NEWS & NOTES

A HISTORIC NIGHT FOR BATTERY’S M&M BOYS
The Charleston Battery’s Nick Markanich became the USL Championship’s Single-Season Goalscoring record-holder on Saturday night as his two-goal performance moved him to 27 goals in 30 appearances this season, moving past former Louisville City FC star Cameron Lancaster and former Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC star Hadji Barry on 25 goals this season.

Most Goals in a USL Championship Regular Season
1. Nick Markanich, Charleston Battery (2024) – 27 in 30 appearances*
T-2. Cameron Lancaster, Louisville City FC (2018) – 25 in 30 appearances
T-2. Hadji Barry, Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC (2021) – 25 in 32 appearances
T-4. Matt Fondy, Louisville City FC (2015) – 22 goals in 28 appearances
T-4. Milan Iloski, Orange County SC (2022) – 22 goals in 31 appearances
T-4. Solomon Asante, Phoenix Rising FC (2019) – 22 goals in 32 appearances

Markanich’s second goal against the Rowdies off an assist by MD Myers also saw the duo break the USL Championship’s single-season record for goals by a pair of teammates, with Markanich contributing 27 goals and Myers 13 for a total of 40 goals in 30 contests. The duo surpassed the mark held by Phoenix Rising FC’s Solomon Asante (22) and Adam Jahn (17) of 39 combined goals in the 2019 season.

Six of the eight assists Markanich and Myers have recorded this season came on goals by the other member of the duo.

Most Goals by a Pair of Teammates in a USL Championship Regular Season
1. Nick Markanich (27) & MD Myers (13), Charleston Battery (2024) – 40 goals*
2. Solomon Asante (22) & Adam Jahn (17), Phoenix Rising FC (2019) – 39 goals
3. Solomon Asante (22) & Junior Flemmings (15), Phoenix Rising FC (2019) – 37 goals
4. Cameron Lancaster (25) & Ilija Ilic (11), Louisville City FC (2018) – 36 goals
T-5. Hadji Barry (25) & Michee Ngalina (8), Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC (2021) – 33 goals
T-5. Cameron Lancaster (25) & George Davis IV (8), Louisville City FC (2018) – 33 goals

LOUCITY’S SEAN TOTSCH REACHES A QUARTER-CENTURY OF GOALS

Louisville City FC center back Sean Totsch became the first defender on record in the USL Championship era to record 25 regular season goals on Sunday afternoon when he converted from the penalty spot against Detroit City FC at Keyworth Stadium. The 33-year-old has converted 12 of 12 penalty kicks in the regular season during his career.

Most Goals by a Defender in the USL Championship’s Regular Season
1. Sean Totsch – 25
2. Joe Farrell – 19
3. Forrest Lasso – 18
4. Mitchell Taintor – 16
T-5. Paco Craig – 15
T-5. Alex Crognale – 15

ORANGE COUNTY, PHOENIX TO BECOME MOST-PLAYED MATCHUP

Orange County SC and Phoenix Rising FC will meet for the 34th time in the USL Championship’s regular season and playoffs on Wednesday night at Championship Soccer Stadium. In doing so, the clubs will have met on more occasions than any other matchup in the USL Championship era, breaking a tie with the series between Orange County SC and the LA Galaxy II, which was played 33 times across the regular season and playoffs before Los Dos’ move to MLS NEXT Pro.

Phoenix Rising leads the series with 15 wins to Orange County’s nine with nine games having ended all square. Rising has won each of their prior two postseason matchups, taking a 2-1 win in the Western Conference Final in 2018 and a 2-1 victory after extra time in the Western Conference Semifinals in 2023.

Most Meetings in the USL Championship era (Regular Season & Playoffs)
T-1. Orange County SC & Phoenix Rising FC – 33 contests
T-1. Orange County SC & LA Galaxy II – 33 contests
3. Charleston Battery & Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC – 29 contests
4. Orange County SC & Sacramento Republic FC – 28 contests
5. Sacramento Republic FC & LA Galaxy II – 27 contests

LOUISVILLE CITY FC TAKES AIM AT EQUALING HOME WINS RECORD

Louisville City FC will get its first chance to equal the USL Championship’s single-season home wins record on Saturday night when it plays host to Memphis 901 FC at Lynn Family Stadium. LouCity is currently 12-1-0 at home this season with four home games remaining. Should it take victory, it would become the ninth team to record 13 home wins in a USL Championship Regular Season.

The Charleston Battery have also recorded 12 home regular season wins this season. Charleston has posted a 12-1-1 record with three home games in their remaining four contests as they enter a bye this week.

Most Home Wins in a USL Championship Regular Season
T-1. Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC – 13 wins, 2023
T-1. Louisville City FC – 13 wins, 2022
T-1. Tampa Bay Rowdies – 13 wins, 2021
T-1. El Paso Locomotive FC – 13 wins, 2021
T-1. Indy Eleven – 13 wins, 2019
T-1. Phoenix Rising FC – 13 wins, 2019                                  
T-1. Real Monarchs SLC – 13 wins, 2018                               
T-1. Orlando City SC – 13 wins, 2014

NEW MEXICO UNITED HOLDS FAST WHEN IN FRONT

New Mexico United’s victories against Sacramento Republic FC and Loudoun United FC in Week 29 continued the club’s success when scoring the opening goal in contests this season, where it has earned a 15-0-3 record when striking first. The club is one of four alongside Hartford Athletic, Oakland Roots SC, and the Tampa Bay Rowdies that has yet to lose a game this season after holding a winning position.

New Mexico’s success when scoring the opening goal has stretched more than a year overall, with the side having gone 23 consecutive games without suffering defeat when it scores the opening goal. The last side to rally to defeat United was Hartford Athletic on August 6, 2023.

Quick Hits
- Hartford Athletic’s 2-0 victory against Oakland Roots SC this past Saturday set club records for its longest undefeated streak at seven games, and longest shutout streak at 429 minutes.

- Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC’s Christian Herrera became the sixth goalkeeper this season to record multiple penalty kick saves with his denial of El Paso Locomotive FC’s Eric Calvillo this past Saturday.

- Birmingham Legion FC’s Matt VanOekel became only the third goalkeeper to record a shutout in the USL Championship era after his 38th birthday against Miami FC. VanOekel’s clean sheet aged 38 years, 2 days old saw him join Tim Howard and Romuald Peiser while remaining third in the all-time list.

- The Tampa Bay Rowdies’ Jordan Farr became the 15th goalkeeper to record 300 regular season saves in the USL Championship’s history with a five-save performance against the Charleston Battery this past Saturday. Farr now sits 14th all-time in the league’s saves list, passing CJ Cochran (300 saves).

- Las Vegas Lights FC’s 2-1 victory against Sacramento Republic FC on Saturday night marked its second home-and-home sweep of the season and just the third in its history. The Lights had previously earned two-game season sweeps of Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC (2019) and El Paso Locomotive FC (2024).

- San Antonio FC’s 4-0 defeat against Phoenix Rising FC marked the first time the side had conceded at least four goals in a contest since a 4-2 defeat against New Mexico United on October 20, 2021. It was only the seventh time in SAFC history the side had allowed at least four goals in a USL Championship contest.

- Monterey Bay F.C.’s scoreless streak reached 452 minutes this past Saturday as it was held without a goal for a fifth consecutive outing. Monterey Bay’s longest prior scoreless streak in league play was 359 minutes between July 15 and August 12, 2023.

Upcoming Player Milestones

Appearances
Approaching 250 regular-season appearances
Enzo Martinez (BHM) – 249
Justin Portillo (SAC) – 249

Approaching 200 regular-season appearances
James Musa (IND) – 198
Wes Charpie (LOU) – 198
Aarón Guillén (TBR) – 197  
Matt Mahoney (COS) – 196

Approaching 150 regular season appearances
Thomas Vancaeyezeele (HFD) – 149
Romario Williams (IND) – 147

Approaching 100 regular-season appearances
Alex Lara (MB) – 99
Robby Dambrot (LDN) – 99
Gabriel Torres (PHX) – 99
Beverly Makangila (HFD) – 99
Nick Moon (TBR) – 98
Junior Etou (PIT) – 98
Arturo Rodriguez (CHS) – 98
Johnny Rodriguez (OAK) – 98
Morey Doner (MB) – 97
Emil Cuello (PHX) – 97
Rhys Williams (DET) – 97
Walmer Martinez (MB) – 97   

Minutes
Approaching 20,000 regular season minutes
Speedy Williams (COS) – 19,757

Approaching 15,000 regular season minutes
Bradley Bourgeois (TUL) – 14,944
Sebastian Guenzatti (IND) – 14,882
Russell Cicerone (SAC) – 14,854
Wes Charpie (LOU) – 14,847
Charlie Adams (LV) – 14,822
Kyle Adams (LOU) – 14,721

Approaching 10,000 regular season minutes
Jorge Hernández (SA) – 9,986
Danny Barbir (MIA) – 9,897
Wilson Harris (LOU) – 9,880
Alexis Souahy (NM) – 9,817
Owen Lambe (OC) – 9,771
Rece Buckmaster (SA) – 9,669
Mobi Fehr (MB) – 9,651

Goals
Approaching 50 regular season goals
Luis Solignac (SA) – 47

Approaching 40 regular season goals
Brian Ownby (LOU) – 39
Rodrigo Lopez (SAC) – 38
JJ Williams (RI) – 38
Ronaldo Damus (COS) – 38
Justin Portillo (SAC) – 37
Tyler Pasher (BHM) – 37

Assists
Approaching 50 regular season assists
Enzo Martinez (BHM) – 49
Rodrigo Lopez (SAC) – 46
Brian Ownby (LOU) – 46

Approaching 30 regular season assists
Niall McCabe (LOU) – 29
Jorge Hernández (SA) – 29
Cam Lindley (IND) – 28
Florian Valot (LDN) – 28

Saves
Approaching 300 regular season saves
Danny Vitiello (SAC) – 290

Approaching 250 regular season saves
Tomás Gómez (OC) – 236

Approaching 200 regular season saves
Koke Vegas (RI) – 189

Shutouts
Approaching 50 regular season shutouts
Matt Van Oekel (BHM) – 48

Approaching 40 regular season shutouts
Tomás Gómez (OC) – 38

Approaching 30 regular season shutouts
Tyler Deric (MEM) – 28
Jake McGuire (NC) – 28
Nate Steinwascher (DET) – 27

Discipline Report – Week 30

TAMPA, Fla. – The following is the USL Championship’s discipline report for Week 30 of the 2024 USL Championship season:

Hartford Athletic’s Jordan Scarlett has been suspended for one game following his red card for serious foul play against Oakland Roots SC on September 21. Scarlett will be unavailable for selection in Hartford’s contest against the Tampa Bay Rowdies on Saturday.

Sacramento Republic FC’s Chibi Ukaegbu has been suspended for one game following his red card for denial of a goalscoring opportunity against Las Vegas Lights FC on September 21. Ukaegbu will be unavailable for selection in Sacramento’s contest against New Mexico United on Sunday.

Louisville City FC’s Phillip Goodrum has been suspended for one game following his red card for two cautionable offenses against Detroit City FC on September 22. Goodrum will be unavailable for selection in Louisville’s contest against Memphis 901 FC on Saturday.

North Carolina FC’s Lamar Batista has been suspended one game for caution accumulation after receiving his eighth yellow card of the season against Indy Eleven on September 21. Batista will be unavailable for selection in North Carolina’s contest against El Paso Locomotive FC on Saturday.

Oakland Roots SC’s Memo Diaz is no longer on caution accumulation warning after earning a Good Behavior Initiative credit following his third consecutive game without a yellow card against Hartford Athletic, moving him to six cautions this season.

The following players and coaches enter the upcoming matches one caution away from their eighth yellow card of the season and a one-game suspension for caution accumulation.

Here is the breakdown per club:

• Detroit City FC (1): James Murphy

• Hartford Athletic (1): Brendan Burke

• Indy Eleven (1): Callum Chapman-Page

• Memphis 901 FC (2): Marlon Santos, Akeem Ward

• New Mexico United (1): Greg Hurst

• Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC (1): Illal Osumanu

• Rhode Island FC (1): Jojea Kwizera

• Sacramento Republic FC (1): Justin Portillo

• San Antonio FC (2): Kevon Lambert, Jorge Hernandez