USL League One: 2025 Best of the First Half
We take a look at who shined during the first half of the 2025 season
With the season half over, it’s time to explore our USL League One standouts
USL League One First Half MVP
With five goals and four assists, no one is as important to Texoma’s turnaround than second-year midfielder Ajmeer Spengler. We’re not sure why South Georgia Tormenta let him walk after last season, but Spengler was probably the highest impact signing for the expansion club. He’s also one of the best midfielders in the league, with a long career ahead of him. It’s easy to pick Golden Boot contenders as MVP, but a midfielder who can score clutch goals, create solid chances, and menace an opposition in transition is far more valuable in our opinion.
Honorable mentions: Sebastian Cruz (AV Alta FC), Leo Castro (Greenville Triumph), Christian Chaney (Charlotte Independence), Darwin Espinal (Richmond Kickers), J.C. Obregón (Westchester SC), Pierre Reedy (Spokane Velocity)
Best Rookie of the First Half
No first-year professional has had an impact to his team like Connor Evans. The 23 year old right back has a goal and three assists in regular season play, and leads the league with 35 chances created. While Greenville had a slow start, they appear to be on the upswing heading into the second half of the season, and Evans will be playing an outsized role in the push to his club’s potential seventh straight playoff appearance.
Honorable mentions: Teddy Baker (Texoma FC), Mikkel Gøling (One Knoxville), Marc Torrellas (FC Naples)
Best Second Year Breakout of the First Half
We already gave MVP to second-year professional Ajmeer Spengler, and besides, he had his breakout last season with Tormenta. So we’re giving the best second-year breakout award to Richmond’s Josh Kirkland.
The 24 year old forward joined the Kickers midway through the 2024 season after practicing as a trialist. While he was a two-time All-American and fourth all time in goals scored with the University of Mary Washington, it wasn’t clear at first if this domination in NCAA Division III would translate over to the professional ranks. He was held scoreless during his regular season time with the Kickers in 2024, but returned in 2025 for a full season. Now at mid-season, he sits in the lead for the regular season Golden Boot with seven goals scored.
It was a difficult choice between Kirkland and FC Naples’ Karsen Henderlong, but if one is leading the Golden Boot race, we have to pick him.
Honorable mention: Karsen Henderlong (FC Naples), Camron Miller (Spokane Velocity), Rodrigo Robles (Greenville Triumph)
Best Defender of the First Half
In a league with a lot of solid defenders and defensive squads, it’s difficult to pick just one, but One Knoxville co-captain and center back Jordan Skelton continues to stand above the rest. He won’t be winning many man of the match awards, but he leads one of the best defenses in the league, conceding only eight goals in the first half of the season.
Honorable mention: Jake Dengler (FC Naples), Clay Dimick (Charlotte Independence), Brecc Evans (FC Naples), David Garcia (Spokane Velocity), Preston Kilwien (Texoma FC), Camron Miller (Spokane Velocity), Joshua Ramos (Chattanooga Red Wolves), Maxi Schenfeld (Richmond Kickers), Derek Waldeck (Spokane Velocity)
Best Goalkeeper of the First Half
So far in 2025, Spokane’s Carlos Merancio leads a pack of already solid league goaltenders by a mile. There were questions about Spokane’s goaltending to start this season, with 2024’s go-to Brooks Thompson heading to Lexington. However, Merancio stepped up and is putting up career numbers, including a league-leading six clean sheets on 33 saves. With Merancio backstopping the squad, Spokane has also only conceded nine regular season goals, second best in the league.
Honorable mention: Lalo Delgado (FC Naples), Javier Garcia (Texoma FC), Sean Lewis (One Knoxville), Gunther Rankenburg (Greenville Triumph)
Comeback Player of the First Half
Jerry Desdunes spent the 2022 season with Northern Colorado Hailstorm where he scored three goals and provided an assist. However, the club did not pick up his option, and he spent the last two seasons working his way back to the professional ranks making appearances with USL League Two side Ventura County Fusion. He returned to USL League One this year with expansion club AV Alta FC, and is currently second on his squad in regular season goal contributions with three goals and three assists.
We love a feel-good comeback story, and there are several players this season returning from injury or free agency and making strong impacts for their teams. But none have had the impact that Desdunes has had with AV Alta.
Honorable mention: Matt Bolduc (Richmond Kickers), Handwalla Bwana (South Georgia Tormenta), Pato Botello Faz (Union Omaha)
Who’s your pick for each of these? Sound off in the comments!
Editor’s note: a previous version of this story stated that Knoxville has the best defense in the league. An astute reader pointed out that based on goals conceded per matches played, they would have the second best defense to Spokane. We updated the wording to say that Knoxville has one of the best.
Good list & good write-ups! Jerry’s comeback has been awesome to see.
Transfermarket has Ajmeer Spengler's value as $150K, which is high for USL League One. So South Georgia Tormenta probably let him walk after last season simply due to financial constraints? Tormenta probably has all of its players at the CBA minimum, given its tight finances?