NEWS & NOTES

LAS VEGAS’ TURNAROUND HIGHLIGHTED BY POINTS INCREASE
Las Vegas Lights FC reached the 50-point mark in a regular season campaign for the first time in its history on Sunday evening following a 3-0 victory against Birmingham Legion FC. The result also set a club record with the Lights’ 13th win of the season as it moved into sole possession of second place in the Western Conference with two games to play in the regular season campaign.

The Lights are now also tied for the second-largest season-on-season points increase in the USL Championship’s regular season with a 31-point improvement from the 2023 season, in which the club won three games and recorded 19 points. Las Vegas would equal the Charleston Battery’s 34-point turnaround – recorded between the 2022 and 2023 campaigns – with a victory against Oakland Roots SC on Saturday.

Largest Season-on-Season Points Increase in USL Championship Regular Season History
1. Charleston Battery – 34 points (2022 to 2023 season)
T-2. Las Vegas Lights FC – 31 points (2023 to 2024 season)
T-2. FC Cincinnati – 31 points (2017 to 2018 season)
T-2. Real Monarchs SLC – 31 points (2016 to 2017 season)
T-5. FC Tulsa – 27 points (2016 to 2017 season)
T-5. New York Red Bulls II – 27 points (2015 to 2016 season)
7. San Antonio FC – 25 points (2021 to 2022 season)
T-8. Las Vegas Lights FC – 24 points (2021 to 2022 season)
T-8. Phoenix Rising FC – 24 points (2016 to 2017 season)
T-8. San Antonio FC – 24 points (2016 to 2017 season)

* - excludes points differentials from 2020 to 2021 season due to abbreviated campaign

LOUISVILLE CITY TAKES AIM AT SINGLE-SEASON WINS RECORD

Louisville City FC set a club record with its 23rd victory of the regular season campaign with its 2-1 victory against the Tampa Bay Rowdies on Saturday night, while also equaling the club’s single-season record for points in a campaign previously achieved in the 2022 season. Louisville becomes one of only five clubs to have recorded at least 23 wins in a USL Championship regular season.

LouCity can equal the USL Championship’s single-season record for wins this Saturday when it visits San Antonio FC, a mark previously achieved only twice by Phoenix Rising FC in the 2019 regular season and matched by San Antonio in 2022.

Most Wins in a USL Championship Regular Season Campaign
T-1. San Antonio FC – 24 wins, 2022
T-1. Phoenix Rising FC – 24 wins, 2019
T-3. Louisville City FC – 23 wins, 2024*
T-3. Tampa Bay Rowdies – 23 wins, 2021
T-3. FC Cincinnati – 23 wins, 2018
6. Louisville City FC – 22 wins, 2022
T-7. Memphis 901 FC – 21 wins, 2022
T-7. New York Red Bulls II – 21 wins, 2016

RHODE ISLAND FC EQUALS SINGLE-SEASON DRAW RECORD

Rhode Island FC played to the 14th draw of its inaugural season against Loudoun United FC on Sunday evening at Beirne Stadium, equaling the mark reached previously by five other teams in a single USL Championship regular season.

RIFC’s draw with Loudoun United was additionally its sixth scoreless draw of the season, one shy of the single-season high by a team in a regular season campaign. Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC recorded seven scoreless draws while posting 14 draws overall in the 2018 campaign as it finished third in the Eastern Conference.

Most Drawn Contests in a USL Championship Regular Season
T-1. Rhode Island FC, 2024*
T-1. San Antonio FC, 2023
T-1. Charleston Battery, 2018
T-1. Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC, 2018
T-1. Rio Grande Valley FC, 2018
T-1. Ottawa Fury FC, 2017
T-7. 9 teams tied on 13 drawn contests

REPUBLIC FC’S VITIELLO WITHIN REACH OF SHUTOUTS RECORD

Sacramento Republic FC’s Danny Vitiello became the 16th goalkeeper in the USL Championship’s regular season history to surpass 300 saves with a three-save shutout against Memphis 901 FC this past Saturday. Vitiello’s shutout was the 14th of the campaign, extending an individual single-season high and moving him within one of the league’s all-time single-season record with two games to play in the campaign.

Vitiello could equal the mark of 15 shutouts recorded by current Canadian Men’s National Team goalkeeper Maxime Crépeau for Ottawa Fury FC in 2018 and equaled by Jordan Farr while competing for San Antonio FC in the 2022 season. Sacramento visits El Paso Locomotive FC this Saturday before ending its season at home to Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC on Saturday, October 26.

Most Individual Shutouts in a USL Championship Regular Season
T-1. Maxime Crépeau, Ottawa Fury FC (2018) – 15
T-1. Jordan Farr, San Antonio FC (2022) – 15
T-3. Matt Pickens, Nashville SC (2018) – 14
T-3. Matt Pickens, Nashville SC (2019) – 14
T-3. Evan Louro, Tampa Bay Rowdies (2021) – 14
T-3. Danny Vitiello, Sacramento Republic FC – 14*
T-7. Brandon Miller, Rochester Rhinos (2015) – 13
T-7. Kyle Morton, Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC (2019) – 13
T-7. Zac Lubin, Phoenix Rising FC (2019) – 13
T-7. Kyle Morton, Louisville City FC (2022) – 13

Quick Hits
- Louisville City FC became the 10th team in the USL Championship’s history to gain 20 points from losing positions in a single season with its comeback 2-1 victory against the Tampa Rowdies on Saturday. LouCity’s current single-season high is 23 points gained, which it achieved in the 2019 season.

- San Antonio FC extended its undefeated streak against Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC to 13 games across the regular season and playoffs with its 2-1 win at Weidner Field on Saturday. SAFC is 10-0-3 against Colorado Springs since the Switchbacks took a 1-0 win on March 23, 2019, in their most recent win in the series.

- Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC’s Speedy Williams became the 11th player in the USL Championship’s regular season history to surpass 20,000 minutes of play during his side’s contest against San Antonio FC this past Saturday.

- The Tampa Bay Rowdies’ Cal Jennings moved into a tie for fifth in individual shots in a regular season campaign as he reached 112 shots after recording three shots against Louisville City FC this past Saturday. Jennings is currently 20 shots off the single-season record of 132 shots set by Cameron Lancaster of Louisville City FC in the 2018 season.

- Hartford Athletic’s Danny Barrera recorded only the second two-goal performance of his career in the USL Championship in his side’s 4-3 victory against North Carolina FC this past Saturday. Barrera had previously recorded a two-goal game against the New York Red Bulls II on June 6, 2021.

Upcoming Player Milestones

Appearances
Approaching 250 regular-season appearances
Lewis Hilton (TBR) – 247

Approaching 200 regular-season appearances
Wes Charpie (LOU) – 199
Aarón Guillén (TBR) – 199
Matt Mahoney (COS) – 199

Approaching 150 regular season appearances
Romario Williams (IND) – 149
Nick Ross (SAC) – 147
Juan Tejada (COS) – 147

Approaching 100 regular-season appearances
Emil Cuello (PHX) – 99
Zach Zandi (COS) – 99
Manny Perez (LOU) – 97

Minutes
Approaching 20,000 regular season minutes
Mitchell Taintor (SA) – 19,858

Approaching 15,000 regular season minutes
Wes Charpie (LOU) – 14,937
Charlie Adams (LV) – 14,937
Sebastian Guenzatti (IND) – 14,882
Mark Segbers (CHS) – 14,664
Marcus Epps (HFD) – 14,652

Approaching 10,000 regular season minutes
Rece Buckmaster (SA) – 9,996
Mobi Fehr (MB) – 9,914
Paul Blanchette (OAK) – 9,853
Rashid Tetteh (TUL) – 9,690
James Murphy (DET) – 9,638

Goals
Approaching 80 regular season goals
Augustine Williams (IND) – 76

Approaching 70 regular season goals
Wilson Harris (LOU) – 66

Approaching 50 regular season goals
Luis Solignac (SA) – 49
Phillip Goodrum (LOU) – 46
Manuel Arteaga (TBR) – 46

Approaching 40 regular season goals
Brian Ownby (LOU) – 39
JJ Williams (RI) – 39
Rodrigo Lopez (SAC) – 38
Ronaldo Damus (COS) – 38
Nick Markanich (CHS) – 37
Dariusz Formella (PHX) – 37
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 250 regular season saves
Tomás Gómez (OC) – 236

Approaching 200 regular season saves
Koke Vegas (RI) – 198

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) – 29
Jake McGuire (NC) – 29
Nate Steinwascher (DET) – 29

Discipline Report – Week 33

TAMPA, Fla. – The following is the USL Championship’s discipline report for Week 33 of the 2024 USL Championship season:

Tampa Bay Rowdies Head Coach Robbie Neilson has been suspended for two games following his red card for abusive language during the club’s contest against Louisville City FC on October 12. Neilson will serve his suspension during Tampa Bay’s contests against North Carolina FC on Saturday and Hartford Athletic on Wednesday, Oct. 23.

Memphis 901 FC assistant coach Caleb Patterson-Sewell has been suspended for two games following his red card for two technical staff cautions during the club’s contest against Sacramento Republic FC on October 12. Patterson-Sewell will serve his suspension during Memphis’ contests against Phoenix Rising FC on Saturday and New Mexico United on Saturday, October 26.

Memphis 901 FC assistant coach Leandro Spinola has been suspended for one game following his red card for deliberately leaving the technical area to dissent against Sacramento Republic FC on October 12. Spinola will serve his suspension during Memphis’ contest against Phoenix Rising FC on Saturday.

Memphis 901 FC’s Marlon Santos has been suspended one game for caution accumulation after receiving his eighth yellow card of the season against Sacramento Republic FC on October 12. Santos will be unavailable for selection in Memphis’ contest against Phoenix Rising FC on Saturday.

Detroit City FC’s James Murphy has been suspended one game for caution accumulation after receiving his eighth yellow card of the season against Indy Eleven on October 12. Murphy will be unavailable for selection in Detroit’s contest against Miami FC on Saturday.

Hartford Athletic Head Coach Brendan Burke has been suspended one game for caution accumulation after receiving his eighth yellow card of the season against North Carolina FC on October 12. Burke will serve his suspension during Hartford’s contest against FC Tulsa on Saturday.

Indy Eleven’s Adrian Diz Pe was suspended for one game following his red card for serious foul play against Loudoun United FC on October 9. Diz Pe served his suspension during Indy’s contest against Detroit City FC on October 12.

Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC’s Justin Dhillon was suspended for one game following his red card for two cautionable offenses against Orange County SC on October 9. Dhillon served his suspension during Colorado Springs’ contest against San Antonio FC on October 12.

Phoenix Rising FC’s Juan Carlos Azocar was suspended for one game following his red card for two cautionable offenses against New Mexico United on October 9. Azocar served his suspension during Phoenix’s contest against Oakland Roots SC on October 12.

San Antonio FC’s Jorge Hernandez was suspended for one game for caution accumulation after receiving his eighth yellow card of the season against El Paso Locomotive FC on October 9. Hernandez served his suspension during San Antonio’s contest against Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC on October 12.

Memphis 901 FC’s Akeem Ward is no longer on caution accumulation warning after earning a Good Behavior Initiative credit following his third consecutive game without a yellow card against Sacramento Republic FC on October 12, moving him to six cautions this season.

North Carolina FC’s Paco Craig 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 on October 12, moving him to six cautions this season.

Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC’s Illal Osumanu is on caution accumulation warning having earned a Good Behavior Initiative credit following his third consecutive game without a yellow card against Miami FC on October 5, which moved him to six cautions this season prior to his yellow card against the Charleston Battery on October 12.

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:

• Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC (1): Yosuke Hanya

• Hartford Athletic (1): Joe Farrell

• Indy Eleven (1): Callum Chapman-Page

• Loudoun United FC (1): Yanis Leerman

• Louisville City FC (1): Kyle Adams

• Oakland Roots SC (1): Memo Diaz

• Orange County SC (1): Kevin Partida

• Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC (1): Illal Osumanu

• San Antonio FC (1): Mitchell Taintor

• FC Tulsa (1): Harvey St. Clair

The following players and coaches enter the upcoming matches one caution away from their 11th yellow card of the season and a two-game suspension for caution accumulation.

Here is the breakdown per club:

• El Paso Locomotive FC (1): Tony Alfaro