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USL Top Five – 50 Goal Club Candidates

By NICHOLAS MURRAY - nicholas.murray@uslsoccer.com, 06/01/18, 4:50PM EDT

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Chandler Hoffman is the group’s third member, who might join him this season?


Photo courtesy Brett Hansbauer / FC Cincinnati

Real Monarchs SLC’s Chandler Hoffman became the third player to reach 50 regular-season goals in the USL’s modern era on Tuesday night as his tally placed him alongside current D.C. United forward Dane Kelly and Charlotte Independence forward Jorge Herrera while also giving the Monarchs a 1-0 victory against Sacramento Republic FC at Zions Bank Stadium.

But Hoffman isn’t the only player who is in with a chance of joining the 50-goal club this season with some notable names also looking in with a chance to join the club with the league just past one-third of the way through. Here are five players to follow for the remainder of 2018’s regular season who have a chance to reach the landmark.

George Davis IV, Louisville City FC
48 Goals


Photo courtesy Em-Dash Photography / Louisville City FC

A three-time USL All-League selection, George Davis IV is one of two players who should comfortably surpass 50 regular-season goals, with his late tally against FC Cincinnati this past weekend giving him 48 regular-season goals since he began his USL career in the 2011 season. The attacking midfielder hasn’t always been prolific, his career-high of 11 goals with the Richmond Kickers in the 2014 season is the only time he’s recorded double-digit goals in a season, but Davis’ ability to consistently finish the chances he’s given has made him one of the league’s constants over the years.

Jose Angulo, OKC Energy FC
47 Goals


Photo courtesy Steven Christy / OKC Energy FC

Jose Angulo is the other who should reach 50 regular-season goals this season, and while he’s yet to find the net in an injury-hit start to the season it would certainly be surprising if the 2013 USL Most Valuable Player didn’t starting finding the net consistently after recording 15 goals a season ago between Saint Louis FC and Energy FC. Should the Colombian pick up the pace, it would also be a major boost for Energy FC as it looks to get back into the playoff picture after a slow start to the 2018 season.

Kyle Greig, Saint Louis FC
40 Goals


Photo courtesy Mark Guthrel / Saint Louis FC

Kyle Greig broke into the Top 10 in the league’s modern-era goal-scoring leaders with his five goals so far this season, and he is one of two players in Saint Louis’ roster who have a chance at reaching the 50-goal plateau this season with Corey Hertzog currently sitting on 41 goals this season. While there are no guarantees Greig will maintain his current scoring rate of a goal every 126.2 minutes this season, there is some latitude for the 28-year-old to find the remaining 10 goals he needs this season, which would also see Greig set an individual single-season high of 13 that he set two seasons ago. 

Danni König, FC Cincinnati
40 Goals


Photo courtesy Brett Hansbauer / FC Cincinnati

Danni König burst into the USL in 2015 with OKC Energy FC, finishing second in a record-setting season for the league with 21 regular-season goals, and with four goals already this season for FC Cincinnati it’s certainly shouldn’t be out of the question that the Danish marksman can get to 50 goals this season after recording 15 goals already for FC Cincinnati since his arrival via a trade just over a year ago. Given the service he’ll have at his disposal, if König can keep his place in a competitive lineup, another 10 goals this season should be within reach for the Danish standout. 

Kharlton Belmar, Swope Park Rangers
37 Goals


Photo courtesy Darren Abate / San Antonio FC

Current USL Golden Boot-leader Kharlton Belmar is the longest shot to reach 50 regular-season goals for his career this season, but with the pace the 2015 USL Rookie of the Year has set in his second season for the Swope Park Rangers it certainly isn’t outside the realm of possibility. Currently averaging a goal per 90 minutes, a rate only surpassed by North Carolina FC’s Marios Lomis (76.67) and the LA Galaxy II’s Efrain Alvarez (65.67) among players who have registered at least three goals this season, Belmar is currently on pace for a 31-goal season with 23 games remaining for the Rangers in 2018. While that’s unlikely, with only 13 goals needed, should he become a member of the 50-goal club this season, Belmar would also be knocking on the door of the USL single-season record for goals of 22 held by former Louisville City FC forward Matt Fondy.

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