The USL Tactics All-Conference Teams

Celebrating the best in the East and the West

We’re less than 10 calendar days away from the end of the 2023 USL Championship regular season, so it’s time to reflect on the players that left the biggest mark this year.

To do so, I’ve chosen a Team of the Year for each conference, with 14 different clubs represented in my top lineups. A further six clubs get a nod in the honorable mentions. It’s a testament to the parity and across-the-board quality that so many teams are represented.

Culling the long lists down is no easy feat. The USL is full of talented players and difference-makers from top to bottom, and the margins between high performers are miniscule. In creating my all-conference teams, I tried to focus on a player’s impact and their importance to their club’s system, and I think the result is a good reflection of the people who defined 2023.

Forwards

Albert Dikwa (FW, Pittsburgh)

At the time of writing, Dikwa leads the Golden Boot race with 19 goals this year, about 40% of the Riverhounds’ club total. The 25-year-old striker isn’t a sexy finisher with curling shots or strikes from distance. Instead, Dikwa excels at putting himself in the right position to make an impact; he’s elite at the fundamental jobs you need your star No. 9 to fill. Pair the goals with a pesky pressing sensibility and good hold-up ability, and Dikwa’s case is clear.

Cal Jennings (FW, Tampa Bay)

It’s been a quietly tumultuous year in Central Florida, from Leo Fernandes’ year-long injury to Lewis Hilton’s extended absence and from Neill Collins’ departure to the short, tantalizing Ryan Spaulding loan. Amidst it all, Cal Jennings has got the job done when called upon. His 17 goals have come in key moments, and his ability to drive play in transition and make distracting runs vitalizes the Rowdies’ attack. Jennings may be the signing of the season as well as an all-league lock.

Honorable Mention: Phillip Goodrum (FW, Tulsa), Rodrigo Da Costa (FW, Memphis)

Midfielders

Kenardo Forbes (CM, Pittsburgh)

Tied for the USL’s assist lead, Kenardo Forbes is aging like fine wine in the Pittsburgh midfield. As a box-to-box No. 8 in the midst of the Lilley 5-3-2, the 34-year-old is crucial as a spatially aware defensive presence, but it’s the creation that sets the league’s all-time assist leader apart. He’s brilliant as a set-piece distributor, and he’s created the sixth-most shots in the league, but you never feel that Forbes is forcing things. There’s a real patience that makes the midfielder one of the USL’s greats.

Charlie Dennis (CM, Tampa Bay)

As 2023 progressed, Dennis tended to play deeper in the Rowdies’ midfield, but he remained excellent all the while. Most of the season saw Dennis as a proper No. 10, and he weaponized that positioning to the tune of 64 chance creations, second-most in the Championship.

As Tampa Bay sorted out their rotation up top, their star midfielder began to dictate possession from lower-seated spots, shining for his tempo-setting while maintaining the ability to punish opponents from the edge of the box. If Cal Jennings isn’t the signing of the year, Dennis just might be.

Aaron Molloy (CM, Memphis)

I’ve written about Molloy in “best ___ in the USL” pieces more times than I can count, and I’ve talked about his deep-lying passing and set-piece brilliance on every possible occasion. He’s created about 15% more chances than any other USL player this year, after all.

Still, Molloy’s versatility is under-discussed. Remember when he played at center back - watch closely here - against Birmingham? Meanwhile, he leads 901 in tackle attempts, and he’s one interception away from the lead in that category, too. Molloy is the key to Memphis’ success in every possible way.

Jordan Doherty (CM, Tampa Bay)

Doherty is the rare player to be a jack of all trades and a master of all. Need a full back or center back in a pinch, one with excellent awareness and poise against pressure? He’s your guy.

Even so, what Doherty did at the base of the Tampa Bay midfield set him apart this year. Quietly placing second in the squad behind Charlie Dennis for shots created, the Irishman is a plus passer. The Rowdies love to let their defenders roam free, and Doherty always knows when to sit back, rotate deep, and cover any holes in the system. No one in the USL is better at doing the little things.

Honorable Mention: Aodhan Quinn (CM, Indy); Enzo Martinez (AM, Birmingham), Chris Allan (CM, Charleston)

Defenders

Akeem Ward (LB, Memphis)

Having played in every single game for 901, Akeem Ward is the best end-to-end full back in the USL, and he’s a consistent contributor at that. Ward has covered at right back in emergency situations and is good on both feet, but his speed and hard-nosed defending on the left are the real attraction.

During their least effective offensive moments, Memphis has spread their shape out and used Ward as a no-holds-barred wing back, relying on his threat to force opponents out. Given the other stars on the roster, the fact that Ward so often makes or breaks 901’s games is a testament to his excellence.

Arturo Ordonez (CB, Pittsburgh)

Choosing a defender from the stingiest defense in the East isn’t exactly bold, but what Ordonez does on a week-to-week basis deserves praise. The Riverhounds’ rock is a very good header of the ball, having won 77% of his 134 aerial duels this year. He’s also quick on his feet, always willing and decisive to step into the midfield to intervene without every leaving gaping holes in behind. Ordonez ball carriage and passing are strong as well, and they’ve noticeably improved in 2023, but it’s his impenetrability in and around the box that make the Pittsburgh man irreplaceable.

Sean Totsch (CB, Louisville)

LouCity is a worse team in 2023 than they were in 2022, having allowed 12 more goals already amidst a drop from the top seed to the lower half of the playoff field. Sean Totsch, by contrast, has only improved. He’s the team’s second-leading scorer thanks to sniper-like penalty-taking and a mean presence on corner kicks. He continues to excel when he carries the ball into the left half space to overload defenses. Even while playing with six(!) different center back partners, Totsch has remained a nearly mistake-free defender, and he hasn’t missed a single minute this year. He’s Louisville’s heart and soul.

Derek Dodson (RB, Charleston)

In making this list, I knew I needed a representative from the Battery, and I couldn’t escape the fact that Derek Dodson is truly essential to what makes Charleston tick. Ben Pirmann brought the right back over from Memphis because of his truly holistic skill set.

Dodson is a high-volume crosser with the ball control in tight spaces to sneak past opponents and find passing angles. He has the pace to get back at a clip in defensive recoveries, and he can steel a low-block look with his 6’0” frame. In build, Dodson is more than happy to sit low and create options for his teammates. Dodson doesn’t always bring the flair of a Fidel Barajas or Nick Markanich, but his contributions free them to go to work; he’s won 50 more duels than any other full back in the league.

Nate Steinwascher (GK, Detroit)

Le Rouge boast a top-four defense in the Eastern Conference, and the fact that they’ve reached that point amidst injuries in the back line and ample tactical experimentation lies on Nate Steinwascher’s shoulders. The goalkeeper has been worth about 7.2 goals saved above expected this year, and his 87 total saves rank fourth in the entire USL.

Most of Detroit’s goals in 2023 have come from breaks created by and fouls drawn from Steinwascher’s long initiation, which instantly transports the point of attack into the opposing half; he’s attempted a league-leading 765 long passes this year. Steinwascher is the backbone of Detroit, and they’d be out of the playoff race entirely with a lesser player in net.

Honorable Mention: Younes Boudadi (FB, Indy); Mark Segbers (FB, Miami/Charleston); Conner Antley (CB/FB, Tampa Bay); Connor Sparrow (GK, Tampa Bay)

---

Forwards

Romario Williams (FW, Colorado Springs)

I often struggle with a “chicken or the egg” issue with strikers. Is a No. 9 benefitting from the skill of their teammates, or is he doing things that open up the game for the rest of the squad? With 14 goals - 10 more than his next-closest Switchbacks teammate - Romario Williams is enjoying a career renaissance in the Centennial State, and he’s the “chicken” in this equation.

Williams is a strong presence and a willing battler for loose balls, but his gravity as a finisher is what stands out. Opposing defenses must respect what the striker does in the heart of the box, and that’s why players like Juan Tejada and Deshane Beckford on the flanks have enjoyed career years. If the Switchbacks make a playoff run, it’ll happen through William’s play.

Milan Iloski (FW, Orange County)

Nordsjaelland is getting a good one, y’all. Milan Iloski, fresh of a Golden Boot win in 2022, has 13 goals and four assists to date in his follow-up season. His conversion rate is down only 4% year-over-year, and that’s a sign; Iloski has become a more unselfish player who’s willing to put ego aside, forgo shots, and get his teammates involved. Iloski’s left-to-right runs out of possession can wreck a defense, and they’re emblematic of a whole-team effort that has got Orange County back into contention.

Danny Trejo (FW, Phoenix)

With 17 goals and six assists this year, Trejo is tied for the league lead in goal contributions. He’s very good at finishing from odd angles, and his 38% conversion rate is rude to goalies across the USL. Trejo knows how to use his body, weaponizing a low center of gravity and the ability to keep the ball on a string to the tune of 58 players beaten on the dribble this year. In the Phoenix system, he’s a one-man break and a wicked partner for Manuel Arteaga, powering the league’s most explosive offense.

Honorable Mention: Russell Cicerone (FW, Sacramento); Tumi Moshobane (FW, San Diego), Tani Oluwaseyi (FW, San Antonio)

Midfielders

Jorge Hernandez (AM, San Antonio)

One of the 10 leading shot creators in the league, Jorge Hernandez is so impressive because he adds class and finesse in a squad bent on punching you in the mouth. San Antonio plays more long passes than any other team out there, and they go long on upwards of 80% of their goal kicks: classic No. 10s don’t thrive in that sort of havoc.

Hernandez does. He’s a wildly quick decision-maker in open play and serves up a mean set piece. He can carry the ball in transition, drawing opposing defenses out of shape to free up a talented group of strikers. San Antonio quietly leads the USL in goals scored, and Hernandez is the galvanizing force to get there.

Charlie Adams (CM, San Diego)

San Diego may have the most technical midfield out there, and Charlie Adams stands out within it because of his unique skill set and tendencies. He’s first on the Loyal in assists and second in chances created; he knows how to stand and deliver, and he whips in a nice corner.

The unexpected thing? Adams, a central player, has played 25% more crosses than any other No. 8 in the USL. No one can bend a ball from the half space quite like the 29-year-old. Beyond the passing, Adams is a day-one player for this club, and he puts that effort onto the pitch every time out.

Taylor Davila (CM, Rio Grande Valley)

The Toros sport a bottom-five offense this season, and they’ve struggled to find a reliable scorer up top or a coherent system worth committing to. Amidst the muddle, Taylor Davila has emerged as an elite central midfielder. He ranks third in the USL with 61 key passes, and he has six goals while also ranking as Rio Grande Valley’s leading shooter. When the Toros click, it’s because they’ve found a way to get Davila and Jonathan Ricketts flowing in the right half space. Throw in a team-best 45 tackles won, and you get the picture of the former Galaxy II midfielder’s end-to-end excellence.

Honorable Mention: Kyle Scott (CM, Orange County); Luis Felipe (CM, Sacramento); Speedy Williams (CM, Colorado Springs); Denys Kostyshyn (AM, El Paso); Panos Armenakas (AM, Phoenix)

Defenders

Ryan Doghman (LB, Orange County)

Plucked out of Norway’s second-tier “1. divisjon,” Ryan Doghman has become an essential part of Orange County’s rebound year. Doghman has a goal and three assists, and he’s also a top-10 crosser in the USL. At a tactical level, his tendency to hug the sideline and overlap with abandon makes this team’s offense work.

The partnership between Doghman and Milan Iloski on the left is already one of the most fearsome in the division. Pair the skill and chemistry with consistency - the Norwegian has appeared in 29 of 31 possible games to date - and you’ve got a potent mix, one that’s especially impressive given Doghman’s work rate.

Conor Donovan (CB, Sacramento)

He’s first in the USL in blocks, 12th in clearances, and has more minutes played than any other defender in the league’s best defense: Conor Donovan must be in the Team of the Year. Sacramento has allowed only 24 goals in 32 matches to date, five less than any other team, and Donovan’s brilliance at the heart of their deep-block 5-4-1 is crucial. Having completed more than 90% of his pass attempts in the defensive half while only having played the ball forward 34% of the time, Donovan is a safe pair of hands in possession, but that’s his job. No defender has been better at doing what’s needed to see out matches.

Fabien Garcia (CB, San Antonio)

While not quite as stifling as they were on the way to the title last year, San Antonio still boast a top-three defense in the USL by goals conceded. Between a never-ending stream of injuries in the back line and defensive midfield, a minor goalkeeping controversy, and a formation change, plenty of factors could’ve taken this team down. Fabien Garcia has been the one constant across 30 appearances and more than 2,600 appearances, and he’s held the squad together.

Garcia’s lateral speed and interventionist instincts are crucial in a hyper-aggressive system. He’s constantly rotating to fill in behind teammates, which has put the Frenchman in the top two in the league in terms of clearances, interceptions, and tackles won. When San Antonio concedes, Garcia is almost never the man to blame.

Jack Gurr (RB, Sacramento)

Jack Gurr is undeniable, and he’s going to be the #1 player on my MVP ballot. The wing back leads the league with a bawdy 144 crosses, and that’s on top of five goals and four assists. His work rate never leaves you wanting, and it gives Gurr the flexibility to underlap into the opposing box or camp in the right half space to create overloads without ever exposing the defensive line unduly.

Indeed, the 27-year-old leads the best defense in the USL in tackle attempts, and he’s appeared in 29 of 32 possible matches. Given that MVP tends to be a title for goalscorers, I’ll be lonely in my campaign to get Gurr that hardware, but I haven’t seen a player with a more completely and impactful game in 2023.

Paul Blanchette (GK, Oakland)

Second in the league with 8.9 goals saved above average, Blanchette is the player who lets Oakland do what they do best. The Roots rely on marauding center backs who can carry the ball but open themselves up in transition in doing so; Blanchette’s shot-stopping brilliance is the factor that prevents disaster. With a league-best 143 saves, he also shines by the traditional sorts of metrics. Though the Roots wavered at the end of 2023, their goalkeeper was never a doubt. Blanchette is a rock that you can build a team on.

Honorable Mention: Memo Diaz (FB, Oakland); Morey Doner (FB, Monterey); Jonathan Ricketts (FB, Rio Grande Valley); Danny Barbir (CB, OAK); Shane Wiedt (CB, Sacramento); Rocco Rios Novo (GK, Phoenix)