NEWS & NOTES

SAN ANTONIO FC CONTINUES HOLD OVER SWITCHBACKS
San Antonio FC moved its undefeated streak against Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC to 12 consecutive regular games dating to the 2019 season last Wednesday night with its 3-2 victory at Toyota Field. SAFC has gone 9-0-3 against the Switchbacks dating to a 2-2 draw on October 19, 2019 at Toyota Field, recording 23 goals and conceding nine across that span.

SAFC’s undefeated streak is the longest active undefeated run in a head-to-head series in the Championship, and sits only two shy of the longest undefeated streak in a head-to-head series in the league. Earlier this season, FC Tulsa earned a 1-0 victory against Sacramento Republic FC to break Republic FC’s 14-game undefeated run in the series between the two clubs.

Longest Undefeated Streak in Active Head-to-Head Series in USL Championship Regular Season
1. Sacramento Republic FC – 14 games vs. FC Tulsa (2015-25)
T-2. San Antonio FC – 12 games vs. Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC (2019-present)
T-2. El Paso Locomotive FC – 12 games vs. Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC (2019-22)
4. Charleston Battery – 10 games vs. Loudoun United FC (2021-present)

LOUISVILLE CITY FC CLOSES ON 200 VICTORIES IN USL-SANCTIONED COMPETITION

Louisville City FC’s victory in its opening group stage game of the 2025 USL Jägermeister Cup marked its 199th victory in club history in USL-sanctioned competition, spanning the USL Championship Regular Season, USL Championship Playoffs and USL Jägermeister Cup.

The two-time Championship title-winner and reigning Players’ Shield holder has posted an overall record of 199W-73L-74D across the three competitions since it joined the USL Championship for the 2015 season. LouCity is 178-66-70 in the regular season and 20-7-4 in the postseason in its history.

Most Victories in USL-Sanctioned Competition since start of 2011 USL Championship Season
1. Louisville City FC – 199
2. Charleston Battery – 186
3. Orange County SC – 176
4. Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC – 167
T-5. Phoenix Rising FC – 162
T-5. Sacramento Republic FC – 162

RHODE ISLAND FC LOOKS TO BUCK TREND IN STADIUM DEBU

Rhode Island FC will host its inaugural game at new 10,500-seat soccer-specific stadium Centreville Bank Stadium this Saturday afternoon as it hosts San Antonio FC at 4 p.m. ET on TUDN. The defending Eastern Conference title-holders will be hoping for better fortune than many of its USL Championship counterparts upon the opening of their venues over the years, with only three clubs having christened their new homes with a win since Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC opened Highmark Stadium in 2013.

Over that span, Sacramento Republic FC (4-3 vs. Seattle Sounders 2, 2014), Austin Bold FC (1-0 vs. San Antonio FC, 2019) and Monterey Bay FC (1-0 vs. Las Vegas Lights, 2022) have each claimed victory in the inaugural game at their soccer-specific venues. Overall, however, clubs have gone 3-5-4 when opening new venues, including defeats for the likes of Phoenix Rising FC in 2017, Louisville City FC in 2020, and Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC in 2021.

BIRMINGHAM LEGION HIRES MARK BRIGGS AS NEW HEAD COACH

Birmingham Legion FC announced the appointment of Mark Briggs as its second Head Coach in club history on Wednesday, hiring one of the most successful managers in the USL Championship’s history. Briggs ranks third in the USL Championship in victories across the regular season and playoffs with a record of 109W-68L-67D during his tenures at the Wilmington Hammerheads, Real Monarchs SLC and Sacramento Republic FC.

Overall in the USL Championship’s regular season, Briggs currently ranks ninth in points-per-game as a Head Coach among managers who have led sides for at least 100 games in their tenures. The all-time leader in that category is Adrian Heath, who posted a 2.20ppg mark over four season at Orlando City SC between 2011-14 with a 67-12-23 record.

Managers with the Highest PPG Mark in the USL Championship Regular Season (Min. 100 games)
1. Adrian Heath, Orlando City SC – 2.20ppg
2. Rick Schantz, Phoenix Rising FC – 1.95ppg
3. Danny Cruz, Louisville City FC – 1.94ppg*
4. James O’Connor, Louisville City FC – 1.87ppg
5. Ian Russell, Reno 1868 FC – 1.84ppg
T-6. Neill Collins, TBR/SAC – 1.81ppg*
T-6. Ben Pirmann, MEM/CHS – 1.81ppg*
8. Bob Lilley, ROC/PIT – 1.75ppg*
9. Mark Briggs, WIL/SLC/SAC – 1.62ppg*
10. Mike Anhaeuser, Charleston Battery – 1.55ppg

* - Currently Active in the USL Championship

Quick Hits

- New Mexico United’s Alex Tambakis recorded the 56th regular season shutout of his career in the side’s 1-0 win against Monterey Bay FC. Tambakis is now two shutouts away from equaling the all-time regular season record of 58 shutouts held by Evan Newton.

- New Mexico United has recorded shutouts in four consecutive games in the USL Championship, having last conceded in the 90th minute of its contest against Las Vegas Lights FC on March 15. The club’s 360-minute shutout streak is 19 minutes off its longest regular-season shutout streak of 379 minutes, set between May 29 and June 25, 2021.

- Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC’s Justin Dhillon has recorded a goal contribution in five consecutive USL Championship contests, equaling his longest goal contributions streak in the league. Dhillon previously recorded goal contributions in five consecutive games for both Tacoma Defiance in 2019 and San Antonio FC in 2022.

- Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC’s 3-2 defeat against San Antonio FC marked the first time the Switchbacks had lost in a USL Championship regular season or playoff contest after holding a two-goal lead in the club’s history.

- Hartford Athletic’s Jack Panayotou became the first player to record two goals and receive a red card in the same USL Jägermeister Cup game in the tournament’s history this past Saturday.

Upcoming Player Milestones

Appearances
Approaching 200 regular-season appearances
Duke Lacroix (COS) – 199

Approaching 150 regular season appearances
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
Alex Crognale (SA) – 14,857
Forrest Lasso (TBR) – 14,771
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
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
Justin Dhillon (COS) – 48
Phillip Goodrum (LOU) – 48
Manuel Arteaga (TBR) – 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 9

TAMPA, Fla. – The following is the USL Championship’s discipline report for Week 9 of the 2025 USL Championship season:

Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC’s Matt Real has been suspended for one game following his red card for serious foul play against San Antonio FC on April 23. Real will be unavailable for selection in Colorado Springs’ contest against Phoenix Rising FC on Saturday night.

North Carolina FC’s Michael Maldonado has been suspended for one game following his red card for serious foul play against the Charlotte Independence in the USL Jägermeister Cup on April 25. Maldonado will be unavailable for North Carolina’s USL Jägermeister Cup contest against the Richmond Kickers on Saturday, May 31.

Hartford Athletic’s Jack Panayotou has been suspended for one game following his red card for two cautionable offenses against Portland Hearts of Pine in the USL Jägermeister Cup on April 26. Panayotou will be unavailable for selection in Hartford’s USL Jägermeister Cup contest against Westchester SC on Saturday, May 31.

FC Tulsa’s Lamar Batista has been suspended for one game following his red card for two cautionable offenses against One Knoxville SC in the USL Jägermeister Cup on April 26. Batista will be unavailable for selection in Tulsa’s USL Jägermeister Cup contest against Birmingham Legion FC on Saturday, May 31.