Tacoma Defiance picked up the weekend's most eye-catching result in MLS NEXT Pro action, handing Houston Dynamo 2 their first-ever defeat in this inaugural campaign. Abdoulaye Cissoko scored twice, while Alfonso Ocampo-Chavez and Valentin Sabella contributed goals in a lopsided victory at Starfire Sports Complex. Whitecaps FC 2 continued their strong run, claiming a third-straight league victory on Saturday, while St Louis CITY2 rebounded from the largest margin of defeat in its MLS NEXT Pro history.
Here's your MLS NEXT Pro week six recap by the numbers.
25 goals scored
There was a dip in goals in Week 6 as only 25 goals were scored in the eight-match weekend schedule, but still 3.1 goals per game average. 11 of those 25 goals came between the TFC II/FC Cincinnati 2 and Tacoma Defiance/Houston Dynamo 2 matches.
Only one match featured one combined goal as New England Revolution II defeated Inter Miami II 1-0 thanks to a Noah Allen first-half own goal.
10+ more; Houston Dynamo 2, North Texas SC headline clubs with double-digit points earned
The number of MLS NEXT Pro sides to move above the 10-point mark of the 2022 season rose to seven following victories for New England Revolution II, St Louis CITY2, and Whitecaps FC 2 this weekend.
Texas-based clubs Houston Dynamo II and North Texas SC headline the top point-earners this season, totaling 29 points between them to date. Despite suffering their first defeat of the regular season, Dynamo Dos leads the league with five victories and has the third-most goals scored (13).
8 saves for Union II goalkeeper Matt Freese
Philadelphia Union II used a pair of second-half goals to claim three points against NYCFC II, but also Marlon LeBlanc's side needed eight saves from goalkeeper Matt Freese to keep the visitors at bay.
Freese, 23, was tested often at Subaru Park by NYCFC II, keeping Union II in the match long enough to pick up their performance after halftime. Chris Donovan and Brandan Craig each scored in the second half to propel the hosts on the way to earn a second home of the MLS NEXT Pro season.
Freese is one of the veteran goalkeepers in MLS NEXT Pro, currently holding 17 MLS appearances under his belt.
4 second-half goals propel TFC II to victory
TFC II was staring at a second-consecutive defeat in the face on Saturday at BMO Field, but the Canadian club fought its way by scoring four second-half goals to grab a significant victory over FC Cincinnati 2.
Toronto FC II scored three goals in 24 minutes after going down 2-0, using tallies from Paul Rothrock, Reshaun Walkes, and Julian Altobelli to swing the match in their favor. A Morgan Marshall own goal in stoppage time iced the comeback win for Gianni Cimini's side.
Toronto FC has scored three or more goals in three of its six matches this season.
3 straight wins for Whitecaps FC 2, unbeaten run continues
Whitecaps FC 2 extended its winning run to three matches and unbeaten run to five games, defeating Earthquakes II 2-0 on Saturday. Vasco Fry opened the scoring in the second minute, giving the hosts an early advantage.
WFC 2 added a second goal in the 94th minute as Pedro Vite slammed the door shut on any potential comeback for Quakes II. Nick Dasovic's side moved to third place in the Western Conference standings, leapfrogging North Texas SC and Minnesota United 2.
First MLS NEXT Pro win for Colorado Rapids 2
Colorado Rapids 2 celebrated its first-ever MLS NEXT Pro victory on Sunday, rolling past Timbers2 3-1 at University of Denver Stadium. Rapids 2 struggled to regularly find the back of the net through their opening five matches but had better success on Sunday.
Yosuke Hanya, Collen Warner, and Darren Yapi all scored goals in the victory.
Rapids 2 doubled their goal production for the season, rising up to five goals scored in 450 minutes of play.
0 defeats; Revs II left as the only unbeaten side in MLS NEXT Pro
New England Revolution II closed the weekend as the only unbeaten side left in MLS NEXT Pro following a 1-0 win over Inter Miami II paired with Houston Dynamo 2's 4-1 loss to Tacoma Defiance.
The team from New England sits in second place in the Eastern Conference with 12 points earned through five matches, registering the fourth-most goals scored in the conference (9). Damian Rivera leads Revs II with three goals scored in 2022, and that early-season success carried over to the 19-year-old netting his first senior goal for the Revolution this weekend in MLS action.
Trevor Zwetsloot leads the Revs in interceptions (9), while defender Italo and midfielder Michel lead the team in duels won (49 & 45 respectively).
Revs II will have their toughest test yet in Week 7, hosting East leaders Columbus Crew 2 on May 8.
