A historic weekend in the USL Championship’s history saw the Charleston Battery’s man of the moment deliver once again in a crucial victory, another team in the top four in the Eastern Conference spring a second consecutive home statement, and the defending title holders finally find their shooting boots.

Here are the three big storylines we took away from Week 29’s action, our picks for who’s up and who’s down coming out of the weekend, and thoughts on everything else we saw around the league.

TOP THREE STORYLINES

1. ALL HAIL THE NEW GOALSCORING KING

The trail that Nick Markanich has blazed with the Charleston Battery throughout this season has made his ascent to the USL Championship’s single-season goalscoring record holder feel inevitable.

And yet, the quality of his record-setting strike against the Tampa Bay Rowdies – fired home on the volley with his superb left foot – was about everything you could have wanted it to be.

• PARTY TIME: The celebrations after the finish seemed to reflect the excitement all of Markanich’s teammates had for his accomplishment – see Juan David Torres completely whiffing as he attempted to join in – and the close bond that’s allowed this team to achieve so much already this season.

• ADDING ON: Markanich wasn’t done – because of course he wasn’t – and it was appropriate goal No. 27 came via an assist from strike partner MD Myers as the two became the highest-scoring duo in a single season in Championship history with 40 combined goals.

• WHAT’S NEXT: Three of the Battery’s remaining four games this season are at Patriots Point. After this week’s bye, the 30-goal mark is one the 24-year-old might have in mind to cap an extraordinary campaign in front of goal.

There’s something beyond his goals that has defined Markanich’s season, and it was also in evidence on Saturday night as the side took a 3-1 win that sealed a top-two finish in the East. Markanich won 4 of 6 tackles and 8 of 10 duels, and now sits as the league-leader among forwards with 38 won tackles and 179 won duels.

That combined with his finishing has seen him become a complete package in Charleston, and someone who’s ready to make a difference this postseason.

“I was hoping I did it at home,” said Markanich. “I didn't mean to, but I’m happy I did at home in front of the home crowd. It feels amazing. It’s all credit to my teammates for setting me up in the right positions. I just do my movements in the box, and they find me. They’ve been doing that all season, so all credit to them. I wouldn’t be able to do all this without them.”

2. SOMETHING’S STIRRING IN DETROIT

Remember the unbridled optimism around Detroit City FC when it went on a five-game winning streak to start the season? There’s reason to believe it’s coming back.

Sunday afternoon’s 2-1 victory against Louisville City FC at Keyworth Stadium was Le Rouge’s second in a row against a conference leader after edging out New Mexico United on a Maxi Rodriguez penalty kick in Week 28 and has put the side in serious contention for the top three with five games to play.

• SET PIECE MASTERY: Detroit hasn’t been the most prolific team in dead-ball situations this season, but it’s been sharp enough when given opportunities. Rodriguez’s headed opener off a superb delivery by James Murphy against LouCity was its fifth from a free kick situation this season per Opta, tied for the most in the league.

• ON THE UP: DCFC has now lost only one game in its last 10 while also winning four of its last seven. While there are probably a few too many draws in there for the club’s liking, it’s regained its mojo at Keyworth, where it was winless in eight games before its victory against New Mexico.

• YES, BUT: There may be questions whether DCFC can continue to live on some fine margins and get results. Over its past eight games it’s scored eight times for a +3-goal differential, but its underlying numbers haven’t been as pretty with the side sitting at a -1.99 Expected Goal Differential over the same span.  

If there were longer to go in the campaign, that difference would be a bigger concern, but this is the point where nothing but the result matters. In that vein, Detroit has momentum as it prepares for another winnable game on the road in Monterey Bay this weekend.

“I was just super-proud of the guys, the way they pulled it out tonight,” said DCFC Head Coach Danny Dichio. “We’ve gotten burned a couple of times at home, and now to beat the top of the West and the top of the East going into the last five games of the season gives us a lot of good momentum.”

3. RISING FINDS ITS RANGE

If you’ve been looking for a good omen at Phoenix Rising FC’s home games this season, scoring first has been key. That trend held firm on Saturday night as Pape Mar Boye’s goal just before the half-hour mark kicked off a 4-0 victory against San Antonio FC that vaulted Rising into a much more comfortable position above the playoff line and sent San Antonio into more trouble below it.

Phoenix has now won 8 of 8 when scoring first on home turf this season, but it was the timing of the opening two goals that was most important to interim Head Coach Diego Gomez.

• DOUBLE UP: Mar Boye’s powerful header off a corner kick was backed up by Dariusz Formella adding a second before the break. Phoenix had been in complete control of the game, but that cemented the advantage and set the stage for more of the same.

• BREAKING THROUGH: After providing the assist on the opener for his first assist in Phoenix, Charlie Dennis added his first goal in Rising’s colors midway through the second half to cap an outstanding display. For a side that hit a bump in the road last week in Sacramento, its best attacking display of the season was very welcome.

• HE SAID IT: “The difference for us tonight was getting the first goal quickly, followed by a second. From there, we gained the confidence we needed.” – Gomez following the game.

As positive as the past few weeks have been overall for Rising with three wins in their last four, this week figures to be a test as they head to Orange County on Wednesday night and then host Las Vegas on Saturday.

If Rising has found the right balance and gained its composure in front of net, however, it’s setting itself up for another fascinating postseason.

“Everything needs time, and we have struggled a few games this season,” said Formella. “That’s not great for us, but we tried to do some different things tonight in a different way. We needed time and then we showed what we can do, and today was our day. I hope we’re going to continue this way.”

Three Up

Kris Shakes – The first-year pro started on Sunday in lieu of Alex Tambakis – sidelined with a minor injury according to the club – and was the star of the show. His four-save shutout highlighted by a brilliant second-half denial of Loudoun United’s Tommy Williamson got deserved postgame praise.

Darwin Matheus – There’s nothing like a debut goal, but how about a debut second-half stoppage time golazo? Darwin Matheus spared Birmingham Legion’s blushes against Miami FC as they were on the verge of being the first team shut out on home turf by the South Florida club this season.

Hartford Athletic’s Momentum: Hartford added a fourth consecutive shutout to its eight-game undefeated streak with a 2-0 victory against Oakland Roots SC on Saturday night and is right in contention for the postseason. This is the team we thought we’d be getting earlier in the season.

Three Down

Phillip Goodrum – The physicality Goodrum brings to the field is an essential part of his forward play, but he’s got to be smarter than getting two yellow cards for the same offense in one game. It’s certainly not how Louisville City FC hoped Sunday afternoon would work out.

Indy Eleven’s momentum: The visitors just weren’t at the races in the first half against North Carolina FC and it cost them dearly. After the upswing of last week’s home win, this is another dent for a side that’s in danger of falling into a playoff race with one win in its last six games.

Colorado Springs’ road form: It’s a good thing Christian Herrera came up with a save on El Paso Locomotive’s Eric Calvillo from the penalty spot or the Switchbacks could have been looking at defeat to the last-placed team in the West. Bit of a damper to end the side’s four-game winning streak.

THE REST OF THE ACTION

#HFDvOAK: Hartford Athletic hasn’t conceded in 429 minutes, and Oakland Roots hasn’t scored in 284 minutes after Hartford’s 2-0 victory at Trinity Health Stadium. Two teams heading in opposite directions right now.

#NCvIND: Take a bow, Collin Martin. A superb display to mark the North Carolina FC man’s 150th USL Championship regular season appearance, while Ezra Armstrong continues to sparkle in his wide position.

#RIvTUL: There shouldn’t be much doubt Rhode Island FC deserved its stoppage-time winner overall. Albert’s Dikwa’s finish feels like it is going to end up being pivotal to the final position for RIFC, and Tulsa’s playoff chances.

#ELPvCOS: Locomotive should have had its second home win of the season, and you hate to see Eric Calvillo miss the opportunity to earn it. Pretty big let-off for the Switchbacks overall.

#MBvOC: Say this for Monterey Bay, it looked the much more likely side to win against Orange County SC but it was still unable to find the net. That’s five consecutive games without a goal for Head Coach Jordan Stewart’s side.

#LVvSAC: Las Vegas is well on course for history this season, but with its comeback victory against Sacramento Republic FC on Saturday night it set a single-season club record for points gained from losing positions (15).

#NMvLDN: New Mexico Head Coach Eric Quill called Loudoun United’s style the sort you don’t want to face to wrap a three-game stretch in a short space of time. You saw exactly what he meant, but New Mexico found a goal and managed to hold off the visitors.

#BHMvMIA: We’re still trying to figure out if Legion is a serious threat if it makes the playoffs, or whether this attack is just going to be this discombobulated and come up short when it matters most.