As the race for the playoffs continued to build in the USL Championship and USL League One, a collection of U-22 talent across both leagues played key roles in helping their sides to success – or impressed despite adverse results – during Week 32 of the regular season.

Here are seven young standouts that caught our eye after impressive performances over the past seven days.

Want to learn more about the young homegrowns in the USL Championship and League One? Check out the Crystal Geyser USL Academy to Pro Tracker on USL-Academy.com.

1. Collin Smith, Phoenix Rising FC

Conventionally this season, Collin Smith has been employed on the right side of Phoenix Rising’s back line, making 21 starts at right back for the squad across all competitions.

On Friday night, the 21-year-old was shifted further up the field as part of Rising’s attacking midfield trio and it paid off handsomely for the side. Smith played a key role in both Rising’s goals as it took a 2-0 victory on the road at North Carolina FC to break a lengthy winless streak and boost the club’s chances of claiming a place in the 2025 USL Championship Playoffs.

Smith provided a key outlet in the attacking half, arriving into space at the top of the penalty area on the right side as play progressed in the left channel. Smith’s shot off a pass from Charlie Dennis was parried, but Dennis was there to clean up the rebound to give the visitors an early lead. Smith followed that with a strong headed finish off Hope Avayevu’s cross from the left for his second goal of the season in the second half, wrapping up an important road win as he ended the night with a team-high three shots on four touches in the penalty area.

“It was a fantastic performance from the boys,” said Rising Head Coach Pa-Modou Kah. “They put the shift in, they put in everything they got and I was very proud of them. It was truly a grind mentality and every single one of them gave everything that they have.”

2. Jack Panayotou, Hartford Athletic

At halftime in Hartford Athletic’s visit to Oakland Roots SC last Tuesday night, it had all the makings of a USL Jägermeister Cup Final hangover. The side not only trailed at the Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum but had failed to record a shot in the first half.

Enter Jack Panayotou, who keyed a second-half turnaround that capped Athletic’s three-game, 11-day road trip with a third consecutive victory with a pair of assists that led to a 3-1 win for Hartford.

Panayotou helped the Latics draw level 11 minutes into the second half with a fine delivery from a corner kick from the left that was met by Josh Belluz with a powerful header, giving the Colorado Rapids 2 loanee his first goal for the club. Panayotou then provided a deft through-ball for Kyle Edwards eight minutes later that the St. Vincent and the Grenadines forward put away to give Hartford the lead, setting the side toward its first trip to the playoffs since 2020.

3. Omari Glasgow, Loudoun United FC

Omari Glasgow helped provide the exclamation point as Loudoun United claimed its first trip to the USL Championship Playoffs on Saturday evening, setting up Riley Bidois for a stoppage-time goal that lifted United to a 1-0 win against Detroit City FC at Keyworth Stadium.

What the Guyana international had done leading up to that moment, however, was key to Loudoun earning its first away win in four attempts against Detroit as the visitors took the game to Le Rouge throughout the 90 minutes.

Glasgow’s led Loudoun’s defensive pressure which saw him lead all players with nine recoveries, including three in the attacking third as the visitors won possession nine times high up the field. The 21-year-old connected consistently with fellow forward Florian Valot, helping stretch the field on the right side, which led to Bidois’ late goal.

Currently on loan from Chicago Fire FC, Glasgow has notched two assists in 10 appearances since his arrival. This was his most complete performance to date.

4. Zeke Soto, Greenville Triumph SC

Greenville Triumph SC’s prospects of extending its streak of reaching the USL League One Playoffs in every season of the league’s history were put in serious peril after its scoreless draw against Union Omaha on Saturday night, but attacking midfielder Zeke Soto certainly played his part as the side pushed for a decisive moment.

The 18-year-old – on loan from the Charleston Battery this season – recorded three chances created, second only to Connor Evans on the team, and completed 16 of 22 passes in the contest, including setting up the best opportunity of the game for the hosts at Paladin Stadium.

Covering defensively off a throw-in for Greenville, Soto won possession 30 yards from goal to break up a potential counterattack in the fourth minute and quickly slipped a pass through to Ropapa Mensah in the right side of the penalty area, which the Ghanaian fired into the side netting. The miss was one Triumph went on to rue as its deficit to the top eight increased to five points.

5. Ali Elmasnaouy, Oakland Roots SC

Letting leads get away in both of its contests, Week 32 proved to be challenging for Oakland Roots, which was pushed to the edge of elimination in the playoff race as a result.

If there was a silver lining, though, it came via the continuation of Peter Wilson’s scoring streak and in the performance of Roots homegrown Ali Elmasnaouy, who put in solid displays in both his starts to continue a sterling overall campaign.

The 20-year-old, who turned professional with the club this summer, logged 137 minutes across the two outings, completing 64 of 75 passes while logging two chances created and two shots, both of which were on target. Elmasnaouy also put in work on the defensive side of the ball, recording 10 recoveries and four interceptions while winning 9 of 16 duels.

As Roots prepares to enter its offseason, Elmasnaouy could be a key part in their potential resurgence next year.

6. Reid Valentine, Texoma FC

Going into Saturday night, Texoma FC knew it had three games left to play in the campaign with the Charlotte Independence’s victory on Friday night mathematically eliminating the side from postseason contention.

While that was the case, Los Pajaros came through with a 1-0 victory against the Richmond Kickers in their home finale in which youngster Reid Valentine played a key role. The 19-year-old right back delivered a crucial goal line clearance early in the game to deny Richmond’s Darwin Espinal, and was impressive overall as he completed 39 of 44 passes – including 8 of 11 in the attacking third – while recording six clearances, four recoveries and three interceptions defensively.

Alongside fellow young standout JP Jordan – who also impressed at left back – the 19-year-old will be looking to end his first professional campaign on a positive note as Texoma wraps up its inaugural season.

7. Jacob Greene, Lexington SC

Lexington’s winless streak continued on Saturday night as it fell to El Paso Locomotive FC, but the hosts were unfortunate to come away without a point from the game in a strong overall performance that saw Jacob Greene play an integral role at left back.

The 22-year-old completed 47 of 49 passes, tying for third on the team with 66 touches overall, as he connected with Marcus Epps on the left flank and Blaine Ferri centrally to help Lexington apply pressure that led to a 2.58 Expected Goals mark. Greene was also solid defensively, winning 7 of 10 duels and making three recoveries as he stepped in for his fourth start of the season.