NEWS & NOTES

NORTH CAROLINA’S RODRIGO DA COSTA JOINS HIGH-PROFILE QUINTET

North Carolina FC forward Rodrigo da Costa recorded his 55th regular season goal in the USL Championship last Friday night, scoring the winner in his side’s 1-0 victory against Orange County SC at First Horizon Stadium. In doing so, the Brazilian became only the fifth player in the Championship’s regular season to reach 55 goals and 30 assists in the regular season, having recorded 34 assists in the league over his career.

Da Costa joins a trio of current Championship veterans in achieving the feat in Birmingham Legion FC’s Enzo Martinez, Indy Eleven’s Aodhan Quinn and Monterey Bay FC’s Alex Dixon, and former standout Jorge Herrera, whose career bridged the Charlotte Eagles and Charlotte Independence. The 31-year-old reached the mark in his 189th regular season appearance in the league.

Players with 55 goals, 30 assists in the USL Championship’s Regular Season
1. Enzo Martinez – 76 goals, 51 assists
2. Aodhan Quinn – 56 goals, 52 assists
3. Jorge Herrera – 72 goals, 35 assists
4. Alex Dixon – 64 goals, 34 assists
5. Rodrigo da Costa – 55 goals, 34 assists

LOUDOUN UNITED CONTINUES STRONG START TO THE CAMPAIGN

Loudoun United FC took a 5-1 victory against Lexington SC on Saturday evening at Segra Field, earning the side its seventh victory in nine games to start the 2025 regular season. The victory made United the first team to reach 20 points in the current campaign in the USL Championship, and maintained its position among the best starts to a season in the league’s history.

Across the Championship’s 15 seasons, Loudoun is the 20th to record at least 21 points through its first nine games of a campaign, with 2017 Real Monarchs SLC and 2022 Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC having recorded 24 points with eight wins out of nine to start a season. Of the 19 teams to previously record at least 21 points in their first nine games, nine previously claimed the Players’ Shield with the best record in the regular season.

Both Louisville City FC (at Hartford Athletic) and the Charleston Battery (vs. San Antonio FC) could join the clubs on 21 points through nine games should they take victory in their respective games this Saturday night.

Most Points Through Nine Games in a USL Championship Regular Season

24 – (8-1-0) – Real Monarchs SLC (2017)*, Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC (2022)

23 – (7-0-2) – Orlando City SC (2012)*, San Antonio FC (2017)

22 – (7-1-1) – Real Monarchs SLC (2018), Louisville City FC (2024)*

21 – (7-2-0 / 6-0-3) – Charleston Battery (2012), Richmond Kickers (2013)*, Orlando City SC (2014)*, Rochester Rhinos (2015)*, Vancouver Whitecaps FC 2 (2016), Reno 1868 FC (2020)*, San Antonio FC (2020), Tampa Bay Rowdies (2020), Tampa Bay Rowdies (2021)*, Louisville City FC (2022), San Antonio FC (2022)*, Sacramento Republic FC (2023), Charleston Battery (2024), Loudoun United FC (2025)

* - Won USL Championship Players’ Shield

HOW TREVOR AMANN’S PENALTY SAVED NEILL COLLINS’ MAY STREAK

Sacramento Republic FC played to a 1-1 draw against Indy Eleven this past Saturday at Heart Health Park as Trevor Amann converted from the penalty spot in second-half stoppage time to earn the hosts a point.

The result also continued a remarkable individual streak for Republic FC Head Coach Neill Collins, who since his appointment as Head Coach for the Tampa Bay Rowdies in May, 2018 has never lost a league contest in the month of May.

Collins’ Rowdies side went 14-0-2 in the month of May during his tenure, including a streak of 13 consecutive wins after a scoreless draw, also against Indy Eleven, on May 1, 2019 to the conclusion of his tenure in Tampa Bay in 2023. That winning streak continued in Sacramento with Republic FC’s 1-0 victory against Oakland Roots SC to open the club’s schedule this month before this past Saturday’s draw, putting Collins at 15-0-3 in the month of May going into Saturday’s contest against Las Vegas Lights FC.  

ORANGE COUNTY SC DRAWS A BLANK IN NORTH CAROLINA

Orange County SC recorded its second-highest shot total in a regular season game this season with 23 efforts against North Carolina FC last Friday night but was held scoreless in a 1-0 defeat at First Horizon Stadium. In turn, it set a single-game high for the most shots without scoring in a game so far this season, surpassing the 22 shots the Tampa Bay Rowdies recorded in a 1-0 defeat against Las Vegas Lights FC on the opening weekend of the season.

Orange County’s mark was also the most on record in club history for shots without a goal in a USL Championship regular season contest, dating to the 2017 season. It was, however, well short of the all-time high for shots without a goal in the Championship’s regular season, which remains Sacramento Republic FC’s 37 shots in a 1-0 defeat against San Antonio FC on June 16, 2018.

Most Shots Without a Goal in a USL Championship Regular Season Game (2017-present)
1. Sacramento Republic FC – 37 shots vs. San Antonio FC, 6/16/18
2. Louisville City FC – 35 shots vs. Philadelphia Union II, 7/20/19
3. Rio Grande Valley FC – 32 shots vs. Hartford Athletic, 7/27/22
4. Memphis 901 FC – 29 shots vs. Hartford Athletic, 9/11/24
5. FC Tulsa – 28 shots vs. Memphis 901 FC, 10/2/21

Quick Hits

- The Charleston Battery’s MD Myers recorded his fourth two-goal performance in the Championship’s regular season since the start of the 2024 campaign in his side’s victory against the Tampa Bay Rowdies, giving him five multi-goal performances overall. Only 2024 Championship Player of the Year Nick Markanich and 2024 All-League First Team selection Wilson Harris have recorded more multi-goal outings than Myers in that span.

- Loudoun United FC’s five-goal performance against Lexington SC marked the second-highest goal total in a single game in USL Championship play in club history. Loudoun had previously earned a 7-3 victory against the New York Red Bulls II on October 19, 2019 during its inaugural season.

- The Tampa Bay Rowdies Aarón Guillén became the 19th player to record 150 appearances for a single club in the USL Championship’s regular season this past Saturday against the Charleston Battery. Guillén is the second player to do so for the Rowdies since they joined the Championship following current teammate Leo Fernandes.

- Loudoun United’s Florian Valot and Zach Ryan became the first players in the club’s history to record 10 assists in the Championship’s regular season in the club’s victory against Lexington SC this past Saturday. Valot reached the mark in his 41st appearance for the club, while Ryan was making his 70th appearance.

- With his seventh goal of the current regular season this past Saturday, El Paso Locomotive FC’s Andy Cabrera has recorded more goals this regular season than any player recorded for the club during the 2024 regular season.

Upcoming Player Milestones

Appearances
Approaching 150 regular season appearances
Sam Gleadle (LOU) – 148
Florian Valot (LDN) – 148
Danny Griffin (PIT) – 148

Approaching 100 regular-season appearances
Mohamed Traore (PHX) – 99
Jake Rufe (BHM) – 99
Bryce Washington (NC) – 99
Ronaldo Damus (BHM) – 97
Juan Agudelo (SA) – 97

Minutes
Approaching 15,000 regular season minutes
Forrest Lasso (TBR) – 14,951
Mark Segbers (CHS) – 14,783

Approaching 10,000 regular season minutes
Grant Stoneman (RI) – 9,989
Maxi Rodriguez (RI) – 9,924
Drew Skundrich (LDN) – 9,914
Taylor Davila (LOU) – 9,818
Manuel Arteaga (TBR) – 9,806
Sam Gleadle (LOU) – 9,764
Romario Williams (IND) – 9,685
Sergio Rivas (NM) – 9,628
Patrick Seagrist (TUL) – 9,623

Goals
Approaching 80 regular season goals
Augustine Williams (PIT) – 77
Enzo Martinez (BHM) – 76

Approaching 50 regular season goals
Phillip Goodrum (LOU) – 49
Justin Dhillon (COS) – 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
Marcus Epps (LEX) – 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) – 491

Approaching 300 regular season saves
Jake McGuire (NC) – 298
Christian Herrera (COS) – 292

Approaching 250 regular season saves
Hugo Fauroux (LDN) – 248

Approaching 200 regular season saves
Logan Ketterer (LEX) – 186
Jahmali Waite (ELP) – 185
Colin Shutler (OC) – 183

Shutouts
Approaching 50 regular season shutouts
Matt Van Oekel (BHM) – 48
Danny Vitiello (SAC) – 47

Approaching 30 regular season shutouts
Christian Herrera (COS) – 27

Discipline Report – Week 11

TAMPA, Fla. – The following is the USL Championship’s discipline report for Week 11 of the 2025 USL Championship season:

New Mexico United’s Alex Tambakis has been suspended for one game following his red card for denial of a goalscoring opportunity in his side’s contest against Phoenix Rising FC on May 10. Tambakis will be unavailable for selection in New Mexico’s contest against Orange County SC on Saturday night.

New Mexico United’s Marlon Vargas has been suspended for one game following his red card for abusive language in his side’s contest against Phoenix Rising FC on May 10. Vargas will be unavailable for selection in New Mexico’s contest against Orange County SC on Saturday night.

San Antonio FC’s Mitchell Taintor has been suspended for one game following his red card for two cautionable offenses in his side’s contest against Oakland Roots SC on May 10. Taintor will be unavailable for selection in San Antonio’s contest against the Charleston Battery on Saturday night.

Lexington SC’s Michael Adedokun has been suspended for one game following his red card for two cautionable offenses in his side’s contest against Loudoun United FC on May 10. Adedokun will be unavailable for selection in Lexington’s contest against FC Tulsa on Sunday night.