NEWS & NOTES

PUTTING THEIR BEST FOOT FORWARD
Louisville City FC, Sacramento Republic FC and San Antonio FC each claimed victories in their opening games of the 2025 USL Championship season, continuing remarkable runs of success for all three clubs in their season openers over recent years.

Louisville City’s 2-1 victory against the Charleston Battery at Patriots Point marked a league-high sixth consecutive victory in the opening game of the campaign, dating to a 4-1 defeat against North Carolina FC in the opening game of the 2019 season at First Horizon Stadium. Since then, Louisville has outscored its opponents 10-2 across its six victories, posting four shutouts.

Sacramento Republic FC’s 2-1 victory against New Mexico United extended the club’s undefeated streak in season openers to a league-best 10 games. Republic FC’s lone opening game defeat in club history came on the road against Tacoma Defiance in 2015. Since that game, the club has posted a 7-0-3 record in its opening games of the season.

San Antonio, meanwhile, extended its opening game undefeated streak to seven games dating to the 2019 campaign, with its 1-0 victory against Monterey Bay FC on Saturday night. SAFC is 5-0-2 in its season-openers since a 2-1 defeat against Republic FC to start the 2018 campaign.

LEXINGTON SC BREAKS OPENING GAME JINX

Lexington SC’s 2-0 victory against Hartford Athletic on Saturday night marked the first time a club had won its inaugural game in the USL Championship since three clubs did so in the 2018 season. Since victories for Atlanta United 2 (3-1 vs. New York Red Bulls II), Indy Eleven (1-0 at Richmond Kickers) and Las Vegas Lights FC (3-2 at Fresno FC), none of the 13 clubs that joined the league from the 2019 season on claimed victory in their first game.

Lexington’s shutout was also the first recorded by a club playing its inaugural game in the Championship since Austin Bold FC played to a 0-0 draw against Las Vegas Lights FC to open the 2019 season.

NEW MEXICO’S SANCHEZ LOOKS FOR WIN COLUMN AGAINST FORMER CLUB

New Mexico United Head Coach Dennis Sanchez will face former club Las Vegas Lights FC on Saturday night at Cashman Field in the first meeting between the clubs since Sanchez joined New Mexico this offseason.

The contest will mark the eighth time a Head Coach will face a club they had most recently served as a Head Coach in the USL Championship this decade. The prior seven recorded three wins and suffered four defeats in the first meetings against their former clubs after their moves.

Two more instances of this are set to occur this season, with current Sacramento Republic FC Head Coach Neill Collins set to lead his side against the Tampa Bay Rowdies on September 6, and Las Vegas Lights FC Head Coach Antonio Nocerino set to lead his side against Miami FC on September 13.

First Games of Head Coaches Facing Former Clubs in the USL Championship (2021-present)
Danny Stone, Orange County SC – 2-0 win vs. Phoenix Rising FC, 9/25/24
Brendan Burke, Hartford Athletic – 2-0 loss vs. Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC, 5/11/24
Mark Lowry, Indy Eleven – 3-2 win vs. El Paso Locomotive FC, 8/19/23
Ben Pirmann, Charleston Battery – 3-2 loss vs. Memphis 901 FC, 6/24/23
Juan Guerra, Phoenix Rising FC – 2-0 loss vs. Oakland Roots SC, 9/10/22
Frank Yallop, Monterey Bay FC – 1-0 win vs. Las Vegas Lights FC, 5/7/22
Mark Briggs, Sacramento Republic FC – 2-0 loss vs. Real Monarchs SLC, 6/9/21

USL’S IMPACT ON THE UNITED STATES’ NATIONS LEAGUE FINALS ROSTER

United States Men’s National Team Manager Mauricio Pochettino announced the 23-player roster for the 2025 Concacaf Nations League Finals on Tuesday with more than half the players having previously competed in the USL Championship, League One or League Two during their pathway in the game.

Included in the 12 selections are four players who either won a league title or earned an individual honor while competing in one of the three divisions.

Tyler Adams – 2016 USL Championship title-winner (New York Red Bulls II)
Diego Luna – 2021 USL Championship All-League (El Paso Locomotive FC)
Tanner Tessmann – 2019 USL League One title-winner (North Texas SC)
Brian White – 2017 USL League Two Player of the Year, Golden Boot (New York Red Bulls U-23)

Overall, the players selected in the squad have recorded a combined
- 156 appearances, 11,912 minutes, 24 goals, 13 assists, 119 saves, nine shutouts in the USL Championship
- 16 appearances, 896 minutes, one goal in USL League One
- 95 appearances, 7,340 minutes, 28 goals, 12 assists, 169 saves, nine shutouts in USL League Two

UNITED STATES ROSTER - 2025 CONCACAF NATIONS LEAGUE FINALS
USL Championship, League One, League Two Alumni Bolded
GOALKEEPERS (3): Patrick Schulte (Columbus Crew; 3/0), Zack Steffen (Colorado Rapids; 30/0), Matt Turner (Crystal Palace/ENG; 49/0)

DEFENDERS (8): Cameron Carter-Vickers (Celtic/SCO; 18/0), Marlon Fossey (Standard Liege/BEL; 1/0), Mark McKenzie (Toulouse/FRA; 17/0), Tim Ream (Charlotte FC; 67/1), Chris Richards (Crystal Palace/ENG; 23/1), Antonee Robinson (Fulham/ENG; 50/4), Joe Scally (Borussia Mönchengladbach/GER; 19/0), Auston Trusty (Celtic/SCO; 4/0)

MIDFIELDERS (6): Tyler Adams (Bournemouth/ENG; 42/2), Johnny Cardoso (Real Betis/ESP; 18/0), Diego Luna (Real Salt Lake; 3/0), Weston McKennie (Juventus/ITA; 58/11), Gio Reyna (Borussia Dortmund/GER; 31/8), Tanner Tessmann (Olympique Lyon/FRA; 6/0)

FORWARDS (6): Patrick Agyemang (Charlotte FC; 2/2), Yunus Musah (AC Milan/ITA; 45/1), Christian Pulisic (AC Milan/ITA; 76/32), Josh Sargent (Norwich City/ENG; 27/5), Timothy Weah (Juventus/ITA; 42/7), Brian White (Vancouver Whitecaps/CAN; 3/1)

Quick Hits

- San Antonio FC’s Mitchell Taintor became the 12th player to record 20,000 regular season minutes in the Championship’s regular season as he played the full game against Monterey Bay FC this past Saturday night.

- Detroit City FC’s Michael Bryant scored his third goal in as many seasons against Miami FC in Le Rouge’s 2-0 victory at Pitbull Stadium on Saturday night. Since DCFC joined the Championship in 2022, only Maxi Rodriguez (seven goals in six games vs. Loudoun United) and Ben Morris (four goals in four games vs. Hartford Athletic) have scored more goals against an individual opponent for the club.

- Orange County SC could equal its longest regular season undefeated streak in club history this Saturday with the club currently on a nine-game undefeated run dating to Sept. 14, 2024 against Rhode Island FC. OCSC had previously recorded a 10-game undefeated streak between Sept. 30, 2023 and April 13, 2024.

- Louisville City FC’s Ray Serrano could pass 5,000 regular season minutes for the club this Sunday as it visits Birmingham Legion FC. The 22-year-old sits at 4,924 minutes of regular season action for the club, and would become the 19th player to reach the milestone in LouCity history.

- Detroit City FC’s 634 attempted passes and 571 completed passes in its 2-0 victory against Miami FC this past Saturday were the most by the club in a regular season game since joining the USL Championship for the 2022 season.

- Orange County SC’s Kyle Scott recorded 107 attempted passes and 96 completed passes in his side’s 4-2 victory against Oakland Roots SC this past Saturday. They rank second in club history to Aodhan Quinn’s outing against OKC Energy FC on October 5, 2019 when Quinn logged 109 attempted passes and 99 completed passes.

Upcoming Player Milestones

Appearances
Approaching 200 regular-season appearances
Bolu Akinyode (MIA) – 246

Approaching 200 regular-season appearances
Marcus Epps (LEX) – 199
Luiz Fernando (NM) – 197

Approaching 150 regular season appearances
Tabort Etaka Preston (BHM) – 149
Dariusz Formella (PHX) – 146  

Approaching 100 regular-season appearances
Manny Perez (LOU) – 99
Blake Bodily (TBR) – 99
Greg Hurst (NM) – 98
Jake McGuire (NC) – 97

Minutes
Approaching 20,000 regular season minutes
Alex Tambakis (NM) – 19,877
Kai Greene (OAK) – 19,773

Approaching 15,000 regular season minutes
Sebastian Guenzatti (DET) – 14,997
Marcus Epps (LEX) – 14,974
Mark Segbers (CHS) – 14,709
Matt VanOekel (BHM) – 14,664

Approaching 10,000 regular season minutes
James Murphy (IND) – 9,674
Sam Gleadle (LOU) – 9,644
Romario Williams (IND) – 9,642
Laurence Wyke (TBR) – 9,634
Ben Ofeimu (IND) – 9,632
Justin Dhillon (COS) – 9,632

Goals
Approaching 80 regular season goals
Augustine Williams (PIT) – 77

Approaching 50 regular season goals
Phillip Goodrum (LOU) – 48
Manuel Arteaga (TBR) – 47

Approaching 40 regular season goals
Brian Ownby (LOU) – 39
Rodrigo Lopez (SAC) – 38
Ronaldo Damus (BHM) – 38
Ethan Zubak (OC) – 37
Dariusz Formella (PHX) – 37
Justin Portillo (SAC) – 37
Tyler Pasher (BHM) – 37

Assists
Approaching 50 regular season assists
Rodrigo Lopez (SAC) – 46
Brian Ownby (LOU) – 46

Approaching 30 regular season assists
Niall McCabe (LOU) – 29
Florian Valot (LDN) – 29
Cam Lindley (IND) – 28
Robbie Mertz (PIT) – 27  

Saves
Approaching 300 regular season saves
Christian Herrera (COS) – 288

Approaching 250 regular season saves
Hugo Fauroux (LDN) – 233

Shutouts
Approaching 50 regular season shutouts
Matt Van Oekel (BHM) – 48

Discipline Report – Week 2

TAMPA, Fla. – The following is the USL Championship’s discipline report for Week 2 of the 2025 USL Championship season:

The Charleston Battery’s Arturo Rodriguez has been suspended for one game following his red card for violent conduct against Louisville City FC on March 8. Rodriguez will be unavailable for selection in Charleston’s contest against Rhode Island FC on Saturday night.

Hartford Athletic’s Emmanuel Samadia has been suspended for one game following his red card for violent conduct against Lexington SC on March 8. Samadia will be unavailable for selection in Hartford’s contest against Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC on March 22.

Miami FC’s Francisco Bonfiglio has been suspended for one game following his red card for violent conduct against Detroit City FC on March 8. Bonfiglio will be unavailable for selection in Miami’s contest against Indy Eleven on Saturday night.

New Mexico United’s Kalen Ryden has been suspended for one game following his red card for denial of a goalscoring opportunity against Sacramento Republic FC on March 8. Ryden will be unavailable for selection in New Mexico’s contest against Las Vegas Lights FC on Saturday night.