NEWS & NOTES

RHODE ISLAND’S ALBERT DIKWA SCORES FIRST HAT TRICK IN USL JÄGERMEISTER CUP HISTORY

2023 USL Championship Player of the Year and Golden Boot winner Albert Dikwa became the first player to record a hat trick in the USL Jägermeister Cup’s short history on Friday night as he helped lead RIFC to a 4-1 victory against Portland Hearts of Pine at Centreville Bank Stadium.

Dikwa’s hat trick was his second in USL competition for his career, having previously logged one in the USL Championship for Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC on March 17, 2023 at the start of his Golden Boot campaign.

PHOENIX RISING’S CHARLIE DENNIS SETS SINGLE-GAME USL JÄGERMEISTER CUP RECORD

Phoenix Rising FC’s Charlie Dennis became the second player to record a hat trick in the USL Jägermeister Cup on Saturday night but also set a record for the most goal contributions in a single-game in the tournament’s history. In addition to his three goals, Dennis provided an assist on Darius Johnson’s first-half goal to end the night with four goal contributions.

Three players, including Rhode Island FC’s Albert Dikwa via his hat trick on Friday night, had previously recorded three goal contributions in a game. During the 2024 edition of the USL Jägermeister Cup, Chattanooga Red Wolves SC’s Mayele Malango recorded two goals and one assist against Lexington SC on May 25, 2024, while Northern Colorado Hailstorm FC’s Bruno Rendón did the same against One Knoxville SC on May 11, 2024.

NO POSSESSION, NO PROBLEM FOR LOUISVILLE CITY FC AGAINST LOUDOUN UNITED

Louisville City FC took a three-point lead in the race for the USL Championship Players’ Shield last Wednesday night with a 4-1 victory against Loudoun United FC at Segra Field. In claiming victory, LouCity posted the third-lowest possession mark on record in the league’s history for a winning side, sitting at a 24.9 percent possession mark.

Louisville’s previous club-low possession in a win came in the final game of the 2024 regular season when it took a 4-1 victory against Phoenix Rising FC while holding 31.9 percent possession on October 26, 2024. LouCity’s mark has only previously been surpassed by Oakland Roots SC, which had a 23.1 percent possession mark in a 3-2 victory against Las Vegas Lights FC on October 19, 2024, and San Antonio FC, which posted a 23.5 percent possession mark in a 1-0 win against Sporting Kansas City II on May 26, 2017.

Least Possession in a Win in the USL Championship Regular Season (2017-present)
1. Oakland Roots SC – 23.1 percent at Las Vegas Lights FC, Oct. 19, 2024 – W 3-2
2. San Antonio FC – 23.5 percent at Sporting Kansas City II, May 26, 2017 – W 1-0
3. Louisville City FC – 24.9 percent at Loudoun United FC, June 25, 2025 – W 4-1
4. Charleston Battery – 25.8 percent at Atlanta United 2, April 24, 2018 – W 3-0
5. Las Vegas Lights FC – 26 percent at El Paso Locomotive FC, June 22, 2019 – W 1-0

PHOENIX RISING, TEXOMA FC PLAY HIGHEST-SCORING GAME IN USL JÄGERMEISTER CUP

The USL Championship’s Phoenix Rising FC and USL League One’s Texoma FC set a USL Jagermeister Cup record with a combined nine goals in their Group 2 contest last Saturday night at Bearcat Stadium. Rising claimed a 5-4 victory through Emil Cuello’s stoppage-time winner, putting the contest two goals ahead of the previous high in the tournament.

Previously, Chattanooga Red Wolves SC and Lexington SC combined for seven goals on May 25, 2024 as Lexington took a 4-3 victory at CHI Memorial Stadium. That mark was matched in Northern Colorado Hailstorm FC’s 4-3 victory against Central Valley Fuego FC on June 8, 2024.

Quick Hits

- Louisville City FC’s Ray Serrano has recorded a goal contribution in five consecutive USL Championship games following his goal against Loudoun United FC last Wednesday night. Serrano has logged three goals and two assists over his current run.

- The Tampa Bay Rowdies have earned 11 points from losing positions in the USL Championship this season, after the side rallied for a 3-1 victory against Indy Eleven last Wednesday night. That ranks second in the Championship behind Loudoun United FC (13) but also accounts for the club’s overall current point total.

- Indy Eleven’s 3-1 defeat to the Tampa Bay Rowdies last Wednesday night marked the first time the side had lost on the road after holding a halftime lead in the USL Championship since a 2-1 defeat to the New York Red Bulls II on April 28, 2019.

- Louisville City FC’s Cameron Lancaster became the 22nd player to record 150 regular season appearances for a single club in league history with his substitute appearance against Loudoun United FC last Wednesday night. Lancaster became the sixth player to reach the landmark in LouCity’s colors, the most of any club in league history.

- Birmingham Legion FC’s Enzo Martinez could become the first player to record at least 10,000 regular season minutes for two different clubs in the USL Championship on Wednesday night against the Charleston Battery, sitting on 9,950 minutes for Legion entering the contest. Martinez previously logged 11,873 minutes for the Charlotte Independence.

- Loudoun United’s Abdellatif Aboukoura scored his 20th regular season goal in the USL Championship for the club last Wednesday night against Louisville City FC. The 20-year-old is the second player to reach the 20-goal mark in United’s history, trailing current teammate Zach Ryan (23) for the club lead.

Upcoming Player Milestones

Appearances
Approaching 250 regular season appearances
Kai Greene (OAK) – 249
Phanuel Kavita (BHM) – 249

Approaching 200 regular season appearances
Mark Segbers (CHS) – 196  

Approaching 150 regular season appearances
Douglas Martinez Jr. (CHS) – 149
Ethan Zubak (OC) – 147

Approaching 100 regular-season appearances
Charlie Dennis (PHX) – 98
Aiden McFadden (LOU) – 98
Wahab Ackwei (ELP) – 97
Nathan Dossantos (CHS) – 97   

Minutes
Approaching 20,000 regular season minutes
Bolu Akinyode (MIA) – 19,715

Approaching 15,000 regular season minutes
Mark Segbers (CHS) – 14,892
Jordan Scarlett (HFD) – 14,884
Amadou Dia (LOU) – 14,851

Approaching 10,000 regular season minutes
Dariusz Formella (PHX) – 9,986
Sam Gleadle (LOU) – 9,941
Jake McGuire (NC) – 9,810
Danny Crisostomo (TBR) – 9,794
Romario Williams (IND) – 9,789
Phillip Goodrum (LOU) – 9,761
Sergio Rivas (NM) – 9,673
AJ Paterson (BHM) – 9,635
Patrick Seagrist (TUL) – 9,623

Goals
Approaching 80 regular season goals
Augustine Williams (PIT) – 78
Enzo Martinez (BHM) – 76
Cal Jennings (CHS) – 76

Approaching 40 regular season goals
Brian Ownby (LOU) – 39
Ethan Zubak (OC) – 39
Rodrigo López (SAC) – 39
Tyler Pasher (BHM) – 38
Dariusz Formella (PHX) – 38
Justin Portillo (SAC) – 37
Marcus Epps (LEX) – 37

Assists
Approaching 50 regular season assists
Rodrigo Lopez (SAC) – 47
Brian Ownby (LOU) – 46

Approaching 30 regular season assists
Niall McCabe (LOU) – 29
Cam Lindley (IND) – 28
Robbie Mertz (PIT) – 28
Russell Cicerone (SAC) – 27

Saves
Approaching 650 regular season saves
Alex Tambakis (NM) – 645

Approaching 350 regular season saves
Kendall McIntosh (OAK) – 343
Danny Vitiello (SAC) – 341

Approaching 250 regular season saves
Antony Siaha (HFD) – 237

Approaching 200 regular season saves
Colin Shutler (OC) – 194
Logan Ketterer (LEX) – 188
Jahmali Waite (ELP) – 188

Shutouts
Approaching 50 regular season shutouts
Matt Van Oekel (BHM) – 49

Approaching 30 regular season shutouts
Christian Herrera (COS) – 29

Discipline Report – Week 18

TAMPA, Fla. – The following is the USL Championship’s discipline report for Week 18 of the 2025 USL Championship season:

Loudoun United FC’s Yanis Leerman has been suspended for one game following his red card for violent conduct against Louisville City FC on June 25. Leerman will be unavailable for selection in Loudoun’s contest against Orange County SC on Thursday night.

Loudoun United FC Head Coach Ryan Martin has been suspended for one game following his red card for two cautionable offenses against Louisville City FC on June 25. Martin will serve his suspension during Loudoun’s contest against Orange County SC on Thursday night.

Rhode Island FC Head Coach Khano Smith 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 June 27. Smith will serve his suspension during Rhode Island’s USL Jägermeister Cup contest against Hartford Athletic on Saturday, July 26.

Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC assistant coach Calle Brown has been suspended for one game following his red card for offensive language against New Mexico United in the USL Jägermeister Cup on June 28. Brown will serve his suspension during Colorado Springs’ USL Jägermeister Cup contest against Texoma FC on Saturday, July 26.