Part 7 in our team-by-team preview where we try to answer these questions: how could they succeed, and how could they stumble?
Lexington SC
One of two expansion sides in USL League One for the 2023 season, Lexington SC rolled out its inaugural roster full of veterans from NISA, USL1, USL Championship a few foreign leagues, and a group of first-time pros from the NCAA and the local academy.
Notable veteran signees include forwards Nico Brown (Greenville Triumph), Will Baynham (Queens Park FC), and Ates Diouf (San Antonio FC); midfielders Kaelon Fox (2022 FC Tucson captain), Charlie Machell (FC Tucson) and Don Smart (Greenville Triumph); defenders Erick Ceja Gonzalez (Reno United FC), and Owen Green (Tormenta FC).
The roster includes six first-time pros and four making the jump from NISA, no doubt seeking opportunity and better visibility for their own careers.
How Lexington SC could succeed in 2023
Solid veteran leadership trickles down
Sorry for using the same template we used with One Knox, but hey, this is how any expansion club finds success, right? And Kaelon Fox and Don Smart in particular bring invaluable experience and leadership to this club.
Another thing that strikes us about Lexington SC is the fact that they’re full of younger players who are probably hungry for a first or second chance. And then there’s the outlook of Sam Stockley on using what he has to score (a lot of) goals and win. Should the leadership trickle down and light a fire under this rag-tag expansion squad, they could grind out enough wins and draws to be contenders.
We previously touched on the potential of two forwards, Will Baynham and Ates Diouf. The former put up 4 goals in 14 appearances in the Scottish League Two, while the latter had 5 goals over 49 appearances in the USL Championship. It’s not inconceivable that this could translate to a burst of goals with these two up front, especially if Don Smart manages another year of productivity alongside another playmaking midfielder or winger. The pieces are there.
How Lexington SC could stumble in 2023
They just need a year to get going
As with One Knox SC or any other expansion side, the all-new roster might not click right away. They might start off slow and build up their success throughout the year, too late to join the playoff mix, but making great strides in developing the younger players for next year.
It wouldn’t be unexpected, even if it might be unspoken among Lexington die-hards. But this is a roster designed for a slow burn, not an explosion right out of the gate.
But then again, USL League One is where expansion sides can be competitive.
Again, last year’s expansion sides, Hailstorm FC and Fuego FC came surprisingly close to the playoffs. One Knox appears poised to compete right away, while Lexington SC has a longer-term approach. But overall, this is still a league with a great deal of talent parity, where even brand-new rosters can compete if they’re clicking.