Louisville City FC and New Mexico United have been outstanding on their home turf this season.

In this week’s edition of USL Championship News & Notes, ahead of their showdown this Saturday night at New Mexico’s Isotopes Park, we look at one major record both sides could claim before the end of the campaign, and one where New Mexico’s margin for error is already down to zero.

We also have an update on Sacramento Republic FC after its road victory against Detroit City FC on Saturday continued its undefeated journeys this season, a note on the youngest player to score in the league this season, and where Las Vegas Lights FC’s current club record undefeated streak ranks in the league this season.

We’ve also got our regular look at upcoming individual landmarks around the Championship and the Week 22 Discipline Report.

Let’s begin.

NEWS & NOTES

LOUCITY, NEW MEXICO, AND THE BEST HOME CAMPAIGNS ALL-TIME
Current Eastern Conference leader Louisville City FC and Western Conference leader New Mexico United have used their dominant home form to sit in their current positions, putting both clubs in position to sit among the best regular season home records in the Championship’s history.

Louisville City FC took its ninth win in 10 home games against Monterey Bay F.C. on Saturday night, putting the side only four wins from equaling the league’s regular season record of 13 home wins with seven games remaining at Lynn Family Stadium. That mark has been accomplished in each of the past five full seasons in the Championship, excluding the abbreviated 2020 campaign.

Most Home Victories in a USL Championship Regular Season
T-1. Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC – 13 wins, 2023
T-1. Louisville City FC – 13 wins, 2022
T-1. Tampa Bay Rowdies – 13 wins, 2021
T-1. El Paso Locomotive FC – 13 wins, 2021
T-1. Indy Eleven – 13 wins, 2019
T-1. Phoenix Rising FC – 13 wins, 2019                                  
T-1. Real Monarchs SLC – 13 wins, 2018                               
T-1. Orlando City SC – 13 wins, 2014

New Mexico United – which plays twice at Isotopes Park this week against Las Vegas Lights FC (Wednesday) and Louisville City FC (Saturday) – is currently the lone undefeated side at home in the Championship this season (7-0-1), also putting it in contention to equal or surpass the home victories mark.

However, there is another mark that remains within reach of only New Mexico this season, but one that can only be accomplished if the side wins out its remaining 10 home games.

The current mark for home points-per-game in a Championship regular season is held by 2014’s Orlando City SC side, which went 13-0-1 at the Disney Wide World of Sports Complex to average 2.86 PPG. New Mexico currently sits at a 2.75PPG game at home this season, while Louisville City FC sits at a 2.7PPG mark and due to its defeat to Rhode Island FC cannot surpass Orlando City SC’s mark even should it win out.

Highest Home Points-Per-Game Mark in a USL Championship Regular Season
1. Orlando City SC, 2014 – 2.86PPG
2. Rochester Rhinos, 2015 – 2.71PPG
T-3. El Paso Locomotive FC, 2021 – 2.63PPG
T-3. Tampa Bay Rowdies, 2021 – 2.63PPG
5. Indy Eleven, 2019 – 2.52PPG

SACRAMENTO REPUBLIC FC CONTINUES ROAD UNDEFEATED RUN

Sacramento Republic FC moved into a tie for the third-longest road undefeated streak in the USL Championship’s regular season with its 1-0 victory against Detroit City FC this past Saturday at Keyworth Stadium. Republic FC is now undefeated in its last 11 road games dating back to the 2023 season and stands as the lone team with an undefeated record (6-0-4) on the road in the Championship this season.

Republic FC will attempt to equal the mark set previously by Reno 1868 FC and the Rochester Rhinos when it visits Louisville City FC on August 10 at Lynn Family Stadium, a game that will air live on ESPN2 at 9 p.m. ET.

Longest Road Undefeated Streak in USL Championship Regular Season
T-1 Reno 1868 FC – 12 games, 2017-18

T-1. Rochester Rhinos – 12 games, 2014-15
T-3. Sacramento Republic FC – 11 games, 2023-24*
T-3. FC Cincinnati – 11 games, 2018
T-3. Rochester Rhinos – 11 games, 2016-17
T-3. Richmond Kickers – 11 games, 2014

* - active streak

TAMPA BAY’S NATE WORTH BECOMES YOUNGEST GOALSCORER THIS SEASON

The Tampa Bay Rowdies’ Nate Worth became the youngest goalscorer in the USL Championship this season as he notched his first goal for the Rowdies against the Charleston Battery aged 17 years, 152 days old this past Saturday. Worth surpassed former North Carolina FC forward Julian Placias – who earlier this month was transferred to Belgian First Division club K.V.C. Westerlo – who was 18 years, 14 days old when he scored for NCFC against New Mexico United on April 20.

Worth also became the youngest player to score for the Rowdies since the club joined the USL Championship in 2017 and only the second teenager to score for the Rowdies since the club joined the league. The mark was held by current Rowdies defender Jordan Doherty, who was 19 years, 359 days old when he scored his first goal for the club in 2020.

Youngest Player to Score in the USL Championship in the 2024 Regular Season
1. Nate Worth, Tampa Bay Rowdies – 17 years, 152 days vs. Charleston Battery, 7/27/24
2. Julian Placias, North Carolina FC – 18 years, 14 days vs. New Mexico United, 4/20/24
3. Bryce Jamison, Orange County SC – 18 years, 147 days vs. Detroit City FC, 6/1/24
4. Ilya Alekseev, Oakland Roots SC – 18 years, 259 days vs. El Paso Locomotive FC, 6/19/24
5. Nighte Pickering, Memphis 901 FC – 19 years, 43 days vs. Las Vegas Lights FC, 3/9/24

LIGHTS SET CLUB RECORD UNDEFEATED STREAK

Las Vegas Lights FC set a club record last Friday night as it moved its current undefeated streak to nine games (5-0-4) after a 1-1 draw against Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC. The streak has surpassed the eight-game undefeated run for the club that encompassed the final four games of the 2022 regular season and first four games of the 2023 season. 

The Lights are now also within two games of matching the longest undefeated streak in the USL Championship season. Both the Charleston Battery and Sacramento Republic FC posted 11-game undefeated runs to open the new campaign.

Longest Undefeated Streaks in the 2024 USL Championship Season
11 – Sacramento Republic FC, Charleston Battery
9 – Las Vegas Lights FC*, Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC, Indy Eleven
8 – Loudoun United FC, Louisville City FC

* - active streak

Quick Hits

- Birmingham Legion FC goalkeeper Matt VanOekel extended his rank of third among the eldest goalkeepers to post a shutout in the USL Championship, recording the 46th clean sheet of his career the league’s regular season aged 37 years, 10 months, 7 days against Orange County SC this past Saturday.

- Sacramento Republic FC’s Luis Felipe Fernandes registered the second-highest single-game total in the league this campaign with 17 won duels against Detroit City FC. Fernandes’ total has only been surpassed this season by FC Tulsa’s Phillip Goodrum, who won 18 of 27 duels against Las Vegas Lights FC on March 16 at Cashman Field.

- FC Tulsa posted three consecutive shutouts for the first time in club history after a scoreless draw against Indy Eleven last Friday night. The contest also marked the first time Tulsa had been held without a shot on target in a contest since a 2-0 defeat to Reno 1868 FC on September 29, 2018.

- The Charleston Battery’s 4-2 defeat to the Tampa Bay Rowdies marked the first time the side had lost after holding a two-goal lead in a game since a 3-2 defeat against Miami FC at FIU Stadium on October 7, 2021.

- Rhode Island FC’s 2-1 victory against North Carolina FC marked the first comeback victory in the club’s history.

Upcoming Player Milestones

Appearances
Approaching 200 regular-season appearances
Sebastian Guenzatti (IND) – 199
Russell Cicerone (SAC) – 197
James Musa (IND) – 196

Approaching 150 regular season appearances
Graham Smith (CHS) – 147
Adrián Diz Pe (IND) – 146

Approaching 100 regular-season appearances
Elliot Collier (IND) – 99
Nick Moon (TBR) – 98
Dayonn Harris (NM) – 98
Luis Solignac (SA) – 98
Renzo Zambrano (PHX) – 97
Carter Manley (SA) – 97
Jackson Conway (CHS) – 97

Minutes
Approaching 20,000 regular season minutes
Alex Dixon (MB) – 19,853
Justin Portillo (SAC) – 19,714
Enzo Martinez (BHM) – 19,707

Approaching 15,000 regular season minutes
Augustine Williams (IND) – 14,906
Wes Charpie (LOU) – 14,758
Duke Lacroix (COS) – 14,748
Charlie Adams (LV) – 14,617

Approaching 10,000 regular season minutes
Lindo Mfeka (OAK) – 9,999
Jordan Farr (TBR) – 9,727
Michee Ngalina (HFD) – 9,724

Goals
Approaching 60 regular season goals
Russell Cicerone (SAC) – 59
Romario Williams (IND) – 58

Approaching 50 regular season goals
Rodrigo Da Costa (NC) – 49
Albert Dikwa (RI) – 49
Frank Lopez (MIA) – 48

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

Approaching 30 regular season assists
Niall McCabe (LOU) – 29
Cam Lindley (IND) – 28
Jorge Hernandez (SA) – 28

Saves
Approaching 450 regular season saves
Matt VanOekel (BHM) – 437

Approaching 250 regular season saves
Rocco Rios Novo (PHX) – 245
Jake McGuire (NC) – 241

Approaching 200 regular season saves
Hugo Fauroux (LDN) – 195
Antony Siaha (MB) – 183

Shutouts
Approaching 50 regular season shutouts
Alex Tambakis (NM) – 49

Approaching 40 regular season shutouts
Jordan Farr (TBR) – 39
Tomás Gómez (OC) – 38 

Discipline Report – Week 22

TAMPA, Fla. – The following is the USL Championship’s discipline report for Week 22 of the 2024 USL Championship season:

El Paso Locomotive FC’s Francisco Nevarez has been suspended for one game following his red card for two cautionable offenses and an additional three games for a subsequent referee assault against New Mexico United on July 27. Nevarez will be unavailable for selection in El Paso’s contests against Memphis 901 FC on Saturday night, Miami FC on August 10, Sacramento Republic FC on August 14 and Orange County SC on August 17.

The Charleston Battery’s Adam Grinwis has been suspended for one game following his red card for denial of a goalscoring opportunity against the Tampa Bay Rowdies on July 27. Grinwis will be unavailable for selection in Charleston’s contest against Indy Eleven on Friday night.

Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC’s Bradley Sample has been suspended for one game following his red card for serious foul play against Loudoun United FC on July 27. Sample will be unavailable for selection in Pittsburgh’s contest against Sacramento Republic FC on Saturday night.

The Charleston Battery’s Ben Pirmann has been suspended for one game following his red card for two cautionable offenses against the Tampa Bay Rowdies on July 27. Pirmann will serve his suspension during Charleston’s contest against Indy Eleven on Friday night.

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:

• Orange County SC (1): Kyle Scott

• Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC (1): Illal Osumanu

• San Antonio FC (1): Mitchell Taintor

• FC Tulsa (1): Phillip Goodrum