USL Championship

LEXINGTON, Ky. – Lexington Sporting Club’s USL Championship team took on Phoenix Rising FC for the second time this season, and for the first time in Lexington.

LSC opened the match with a strong offensive presence and kept the ball in their attacking third throughout the initial minutes. The intensity finally paid off in the 30th minute when #33 Forster Ajago found space inside the box for a close-range finish to give LSC the lead.  

Lexington Sporting Club’s defensive line stayed strong for the remainder of the half, keeping Phoenix quiet and preventing them from registering a shot on target before the halftime whistle. 

The teams went into the locker rooms with Lexington holding a 1-0 lead.  

LSC carried their momentum from the first half to the second, maintaining high pressure and creating multiple scoring opportunities.  

Tensions rose on the pitch as Phoenix was hungry to score the equalizer. However, #71 Michael Adedokun sealed the victory for LSC in the 79th minute. After receiving a pass from #10 CJ Olney, Adedokun took a touch around Phoenix’s keeper and slotted home a simple finish.   

“There were a lot of guys shooting and taking it to goal, so I had to be patient when I got my chance,” said Adedokun. “I didn’t want to just shoot. I wanted to make sure it was my best opportunity to score. Then I saw it cross the line, and finally, I was able to celebrate with the fans.” 

Lexington’s defense held firm for the rest of the match and secured a clean sheet over Phoenix Rising FC, as well as improving their record against Phoenix to 2-0.  

“I felt like we’ve been looking for a performance like this, where we felt like we had good control of the game but were also dangerous at the right moments,” said head coach Terry Boss. “And tonight was, for me, one of the most complete performances that the guys had. And so, I couldn’t be happier when I watch our group embrace the ideas and keep grinding even in tough moments. This is what football should look like.” 

Lexington Sporting Club will travel to face San Antonio FC for their next match at Toyota Field. The match is set to kick off on August 16 at 9 p.m. ET.  

About Lexington Sporting Club   

Lexington Sporting Club is a U.S. Soccer professional soccer club competing in the USL Championship (U.S. Soccer Second Division men’s professional soccer), and in Gainbridge Super League (U.S. Soccer First Division women’s professional soccer). The two professional teams are the pinnacle of the soccer ecosystem in Lexington that features more than 1,000 players within its youth and academy systems. Lexington SC has recently opened a 7500-seat, state-of-the-art stadium, indoor facilities and training fields.  

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. – Lexington Sporting Club’s USL Championship team traveled to Colorado Springs for the first time in club history, facing the defending USL champions at Weidner Field. After earning a 2-1 victory in their earlier meeting this season, Lexington aimed to complete the sweep.

Lexington SC opened with confidence, holding over 75% of the possession in the first 10 minutes of the match. Despite controlling play, neither side registered a shot in the early stages as much of the action stayed in midfield.  

Colorado Springs then broke through in the 30th minute after quick ball movement set up #11 Quenzi Huerman, who finished off an assist from #3 Akeem Ward. The home side continued to frustrate Lexington’s attack with tight defensive play around the box, doubling its lead just before halftime when center back #5 Matt Mahoney scored on a header from a corner in the 41st minute. The goal was assisted by #22 Marco Micaletto.  

As the whistle blew for halftime, Lexington faced a 2-0 deficit, with work to do to find a comeback on the road. 

“At halftime, we knew we had to stay focused and keep believing in our game plan,” said Lexington captain #6 Joe Hafferty. “Down 2-0 on the road is tough, but we reminded each other to remain composed and to continue fighting.” 

LSC came out in the second half with #8 Nick Firmino pressing higher on offense, looking to create more scoring opportunities and apply greater pressure on the Switchbacks’ defense. In the 78th minute, #23 Alfredo Midence scored his first USL Championship goal, pulling Lexington back into the match and sparking hope for a comeback.  

However, the momentum was short-lived, as Colorado Springs responded almost immediately. Just two minutes later, Mahoney struck again, and despite #31 Brooks Thompson’s attempt to make the stop, the effort found the back of the net to restore the home side’s two-goal cushion.  

“Getting my first goal was really special, but the result wasn’t what we wanted,” said Midence. “We fought hard and learned a lot from this match, and we are determined to bounce back better next week.” 

Lexington returns home for its next match against Phoenix Rising FC on August 9 at 6 p.m. ET at Lexington SC Stadium. 

About Lexington Sporting Club   

Lexington Sporting Club is a U.S. Soccer professional soccer club competing in the USL Championship (U.S. Soccer Second Division men’s professional soccer), and in Gainbridge Super League (U.S. Soccer First Division women’s professional soccer). The two professional teams are the pinnacle of the soccer ecosystem in Lexington that features more than 1,000 players within its youth and academy systems. Lexington SC has recently opened a 7500-seat, state-of-the-art stadium, indoor facilities and training fields.  

LEXINGTON, Ky.— Lexington Sporting Club has signed midfielder Blaine Ferri to a 25-day contract with its USL Championship team, the club announced Thursday. 

Ferri, 24, most recently played for FC Tulsa, where he made 54 appearances over two seasons in the USL Championship. A native of Southlake, Texas, Ferri brings international and domestic experience to Lexington’s midfield, having represented the United States at multiple youth national team levels, including the 2017 FIFA U-17 World Cup. 

Before joining Tulsa, Ferri spent time with North Texas SC and Fort Lauderdale CF in USL League One, and with Greuther Fürth II in Germany. He developed through the Solar SC academy system and the U-19 squad at Greuther Fürth. 

Ferri’s addition provides Lexington SC with valuable midfield depth and experience during a critical stretch of the season. His versatility, work rate, and professional background position him to make an immediate impact as the club continues its push in USL Championship play. 

About Lexington Sporting Club 

Lexington Sporting Club is a U.S. Soccer professional soccer club competing in the USL Championship (U.S. Soccer Second Division men’s professional soccer), and in the Gainbridge Super League (U.S. Soccer First Division women’s professional soccer). The two professional teams are the pinnacle of the soccer ecosystem in Lexington that features more than 1,000 players within its youth and academy systems. Lexington SC has recently opened a 7500-seat, state-of-the-art stadium, indoor facilities and training fields. 

LEXINGTON, Ky. – Lexington Sporting Club has officially acquired forward Kimani Stewart-Baynes on loan from Major League Soccer side Colorado Rapids for the remainder of the 2025 season.

Stewart-Baynes, 20, joins Lexington SC as one of the top young prospects in Canadian soccer. A product of the Vaughan Azzurri system in League1 Ontario and a standout at the University of Maryland, he earned Big Ten Freshman of the Year honors in 2023 after tallying three goals and seven assists in 14 appearances. 

He was selected fourth overall in the 2024 MLS SuperDraft by the Colorado Rapids and signed a Generation adidas contract ahead of the season. Stewart-Baynes has since gained professional experience with both the Rapids’ first team and MLS NEXT Pro side Colorado Rapids 2. 

Internationally, he has represented Canada at the U-20 level and was recently named to the squad for the 2024 CONCACAF U-20 Championship. 

The addition of Stewart-Baynes brings pace, creativity, and depth to the Lexington SC attacking unit as the club enters the final stretch of the season. 

Lexington SC’s USL Championship tickets are on sale now! If you are interested in ticketing opportunities, please call (859) 201-3932 or visit www.lexsporting.com/tickets.  

For more information about Lexington Sporting Club and its upcoming initiatives, please visit www.lexsporting.com   

About Lexington Sporting Club 

Lexington Sporting Club is a U.S. Soccer professional soccer club competing in the USL Championship (U.S. Soccer Second Division men’s professional soccer), and in the Gainbridge Super League (U.S. Soccer First Division women’s professional soccer). The two professional teams are the pinnacle of the soccer ecosystem in Lexington that features more than 1,000 players within its youth and academy systems. Lexington SC is also home to a 7500-seat, state-of-the-art stadium, indoor facilities and training fields. 

LEXINGTON, Ky. – Lexington Sporting Club traveled to Sacramento, California, on Saturday night to take on Sacramento Republic FC at Heart Health Park. Lexington SC aimed to secure a win and climb the ranks in the USL Championship standings. 

A strong connection between Lexington SC’s No. 15 Daniel Wu and No. 33 Forster Ajago in the 22nd minute led to a close scoring opportunity, but Sacramento goalkeeper No. 1 Danny Vitiello made the stop to keep the ball out of the net. 

Lexington came out aggressive to start the match, with solid tackles from No. 24 Kieran Sargeant and No. 12 Xavier Zengue helping to disrupt Republic FC’s strong attacking efforts. 

Lexington SC’s No. 15 Daniel Wu received a red card in the 37th minute, forcing the team to play a man down for the remainder of the match. 

The first half was scrappy, with multiple strong chances for Lexington SC, but the score remained 0-0 at halftime. Both teams entered the locker room eager to break the deadlock and gain an edge in the second half. 

Lexington SC defender No. 27 Gaël Gibert and goalkeeper No. 31 Brooks Thompson anchored the back line, coming up with multiple goal-line stops to keep Sacramento off the scoresheet. 

The physical matchup ended in a 0-0 draw, with both teams walking away with a point. Lexington showed what it’s made of in a resilient performance, playing a man down for nearly an hour. 

Lexington looks to carry this drive into next week’s home match against rival Louisville City FC on Saturday, July 26, at 7 p.m. Eastern at Lexington SC Stadium. After four weeks on the road, Lexington will once again be backed by a stadium full of home supporters. 

About Lexington Sporting Club    

Lexington Sporting Club is a U.S. Soccer professional soccer club competing in the USL Championship (U.S. Soccer Second Division men’s professional soccer), and in USL Super League (U.S. Soccer First Division women’s professional soccer). The two professional teams are the pinnacle of the soccer ecosystem in Lexington that features more than 1,000 players within its youth and academy systems. Lexington SC has recently opened a 7500-seat, state-of-the-art stadium, indoor facilities and training fields.   

By: Nora Windsor

LEXINGTON, Ky. – Lexington SC continued their road campaign tonight playing against Miami FC at the Pitbull Stadium. The game featured high intensity and offensive advances from both sides of the pitch which led to a 1-1 draw.

After 24 minutes of back-and-forth possession, Miami broke the deadlock. Forward #9 Francisco Bonfiglio placed the ball into the bottom left corner of the Lexington net, he was assisted by #26 Lucas Melano.

In the remainder of the 1st half, Lexington SC searched for an equalizer. Forward #71 Michael Adedokun drove the ball up the left side and crossed it in finding #11 Marcus Epps in the box. As Epps tried to flick the ball to a teammate, the ball was blocked by a Miami defender leading to a corner taken by Adedokun, which was cleared by Miami.

As the first half ended, Miami’s early goal remained the only one on the board, despite chances from both sides.

Defensively, Miami opted to “park the bus” midway through the second half, reinforcing their backline with an extra defender. This decision worked in their favor as they fended off numerous LSC offensive attacks.

In a late push to equalize, LSC defender #24 Kieran Sargeant delivered a well-placed ball into the box, where #99 Cory Burke rose above the defense and headed it past the Miami goalkeeper finding the back of the net. 

The rest of stoppage time remained scoreless, and the match ended in a 1-1 draw.

Lexington SC continues their stretch of away games as they take on Sacramento Republic FC. The match is set to kick off at 11:00 p.m. ET on Saturday, July 19.

About Lexington Sporting Club 

Lexington Sporting Club is a U.S. Soccer professional soccer club competing in the USL Championship (U.S. Soccer Second Division men’s professional soccer), and in USL Super League (U.S. Soccer First Division women’s professional soccer). The two professional teams are the pinnacle of the soccer ecosystem in Lexington that features more than 1,000 players within its youth and academy systems. Lexington SC has recently opened a 7500-seat, state-of-the-art stadium, indoor facilities and training fields. 

LEXINGTON, Ky. – Lexington Sporting Club has added 18-year-old midfielder CJ Olney Jr. on loan from Major League Soccer’s Philadelphia Union. The move, pending league and federation approval, strengthens the club’s midfield as it enters the second half of the 2025 campaign.

Olney brings high-level experience despite his young age. A Homegrown product of the Union Academy and YSC Academy, he made his MLS debut earlier this year and has logged over 50 appearances with Philadelphia Union II in MLS NEXT Pro. Over three seasons, he’s totaled 12 goals and 18 assists, showcasing his ability to impact the game in the final third.

In addition to his club career, Olney has been involved with U.S. Youth National Teams, receiving call-ups to both the U-17 and U-19 squads.

The loan agreement runs through the end of the 2025 season.

Lexington SC’s USL Championship tickets are on sale now! If you are interested in ticketing opportunities, please call (859) 201-3932 or visit www.lexsporting.com/tickets. 

For more information about Lexington Sporting Club and its upcoming initiatives, please visit www.lexsporting.com  

About Lexington Sporting Club

Lexington Sporting Club is a U.S. Soccer professional soccer club competing in the USL Championship (U.S. Soccer Second Division men’s professional soccer), and in GainbridgeSuper League (U.S. Soccer First Division women’s professional soccer). The two professional teams are the pinnacle of the soccer ecosystem in Lexington that features more than 1,000 players within its youth and academy systems. Lexington SC has recently opened a 7500-seat, state-of-the-art stadium, indoor facilities and training fields.