Who will Lexington SC play this season? What to know about other USL League One teams.
Lexington Sporting Club is competing against 11 other teams this season in USL League One — the third tier of American pro soccer — in pursuit of a championship.
The top six teams in the regular-season standings qualify for the playoffs, with the top two regular-season teams earning a bye to the playoff semifinals.
The bottom six teams in the regular-season standings do not qualify for the playoffs. There is no promotion or relegation on the line in USL League One.
Some of the clubs LSC is competing against are established teams that have participated in all five seasons of USL League One, which began in 2019. Others, like Lexington, are brand new professional soccer clubs also hungry to make a mark in their debut season.
Here’s what you need to know about the 11 other teams that LSC will be facing this season in USL League One:
Central Valley Fuego FC
Location: Fresno, California.
Stadium: Fresno State Soccer Stadium.
Team history: Central Valley Fuego FC (also known as CV Fuego FC) was founded in 2020, but only competed in the 2022 season of USL League One.
Last year’s record: 11-12-7 (W-L-D).
2022 playoffs: Did not qualify.
2023 so far: Central Valley Fuego was to play at Chattanooga Red Wolves on Saturday night.
Matches against LSC: CV Fuego hosts Lexington Sporting Club on July 15. LSC hosts CV Fuego on Aug. 12. CV Fuego hosts LSC on Sept. 10.
Charlotte Independence
Location: Charlotte, North Carolina.
Stadium: American Legion Memorial Stadium.
Team history: One of the oldest clubs in the league, Charlotte was founded in 2014 and previously played in the USL Championship, the second tier of American pro soccer. The Independence moved to USL League One starting with the 2022 season.
Last year’s record: 12-12-6.
2022 playoffs: Reached the quarterfinals.
2023 so far: Charlotte drew its opening match of the 2023 season with Richmond Kickers, 0-0. Charlotte then defeated South Georgia Tormenta, 3-1, on the road. Charlotte was to play Richmond again on Saturday night.
Matches against LSC: Lexington hosts Charlotte on May 13. Charlotte hosts LSC on July 9. LSC hosts Charlotte on Sept. 16.
Chattanooga Red Wolves SC
Location: Chattanooga, Tennessee.
Stadium: CHI Memorial Stadium.
Team history: Chattanooga was a founding member of USL League One and has competed in all five seasons that the league has existed for. The team plays at the first soccer-specific stadium in the state of Tennessee.
Last year’s record: 12-11-7.
2022 playoffs: Chattanooga lost the USL League One championship match to South Georgia Tormenta, 2-1.
2023 so far: Chattanooga Red Wolves drew its opening match of the season, 0-0, against Northern Colorado Hailstorm. Chattanooga was to play Central Valley Fuego on Saturday night.
Matches against LSC: Chattanooga hosts Lexington on April 29. LSC hosts Chattanooga on June 14. LSC hosts Chattanooga on Sept. 23.
Forward Madison FC
Location: Madison, Wisconsin.
Stadium: Breese Stevens Field.
Team history: Another founding member of USL League One, Forward Madison is one of the best-supported teams in the league and boasts a strong brand identity through social media.
Among the team’s distinguishing qualities is its blue, pink and white color scheme, as well as its flamingo mascot.
Former UK defender Robert Screen recently signed with Forward Madison following the end of his college career.
Last year’s record: 7-11-12.
2022 playoffs: Did not qualify.
2023 so far: Forward Madison drew its opening match of the season, 1-1, with Union Omaha.
Matches against LSC: Lexington will host Forward Madison on April 8 for what will be the first home match in LSC history. Forward Madison will host LSC on June 22. Forward Madison will host LSC on Sept. 30.
Greenville Triumph SC
Location: Greenville, South Carolina.
Stadium: Paladin Stadium.
Team history: Another day-one member of USL League One, Greenville has played in all five seasons that the league has existed for.
In all four previous USL League One seasons, Greenville has reached at least the playoff semifinals. Greenville won the USL League One championship in 2020, although that season’s championship match was canceled due to positive COVID-19 tests, and the title was awarded to Greenville.
Former U.S. Men’s National Team player John Harkes is the head coach and sporting director for Greenville.
Last year’s record: 12-8-10.
2022 playoffs: Reached the semifinals.
2023 so far: Greenville Triumph lost its first match of the 2023 season, 1-0, to Richmond Kickers.
Matches against LSC: Lexington will host Greenville on April 22. LSC will host Greenville on Sept. 1. Greenville hosts LSC on Oct. 14, in the final match of the regular season.
Northern Colorado Hailstorm FC
Location: Windsor, Colorado.
Stadium: TicketSmarter Stadium at Future Legends Complex.
Team history: Northern Colorado’s debut season became better known for the team’s exploits in the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup than in USL League One.
In just its fourth-ever competitive match, Northern Colorado beat MLS team Real Salt Lake on the road.
Former All-State Woodford County player and current Louisville City player Owen Damm spent time last season with Northern Colorado.
Last year’s record: 11-10-9.
2022 playoffs: Did not qualify.
2023 so far: Northern Colorado Hailstorm drew its first match of the 2023 season, 0-0, against Chattanooga Red Wolves. Northern Colorado was to play South Georgia Tormenta on Saturday night.
Matches against LSC: Lexington hosts Northern Colorado on June 3. Northern Colorado hosts LSC on Aug. 5. Northern Colorado hosts LSC on Sept. 6.
North Carolina FC
Location: Cary, North Carolina.
Stadium: Sahlen’s Stadium at WakeMed Soccer Park.
Team history: Founded nearly two decades ago as the Carolina RailHawks, North Carolina FC has played in the NASL, USL Championship and USL League One during its existence. North Carolina has spent the last two seasons playing in USL League One.
Last year’s record: 8-16-6.
2022 playoffs: Did not qualify.
2023 so far: North Carolina began the 2023 season with a 1-0 home loss to South Georgia Tormenta on March 17.
Matches against LSC: North Carolina was to host Lexington on Saturday night. North Carolina will host LSC on June 18. LSC will host North Carolina on Oct. 7, in the final regular season home game for LSC.
One Knoxville
Location: Knoxville, Tennessee.
Stadium: Regal Soccer Stadium.
Team history: Like LSC, One Knoxville is new to USL League One this season. Knoxville competed in USL League Two — the pre-professional level — in 2022 before making the jump to professional status in 2023.
Knoxville defeated Lexington SC, 2-1, on March 18 in the first professional senior men’s team match for both clubs.
Knoxville and LSC are also competing this season for a special, self-created trophy. The winner of the aggregate total of the three games between the clubs will claim a full-size whiskey barrel and a bottle of bourbon.
If the aggregate score is tied, the first tiebreaker will be goals scored and second tiebreaker will be away goals scored.
Both clubs will work together to create a nickname for the rivalry as the 2023 season unfolds.
Last year’s record: N/A.
2022 playoffs: N/A.
2023 so far: One Knoxville defeated Lexington Sporting Club, 2-1, on March 18. Knoxville was to host Union Omaha on Saturday night.
Matches against LSC: One Knoxville defeated Lexington in Knoxville, 2-1, on March 18. LSC will host Knoxville on May 27. Knoxville will host LSC on Aug. 18.
Richmond Kickers
Location: Richmond, Virginia.
Stadium: City Stadium.
Team history: Founded 30 years ago, Richmond is the oldest club that currently plays in USL League One and boasts a storied history in American soccer, including winning the 1995 U.S. Open Cup.
The Kickers reached the semifinals of the 2011 U.S. Open Cup after defeating two MLS clubs during the competition while Richmond was a member of USL Pro (a third-tier American pro soccer league).
Richmond joined USL League One in 2019, and has been a member of the league for all five seasons the league has existed.
Current U.S. Men’s National Team and Arsenal FC goalkeeper Matt Turner previously played for Richmond.
Last year’s record: 14-7-9.
2022 playoffs: Reached the semifinals.
2023 so far: Richmond Kickers began the 2023 season with a 0-0 draw at Charlotte Independence on March 18. Richmond then defeated Greenville Triumph, 1-0, on March 25. Richmond was to play Charlotte again Saturday night.
Matches against LSC: Richmond will host Lexington on May 20. LSC will host Richmond on July 29. LSC will host Richmond on Aug. 26.
South Georgia Tormenta FC
Location: Statesboro, Georgia.
Stadium: Optim Sports Medicine Field.
Team history: Another founding member of USL League One in 2019, South Georgia missed the playoffs for three straight seasons before winning the championship in 2022.
One of the most recognizable players in USL League One is Tormenta’s Kazaiah Sterling — a former Tottenham Hotspur and England youth international — who scored the opening goal in last season’s championship match.
Sterling made his professional debut as a 19-year-old in the UEFA Champions League.
Last year’s record: 12-9-9.
2022 playoffs: Won the championship.
2023 so far: South Georgia Tormenta began the 2023 season with a 1-0 win at North Carolina FC on March. 17. South Georgia then lost, 3-1, to Charlotte Independence on March 25. South Georgia was to play Northern Colorado Hailstorm on Saturday night.
Matches against LSC: Lexington will host South Georgia on April 15. South Georgia will host LSC on June 10. LSC will host South Georgia on July 2.
Union Omaha
Location: Omaha, Nebraska.
Stadium: Werner Park.
Team history: Union Omaha has been a force in USL League One since beginning play in 2020. Omaha reached the league championship match in its debut 2020 season, but that championship match was canceled due to a COVID-19 outbreak in the Omaha team.
In 2021, Union Omaha finished the job by winning the USL League One championship. Omaha was also the USL League One regular-season champion that year.
Last season, Omaha enjoyed significant success in the U.S. Open Cup: The club reached the quarterfinals of the knockout competition and was the final third-division team left standing. Omaha was the first third-division team since 2013 to reach the quarterfinals of the Open Cup.
Along the way, Omaha became the first USL League One team to defeat an MLS team in the Open Cup with a third-round penalty shootout win over the Chicago Fire.
Last year’s record: 10-7-13.
2022 playoffs: Reached the quarterfinals.
2023 so far: Union Omaha began the 2023 season with a 1-1 draw against Forward Madison on March 26. Omaha was to play One Knoxville on Saturday night.
Matches against LSC: Lexington will host Union Omaha on July 22. Omaha will host LSC on Aug. 2.
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