If there’s one number that sums up the dominance with which the Tampa Bay Rowdies have begun the 2026 USL Championship, it’s zero.

As in, the Tampa Bay Rowdies have trailed for zero seconds across 13 games in the league and Prinx Tires USL Cup.

On Saturday night, the opening goal didn’t arrive well into the second half against Louisville City FC at Lynn Family Stadium, but MD Myers’ nifty piece of footwork to retain possession and create space for a finish just inside the six-yard area gave the Rowdies their 13th consecutive opening goal of the game this season. A second from Max Schneider in stoppage time closed the door on a 2-0 victory that extended Tampa Bay’s lead at the top of the Eastern Conference to nine points while extending one of the most impressive starts to a season in league history.

“I think we did a good job keeping our composure tonight,” said Rowdies Head Coach Dominic Casciato. “Obviously Louisville are a very good team, regardless of their recent results. They’re a very good side. I thought we came here and dominated the game. I thought we looked after the ball really well. We were very composed in possession, and I think the first goal is probably a great example of that.” 


SETTING TEMPO: The Rowdies are only halfway to matching the Championship’s longest undefeated streak to start a season, with the Richmond Kickers producing a 22-game run at the start of the 2022 season, but the tempo they’re setting in terms of points-per-game is among the elite starts we’ve seen in league history. The best of those through 11 games was by Real Monarchs SLC, which won 10 of its first 11 games – and ultimately 12 of its first 13 – in 2017 on the way to winning the Players’ Shield.



NUMBERS DON’T LIE: The Rowdies’ have more than met the eye test in terms of being the best team in the league this season, but those are backed up by remarkable attacking and defending numbers that say this side is a complete package. Not only does Tampa Bay rank third in the league with a 17.77 Expected Goals mark, it leads the league with a 6.81 Expected Goals Against mark, making for a +9.16 Expected Goal Differential. The side has almost doubled its opponents’ shots on target (50-28) while facing the fewest shots in the league overall (91).



FINDING THE BALANCE: What we were watching closely on Saturday was how two sides that are elite at winning possession high up the field would match up. Even on the road, though, the Rowdies’ composure in possession was remarkable. Holding almost two-thirds of possession, the Rowdies were able to neutralize Louisville’s typical home advantage in field tilt, edging that battle as both teams recorded 37 recoveries apiece. Louisville’s six shots were tied for the second-fewest on record at home in its history as Tampa Bay proved the more dangerous side throughout.


The Rowdies will be the first to tell you that they haven’t accomplished anything yet – a sign of the buy-in the squad has delivered in Casciato’s first full season at the helm – but what Tampa Bay is doing right now is worthy of recognition. After what Louisville City accomplished a season ago – becoming the first team in a decade to go through a regular season with only one loss – the Rowdies have a clear opportunity to take aim at that sort of history.

They won’t take any of that for granted, but the Rowdies are the team you need to be paying attention not only now but for the rest of this USL Championship campaign.

“It’s obviously a great result to come here and win,” said Casciato. “I think this team still has a long way to go, and I think we can get better and better. It’s a good result tonight. We’re pleased with it. We’ll look back at it and try to get better for next Saturday, because that has to be our mentality regardless of the result and regardless of who we play.”