The Charleston Battery rank second in the USL Championship in goals this season, and when the side has found its range, it’s been hard to keep out of the net.

This past weekend, that potency resulted in another five-goal display that notched a piece of history in the USL Championship’s regular season in the club’s victory at home to Indy Eleven.

I this week’s USL Championship News & Notes, we’ve got more details on that, and Nick Markanich’s pursuit of the Championship’s single-season goalscoring record as he reaches 20 goals in the campaign. We also look at the stellar goalkeeping display produced by El Paso Locomotive FC’s Jahmali Waite and where it ranks among shutouts this season, and the historic mark Sacramento Republic FC can reach this weekend in its marquee contest against Louisville City FC.

We’ve also got our regular look at upcoming individual landmarks for players across the USL Championship and the Week 23 Discipline Report.

Let’s begin.

NEWS & NOTES

BATTERY PRODUCE SECOND SECOND-HALF BLOWOUT OF SEASON

The Charleston Battery recorded all five of their goals in the second half of their 5-0 victory against Indy Eleven last Friday night. It marked the second time this season the side had recorded a five-goal second half, having previously done so against North Carolina FC on June 28.

It also marked the first time in the USL Championship era that a side had recorded two five-goal second halves in a single regular season. In the Championship era, only the Tampa Bay Rowdies had previously recorded multiple five-goal second halves, against Ottawa Fury FC on April 7, 2018 and Loudoun United FC on October 8, 2022. Overall, 15 teams have recorded a five-goal second half in the league, with the record of six goals in a second half being set by Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC against the Harrisburg City Islanders on May 30, 2015.

WHERE DOES JAHMALI WAITE’S STELLAR SHUTOUT RANK THIS SEASON?

El Paso Locomotive FC goalkeeper Jahmali Waite produced one of the best performances of his career in the USL Championship this past Saturday, posting a five-save shutout that notched a single-game career high -1.88 Goals Prevented mark. The Jamaican international’s performance ranks as the sixth-best Goals Prevented mark in a shutout this season, with FC Tulsa’s Johan Peñaranda currently topping the list.

Highest Goals Prevented Mark in a Shutout in the 2024 USL Championship Season
1. Johan Peñaranda, FC Tulsa – 2.51 vs. Monterey Bay F.C., 7/13/24
2. Colin Shutler, Orange County SC – 2.5 vs. Monterey Bay F.C., 4/27/24
3. Rocco Rios Novo, Phoenix Rising FC – 2.3 vs. Las Vegas Lights FC, 6/1/24
4. Antony Siaha, Monterey Bay F.C. – 2.08 vs. Charleston Battery, 5/29/24
5. Alex Tambakis, New Mexico United – 2.02 vs. Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC, 6/22/24
6. Jahmali Waite, El Paso Locomotive FC – 1.88 vs. Memphis 901 FC, 8/3/24

REPUBLIC FC TAKES AIM AT LONGEST ROAD UNDEFEATED STREAK

Sacramento Republic FC could equal the longest road undefeated streak in the USL Championship’s regular season this Saturday when it visits Louisville City FC at Lynn Family Stadium. Republic FC is currently on an 11-game undefeated streak away from home dating to the final away game of the 2023 season, with the side sitting with a 6-0-4 record on the road this season.

Longest Road Undefeated Streaks in the 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

MARKANICH CONTINUES PURSUIT OF SINGLE-SEASON SCORING MARK

The Charleston Battery’s Nick Markanich became the 14th player to record a 20-goal regular season campaign in the USL Championship’s history as he reached the landmark in the Battery’s 5-0 victory against Indy Eleven last Friday night. The 24-year-old is now five goals from equaling the USL Championship’s single-season goalscoring record of 25 goals, jointly held by Cameron Lancaster (Louisville City FC, 2018) and Hadji Barry (Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC, 2021).

Markanich reached the mark in his 23rd appearance of the season and is currently averaging a goal every 96.2 minutes. That stands as the third-fastest scoring rate among players to have registered a 20-goal campaign in the league.

Best Strike Rate among Single-Season 20-Goal Scorers in the USL Championship’s Regular Season
1. Cameron Lancaster, Louisville City FC (2018) – 25 goals, 80.2 mins/goal
2. Cameron Lancaster, Louisville City FC (2021) – 20 goals, 92.6 mins/goal
3. Nick Markanich, Charleston Battery (2024) – 20 goals, 96.2 mins/goal*
T-4. Kyle Murphy, Memphis 901 FC (2021) – 20 goals, 106 mins/goal
T-4. Matt Fondy, Louisville City FC (2015) – 22 goals, 106 mins/goal

LIGHTS COULD EQUAL LONGEST UNDEFEATED STREAK IN 2024 SEASON

Las Vegas Lights FC earned another notable road victory in club history last Wednesday night, earning its first away win against New Mexico United at Isotopes Park while handing New Mexico its first home defeat of the season. The Lights are now on a 10-game undefeated streak, one shy of the longest undefeated run in the Championship this season, as they play host to Detroit City FC on Saturday night at Cashman Field.

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

* - Active Streak

Quick Hits

- FC Tulsa’s 3-1 victory against San Antonio FC marked its first away win at Toyota Field in club history in its ninth regular season visit.

- Birmingham Legion FC’s Enzo Martinez moved to 121 combined goals and assists in his career in the USL Championship’s regular season with his first-half goal against Hartford Athletic. He currently trails Dane Kelly on 132 for the most combined goals and assists in league regular season history.

- Indy Eleven’s Sebastian Guenzatti became the 48th player to record 200 regular season appearances in the USL Championship’s regular season with his substitute appearance against the Charleston Battery last Friday night.

- Following its 3-1 defeat to FC Tulsa this past Saturday, San Antonio FC has dropped 18 points from winning positions this season. That marks a single-season high for the club, which previously dropped 15 points from winning positions in the 2021 season.

- Indy Eleven’s 5-0 defeat to the Charleston Battery marked the second time this season the side had conceded five goals in a game. It had previously only suffered three instances of conceding at least five goals in the USL Championship’s regular season, including twice in the 2022 season.

Upcoming Player Milestones

Appearances
Approaching 200 regular-season appearances
Russell Cicerone (SAC) – 197
James Musa (COS) – 196

Approaching 150 regular season appearances
Graham Smith (CHS) – 148
Adrián Diz Pe (IND) – 147
Leland Archer (CHS) – 146

Approaching 100 regular-season appearances
Elliot Collier (IND) – 99
Luis Solignac (SA) – 99
Nick Moon (TBR) – 98
Renzo Zambrano (PHX) – 98
Carter Manley (SA) – 98
Jackson Conway (CHS) – 98
Jack Gurr (SAC) – 97
Andre Fortune (LV) – 97

Minutes
Approaching 20,000 regular season minutes
Alex Dixon (MB) – 19,938
Justin Portillo (SAC) – 19,804
Enzo Martinez (BHM) – 19,797

Approaching 15,000 regular season minutes
Augustine Williams (IND) – 14,985
Duke Lacroix (COS) – 14,838
Wes Charpie (LOU) – 14,775
Charlie Adams (LV) – 14,617

Approaching 10,000 regular season minutes
Lindo Mfeka (OAK) – 9,999
Michee Ngalina (HFD) – 9,904
Florian Valot (LDN) – 9,776
Jordan Farr (TBR) – 9,727

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) – 39
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
Jorge Hernandez (SA) – 29
Cam Lindley (IND) – 28
Floridan Valot (LDN) – 27

Saves
Approaching 600 regular season saves
Alex Tambakis (NM) – 589

Approaching 450 regular season saves
Matt VanOekel (BHM) – 439

Approaching 250 regular season saves
Rocco Rios Novo (PHX) – 249
Jake McGuire (NC) – 241
Tomás Gómez (OC) – 237

Approaching 200 regular season saves
Hugo Fauroux (LDN) – 196
Antony Siaha (MB) – 189

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 23

TAMPA, Fla. – The following is the USL Championship’s discipline report for Week 23 of the 2024 USL Championship season:

Miami FC’s Frank Lopez has been suspended for one game following his red card for two cautionable offenses against Loudoun United FC on August 3. Lopez will be unavailable for selection in Miami’s contest against El Paso Locomotive FC on Saturday night.

Miami FC’s Nicolas Cardona has been suspended for one game following his red card for two cautionable offenses against Loudoun United FC on August 3. Cardona will be unavailable for selection in Miami’s contest against El Paso Locomotive FC on Saturday night.

Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC Head Coach James Chambers has been suspended for one game following his red card for dissent following a deliberate departure from the technical area against Phoenix Rising FC on August 3. Chambers will serve his suspension in Colorado Springs’ contest against North Carolina FC on Saturday.  

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:

• Hartford Athletic (1): Brendan Burke

• Memphis 901 FC (1): Marlon Santos

• Orange County SC (1): Kyle Scott

• Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC (1): Illal Osumanu

• San Antonio FC (2): Mitchell Taintor, Kevon Lambert

• FC Tulsa (1): Phillip Goodrum