2023 Lexington SC season
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Lexington SC 2023 season
Lexington SC 2023 football season
| 2023 season | |
|---|---|
| 2023 Toyota Stadium - LSC v. One Knox | |
| President | Bill and Donna Shively
Stephen Dawahare Carter Carnegie |
| Manager | Sam Stockley and Nacho Novo (interim) |
| Stadium | Toyota Stadium Georgetown, Kentucky |
| USL Championship | 9th |
| USL1 playoffs | Did not qualify |
| U.S. Open Cup | Round 2 |
| Top goalscorer | Ates Diouf (15) |
| Highest home attendance | 3,029 (04/08 vs. Forward Madison FC) |
| Lowest home attendance | 1,911 (9/17 vs. Charlotte Independence) |
| Average home league attendance | 2232 |
| Biggest win | LSC 3–0 OMA (7/22) |
| Biggest defeat | TOR 5–1 LSC (7/02) |
2024 → | |
The 2023 Lexington SC season was the club's first season since their establishment on October 5, 2021.[1] The club made its league debut in the USL League One as well as its domestic cup debut in the U.S. Open Cup.
Background
[edit ]On October 5, 2021, the United Soccer League announced that Tower Hill Sports had been granted a USL League One expansion team in Lexington to start play in the 2023 season.[1] Tentatively named "Lexington Pro Soccer," the team revealed its official colors, crest, and branding as Lexington Sporting Club on March 22, 2022.[2] The club named Sporting Director Sam Stockley as the club's first ever head coach on October 13, 2022.[3] Following this announcement, the team announced that Warren Goodhind would be joining the coaching staff as the First Assistant Coach on October 18, 2022. On November 15, the team announced that Rangers F.C. legend Nacho Novo would be joining the coaching staff as an assistant coach and head coach of the U-23 squad.[4] Connor Talbot was appointed the Head of Goalkeeping and the goalkeeping coach for the squad in September 2022.[5]
Coaching Change
[edit ]In the afternoon of September 17, before their matchup against the Charlotte Independence, the club announced that head coach Sam Stockley would be stepping down from his role to focus on being the club's sporting director full-time. Nacho Novo was promoted to interim manager for the remaining 5 matches. The club's president Vince Gabbert, was quoted as saying the following about the move -
"With our youth academy continuing to grow and permanent facilities coming to fruition, the Sporting Director role will require Sam’s full attention for the long-term success of this club," Gabbert said. "Our original plan was for Sam’s dual role as Head Coach and Sporting Director to be short-term. Sam has been an integral part of the formation of Lexington SC and one of its centerpieces since the beginning. We can’t thank him enough for putting this club on the path to success."[6]
Season squad
[edit ]| Squad No. | Name | Nationality | Date of birth (age) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Goalkeepers | |||
| 1 | Austin Causey | United States | Aug 20, 2001 (21) |
| 13 | Amal Knight | Jamaica | Nov 19, 1993 (29) |
| 44 | Luke Phillips^ | United States | Oct 25, 2006 (16) |
| Defenders | |||
| 2 | Tate Robertson | United States | May 31, 1997 (26) |
| 3 | Owen Green | England | Sep 9, 1998 (24) |
| 4 | Kimball Jackson | United States | Aug 2, 2004 (18) |
| 5 | Kaelon Fox | United States | May 31, 1995 (28) |
| 17 | Erick Ceja-Gonzalez | United States | Sep 1, 2001 (21) |
| 20 | Diallo Irakoze | Tanzania | Feb 10, 2001 (22) |
| 26 | Cesar Murillo | United States | Feb 16, 1996 (27) |
| 33 | Franky Martinez | United States | Aug 9, 1995 (27) |
| 57 | Terique Mohammed | Canada | Jan 27, 2000 (23) |
| Midfielders | |||
| 8 | Charlie Machell (C) | England | Oct 25, 1994 (28) |
| 10 | Don Smart | Jamaica | Dec 2, 1987 (35) |
| 11 | Seo-In Kim "SoSo" | South Korea | Apr 18, 1995 (28) |
| 22 | Phila Dlamini | South Africa | Feb 26, 1999 (24) |
| 25 | Pierre Mané | Senegal | Jun 16, 1998 (25) |
| 32 | Ates Diouf | Senegal | Mar 24, 2000 (23) |
| Forwards | |||
| 7 | Jalen James | United States | May 10, 2000 (23) |
| 9 | Will Baynham | Australia | Jun 13, 1997 (26) |
| 14 | Khalid Balogun | United States | Jul 25, 1998 (24) |
| 18 | Drew Patterson | United States | Apr 20, 2001 (22) |
| 77 | Nico Brown | Jamaica | Aug 11, 1998 (24) |
| 80 | Josh Head | United States | Jan 6, 2004 (19) |
^ - Lexington SC Academy Contract
Last updated: December 15, 2023.
Source: Lexington SC, League One stats
Transfers
[edit ]In
[edit ]Competitions
[edit ]Preseason
[edit ]Lexington SC played five preseason exhibition matches in preparation of their first season.[31]
Cumberlands Patriots v Lexington SC
EST
Report
Stadium: UC Lacrosse/Soccer Complex
- Ceja-Gonzalez 3rd session' (Mohammed)
- Brown 3rd session' (Balogun)
Note: Match was played as 3 30-minute sessions
USL League One
[edit ]Further information: 2023 USL League One season
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | L | T | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Union Omaha (S) | 32 | 19 | 5 | 8 | 61 | 41 | +20 | 65 | Qualification for the semi-finals |
| 2 | North Carolina FC (C) | 32 | 19 | 7 | 6 | 58 | 39 | +19 | 63 | |
| 3 | Northern Colorado Hailstorm FC | 32 | 18 | 6 | 8 | 59 | 37 | +22 | 62 | Qualification for the play-offs |
| 4 | Charlotte Independence | 32 | 13 | 9 | 10 | 50 | 42 | +8 | 49 | |
| 5 | Greenville Triumph SC | 32 | 13 | 10 | 9 | 45 | 40 | +5 | 48 | |
| 6 | Forward Madison FC | 32 | 11 | 11 | 10 | 38 | 40 | −2 | 43 | |
| 7 | Tormenta FC | 32 | 12 | 14 | 6 | 55 | 56 | −1 | 42 | |
| 8 | One Knoxville SC | 32 | 9 | 12 | 11 | 36 | 39 | −3 | 38 | |
| 9 | Lexington SC | 32 | 7 | 14 | 11 | 46 | 57 | −11 | 32 | |
| 10 | Chattanooga Red Wolves SC | 32 | 8 | 17 | 7 | 46 | 65 | −19 | 31 | |
| 11 | Richmond Kickers | 32 | 6 | 15 | 11 | 42 | 55 | −13 | 29 | |
| 12 | Central Valley Fuego FC | 32 | 6 | 21 | 5 | 36 | 61 | −25 | 23 |
Source: USL League One
Rules for classification: 1) points; 2) total wins; 3) total goal differential; 4) total goals scored; 5) points earned against top four Conference finishers; 6) disciplinary points; 7) drawing of lots.
(C) Champions; (S) Players' Shield winner
Rules for classification: 1) points; 2) total wins; 3) total goal differential; 4) total goals scored; 5) points earned against top four Conference finishers; 6) disciplinary points; 7) drawing of lots.
(C) Champions; (S) Players' Shield winner
| Overall | Home | Away | |||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD |
| 32 | 7 | 11 | 14 | 46 | 57 | −11 | 32 | 6 | 6 | 4 | 24 | 24 | 0 | 1 | 5 | 10 | 22 | 33 | −11 |
Source: Match reports
Results by round
[edit ]Updated to match(es) played on December 6, 2023. Source: Match reports
A = Away; H = Home; W = Win; D = Draw; L = Loss
A = Away; H = Home; W = Win; D = Draw; L = Loss
Matches
[edit ]One Knoxville SC v Lexington SC
7:00 PM EST
Report
Stadium: Regal Stadium
Attendance: 2,512
Referee: Sergii Demianchuk
- Villalobos 17' (pen.) Yellow card 90+5'
- van der Pluijm Yellow card 23'
- Keegan 40'
- Lewis Yellow card 45+1'
- Kelly-Rosales Yellow card 67'
- Ross Yellow card 86'
Attendance: 2,512
Referee: Sergii Demianchuk
Note: Kickoff was delayed 30 minutes due to an issue with the stadium flood lights
North Carolina FC v Lexington SC
7:00 PM EST
Report
Stadium: Cardinale Stadium
Attendance: 1,423
Referee: Shawn Tehini
- Mentzingen Yellow card 40' 73' (Anderson)
- Navarro Yellow card 47'
- Lue Young Yellow card 53'
- Holliday Yellow card 89'
Attendance: 1,423
Referee: Shawn Tehini
Lexington SC v Tormenta FC
Richmond Kickers v Lexington SC
Lexington SC v Northern Colorado Hailstorm FC
Tormenta FC v Lexington SC
Note: Edgar Garcia
Lexington SC v Chattanooga Red Wolves SC
North Carolina FC v Lexington SC
3:00 PM EST
Report
Stadium: WakeMed Soccer Park
Attendance: 1,682
Referee: Cristian Campo
- Pérez 50' (McLaughlin)
- McLaughlin 54' (Mentzingen)
- Navarro Yellow card 62'
Attendance: 1,682
Referee: Cristian Campo
Central Valley Fuego FC v Lexington SC
7:00 PM EST
Report
Stadium: Fresno State Soccer Stadium
Attendance: 370
Referee: Dion Coxe-Trieger
- Carrera-García Red card 35'
- Smith (Manager) Yellow card 41'
- Hanson Yellow card 45+5'
- Ekk 48' (Cerritos)
- Chavez 57' (Vera) Yellow card 88'
- North Yellow card 84'
Attendance: 370
Referee: Dion Coxe-Trieger
Lexington SC v Union Omaha
Lexington SC v Richmond Kickers
Union Omaha v Lexington SC
8:00 PM EST
Report
Stadium: Werner Park
Attendance: 3,524
Referee: Gloria Martinez
- Dos Santos 24' (Doyle)
- Brito Yellow card 38'
- Scearce 52' (Milanese) Yellow card 73'
- Ceja-Gonzalez Yellow card 9'
- Diouf Yellow card 36'
- Smart Yellow card 45'
- Robertson Yellow card 90+4'
Attendance: 3,524
Referee: Gloria Martinez
Northern Colorado Hailstorm FC v Lexington SC
One Knoxville SC v Lexington SC
7:30 PM EST
Report
Stadium: Regal Stadium
Attendance: 2,522
Referee: Cristian Campo
- Calixtro Red card 39'
- Kelly-Rosales 49' (Crisler)
- Castro Yellow card 60'
- Dlamini Yellow card 35'
- Ceja-Gonzalez Yellow card 57'
- Green Yellow card 59'
- SoSo Yellow card 86'
Attendance: 2,522
Referee: Cristian Campo
Northern Colorado Hailstorm FC v Lexington SC
Central Valley Fuego FC v Lexington SC
Note: Sam Stockley's last match before stepping down to be full time Sporting Director
Lexington SC v Charlotte Independence
Note: First match with Nacho Novo as interim head coach
Lexington SC v North Carolina FC
7:00 PM EST
Report
Stadium: Toyota Stadium (Kentucky)
Attendance: 2,182
Referee: Richonne Clark
- Anderson 29' (McLaughlin)
- Blanco Yellow card 31'
- Maldonado Yellow card 61'
- Semmersall Yellow card 69'
- Perez Yellow card 78'
- Benton Red card 90+2'
Attendance: 2,182
Referee: Richonne Clark
U.S. Open Cup
[edit ]Main article: 2023 U.S. Open Cup
As a member of the USL League One, Lexington SC entered their first-ever Open Cup tournament in the 2nd round, with their Cup opener played on April 5, 2023. They opened the competition against USL Championship powerhouse Louisville City FC. The match was the first competitive match against a fellow professional club from the state of Kentucky for both teams.[33] Fans of both sides named the in-state matchup "El Bluegrassico" inspired by soccer derbies from around the world.
Kentucky Louisville City FC v Lexington SC Kentucky
7:00 PM
Report
Stadium: Lynn Family Stadium
Attendance: 4,205
Referee: Nabil Bensalah
- Totsch 69' (DelPiccolo)
- DelPiccolo Yellow card 71'
Attendance: 4,205
Referee: Nabil Bensalah
Player statistics
[edit ]Goals
[edit ]| Place[34] | Pos. | No. | Name | USL1 | USOC | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | MF | 32 | Senegal Ates Diouf | 15 | 0 | 15 |
| 2 | FW | 77 | Jamaica Nico Brown | 8 | 0 | 8 |
| 3 | MF | 10 | Jamaica Don Smart | 6 | 0 | 6 |
| 4 | DF | 2 | United States Tate Robertson | 4 | 0 | 4 |
| 4 | FW | 14 | United States Khalid Balogun | 4 | 0 | 4 |
| 6 | DF | 3 | England Owen Green | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| 6 | MF | 22 | South Africa Phila Dlamini | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| 6 | MF | 25 | Senegal Pierre Mané | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| 6 | FW | 9 | Australia Will Baynham | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| 6 | MF | 11 | United States Seo-In Kim "SoSo" | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| 6 | DF | 4 | United States Kimball Jackson | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| Total | 43 | 0 | 43 | |||
Assists
[edit ]| Place[34] | Pos. | No. | Name | USL1 | USOC | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | DF | 2 | United States Tate Robertson | 8 | 0 | 8 |
| 2 | MF | 8 | England Charlie Machell | 3 | 0 | 3 |
| 3 | DF | 57 | Canada Terique Mohammed | 3 | 0 | 3 |
| 3 | FW | 14 | United States Khalid Balogun | 2 | 0 | 2 |
| 3 | MF | 22 | South Africa Phila Dlamini | 2 | 0 | 2 |
| 5 | DF | 3 | England Owen Green | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| 5 | MF | 32 | Senegal Ates Diouf | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| 5 | FW | 77 | Jamaica Nico Brown | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| 5 | DF | 26 | United States Cesar Murillo | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| 5 | FW | 7 | United States Jalen James | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| Total | 23 | 0 | 23 | |||
Clean sheets
[edit ]| Place[34] | Pos. | No. | Name | USL1 | USOC | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | GK | 13 | Jamaica Amal Knight | 4 | 0 | 4 |
| 2 | GK | 1 | United States Austin Causey | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| Total | 5 | 0 | 5 | |||
Disciplinary
[edit ]| No.[34] | Pos. | Name | USL | U.S. Open Cup | Total | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Yellow card | Red card | Yellow card | Red card | Yellow card | Red card | |||
| 5 | DF | United States Kaelon Fox | 6 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 1 |
| 32 | MF | Senegal Ates Diouf | 9 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 9 | 0 |
| 8 | MF | England Charlie Machell | 8 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 8 | 0 |
| 13 | GK | Jamaica Amal Knight | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 |
| 2 | DF | United States Tate Robertson | 6 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 7 | 0 |
| 9 | ST | Australia Will Baynham | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| 3 | FW | England Owen Green | 10 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 10 | 0 |
| 25 | MF | Senegal Pierre Mané | 4 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 1 |
| 4 | DF | United States Kimball Jackson | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 14 | FW | United States Khalid Balogun | 11 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 11 | 0 |
| 20 | DF | Tanzania Diallo Irakoze | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 22 | MF | South Africa Phila Dlamini | 6 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 7 | 0 |
| 77 | FW | Jamaica Nico Brown | 8 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 8 | 0 |
| 11 | MF | South Korea Seo-In Kim "SoSo" | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 |
| 18 | FW | United States Drew Patterson | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 7 | FW | United States Jalen James | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
| 17 | DF | United States Erick Ceja-Gonzalez | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 0 |
| 1 | GK | United States Austin Causey | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 10 | MF | Jamaica Don Smart | 4 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 1 |
| 57 | DF | Canada Terique Mohammed | 8 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 9 | 1 |
| 26 | DF | United States Cesar Murillo | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| 33 | DF | United States Franky Martinez | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| 44 | GK | United States Luke Phillips | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 80 | FW | United States Josh Head | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Total | 95 | 5 | 4 | 0 | 100 | 5 | ||
References
[edit ]- ^ a b USLLeagueOne com Staff (October 5, 2021). "United Soccer League Welcomes Lexington Pro Soccer as League One Expansion Club". USL League One. Retrieved December 8, 2023.
- ^ USLLeagueOne com Staff (March 22, 2022). "Lexington Sporting Club Reveal Brand Identity". USL League One. Retrieved December 8, 2023.
- ^ "Sam Stockley selected as first ever head coach for Lexington Sporting Club senior team". Lexington Sporting Club. Retrieved December 9, 2023.
- ^ "Rangers legend Nacho Novo named Lexington Sporting Club Assistant Coach". Lexington Sporting Club. Retrieved December 9, 2023.
- ^ "Lexington Sporting Club selects Connor Talbot as Head of Goalkeeping". Lexington Sporting Club. Retrieved December 9, 2023.
- ^ "Stockley Turns Full Focus to Sporting Director Role as Lexington SC names Nacho Novo Interim Head Coach". Lexington Sporting Club. Retrieved December 12, 2023.
- ^ "Lexington Sporting Club signs first pro, inks former Wildcat Kaelon Fox". Lexington Sporting Club. Retrieved December 9, 2023.
- ^ "Ates Diouf brings USL Championship experience to Lexington Sporting Club". Lexington Sporting Club. Retrieved December 9, 2023.
- ^ "Lexington adds veteran midfielder Charlie Machell to USL League One squad". Lexington Sporting Club. Retrieved December 9, 2023.
- ^ "Jamaican keeper Amal Knight signs with Lexington Sporting Club". Lexington Sporting Club. Retrieved December 9, 2023.
- ^ "Ohio native Tate Robertson lands on Lexington's inaugural season roster". Lexington Sporting Club. Retrieved December 9, 2023.
- ^ "Lexington Sporting Club adds striker Will Baynham to 2023 squad". Lexington Sporting Club. Retrieved December 9, 2023.
- ^ "USL League One champion Owen Green joins Lexington SC". Lexington Sporting Club. Retrieved December 9, 2023.
- ^ "Lexington Sporting Club adds Pierre Mané to USL League One roster". Lexington Sporting Club. Retrieved December 9, 2023.
- ^ "Lexington's own Kimball Jackson signs on to LSC's USL League One roster". Lexington Sporting Club. Retrieved December 9, 2023.
- ^ "Lexington SC signs Khalid Balogun to USL League One squad for 2023". Lexington Sporting Club. Retrieved December 9, 2023.
- ^ "Homegrown talent Diallo Irakoze signs with Lexington Sporting Club". Lexington Sporting Club. Retrieved December 9, 2023.
- ^ "New York native Franky Martinez signs with Lexington SC". Lexington Sporting Club. Retrieved December 13, 2023.
- ^ "South Africa's Phila Dlamini signs with Lexington Sporting Club". Lexington Sporting Club. Retrieved December 9, 2023.
- ^ "Lexington Sporting Club inks Nico Brown to USL League One contract". Lexington Sporting Club. Retrieved December 9, 2023.
- ^ "Midfielder Seo-in "Soso" Kim signs with Lexington Sporting Club". Lexington Sporting Club. Retrieved December 9, 2023.
- ^ "Lexington Sporting Club adds forward Drew Patterson to USL League One squad". Lexington Sporting Club. Retrieved December 9, 2023.
- ^ "Former youth national team member Jalen James joins Lexington SC". Lexington Sporting Club. Retrieved December 9, 2023.
- ^ "Erick Ceja Gonzalez joins Lexington SC for inaugural USL League One season". Lexington Sporting Club. Retrieved December 9, 2023.
- ^ "Goalkeeper Austin Causey joins Lexington SC's inaugural season roster". Lexington Sporting Club. Retrieved December 9, 2023.
- ^ "Veteran Don Smart signs with Lexington Sporting Club". Lexington Sporting Club. Retrieved December 9, 2023.
- ^ "Terique Mohammed lands with Lexington SC for inaugural season". Lexington Sporting Club. Retrieved December 9, 2023.
- ^ "Lexington Sporting Club adds Cesar Murillo Jr. to USL League One roster". Lexington Sporting Club. Retrieved December 9, 2023.
- ^ "Luke Phillips becomes Lexington SC's first ever USL Academy signing". Lexington Sporting Club. Retrieved December 9, 2023.
- ^ "Lexington SC adds former FC Cincinnati Academy forward Joshua Head to USL League One squad". Lexington Sporting Club. Retrieved December 9, 2023.
- ^ "Preseason Central". USLLeagueOne.com. USL League One . Retrieved December 11, 2023.
- ^ "2023 USL LEAGUE ONE SCHEDULE". Lexington Sporting Club. Retrieved December 11, 2023.
- ^ "Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup parings set; Lexington SC draws LouCity". Lexington Sporting Club. Retrieved December 12, 2023.
- ^ a b c d "2023 Stats". Lexington Sporting Club. Retrieved December 12, 2023.