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2023 USL League One Midseason Predictions

By USLLeagueOne.com Staff, 07/18/23, 10:15AM EDT

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A collection of League One experts weighed in on the first half of the league's fifth campaign

Now officially beyond the halfway point of USL League One's fifth season, it's just about time to start looking ahead to the conclusion of the regular season, the race for the postseason and the end-of-year awards.

A group of League One experts weighed in on the first half of the regular season and evaluated who and what stood out to them. Below, you can find a collection of predictions for postseason awards along with a handful of other items including surprises, disappointments and bold predictions for the remaining half of the season.

The group polled included a collection of USL-centric personalities including Dan Creel, John Morrissey, Nicholas Murray and representatives from League ONe the RocksLeague One UpdaterLinners & WosersUSL desde ArgentinaUSL League OneThe USL Show, and Walkin 90.

Do you agree with these predictions? Let us know your thoughts and keep the conversation going on Twitter at @USLLeagueOne.

Please note: The 2023 USL League One Midseason Predictions process in no way is tied directly to the voting and selection process of End of the Year awards such as League One Most Valuable Player or position players of the year.

Goalkeeper of the Year

  • Austin Pack, Charlotte Independence (40%): Filling the void of Adrían Zendejas was always going to be tough, but Pack has done that and much more in his first full season as a starter. The 29-year-old shot-stopper leads the league in saves with 66 and has six clean sheets to his name through the first half of the 2023 campaign.
  • Lalo Delgado, Northern Colorado Hailstorm (30%): Enjoying the most productive start to a season in his career, Delgado has played a large role in Northern Colorado's sensational start to its second season. The 25-year-old 'keeper leads all goalkeepers with nine wins and is tied for the lead with his eight clean sheets.
  • Bernd Schipmann, Forward Madison FC (30%): The Philippines international has statistically been one of the best goalkeepers so far and a fantastic offseason addition for the 'Mingos. Schipmann leads all 'keepers with his 2.39 goals conceded below expected and 3.31 goals added, according to American Soccer Analysis. Schipmann is tied for the league lead with his eight clean sheets.

Defender of the Year

  • Arthur Rogers, Northern Colorado Hailstorm FC (30%): The reigning Defender of the Year leads the polling with his Hailstorm side's recent dominance and league-low 12 goals conceded. Rogers - who at times plays in a midfield role for his side - leads the league in chances created (41) and assists (7).
  • Nathan Aune, Richmond Kickers (20%): Anchoring the Kickers' backline, Aune's third season in Richmond has seen the 26-year-old defender knock in a career-best two goals to go along with a league-high 20 blocks. Aune has also totaled 125 completed long balls, 98 duels won and 81 clearances. 
  • Nick Spielman, Charlotte Independence (20%): Already nearing career-highs for matches played in a season and equaling goals scored (2), Spielman's first season in Charlotte has been a success thus far. The former NISA standout has accumulated 98 recoveries, 80 tackles and 13 blocks to help Charlotte to six clean sheets.
  • Mitch Osmond, Forward Madison FC (10%): Madison's captain has helped the 'Mingos to a joint-league-high eight clean sheets in his second season in Wisconsin. The Australian defender has tallied 83 recoveries, 68 clearances 61 duels won and 11 blocks.
  • Bruno Rendón, Northern Colorado Hailstorm FC (10%): An offseason addition that may have flown under the radar a bit, the defensive play of Rendón has helped the Hailstorm concede the fewest goals this season (12) across the league. The former Cuba youth international has won 111 duels and 32 tackles to go along with a career-high-matching three goals scored.
  • Derek Waldeck, One Knoxville SC (10%): The longtime USL League One defender is on to his third League One club as he helps Knoxville navigate its first season in the league. Waldeck has recorded three assists thus far to go along with a league-high 107 completed crosses, 90 duels won, 78 recoveries, 25 chances created and 19 interceptions.

Young Player of the Year

  • Jackson Khoury, South Georgia Tormenta FC (57%): The Lebanon youth national team prospect and Central Coast Mariners Academy winger joined the defending champions in the offseason. The 20-year-old Australian leads his side with his six goal contributions (three goals, three assists), 25 chances created and 76 successful crosses.
  • Alexis Cerritos, Central Valley Fuego FC (14%): Central Valley's talented, young attacker, Cerritos is off to the most productive season of his career with three goals and two assists recorded through 16 matches. The D.C. United and CF Pachuca youth product leads Fuego FC in goal contributions (4) and duels won (101).
  • Omar Ciss, Charlotte Independence (14%): Following a breakout first season in Charlotte last year, Ciss has established himself as a solid contributor for the Jacks. Through 18 matches this season, the 2022 Young Player of the Year joint-runner-up has one goal, two assists, 97 recoveries, 21 tackles won and 21 chances created. 
  • Nicholas Holliday, North Carolina FC (14%): Although recently sustaining a broken ankle that will keep him out for the majority of the remaining season, the 17-year-old USYNT prospect tallied a career-best three clean sheets to go along with his 26 saves. Holliday was top six in the Golden Glove race at the time of his injury. 

Coach of the Year

  • Éamon Zayed, Northern Colorado Hailstorm FC (100%): The lone consensus selection for a postseason award, second-year Head Coach Éamon Zayed has turned Northern Colorado into a true contender in just one-and-a-half seasons. Despite playing the fewest matches across the league this season, Zayed's Hailstorm sit atop the table with a 9-1-5 record and have the leader or runner-up in the Golden Boot, Golden Glove and assists leader races. Zayed's 2023 Northern Colorado side is the third team in league history to accumulate just one loss through its first 15 matches (Chattanooga, 2021; Omaha, 2021).

Most Valuable Player

  • Rafa Mentzingen, North Carolina FC (40%): The longtime League One midfielder has adjusted well to his new squad in Cary. Mentzingen has six goals and two assists through 15 matches with North Carolina FC.
  • Trevor Amann, Northern Colorado Hailstorm FC (30%): A catalyst for Northern Colorado's insanely hot summer, Amann's 14 goals are the most across all seven active professional leagues in the United States, Canada and Mexico. The second-year professional's 3.11 goals-added mark is the most in the league, according to American Soccer Analysis.
  • Oalex Anderson, North Carolina FC (10%): The St. Vincent and the Grenadines international has tallied the most goals in a single season of his career (9) and helped NCFC to its best League One season thus far. Anderson is second in the league with his 13 goal contributions and is tied for the league lead with 21 shots on target.
  • Noe Meza, Union Omaha (10%): Surely the next Omaha standout to be shipped off to the USL Championship or MLS, Meza has enjoyed another stellar season just two years into his professional career. The 25-year-old has matched his nine league goals from a season ago in half the time and recently became the club's all-time leading scorer.
  • Arthur Rogers, Northern Colorado Hailstorm FC (10%): Even after claiming Defender of the Year a season ago, Rogers finished third in the MVP race behind Richmond teammates Terzaghi and Bolanos. As mentioned above, Rogers leads the league in chances created (41) and assists (7) and has been a big player in the Hailstorm's second-season surge.

Most impactful offseason addition

  • Rafa Mentzingen, North Carolina FC (60%)
  • Christian Chaney, Forward Madison FC (30%)
  • Jake Crull, Forward Madison FC (10%)

Biggest surprise

  • Northern Colorado and Trevor Amann's insane run of form
  • Tate Robertson's play for Lexington SC
  • Knoxville's strong start to the season

Biggest disappointment

  • South Georgia's championship hangover
  • Union Omaha's early season struggles
  • Central Valley and Chattanooga's disappointing starts

Bold prediction for second half of season

  • Northern Colorado, North Carolina or Charlotte won't make the playoffs
  • Omaha misses the playoffs for the first time in club history
  • Kazaiah Sterling carries Tormenta FC to the postseason and claims MVP in the process
  • Knoxville not only makes the playoffs but upsets a higher seed in its first postseason match
  • Trevor Amann gets to 25 goals for the Hailstorm
  • Lexington sneaks into final postseason position
  • Greenville finishes in the top three
  • Knoxville finishes atop the table
  • Omaha finishes in the top four

2023 USL League One Final prediction

  • North Carolina 3-2 Northern Colorado
  • Northern Colorado 2-1 Madison
  • North Carolina 2-1 Northern Colorado
  • Northern Colorado 3-2 North Carolina
  • Madison 3-2 Northern Colorado
  • North Carolina 2-1 Charlotte
  • Omaha 2-1 Madison
  • Northern Colorado 2-0 Madison
  • Northern Colorado 3-2 Madison
  • Northern Colorado 3-1 North Carolina

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