KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – Nico Rosamilia and Kempes Tekiela scored early in either half as One Knoxville SC claimed the 2025 USL League One Final with a 2-0 victory against Spokane Velocity FC before a League One-record crowd of 7,500 fans on Sunday night at a sold-out Covenant Health Park.

The victory earned Knoxville its first USL League One title, and made the No. 1 seed the fourth club in league history to do the double, winning the Players’ Shield in the regular season before sweeping through the postseason.

One Knox made a dream start, taking the lead in just the fourth minute as Tekiela released Stávros Zarokóstas into space on the right flank. The Greek winger turned his marker inside out in getting to the byline before his low cross was tapped home by Rosamilia from inside the six-yard area.

The hosts continued to make the early running as both Zarokóstas and Stuart Ritchie had chances go wide, but as the half progressed, Spokane worked its way back into the game. The visitors had a header off a corner by Camron Miller deflected wide, while in the 25th minute a counterattack off a Knoxville free kick saw Luis Gil’s through-ball just elude a stretching Andre Lewis as he tried to apply a finishing touch.

Gil also had a header saved eight minutes before the break by One Knox’s Sean Lewis, keeping the hosts ahead, but eight minutes into the second half Knoxville took a two-goal advantage as Ritchie was ruled to have been brought down just inside the left edge of the penalty area, giving the hosts a penalty. Tekiela stepped up and put away the opportunity into the right corner as Spokane’s Carlos Merancio went the opposite way.

Knoxville almost added a third inside the final 10 minutes as Babacar Diene’s close-range finish went wide of the near post off a low cross by Ritchie, but while Spokane threw numbers forward to try and find a way to get back into the game, One Knox’s defense held firm to close out a historic campaign.

Takeaways

One Knoxville SC: The Players’ Shield winner added the League One crown before a raucous sellout crowd, completing an undefeated year at home with a 14-0-4 across the regular season and playoffs as Kempes Tekiela continued to shine in the postseason, recording two goals and two assist and providing a goal contribution in all three games.

Spokane Velocity FC: The visitors fell in the Final for a second consecutive season as its early concession – reminiscent of the early goal it conceded in the 2024 Final against Union Omaha – and a steadfast defensive display by the hosts limited Velocity to only one shot on target over the 90 minutes and just two efforts overall in the second half.

Key moment

Nico Rosamilia’s early goal off a brilliant dribble and assist from Stávros Zarokóstas gave Knoxville an early lead, setting the side on the way to victory and the regular season and postseason double.

Key stat

One Knoxville SC center back duo Sivert Haugli (11) and Jordan Skelton (9) combined to record 20 clearances as Spokane recorded 33 crosses across the 90 minutes but came away with only one shot on target.

2025 USL League One Final MVP

Nico Rosamilia, One Knoxville SC – The 23-year-old scored the opening goal of the game and had a strong all-around performance, winning 5 of 7 ground duels and making three recoveries and one interception while recording two shots and one chance created.

Scoring Summary
KNX – Nico Rosamilia (Stávros Zarokóstas) 4’
KNX – Kempes Tekiela (penalty kick) 54’