3. BATTERING RAM: The Charleston Battery also kicked off their 25th anniversary season at home on Saturday night, and took away one of the more impressive wins of the weekend as they edged out FC Cincinnati 2-1 behind a stellar performance from midfielder Justin Portillo. Making his return to competitive action, the standout central midfielder provided the assist on Charleston’s opening goal of the season, and then notched the game-winner as he scored on the rebound of his own penalty kick that had been initially saved by FCC goalkeeper Mitch Hildebrandt. With the newness that surrounds the USL these days, the ability the Battery and Kickers have both kept to remain in the front of the pack has always been impressive, and Saturday was another night where the organization of both was on full display.

4. ROUGH RIDERS: Arguably the result nobody saw coming going into Saturday’s action was Tulsa Roughnecks FC’s 4-1 victory against Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC, as new Head Coach David Vaudreuil’s side opened in tremendous style in front of the club’s passionate fans at ONEOK Field. An early setback didn’t derail the Roughnecks as Argentinian playmaker Juan Caffa quickly got the side back on level terms with an exceptional free kick. From there, the Roughnecks harried the Switchbacks out of their game and took advantage of their mistakes to run away with the biggest margin of victory over the weekend.

5. SHOOTING RANGE: While Tulsa finished bottom of the Western Conference a season ago, the Swope Park Rangers lifted the Western Conference Championship, and under new Head Coach Nikola Popovic the side continued to play the exciting, attacking soccer that brought it success a year ago. Despite the absences of 2016 All-League defender Amer Didic and last season’s leading scorer Mark Anthony Gonzalez – both currently with Canada’s U23 National Team – the Rangers looked crisp as they rallied to defeat OKC Energy FC 3-1 at Children’s Mercy Victory Field for a strong start to their title defense.