This weekend in the USL Championship we saw the Eastern Conference leader take another step toward demolishing one of the league’s all-time records, an all-time epic between the other two teams in the top three of the Players’ Shield standings, and the best of the West continue to deliver.

Here are the three big storylines we took away from Week 21’s action, our picks for who’s up and who’s down coming out of the weekend, and thoughts on everything else we saw around the league.

TOP THREE STORYLINES

1. LOUCITY’S HOME DOMINANCE IS TERRIFYING

From the moment Jake Morris’ finish 124 seconds into Louisville City FC’s eventual 4-1 victory against Monterey Bay F.C. rocketed in off the underside of the crossbar at Lynn Family Stadium, there was little question as to the direction the night was headed.

LouCity’s fastest goal of the season was followed by Wilson Harris’ 12th goal of the campaign four minutes later. Yes, Monterey Bay pulled a goal back – and a nice one it was too by Mobi Fehr – but before the half-hour mark Elijah Wynder had restored the two-goal lead and normal service resumed.

• RUNNING IT UP: LouCity has now recorded 37 goals in 10 home regular season games this season. It narrowly missed out on a fifth five-goal home performance, which would have set a league single-season record.

• RECORD PACE: Head Coach Danny Cruz’s side has won nine of its first 10 home games this season. The league record is 13 home wins in a regular season – accomplished eight different times, including by LouCity two seasons ago – but at LouCity’s current pace that feels like it’s going to get demolished.

• SPREAD THE WEALTH: The thing about LouCity is while Harris has a team-high 12 goals, everyone eats. Four different players found the net on Saturday, including former MBFC player Sam Gleadle to cap things off after his offseason move.

There are serious challengers coming to Lynn Family Stadium, including visits from the Charleston Battery (August 17) and Tampa Bay Rowdies (October 12), each of which won against LouCity one their home turf previously this season.

If you haven’t circled those games yet, you’d better, because you’re probably going to be witnessing history.

2. ROWDIES CLAIM BATTERY EPIC

We had high expectations for what the Tampa Bay Rowdies and Charleston Battery might deliver on Saturday night at Al Lang Stadium.

It delivered, and then some.

• BATTERY BLAST: The Battery recorded the first seven shots, scored the opening two goals and were looking like making it a six-point week after their victory against Loudoun United FC last Wednesday.

• TURNING POINT: The Rowdies pulled a goal back from the penalty spot – Charleston’s Emilio Ycaza will probably regret the challenge he made to concede it – but the game’s crucial moment came when the Battery’s Aaron Molloy was forced off with injury after an awkward collision with Tampa Bay’s Josh Perez.

• ROWDIES’ TURN: With Molloy absent, the Rowdies grabbed control of the game, first through Perez’s equalizer just two minutes into the second half and then in the chances they created subsequently to keep the pressure on. Eventually, that told with Nate Worth’s game-winner one of the goals of the season so far.

So, what now?

For the Rowdies, there will be lessons learned but also renewed belief they can push Louisville City FC at the top of the standings.

“In my opinion, good teams can lose goals,” said Rowdies Head Coach Robbie Neilson. “But can you react to it? Can you start to slowly get a foothold in the game, start to turn the game a little bit in your favor and start to go forward? We managed to do that. Credit to the players, every one of them.”

For the Battery, a lot might rest on the prognosis for Molloy, who has been as essential in Charleston as he was in earning All-League First Team honors the past two seasons for Memphis 901 FC. We all hope to see him back on the field again soon.

Even in Molloy’s absence, though, you’d think the Battery are still going to be in this until the end. They’re too good – and too smartly coached and run – to think otherwise.

3. NEW MEXICO, SACRAMENTO, ANYONE ELSE?

Maybe the defining attribute of the Western Conference this season has been its inconsistency.

On a weekend in which only the top four teams in the conference came out with wins, it continues to be New Mexico United and Sacramento Republic FC that look most likely to rise above and challenge the best in the East.

• REPUBLIC REVIVAL: After the cathartic 5-2 victory against Oakland Roots SC the previous week, Sacramento continued its turnaround with a 1-0 win on the road against Detroit City FC. That’s 11 consecutive games undefeated on the road for Republic FC, which is one off the Championship’s all-time record.

• BRUUUUUUUCE: For New Mexico, this was rivalry weekend and it delivered its own road victory with Daniel Bruce getting the winner against El Paso Locomotive FC in the Derby Del Camino Real. United completed the season sweep with its win and kept Sacramento at arms-length with two games in hand.

New Mexico’s 12th win of the campaign was also significant in that it brought it within one win of equaling its highest win total in a season in club history – it recorded 13 wins each of the past two seasons.

This weekend, though, we might find out a lot about Head Coach Eric Quill’s squad. Louisville City FC is coming to Isotopes Park, and it has Championship Final preview written all over it.

Three Up

Johnny Rodriguez – Rodriguez was already a club icon, but he keeps contributing this season. One goal, one assist in what was a must-win game on the road to Miami to stop the bleeding of the last two weeks, he delivered again.

Nate Worth – We knew the 17-year-old was good – it’s why he’s on our mythical USL Olympic Team – but that was an attention-grabber. It’s exactly why you should always go to games.

Daniel Bruce – Can someone from Warrington, England become the Mayor of Albuquerque, New Mexico? It feels like Bruce has at least earned the honorary position given everything he’s meant to United over its history.

Three Down

Hartford Athletic – Athletic was at home against a team making long travel and in need of three points. Six shots and one shot on target was not what was required.

Ronaldo Damus’ Timing – Twice against Las Vegas Lights FC, the Haitian forward put the ball in the net in the second half. Twice the offside flag was raised because he couldn’t hold the line.

Indy Eleven – Three teams in the Eastern Conference haven’t won in their last five outings – the bottom two in the standings and the Boys in Blue. They need to pick it up after a subpar display in Tulsa.

THE REST OF THE ACTION

#HFDvPHX: Man, do I have to? This wasn’t very good between two teams that are below the playoff line but showed no great desperation to take victory.

#TULvIND: Tulsa’s only lost once in its last five games, but it’s only scored once in that span as well with three scoreless draws. The goals are going to have to come from somewhere if the games in hand are going to get them above the playoff line.

#COSvLV: Congratulations to the Lights on a nine-game undefeated streak. That’s only two off the league’s longest this season as it heads to New Mexico on Wednesday night.

#MIAvOAK: Miami is the opponent that cures all ills right now. Oakland Roots SC was the latest to take advantage, and it’s hard to see where the next win for Head Coach Antonio Nocerino is coming from.

#PITvLDN: The Hounds were probably the better team on the night, but Loudoun earned a point. Given their respective positions in the standings, that’s certainly good enough for United.

#BHMvOC: Seeing Tyler Pasher back on the field and contributing was a great sight for Legion fans in an important win. Orange County just can’t get anything going on the road right now, three straight defeats, no goals.

#RIvNC: Zach Herivaux, where has this been? A second consecutive game-winner gave Rhode Island its first comeback win in club history. Given this was a playoff six-pointer against North Carolina, it’s pretty magical.

#MEMvSA: Say this for Memphis 901 FC, they keep rebounding after bad performances. Apparently, that’s enough to make you a top-four contender in the West this season, which San Antonio FC will not be unless something miraculous happens.