Orange County SC and young star Bryce Jamison will try to get out of a funk under new boss Danny Stone when they host Las Vegas Lights FC on Saturday night. | Photo courtesy Liza Rosales / Orange County SC
By the numbers, we’ll wrap up the third quarter of the 2024 USL Championship regular season this weekend, and Labor Day weekend has given us some big storylines including a new – yet familiar – face coming on board to try and right Orange County SC’s ship and some crucial matchups in the Eastern Conference playoff race.
If you haven’t checked it out yet, here’s where you can find where everyone stands in the Race to the 2024 USL Championship Playoffs. Here are three more storylines to know going in, three players to keep an eye on, and what else you need to know before tuning in on CBS Sports Golazo Network and ESPN+.
It’s been quite the week for Orange County SC. After last week’s heaviest loss in club history to the Charleston Battery, owner James Keston posted an open letter to fans on the club website. On Thursday night, it announced it had parted ways with Paul Hardyman, who had led the side as interim Head Coach for the past 10 games after the departure of Morten Karlsen this summer.
In his place, a familiar face looking for a second opportunity. Danny Stone will take charge for the remainder of the season, starting at home on Saturday night against Las Vegas Lights FC.
NEW MAN IN TOWN: Stone landed in Orange County on August 8 as an assistant coach to Hardyman after his departure as Phoenix Rising FC’s Head Coach on June 29. Now he’s charged with finding a path to the playoffs for OCSC with the side in eighth place and nine games to go.
OPPORTUNITY KNOCKS: After getting only 17 games in charge at Phoenix after being promoted from his prior assistant coach role – over which span Rising posted a 5-6-6 record – this will offer a chance for Stone to prove himself, potentially at the expense of his former club, which remains outside the playoff places entering the final quarter of the season.
FINDING THE NET: The most pressing need for Stone will be to inject some life into the club’s attack, which is scoreless in its last 452 minutes of action including five consecutive games without a goal.
The Lights will offer a big test to OCSC in Stone’s first game in charge. Coming in off a good home win against Indy Eleven last weekend, Las Vegas has a chance at not only its first postseason berth, but a top-four finish.
For Stone and the hosts, finding the right combination of energy and creativity before what’s likely to be another big crowd at the Champ is essential, but it could provide the springboard the club needs to be part of the playoff field in the end.
Detroit City FC needs to get back to winning ways at Keyworth Stadium, where the side is winless in its last seven league outings. | Photo courtesy Jon DeBoer / Detroit City FC
There is no environment quite like Keyworth Stadium in the USL Championship – just ask the Northern Guard Supporters, they’ll be happy to let you know – but it hasn’t quite had the effect on results in the league that you might expect.
With Le Rouge in contention for a top-four finish for the first time since joining the Championship for the 2022 season, this Saturday’s game against Hartford Athletic is as good a time as any for that to change.
STUCK IN NEUTRAL: Since DCFC joined the Championship, it has posted a 17-13-16 record at Keyworth Stadium in the regular season, including going 4-4-4 this season after last Saturday’s loss to FC Tulsa. It’s actually won more regular season games away from home (18) since joining the league than in front of its own fans.
ROOM TO GROW: Despite that, Le Rouge are in a good position ahead of a big weekend for the teams between fourth and ninth place in the East. Hosting a Hartford Athletic side that is 1-9-1 away from home this season, Detroit could push forward as the teams below them beat each other up – Indy vs. Pittsburgh and Rhode Island vs. Birmingham the other big games to watch.
SCORING BOOST: For that to happen, of course, Detroit is going to have to start finding the net. In its current seven-game home winless streak, it’s recorded only three goals while being shut out four times.
Hartford has been among the worst road teams in the league this season, averaging conceding more than two goals per game on its travels. With much bigger tests to come such as consecutive home games with New Mexico United (Sept. 14) and Louisville City FC (Sept. 22), this is an opportunity Le Rouge can’t miss out on.
Louisville City FC will try to become only the second team to win at North Carolina FC in the league this season on Saturday night. | Photo courtesy Em-Dash Photography / Louisville City FC
Obviously, Louisville City FC and everyone associated with the club is feeling pretty hard-done-by after last week’s defeat to Hartford Athletic. For a team with this level of talent, you’d expect a response against North Carolina FC on Saturday night, but picking up all three points might not be quite as simple as you think.
FORTRESS WAKEMED? We know about the records LouCity (11-1-0) and the Charleston Battery (10-1-1) have posted at home this season, but North Carolina is the other team in the league that has only suffered one home defeat this campaign. They’ve drawn plenty too to sit at 5-1-6, but that ability to earn results is something.
ROAD BLUES: It’s impossible to tag a team that has a winning road record as underperforming, but there has been a substantial difference between LouCity on the road and at home this season. The side has scored only 17 goals in 12 games, making its margin of error slimmer on its travels.
PLAYOFF DRIVE: Let’s not forget that North Carolina desperately needs all three points as well as it sits below the playoff line. That could be good for LouCity – it could result in a more open game, which would probably favor them – but they’ll need to have the same sort of defensive discipline that was in evidence in their 1-0 win at New Mexico earlier this month.
Even with last week’s setback, Louisville can still do historic things this season. It’s still got a maximum available points total of 83, which gives it some leeway in the pursuit of that record and the total wins record. This game, though, could be a really interesting one to tune in for.
Veteran midfielder Florian Valot has been an invaluable addition to Loudoun United as it pursues its first trip to the USL Championship Playoffs this season. | Photo courtesy Patrick Garber / Loudoun United FC
Nick Markanich, Charleston Battery – The Golden Boot leader knows his next destination is Spain after the season ends with Friday’s announcement of his upcoming transfer to CD Castellón. What does that mean for Saturday night’s visit to San Antonio FC?
Diego Gutierrez, Monterey Bay F.C. – The right-sided forward jumped straight into Monterey Bay’s lineup last weekend. We should expect the same as MBFC heads to Miami for what’s looking like a game they need all three points from, even on the road.
Florian Valot, Loudoun United FC – The French midfielder has been a superb addition to United’s ranks and could be a key figure as they play host to Phoenix Rising looking to stay above the playoff line.
#OAKvNM: Mukwelle Akale has scored in consecutive games for New Mexico United and bagged the winner when they defeated Oakland Roots in May at Isotopes Park. You’d figure the hosts will be keeping a close eye on him here.
#INDvPIT: As detailed in the Race to the Playoffs, this is a key six-pointer with the Hounds looking to maintain momentum after last week’s win in Birmingham. We’re expecting to see the energy Indy came out with in the second half of Tuesday’s U.S. Open Cup Semifinal, too.
#MIAvMB: Monterey Bay F.C. is winless in its last six games. Miami FC has taken one point from its last 17. Something’s got to give.
#LDNvPHX: With the playoff race starting to tighten, Loudoun United needs to get back to winning form on home turf, where they’ve generally been formidable. Facing a Phoenix side that’s gone without a goal in four consecutive games and is desperate for a result as well, this could be pretty entertaining.
#RIvBHM: Rhode Island FC Head Coach Khano Smith got bragging rights over his mentor and Birmingham Legion Head Coach Tommy Soehn when these teams met at Protective Stadium. If RIFC sweeps the series back on home turf, it will throw the playoff race in the East into even more turmoil.
#SAvCHS: The Charleston Battery’s attack can take flight given the slightest opportunity, but San Antonio’s defense has been stout at home despite the other challenges the side has faced. This could be a pretty tight contest.
#TULvCOS: Tulsa’s above the playoff line after its win in Detroit and would do itself no end of good if it can back that up on home turf. After a good win of their own in midweek, though, the Switchbacks have designs on a season-sweep after Zach Zandi’s dramatic late winner on July 4 at Weidner Field.
Tag(s): Features San Antonio FC CO Spring Switchbacks Orange County SC Phoenix Rising FC FC Tulsa Charleston Battery Louisville City FC Pittsburgh Riverhounds Las Vegas Lights FC Birmingham Legion FC North Carolina FC Indy Eleven New Mexico United Loudoun United FC Hartford Athletic Miami FC Oakland Roots SC Detroit City FC Monterey Bay F.C. Rhode Island FC