USL1 Week 2 Preview
USL1 Week 2 Predictions and Players to Watch
https://proreferees.com/2024/03/12/2024-usl-league-one-assignments-week-2/
USL1 is entering Week 2 with a full slate of matches with 10 out of the 12 clubs in action (Greenville and Norther Colorado have the weekend off). Luckily for all of us USL1 sickos, only 2 of those matches overlap! Let’s look at how this week’s matches will shape up and who might be in for a big weekend.
One thing to remember for 6 clubs (Richmond, Tormenta, Knoxville, Lexington, Madison, & Spokane) this weekend is how they balance their matches this weekend, the Open Cup matches in the middle of the next week, and their league games the following weekend. Greenville and Northern Colorado are off this weekend but will have quick turnarounds from cup matches to league matches. In contrast, Omaha, Charlotte, Chattanooga, and Central Valley will have next weekend off after their cup matches.
Each of the 6 clubs playing 3 matches over the next 8-9 days schedules are as follows-
Lexington - USL1 (H) v. Chattanooga on Friday, 03/15 → USOC (A) v. Vermont Green (USL2) on Tuesday, 03/19 → USL1 (A) v. Knoxville on Saturday, 03/23
Spokane - USL1 (H) v. Richmond on Saturday, 03/16 → USOC (A) v. Ballard FC (USL2) on Wednesday, 03/20→ USL1 (H) v. N. Colorado on Saturday, 03/23
Richmond - USL1 (A) v. Spokane on Saturday, 03/16 → USOC (H) vs Christos FC (USL2) on Wednesday, 03/20 → USL1 (H) v. Tormenta on Saturday, 03/23
Knoxville - USL1 (A) v. Charlotte on Saturday, 03/16 → USOC (A) v. Asheville City SC (USL2) on Wednesday, 03/20 → USL1 (H) v. Lexington on Saturday, 03/23
Tormenta - USL1 (H) v. Madison on Saturday, 03/16 → USOC (H) v. FC America CFL Spurs (UPSL) on Tuesday, 03/19 → USL1 (A) v. Richmond on Saturday, 03/23
Madison - USL1 (A) v. Tormenta on Saturday, 03/16 → USOC (H) v. Duluth FC (NPSL) on Tuesday, 03/19 → USL1 (A) v. Greenville on Saturday, 03/23
See here for the entire 1st round schedule for the US Open Cup
Lastly, I will keep track of how accurate my predictions for the season are, and you can reference my article from last week to see my record-keeping rules. Now, let’s look at this weekend's slate of USL1!
My Prediction Record - 0-2 (1 No Decision)
Lexington SC vs. Chattanooga Red Wolves SC
Friday, Match 15 @ 7 pm EST | ESPN+ | Toyota Stadium | Georgetown, Kentucky | Referee - Izlen Peksenar
Is there anything better than some Friday night football? Lexington and Chattanooga will kick off the weekend, which could be a good match. From what we have seen from Lexington, the side has made improvements and is better than last season, but has the team’s chemistry improved over the week after last weekend’s instead disappointing 0-0 draw against the Hailstorm, where it was evident that the roster had seen a massive overhaul.
Chattanooga will avoid looking like both Lexington and Northern Colorado last weekend, but the Red Wolves also have a roster with a fair bit of new additions, but they did keep the big pieces from last year. However, I see them going through growing pains similar to Lexington this past weekend, which will cost them points late on this one.
For a more in-depth analysis of this match, check out my article on Bluegrass Soccer Cast. I break down all Lexington SC matchups and recaps there.
Players to Watch
Yannick Yankam (Lex) – Yankam had a great 1st game in the green and black for Lexington. Being named to the Week 1 Team of the Week. However, it felt he was sometimes holding back or second-guessing himself before he would make a run. Yankam was the last player to join Lexington in the preseason, coming over from Malta, and that could be why he may have been hesitant to make those runs. If Yankam can commit to those runs on Friday night, he may be the difference maker.
Jonathan Filipe (CHA) – Filipe was stellar for the Red Wolves last season, contributing 2 goals and 7 assists in just 13 matches – one could largely contribute to the Red Wolves’s late-season surge to Filipe. I believe Coach Scott Mackenzie will give him the reins to run the attack this year, and he could be the crucial key to cracking Amal Knight.
Score Prediction - Lexington 2 - 1 Chattanooga
Spokane Velocity FC vs. Richmond Kickers
Saturday, March 16th @ 5 pm EST | ESPN+; SWX-NBC.2 (Spokane); WTVR-CBS (Richmond) | ONE Spokane Stadium | Spokane, Washington | Referee - Yannick Rothfuss
The matchup that I think any USL1 fan should be tuning in for, if possible this weekend, will be between the oldest club in USL1 (Richmond Kickers, oldest by founding, not league play) and the newest additions to the league in the Spokane Velocity. The Velocity’s inaugural match was no fairytale, but they will return home to what sounds like a near sellout of their 5,000-seat stadium and want to send those fans home happy.
Richmond will be coming into this match with many questions surrounding the squad - especially since they brought back 16 players from last year’s side that finished the season on a 16-match winless run. I could see them ending that run in Spokane, but losing Emiliano Terzaghi for a few weeks to a preseason injury + the atmosphere the fans will bring will be too much. The Velocity will find a late winner to cap off what may be a bit of a shootout.
Players to Watch
Jack Denton (SPK) - If I had no prior knowledge about Denton before I watched him last week against Greenville, I would have told you that he was an experienced professional, not a guy making his first-ever appearance in a professional match. That is how good he was on Saturday night. The Roos may be in for a long night if Denton can bring that level against the Kickers.
Adrian Billhardt (RIC) - The veteran returns to USL1 after a well-deserved stint with Detroit City FC last season in the Championship. Billhardt was a crucial part of Torment’s 2022 title run, and I think he will pair up well with Vinyals in this one to be the critical player for Richmond on the night.
Score Predictions - Spokane 3-2 Richmond
Charlotte Independence vs. One Knoxville SC
Saturday, March 16th @ 7 pm EST | ESPN+ | American Legion Memorial Stadium | Charlotte, North Carolina | Referee - Joe Surgan
The defensive showdown in this one. I would not be surprised if this match mirrors that of Lexington and Northern Colorado. Both sides return pieces of what were among the best defenses in the league, and we will arguably be seeing the 2 best goalkeepers in the league going head to head - Sean Lewis for Knoxville and Austin Pack for Charlotte.
This matchup is also the only one this weekend between 2 teams that we have not seen play yet, so that leaves an unanswered question for both sides - where are goals going to come from? It will be interesting to see who steps up for both sides, but I do not see this one ending scoreless, but both sides getting 1 apiece before walking away with a point each.
Players to Watch
Austin Pack (CLT) - The reigning USL1 Goalkeeper of the Year was otherworldly in 2023, and with the squad in front of him missing some firepower + the core all being on the north side of 30, Pack may need to be otherworldly again this year and could use a solid start to gain momentum.
Rich Ballard (KNX) - McKeever has been singing Ballard’s praises as he dropped to USL1 from a multi-year stint in the Championship. Ballard may be the missing piece McKeever’s side needs to get goals and could be the key to cracking the Independence attack.
Score Prediction - Charlotte 1-1 Knoxville
S. Georgia Tormenta FC vs. Forward Madison FC
Saturday, March 16th @ 7:30 pm EST | ESPN+; WJCL-ABC (South Georgia) | Tormenta Stadium | Statesboro, Georgia | Referee - Jadam Brzozowiec
Tormenta fans may be in for another long night as their side hosts a team that many have put within the league's top 3 (some even #1) entering the start of the season. Tormenta has much to improve from last week’s loss to Fuego, but if they start in similar form, Madison fans may be heard singing down in Stateboro.
We have yet to see Madison 2024 play a competitive match, and they probably have the worst travel schedule with the Open Cup, having to go from Georgia to Wisconsin to South Carolina in 8 days. Glaeser may hold off the dogs to save the legs in this one if his Mingos go up early.
Players to Watch
Christian Chaney (MAD) - Chaney is my preseason favorite for the MVP, and what better way to start an MVP campaign than to have a multigoal contributions showcase in the season opener? Chaney will likely be a problem for the Tormentta defense, and he has the distribution skills to make the entire attack a problem for them, too.
Ford Parker (TOR) - Parker played well against Fuego, being under fire all night and only allowing 2 goals. However, Madison has more proven firepower than Fuego, so Parker would likely need to stand on his head to keep his side competitive in this one.
Score Prediction - Tormenta 0-3 Madison
C. Valley Feugo FC vs. Union Omaha
Saturday, March 16th @ 10 pm EST | ESPN+; KMSG-Ch. 53 (Central Valley) | Fresno State Soccer Stadium | Fresno, California | Referee - Iryna Petrunok
The first USL1 match after dark of the season (at least for those east of the Mississippi) is shaping up to be fun. Fuego was fun to watch last weekend. They had a high-flying, all-gas, no-breaks style of play and got a 2-0 lead on Tormenta within 20 minutes. While Omaha is returning as reigning shield winners from a season that saw them shatter multiple records.
However, Omaha is missing some big names from last year’s shield side, and while they did retain a solid core and brought in some great additions, we have not yet seen them play a competitive match in 2024. Still, while Fuego may be fun to watch, I think Omaha is still one of the top dogs in the league and will pull away with the win in this one.
Players to Watch
Moe Espinoza (CVL) - The man who scored the first goal ever in the Jermain Jones era in Central Valley, the midfielder earned Week 1 Team of the Week honors for his all-around strong game for Fuego. Given the attacking style Fuego appears to be running with, Espinoza will be vital to creating the attacking chances in this one.
Steevan Dos Santos (OMA) - One of the few stars from last season returning to Omaha, Dos Santos scored 13 goals for the Los Búhos last season. Now, with Noe Meza up in the Championship, Dos Santos is now firmly THE guy in Omaha when scoring goals - let’s see how many he can score or contribute to in this one.
Score Prediction - Central Valley 1-2 Omaha
Additional Reading
