A limited schedule in the USL Championship balanced by all-but-one of League One’s sides being in action gave us some impressive displays from the U-22 contingent in action across both leagues, including a sterling first start out West for one of League One’s young senior internationals and another good defensive display in Birmingham Legion’s ranks as the side picked up a notable road win.

Here are six young talents who grabbed the spotlight over the past week of action.

1. Javier Mariona, AV ALTA FC

It took a little time for Javier Mariona to get into the swing of things at AV ALTA after an early-season injury, but this past Saturday in his first start for the side he showed how he can contribute to the first-year club’s success. The 20-year-old starred in the club’s 2-1 victory against the Charlotte Independence – ending the Independence’s five-game winning streak – with an array of on-ball quality that made him a consistent threat in the attacking third.

Mariona completed 15 of 17 passes overall and had a game-high five chances created working primarily on the left flank. The Philippines international notched his first assist of the campaign in first-half stoppage time, receiving a long pass on the left before immediately darting toward the penalty area. His low cross met the run of Alexis Cerritos perfectly for a first-time finish that leveled the game, giving Antelope Valley momentum into the halftime break.

Mariona also recorded three shots, but he could have had a second assist early in the second half as well. Retrieving possession after a looping ball across the penalty area came to him on the left, Mariona connected again with Cerritos on a near-post cross the midfielder headed wide of the left post. While the side’s winner came after Mariona’s day ended after 63 minutes, though, he had already done plenty to help the hosts on their way to a notable home victory.

2. Tiago Suarez, Birmingham Legion FC

Having stepped into the lineup at late notice in Week 11, Tiago Suarez might make it difficult to move him out of the lineup the way things are going. The 20-year-old center back put together another strong all-around display as Legion claimed a 2-1 win against Miami FC on Saturday night in South Florida, completing a game-high 49 of 52 passes and recording 11 clearances – including nine headed – while blocking a pair of shots and winning 8 of 11 duels.

The win gave Legion its first win since Mark Briggs became Head Coach earlier this month, and the relationship between Briggs and Suarez could be key here. While Briggs was at the helm for Sacramento Republic FC, Suarez emerged as a young talent during the 2022 season before making the move to the New England Revolution organization that offseason. With Suarez now looking for another strong campaign before he heads back to the northeast, that relationship could be useful and help Legion to success.

3. Luis Álvarez, Charlotte Independence

If you wanted an indicator of how much of the Independence’s attack was running through Luis Álvarez on Saturday night, the fact the attacking midfielder took more than 30 touches more than his closest teammate in that statistic should say a lot. The 22-year-old’s 93 touches were a season-high, giving him now the top three marks individually for the Independence in League One this regular season.

Álvarez provided plenty of impetus for the Independence in the attacking third, notching three shots on target out of four efforts overall while notching two chances created, but he also put in work defensively winning 4 of 4 tackles and 9 of 16 duels despite the side’s winning streak coming to an end. The Honduras native continues to be one to watch as this season progresses.

4. Dominic Gasso, Detroit City FC

There wasn’t much to feel good about for Detroit City on Saturday evening against the Charleston Battery, but homegrown midfielder Dominic Gasso put in a performance that provided a small silver lining for the hosts at Keyworth Stadium.

Gasso had a big opportunity to put the hosts back ahead in the first half with a headed finish that clipped the outside of the right post, but the 21-year-old put in solid work in the center of midfield as the side tried to get back into the game. Gasso won 3 of 3 tackles and 4 of 5 aerial duels defensively while completing 29 of 41 passes and notching one chance created.

5. Beckett Howell, Richmond Kickers

The Richmond Kickers’ youth movement has drawn attention over the past year, and on Sunday it was the turn of Beckett Howell to make an impact. Making his fifth appearance of the season, the 20-year-old left back notched his first assist in the professional ranks with a precise ball that picked out Matt Bolduc for an early-second half equalizer for the visitors in their 2-2 draw against Westchester SC.

Howell is in his third season with the Kickers, having previously made 12 appearances for the side as a USL Academy signing two years ago. Now signed to a professional deal, the Richmond native has started the past three outings as he grows into his opportunity for more consistent opportunities with the side.

6. Patrick Leal, Las Vegas Lights FC

Las Vegas Lights suffered a second consecutive defeat on Saturday night, but midfielder Patrick Leal proved a bright spot in central midfield while notching his first assist in the USL Championship on Johnny Rodriguez’s early goal. Capitalizing on a half-clearance by El Paso Locomotive’s back line, the 22-year-old produced a precise first-time pass that opened space for Rodriguez to fire home into the bottom-right corner.

Leal has become a regular face in the Lights’ lineup since making his debut late in March, with the Portugal native having made the move West from the New England Revolution II this offseason. Against El Paso, he also won 2 of 2 tackles and 3 of 5 ground duels while making four recoveries while helping provide impetus for the side as it looked to take on a more attacking stance in the second half.