2022 USL League One season

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USL League One
Season2022
DatesApril 2 – October 15 (regular season)
October 22 – November 6 (playoffs)
ChampionsTormenta FC
Regular season titleRichmond Kickers
Matches played170
Goals scored461 (2.71 per match)
Top goalscorerEmiliano Terzaghi (17)
Biggest home winCHT 7–1 CLT (June 22)
Biggest away winTRM 0–4 CV (May 21)
Highest scoringTRM 5–5 GVL (July 13)
Longest winning run3 games
CLT, GVL & RIC
Longest unbeaten run11 games
OMA
Longest winless run9 games
MAD
Longest losing run5 games
MAD
Highest attendance6,000
RIC 1–1 GVL
(October 15)
Lowest attendance195
NCO 2–1 CHT
(June 30)
Total attendance359,107
Average attendance2,203
← 2021
2023 →
All statistics correct as of October 15, 2022 (regular season only).

The 2022 USL League One season was the fourth season of USL League One. The regular season began on April 2 and ended on October 15.[1] The playoffs began on October 22 and ended on November 6.

Eleven teams participated in the 2022 season, one fewer than the previous season. Four reserve teams operated by clubs in Major League Soccer that participated in the previous season (Fort Lauderdale CF, New England Revolution II, North Texas SC and Toronto FC II) began play in MLS's new developmental league, MLS Next Pro.[2] They were replaced by expansion franchises Central Valley Fuego FC and Northern Colorado Hailstorm FC, and by Charlotte Independence, who decided to move from USL Championship to USL League One.[3][4][5] At the conclusion of the season, FC Tucson announced they were leaving League One and returning to USL League Two as a result of restructuring of their ownership group.[6]

Richmond Kickers won the regular season title, but were defeated by Chattanooga Red Wolves in the playoff semifinal. Tormenta FC then defeated Chattanooga in the 2022 final, winning their first championship.

Teams[edit]

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Locations of teams for the 2022 USL League One season
Club City Stadium Capacity Head coach Jersey manufacturer Jersey sponsor
Central Valley Fuego FC Fresno, California Fresno State Soccer Stadium 1,000 Martín Vásquez Capelli Sport El Mexicano
Charlotte Independence Charlotte, North Carolina American Legion Memorial Stadium 10,500 Mike Jeffries Adidas Novant Health
Chattanooga Red Wolves SC Chattanooga, Tennessee CHI Memorial Stadium 5,000 Jimmy Obleda Adidas Transcard
Forward Madison FC Madison, Wisconsin Breese Stevens Field 5,000 Matt Glaeser Hummel Dairyland Insurance
Greenville Triumph SC Greenville, South Carolina Legacy Early College Field 4,000 John Harkes Hummel Scansource
North Carolina FC Cary, North Carolina Sahlen's Stadium at WakeMed Soccer Park 10,000 John Bradford Adidas WakeMed
Northern Colorado Hailstorm FC Windsor, Colorado TicketSmarter Stadium at Future Legends Complex 3,500 Éamon Zayed Puma New Belgium Brewing Company
Richmond Kickers Richmond, Virginia City Stadium 22,611 Darren Sawatzky Adidas Ukrop's
South Georgia Tormenta FC Statesboro, Georgia Optim Sports Medicine Field 5,300 Ian Cameron Adidas Optim Healthcare
FC Tucson Tucson, Arizona Kino Sports Complex 3,500 Jon Pearlman Puma Quik Mart
Union Omaha Papillion, Nebraska Werner Park 9,023 Jay Mims Nike XCancer

Managerial changes[edit]

Team Outgoing manager Manner of departure Date of vacancy Incoming manager Date of appointment
Forward Madison FC England Carl Craig Sacked November 4, 2021[7] United States Matt Glaeser December 3, 2021[8]
Central Valley Fuego FC United States Jaime Ramirez Resigned February 2022[9] United States Milton Blanco (interim) February 2022
Central Valley Fuego FC United States Milton Blanco (interim) End of interim period April 14, 2022 Mexico Martín Vásquez April 14, 2022[10]

League table[edit]

Pos Team
 Pld W L T GF GA GD Pts Qualification
1 Richmond Kickers (X) 30 14 7 9 54 35 +19 51 Qualification for the semi-finals
2 Greenville Triumph SC 30 12 8 10 40 38 +2 46
3 Tormenta FC (C) 30 12 9 9 42 40 +2 45 Qualification for the play-offs
4 Chattanooga Red Wolves SC 30 12 11 7 52 39 +13 43
5 Union Omaha 30 10 7 13 34 33 +1 43
6 Charlotte Independence 30 12 12 6 48 48 0 42
7 Northern Colorado Hailstorm FC 30 11 10 9 42 38 +4 42
8 Central Valley Fuego FC 30 11 12 7 37 40 −3 40
9 Forward Madison FC 30 7 11 12 34 44 −10 33
10 FC Tucson 30 8 14 8 34 44 −10 32
11 North Carolina FC 30 8 16 6 35 53 −18 30
Source: USL League One
Rules for classification: 1) points; 2) total wins; 3) total goal differential; 4) total goals scored; 5) points earned against top four Conference finishers; 6) disciplinary points; 7) drawing of lots.
(C) Champions; (X) Regular Season Champion

Results table[edit]

Color key: Home  • Away  • Win  • Loss  • Draw
Club Matches[1]
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30
Charlotte Independence
(CLT)		 CV NCO RIC OMA TRM TUC NCO MAD GVL RIC NCA CHA MAD OMA RIC NCO TUC CV MAD TRM OMA CHA TRM TUC GVL CV NCA CHA GVL NCA
3–3 2–1 1–2 2–1 0–0 2–1 1–2 2–1 0–2 0–4 0–2 1–7 6–2 0–0 1–1 1–3 3–2 4–0 0–0 3–0 1–2 2–2 0–2 0–1 2–1 3–0 2–1 1–3 0–1 5–1
Chattanooga Red Wolves
(CHA)		 MAD NCA RIC TUC GVL NCO CV GVL RIC OMA CV CLT TUC NCO TRM NCA NCO OMA CV GVL MAD TRM CLT OMA MAD RIC TUC CLT NCA TRM
1–1 3–1 1–0 2–3 0–1 4–1 2–2 0–1 0–3 0–1 2–0 7–1 1–2 1–2 1–2 2–1 0–0 1–1 1–0 5–1 1–1 2–1 2–2 1–2 5–2 2–2 1–2 3–1 1–0 0–2
Forward Madison FC
(MAD)		 CHA OMA TUC CV RIC GVL CLT CV TUC GVL TRM RIC CLT NCO TRM OMA NCO CLT NCA CHA NCO NCA OMA GVL CHA NCA CV TRM RIC TUC
1–1 2–2 1–1 0–1 1–0 0–2 1–2 1–1 2–1 3–2 2–2 2–1 2–6 2–1 2–0 0–0 1–1 0–0 1–2 1–1 3–1 0–0 0–1 2–2 2–5 1–2 0–3 0–1 0–1 1–1
CV Fuego FC
(CV)		 GVL CLT OMA MAD GVL CHA TRM MAD CHA TUC NCO NCA TRM GVL NCO RIC CLT CHA OMA NCA RIC TRM TUC CLT MAD RIC NCA NCO TUC OMA
2–0 3–3 0–3 1–0 1–1 2–2 4–0 1–1 0–2 0–0 1–4 3–2 0–1 0–1 1–0 3–1 0–4 0–1 0–1 1–0 2–2 0–2 3–2 0–3 3–0 1–1 1–2 0–1 2–0 2–0
Greenville Triumph SC
(GVL)		 CV NCA TRM CHA CV MAD NCA CHA CLT MAD OMA NCO NCA TUC CV TRM RIC OMA TRM CHA RIC TUC NCO MAD CLT OMA NCO TUC CLT RIC
0–2 1–1 0–2 1–0 1–1 2–0 0–1 1–0 2–0 2–3 2–0 2–1 3–1 1–1 1–0 5–5 3–1 0–0 1–3 1–5 1–0 1–0 0–2 2–2 1–2 1–1 1–1 2–2 1–0 1–1
NoCo Hailstorm FC
(NCO)		 RIC CLT NCA CHA CLT OMA NCA TRM RIC CV GVL CHA MAD TUC CV CLT CHA MAD RIC TRM OMA TUC MAD GVL NCA TRM OMA GVL CV TUC
1–1 1–2 2–1 1–4 2–1 0–0 1–1 1–1 2–3 4–1 1–2 2–1 1–2 1–1 0–1 3–1 0–0 1–1 0–1 2–0 1–1 1–2 1–3 2–0 4–1 1–3 2–1 1–1 1–0 2–1
North Carolina FC
(NCA)		 TRM CHA GVL NCO TUC TRM GVL RIC NCO CLT CV GVL RIC OMA CHA TRM RIC MAD CV OMA MAD TUC NCO MAD TUC CLT CV OMA CHA CLT
1–0 1–3 1–1 1–2 2–1 2–3 1–0 2–1 1–1 2–0 2–3 1–3 1–4 1–1 1–2 1–2 2–3 2–1 0–1 1–4 0–0 1–1 1–4 2–1 0–1 1–2 2–1 1–1 0–1 1–5
Richmond Kickers
(RIC)		 TUC NCO CHA CLT MAD OMA NCA CHA TRM CLT NCO MAD TUC NCA CLT GVL CV NCA NCO TUC GVL CV OMA TRM OMA CHA CV TRM MAD GVL
4–0 1–1 0–1 2–1 0–1 1–1 1–2 3–0 2–2 4–0 3–2 1–2 1–0 4–1 1–1 1–3 1–3 3–2 1–0 3–1 0–1 2–2 3–0 3–1 3–2 2–2 1–1 1–1 1–0 1–1
Tormenta FC
(TRM)		 NCA OMA GVL TUC CLT NCA CV TUC RIC NCO MAD OMA CV CHA GVL MAD NCA GVL NCO CLT CHA CV CLT RIC NCO TUC MAD RIC OMA CHA
0–1 0–0 2–0 2–0 0–0 3–2 0–4 0–1 2–2 1–1 2–2 2–3 1–0 2–1 5–5 0–2 2–1 3–1 0–2 0–3 1–2 2–0 2–0 1–3 3–1 1–1 1–0 1–1 1–1 2–0
FC Tucson
(TUC)		 RIC MAD CHA TRM NCA CLT TRM MAD OMA CV CHA RIC GVL NCO OMA CLT RIC NCO GVL NCA CV NCA OMA TRM NCA CHA GVL CV NCO MAD
0–4 1–1 3–2 0–2 1–2 1–2 1–0 1–2 1–2 0–0 2–1 0–1 1–1 1–1 1–2 2–3 1–3 2–1 0–1 1–1 2–3 1–0 3–0 1–1 1–0 2–1 2–2 0–2 1–2 1–1
Union Omaha
(OMA)		 MAD TRM CV CLT RIC NCO CHA TUC GVL TRM CLT NCA TUC GVL MAD CHA CV NCO CLT NCA RIC MAD CHA TUC RIC GVL NCO NCA TRM CV
2–2 0–0 3–0 1–2 1–1 0–0 1–0 2–1 0–2 3–2 0–0 1–1 2–1 0–0 0–0 1–1 1–0 1–1 2–1 4–1 0–3 1–0 2–1 0–3 2–3 1–1 1–2 1–1 1–1 0–2

Playoffs[edit]

The 2022 USL League One Playoffs (branded as the 2022 USL League One Playoffs presented by Hisense USA for sponsorship reasons) will be the post-season championship of the USL League One season.[11][12]

Bracket[edit]

Quarter-finals Semi-finals Final
1 Richmond Kickers 0
4 Chattanooga Red Wolves SC (a.e.t.) 1 4 Chattanooga Red Wolves SC 1
5 Union Omaha 0 3 Tormenta FC 2
4 Chattanooga Red Wolves SC 1
2 Greenville Triumph SC 0
3 Tormenta FC 2 3 Tormenta FC 1
6 Charlotte Independence 1

Schedule[edit]

Quarter-finals[edit]

October 22, 2022 (2022-10-22) Tormenta FC 2–1Charlotte IndependenceStatesboro, Georgia
7:00 PM EDT
Report
Stadium: Optim Sports Medicine Field
Attendance: 1,268
Referee: Ricardo Fierro
October 22, 2022 (2022-10-22) Chattanooga Red Wolves SC 1–0 (a.e.t.)Union OmahaEast Ridge, Tennessee
7:30 PM EDT
Report
Stadium: CHI Memorial Stadium
Attendance: 2,416
Referee: Matthew Corrigan

Semi-finals[edit]

October 29, 2022 (2022-10-29) Richmond Kickers0–1 Chattanooga Red Wolves SC Richmond, Virginia
6:00 PM EDT
Report
Stadium: City Stadium
Attendance: 5,526
Referee: Brad Jensen
October 29, 2022 (2022-10-29) Greenville Triumph SC0–1 Tormenta FC Greenville, South Carolina
7:30 PM EDT Report
Stadium: Legacy Early College Field
Attendance: 2,070
Referee: John Griggs

USL League One Final[edit]

November 6, 2022 (2022-11-06) Tormenta FC 2–1Chattanooga Red Wolves SCStatesboro, Georgia
7:30 PM EST
Report
Stadium: Optim Sports Medicine Field
Attendance: 3,045
Referee: Elvis Osmanovic

Championship Game MVP: Kazaiah Sterling (Tormenta FC)

Average home attendances[edit]

Ranked from highest to lowest average attendance.

Team GP Total High Low Average
Forward Madison FC 15 58,149 4,759 2,605 3,877
Richmond Kickers 15 53,258 6,000 2,011 3,551
Union Omaha 15 50,381 5,167 2,236 3,359
Greenville Triumph SC 15 38,139 4,823 1,832 2,543
Chattanooga Red Wolves SC 15 35,047 3,096 1,807 2,336
Charlotte Independence 15 34,835 4,107 930 2,322
North Carolina FC 15 28,632 5,092 1,056 1,909
Central Valley Fuego FC 15 20,955 2,752 826 1,397
FC Tucson[a] 15 16,362 1,688 855 1,259
Tormenta FC 15 15,613 2,000 573 1,041
Northern Colorado Hailstorm FC 15 7,736 1,167 195 516
Total[a] 165 359,107 6,000 195 2,203

Sources: USL, Soccer Stadium Digest, Mike Pendleton

Regular season statistical leaders[edit]

As of October 15, 2022

Top scorers[edit]

Rank Player Club Goals[13]
1 Argentina Emiliano Terzaghi Richmond Kickers 17
2 United States Garrett McLaughlin North Carolina FC 14
3 Colombia Juan Galindrez Chattanooga Red Wolves 13
England Kazaiah Sterling Tormenta FC
5 United States Jacob Labovitz Greenville Triumph SC 12
6 Jamaica Khori Bennett Charlotte Independence 11
Democratic Republic of the Congo Tresor Mbuyu Charlotte Independence
United States Irvin Parra Northern Colorado Hailstorm
9 United States Christian Chaney Central Valley Fuego 10
10 United States Noe Meza Union Omaha 9

Hat-tricks[edit]

Player Club Against Result Date
Colombia Juan Galindrez Chattanooga Red Wolves Charlotte Independence 7–1 (H)[14] June 22
United States Jacob Labovitz Greenville Triumph SC Richmond Kickers 3–1 (A)[15] July 16
Jamaica Khori Bennett Charlotte Independence Central Valley Fuego 4–0 (H)[16] July 29
United States Trevor Amann Northern Colorado Hailstorm North Carolina FC 4–1 (H)[17] September 3
England Kazaiah Sterling Tormenta FC Northern Colorado Hailstorm 3–1 (H)[18] September 10
Notes

(H) – Home team
(A) – Away team

Top assists[edit]

Rank Player Club Assists[13]
1 United States Jonathan Bolanos Richmond Kickers 11
2 England Arthur Rogers Northern Colorado Hailstorm 9
3 Mexico José Carrera-García Chattanooga Red Wolves 8
4 United States Moe Espinoza Chattanooga Red Wolves 7
United States Miguel Ibarra Charlotte Independence
France Louis Perez FC Tucson
7 Germany Adrian Billhardt Tormenta FC 5
United States Ethan Bryant Richmond Kickers
Brazil Matheus Cassini Forward Madison FC
Democratic Republic of the Congo Tresor Mbuyu Charlotte Independence
United States Irvin Parra Northern Colorado Hailstorm
United States Cyrus Rad Forward Madison FC
United States Stuart Ritchie Richmond Kickers
Spain Nil Vinyals Richmond Kickers

Clean sheets[edit]

Rank Player Club Clean
sheets[13]
1 United States Paul Christensen Greenville Triumph SC 10
2 Ghana Rashid Nuhu Union Omaha 9
3 Israel Ofek Antman Central Valley Fuego 7
4 Japan Akira Fitzgerald Richmond Kickers 6
United States Adrian Zendejas Charlotte Independence
6 United States TJ Bush Tormenta FC 5
Mexico Carlos Merancio FC Tucson
United States Johan Peñaranda Northern Colorado Hailstorm
9 Cuba Raiko Arozarena Forward Madison FC 4
Mexico Carlos Avilez Chattanooga Red Wolves
United States Pablo Jara Tormenta FC

Individual awards[edit]

Award Winner Team Reason Ref.
Golden Boot Argentina Emiliano Terzaghi Richmond Kickers 17 goals in 29 games [19]
Golden Glove Ghana Rashid Nuhu Union Omaha 9 shutouts, 0.98 goals against average [19]
Assist Champion United States Jonathan Bolanos Richmond Kickers 11 assists [19]
Goalkeeper of the Year Ghana Rashid Nuhu Union Omaha 9 shutouts, 0.98 goals against average [20]
Defender of the Year England Arthur Rogers Northern Colorado Hailstorm 80 chances (league record); 9 assists [21]
Young Player of the Year United States Ethan Bryant Richmond Kickers 5 goals; 3 assists [22]
Comeback Player of the Year Germany Adrian Billhardt Tormenta FC 5 goals; 5 assists [23]
Coach of the Year United States Darren Sawatzky Richmond Kickers Won Regular Season title [24]
Most Valuable Player Argentina Emiliano Terzaghi Richmond Kickers 17 goals, 3 braces; 3 game-winning goals [25]
Goal of the Year Senegal Omar Ciss Charlotte Independence vs North Carolina FC [26]
Save of the Year United States Johan Peñaranda Northern Colorado Hailstorm vs Charlotte Independence [27]

All-league teams[edit]

First team[28]
Goalkeeper Defenders Midfielders Forwards
Ghana Rashid Nuhu (OMA) United States Jalen Crisler (RIC)
United States Evan Lee (GVL)
United States Daniel Navarro (CHA)
England Arthur Rogers (NCO) 		United States Jonathan Bolanos (RIC)
Mexico José Carrera-García (CHA)
Senegal Omar Ciss (CLT)
United States John Scearce (OMA) 		United States Garrett McLaughlin (NCA)
Argentina Emiliano Terzaghi (RIC)
Second team[28]
Goalkeeper Defenders Midfielders Forwards
Japan Akira Fitzgerald (RIC) United States Jake Dengler (TRM)
United States Brandon Fricke (GVL)
United States Mikey Maldonado (MAD)
United States Timmy Mehl (CHA) 		Brazil Gabriel Cabral (TRM)
United States Moe Espinoza (CHA)
France Gabriel Obertan (CLT)
France Louis Perez (TUC) 		United States Irvin Parra (NCO)
England Kazaiah Sterling (TRM)

Monthly awards[edit]

Month Player of the Month Goal of the Month Save of the Month Coach of the Month References
Player Club Position Player Club Position Player Club Coach Club
April Democratic Republic of the Congo Tresor Mbuyu Charlotte Independence Forward United States Moe Espinoza Chattanooga Red Wolves Midfielder United States Paul Christensen Greenville Triumph SC Scotland Ian Cameron Tormenta FC [29][30][31][32]
May Bulgaria Villyan Bijev Central Valley Fuego Forward Bulgaria Villyan Bijev Central Valley Fuego FC Forward Mexico Carlos Avilez Chattanooga Red Wolves United States John Bradford North Carolina FC [33][34][35][36]
June Colombia Juan Galindrez Chattanooga Red Wolves Forward United States Moe Espinoza Chattanooga Red Wolves Midfielder Israel Ofek Antman Central Valley Fuego United States John Harkes Greenville Triumph SC [37][38][39][40]
July England Kazaiah Sterling Tormenta FC Forward Jamaica Chavany Willis Union Omaha Midfielder United States Johan Peñaranda Northern Colorado Hailstorm Scotland Ian Cameron Tormenta FC [41][42][43][44]
August Argentina Emiliano Terzaghi Richmond Kickers Forward United States Kevin Piedrahita Goalkeeper United States Kevin Piedrahita Union Omaha United States Jay Mims Union Omaha [45][46][47][48]
September United States Jonathan Bolanos Midfielder Senegal Omar Ciss Charlotte Independence Midfielder United States Jon Pearlman FC Tucson [49][50][51][52]

Weekly awards[edit]