As our friends Mike Watts and Devon Kerr said on this week’s edition of USL All Access, if there’s a Mount Rushmore of USL Championship figures, Kenardo Forbes is a lock for inclusion.

The Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC icon earned the latest landmark on his legendary career this weekend to sit at the top of three of the league’s main all-time regular season categories.

In this edition of the USL Championship’s News & Notes, we look King Kenny’s ascent, dig into the remarkable home winning streak being put together by New Mexico United and where it stands in league history, and why Rhode Island FC’s victory against Louisville City FC achieved a notable piece of history.

We’ve also got our regular look at upcoming landmarks for players around the league, and the Week 17 Discipline Report.

Let’s begin.  

NEWS & NOTES

KING KENNY TAKES THE APPEARANCES CROWN
Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC midfielder Kenardo Forbes became the USL Championship’s all-time leader in regular season appearances this past Saturday, making his 278th appearance in the league to pass former Tampa Bay Rowdies midfielder Yann Ekra.

Forbes is currently in his 10th season in the Championship, having made his debut for the Rochester Rhinos in the 2015 campaign. A six-time All-League selection previously, the Jamaican is now the Championship’s all-time leader in regular season appearances, minutes (21,793) and assists (65).

USL Championship All-Time Regular Season Appearance Leaders
1. Kenardo Forbes (PIT) – 278*
2. Yann Ekra – 277
3. Alex Dixon (MB) – 265*
4. Josh Suggs – 264
5. Hugh Roberts – 262
6. Paolo DelPiccolo – 256
7. Sean Totsch (LOU) – 254*
T-8. Aodhan Quinn (IND) – 251*
T-8. Dane Kelly – 251
T-10. George Davis IV – 242
T-10. Kyle Greig – 242
* - Active Players

NEW MEXICO UNITED’S HOME FORTRESS

New Mexico United recorded its ninth consecutive regular season home victory this past Saturday night with its 1-0 win against Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC at Isotopes Park. New Mexico’s streak – which began with a 3-2 victory against Indy Eleven on September 15, 2023 – is now the fifth-longest in the USL Championship’s regular season history. The current all-time mark of 13 is held by Orlando City SC’s 2014 squad, which recorded 13 consecutive home victories on the way to claiming the Players’ Shield.

Most Consecutive Home Wins in the USL Championship Regular Season
1. Orlando City SC (2014) – 13
2. Phoenix Rising FC (2019) – 12
T-3. Indy Eleven (2019-20) – 11
T-3. Real Monarchs SLC (2018) – 11
5. New Mexico United (2023-24) – 9

RHODE ISLAND FC DELIVERS FIVE-STAR PERFORMANCE

Rhode Island FC recorded the second victory of its inaugural season in remarkable style on Saturday night with a 5-2 victory against Louisville City FC at Lynn Family Stadium. The result marked the first time Louisville City FC had conceded five goals in a home USL Championship game in its history, having twice previously conceded four goals at home.

The result also marked the second time an away side had recorded five goals in a game this USL Championship season following the Tampa Bay Rowdies’ 5-2 victory against Miami FC on April 11. It was the 52nd time a visiting side had posted at least five goals in a regular season contest in the USL Championship. A visiting team has recorded seven goals in a USL Championship regular season contest on three occasions, most recently occurring when San Antonio FC defeated the Charleston Battery 7-0 at Patriots Point on May 13, 2023.

Quick Hits

- Monterey Bay F.C. forward Alex Dixon moved into third place in the Championship’s all-time appearances list this past Saturday, making his 265th league appearance in MBFC’s contest against Oakland Roots SC.

- New Mexico United’s Alex Tambakis moved within one save of Evan Newton for the most regular-season saves in USL Championship history with his five-save shutout against Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC on June 22. Tambakis sits on 572 saves entering Saturday’s contest against San Antonio FC with Newton on 573.

- Tampa Bay Rowdies forward Manuel Arteaga became the 45th player to reach 40 regular season goals in the USL Championship’s history with his tally against Hartford Athletic last Friday night. The goal came in Arteaga’s 100th regular season appearance in the league, with the Venezuelan average a goal every 190.5 minutes so far in his career.

- San Antonio FC’s Kendall McIntosh became the 14th goalkeeper to record at least 300 saves in the Championship’s regular season with his seven-save performance against Birmingham Legion FC on June 19.

- Birmingham Legion FC’s Enzo Martinez moved into sole possession of fifth place in the USL Championship’s all-time regular season assists leaders, with his helper on Tabort Etaka Preston’s goal against San Antonio FC on June 19 the 48th of his career.

- Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC’s current eight-game winless streak is the longest in the Championship’s regular season since a run of nine consecutive games without a win between Sept. 2, 2017 and March 31, 2018. 

- San Antonio FC’s defeat to Birmingham Legion FC on June 19 marked its fourth consecutive defeat in league play, the longest losing streak the club has experienced since four consecutive defeats between August 12-26, 2018.

Upcoming Player Milestones

Appearances
Approaching 200 regular-season appearances
Paco Craig (NC) – 199
Christiano Francois (LDN) – 198
Neveal Hackshaw (OAK) – 198
Oscar Jimenez (MEM) – 197
Russell Cicerone (SAC) – 196

Approaching 150 regular-season appearances
Cam Lindley (IND) – 148
Prosper Kasim (BHM) – 147
Alex Crognale (BHM) – 146  

Approaching 100 regular-season appearances
Ben Mines (IND) – 99
Baboucarr Njie (OAK) – 99
Paul Blanchette (OAK) – 97
Aaron Molloy (CHS) – 97
Zach Herivaux (TBR) – 97
Maalique Foster (COS) – 97

Minutes
Approaching 20,000 regular season minutes
Phanuel Kavita (BHM) – 19,711

Approaching 15,000 regular season minutes
Augustine Williams (IND) – 14,737
Charlie Adams (LV) – 14,617
Matt Mahoney (COS) – 14,617

Approaching 10,000 regular season minutes
Aedan Stanley (IND) – 9,905
Jared Timmer (SAC) – 9,875
Eric Calvillo (ELP) – 9,831
Shane Wiedt (SAC) – 9,819
Fabien Garcia (LV) – 9,814

Goals
Approaching 60 regular season goals
Wilson Harris (LOU) – 59
Cal Jennings (TBR) – 59
Romario Williams (IND) – 58
Russell Cicerone (SAC) – 58

Approaching 50 regular season goals
Rodrigo Da Costa (NC) – 49

Approaching 40 regular season goals
Amando Moreno (ELP) – 39
Elvis Amoh (DET) – 39
Brian Ownby (LOU) – 39
Leo Fernandes (TBR) – 38
Rodrigo Lopez (SAC) – 38
JJ Williams (RI) – 37
Michee Ngalina (HFD) – 37
Justin Portillo (SAC) – 37

Assists
Approaching 50 regular season assists
Enzo Martinez (BHM) – 48
Rodrigo Lopez (SAC) – 46
Brian Ownby (LOU) – 46

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

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

Saves
Approaching 250 regular season saves
Tyler Deric (MEM) – 245

Shutouts
Approaching 50 regular season shutouts
Alex Tambakis (NM) – 48

Approaching 40 regular season shutouts
Danny Vitiello (SAC) – 39
Jordan Farr (TBR) – 37

Discipline Report – Week 17

TAMPA, Fla. – The following is the USL Championship’s discipline report for Week 17 of the 2024 USL Championship season:

Hartford Athletic’s Beverly Makangila has been suspended for one game following his red card for two cautionable offenses against the Tampa Bay Rowdies on June 21. Makangila will be unavailable for selection in Hartford’s contest against Sacramento Republic FC on Saturday night.

Monterey Bay F.C.’s Rafael Baca has been suspended for one game following his red card for two cautionable offenses against Oakland Roots SC on June 22. Baca will be unavailable for selection in Monterey Bay’s contest against Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC on Saturday night.

Oakland Roots SC’s Irakoze Donasiyano has been suspended for one game following his red card for two cautionable offenses against Monterey Bay F.C. on June 22. Donasiyano will be unavailable for selection in Oakland’s contest against Orange County SC on Saturday night.

Louisville City FC assistant coach Simon Bird has been suspended for one game following his red card for abusive language against Rhode Island FC on June 22. Bird will serve his suspension during Louisville’s contest against Birmingham Legion FC on Saturday night.

Phoenix Rising FC’s Jose Hernandez has been suspended one game for caution accumulation following his eighth yellow card of the season against the Charleston Battery on June 22. Hernandez will be unavailable for selection in Phoenix’s contest against Memphis 901 FC on Friday night.

Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC’s Luke Biasi was suspended for one game following his red card for two cautionable offenses against Louisville City FC on June 19. Biasi served his suspension during Pittsburgh’s contest against North Carolina FC on June 22.

The following players enter the upcoming matches one caution away from their eighth yellow card of the season and a one-game suspension for caution accumulation.

Here is the breakdown per club:

• Miami FC (1): Nicolas Cardona

• San Antonio FC (1): Mitchell Taintor