TAMPA, Fla. - With the second consecutive week of 11 League One preseason matches completed, nearly every League One club hit the pitch to prepare for the 2022 season. Last week's matches were highlighted by four of seven League One clubs defeating or drawing with Championship opposition.

Richmond Kickers 1, Charleston Battery 1

Eakes Athletics Complex, Buies Creek, N.C.

March 2, 12 p.m. ET

The two longest, continuously operating professional soccer clubs in the United States clashed at a neutral site as they both prepare to launch their 30th seasons.

Both sides traded near chances off of set pieces in the first half. Nil Vinyals took a free kick from just outside of the penalty area that lofted over the wall before dipping down and nearly making it into the right upper 90. On the other end, Charleston earned a free kick roughly 25 yards out on the right wing. The Battery sent in a left-footed effort that curled around the wall and back towards the near post, but reigning USL League One Goalkeeper of the Year Akira Fitzgerald made a diving save to keep the score level as the first half waned.

In the 54', Charleston found the opener during a one-on-one opportunity. Fitzgerald picked the correct side and got a hand on the ball, but the shot had too much pace and made it into the net to break the stalemate.

Charleston's lead would only last six minutes as the Reds pressed for an equalizer. A clever through ball into a dangerous area unlocked reigning back-to-back league MVP Emiliano Terzaghi. Feeling a defender closing in quickly, he shielded the ball and was brought down to earn a penalty for the Reds. He calmly sent the ball low and to the left, beating the keeper to level the scoreline.

While both sides pushed for the go-ahead goal in the final third of the match, opportunities were limited because of strong defensive play. Soon after, the final whistle rang out concluding a hard-fought match.

Goals:

• 54' - CHS
• 60' - Terzaghi, RIC

Atlanta United 2 0, Chattanooga Red Wolves SC 1

Children's Healthcare of Atlanta Training Ground; Marietta, Ga.

March 2, 7 p.m. ET

Downing its second USL Championship club of the preseason, the Red Wolves defeated Atlanta United 2 at the club's training ground on Wednesday. The low-scoring match was decided by a trialist's free kick that found its way into the top corner of the ATL UTD 2 net in the 37'.

Goals:

• 37' - Trialist, CHA

Northern Illinois University 0, Forward Madison FC 3

Mercyhealth Sportscore Two, Loves Park, Ill.

March 4, 4 p.m. ET

Roughly halfway between Madison, Wis. and Dekalb, Ill., two regional clubs clashed, battling out to a 3-0 victory for the 'Mingos. Madison veteran Eric Leonard opened the scoring just before the half, heading in a set piece from Justin Sukow. Newcomer Cesar Murillo continued the scoring in the 65' before Madison found its third goal in the 75', wrapping up the match in Illinois.

Goals:

• 45' - Leonard, MAD
• 65' - Murillo, MAD
• 75' - MAD

ATLANTA UNITED 2 4, Greenville Triumph SC 2

Children's Healthcare of Atlanta Training Ground; Marietta, Ga.

March 5, 1 p.m. ET

The Triumph started the afternoon off with an early lead courtesy of defender Evan Lee, but it would be Atlanta that ultimately grabbed the victory, scoring four goals during the match. Greenville narrowed the deficit in the second half thanks to a trialist-to-trialist connection that lead to a late goal.

Goals:

• Lee, GVL
• Trialist, GVL

UNC Greensboro 2, Richmond Kickers 2

UNCG Soccer Stadium; Greensboro, N.C.

March 5, 1 p.m. ET

The Kickers made the trip down to Greensboro, N.C. to get their first taste of playing three matches in seven days. The hosts would take the result 2-0, but the match provided an opportunity for the Reds to rotate the squad and give significant minutes to trialists looking to earn a spot on the roster.

New Mexico United 2, Northern Colorado Hailstorm FC 2

Mesa Del Sol; Albuquerque, N.M.

March 5, 2 p.m. ET

Northern Colorado Hailstorm FC wrapped up its third week of preseason action with a combative 2-2 tie on the road against USL Championship side New Mexico United on Saturday.

After an even first 20 minutes, the visitors began to assert themselves and took the lead in the 24' when Stefan Lukic won the ball off a turnover, beat two New Mexico players, before driving the ball home past 'keeper Alexander Tambakis.

Hailstorm took a 1-0 lead into halftime and made just one substitution at the break, bringing Hernández on for Vanacore-Decker. Two minutes into the second half, Hernández ripped off a powerful shot from the edge of the six-yard-box that Tambakis parried into the back of his own net for an own goal that gave Northern Colorado a 2-0 lead.

New Mexico scored its opening goal in the 56' through Neco Brett, a new signing who finished 2021 as the fifth-best goal scorer in the USL Championship with Birmingham Legion.

Striker Chris Wehan later scored for New Mexico to tie the match in the 72', and Hailstorm made its final substitution shortly thereafter when a trialist came on for Danny Robles.

Goals:

• 20' - Lukic, NCO
• 47' - Hernández, NCO
• 56' - Brett, NM
• 72' - Wehan, NM

Oakland Roots SC 1, Central VAlley Fuego FC 0

Oakland, Calif.

March 5, 6 p.m. ET

In its second consecutive preseason match against USL Championship opposition, Fuego FC fell to the Oakland Roots after a goal from Roots newcomer Darek Formella.

Goals:

• Formella, OAK

Tampa Bay Rowdies 1, SOUTH GEORGIA TORMENTA FC 1

Al Lang Stadium; St. Petersburg, Fla.

March 5, 7 p.m. ET

South Georgia Tormenta FC battled with the Tampa Bay Rowdies, finishing the preseason match even at 1-1 with one of the USL Championship’s premier teams. Tormenta FC held off the Tampa Bay offense until the 89' with a first-half header from forward Arthur Bosua and a quality performance from goalkeeper Pablo Jara and the backline.

Jara received an ovation from the Rowdies season ticket holder crowd after a special performance in net with more than seven awe-inspiring saves. Following a season-ending injury in 2021, longtime club defender Joshua Phelps returned to the starting lineup and also played an essential part in the team performance.

Tormenta FC kicked off the match in a high press before holding off Tampa Bay’s dangerous offense throughout the first half. In the 26', Gabriel Cabral connected with Bosua on a corner kick to score his first goal for the club and of the night. Bosua brought the score to 1-0 with a header from Cabral’s perfectly-placed ball and assist.

The South Georgia backline put on a strong performance in the last 45 minutes with the teams exchanging chances throughout. The second half also saw more impressive saves from both Jara and TJ Bush, who subbed into the match in the 81'.

Minutes before the final whistle, the Rowdies scored a goal of their own to level the scoreline in the 89' minute to bring the final score to 1-1.

Notably, former Tormenta FC defender Connor Antley started for Tampa Bay and showed impressive development with a key role in the Rowdies draw.

Goals:

• 26' - Bosua, TRM
• 89' - TBR

Phoenix Rising FC 5, FC Tucson 1

Wild Horse Pass; Chandler, Ariz.

March 5, 9 p.m. ET

Opening the scoring, FC Tucson took an early 1-0 lead via Daniel Bedoya's free kick in the 12'. Bedoya stepped up to take the kick, bending a right-footed shot over the wall and off the inside of the near post, before the ball settled into the net behind Rising goalkeeper Ben Lundt.

From then on, Phoenix controlled possession and built pressure for several minutes before finally breaking through in the 29'. The assist came from Baboucarr Njie, who drove down the left side before sending a cross into the area for Greg Hurst. Rising’s striker deflected the ball onto goal, beating Tucson goalkeeper Carlos Merancio at the near post to make it 1-1.

Hurst nearly had a second goal in the 38' as Santi Moar and Darnell King combined on the right flank. The pass found the head of Hurst, who nodded a shot that caught the outside of the back post. The rebound fell to the feet of Marcus Epps, who took his time and calmly picked out the far post to give Phoenix a 2-1 lead.

Rising hit Tucson with a counterattack in the 74' and worked a flawless passing combination from Epps on the right to Moar on the left. Moar put Aodhan Quinn in on goal with a first-touch header and the midfielder finished low to the back post to make it 3-1.

Moar gained control of the ball in a dangerous spot and waited for a passing lane to open in the 80'. Once the defender split, Moar played a pass into space for Epps to finish off, making it, 4-1.

Epps finished off his hat trick two minutes later, chipping the goalkeeper from the top of the area to bring it to a 5-1 final score.

Goals:

• 12' - Bedoya, TUC
• 29' - Hurst, PHX
• 38' - Epps, PHX
• 74' - Quinn, PHX
• 80' - Epps, PHX
• 82' - Epps, PHX

UP NEXT

• North Carolina FC vs. Columbus Crew 2 (MLS NEXT Pro); March 9, 1 p.m. ET
• Richmond Kickers vs. William & Mary (NCAA); March 9
• South Georgia Tormenta FC vs. University of North Florida (NCAA); March 11, 6:30 p.m.
• MNUFC2 (MLS NEXT Pro) vs. Forward Madison FC; March 11
• Charlotte Independence vs. Columbus Crew 2 (MLS NEXT Pro); March 12; 11 a.m. ET
• Chattanooga Red Wolves SC vs. University of Kentucky (NCAA); March 12, 1 p.m. ET
• Greenville Triumph SC vs. Chattanooga FC (NISA); March 12, 4 p.m. ET
• Central Valley Fuego FC vs. Cal State Northridge (NCAA); March 12, 6 p.m. ET
• Sporting Kansas City II (MLS NEXT Pro) vs. Union Omaha; March 12
• Richmond Kickers vs. Philadelphia Union II (MLS NEXT Pro); March 13

For more, visit League One Preseason Central