NEWS & NOTES

LOUISVILLE CITY FC CLINCHES 10TH CONSECUTIVE PLAYOFF BERTH
Louisville City FC became the first team to earn its place in the 2024 USL Championship Playoffs presented by Terminix with its victory against Loudoun United FC last Friday night. In doing so, it equaled the longest run of consecutive postseason appearances in the USL Championship era, matching the Charleston Battery’s run of 10 consecutive postseason appearances between 2011 and 2020.

Only nine clubs have recorded runs of at least five consecutive postseason appearances in the USL Championship era, with four of those streaks currently active. Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC is attempting to reach a seventh consecutive postseason this season, while the Tampa Bay Rowdies and Birmingham Legion FC are both aiming for a sixth consecutive postseason berth.

Most Consecutive Postseason Appearances in the USL Championship era
T-1. Louisville City FC (2015-24) – 10 seasons*
T-1. Charleston Battery (2011-20) – 10 seasons
3. Sacramento Republic FC (2014-20) – 7 seasons
T-4. Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC (2018-23) – 6 seasons*
T-4. Richmond Kickers (2011-16) – 6 seasons
T-6. Phoenix Rising FC (2017-21) – 5 seasons
T-6. New York Red Bulls II (2015-19) – 5 seasons
T-6. Tampa Bay Rowdies (2019-23) – 5 seasons*
T-6. Birmingham Legion FC (2019-23) – 5 seasons*

* - active streak

NICK MARKANICH EQUALS CHAMPIONSHIP’S SINGLE-SEASON SCORING RECORD

The Charleston Battery’s Nick Markanich equaled the USL Championship’s single-season scoring record with his 25th goal of the season against Sacramento Republic FC this past Saturday. Markanich has joined Cameron Lancaster and Hadji Barry in a tie for the record, and now has six games remaining in the campaign to surpass the mark starting this Saturday against Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC.

Additionally, Markanich’s tally moved his combined total with strike partner MD Myers to 38 this season, one shy of the Championship’s single-season regular season record of 39 goals set by Phoenix Rising FC’s Solomon Asante and Adam Jahn in the 2019 season.

HOUNDS’ UNDEFEATED STREAK REACHES DOUBLE DIGITS

Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC stretched its current undefeated streak to 10 games with a 2-0 victory against Rhode Island FC on Saturday night at Highmark Stadium. The Hounds’ streak is one shy of equaling the longest undefeated streak in the USL Championship this season, previously achieved by the Charleston Battery, Las Vegas Lights FC and Sacramento Republic FC.

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

* - Active Streak

LOUISVILLE CITY HAS ITS EIGHTH FOUR-GOAL SCORER OF THE SEASON
Louisville City FC’s attack leads the Championship with 68 goals this season and the diversity of its scoring options has placed it in a small company of squads in the league’s history. With Aiden McFadden’s game-winner against Loudoun United FC this past Friday, LouCity now has eight players who have recorded at least four goals this regular season.

That feat has only been accomplished two times previously, with the Portland Timbers 2 in 2019 having nine different players record at least four goals. That group did not include a single player to reach double-digits, with Dairon Asprilla leading the team with nine goals. In the same season, Reno 1868 FC also had eight players record at least four goals with Corey Hertzog leading the way with 18 goals that season.

Quick Hits
- Indy Eleven’s Aodhan Quinn moved into second place in the USL Championship’s list of all-time regular season minutes this past Saturday, moving to 21,278 minutes in his career. He passed current Charlotte Independence defender Hugh Roberts, who sits in third place with 21,237 minutes.

- The Charleston Battery have recorded the most points gained from losing positions this season as their 2-1 comeback victory against Sacramento Republic FC moved the side to 17 points gained. It also surpassed the club’s previous high in a single campaign of 16 points, achieved last year.

- Sacramento Republic FC’s defeat to Charleston marked the first time it had lost after leading at halftime since the Western Conference Final of the 2023 USL Championship Playoffs against Phoenix Rising FC.

- North Carolina FC’s five-goal performance against Oakland Roots SC was the first for the club in the USL Championship since a 5-0 victory against Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC on August 17, 2019.

- El Paso Locomotive FC recorded its third consecutive shutout in a scoreless draw against Detroit City FC this past Saturday. It’s the first time Locomotive has recorded three consecutive clean sheets since a run of four consecutive shutouts between May 22 and June 9, 2021.

Upcoming Player Milestones

Appearances
Approaching 250 regular-season appearances
Enzo Martinez (BHM) – 246
Justin Portillo (SAC) – 246

Approaching 200 regular-season appearances
James Musa (IND) – 198
Wes Charpie (LOU) – 197

Approaching 150 regular season appearances
Collin Martin (NC) – 148
Wilson Harris (LOU) – 148
Thomas Vancaeyezeele (HFD) – 147
Luis Felipe Fernandes (SAC) – 147

Approaching 100 regular-season appearances
Juan Carlos Azócar (PHX) – 99
Alex Lara (MB) – 99
Nick Moon (TBR) – 98
Junior Etou (PIT) – 97
Stefano Pinho (BHM) – 97
Robby Dambrot (LDN) – 97
Gabriel Torres (PHX) – 97

Minutes
Approaching 15,000 regular season minutes
Sebastian Guenzatti (IND) – 14,871
Wes Charpie (LOU) – 14,823
Charlie Adams (LV) – 14,750
Bradley Bourgeois (TUL) – 14,674
Russell Cicerone (SAC) – 14,641

Approaching 10,000 regular season minutes
Danny Vitiello (SAC) – 9,900
Jorge Hernández (SA) – 9,806
Wilson Harris (LOU) – 9,760
Danny Barbir (MIA) – 9,717

Goals
Approaching 60 regular season goals
Romario Williams (IND) – 59

Approaching 50 regular season goals
Luis Solignac (SA) – 46

Approaching 40 regular season goals
Brian Ownby (LOU) – 39
Leo Fernandes (TBR) – 39
Rodrigo Lopez (SAC) – 38
JJ Williams (RI) – 38
Justin Portillo (SAC) – 37
Tyler Pasher (BHM) – 37
Ronaldo Damus (COS) – 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 Hernández (SA) – 29
Cam Lindley (IND) – 28
Florian Valot (LDN) – 28

Saves
Approaching 600 regular season saves
Alex Tambakis (NM) – 599

Approaching 350 regular season saves
Paul Blanchette (OAK) – 349

Approaching 300 regular season saves
Jordan Farr (TBR) – 294

Approaching 250 regular season saves
Tomás Gómez (OC) – 236

Approaching 200 regular season saves
Koke Vegas (RI) – 187

Shutouts
Approaching 40 regular season shutouts
Tomás Gómez (OC) – 38

Approaching 30 regular season shutouts
Nate Steinwascher (DET) – 27
Jake McGuire (NC) – 27  

Discipline Report – Week 28

TAMPA, Fla. – The following is the USL Championship’s discipline report for Week 28 of the 2024 USL Championship season:

Tampa Bay Rowdies Head Coach Robbie Neilson has been suspended for one game following his red card for Deliberately Leaving the Technical Area in a Provocative or Inflammatory Manner during his side’s contest against Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC on September 7. Neilson will serve his suspension during Tampa Bay’s contest against Birmingham Legion FC on Wednesday night.

Louisville City FC assistant coach Simon Bird has been suspended for one game following his red card for Deliberately Leaving the Technical Area to Dissent by Action against Loudoun United FC on September 7. Bird will serve his suspension during Louisville’s contest against FC Tulsa on Saturday night.

The following players and coaches 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:

• Detroit City FC (1): James Murphy

• Hartford Athletic (1): Brendan Burke

• Indy Eleven (1): Callum Chapman-Page

• Memphis 901 FC (1): Marlon Santos

• New Mexico United (1): Greg Hurst

• North Carolina FC (1): Lamar Batista

• Oakland Roots SC (1): Memo Diaz

• Phoenix Rising FC (1): Alejandro Fuenmayor

• Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC (1): Illal Osumanu

• Rhode Island FC (1): Jojea Kwizera

• San Antonio FC (1): Kevon Lambert