Welcome to another edition of the League One Updater power rankings! NCFC, Richmond, Greenville and Tormenta remain our top four, but the bottom eight shook up a bit. Madison, One Knox and Lexington all moved up based on last week’s transactions, while Charlotte and Hailstorm FC moved down. Union Omaha remains just outside the bubble, while we wait for some badly needed additions to the roster now that they have a coach.
Want to watch or listen to a rundown of these rankings? Take about 18 minutes to check out our podcast on YouTube and Spotify for the League One Updater podcast episode 2!
Note: all additions and departures are since the last ranking.
1) North Carolina FC
Last week: 1
Key additions: Tor Sanders
Key departures: none
Ongoing needs: Backup support
Goalkeepers: Nick Holiday, Tor Sanders
Defenders: DJ Benton, Gustavo Fernandes, Britton Fisher, Max Flick, Nelson Flores, Daniel Navarro, Christian Lue Young
Midfielders: Luis Arriaga, Mikey Maldonado, Pecka, Jaden Sevania, Raheem Somersall
Forwards: Shak Adams, Oalex Anderson, Cole Frame, Marvin Mariche, Garrett McLaughlin, Rafa Mentzingen, Preston Popp
Next match: vs. Tormenta FC, 3/17
NCFC added USLC Indy Eleven goalkeeper Tor Sanders who spent 2022 on loan with Red Wolves SC in a backup role. Head coach John Bradford did not indicate which goalie will take the lead, saying “Tor will be a fantastic addition to our club and helps us form, alongside Nicholas Holliday, an extremely strong goalkeeping pair in USL League One.” Another piece in the league’s most complete roster at the moment.
2) Richmond Kickers
Last week: 2
Key additions: Zaca Moran (re-signed), Luke Pavone (re-signed)
Key departures: none
Ongoing needs: backup goalkeeper, defenders, supporting midfielders and forwards
Goalkeepers: Akira Fitzgerald
Defenders: Nathan Aune, Dakota Barnathan, Simon Fitch, Michael Hornsby
Midfielders: João Gomiero, Zaca Moran, Chandler O’Dwyer, Nil Vinyals
Forwards: Matt Bentley, Owayne Gordon, Luke Pavone, Emiliano Terzaghi
Next match: at Charlotte Independence, 3/18
Richmond re-signed midfielder Zaca Morán to a multi-year contract. Morán has been the anchor of the midfield over two seasons, with 56 appearances over 4,845 minutes. His re-sign to a multi-year all but confirms the construction of a solid, stable core in Richmond. The club also re-signed veteran Luke Pavone who made 11 appearances in 2022, but has been with the club since 2019. While primarily a forward with Richmond, Pavone has been known as a utility player, stepping in as midfielder and defender when needed. He is also known as a strong locker room leader, even with reduced play time.
More: Richmond Kickers Offseason, a breakdown by Rivercity 93
3) Greenville Triumph
Last week: 3
Key additions: none
Key departures: none
Ongoing needs: goalkeeper, wingers, support for all positions
Goalkeepers: Jared Mazzola
Defenders: Noah Franke, Brandon Fricke, Evan Lee, Tyler Polak, Nate Shultz, Jamie Smith
Midfielders: Lucas Coutinho, Venton Evans, Tevin Shaw, Aaron Walker
Forwards: Jacob Labovitz, Alex Cox-Ashwood
Next match: vs. Richmond Kickers, 3/25
Greenville made no announcements this week. While the core of returnees remains among the stronger in the league, they still need a proven goalkeeper, some more forwards and a bench squad.
4) Tormenta FC
Last week: 4
Key additions: Elijah Amo
Key departures: Adrian Billhardt
Ongoing needs: backup goalkeeper, supporting defenders and midfielders, backup support in general
Goalkeepers: Pablo Jara
Defenders: Jake Dengler, Colin Mocyunas, Deshawon Nembhard
Midfielders: Elijah Amo, Matheus Cassini, Chris Heckenberg, Tobias Otieno
Forwards: Kingsford Adjei, Arthur Bosua, Kazaiah Sterling
Next match: at North Carolina FC, 3/17
2022 comeback player of the year Adrian Billhardt moved up to USL Championship, signing with Detroit City FC. Last week’s signing of Matheus Cassini and perhaps this week’s addition of Elijah Amo from Maryland Bobcats of NISA should do a decent job filling in this loss in the midfield. The uncertainty there is the only thing that has Tormenta FC a smidge below Greenville in the rankings.
5) Forward Madison
Last week: 6
Key additions: Sam Brotherton, Mauro Cichero, Aiden Mesias, Jayden Onen
Key departures: Christian Enriquez
Ongoing needs: goalkeeping, midfielders, and backups all around
Goalkeepers: none
Defenders: Sam Brotherton, Jacob Crull, Timmy Mehl, Mitch Osmond, Stephen Payne
Midfielders: Aiden Mesias, Andrew Wheeler-Omiunu, Jayden Onen
Forwards: Nazeem Bartman, Christian Chaney, Mauro Cichero, Dererk Gebhard
Next match: at Union Omaha, 3/26
Forward Madison started the week signing a central defender, New Zealand’s Sam Brotherton. The 26 year old comes with a decent amount of professional experience, from Sunderland to the USL Championship with North Carolina FC. He spent the last two years with Auckland City FC, making 37 appearances. Then they landed forward Mauro Cichero from Charleston Battery of USL Championship, who joins an already solid front line with Bartman, Chaney and Gebhard.
They also added 21 year old English-Ugandan midfielder Jayden Onen and 23 year old midfielder Aiden Mesias. The latter has experience in USL Championship with Hartford Athletic and spent 2022 in the German fourth division at SSV Ulm 1846 Fussball.
The club still lacks a goaltender, but seems to have formed a solid core otherwise.
6) One Knoxville SC
Last week: 7
Key additions: none
Key departures: none
Ongoing needs: experienced goalkeeper, supporting cast
Goalkeepers: Peter Swinkels
Defenders: Jalen Crisler, Jan-Erik Leinhos, Kyle McDowell, Sean O’Hearn, Jordan Skelton, James Thomas
Midfielders: Sam Fletcher, Angelo Kelly-Rosales, Frank Ross, Yesin van der Pluijm
Forwards: Ilija Ilic, Jake Keegan, Ahinga Selemani, Jimmie Villalobos, Matthew Vowinkel
Next match: vs. Lexington SC, 3/18
One thing is for sure, One Knox SC will roll into their inaugural professional season with a defense that is the envy of the league. The midfield and front line are full of multi-league talent, but will need to prove their cohesiveness in USL League One. If the goal is to win now, rather than build something long term, One Knox SC may just pull it off.
7) Charlotte Independence
Last week: 5
Key additions: Gabriel Obertan (re-signed)
Key departures: Adrian Zendejas (loan expired)
Ongoing needs: goalkeeping, defenders, midfielders, forwards, supporting cast
Goalkeepers: none
Defenders: Hector Acosta, Shalom Dutey
Midfielders: Luis Álvarez, Omar Ciss, Clay Dimick, Miguel Ibarra
Forwards: Khori Bennett, Tresor Mbuyu, Gabriel Obertan
Next match: vs. Richmond Kickers, 3/18
Charlotte made news for all the wrong reasons this week, as news broke of a lawsuit from the USLPA. They really could have distracted everyone by making a bunch of player announcements. They finally got around to one on Saturday morning when they announced the re-sign of long time pro veteran Gabriel Obertan. The 33 year old French forward only appeared in 16 matches, but put up 4 goals and 3 assists during that time. If he remains healthy, he’s still a force. From our friends over at USL League One Review:
The club still lacks a goalkeeper. We know Adrian Zendejas is not part of the plan, as parent organization Charlotte FC loaned him to USL Championship side Miami FC for the 2023 season.
For this week, we assess that the field core remains strong, but time is slipping away in building support, and unresolved USLPA grievances may not help with recruiting.
Read more: USLPA Sues Charlotte Independence (Protagonist Soccer)
8) Union Omaha
Last week: 8
Key additions: none
Key departures: none
Ongoing needs: backup goalkeeper, defenders, forwards, supporting defenders and forwards.
Goalkeepers: Rashid Nuhu
Defenders: Shaft Brewer, Jr.
Midfielders: Dion Acoff, Joe Brito, Yoskar Galván-Mercado, Luis Gil, Eddie Gordon, JP Scearce, Chavany Willis
Forwards: Noe Meza
Next match: vs. Forward Madison, 3/26
The Owls finally announced the signing of new head coach Dominic Casciato, previously an assistant at USL Championship side El Paso Locomotive. With this bit of stability in place, it’s now time to beef up that lineup, sorely lacking in defenders and forwards.
Read more: Union Omaha Names New Head Coach (Who Gives a Hoot)
9) Lexington SC
Last week: 11
Key additions: Khalid Balogun, Phila Dlamini, Diallo Irakoze, Kimball Jackson, Pierre Mané, Franky Martinez
Key departures: none
Ongoing needs: backup goalkeeper, defenders, forwards, supporting players
Goalkeepers: Amal Knight
Defenders: Owen Green, Kimball Jackson, Franky Martinez
Midfielders: Phila Dlamini, Kaelon Fox, Diallo Irakoze, Charlie Machell, Pierre Mané, Tate Robertson
Forwards: Khalid Balogun, Will Baynham, Nico Brown, Ates Diouf
Lexington SC signed Forward Nico Brown from Greenville Triumph, who had 4 starts, 17 appearances and 2 goals in 2022. They also added forward Khalid Balogun from Maryland Bobcats FC of NISA where he had two goals and one assist in 11 appearances in 2022. They added another NISA veteran in defender Franky Martinez from Chattanooga FC.
Lexington FC also added four first-time pros to their roster, midfielders Pierre Mané (Virginia Commonwealth University), Diallo Irakoze (Metro Louisville FC) and Phila Dlamini (Saginaw State University) and defender Kimball Jackson (FC Cincinnati U19).
So far the approach for Lexington seems to be long term, rather than win right now. But there’s still plenty of time and available talent.
Read more: Lexington SC Player Profiles at Crane Kicks Lex
10) Red Wolves SC
Last week: 10
Key additions: Christian Enriquez, Felipe Liborio Jr., Chevone Marsh
Key departures: none
Ongoing needs: Defenders, goal scoring forwards, support for all positions
Goalkeepers: Carlos Avilez, Ricardo Jerez, JD Meyers
Defenders: Nico Cardona, Aaron Lombardi
Midfielders: Josue Cartagena, Christian Enriquez, Moe Espinoza, Pedro Hernandez, Ryley Kraft, Felipe Liborio Jr., Ualefi
Forwards: Chevone Marsh, Alex Tejera
Next match: vs. Hailstorm FC, 3/15
Red Wolves SC added winger Chevone Marsh from the Costa Rican Primera División where he last played for Santos de Guápiles. Marsh had 32 appearances for ADR Jicaral and Santos over two seasons with four goals and four assists. They also added two midfielders who will likely compete for a starting spot, Christian Enriquez and Felipe Liborio Jr. Enriquez made 27 appearances for over 1,600 minutes at Forward Madison in 2022, while Liborio comes from NISA side California United Strikers FC where be made 40 appearances over the last two seasons.
The big questions are obvious, since none of these newcomers are exactly known as top striking talent, and the club is missing seven of their top ten goal scorers from 2022.
11) Hailstorm FC
Last week: 9
Key additions: McCain Clarke, Mark Hernandez (re-signed)
Key departures: none
Ongoing needs: backup goalkeeper, defenders, midfielders, forwards, supporting cast
Goalkeepers: Johan Peñaranda
Defenders: Rob Cornwall, Brecc Evans
Midfielders: McCain Clarke, Jackson Dietrich, Stefan Lukic, Destan Norman
Forwards: Trevor Amann, Mark Hernandez, Irvin Parra
Next match: at Red Wolves SC, 3/25
Hailstorm FC announced the re-signing of forward Marky Hernandez, who had 10 starts and 23 appearances with 2 goals and 3 assists in 2022. They also added first time pro, midfielder McCain Clarke who it appears came out of the club’s training camp. I wonder if these two announcements will keep Irvin Parra happy for now?
12) Fuego FC
Last week: 12
Key additions: Diego Casillas (re-signed)
Key departures: none
Ongoing needs: backup goalkeeper, more defenders, supporting midfielders, goal scoring forwards
Goalkeepers: Mitch North
Defenders: Jordan Chavez, François Dulysse
Midfielders: Diego Casillas, José Carrera-García, Alexis Cerritos, David Diaz, Cherif Dieye
Forwards: Villyan Bijev
Fuego FC waited until Friday, but they made one announcement last week: the re-sign of core midfielder Diego Casillas, responsible for 3 goals and 1 assist in 2022. Like Hailstorm FC…it’s something? Still a whole bunch of unmet needs.