Every club was active last week, some twice. But the results didn’t really shake things out like they could have. The only thing for certain: all roads to glory in USL League One right now lead through Windsor, Colorado. Here’s a review of the action:
- Knoxville 2-4 NOCO
- NCFC 2-2 Madison
- Richmond 2-2 Charlotte
- Tormenta 4-2 Chattanooga
- Greenville 1-0 One Knox
- NOCO 2-0 Omaha
- Fuego 2-1 Lexington
Here’s how we have the league stacking up moving into week 19:
1) Hailstorm FC
Last week: 1
Record: 9-5-1 (1st)
Matches since last ranking: WIN at Knoxville, 4-2; WIN vs. Omaha, 2-0
Next league match: vs. Richmond
Hailstorm continues to roll, picking up all six points in a two-match week. Golden Boot leader Trevor Amann opened the night with an Arthur Rogers assisted goal just eight minutes in, followed by Bruno Rendón adding another Rogers assisted goal just 12 minutes later. Knoxville would answer, but Rogers sent another one to Rendón to pad the lead. Billy King would go on to put the final nail in Knoxville’s coffin late in the match.
Hailstorm then went home where they handled a resurgent Union Omaha, avenging the one loss they have this season, which came at Omaha back in April. Trevor Amann scored both, padding his Golden Boot lead. The club leaves week 18 leading in every single one of our metrics: table rank, points per match, goal differential, goals scored per match and goals allowed per match.
Up next: they’ll host Richmond on Saturday for the third matchup between the clubs this season. The first was a 0-0 draw in Richmond, the second a 2-0 win at home. Then there’s immediate turnaround for a trip to NCFC the following Wednesday.
2) Forward Madison
Last week: 2
Record: 8-5-4 (2nd)
Matches since last ranking: DRAW at NCFC, 2-2
Next match: vs. Tormenta
The Mingos failed to take back the top of the table as they had to settle for a draw at NCFC rather than take the clean sweep. They still managed to win seven of nine available points against NCFC this season, an admirable feat. Gebhard and Bartman notched first half goals, but it was Oalex Anderson who stole the point for his squad with two second half goals.
Next up: Madison has the week off, and will host Tormenta for a midweek matchup on Wednesday, July 26th.
3) North Carolina FC
Last week: 3
Record: 8-4-4 (3rd)
Matches since last ranking: DRAW vs. Madison, 2-2
Next league match: vs. Northern Colorado
For the second week in a row, NCFC went down early only to come back to force a draw. This time they allowed Forward Madison to go up 2-0 at the half, only to have Oalex Anderson score twice in the second half. Anderson is currently in a three-way tie for second in the Golden Boot race, and leads his squad with nine on the year. They dropped to third in the table, but have a match in hand over Madison, and are currently operating at 1.75 points per match. It’s a nice pace and cushion as the second half of the season is now in full swing.
Next up: a week off before a midweek matchup hosting Northern Colorado on July 26th. They’ll need every minute of practice to prepare for that one.
4) Greenville Triumph
Last week: 6
Record (7-4-5, 5th)
Matches since last ranking: WIN vs. One Knox, 1-0
Next match: at Charlotte
Greenville continues its march up the table, taking its fourth win in a row in a rain-delayed match against One Knox. It was a defensive battle as promised, with Leo Castro scoring the only goal needed late in the first half. After a long halftime delay due to storms, the match continued scoreless, with One Knox only putting two on target.
Next up: a quick trip up I-85 to take on Charlotte Independence.
5) Charlotte Independence
Last week: 4
Record: 7-6-6 (4th)
Matches since last ranking: DRAW at Richmond, 2-2
Next league Match: vs. Greenville
They had to come from behind twice, but the Jacks left Richmond with a hard fought point against a Richmond side that seemed entirely different than the week before. Joel Johnson and Tresor Mbuyu each added a goal in respective halves to seal the point. Miguel Ibarra assisted Johnson for his sixth of the year, good enough for second in the league at the moment.
Next up: Charlotte will host Greenville on Wednesday, looking to deny their guests a fifth straight win.
6) Union Omaha
Last week: 5
Record: 5-7-4 (7th)
Matches since last ranking: LOSS at Northern Colorado, 2-0
Next Match: at Knoxville
We aren’t calling this a “fall back down to earth” moment for the Owls, because Northern Colorado is really good. But it still stings a bit to go go from scoring four in a match to getting shut out the next week. It wasn’t for lack of trying, as Omaha did take four shots on target out of the 14 total. But Northern Colorado has the best offense and defense in the league, and managed their way out of it with two unanswered goals.
Next up: the club’s first visit to Knoxville on Tuesday.
BONUS COVERAGE: Owls Leave NoCo Empty-Handed (Who Gives a Hoot)
7) Richmond Kickers
Last week: 8
Record: 6-7-5 (6th)
Matches since last ranking: DRAW vs. Charlotte, 2-2
Next match: at Northern Colorado
Richmond indeed made some adjustments after the loss at Omaha, returning to a 4-3-3 formation. More importantly, left back Michael Hornsby returned to the roster and showed just how important he is to this squad in both defending and moving the ball on the left side of the field. But it was Ryan Sierakowski who opened the scoring in the 8th minute, only to be answered by Charlotte just three minutes later. Then in the second half it was Emiliano Terzaghi getting around the defense to send a rocket into the top of the net to go back up. Unfortunately Charlotte’s potent offense sealed the draw late in the match. At least Richmond can take a bit more confidence into this week.
And they’ll need all of it, as they travel to Northern Colorado on Saturday.
8) Tormenta FC
Last week: 9
Record: 6-3-7 (9th)
Matches since last ranking: WIN vs. Chattanooga, 4-2
Next match: vs. Greenville
For the first time this season, Tormenta followed a win with another win, taking care of Chattanooga at home. The match appeared to be going back and forth, as Chattanooga answered a goal from Deshawon Nembhard and a penalty conversion from Kazaiah Sterling with a penalty conversion and goal of their own. But up a man, Tormenta’s Mukwelle Akale put away his third of the year in the 65th minute to seal the deal, and then added his fourth on a late match penalty conversion.
Can they go for a third in a row this weekend against Greenville?
9) One Knoxville SC
Last week: 7
Record: 5-7-6 (8th)
Matches since last ranking: LOSS vs. Northern Colorado, 4-2; LOSS at Greenville, 1-0
Next match: vs. Union Omaha
Unfortunately Knoxville collected no points this week in two tries, and remained stuck at 8th in the table, as Greenville moved up, and Tormenta creeps up just behind with two matches in hand. They put up a valiant effort against Hailstorm FC, with two goals from Angelo Kelly-Rosales in a 4-2 loss. But against Greenville, they returned to their low-shot ways, managing only two on target all match, and left with a 1-0 loss.
Things aren’t slowing down, as they host Omaha on Tuesday and Chattanooga on Saturday. They’ll need to collect some of those points to stay in the playoff conversation.
10) Fuego FC
Last week: 12
Record: 4-1-11 (11th)
Matches since last ranking: WIN vs. Lexington, 2-1
Next match: at Charlotte
Adam Smith gave academy player Maximus Ekk his second consecutive start after an impressive performance last week, and the 17 year old rewarded with a dazzling goal assisted by Alexis Cerritos. This, while being down a man after captain José Carrera-García exited the match on a red card in the 36th minute.
They weren’t done though, and Adrian Vera sent a cross to Jordan Chavez who headed in the second of the match. The short-handed squad managed to hold on, only conceding one goal, and taking the unlikely win.
With the win, Fuego moved out of last place on the league wins tiebreaker. While they aren’t mathematically eliminated yet, it’s a long, statistically unlikely path to the 44 points likely needed to sneak into the playoffs. With 16 matches remaining, it seems they’re going to have some fun with the younger players. Perhaps we’re getting a preview of who they’ll build around, or who will be pursued heavily in the off season. Ekk will be heading to UCLA, but Cerritos may have a bright future ahead in 2024.
11) Lexington SC
Last week: 10
Record: 3-5-9 (10th)
Matches since last ranking: LOSS at Fuego, 2-1
Next match: vs. Union Omaha
Up a man to the last place team should have meant an easy win. But nothing is coming easy for this squad right now. After Fuego’s red card in the 36th minute, Lexington conceded two goals to their shorthanded opponents before answering with one of their own from Ates Diouf. Not how that trip should have gone, and Lexington falls even further behind the rest of the table: there are now seven points separating 10th place Lexington from 9th place Tormenta.
We’ll see if there are any major adjustments when they host Union Omaha on Saturday.
BONUS COVERAGE: our friend Brandon over at USL League One Review posted a thread on Lexington’s issues and potential adjustments. Well worth the click and read-through!
12) Red Wolves SC
Last week: 11
Record: 3-4-10 (12th)
Matches since last ranking: LOSS at Tormenta, 4-2
Next match: at Knoxville
Chevone Marsh continues to show some dazzle, notching a penalty conversion and a goal for the Red Wolves in a loss at Tormenta. The 29 year old journeyman now leads the team with five. But nothing else would go their way, as goalkeeper Carlos Avilez was ejected for a second yellow in the first half with the score tied, and replacement JD Meyers couldn’t stop the resulting penalty kick. They’d go on to give up two more.
The Red Wolves will travel to Knoxville on Saturday, now on a ten away match losing streak.