Detroit City FC is in the best form of its time in the USL Championship.

It’s also in position to do something that hasn’t happened in the league for more than a decade this weekend when it visits Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC at Highmark Stadium. In this week’s edition of the USL Championship’s News & Notes we look at the flying start Le Rouge have made to start the new season and its path to potential history.

We also have details on the landmark Sacramento Republic FC Head Coach Mark Briggs could reach this weekend in the Championship’s coaching ranks, the select group Louisville City FC’s Niall McCabe will join with his next regular season appearance, and where Birmingham Legion FC goalkeeper Fernando Delgado ranks among the youngest to record a shutout in the Championship’s history.

We’ve also got our regular look at upcoming individual landmarks around the Championship, and the Week 8 Discipline Report.

Let’s begin.

NEWS & NOTES

DETROIT CITY FC AIMS TO EQUAL SEASON-OPENING RECORD WIN STREAK

Detroit City FC’s 3-1 victory against Oakland Roots SC this past Saturday was the club’s fifth consecutive win to start the season. It marked the longest winning streak Le Rouge have achieved since joining the USL Championship for the 2022 season and moved the club within one victory of equaling the best six-game start to a USL Championship campaign in the league’s history.

Two clubs have previously recorded six consecutive wins to start a USL Championship regular season with the Richmond Kickers winning their first six games in the inaugural 2011 campaign before being matched in 2012 by the Rochester Rhinos. More recently, Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC (2022) and the Tampa Bay Rowdies (2021) have each recorded five consecutive wins to start a campaign.

Most Consecutive Wins to Start a USL Championship Regular Season
T-1. Richmond Kickers (2011) – 6
T-1. Rochester Rhinos (2012) – 6
T-3. Detroit City FC (2024) – 5*
T-3. Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC (2022) – 5
T-3. Tampa Bay Rowdies (2021) – 5

* - Active Streak

SACRAMENTO’S MARK BRIGGS APPROACHES CENTURY OF WINS

Sacramento Republic FC Head Coach Mark Briggs recorded his 99th victory as a Head Coach in the USL Championship across the league’s regular season and playoffs in Republic FC’s 2-0 victory against Orange County SC this past weekend at Championship Soccer Stadium. He could become only the third head coach to reach the century mark this Saturday when Republic FC hosts Loudoun United FC on CBS Sports Golazo Network.

Prior to being appointed Sacramento’s Head Coach prior to the 2020 season, Briggs had previous stints at Wilmington Hammerheads FC and Real Monarchs SLC, where he was voted the Championship’s Coach of the Year in 2017 after leading the Monarchs to the Players’ Shield. Briggs would join current Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC Head Coach Bob Lilley and former Charleston Battery Head Coach Mike Anhaeuser in reaching 100 wins in the USL Championship era.

Most Head Coaching Wins in the USL Championship’s Regular Season & Playoffs
1. Bob Lilley – 171*
2. Mike Anhaeuser – 136
3. Mark Briggs – 99*
4. John Wolyniec – 95
5. Neill Collins – 94

* - active in USL Championship

LOUISVILLE CITY’S NIALL McCABE SET FOR 200TH REGULAR SEASON GAME

Louisville City FC’s Niall McCabe could make his 200th regular season appearance in the USL Championship this Saturday with the veteran set to be only the fourth player to reach the landmark with a single club in the league’s history.

McCabe is the last remaining player from Louisville City FC’s inaugural 2015 squad. He would join former LouCity captain Paolo DelPiccolo (202) and current defender Sean Totsch (201) in reaching the mark with the club. Former Charleston Battery defender Taylor Mueller is the lone other player to have recorded 200 regular season appearances for a single club in the Championship’s regular season history.

One additional player is within range of reaching the landmark this season, with Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC veteran Kenardo Forbes sitting on 183 regular season appearances for the club. That is equal with former teammate Kevin Kerr for the most for the Hounds in the USL Championship era.

Most Regular Season Appearances for a Single Club in the USL Championship Era
1. Paolo DelPiccolo, Louisville City FC – 202
2. Sean Totsch, Louisville City FC – 201*
3. Taylor Mueller, Charleston Battery – 200
4. Niall McCabe, Louisville City FC – 199*
T-5. Kevin Kerr, Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC – 183
T-5. Kenardo Forbes, Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC – 183*

* - active player

LEGION’S DELGADO FOURTH YOUNGEST TO RECORD SHUTOUT

Birmingham Legion FC’s Fernando Delgado became the fourth-youngest goalkeeper to record a shutout in the USL Championship in his debut for the club on loan from Real Monarch SLC of MLS NEXT Pro with Legion’s 1-0 win against Miami FC this past weekend.

Legion is now the only club to have players in both the top five youngest and oldest goalkeepers to have recorded a shutout in the Championship’s regular season, with current Birmingham veteran Matt VanOekel the fourth-eldest goalkeeper to have recorded a shutout in league history.

Youngest Goalkeepers to Record Shutout in USL Championship Regular Season
1. Duran Ferree - San Diego Loyal SC vs. Tampa Bay Rowdies - 4/23/2023 – 16 years, 6 months, 27 days
2. Jeff Dewsnup - Real Monarchs SLC vs. San Diego Loyal SC – 8/7/2021 – 17 years, 2 months, 17 days
3. Aaron Cervantes - Orange County SC vs. San Antonio FC – 7/20/2019 – 17 years, 4 months
4. Fernando Delgado – Birmingham Legion FC vs. Miami FC – 4/20/2024 – 17 years, 8 months, 26 days
5. Saif Kerawala – Tacoma Defiance vs. Portland Timbers 2 – 7/25/2015 – 18 years, 1 month, 2 days

Quick Hits
- Sacramento Republic FC’s Trevor Amann recorded the fastest goal in the USL Championship this season with his finish after 15 seconds against Orange County SC this past Saturday. The goal was the fastest in Republic FC history and is tied for seventh-fastest in the Championship’s regular season.

- Louisville City FC’s Sean Totsch moved into a tie for the most regular season shutouts recorded by an outfield player in the Championship’s history in his side’s 1-0 win against Loudoun United FC. He equaled the mark of 74 shutouts achieved by former Charleston Battery and Tacoma Defiance defender Taylor Mueller.

- Oakland Roots SC’s Paul Blanchette became the 13th player to record 300 saves in the USL Championship’s regular season this past weekend against Detroit City FC. The 30-year-old has averaged 3.38 saves/90 minutes over the course of his career with Rio Grande Valley FC and Roots, making 90 appearances.

- Sacramento Republic FC’s 2-0 victory against Orange County SC this past Saturday was the club’s first away win at Championship Soccer Stadium in the series between the California clubs since March 24, 2018, breaking a five-game winless run.

Upcoming Player Milestones

Appearances
Approaching 200 regular-season appearances
Niall McCabe (LOU) – 199

Approaching 150 regular-season appearances
Shannon Gomez (SA) – 149
Jack Blake (IND) – 149
Lindo Mfeka (OAK) – 147
Matt VanOekel (BHM) – 146
Justin Dhillon (ELP) – 146

Approaching 100 regular-season appearances
Tyler Deric (MEM) – 99
Patrick Seagrist (TUL) – 99
Phillip Goodrum (TUL) – 98
Alex Villanueva (DET) – 98
Danny Crisostomo (TBR) – 97

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

Approaching 10,000 regular season minutes
Danny Griffin (PIT) – 9,979
Collin Martin (NC) – 9,754

Goals
Approaching 70 regular season goals
Augustine Williams (IND) – 68

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

Approaching 50 regular season goals
Rodrigo Da Costa (NC) – 48

Assists
Approaching 50 regular season assists
Rodrigo Lopez (SAC) – 46
Brian Ownby (LOU) – 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 250 regular season saves
Jordan Farr (TBR) – 244

Approaching 200 regular season saves
Nathan Steinwascher (DET) – 191

Discipline Report – Week 8

TAMPA, Fla. – The following is the USL Championship’s discipline report for Week 8 of the 2024 USL Championship season:

Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC’s Wahab Ackwei has been suspended for one game following his red card for violent conduct against Indy Eleven on April 20. Ackwei will be unavailable for selection in Colorado Springs’ contest against Oakland Roots SC on Saturday.

Oakland Roots SC’s Gagi Margvelashvili has been suspended for one game following his red card for two cautionable offenses against Detroit City FC on April 20. Margvelashvili will be unavailable for selection in Oakland’s contest against Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC on Saturday.

Hartford Athletic Head Coach Brendan Burke has been suspended for one game following his red card for two technical staff cautions against San Antonio FC on April 20. Burke will serve his suspension during Hartford’s contest against Louisville City FC on Saturday.