ORLANDO, Fla. – The USL Championship's regular season came to an end over the weekend after a handful of UCF alumni left their mark, scoring 19 goals and six assists combined over the course of each team's 16-match slate. The Birmingham Legion and Charlotte Independence qualified for the playoffs, both having one UCF alumnus on their rosters.
Of the five #BuiltByUCF alumni, four of them scored goals during their regular season schedules which was significantly shortened compared to past schedules. Every team was divided into four-team groups for the 2020 campaign to limit travel due to the ongoing threat of COVID-19. Four of UCF's five alumni in the USL Championship wound up in Group G, creating multiple alumni showdowns throughout the season.
Cal Jennings (2016-19) had an incredible first season of professional soccer, tallying nine goals over 14 matches. His career began as a late substitute and worked his way up to earning the starting job on Aug. 22. Jennings rallied down the stretch, collecting his first hat trick as a pro in Memphis' final match which doubled as just the second hat trick in team history. Eight of Jennings' nine goals came over his final four matches, with the lone remaining goal coming on July 18 against Atlanta United which was the first of his career. Memphis was 2-2-1 when Jennings scored a goal and finished the season at 4-7-4. Jennings' phenomenal run to end the season earned him the honor of being named the USL Championship's Player of the Week.
Jonathan Dean (2016-19) was just as impressive in his rookie season in professional soccer. He posted a goal and five assists as he helped lead the Birmingham Legion to a playoff berth. He picked up a majority of his points early on, tallying a goal and four assists through his first five matches. Dean started in all 16 of Birmingham's matches and collected a total of 1,429 minutes on the pitch, the most of any #BuiltByUCF player in the USL Championship this season. Dean completed 484 successful passes with a passing accuracy of 78.2 percent on the campaign. The Legion and Dean compiled 25 points, going 7-5-4 during the regular season.
Romario Williams (2012-14) was a star for Miami FC in his first season at the USL level after four total years of MLS service time. Williams scored a total of eight goals over 16 matches, starting in 11. He finished the season by tallying a goal in each of his final two matches and was a clear difference maker at the striker position. Miami FC finished the season on a high note with two consecutive victories but posted an overall record of 4-8-4. Williams was the only UCF alumnus not in Group G this season, but still faced other Knight alumni throughout the campaign.
Hadji Barry (2014-15) registered a goal and assist this season for North Carolina FC. He played in all 15 of their matches, getting the starting nod in 11. Barry tallied just over 1,000 minutes of playing time and was a key facilitator in North Carolina's offense. He successfully connected on 403 passes with a passing accuracy of 83.8 percent. Barry and his squad fell just shy of the postseason, finishing with a mark of 6-8-1.
Kevan George (2008-11) started and played in one match during the 2020 season for the Charlotte Independence who also qualified for the playoffs. George didn't crack onto the score sheet in his 90 minutes of action but completed 29 passes successfully with an 85.3 percent accuracy. George and the Independence finished at the top of Group G with a record of 8-4-4, good enough for 28 points.
The USL Championship playoffs are set to begin on Saturday with the Charlotte Independence facing the Charleston Battery at 7:00 p.m. and the Birmingham Legion facing the Tampa Bay Rowdies at 7:30 p.m. Both matches will be televised on ESPN+.
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