2022 MLS Next Pro season

MLS Next Pro
Season2022
DatesMarch 25 – September 18
(Regular season)
September 24 – October 8
(Playoffs)
ChampionsColumbus Crew 2 (1st Title)
Regular season titleColumbus Crew 2 (1st Title)
Matches played259
(252 RS, 7 PO)
Goals scored882 (3.41 per match)
(855 RS, 27 PO)
Best Player Jacen Russell-Rowe Columbus Crew 2
Top goalscorer Jacen Russell-Rowe Columbus Crew 2
(21 goals)
Best goalkeeper Patrick Schulte Columbus Crew 2
Biggest home winCC2 9–0 CIN (September 18)
Biggest away winCHI 0–5 STL (June 11)
Highest scoringCC2 9–0 CIN (September 18)
Longest winning run7 PU2
Longest losing run13 RLM
Highest attendance7,446 CC2 4–1 STL
2023 →
All statistics correct as of September 18, 2022.

The 2022 MLS Next Pro season was the inaugural season of MLS Next Pro, the reserve league of Major League Soccer. It is the first season since 2014 where MLS had a standalone reserve league, the previous season being the MLS Reserve League. Including both MLS Next Pro and the MLS Reserve League, it is the ninth season of a reserve league operated by MLS. The league is sanctioned as a third division league by U.S. Soccer.

A total of 21 clubs, 20 MLS reserve teams and one independent team (Rochester New York FC) participated in the 2022 season. The regular season began on March 25 and was concluded on September 18, 2022.

Columbus Crew 2 defeated St. Louis City 2 4–1 in the inaugural MLS Next Pro Cup final on October 8.[1][2]

Teams

Stadiums and locations

Main article: List of Major League Soccer stadiums
Team Stadium Capacity
Chicago Fire FC II SeatGeek Stadium 20,000
FC Cincinnati 2 NKU Soccer Stadium 1,000
Colorado Rapids 2 Denver Soccer Stadium 2,000
Columbus Crew 2 Historic Crew Stadium 19,968
Houston Dynamo 2 Aveva Stadium 4,000
Inter Miami CF II DRV PNK Stadium 18,000
Minnesota United FC 2 Allianz Field 19,400
National Sports Center 10,000
New England Revolution II Gillette Stadium 20,000
New York City FC II Belson Stadium 2,168
North Texas SC Choctaw Stadium 48,114
Orlando City B Osceola County Stadium 5,400
Philadelphia Union II Subaru Park 18,500
Portland Timbers 2 Hillsboro Stadium 7,600
Real Monarchs Zions Bank Stadium 5,000
Rochester New York FC John L. DiMarco Field 1,500
San Jose Earthquakes II PayPal Park 18,000
Sporting Kansas City II Rock Chalk Park 2,500
Swope Soccer Village 3,500
St. Louis City 2 Hermann Stadium 6,050
Ralph Korte Stadium 4,000
Toronto FC II York Lions Stadium 4,000
Tacoma Defiance Cheney Stadium 6,500
Starfire Sports Complex 4,500
Whitecaps FC 2 Swangard Stadium 5,288

Personnel and sponsorship

Note: All teams use Adidas as universal kit manufacturer.

Team Head coach
Chicago Fire FC II Ludovic Taillandier
FC Cincinnati 2 Tyrone Marshall
Colorado Rapids 2 Erik Bushey
Columbus Crew 2 Laurent Courtois
Houston Dynamo 2 Kenny Bundy
Inter Miami CF II Darren Powell
Minnesota United FC 2 Cameron Knowles
New England Revolution II Clint Peay
New York City FC II Matt Pilkington
North Texas SC Pa-Modou Kah
Orlando City B Martín Perelman
Philadelphia Union II Marlon LeBlanc
Portland Timbers 2 Shannon Murray
Real Monarchs Jámison Olave
Rochester New York FC Bruno Baltazar
San Jose Earthquakes II Dan DeGeer (interim)
Sporting Kansas City II Benny Feilhaber
St. Louis City 2 John Hackworth (interim)
Toronto FC II Gianni Cimini
Tacoma Defiance Wade Webber
Whitecaps FC 2 Nick Dasovic

Regular season

The regular season will feature 24 matches in a mostly regionalized schedule. Teams will play two or three games against teams in their conference. Only four matches total will be played between teams in opposite conferences. Each conference will be divided into divisions of five or six teams for scheduling.[3]

Conference standings

Eastern Conference

Pos Div Team Pld W SOW SOL L GF GA GD Pts Qualification
1 CT Columbus Crew 2 24 16 2 3 3 62 22 +40 55 Qualification for the 2022 MLS Next Pro Playoffs
2 NE Toronto FC II 24 12 2 1 9 44 38 +6 41
3 NE Philadelphia Union II 24 11 3 1 9 42 39 +3 40
4 NE Rochester New York FC 24 10 4 2 8 37 30 +7 40
5 NE New York City FC II 24 9 4 2 9 49 35 +14 37
6 CT Inter Miami CF II 24 10 1 4 9 40 49 −9 36
7 NE New England Revolution II 24 9 1 4 10 27 42 −15 33
8 CT Chicago Fire FC II 24 8 2 3 11 41 44 −3 31
9 CT Orlando City B 24 6 2 3 13 40 53 −13 25
10 CT FC Cincinnati 2 24 4 2 1 17 27 65 −38 17
Source: MLSNP Eastern Conference
Rules for classification: 1) points; 2) total wins; 3) total goal differential; 4) total goals scored; 5) fewer disciplinary points; 6) away goal differential; 7) away goals scored; 8) home goals differential; 9) home goals scored; 10) coin toss (2 clubs tied) or drawing of lots (≥3 clubs tied)

Western Conference

Pos Div Team Pld W SOW SOL L GF GA GD Pts Qualification
1 FR St. Louis City 2 24 15 1 2 6 51 34 +17 49 Qualification for the 2022 MLS Next Pro Playoffs
2 PC Tacoma Defiance 24 14 3 1 6 57 25 +32 49
3 FR Houston Dynamo 2 24 14 2 3 5 38 22 +16 49
4 FR North Texas SC 24 13 2 3 6 48 31 +17 46
5 PC San Jose Earthquakes II 24 12 1 3 8 48 37 +11 41
6 FR Minnesota United FC 2 24 9 4 1 10 43 39 +4 36
7 PC Whitecaps FC 2 24 7 3 5 9 40 40 0 32
8 FR Sporting Kansas City II 24 9 1 2 12 31 38 −7 31
9 FR Colorado Rapids 2 24 7 4 2 11 33 56 −23 31
10 PC Real Monarchs 24 6 1 3 14 28 50 −22 23
11 PC Portland Timbers 2 24 2 4 0 18 29 66 −37 14
Source: MLSNP Western Conference
Rules for classification: 1) points; 2) total wins; 3) total goal differential; 4) total goals scored; 5) fewer disciplinary points; 6) away goal differential; 7) away goals scored; 8) home goals differential; 9) home goals scored; 10) coin toss (2 clubs tied) or drawing of lots (≥3 clubs tied)

Overall table

Pos Team Pld W SOW SOL L GF GA GD Pts Qualification
1 Columbus Crew 2 24 16 2 3 3 62 22 +40 55 Regular season champion
2 St. Louis City 2 24 15 1 2 6 51 34 +17 49
3 Tacoma Defiance 24 14 3 1 6 57 25 +32 49
4 Houston Dynamo 2 24 14 2 3 5 38 22 +16 49
5 North Texas SC 24 13 2 3 6 48 31 +17 46
6 San Jose Earthquakes II 24 12 1 3 8 48 37 +11 41
7 Toronto FC II 24 12 2 1 9 44 38 +6 41
8 Philadelphia Union II 24 11 3 1 9 42 39 +3 40
9 Rochester New York FC 24 10 4 2 8 37 30 +7 40
10 New York City FC II 24 9 4 2 9 49 35 +14 37
11 Inter Miami CF II 24 10 1 4 9 40 49 −9 36
12 Minnesota United FC 2 24 9 4 1 10 43 39 +4 36
13 New England Revolution II 24 9 1 4 10 27 42 −15 33
14 Whitecaps FC 2 24 7 3 5 9 40 40 0 32
15 Sporting Kansas City II 24 9 1 2 12 31 38 −7 31
16 Chicago Fire FC II 24 8 2 3 11 41 44 −3 31
17 Colorado Rapids 2 24 7 4 2 11 33 56 −23 31
18 Orlando City B 24 6 2 3 13 40 53 −13 25
19 Real Monarchs 24 6 1 3 14 28 50 −22 23
20 FC Cincinnati 2 24 4 2 1 17 27 65 −38 17
21 Portland Timbers 2 24 2 4 0 18 29 66 −37 14
Source: MLSNP
Rules for classification: 1) points; 2) total wins; 3) total goal differential; 4) total goals scored; 5) fewer disciplinary points; 6) away goal differential; 7) away goals scored; 8) home goals differential; 9) home goals scored; 10) coin toss (2 clubs tied) or drawing of lots (≥3 clubs tied)

Player statistics

As of September 18, 2022

Goals

Rank Player Club Goals[4]
1 Jacen Russell-Rowe Columbus Crew 2 21
2 Bernard Kamungo North Texas SC 16
3 Jack Lynn Orlando City B 15
4 Shanyder Borgelin Inter Miami CF II 14
John Denis New York City FC II
6 Gibran Rayo Rochester New York FC 13
7 Rudi Castro San Jose Earthquakes II 12
Marlon Vargas Tacoma Defiance
9 Aziel Jackson Minnesota United FC 2 10
Jonathan Jimenez New York City FC II

Hat-tricks

Player For Against Score Date
Beto Avila Houston Dynamo 2 Sporting Kansas City II 3–0 (A)[5] April 10
Jack Lynn Orlando City B Inter Miami CF II 6–0 (H)[6] May 21
Joshua Penn Chicago Fire FC II Toronto FC II 6–2 (A) May 27
Rauf Salifu Sporting Kansas City II North Texas SC 4–2 (H)[7] July 2
Gibran Rayo Rochester New York FC Philadelphia Union II 3–0 (H)[8] July 7
John Denis New York City FC II New England Revolution II 4–0 (A) July 10
Victor Bezerra Chicago Fire FC II Orlando City B 3–4 (H) July 17
Thomas Williamson Minnesota United FC 2 Colorado Rapids 2 3–3 (H) August 6
Shanyder Borgelin Inter Miami II New England Revolution II 4–2 (H) August 7
Jacen Russell-Rowe Columbus Crew 2 FC Cincinnati II 9–0 (H)4 September 18
Notes

(H) – Home team
(A) – Away team
4 – Scored 4 goals

Assists

Rank Player Club Assists[9]
1 Romeo Beckham Inter Miami CF II 10
Mohamed Farsi Columbus Crew 2
3 Hope Avayevu North Texas SC 9
4 Aziel Jackson Minnesota United FC 2 7
Akil Watts St. Louis City 2
El Mahdi Youssoufi New York City FC II
7 Maximilian Arfsten San Jose Earthquakes II 6
Selmir Miscic Portland Timbers 2
Sergio Oregel Chicago Fire FC II
Marlon Vargas Tacoma Defiance

Clean sheets

Rank Player Club Clean
sheets[10]
1 Caíque Rochester New York FC 8
2 Patrick Schulte Columbus Crew 2 7
3 Xavier Valdez Houston Dynamo 2 6
4 Chris Brady Chicago Fire FC II 5
Luka Gavran Toronto FC II
Jacob Jackson New England Revolution II
Alex Rando New York City FC II
Brady Scott Columbus Crew 2
9 Antonio Carrera North Texas SC 4
Wallis Lapsley Tacoma Defiance
Javier Otero Orlando City B

Playoffs

There was an eight-team playoff, where the top finisher in each division qualified, along with the next two top finishers in each conference. Seeding within each conference was based on conference standings, regardless of being division champions.[11]

Qualifying teams

Bracket

Conference Semifinals Conference Finals 2022 MLS Next Pro Cup
         
E1 Columbus Crew 2 4
E4 Rochester New York FC 1
E1 Columbus Crew 2 (a.e.t.) 4
Eastern Conference
E2 Toronto FC II 3
E2 Toronto FC II 1
E3 Philadelphia Union II 0
E1 Columbus Crew 2 4
W1 St. Louis City 2 1
W1 St. Louis City 2 2
W4 North Texas SC 0
W1 St. Louis City 2 2
Western Conference
W2 Tacoma Defiance 1
W2 Tacoma Defiance (p) 2 (5)
W3 Houston Dynamo 2 2 (4)

Conference Semifinals

Eastern Conference

Columbus Crew 24–1Rochester New York FC
  • Parente  36'
  • Malou  40'
  • Russell-Rowe 44', 83', 85'
  • Micaletto 50'  53'
 Report
Attendance: 1,147[12]
Referee: Samantha Martinez
Toronto FC II1–0Philadelphia Union II
Mbongue 6' Report
Referee: Michael Venne

Western Conference

St. Louis City 22–0North Texas SC
Yaro  41'
Ostrák 73'
Schneider  75'
Di Rosa  84'
Pompeu 90+1' (pen.)		 Report Sainté  39'
Scott  71'
Bartlett  90+1'
Referee: Ricardo Fierro
Tacoma Defiance2–2 (a.e.t.)Houston Dynamo 2
 Report
Penalties
 5–4
Referee: Thomas Snyder

Conference Finals

Eastern Conference

Columbus Crew 24–3 (a.e.t.)Toronto FC II
 Report
Referee: Sergii Demianchuk

Western Conference

St. Louis City 22–1Tacoma Defiance
 Report
Attendance: 2,413[13]
Referee: Elton Garcia

2022 MLS Next Pro Cup

Columbus Crew 24–1St. Louis City 2
 Report
Attendance: 7,446
Referee: Malik Badawi

Most Valuable Player: Marco Micaletto (Columbus Crew 2)

League awards

Individual awards

Award Winner Team Reason Ref.
Golden Boot Jacen Russell-Rowe Columbus Crew 2 21 goals [14]
Goalkeeper of the Year Patrick Schulte Columbus Crew 2 1.00 goals against average; 10 wins; 7 clean sheets [15]
Coach of the Year Laurent Courtois Columbus Crew 2 Won regular season title [16]
Goal of the Year Ryan Lima New England Revolution II vs FC Cincinnati 2 [17]
Save of the Year Antonio Carrera North Texas SC vs Houston Dynamo 2 [18]
Most Valuable Player Jacen Russell-Rowe Columbus Crew 2 21 goals in 19 starts; 5 assists; 5 multi-goal games [19][20]

MLS Next Pro Best XI

Goalkeeper Defenders Midfielders Forwards Ref
Patrick Schulte (CC2) Mohamed Farsi (CC2)
Kyle Hiebert (STL)
Talen Maples (HD2) 		Pedro Dolabella (RNY)
Aziel Jackson (MU2)
Isaiah Parente (CC2)
Marlon Vargas (TAC) 		Bernard Kamungo (NTX)
Jack Lynn (OCB)
Jacen Russell-Rowe (CC2) 		[21]

Monthly awards

Month Player of the Month Team of the Month Coach of the Month Goalkeeper of the Month Ref.
Player Club Position Club Player Club Keeper Club
March/April Alfonso Ocampo-Chavez Tacoma Defiance Forward Houston Dynamo 2 Kenny Bundy Houston Dynamo 2 Javier Otero Orlando City B [22]
May Jacen Russell-Rowe Columbus Crew 2 Midfielder Rochester New York FC Bruno Baltazar Rochester New York FC Jacob Jackson New England Revolution II [23]
June Jacen Russell-Rowe Columbus Crew 2 Midfielder St. Louis City 2 John Hackworth St. Louis City 2 Caíque Rochester New York FC [24]
July John Denis New York City FC II Midfielder Tacoma Defiance Wade Webber Tacoma Defiance Luka Gavran Toronto FC II [25]
August Klauss St. Louis City 2 Forward St. Louis City 2 John Hackworth St. Louis City 2 Patrick Schulte Columbus Crew 2 [26]

See also

References

  1. ^ Tellitud, Jesus (October 8, 2022). "Columbus Crew 2 hoist MLS NEXT Pro Cup with 4-1 win over St Louis CITY2". MLS Next Pro. Retrieved October 8, 2022.
  2. ^ Johnson, Bailey (October 8, 2022). "Columbus Crew 2 wins inaugural MLS Next Pro Cup with dominant 4-1 victory". Columbus Dispatch. Retrieved October 8, 2022.
  3. ^ "MLS NEXT Pro Inaugural Season Schedule Release". MLS Next Pro. February 24, 2022. Retrieved February 25, 2022.
  4. ^ "MLS Next Pro – Statistics – Goals". MLS Next Pro. Retrieved September 18, 2022.
  5. ^ Schneider, Jacob (April 10, 2022). "Hat trick hero Roberto Avila leads Dynamo Dos to third straight win". MLSNextPro.com. MLS Next Pro. Retrieved April 10, 2022.
  6. ^ Schneider, Jacob (May 21, 2022). "Jack Lynn hat trick leads OCB to 6-0 win over Inter Miami CF II". MLSNextPro.com. MLS Next Pro. Retrieved May 22, 2022.
  7. ^ Belzer, Jared (July 2, 2022). "Recap: Rauf Salifu strikes four times in SKC II's 4-2 victory over first-place North Texas SC". sportingkc.com. Retrieved July 2, 2022.
  8. ^ Miller, Sean (July 7, 2022). "Rayo stays hot, hits hat trick to lead RNY FC past Union II". MLSNextPro.com. MLS Next Pro. Retrieved July 7, 2022.
  9. ^ "MLS Next Pro – Statistics – Assists". MLS Next Pro. Retrieved September 18, 2022.
  10. ^ "MLS Next Pro – Statistics – Clean Sheets". MLS Next Pro. Retrieved September 18, 2022.
  11. ^ "MLS NEXT Pro Playoffs Format and Schedule Announced". MLS Next Pro. September 14, 2022. Retrieved September 14, 2022.
  12. ^ "2022 Rochester New York FC Season". Rhinos Archive.
  13. ^ "City2 advances to MLS Next Pro championship game with 2—1 Win over Tacoma". St. Louis Today.
  14. ^ "Columbus Crew 2's Jacen Russell-Rowe wins 2022 MLS NEXT Pro Golden Boot". MLSnextpro.com. MLS Next Pro. September 18, 2022. Retrieved September 18, 2022.
  15. ^ Schneider, Jacob (September 23, 2022). "Columbus Crew 2 goalkeeper Patrick Schulte named MLS NEXT Pro Goalkeeper of the Year". MLSnextpro.com. MLS Next Pro. Retrieved September 23, 2022.
  16. ^ Schneider, Jacob (September 23, 2022). "Columbus Crew 2's Laurent Courtois named MLS NEXT Pro Coach of the year". MLSnextpro.com. MLS Next Pro. Retrieved September 23, 2022.
  17. ^ Henry, Larry (September 28, 2022). "Ryan Lima's Lazer Shot Wins Goal of the Year Award". MLSnextpro.com. MLS Next Pro. Retrieved September 28, 2022.
  18. ^ Henry, Larry (September 28, 2022). "Antonio Carrera's Spectacular Save Wins The Save of the Year Award". MLSnextpro.com. MLS Next Pro. Retrieved September 28, 2022.
  19. ^ "MLS NEXT Pro names Jacen Russell-Rowe first-ever Most Valuable Player". MLSnextpro.com. MLS Next Pro. October 7, 2022. Retrieved October 7, 2022.
  20. ^ Schneider, Jacob (October 7, 2022). "Jacen Russell-Rowe on 2022 MLS NEXT Pro MVP: "I wouldn't be able to score all those goals and to play the way I played without them behind me"". MLSnextpro.com. MLS Next Pro. Retrieved October 7, 2022.
  21. ^ Henry, Larry (September 23, 2022). "MLS NEXT Pro 2022 Best XI". MLSnextpro.com. MLS Next Pro. Retrieved September 23, 2022.
  22. ^ Schneider, Jacob (May 5, 2022). "MLS NEXT Pro Monthly Awards: April". mlsnextpro.com. MLS Next Pro. Retrieved May 5, 2022.
  23. ^ Schneider, Jacob (June 5, 2022). "MLS NEXT Pro Monthly Awards: May". mlsnextpro.com. MLS Next Pro. Retrieved June 5, 2022.
  24. ^ Schneider, Jacob (July 1, 2022). "MLS NEXT Pro Monthly Awards: June". mlsnextpro.com. MLS Next Pro. Retrieved July 15, 2022.
  25. ^ Schneider, Jacob (August 4, 2022). "MLS NEXT Pro Monthly Awards: July". mlsnextpro.com. MLS Next Pro. Retrieved August 4, 2022.
  26. ^ Schneider, Jacob (September 6, 2022). "MLS NEXT Pro Monthly Awards: August". mlsnextpro.com. MLS Next Pro. Retrieved September 6, 2022.
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