USL Week 24: OKC Rises, Hounds Spoil City's Party

August 31, 2015 - United Soccer League Championship (USL) News Release

OKC Energy FC Celebrates with Fans
(OKC Energy FC)

OKC Energy FC had a memorable Week 24. Striker Danni Kî=B6nig matched a USL record with his 20th goal of the season, Energy FC moved into first place and became the first Western Conference side to earn a berth in the playoffs.

In the East, plenty of action is taking place below the conference-leading Rochester Rhinos. The Pittsburgh Riverhounds had one of the strongest results during the weekend with a 1-0 road victory against Louisville City FC. First-year side Louisville entered with the potential to clinch a berth, but the Riverhounds spoiled City's party of 8,414 fans at Slugger Field. Hounds midfielder Rob Vincent converted a penalty kick for his 18th goal this season.

FEATURED GAMES

OKC Energy FC 2, Austin Aztex 0

With a sellout crowd of more than 6,000 fans on hand at Energy FC's Taft Stadium, the home side did not disappoint on the field. USL goal-scoring leader Danni Kî=B6nig provided the exclamation point with a late goal in the second half to tie the USL single-season record with his 20th goal of the season. That puts Kî=B6nig even with Kevin Molino's mark set in 2014, and the OKC striker still has four games remaining to eclipse the record. Energy FC's win also lifted the team back into first place in the Western Conference and into a spot in the 2015 USL Playoffs. Also noteworthy from the match was the play of goalkeeper Evan Newton who made five saves for the clean sheet, and Sebastian Dalgaard, whose give-and-go with Christian Duke in the 39th minute would prove to be the winner.

Pittsburgh Riverhounds 1, Louisville City FC 0

The USL's top two offenses mustered only one combined goal, which was not even generated in the run of play. Riverhounds midfielder Rob Vincent's penalty kick was the lone tally and the defense held Louisville's potent offense at bay for a key win in Eastern Conference action on Saturday in front of City's regular-season record crowd of 8,414 at Slugger Field. Pittsburgh heads into Week 25 on the positive side of the postseason cutoff point while Louisville maintains its strong second-place stance. Vincent has 18 goals this season, which ties him with City's Matt Fondy. Both players are two behind OKC Energy FC's Danni Kî=B6nig. The Riverhounds' win was just their fourth on the road this season, and Louisville's loss was just its third at home.

Charleston Battery 2, Richmond Kickers 0

The Battery needed points in the worst way going through a six-game winless stretch (0-4-2), having failed to win since July 18. That changed Saturday as Charleston (10-6-9, 39 points) went on the road and defeated the Kickers at City Stadium to move three points ahead of Richmond (9-7-9, 36 points) in the Eastern Conference. Justin Portillo converted a penalty kick and Zach Prince seven minutes apart in the first half. With a postseason spot still needing to be secured, Charleston faces a pair of opponents in the upper half of the East standings during the next two weeks - a road game against the Pittsburgh Riverhounds on Saturday, followed by second-place Louisville City FC on Sept. 12 at the Battery's MUSC Health Stadium. Richmond, fifth in the conference, hosts the first-place Rochester Rhinos on Saturday.

Arizona United SC 2, LA Galaxy II 1

Playing shorthanded for the final 10 minutes, host Arizona stepped up as Schillo Tshuma's 90th-minute goal gave his side a thrilling victory at Scottsdale Stadium. The Galaxy II entered the match in first place in the Western Conference and was on the verge of clinching a spot in the 2015 USL Playoffs. That all changed when Tyler Ruthven's free kick rose over the crowd to Tshuma, who buried his winner. It was a big moment for the 10-man side, which lost the services of forward Aaron Dennis when he was shown a red card in the 80th minute.

QUOTABLE

"We haven't talked about the record. Some guys said congrats now, but I want to enjoy the record after the season. When the season's over, I'll be glad to say I'm happy about it, but right now I'm focusing on the team." - OKC Energy FC forward Danni Kî=B6nig in response to tying the single-season goal-scoring record

"We're approaching every game at this point like it's do or die - which it is. We've got three games left and we've got to assume that we're going to need nine points." - Richmond Kickers forward Matthew Delicate, speaking to the Times-Dispatch after their loss to the Charleston Battery

"I saw an opportunity to take a shot on goal, so I just stayed in the box and hung out in the back of the box. Luckily enough, the ball went over everyone and just fell to my feet." - Arizona United SC's Schillo Tshuma on his game-winning goal against the LA Galaxy II

"We wanted to come back and show our fans that we're truly a team that is a contender for the USL Championship, and first and foremost the playoffs. It feels very, very good. The players played fantastically, executed the game plan, [had a] fantastic training week, great results." - Orange County Blues FC Coach Oliver Wyss after its win against the Portland Timbers 2

"Everyone wants to play, but at the same time you want what's best for the team, and that's winning. Ultimately, everyone's going to benefit from that." - Rochester Rhinos forward Colin Rolfe on his role off the bench this season, as told to the Democrat & Chronicle

BY THE NUMBERS

48 - The Eastern Conference's Louisville City FC and Pittsburgh Riverhounds lead the USL with 48 goals in 24 games this season. The Western Conference's Tulsa Roughnecks FC (47) and Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC (46) are third and fourth, respectively.

41 - Rob Vincent's 18th goal of the season also boosted his season points total to 41, which is the same as Louisville City FC's Matt Fondy. The duo has identical lines this year: 18 goals, five assists and 41 points in 24 games

20 - OKC Energy FC forward Danni Kî=B6nig tied the USL single-season record of 20 goals Saturday, matching Kevin Molino's total with Orlando City SC in 2014

11 - Rochester Rhinos goalkeeper Brandon Miller picked up his 11th shutout this season Sunday during a 2-0 win against Saint Louis FC. That ties the USL single-season record shared by former Rhino Kristian Nicht (2012) and former Orlando City SC goalkeeper Miguel Gallardo (2011).

1 - Of OKC Energy FC forward Danni Kî=B6nig's 20 goals this year, only one has been taken from outside the box - Saturday's record-tying tally against the Austin Aztex.

STANDINGS

EASTERN CONFERENCE

Team GP W L T GF GA Pts

Rochester Rhinos - p 24 15 1 8 34 12 53

Louisville City FC 24 13 5 6 48 27 45

New York Red Bulls II 25 11 8 6 41 38 39

Charleston Battery 25 10 6 9 37 26 39

Richmond Kickers 25 9 7 9 38 33 36

Pittsburgh Riverhounds 24 10 9 5 48 38 35

Harrisburg City Islanders 23 10 9 4 42 46 34

Charlotte Independence 23 8 6 9 30 27 33

Saint Louis FC 25 6 11 8 28 31 26

FC Montreal - x 25 7 14 4 28 38 25

Toronto FC II - x 23 5 14 4 19 40 19

Wilmington Hammerheads FC - x 24 3 14 7 17 36 16

WESTERN CONFERENCE

Team GP W L T GF GA Pts

OKC Energy FC - p 24 12 5 7 39 29 43

LA Galaxy II 25 13 9 3 37 28 42

Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC 24 12 9 3 46 31 39

Orange County Blues FC 24 12 9 3 34 32 39

Seattle Sounders FC 2 25 12 10 3 41 37 39

Sacramento Republic FC 24 11 8 5 38 30 38

Tulsa Roughnecks FC 27 10 11 6 47 45 36

Portland Timbers 2 25 10 13 2 37 41 32

Arizona United SC 24 10 13 1 29 50 31

Vancouver Whitecaps FC 25 8 12 5 35 47 29

Austin Aztex 24 8 13 3 25 32 27

Real Monarchs SLC - x 25 4 13 8 26 40 20

p - Qualified for playoffs

x - Eliminated from postseason contention

RESULTS

Wednesday, August 26

Charlotte Independence 1, FC Montreal 0

Real Monarchs SLC 2, Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC 1

Friday, August 28

Real Monarchs SLC 2, Seattle Sounders FC 2 1

Saturday, August 29

New York Red Bulls II 2, Wilmington Hammerheads 0

Harrisburg City Islanders 6, FC Montreal 0

Charleston Battery 2, Richmond Kickers 0

Pittsburgh Riverhounds 1, Louisville City FC 0

OKC Energy FC 2, Austin Aztex 0

Orange County Blues FC 3, Portland Timbers 2 1

Arizona United SC 2, LA Galaxy II 1

Sacramento Republic FC 3, Tulsa Roughnecks FC 1

Sunday, August 30

Charlotte Independence 2, Toronto FC II 2

Rochester Rhinos 2, Saint Louis FC

SCHEDULE

Wednesday, September 2

Louisville City FC vs. Harrisburg City Islanders, 7:30 p.m. ET

Real Monarchs SLC vs. OKC Energy FC, 9 p.m. ET

Thursday, September 3

Wilmington Hammerheads FC vs. Charlotte Independence, 7 p.m. ET

Saturday, September 5

Toronto FC II vs. FC Montreal, 3 p.m. ET

Portland Timbers 2 vs. Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC, 6 p.m. ET

Charlotte Independence vs. Wilmington Hammerheads FC, 7 p.m. ET

Richmond Kickers vs. Rochester Rhinos, 7 p.m. ET

Pittsburgh Riverhounds vs. Charleston Battery, 7 p.m. ET

Austin Aztex vs. Seattle Sounders FC 2, 8:30 p.m. ET

New York Red Bulls II vs. Louisville City FC, 8:30 p.m. ET

Orange County Blues FC vs. LA Galaxy II, 10 p.m. ET

Arizona United SC vs. Real Monarchs SLC, 10:30 p.m. ET

Sunday, September 6

Vancouver Whitecaps FC 2 vs. Sacramento Republic FC, 6 p.m. ET

Harrisburg City Islanders vs. Saint Louis FC, 6:30 p.m. ET

Tulsa Roughnecks FC vs. OKC Energy FC, 8:30 p.m. ET

OKC Energy FC Celebrates with Fans

United Soccer League Championship Stories from August 31, 2015

• Islanders Fall Short to Union in Front of Franchise Record Crowd - Penn FC
• USL Week 24: OKC Rises, Hounds Spoil City's Party - USL
• Louisville City Strives for Playoff Berth on Last Regular Season Home Match - Louisville City FC
• Weekly Sports League and Franchise Report - OSC Original by Dan Krieger

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