Season | 2022 |
---|---|
Dates | March 25 – September 18 (Regular season) September 24 – October 8 (Playoffs) |
Champions | Columbus Crew 2 |
Regular season title | Columbus Crew 2 |
Matches played | 259 (252 RS, 7 PO) |
Goals scored | 882 (3.41 per match) (855 RS, 27 PO) |
Top goalscorer | Jacen Russell-Rowe (21 goals) |
Biggest home win | CC2 9–0 CIN (September 18) |
Biggest away win | CHI 0–5 STL (June 11) |
Highest scoring | CC2 9–0 CIN (September 18) |
Longest winning run | 7 PU2 |
Longest losing run | 13 RLM |
Highest attendance | 7,446 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 SC 2 4–1 in the inaugural MLS Next Pro Cup final on October 8.[1][2]
Teams
Stadiums and locations
Personnel and sponsorship
Note: All teams use Adidas as universal kit manufacturer.
Team | Head coach |
---|---|
Chicago Fire FC II | ![]() |
FC Cincinnati 2 | ![]() |
Colorado Rapids 2 | ![]() |
Columbus Crew 2 | ![]() |
Houston Dynamo 2 | ![]() |
Inter Miami CF II | ![]() |
Minnesota United FC 2 | ![]() |
New England Revolution II | ![]() |
New York City FC II | ![]() |
North Texas SC | ![]() |
Orlando City B | ![]() |
Philadelphia Union II | ![]() |
Portland Timbers 2 | ![]() |
Real Monarchs | ![]() |
Rochester New York FC | ![]() |
San Jose Earthquakes II | ![]() |
Sporting Kansas City II | ![]() |
St. Louis City SC 2 | ![]() |
Toronto FC II | ![]() |
Tacoma Defiance | ![]() |
Whitecaps FC 2 | ![]() |
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 |
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 |
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 |
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 | ![]() |
Columbus Crew 2 | 21 |
2 | ![]() |
North Texas SC | 16 |
3 | ![]() |
Orlando City B | 15 |
4 | ![]() |
Inter Miami CF II | 14 |
![]() |
New York City FC II | ||
6 | ![]() |
Rochester New York FC | 13 |
7 | ![]() |
San Jose Earthquakes II | 12 |
![]() |
Tacoma Defiance | ||
9 | ![]() |
Minnesota United FC 2 | 10 |
![]() |
New York City FC II |
Hat-tricks
Player | For | Against | Score | Date |
---|---|---|---|---|
![]() |
Houston Dynamo 2 | Sporting Kansas City II | 3–0 (A)[5] | April 10 |
![]() |
Orlando City B | Inter Miami CF II | 6–0 (H)[6] | May 21 |
![]() |
Chicago Fire FC II | Toronto FC II | 6–2 (A) | May 27 |
![]() |
Sporting Kansas City II | North Texas SC | 4–2 (H)[7] | July 2 |
![]() |
Rochester New York FC | Philadelphia Union II | 3–0 (H)[8] | July 7 |
![]() |
New York City FC II | New England Revolution II | 4–0 (A) | July 10 |
![]() |
Chicago Fire FC II | Orlando City B | 3–4 (H) | July 17 |
![]() |
Minnesota United FC 2 | Colorado Rapids 2 | 3–3 (H) | August 6 |
![]() |
Inter Miami II | New England Revolution II | 4–2 (H) | August 7 |
![]() |
Columbus Crew 2 | FC Cincinnati II | 9–0 (H)4 | September 18 |
- Notes
(H) – Home team
(A) – Away team
4 – Scored 4 goals
Assists
Clean sheets
Rank | Player | Club | Clean sheets[10] |
---|---|---|---|
1 | ![]() |
Rochester New York FC | 8 |
2 | ![]() |
Columbus Crew 2 | 7 |
3 | ![]() |
Houston Dynamo 2 | 6 |
4 | ![]() |
Chicago Fire FC II | 5 |
![]() |
Toronto FC II | ||
![]() |
New England Revolution II | ||
![]() |
New York City FC II | ||
![]() |
Columbus Crew 2 | ||
9 | ![]() |
North Texas SC | 4 |
![]() |
Tacoma Defiance | ||
![]() |
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) |
Conference Semifinals
Eastern Conference
Columbus Crew 2 | 4–1 | Rochester New York FC |
---|---|---|
|
Report |
|
Western Conference
St. Louis City SC 2 | 2–0 | North Texas SC |
---|---|---|
Yaro ![]() Ostrák ![]() Schneider ![]() Di Rosa ![]() Pompeu ![]() |
Report | Sainté ![]() Scott ![]() Bartlett ![]() |
Tacoma Defiance | 2–2 (a.e.t.) | Houston Dynamo 2 |
---|---|---|
Report | ||
Penalties | ||
5–4 |
Conference Finals
Eastern Conference
Columbus Crew 2 | 4–3 (a.e.t.) | Toronto FC II |
---|---|---|
Report |
|
Western Conference
2022 MLS Next Pro Cup
Most Valuable Player: Marco Micaletto (Columbus Crew 2)
League awards
Individual awards
Award | Winner | Team | Reason | Ref. |
---|---|---|---|---|
Golden Boot | ![]() |
Columbus Crew 2 | 21 goals | [14] |
Goalkeeper of the Year | ![]() |
Columbus Crew 2 | 1.00 goals against average; 10 wins; 7 clean sheets | [15] |
Coach of the Year | ![]() |
Columbus Crew 2 | Won regular season title | [16] |
Goal of the Year | ![]() |
New England Revolution II | vs FC Cincinnati 2 | [17] |
Save of the Year | ![]() |
North Texas SC | vs Houston Dynamo 2 | [18] |
Most Valuable Player | ![]() |
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 |
---|---|---|---|---|
![]() |
![]() ![]() ![]() |
![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
![]() ![]() ![]() |
[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 | ![]() |
Tacoma Defiance | Forward | Houston Dynamo 2 | ![]() |
Houston Dynamo 2 | ![]() |
Orlando City B | [22] |
May | ![]() |
Columbus Crew 2 | Midfielder | Rochester New York FC | ![]() |
Rochester New York FC | ![]() |
New England Revolution II | [23] |
June | ![]() |
Columbus Crew 2 | Midfielder | St. Louis City SC 2 | ![]() |
St. Louis City SC 2 | ![]() |
Rochester New York FC | [24] |
July | ![]() |
New York City FC II | Midfielder | Tacoma Defiance | ![]() |
Tacoma Defiance | ![]() |
Toronto FC II | [25] |
August | ![]() |
St. Louis City SC 2 | Forward | St. Louis City SC 2 | ![]() |
St. Louis City SC 2 | ![]() |
Columbus Crew 2 | [26] |
See also
References
- ^ 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.
- ^ 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.
- ^ "MLS NEXT Pro Inaugural Season Schedule Release". MLS Next Pro. February 24, 2022. Retrieved February 25, 2022.
- ^ "MLS Next Pro – Statistics – Goals". MLS Next Pro. Retrieved September 18, 2022.
- ^ 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.
- ^ 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.
- ^ 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.
- ^ 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.
- ^ "MLS Next Pro – Statistics – Assists". MLS Next Pro. Retrieved September 18, 2022.
- ^ "MLS Next Pro – Statistics – Clean Sheets". MLS Next Pro. Retrieved September 18, 2022.
- ^ "MLS NEXT Pro Playoffs Format and Schedule Announced". MLS Next Pro. September 14, 2022. Retrieved September 14, 2022.
- ^ "2022 Rochester New York FC Season". Rhinos Archive.
- ^ "City2 advances to MLS Next Pro championship game with 2—1 Win over Tacoma". St. Louis Today.
- ^ "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.
- ^ 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.
- ^ 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.
- ^ 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.
- ^ 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.
- ^ "MLS NEXT Pro names Jacen Russell-Rowe first-ever Most Valuable Player". MLSnextpro.com. MLS Next Pro. October 7, 2022. Retrieved October 7, 2022.
- ^ 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.
- ^ Henry, Larry (September 23, 2022). "MLS NEXT Pro 2022 Best XI". MLSnextpro.com. MLS Next Pro. Retrieved September 23, 2022.
- ^ Schneider, Jacob (May 5, 2022). "MLS NEXT Pro Monthly Awards: April". mlsnextpro.com. MLS Next Pro. Retrieved May 5, 2022.
- ^ Schneider, Jacob (June 5, 2022). "MLS NEXT Pro Monthly Awards: May". mlsnextpro.com. MLS Next Pro. Retrieved June 5, 2022.
- ^ Schneider, Jacob (July 1, 2022). "MLS NEXT Pro Monthly Awards: June". mlsnextpro.com. MLS Next Pro. Retrieved July 15, 2022.
- ^ Schneider, Jacob (August 4, 2022). "MLS NEXT Pro Monthly Awards: July". mlsnextpro.com. MLS Next Pro. Retrieved August 4, 2022.
- ^ Schneider, Jacob (September 6, 2022). "MLS NEXT Pro Monthly Awards: August". mlsnextpro.com. MLS Next Pro. Retrieved September 6, 2022.