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TAMPA, Fla. – The USL Championship today announced its competition structure for the 2022 season. The league’s 27 teams will be divided into two conferences – 14 in the Eastern Conference and 13 in the Western Conference (see lists below). 

A 34-game regular season will be played from March 11 to Oct. 15, 2022. The home openers and full schedule for the 2022 USL Championship season will be announced in January 2022.

Every team will play each of its conference foes twice – once at home, once away. For Eastern Conference clubs, the remaining eight games will be against interconference opponents – four at home, four away. For Western Conference clubs, the remaining 10 games will be against a combination of interconference and intraconference opponents – five at home, five away.   

At the conclusion of the regular season, the top seven teams in each conference will qualify for the 2022 USL Championship Playoffs. The first overall seed in each conference will receive a bye to the Conference Semifinals of the playoffs. The bracket will be reseeded following the Conference Quarterfinals to ensure the first overall seed in each conference plays against the lowest-seeded remaining opponent. The USL Championship Playoffs will remain a single-elimination format, culminating in the 2022 USL Championship Final on a to be determined date between Nov. 10 and Nov. 14, 2022.

“We are pleased and eager to see the Championship in a traditional two-conference alignment in 2022,” said USL President Jake Edwards. “This regular season format increases the importance of each intra-conference match while also providing the variety and intrigue of more cross-conference matchups. The schedule footprint allows our teams time to compete in the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup and finish the playoffs prior to call-ups for the 2022 FIFA World Cup.”  
USL Championship debutants Detroit City FC and Monterey Bay F.C. will join the Eastern and Western Conference, respectively. Detroit City will be the league’s northernmost club, with its nearest conference opponents being Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC (291 mi.), Indy Eleven (322 mi.), and Louisville City FC (363 mi.). Monterey Bay counts five California neighbors among its conference opponents, including Oakland Roots SC (116 mi.) and Sacramento Republic FC (186 mi). 

2022 USL CHAMPIONSHIP
EASTERN CONFERENCE 
Atlanta United 2
Birmingham Legion
Charleston Battery
Detroit City FC
Hartford Athletic
Indy Eleven
Loudoun United FC
Louisville City FC
Memphis 901 FC
The Miami FC
New York Red Bulls II
Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC
Tampa Bay Rowdies 
FC Tulsa

WESTERN CONFERENCE
Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC
El Paso Locomotive FC
LA Galaxy II
Las Vegas Lights FC
Monterey Bay F.C.
New Mexico United
Oakland Roots SC
Orange County SC
Phoenix Rising FC
Rio Grande Valley FC
Sacramento Republic FC
San Antonio FC
San Diego Loyal SC
 

Detroit, MI – Detroit City FC’s women’s team will join the USL–W League for the 2022 season. The move will bring more competitive matchups, attract more talent to Detroit, and lay the groundwork for creating a women’s professional team in Detroit. 

“Since 2012, our vision for Detroit City FC has been to become Detroit’s soccer club for all time, and accomplishing that would be impossible without a women’s team. A successful and equitable women’s side is what our supporters demand, and it’s what our players in rouge and gold deserve. We see joining the USL–W League as a natural next step in becoming the most inclusive, community-focused, and supporter-driven club in the USA that we strive to be,” said Detroit City FC CEO Sean Mann. 

The Detroit City FC men’s side kicked off in 2012. In 2019, Detroit City FC announced its plans to field a women’s team in Summer 2020. The COVID pandemic shortened the season to three matches. In Summer 2021, the team played their first full season in UWS, finishing in 3rd place in the Midwest North division. The women’s reserve team, introduced in 2021, finished 1st in UWS2’s Great Lakes division.

Salvatore (Sam) Piraine coaches the team. Piraine brings nearly 20 years of experience to the job, coaching both high school and semi-pro soccer since 2002. He currently serves as Technical Director for Detroit City FC Youth West.

In its two years of existence, Detroit City’s women’s side already boasts notable alumnae. Inaugural season midfielder Sydney Blomquist played for Associação Ferroviária de Esportes in Araraquara, Brazil during their 2021 season. Women’s second-team assistant coach and midfielder, Mami Yamaguchi, played for the Japanese National Team and the UEFA Champions Cup final in 2008.

About Detroit City FC
Detroit City FC has established itself as one of the most talked-about soccer teams in North America. Our club motto, Passion for Our City, Passion for the Game, evokes the three club values: to satisfy the demand for soccer in downtown Detroit, represent the city in a positive light, and build community through “the beautiful game.”

About USL–W
The USL W League is a pre-professional women’s soccer league set to kick off in May 2022. The USL W League strives to use women’s soccer as a force for societal good by creating a national platform to increase opportunity, gender equity, and career development. The League and its member clubs are committed to investing in women’s soccer – through not only financial resources but also with time, energy, and attention – and are united in our mission to grow the women’s game.

Romeo, MI (November 20, 2021) – Detroit City FC traveled to Romeo, MI to take on Michigan Stars FC in the last match of the NISA Season. Heading into the match Detroit City FC was first in the table with 42 points while the Stars were in 5th on 21 points.

City got the scoring started in this match just seven minutes in. #23 Darwin Espinal and #10 Cyrus Saydee combined nicely in the midfield to put #11 Connor Rutz through on goal and Rutz confidently finished his chance to make the score 1-0.

However, fifteen minutes later, the Stars would equalize when a free-kick went ricocheting around the box and a white Stars jersey got to the loose ball first and sent it into the back of the net.

There were chances at either end following the Star’s equalizer, but Espinal created a great opportunity after winning the ball in midfield and played through an onrushing #19 Pato Botello Faz who cooly finished his shot to put City ahead yet again before halftime. The score would remain 2-1 heading into the locker rooms.

The second half carried much of the same offensive momentum from Detroit. In the 63rd minute, a shot was saved but sent back into play, and substitute #20 Yazeed Matthews was able to send a rocket of a shot into the upper reaches of the goal.

The Stars would prove to have some fight in them by getting a goal back in the 77th minute, but in the end, it wouldn’t be enough to change the result. Detroit City FC won their last match of the NISA season 3-2.

With the NISA Season all wrapped up, Detroit City FC ends the season with a 14-3-1 record. The record was good for 45 points and first place in the league standings.

Click HERE for NISA Fall 2021 Season standings.

Click HERE for NISA Fall 2021 Season player stats.

Match: Detroit City FC vs. Michigan Stars FC

Date: November 20, 2021

Competition: NISA

Venue: Romeo High School – Romeo, MI

Kickoff: 3:35 pm ET

Weather: 37 degrees, cloudy with light rain/snow

Lineup: 1-Nate Steinwascher, 3-Javan Torre, 5-Stephen Carroll (Capt.), 10-Cyrus Saydee, 11-Connor Rutz, 12-Tendai Jirira, 19-Pato Botello-Faz, 21-Maxi Rodriguez, 22-Kevin Venegas, 23-Darwin Espinal, 99-George Chomakov

Subs: 13-Armando Quezada, 2-Jimmy Filerman, 7-Roddy Green, 14-Javi Steinwascher, 20-Yazeed Matthews

Hamtramck, MI (November 6, 2021) – Detroit City FC played their final home match of 2021 at Keyworth Stadium this weekend as they hosted Chattanooga FC. City won the first matchup of the season between these two sides by a scoreline of 2-1 back on September 4.

Both sides would get chances early on in this one. Despite City’s possession, the first dangerous attacking play came for Chattanooga on the break. First, #24 Sean Hoffstatter saw his header bounce off the crossbar and back in front of the goal. Another shot from Chattanooga was cleared off the line by #15 Matt Lewis, and after that City’s defense was able to clear the ball away.

In the 20th minute, City would find their breakthrough goal. After earning a corner kick, #10 Cyrus Saydee sent in a lofting ball to the back post where captain #5 Stephen Carroll rose high above his marker to head the ball down and into the back of the net. [VIDEO HERE]

City would eventually take the 1-0 lead into halftime. 

The second half was busy on both ends of the pitch for Le Rouge. Chattanooga’s direct style of play sent the ball in and around Detroit’s box frequently. Carroll was consistently in the correct position defensively as were his other defenders #3 Javan Torre and Lewis.

Offensively, plenty of players for Detroit contributed to their dangerous attacks. Late on in stoppage time, City would score another to help secure their victory. #21 Maxi Rodriguez took a nice shot from an angle that would ricochet off the far post. #20 Yazeed Matthews was alert to the rebound and was able to send the ball in the back of the net.

Detroit City FC, now 13-2-1 on the season, will head to California to face off against LA Force on November 6 with kickoff set for 10:00 pm ET.

Click HERE for NISA Fall 2021 Season standings.

Click HERE for NISA Fall 2021 Season player stats.

Match: Detroit City FC vs. Chattanooga FC

Date: November 6, 2021

Competition: NISA

Venue: Keyworth Stadium – Hamtramck, MI

Attendance: 4,721

Kickoff: 4:05 pm ET

Weather: 52 degrees, clear

Lineup: 1-Nate Steinwascher, 3-Javan Torre (Jirira, 71’), 5-Stephen Carroll (Capt.), 10-Cyrus Saydee (Brayn, 71’), 11-Connor Rutz, 15-Matt Lewis, 17-James Vaughan, 19-Pato Botello-Faz (Matthews, 81’), 21-Maxi Rodriguez, 23-Darwin Espinal (Filerman, 81’), 99-George Chomakov

Subs: 13-Armando Quezada, 2-Jimmy Filerman, 7-Roddy Green, 12-Tendai Jirira, 14-Javi Steinwascher, 20-Yazeed Matthews, 25-Rich Bryan

Hamtramck, MI (October 30, 2021) – Detroit City FC returned to Keyworth Stadium this weekend with another title on the line. A win against California United Strikers FC and three points would clinch City’s top spot in the NISA League fall season table and Le Rouge’s fourth consecutive trophy in the league.

City’s mentality was aggressive from the initial whistle with plenty of high pressure and forward passing. 

From the off, #2 Jimmy Filerman was causing plenty of trouble down the left side beating defenders on the dribble repeatedly.

From the backline, #3 Javan Torre was able to set the tone in progressing the ball forward. In the 34th minute, a run forward by Torre would lead to a goal by Le Rouge. After making his way into the box a clumsy Cal United defender took Torre down Torre for a Detroit penalty.

City’s leading goal scorer, #21 Maxi Rodriguez, stepped up to the spot and delivered to give Detroit the lead.

The second half opened the match up a bit with multiple chances at either end. The number of chances leaned in favor of Detroit, but Cal United had chances as well. Twice in the second half, goalkeeper #1 Nate Steinwascher provided two key saves to keep Detroit in front.

In the 63rd minute, a surprise chance caught Detroit’s organized structure off guard and Steinwascher had to make a full stretched diving stop to push the ball wide of goal. And then, approaching full-time, Cal United was awarded a free kick on top of Detroit’s box. The effort was struck well and on frame, but again Steinwascher came up with the stop to keep City in the lead.

And those two saves would prove vital, as the match ended with a 1-0 scoreline, and Detroit City as your NISA League Champions. 

Detroit City FC, now 12-2-1 on the season, will return to Keyworth on Saturday, November 6, for a matchup against Chattanooga FC with kickoff set for 4:00 pm ET.

Click HERE for NISA Fall 2021 Season standings.

Click HERE for NISA Fall 2021 Season player stats.

Match: Detroit City FC vs. California United Strikers FC

Date: October 30, 2021

Competition: NISA

Venue: Keyworth Stadium – Hamtramck, MI

Attendance: 3,833

Kickoff: 4:05 pm ET

Weather: 50 degrees, cloudy

Lineup: 1-Nate Steinwascher, 2-Jimmy Filerman (J. Steinwascher, 86’), 3-Javan Torre, 5-Stephen Carroll (Capt.), 10-Cyrus Saydee (Espinal, 66’), 11-Connor Rutz, 15-Matt Lewis, 19-Pato Botello-Faz (Matthews, 85’), 21-Maxi Rodriguez, 22-Kevin Venegas, 99-George Chomakov (Vaughan, 66’)

Subs: 13-Armando Quezada, 7-Roddy Green, 12-Tendai Jirira, 14-Javi Steinwascher, 17-James Vaughan, 20-Yazeed Matthews, 23-Darwin Espinal

Matthews, NC (October 23, 2021) – Detroit City FC traveled to North Carolina to take on Stumptown AC for the two team’s second matchup of the NISA fall season on Saturday night. The two side’s previous matchup led to Detroit City’s first and only loss of 2021 to date.

To start the match, City were able to establish control of the ball and keep Stumptown pinned back with their high pressing. As the minutes ticked on and the match settled, Le Rouge was able to begin to create quality chances.

#2 Jimmy Filerman was dangerous down the left side putting in close shots and threatening crosses. #11 Connor Rutz found good positions in and around the box to attack from but would be denied by the post in the 36th minute. And then approaching halftime, defender #3 Javan Torre unleashed a rocket of a shot from distance that was pushed over the bar at the last possible moment by the Stumptown keeper.

And Stumptown wouldn’t be without their chances either as #1 Nate Steinwascher was called upon to make a few strong-handed saves throughout the first 45 minutes.

After all that, the score was still 0-0 and the two sides headed back into their locker rooms for halftime.

For the second half, City put on their finishing boots. Le Rouge’s high press led to turnovers in Stumptown’s half and plenty of pressure on the opposition’s goal. After a corner kick in the 53rd minute, the ball was recycled out wide to #22 Kevin Venegas who sent in one of his patented pin-point crosses into the box. Waiting for the ball was #19 Pato Botello Faz who got his head on it to beat the keeper and give City the lead. [VIDEO HERE]

But the offense would keep clicking from there. After another corner kick in the 58th minute, #15 Matt Lewis was the first to reach a loose ball in the box and booted it into the back of the net. [VIDEO HERE]

With City up by two, they kept their foot on the gas pedal. In the 88th minute, after a long ball over the top from City’s defense was headed into the box, #21 Maxi Rodriguez was able to finish with a side footed flick over Stumptown’s keeper for City’s third goal of the match. [VIDEO HERE]

And not long after that, the referee would blow his whistle to end the match.

Detroit City FC, now 11-2-1 on the season, will return to Keyworth on Saturday, October 16, for a matchup against Cal United Strikers FC with kickoff set for 4:00 pm ET.

Click HERE for NISA Fall 2021 Season standings.

Click HERE for NISA Fall 2021 Season player stats.

Match: Detroit City FC vs. Stumptown AC

Date: October 23, 2021

Competition: NISA

Venue: Matthews Sports Complex – Matthews, NC

Kickoff: 7:05 pm ET

Weather: 71 degrees, sunny

Lineup: 1-Nate Steinwascher, 2-Jimmy Filerman, 3-Javan Torre, 5-Stephen Carroll (Capt.), 10-Cyrus Saydee, 11-Connor Rutz, 15-Matt Lewis, 19-Pato Botello-Faz, 21-Maxi Rodriguez, 22-Kevin Venegas, 99-George Chomakov

Subs: 13-Armando Quezada, 7-Roddy Green, 14-Javi Steinwascher, 17-James Vaughan, 20-Yazeed Matthews, 23-Darwin Espinal, 33-Javi Bautista