MONTEREY, Calif. — It might be a late kickoff for Lexington fans when LSC kicks off at 10 p.m. ET Saturday night in Monterey Bay, but it is a can’t-miss match as Phillip Goodrum takes a crack at USL Championship history.
In Lexington’s 6-0 win over Orange County SC last weekend, Goodrum scored his second-consecutive hat trick, a feat only ever accomplished once before by Dane Kelly in 2017.
No player has ever netted three goals in three straight matches, and while the mathematical odds may be against the LSC forward, strange sights are no strangers to USL After Dark.
Goodrum’s latest hat trick was the fourth of his career, also tying him with Kelly for the most in league history. He is the only player in the USL Championship era for Lexington to score one hat trick, let alone two, and became the first player to reach double-digit goals in a single USL-C season for the Greens.
He joined Cameron Lancaster (2024), Ates Diouf (2023) and Catherine Barry (2025/26) on the women’s side as the four hat-trick holders in club history.
Lastly, Goodrum’s back-to-back Player of the Week awards account for the first in Lexington history.
Speaking of Team of the Week, it has been all green each of the last two weeks — unsurprising considering the Greens have won their last two matches by a combined score of 10-1.
In addition to Goodrum highlighting both, Marcus Epps and Blaine Ferri were featured in both the Week 28 and Week 29 TOTW. Week 28 also featured Xavier Zengue while Week 29 included Nick Firmino and Mac Hemmi as the Coach of the Week.
Lexington’s scalding form has shot it up to fourth place in the Western Conference standings and in possession of a home playoff spot with five matches remaining in the regular season.
While hat-trick history would be quite a sight to behold, a third-straight win is at the top of mind for Hemmi and the Greens. LSC could climb into third place with at least one point and a Colorado Springs loss.
The clash marks the third meeting between Lexington and Monterey Bay this season. LSC claimed victory in each of the previous matchups, 3-1 and 3-2.
Kickoff from Cardinale Stadium is set for 10 p.m. ET.
SCOUTING MONTEREY BAY
Monterey Bay FC is the only club eliminated from postseason contention in the West. Sitting in last place by a 12-point margin with a 4W-15L-6D record, Monterey Bay’s 18 points earned are tied for the second-worst mark in the USL Championship, besting only Sporting Club Jacksonville (14 points).
The club has not won since June 20, posting a 0W-7L-4D record over that stretch. However, three of those four draws have come in Monterey Bay’s last five matches.
Ilijah Paul leads the side with five goals and is tied alongside Omari Glasgow for Monterey Bay’s assist lead with four.
STAT OF THE MATCH
Lexington is 5W-1L-2D against clubs from California this season.
HOW TO WATCH
The match will stream locally on the FOX 56 app and on fox56news.com, as well as nationally on ESPN+.
