Sports stats



USL United Soccer League Championship

Battery-Kickers Matchup Highlights Pivotal Stretch in Week 24

August 28, 2015 - United Soccer League Championship (USL) News Release


TAMPA, Fla. - The Charleston Battery and Richmond Kickers, two of the USL's historic franchises with many previous matchups, are focused on the present as they are neck-and-neck in the Eastern Conference standings. Saturday's matchup at the Kickers' City Stadium carries heavy weight as they both sit above the playoff cutline and could certainly use a full three points to establish a position in the USL Playoffs.

Also in the Eastern Conference, expansion Louisville City FC's action-packed season is on the verge of another memorable feat. City can clinch a postseason spot with a win against the Pittsburgh Riverhounds on Saturday.

In the Western Conference, a number of teams could potentially clinch a spot in the USL Playoffs, led by the first-place LA Galaxy II who would earn a berth with a win against Arizona United SC. Similar to the East, a number of teams are fighting to be in that top half of the standings. One of the biggest matchups this weekend is Tulsa Roughnecks FC heading to Sacramento to take on defending champion Republic FC at Bonney Field on Saturday.

GAMES TO WATCH

Richmond Kickers vs. Charleston Battery

Saturday, 7 p.m. ET, City Stadium

As the regular season winds down, this historic rivalry carries far bigger meaning for the Kickers and Battery heading into the weekend. Carrying identical 9-6-9 records (36 points) in the East, Richmond and Charleston are both looking to get a leg up against the other as they have played to a pair of draws in previous meetings this year. Richmond appeared to have turned a corner with a 2-0 win against Saint Louis FC in Week 23 to end a three-game winless streak. The Battery, on the other hand, are in the midst of a six-game winless stretch (0-4-2) and go to City Stadium, where Richmond has posted a 6-1-4 record. Charleston also needs to take advantage of having its full squad on hand with the knowledge of Quinton Griffith (Antigua & Barbuda) and Sebastien Thuriere (Haiti) heading out for World Cup qualifying the following week. Charleston's defense, normally one of the better sides in the East, has faltered in its past two games, giving up three goals to both Saint Louis FC and Louisville City FC. Led by Jason Yeisley's 12 goals, the Kickers are hoping to record back-to-back wins for just the third time this season. (Preview; Kickers, Battery Renew Rivalry)

Louisville City FC vs. Pittsburgh Riverhounds

Saturday, 7:30 p.m. ET, Louisville Slugger Field

The USL's top two offenses and two of the league's top three goal scorers battle each other when Louisville hosts Pittsburgh. City has scored a league-leading 48 goals and the Riverhounds have tallied 47. With Louisville's Matt Fondy boasting 18 goals and the Riverhounds' Rob Vincent right behind with 17, many eyes are on them to see if they can keep up with OKC Energy FC's Danni König (19 goals) and potentially reach or surpass the USL single-season goal-scoring record of 20 set by Orlando City SC's Kevin Molino in 2014. The most important element in this matchup is reaching the USL Playoffs, and City is nearly there with a 13-4-6 record and 45 points. A Louisville victory would clinch a postseason berth in the club's first season. Pittsburgh (9-9-5, 32 points) has dropped to seventh place and needs a strong run to cap off the season and gain a top-six spot in the Eastern Conference standings. (Preview; City, Hounds Square Off At Slugger; Duffy Delighted By Louisville's Progression)

Sacramento Republic FC vs. Tulsa Roughnecks FC

Saturday, 11 p.m. ET, Bonney Field

On the fringe of the postseason picture in the Western Conference, defending USL champion Sacramento hosts Tulsa. Tulsa (10-10-6, 36 points) is in sixth place and above the postseason cutoff. However, this game represents the Roughnecks' second-to-last of the regular season, meaning a victory is a must to stay in the top half. Sacramento (10-8-5, 35 points) has five regular-season games remaining. Tulsa will be without defender Mason Grimes, who is with Guam's national team for World Cup qualifying. The Roughnecks are looking to rebound from a 2-0 loss to the Portland Timbers 2, a defeat that ended a five-game unbeaten streak that included three victories. Sacramento is in the midst of some tougher times of late with only one win in its past seven games (1-2-4). (Preview)

MILESTONES

- OKC Energy FC forward Danni König, the USL's goal scoring leader with 19 this season, is one shy of matching the league single-season record set by Orlando City SC's Kevin Molino (20 goals in 2014). König and OKC host the Austin Aztex on Saturday. Louisville City FC's Matt Fondy (18) and the Pittsburgh Riverhounds' Rob Vincent (17) are close behind as they face each other Saturday at Slugger Field. (Goal-Scoring Trio Rewriting USL Record Books)

- Rochester Rhinos goalkeeper Brandon Miller leads the USL with 10 shutouts. That mark is one shy of the USL record shared by Kristian Nicht (11 for Rochester in 2012) and Miguel Gallardo (11 for Orlando in 2011). Miller and the Rhinos host Saint Louis FC on Sunday at Sahlen's Stadium.

- The Charleston Battery's Jarad van Schaik and Pittsburgh Riverhounds' Rob Vincent will reach 75 regular-season games played with their next appearance.

- With last week's brace, Louisville City FC's Matt Fondy now has 34 career goals in regular-season play and is third on the all-time goals scored list.

OTHER NEWS AND NOTES

- The New York Red Bulls II have lost only once in their past seven games to move to 10-8-6 (36 points) in the upper tier of the East standings. That lone defeat during that seven-game stretch, however, came against their next opponent. NYRB II hosts Wilmington Hammerheads FC on Saturday at Red Bull Arena, and the Hammerheads had a breakout game the last time these two sides met with a 4-2 victory. Led by Stefan Defregger's brace and a goal and assist from Qudus Lawal, Wilmington capitalized with every shot it placed on frame against New York. While that was a down moment for the NYRB II defense and goalkeeper Santiago Castaño, this group is coming off one of its strongest defensive performances of the season on the road against Toronto FC II. On Aug. 22, the Red Bulls II earned a 2-0 win against Toronto as Castaño posted six saves for the clean sheet and USL Team of the Week honors. Wilmington is out of playoff contention, and the team announced Friday that 19-year-old midfielder Christian Bassogog is transferring to Danish SuperLiga side Aalborg. (Preview)

- Seattle Sounders FC 2 has been shut out in three of its past four matches. S2 faces Real Monarchs SLC on Friday at Rio Tinto Stadium. The Monarchs, out of playoff contention, are coming off a 2-1 victory against Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC. (Preview)

- The LA Galaxy II, who went through a three-game losing streak in late July and early August, have posted back-to-back wins in their past two games. On Saturday, they visit an Arizona United SC team that posted a 2-1 win against Los Dos the last time out on Aug. 9. Arizona also earned a 2-1 win against the Galaxy II on April 2 and will be looking to earn a three-game sweep in the series this year.

- OKC Energy FC signed defender and Oklahoma native Kalen Ryden on Thursday. He originally was selected by Columbus Crew SC in the fourth round of the 2015 MLS SuperDraft and then played nine games with the Austin Aztex earlier this season, where he earned eight starts and scored a goal.

HOW TO FOLLOW

Every game of the 2015 USL season can be seen live, free and in HD on YouTube (www.Youtube.com/USL), with updates from throughout the league also available via Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.

Check out the United Soccer League Championship Statistics

• Discuss this story on the United Soccer League Championship message board...

United Soccer League Championship Stories from August 28, 2015


The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.


Sports Statistics from the Stats Crew
OurSports Central