skip navigation

Seven things we took away from League One, Day One

By NICHOLAS MURRAY - nicholas.murray@uslsoccer.com, 12/07/22, 6:30PM EST

Share

Leading goalscorers stay in place, Flamingos make a splash, North Carolina banks on a breakthrough


Inaugural League One, Day One completes with over 65 transactions | Image Credit: Central Valley Fuego FC

Today has seen numerous clubs put at least some of their cards on the table as League One, Day One rolled through some big reveals on who’s staying and who’s moving ahead of the 2023 season.

We’ve looked through the announcements, here are seven things that stand out.

1. BIG GUNS (MOSTLY) STAY PUT

We already knew three-time League One MVP Emiliano Terzaghi would be back with the Richmond Kickers for the 2023 season.

On Wednesday, some of the biggest guns from this past campaign also confirmed they’d be staying put next year. Between South Georgia Tormenta FC’s Kazaiah Sterling (17 goals), North Carolina FC’s Garrett McLaughlin (14 goals), Northern Colorado Hailstorm FC’s Irvin Parra (11 goals), the Charlotte Independence’s Tresor Mbuyu and Khori Bennett (11 goals each), and Union Omaha’s Noe Meza (9 goals), that’s seven of the Top 10 goalscorers in the league last season.

The race to the 2023 Golden Boot starts here.

2. FLAMINGOS SUMMON NEW FLOCK

The notable exception to move on from this past season’s double-digit goalscorers we know about so far is Christian Chaney, who is headed to Forward Madison FC from Central Valley Fuego FC after notching 10 goals for the 2022 expansion side this campaign.

Chaney was arguably the biggest splash for the Flamingos on Wednesday as Head Coach Matt Glaeser begins rebuilding his squad. The aim for Chaney will be to become the Flamingos’ first double-digit goalscorer in a regular season – Don Smart’s eight goals in 2019 coincided with the last and only time the club reached the playoffs.

If Chaney’s going to do the business in the attacking third, another of Wednesday’s new faces in Timmy Mehl will be expected to do the same at the back. After helping Chattanooga Red Wolves SC to the League One Final in November, earning All-League honors in the process, the 27-year-old will be a key piece for Madison next spring.

3. TORMENTA KEEP PIECES IN PLACE

After claiming the League One title for the first time, South Georgia Tormenta FC will begin its bid to become the league’s first back-to-back winner with a good core group. We’ve already mentioned leading scorer Kazaiah Sterling is back, and so is his main support in Kingsford Adjej.

You’ve also got Jake Dengler, who led the team in minutes and earned All-League honors. So too did Gabriel Cabral, and there are also players like Deshawon Nembhard who bring international experience as well as club experience.

Change is inevitable for any title-winner, especially with that success leading to new opportunities elsewhere. Just like new home Optim Sports Medicine Field at Tormenta Field, South Georgia will have new elements next year on the field but there’s a lot to like about their starting point.

4. NCFC BANKS ON BREAKTHROUGH

Normally when you’re bringing 15 players back from the prior season, it’s because as a club you’ve not only managed your roster well, but likely achieved success.

For North Carolina FC the former applies. The latter? Well, two consecutive last-place finishes would say otherwise.

That makes the club’s decision to stand firm with that many pieces a big bet on progression to playoff contention in 2023. It’s an interesting mix for sure, with Garrett McLaughlin a standout striker and Academy products like goalkeeper Nick Holliday and forward Cole Frame looking for big years to accelerate their progression. There are more moves to be made, for sure, but NCFC will want to get out to a quick start to calm potential concerns about the lack of roster turnover after the past two campaigns.

5. SAFE PAIRS OF HANDS

We already knew before Wednesday that League One’s shutouts leader from the past season, Paul Christensen of Greenville Triumph SC, was stepping away. Meanwhile, Charlotte Independence loanee Adrían Zendejas has returned to his MLS club, and we don’t have news yet on Central Valley Fuego FC’s Ofek Antman or South Georgia Tormenta FC’s TJ Bush.

That makes it, from this perspective, that much more significant that Union Omaha’s Rashid Nuhu, the Richmond Kickers’ Akira Fitzgerald and Chattanooga Red Wolves SC’s Carlos Avilez are all going to be back, almost certainly as their club’s No. 1, for 2023.

Last season’s League One Goalkeeper of the Year, Nuhu has been a crucial part of Los Buhos’ success. A prior award-winner himself, Fitzgerald’s experience helped the Kickers to a first-place finish while he led the league in saves. Avilez, meanwhile, sat for only two games all season while helping Chattanooga to its first League One Final appearance.

While other teams search for their starter for next year, three of last year’s top four are well set between the sticks.

6. NOCO, FUEGO GEAR UP FOR YEAR TWO

In almost every club’s inaugural season, there are going to be hits and misses. For League One’s 2022 class of Northern Colorado Hailstorm FC and Central Valley Fuego FC, there were some definite highs – especially in the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup – but neither was able to quite break through into the postseason field.

Now both clubs get to evaluate the next step and have ensured some key pieces return. We’ve already talked about Hailstorm FC keeping Irvin Parra in the fold – on a new two-year deal, no less – and captain Rob Cornwall’s retention is also another great building block to have. Word is there will be more familiar faces back, too.

Fuego FC, meanwhile, lost its leading goalscorer in Christian Chaney to Forward Madison FC, but it’s still got Villyan Bijev and François Dulysse among its announced returnees, and the potential to build from here.

For both these teams, the 2023 USL League One Playoffs will be the goal. Expect the next few weeks to deliver more news on how they plan to get there.

7. ALL EYES ON KNOXVILLE, LEXINGTON

The process that Hailstorm FC and Fuego FC went through a year ago is now underway for League One’s two new arrivals for 2023 in Lexington SC and One Knox SC. With Wednesday over, the spotlight and anticipation can now start to build for what those squads are going to look like in their inaugural professional seasons.

At One Knox, there is the foundation of a standout 2022 League Two campaign to build on. The potential will be for a South Georgia Tormenta FC-esque transformation, with key players getting to make the step up into the pro ranks. The club’s leading scorer this summer – and now 2022 Mac Hermann Trophy Semifinalist Stephen Afrifa – might be out of reach, but don’t be surprised to see some familiar faces.

At Lexington SC, we get a full build-out for Head Coach Sam Stockley’s group. Will LSC be able to make a splash in the way Central Valley was with the signing of Championship standout Villyan Bijev to make a big first impression? It’s going to be a great process to watch for both clubs.


Follow USL League One

Most Recent USL League One News

Most Read USL League One News

USL League One News