USL Championship

LEXINGTON, Ky. — For the second time in 26 days, Kentuckians will be treated to a LEX vs. LOU match at Lexington Sporting Club Stadium. This time, it is win-or-go-home with the match taking place in the Second Round of the 2026 U.S. Open Cup, presented by Gallagher.

The two previously met to kick off the USL Championship season March 6. Aaron Molloy opened the scoring early, but two second-half scores from Louisville cemented Lexington’s fate. 

Since that match, Lexington has posted a 1W-1L-1D record with two clean sheets. LSC is one of seven clubs to already log multiple shutouts this season. 

Both clubs, of course, won their First-Round matchups in this season’s U.S. Open Cup.

Lexington beat Flower City Union 9-0 for the largest margin of victory by any club in the round. Its nine goals were also the most scored in a single match in club history. 

Nick Firmino notched a brace in the contest, while Molloy, Marcus Epps, Xavier Zengue, Phillip Goodrum, Blaine Ferri, Tarik Scott and Malik Henry-Scott all made their way on the score sheet as well. 

LouCity took care of business against Southern Indiana FC in 2-0 fashion. Tola Showunmi accounted for all of Louisville’s scoring. 

Sixteen MLS clubs enter the tournament in the Third Round, meaning every club that advances through the Second Round has the chance to play an MLS opponent. Eight MLS clubs have been selected to host, while eight will travel. 

Should Lexington beat Louisville and advance, it could take on an MLS opponent in regular season play for the first time in club history. 

Friendly reminder — Lexington beat two MLS clubs, Nashville SC and Orlando City SC, during the 2026 preseason. 

LEX vs. LOU: Round 2 kicks off from Lexington SC Stadium Wednesday at 7 p.m. ET. 

SCOUTING LOUCITY 

Louisville enters play as the only club in the USL Championship to win four matches. The only other club with an unblemished record is the Tampa Bay Rowdies, who sit on nine points after three outings. 

Last time out, the side became the first organization in league history to reach 200 wins. 

LouCity’s 11 goals lead the USL Championship to begin the 2026 season, as do its nine assists. Eight players have scored, led by Aiden McFadden and Jansen Wilson with two apiece. 

Additionally, 10 players in the league have logged multiple assists this season — four play for City (Ray Serrano, Chris Donovan, Jansen Wilson and Taylor Davila). 

STAT OF THE MATCH 

With a goal, Aaron Molloy or Phillip Goodrum would become the second player to score twice in the Lexington vs. Louisville fixture, joining the visitors’ Jake Morris. 

HOW TO WATCH 

The best way to catch the rivalry is at Lexington Sporting Club Stadium. Secure your tickets to the match below. 

For fans unable to attend, the match will stream live on Paramount+. 

TAMPA, Fla. — It is safe to say Lexington Sporting Club has the No. 6 position locked down on the pitch. The USL Championship announced Tuesday the inclusion of Blaine Ferri to its Week 4 Team of the Week, alongside his midfield counterpart Aaron Molloy on the TOTW bench. 

Ferri scored his first league goal in green Wednesday vs. Brooklyn FC. The score gave Lexington a decisive 2-0 advantage, and the club would go on to add a third. 

When factoring in his performance at San Antonio FC Sunday as well, Ferri totaled five scoring chances on the week, the most from any LSC player. He also logged an 86.3% passing accuracy mark, three interceptions and won six of 11 duels. 

Molloy also found the back of the net against Brooklyn in fantastic fashion, his second of the season to lead Lexington SC. The Irishman also fired three shots, two of which were on target, recorded two interceptions, won both tackle attempts and completed 87.9% of his passes across both matches. 

The awards mark the first for both players of the season. 

2026 Team of the Week Recognitions

Week 2: Oliver Semmle (bench)

Week 4: Blaine Ferri, Aaron Molloy (bench) 

SAN ANTONIO — The Greens were left shaking their heads after a frustrating afternoon in San Antonio on Sunday. Lexington led in nearly every attacking statistic, but was ultimately shut out, 2-0.

A few of those categories included expected goals (1.67-1.09), possession (52-48%) and touches in the opposition’s box (33-21). Both clubs ended with 11 total shots.

Chances that would have likely found the back of the net any other day were thwarted time and time again. Nick Firmino and Marcus Epps combined for the club’s four best scoring chances, per xG, in the second half.

San Antonio FC bagged its first of the day when a deflected pass landed right at the feet of a surging Jorge Hernández in the 28′ minute.

The Texas side doubled its advantage in the 75′ minute off the boot of Dmitrii Erofeev.

With the result, Lexington falls to 1W-2L-1D early in the 2026 USL Championship season.

GOALS

SA: 28′ Jorge Hernández

SA: 75′ Dmitrii Erofeev (assist: Cristian Parano)

LINEUPS

LEX: Oliver Semmle, Joe Hafferty, Kendall Burks, Javain Brown (60′ Arturo Ordóñez), Xavier Zengue (84′ Malik Henry-Scott), Aaron Molloy, Blaine Ferri, Marcus Epps, Alfredo Midence (60′ Michael Adedokun), Nick Firmino (77′ Jacob Greene), Phillip Goodrum

SA: Joey Batrouni, Danny Barbir (56′ Alex Crognale), Mitchell Taintor, Santiago Suarez, Rece Buckmaster (56′ Akeem Ward), Nelson Flores, Jorge Hernandez (56′ Cristian Parano), Mikey Maldonado, Curt Calov (69′ Dmitrii Erofeev), Emmanuel Johnson (81′ Santiago Patiño), Christian Sorto

UP NEXT

Lexington SC returns home to face Louisville City FC in the Second Round of the 2026 U.S. Open Cup. The match, presented by Gallagher, is scheduled to kick off from Lexington SC Stadium Wednesday, April 1 at 7 p.m. ET.

SAN ANTONIO — The first road tilt of the 2026 season for Lexington Sporting Club awaits Sunday as it flies south to challenge San Antonio FC. 

The Lexington offense roared to life over the last week, totaling 12 goals on 58 shots (27 of which were on target) in two matches. Now, following wins over Flower City Union in the U.S. Open Cup and Brooklyn FC in league play, the club looks to ride its attacking momentum into Texas. 

While LSC’s offense has rightfully shined in the limelight since last Thursday, its defensive performances should not go unnoticed. In three USL Championship matches, goalkeeper Oliver Semmle and his backline have kept two clean sheets and allowed only two total goals. 

Including its Open Cup match, LSC has posted three consecutive shutouts and only allowed five total shots on target. 

Semmle is one of four keepers in the league with two clean sheets in at least three USL-C matches played. 

Now, managing minutes becomes a priority for Head Coach Mac Hemmi. Lexington’s early schedule consists of five matches in 17 days because of the Open Cup — a reality shared by many USL Championship clubs who advanced to the tournament’s Second Round. 

In two meetings last season, LSC and San Antonio each proved victorious in the road fixture. 

Kickoff from Toyota Field is set for 4 p.m. ET. 

SCOUTING SAN ANTONIO 

San Antonio FC is unbeaten to begin the 2026 campaign, posting a 2W-0L-1D record with wins over Phoenix Rising FC and New Mexico United. The Texas side has only conceded one goal all season while scoring three. 

Jorge Hernandez and Cristian Parano have been the club’s key men early, combining for assists on all three of the side’s goals and creating 20 scoring chances. 

Hernandez also has a goal to his name, alongside USL-C veteran Alex Crognale and former Lexington man Danny Barbir. 

Goalkeeper Joey Batrouni has saved nine of the 10 shots he has faced this season. 

STAT OF THE MATCH 

Lexington SC is eyeing three consecutive clean sheets in league play for the first time in club history. It previously posted back-to-back shutouts three times last season, including the 2024 season finale and 2025 season opener. 

HOW TO WATCH 

The match will air locally on FOX 56, stream nationally on ESPN+ and air live on SiriusXM FC. 

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. — Midfielder Braudílio Rodrigues has been loaned to USL League One side One Knoxville SC, pending league and federation approval.

Rodrigues appeared 20 times for Lexington across all competitions in 2025, scoring two goals and notching two assists. He had yet to appear for the Greens in 2026.

The club wishes Braudílio the best during his time in Tennessee.

LEXINGTON, Ky. — Lexington Sporting Club earned its first victory of the 2026 season Wednesday, defeating Brooklyn FC 3-0 and shutting out the New York side in front of its home fans.

The match began with an arrhythmic first half, dictated by 17 total fouls and four yellow cards distributed. Neither side was able to find its footing, though LSC played with 62% of possession in the period.

Head Coach Mac Hemmi rallied his troops at halftime, however, and Lexington came to life in the final 25 minutes of play.

Aaron Molloy got the Greens on the board first in the 75′ minute. The Irishman floated a service into the box from a free kick, and the ball ended up sailing past the keeper and into the net.

Just 10 minutes later, Blaine Ferri doubled LSC’s lead with a rocket. Nick Firmino’s initial shot was blocked, but he trailed his attempt and dished the rebound out to Ferri. The Texas native struck his shot with fury and drove it past the last defender and the keeper.

The goal marked Ferri’s first USL Championship score for the club since signing back in August, 2025.

Malik Henry-Scott joined in on the fun in the 90+2′ minute with his first professional goal. Despite being swarmed by three defenders at the top of the box, he somehow conjured a shooting lane from thin air and cashed in his first.

Not only did the win constitute LSC’s first league win in 2026, but also its second clean sheet of the campaign. When factoring in the club’s U.S. Open Cup performance last week, the Greens have now scored 12 goals over its last two matches.

GOALS

LEX: 75′ Aaron Molloy

LEX: 85′ Blaine Ferri (assist: Nick Firmino)

LEX: 90+2′ Malik Henry-Scott (assist: Michael Adedokun)

LINEUPS

LEX: Oliver Semmle, Javain Brown (71′ Joe Hafferty), Kendall Burks, Arturo Ordóñez, Jacob Greene (61′ Xavier Zengue), Aaron Molloy, Blaine Ferri, Marcus Epps (60′ Alfredo Midence), Michael Adedokun, Nick Firmino, Phillip Goodrum (88′ Malik Henry-Scott)

BKN: Jackson Lee, Callum Frogson (59′ Thomas Vancaeyezeele), Gabriel Alves, Rocco Romeo (78′ Vuk Latinovich), Ryan McLaughlin, Tommy McNamara, Malik Pinto (59′ Taimu Okiyoshi), Peter Mangione (68′ CJ Olney Jr.), Abdoulaye Kante (68′ Markus Anderson), Shaan Hundal, Stefan Stojanovic

UP NEXT

Lexington SC will play its first road match of the season Sunday, March 29 at San Antonio FC. The contest marks the club’s second match over an 11-day span.

Aaron Molloy — 75′ Minute

Blaine Ferri — 85′ Minute

Malik Henry-Scott — 90+2′ Minute

LEXINGTON, Ky. — After a weekend to recharge from its record-breaking U.S. Open Cup outing last Wednesday, Lexington SC is right back at it for another midweek test. For the first time in club history, it will battle Brooklyn FC, one of two new additions to the USL Championship in 2026. 

Lexington’s nine-goal outburst vs. Flower City Union was not only a club record, but also the second-most goals scored in a single match in the Cup’s modern era (1995-present). 

That performance marked a sharp response from a side that managed just one goal across its first two matches. Granted, both matches were against two of the most difficult opponents the league has to offer. 

Brooklyn, meanwhile, has yet to showcase the same level of talent as Lexington’s two previous USL-C opponents.

Defensively, LSC bounced back nicely after allowing two goals in the season opener. Goalkeeper Oliver Semmle collected his first clean sheet in green vs. Sacramento in the club’s previous league match, and his backline prevented him from facing a single shot on target vs. Flower City. 

Its match against Brooklyn initiates a grueling stretch for LSC in which it will play four matches in 11 days, including an early-season rematch vs. Louisville City FC in the Second Round of the U.S. Open Cup. 

Kickoff from Lexington SC Stadium is set for 7 p.m. ET. 

SCOUTING BROOKLYN 

Brooklyn FC won its inaugural USL Championship match, 1-0, before dropping its next two by a combined score of 5-1. At 1W-2L-0D, Brooklyn enters play tied for the second-worst goal differential in the league through three matches. 

Juan Carlos Obregón Jr., a veteran of the USL ecosystem who began his career with RGV Toros FC in 2019, leads the league with eight shots on target. The Honduran is tied with his teammate Markus Anderson for the club scoring lead with one goal. 

Brooklyn’s 18-year-old goalkeeper Kayne Rizvanovich has played every minute for the club, posting a 54.5% save percentage with six saves on 11 shots faced.  

KIDS DAY 

Wednesday is Kids Day at Lexington Sporting Club, a match in which kids are the most important people in the building!  

A special meal deal including a hot dog, chips and a drink will be offered to fans 12 and younger for only $9. Kids can also take part in pre-match arts and crafts, visit a face painter and balloon artist, and more! 

Kids Club Members also receive a variety of other benefits, all of which can be found here. 

HOW TO WATCH 

The match will stream live on ESPN+ and in Spanish on TUDN. Additionally, all the action will air on SiriusXM FC. 

LEXINGTON, Ky. — Lexington Sporting Club and FOX 56 are entering year two of an agreement naming the TV station the official media partner of LSC. As part of the agreement, FOX 56 will broadcast six USL Championship matches locally this season. 

A shared commitment to expanding professional soccer access across Central Kentucky is at the heart of the partnership, and both organizations will continue to do so through expanded broadcast coverage and original programming. 

The following matches will be aired on FOX 56:

• Sunday, March 29 at San Antonio FC — 4 p.m. ET kickoff
• Saturday, April 18 at Orange County SC — 10 p.m. ET kickoff
• Saturday, May 2 at Las Vegas Lights FC — 10:30 p.m. ET kickoff
• Saturday, Sept. 12 at Oakland Roots SC — 10 p.m. ET kickoff
• Saturday, Sept. 26 at Monterey Bay FC — 10 p.m. ET kickoff
• Saturday, Oct. 24 at Phoenix Rising FC — 10 p.m. ET kickoff

“At FOX 56, we are proud to partner with Lexington Sporting Club and excited to offer the following games live on FOX 56 this season,” said Monte Costes, vice president and general manager of FOX 56. “LSC ownership has made a significant investment in our community, and we want to amplify the club on the largest platform possible — broadcast television, the only platform that serves 100% of homes in our viewing area, 100% of the time. Soccer interest and viewership continues to explode locally and nationally as evidenced by the support of our own professional team here in Lexington, so broadcasting the games was an easy decision. FOX 56 also airs a monthly show, titled ‘Around the Pitch,’ that highlights all things Lexington Sporting Club. It airs Saturday nights and is available on our streaming channel FOX 56, available for download on Roku, Apple or Amazon devices.”

“Around the Pitch,” a 30-minute TV program dedicated to LSC storytelling, features player interviews, highlights, coaching breakdowns, match previews and insights fans will not get anywhere else. 

“We’re excited to continue our partnership with FOX 56 in 2026,” said David Simms, director of marketing and fan engagement at Lexington SC. “Making Lexington SC accessible to our community is a top priority, and FOX 56 plays a critical role in that effort. Their platform allows us to reach more fans than ever, while continuing to tell the story of our club. We’re proud to work alongside their team as we grow the game and deepen our connection.” 

The six matches, as well as the rest of Lexington SC’s full USL Championship schedule, will still stream online for out-of-market fans. View the full streaming schedule here.

Match broadcasts are subject to change.

LEXINGTON, Ky. — Lexington Sporting Club has inked 22-year-old forward Jonathan Stout to a 25-day contract with its USL Championship squad, pending league and federation approval. 

Stout trained with the club in preseason, impressing Head Coach Mac Hemmi and the rest of the technical staff. He initially debuted for LSC in its preseason contest vs. the University of Kentucky. 

A native of Wyoming, Michigan, Stout attended Michigan State University for three years, logging 13 goals and six assists in 45 appearances, before transferring to Western Michigan University in 2025. 

With the Spartans, Stout quickly established himself as one of the Big Ten’s top young attackers. He earned Freshman of the Year honors in 2022 before accruing First-Team All-Big Ten and Academic All-Big Ten recognition over the next two seasons. 

After transferring, Stout scored three goals in 15 matches for the Broncos and was named the Missouri Valley Conference’s Men’s Soccer Scholar Athlete of the Year in 2025. He started every match, was named to the All-MVC Second Team and maintained a 4.0 GPA as a senior. 

Stout will be available for selection ahead of Lexington SC’s match vs. Flower City Union in the First Round of the 2026 U.S. Open Cup Thursday. 

He will wear No. 26 for the Greens.