2022 MLS Next Pro season
1st season of MLS Next Pro
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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.
Season2022
DatesMarch 25 – September 18
(regular season)
September 24 – October 8
(playoffs)
(regular season)
September 24 – October 8
(playoffs)
ChampionsColumbus Crew 2 (1st Title)
Regular season titleColumbus Crew 2 (1st Title)
| Season | 2022 |
|---|---|
| Dates | March 25 – September 18 (regular season) September 24 – October 8 (playoffs) |
| Champions | Columbus Crew 2 (1st Title) |
| Regular season title | Columbus Crew 2 (1st Title) |
| Matches | 259 (252 RS, 7 PO) |
| Goals | 882 (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 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. | |
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
Personnel and sponsorship
Note: All teams use Adidas as universal kit manufacturer.
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)
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)
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)
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 | 0–3 (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 | 2–6 (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 | 0–4 (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
Clean sheets
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 2 | 4–1 | Rochester New York FC |
|---|---|---|
|
Report |
|
Western Conference
Referee: Ricardo Fierro
Referee: Thomas Snyder
Conference Finals
Eastern Conference
| Columbus Crew 2 | 4–3 (a.e.t.) | Toronto FC II |
|---|---|---|
| Report |
|
Referee: Sergii Demianchuk
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 | 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] |