NEWS & NOTES

THE NUMBERS TO KNOW GOING INTO THE 2025 USL JÄGERMEISTER CUP
The 2025 USL Jägermeister Cup kicks off this Friday night with the second edition of the in-season tournament having expanded to feature all 38 clubs across the USL Championship and League One. The tournament brings the two divisions into competition, but there has previously been an established history of competitive games between clubs from both leagues in the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup since the 2019 edition of the tournament.

Including the current 2025 Open Cup, USL Championship clubs have advanced 28 times in 44 all-time meetings in the competition – including results determined by a penalty shootout – or a 63.6 percent rate. Among the teams to achieve notable success in head-to-head contests between the leagues is Louisville City FC, which has gone 3-0-0 against League One opposition in the Open Cup in its history, and Union Omaha, which is currently 2-0-1 with a shootout victory against Championship opposition.

Overall, the Charleston Battery have won four of five meetings against League One opposition, with the lone blemish on their record coming against League One’s winningest side against Championship opposition South Georgia Tormenta FC, which has won four times in six meetings.

Most Wins in Championship vs. League One U.S. Open Cup Contests
4 – Charleston Battery (4-1-0); South Georgia Tormenta FC (4-2-0)
3 – Louisville City FC (3-0-0)
 

LOUDOUN UNITED SETTING FAST PACE OVER FIRST SEVEN GAME

Loudoun United FC continued its best start to a season in club history this past Saturday with a 2-1 victory against Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC that marked the club’s sixth victory in seven games to start the season. It marked the 10th time in the USL Championship’s regular season history that a side has recorded at least six wins in its first seven games, one point shy of four clubs who opened their campaigns with a 6-0-1 record.

Each of the nine clubs to previously record at least 18 points through their opening seven games of the season have advanced to the USL Championship Playoffs at the end of the season. In five instances, the clubs went on to win the USL Championship Players’ Shield.

Most Points Through the Opening Seven Games of a USL Championship Regular Season
19 – (6-0-1) – Richmond Kickers (2011); Orlando City SC (2012)*; Rochester Rhinos (2012); San Antonio FC (2017)

18 – (6-1-0) – Real Monarchs SLC (2017)*; Tampa Bay Rowdies (2021)*; Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC (2022); San Antonio FC (2022)*; Louisville City FC (2024)*; Loudoun United FC (2025)

17 – (5-0-2) – Orlando City SC (2014)*; Charleston Battery (2015); Rochester Rhinos (2015)*; Vancouver Whitecaps FC 2 (2016); Tampa Bay Rowdies (2020); Louisville City FC (2022); Sacramento Republic FC (2023)

* - Won USL Championship Players’ Shield

MATT VANOEKEL REACHES GOALKEEPING LANDMARK FOR LEGION

Birmingham Legion FC original Matt VanOekel recorded his 150th appearance in the USL Championship regular season for the club this past Saturday against Hartford Athletic. In doing so, he became the first goalkeeper to reach that landmark for a single club in the league’s history.

Six goalkeepers have currently recorded at least 100 regular season appearances in the Championship for a single club, with current New Mexico United veteran Alex Tambakis and former Harrisburg Islanders standout Nick Noble currently tied for second with 122 appearances between the sticks for their respective clubs.

Overall, VanOekel is the 18th player in the Championship’s history to record 150 appearances for a single club, with five having gone on to reach the 200-appearance landmark. The 38-year-old also ranks 10th in minutes player for a single club in the regular season, currently sitting at 13,442 minutes for Legion.

Quick Hits

- Miami FC’s 2-1 victory against North Carolina FC this past Saturday was its second in a row, and marked the club’s first consecutive victories in league play since a four-game winning streak between September 20 and October 7, 2023.

- Detroit City FC’s Darren Smith became the first player to record two-goal outings in consecutive games for Le Rouge following his brace against Rhode Island FC this past Saturday since the club joined the USL Championship in 2022. Smith joins current teammate Ben Morris and former DCFC player Maxi Rodriguez as the third player to have recorded multiple two-goal games for the club in its USL Championship era.

- Lexington SC’s Speedy Williams became the 14th player to record 250 regular season appearances in the USL Championship this past Saturday against Monterey Bay FC. The four-time league title-winner is currently in his 11th season in the league.

- FC Tulsa’s 4-1 victory against Las Vegas Lights FC this past Saturday marked the club’s first four-goal performance in the USL Championship since a 5-2 win against Hartford Athletic on October 13, 2023.

- Monterey Bay FC equaled its longest undefeated streak in the USL Championship following a 0-0 draw against Lexington SC this past Saturday. The club’s current six-game undefeated run matches the club’s run between July 3 and August 7, 2022.

Upcoming Player Milestones

Appearances
Approaching 200 regular-season appearances
Duke Lacroix (COS) – 198

Approaching 150 regular season appearances
Jorge Hernández (SA) – 149
Akeem Ward (COS) – 149
Sam Gleadle (LOU) – 147

Approaching 100 regular-season appearances
Mohamed Traore (PHX) – 99
Stephen Carroll (DET) – 99
Jeciel Cedeño (DET) – 99
Christian Herrera (COS) – 98
Jake Rufe (BHM) – 98
Bryce Washington (NC) – 97

Minutes
Approaching 15,000 regular season minutes
Forrest Lasso (TBR) – 14,771
Alex Crognale (SA) – 14,767
Mark Segbers (CHS) – 14,721

Approaching 10,000 regular season minutes
Laurence Wyke (TBR) – 9,994
Aaron Molloy (CHS) – 9,933
Amando Moreno (ELP) – 9,929
Justin Dhillon (COS) – 9,924
Tommy McCabe (LDN) – 9,916
Drew Skundrich (LDN) – 9,893
Ben Ofeimu (IND) – 9,868
Grant Stoneman (RI) – 9,840
Maxi Rodriguez (RI) – 9,744
Sam Gleadle (LOU) – 9,706
Manuel Arteaga (TBR) – 9,653
Romario Williams (IND) – 9,642

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

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

Approaching 40 regular season goals
Brian Ownby (LOU) – 39
Rodrigo Lopez (SAC) – 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
Cam Lindley (IND) – 28
Robbie Mertz (PIT) – 27  

Saves
Approaching 500 regular season saves
Matt VanOekel (BHM) – 488

Approaching 300 regular season saves
Jake McGuire (NC) – 292
Christian Herrera (COS) – 291

Approaching 250 regular season saves
Hugo Fauroux (LDN) – 247

Approaching 200 regular season saves
Eric Dick (PIT) – 194

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

Discipline Report – Week 8

TAMPA, Fla. – The following is the USL Championship’s discipline report for Week 8 of the 2025 USL Championship season:

Rhode Island FC’s Frank Nodarse has been suspended for one game following his red card for violent conduct against Detroit City FC on April 19. Nodarse will be unavailable for selection in Rhode Island’s contest against San Antonio FC on Saturday, May 3.

Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC’s Luke Biasi has been suspended for one game following his red card for denial of a goalscoring opportunity against Loudoun United FC on April 19. Biasi will be unavailable for selection in Pittsburgh’s contest against North Carolina FC on Saturday, May 3.

Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC’s Zach Zandi has been suspended for one game following his red card for two cautionable offenses against El Paso Locomotive FC on April 19. Zandi will be unavailable for selection in Colorado Springs’ contest against San Antonio FC on Wednesday night.