2022 MLS Next Pro season

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.

MLS Next Pro
Season2022
DatesMarch 25 – September 18
(Regular season)
September 24 – October 8
(Playoffs)
ChampionsColumbus Crew 2
Regular season titleColumbus Crew 2
Matches played259
(252 RS, 7 PO)
Goals scored882 (3.41 per match)
(855 RS, 27 PO)
Top goalscorerJacen Russell-Rowe
(21 goals)
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.

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 SC 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 SC 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 Captain
Chicago Fire FC II France Ludovic Taillandier
FC Cincinnati 2 United States Tyrone Marshall
Colorado Rapids 2 United States Erik Bushey
Columbus Crew 2 France Laurent Courtois Italy Marco Micaletto
Houston Dynamo 2 United States Kenny Bundy United States Talen Maples
Inter Miami CF II England Darren Powell
Minnesota United FC 2 New Zealand Cameron Knowles
New England Revolution II United States Clint Peay
New York City FC II United States Matt Pilkington United States Nico Benalcazar
North Texas SC Norway Pa-Modou Kah
Orlando City B Argentina Martín Perelman
Philadelphia Union II United States Marlon LeBlanc
Portland Timbers 2 Scotland Shannon Murray
Real Monarchs Colombia Jámison Olave
Rochester New York FC Portugal Bruno Baltazar
San Jose Earthquakes II United States Dan DeGeer (interim)
Sporting Kansas City II United States Benny Feilhaber
St. Louis City SC 2 United States John Hackworth (interim)
Toronto FC II Canada Gianni Cimini
Tacoma Defiance United States Wade Webber
Whitecaps FC 2 Canada 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]

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

Hat-tricks
Player For Against Score Date
United States Beto Avila Houston Dynamo 2 Sporting Kansas City II 3–0 (A)[5] April 10
United States Jack Lynn Orlando City B Inter Miami CF II 6–0 (H)[6] May 21
United States Joshua Penn Chicago Fire FC II Toronto FC II 6–2 (A) May 27
United States Rauf Salifu Sporting Kansas City II North Texas SC 4–2 (H)[7] July 2
United States Gibran Rayo Rochester New York FC Philadelphia Union II 3–0 (H)[8] July 7
United States John Denis New York City FC II New England Revolution II 4–0 (A) July 10
United States Victor Bezerra Chicago Fire FC II Orlando City B 3–4 (H) July 17
United States Thomas Williamson Minnesota United FC 2 Colorado Rapids 2 3–3 (H) August 6
Haiti Shanyder Borgelin Inter Miami II New England Revolution II 4–2 (H) August 7
Canada 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
RankPlayerClubAssists[9]
1 England Romeo Beckham Inter Miami CF II 10
Canada Mohamed Farsi Columbus Crew 2
3 Ghana Hope Avayevu North Texas SC 9
4 United States Aziel Jackson Minnesota United FC 2 7
United States Akil Watts St. Louis City SC 2
Morocco El Mahdi Youssoufi New York City FC II
7 United States Maximilian Arfsten San Jose Earthquakes II 6
United States Selmir Miscic Portland Timbers 2
United States Sergio Oregel Chicago Fire FC II
United States Marlon Vargas Tacoma Defiance

Clean sheets
RankPlayerClubClean
sheets[10]
1 Brazil Caíque Rochester New York FC 8
2 United States Patrick Schulte Columbus Crew 2 7
3 Dominican Republic Xavier Valdez Houston Dynamo 2 6
4 United States Chris Brady Chicago Fire FC II 5
Canada Luka Gavran Toronto FC II
United States Jacob Jackson New England Revolution II
United States Alex Rando New York City FC II
United States Brady Scott Columbus Crew 2
9 United States Antonio Carrera North Texas SC 4
United States Wallis Lapsley Tacoma Defiance
Venezuela 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 SC 2 1
W1 St. Louis City SC 2 2
W4 North Texas SC 0
W1 St. Louis City SC 2 2
Western Conference
W2 Tacoma Defiance 1
W2 Tacoma Defiance (p) 2 (5)
W3 Houston Dynamo 2 2 (4)

Eastern Conference
Columbus Crew 24–1Rochester New York FC
 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 SC 22–0North Texas SC
Yaro Yellow card 41'
Ostrák 73'
Schneider Yellow card 75'
Di Rosa Yellow card 84'
Pompeu 90+1' (pen.)		 Report Sainté Yellow card 39'
Scott Yellow card 71'
Bartlett Yellow card 90+1'
Referee: Ricardo Fierro
Tacoma Defiance2–2 (a.e.t.)Houston Dynamo 2
 Report
Penalties
 5–4
Referee: Thomas Snyder

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

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

2022 MLS Next Pro Cup
Columbus Crew 24–1St. Louis City SC 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 Canada Jacen Russell-Rowe Columbus Crew 2 21 goals [14]
Goalkeeper of the Year United States Patrick Schulte Columbus Crew 2 1.00 goals against average; 10 wins; 7 clean sheets [15]
Coach of the Year France Laurent Courtois Columbus Crew 2 Won regular season title [16]
Goal of the Year Brazil Ryan Lima New England Revolution II vs FC Cincinnati 2 [17]
Save of the Year United States Antonio Carrera North Texas SC vs Houston Dynamo 2 [18]
Most Valuable Player Canada 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
United States Patrick Schulte (CC2) Canada Mohamed Farsi (CC2)
Canada Kyle Hiebert (STL)
United States Talen Maples (HD2)		 Brazil Pedro Dolabella (RNY)
United States Aziel Jackson (MU2)
United States Isaiah Parente (CC2)
United States Marlon Vargas (TAC)		 Tanzania Bernard Kamungo (NTX)
United States Jack Lynn (OCB)
Canada 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.
PlayerClubPositionClubPlayerClubKeeperClub
March/April United States Alfonso Ocampo-Chavez Tacoma Defiance Forward Houston Dynamo 2 United States Kenny Bundy Houston Dynamo 2 United States Javier Otero Orlando City B [22]
May Canada Jacen Russell-Rowe Columbus Crew 2 Midfielder Rochester New York FC Portugal Bruno Baltazar Rochester New York FC United States Jacob Jackson New England Revolution II [23]
June Canada Jacen Russell-Rowe Columbus Crew 2 Midfielder St. Louis City SC 2 United States John Hackworth St. Louis City SC 2 Brazil Caíque Rochester New York FC [24]
July United States John Denis New York City FC II Midfielder Tacoma Defiance United States Wade Webber Tacoma Defiance Canada Luka Gavran Toronto FC II [25]
August Brazil Klauss St. Louis City SC 2 Forward St. Louis City SC 2 United States John Hackworth St. Louis City SC 2 United States 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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