USL Championship Week 4 – Western Preview | OneFootball

They’re all playing! All twelve. So strap into what could be a wild ride in the Leftmost side of the USL Championship.

The first game on Saturday just so happens to be in the Western Conference. Why? Got me.

New Mexico United vs. Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC

Saturday, March 28 @ 3:00pm ET / 12:00pm PT Streaming on ESPN+

Expect raucous crowds at Isotopes Park for this soccer equivalent of a matinée, particularly as the temperature will be moderate. After two games on the road, New Mexico United will make a welcome return and need that home support to rally them off two losses. Dropping their opening night match to Oakland had to sting, particularly as they pressed hard towards the end of the match and just couldn’t find that equalizer. The following week in San Antonio, the Kings of Chaos needed a superhuman effort from goalkeeper Kristopher Shakes, whose eight saves kept the scoreline a respectable 1-0 (loss).

Colorado Springs are already looking back on their season and asking WTF? The 2-2 draw to El Paso was fine, but allowing a hapless and rudderless LV team to score two unanswered the following week is a concern. They needed a late own goal to win that one. In Orange County last week they were arguably the better side, but undone by Tyson Espy, a 17 year old who scored in the final minute of regulation.

The Hooligan Take: 3-2 New Mexico. Simply put, this will be a hot mess. But you gotta love New Mexico at home.

FC Tulsa vs. Phoenix Rising FC

Saturday, March 28 @ 8:00pm ET / 5:00pm PT Streaming on ESPN+

Lots of ones on the FC Tulsa stat sheet. One win, one draw, one loss, minus one goal differential. The only place “one” does not appear: the score lines. They got blanked in their opening two matches, but put up three over Las Vegas. Tulsa’s defense last year was ferocious; this year they’re simply meh.

Phoenix Rising pulled off a stunning comeback last weekend, scoring in the 96th minute to equalize against Oakland Roots. The week before, they were on the receiving end of that same treatment, conceding in the 93rd against OCSC. After three matches, they’re still chasing their first win of the season. Their efforts haven’t been helped by the worst discipline record in the West: 10 yellows and 1 red. Other teams might foul more, just not as egregiously.

The Hooligan Take: 2-2 A bit sassy, but at least I’m not taking a line of the number of yellows.

Oakland Roots vs. Orange County SC

Saturday, March 28 @ 8:00pm ET / 5:00pm PT Streaming on ESPN+

These are two old familiar foes, but oddly enough have never met when both are so high in the table.

Oakland Roots are in first place, despite that crushing last minute equalizer last week in Phoenix. They have to brush off that regret, and the echoes of so many bruising concessions last season, to focus on taking down Orange County. Last year’s Golden Boot winner Peter Wilson has yet to find the net; his paucity has been ably picked up by Wolfgang Prentice, Mark Fisher and Julian Bravo. Oakland’s new coach Ryan Martin will want another win over their So. Cal. enemy to fire up the home crowd. 

Orange County is a side whose purpose is to find young talent, nurture it, and then send it along. Unusually for them, they retained over 70% of last year’s roster and it paid dividends. They are third. OCSC plays tough, physical soccer and will look to get into Oakland’s head with a quick goal; though they’d not mind a late strike to grab points (which they’ve done in their last two).

The Hooligan Take: 1-0 Oakland Roots. Neither side scores much, with only seven offensive goals between them over six total games. This will also be a tight one, but go to the home side.

Sacramento Republic FC vs. El Paso Locomotive FC

Saturday, March 28 @ 10:00pm ET / 7:00pm PT No Streaming Options

It’s actually disappointing that this fixture was omitted from the streaming schedule. Both teams are pugnacious, tough and dangerous in front of goal.

Admittedly, Sacramento is a little off their game so far. It’s not quite as bad as last year’s start, but they haven’t lost yet. Of course, drawing two of the traditionally weaker sides Monterey Bay and Lexington isn’t a good look. And they were less than impressive against the amateur side El Farolito in the U.S. Open, needing extra-time to eke a 2-0 win.

El Paso Locomotive’s Rubio Rubín has three goals in two games, putting him atop the league in scoring alongside Detroit’s Darren Smith and Las Vegas’ Abraham Okyere. He’s been a bright spark for Los Locos, who really have yet to get out of third gear this season.

The Hooligan Take: 2-1 El Paso. Yes, I’m going against the home side here.

Las Vegas Lights FC vs. Monterey Bay

Saturday, March 28 @ 10:00pm ET / 7:00pm PT Streaming on ESPN+

Las Vegas Lights will hope to give supporters at Cashman Field something to cheer about in their home opener. To their credit, they’re scoring goals and are tied for most in the conference (5). Unfortunately, their defense is flat-out awful (conceded 7, worst in the West). The good news is they’re hosting Monterey Bay, a team who have failed to keep a clean sheet for their last six games.

Monterey Bay. Where to start. Two losses and a draw. Have committed 54 fouls, second-most in the West (and third-most in the league). Scored once; committed five times. Last season they had an explosive start out of the gate, only to finish 22nd in the league. Folks are wished desperately for the opposite, that their slow start presages a strong finish.

The Hooligan Take: 2-0 Las Vegas. At the end of the day, you gotta score to win.

San Antonio FC vs. Lexington

Sunday, March 29 @ 4:00pm ET / 1:00pm PTStreaming on ESPN+

Sitting just behind Oakland, San Antonio are one of five teams in the Western Conference who have yet to lose a game. Their strength is precisely their physicality. They have more recorded fouls (57) than any other West team, the second-most yellow cards (9) but are also tied with the highest number of clean sheets.

Lexington are in the 1-1-1 club along with Colorado and Tulsa, but on the top side thanks to their +2 goal differential. Lexington’s social hashtag celebrates #yearofthehorse and the squad is continuing their improvement exhibited at the end of 2025.

The Hooligan Take: 2-1 San Antonio. Lexington’s resurgence can only go so far.