a regular-season series in the USL Championship’s history.

Tulsa’s 12-game winless run currently matches the series marks of Atlanta United 2 against the Tampa Bay Rowdies (0-9-3), Toronto FC II against Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC (0-9-3) and Rio Grande Valley FC against the LA Galaxy II (0-7-5). With none of those series active following the departure of MLS reserve sides to MLS NEXT Pro over the past two years, Tulsa will try to break its winless run at Heart Health Park.

Quick Hits
- Louisville City FC’s five-goal performance against Indy Eleven on Saturday was the first time the side had scored five-or-more goals in consecutive league games in club history. Louisville is now tied for the Championship’s all-time lead in 5+-goal performances alongside Phoenix Rising FC and the New York Red Bulls II with 14.

- Detroit City FC’s 1-0 victory against North Carolina FC on Saturday marked its fourth consecutive victory, equaling the club’s longest winning streak since joining the USL Championship for the 2022 season.

- Sacramento Republic FC goalkeeper Danny Vitiello moved into sole possession of 10th place in the Championship’s regular season with the 35th shutout of his career this past Saturday against Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC.

- Following Tuesday night’s victory against Louisville City FC, the Charleston Battery’s 11-game undefeated streak across the regular season and playoffs dating to the 2023 season is the club’s longest since the 2018 campaign.

- FC Tulsa’s Stefan Stojanovic scored the fastest goal in the USL Championship so far this season on Friday night against Phoenix Rising FC, with his goal officially being clocked at 53 seconds.

Upcoming Player Milestones

Appearances
Approaching 200 regular-season appearances
Augustine Williams (IND) – 198
Niall McCabe (LOU) – 198

Approaching 150 regular-season appearances
Tyler Gibson (IND) – 149
Shannon Gomez (SA) – 147
Jack Blake (IND) – 147
Lindo Mfeka (OAK) – 147   

Approaching 100 regular-season appearances
Yuma (ELP) – 99
Bruno Lapa (MEM) – 99
Edgardo Rito (PHX) – 99
Jordan Doherty (TBR) – 98
Phillip Goodrum (TUL) – 97
Tyler Deric (MEM) – 97
Patrick Seagrist (TUL) – 97
Alex Villanueva (DET) – 97

Minutes
Approaching 15,000 regular season minutes
Neveal Hackshaw (OAK) – 14,612

Approaching 10,000 regular season minutes
Prosper Kasim (BHM) – 9,999
Albert Dikwa (RI) – 9,972
Danny Griffin (PIT) – 9,799

Goals
Approaching 70 regular season goals
Enzo Martinez (BHM) – 69
Augustine Williams (IND) – 67

Approaching 60 regular season goals
Romario Williams (HFD) – 58
Russell Cicerone (SAC) – 57

Approaching 50 regular season goals
Rodrigo Da Costa (NC) – 47

Assists
Approaching 50 regular season assists
Brian Ownby (LOU) – 46
Rodrigo Lopez (SAC) – 46
Enzo Martinez (BHM) – 46

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

Approaching 30 regular season assists
Niall McCabe (LOU) – 29
Rodrigo Da Costa (NC) – 29
Cam Lindley (IND) – 27

Saves
Approaching 300 regular season saves
Paul Blanchette (OAK) – 298
Kendall McIntosh (SA) – 278

Approaching 250 regular season saves
Jordan Farr (TBR) – 237

Approaching 200 regular season saves
Nathan Steinwascher (DET) – 189

Discipline Report – Week 6

TAMPA, Fla. – The following is the USL Championship’s discipline report for Week 6 of the 2024 USL Championship season:

Monterey Bay F.C.’s Walmer Martinez has been suspended for four games following his red card for violent conduct against Oakland Roots SC following the conclusion of April 6’s contest. Martinez will be unavailable for selection in Monterey Bay’s contests against Las Vegas Lights FC (April 13), Memphis 901 FC (April 20), Orange County SC (April 27), and Indy Eleven (May 4).

Oakland Roots SC’s Neveal Hackshaw and Baboucarr Njie have each been suspended for three games following their red cards for violent conduct against Monterey Bay F.C. following the conclusion of April 6’s contest. Hackshaw and Njie will be unavailable for selection in Oakland’s contests against El Paso Locomotive FC (April 13), Detroit City FC (April 20), and Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC (April 27).

Monterey Bay F.C.’s Carlos Herrera has been suspended for one game following his red card for dissent by word or action against Oakland Roots SC following the conclusion of April 6’s contest. Herrera will be unavailable for selection in Monterey Bay’s contest this Saturday against Las Vegas Lights FC.

Phoenix Rising FC’s Emil Cuello has been suspended for one game following his red card for serious foul play against FC Tulsa on April 5. Cuello will be unavailable for selection in Phoenix’s contest against Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC this Saturday.

Rhode Island FC’s Conor McGlynn has been suspended for one game following his red card for two cautionable offenses against the Charleston Battery on April 6. McGlynn will be unavailable for selection in Rhode Island’s contest against Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC this Saturday.

Memphis 901 FC assistant coach Leandro Spinola has been suspended for one game following his red card for Offensive, Insulting, or Abusive Language and Actions against Orange County SC on April 6. Spinola will serve his suspension during Memphis’ contest against Loudoun United FC this Saturday.