USL teams representing the LA Galaxy, New York Red Bulls, Portland Timbers and Seattle Sounders all earned wins in league action last week, putting MLS-operated teams in four of the league's 12 playoff spots, based on current point totals.
Half of the USL (12 of its 24 teams) will compete in the Fourth Round of the Lamar Hunt US Open Cup on either Tuesday or Wednesday before returning to league play over the weekend.
While the Rochester Rhinos remained unbeaten at 8-0-4 to lead the Eastern Conference, there was a change at the top of the Western Conference, as Oklahoma City Energy FC posted a pair of wins to pass Seattle Sounders 2, who won their only game of the week, for first place. The Sacramento Republic, LA Galaxy II and Colorado Springs Switchbacks are also in the top half of the West, while the Portland Timbers 2, Orange County Blues, Austin Aztex and Arizona United all sit near the .500 mark.
In games involving MLS-operated teams last week, Sounders 2 beat the LA Galaxy II 1-0 last Thursday in front of 2,059 fans at Starfire Soccer Stadium in Tukwila, Washington. Seattle Homegrown Player Aaron Kovar (pictured) scored the game-winning goal in the 73rd minute and first-team backup goalkeeper Troy Perkins made two saves for the shutout. (SOUNDERS RECAP | HIGHLIGHTS | GALAXY RECAP)
Los Dos rebounded with a 2-0 win in Vancouver on Sunday, as Travis Bowen and Ariel Lassiter (penalty kick) scored goals in the win against a Vancouver lineup with four on-loan starters, including center back Diego Rodriguez. (WHITECAPS RECAP | GALAXY RECAP)
Elsewhere in the West, Portland Timbers 2 beat the Austin Aztex 3-1 on Sunday night in front of 2,605 fans at Merlo Field, with four on-loan players going 90 minutes, including defender Jeanderson, who notched a late insurance goal. (TIMBERS RECAP)
In the Eastern Conference, New York Red Bulls II earned their first road win despite playing with no on-loan players, edging the Wilmington Hammerheads 1-0. Academy winger Derrick Etienne set up Chris Tsonis for the game's only goal, and US U-23 international Dan Metzger played 90 minutes in midfield. (RED BULLS RECAP)
Philadelphia Union youngster Eric Ayuk was the other on-loan player to score over the weekend, notching the opening goal in a 1-1 tie between the Harrisburg City Islanders and St. Louis FC. Union Homegrown Player Jimmy McLaughlin (Harrisburg) and Chicago Fire rookie Kingsley Bryce (St. Louis) also saw action.
With a light week in the MLS schedule, multiple MLS goalkeepers went out on loan to abnormal affiliates, with Houston's Michael Lisch starting for the Charlotte Independence, New England's Brad Knighton playing for Richmond and Columbus Crew SC's Matt Lampson starting for Pittsburgh. Lisch got the best of Lampson in a 2-1 Charlotte win over Pittsburgh on Saturday.
Next weekend's slate features a Cascadia clash, with Whitecaps 2 facing Timbers 2 on Sunday afternoon in British Columbia.
This week’s games:
Fri., June 19 – Harrisburg City Islanders vs. Rochester Rhinos, 7:30 pm ET
Fri., June 19 – LA Galaxy II vs. Orange County Blues, 10:30 pm ET
Sat., June 20 – Richmond Kickers vs. Wilmington Hammerheads, 7:30 pm ET
Sat., June 20 – Pittsburgh Riverhounds vs. FC Montreal, 7 pm ET
Sat., June 20 – Charlotte Independence vs. Charleston Battery, 7 pm ET
Sat., June 20 – Louisville City vs. New York Red Bulls II, 7:30 pm ET
Sat., June 20 – Austin Aztex vs. Tulsa Roughnecks, 9 pm ET
Sat., June 20 – Arizona United vs. Seattle Sounders, 10:30 pm ET
Sat., June 20 – Sacramento Republic vs. Oklahoma City Energy, 11 pm ET
Sun., June 21 – Vancouver Whitecaps 2 vs. Portland Timbers 2, 5 pm ET
Every game of the 2015 USL season will be streamed live on team YouTube channels. For highlights, visit the USL's official YouTube channel.
