2023 Oakland Roots SC season

Oakland Roots SC
2023 season
Chairman	Steven Aldrich
Head coach	Noah Delgado
Stadium	Pioneer Stadium
USLC	Western Conference: 10th
USLC Playoffs	DNQ
U.S. Open Cup	Third round
Home colors	Away colors

The 2023 Oakland Roots SC season was the club's fifth season of existence and fourth in the USL Championship.

During the offseason, the Roots moved from their first home at Laney College Football Stadium in Oakland to Pioneer Stadium on the campus of CSU East Bay in Hayward due to issues with Laney College's stadium having major issues with the artificial turf.^[1]

Squad Information

Roster

As of July 27, 2023^[2]

No.	Pos.	Nation	Player
2	DF	GAM	Baboucarr Njie
3	DF	SLE	Kevin Wright
4	MF	CMR	Joseph Nane
6	DF	USA	Tarek Morad
7	MF	LES	Napo Matsoso
8	MF	BDI	Irakoze Donasiyano
10	MF	RSA	Lindo Mfeka
11	MF	JAM	Trayvone Reid
13	DF	TRI	Neveal Hackshaw
14	DF	USA	Danny Barbir
15	MF	USA	Daniel Gomez
16	MF	USA	Ryan Her
17	FW	USA	Johnny Rodriguez
18	FW	COL	Anuar Peláez
19	MF	USA	Wolfgang Prentice
20	GK	USA	Paul Blanchette
21	DF	MNE	Emrah Klimenta
22	MF	ECU	Jeciel Cedeño
23	MF	USA	Memo Diaz
30	DF	SLV	Bryan Tamacas
34	DF	FRA	Thomas Camier (^[A])
38	FW	USA	Etsgar Cruz (^[A])
39	MF	USA	Javier Bedolla-Vera (^[A])
47	GK	USA	Taylor Bailey
50	DF	USA	Damario McIntosh (^[A])
61	GK	USA	Edwin Rodriguez (^[A])
62	GK	USA	Adan Corona (^[A])
99	MF	USA	Drew Murray

Competitions

USL Championship

Pos	Team	Pld	W	L	T	GF	GA	GD	Pts	Qualification
8	New Mexico United	34	13	14	7	51	49	+2	46	Playoffs
9	Rio Grande Valley FC Toros	34	10	11	13	43	48	−5	43
10	Oakland Roots SC	34	11	14	9	45	48	−3	42
11	Monterey Bay FC	34	11	15	8	42	53	−11	41
12	Las Vegas Lights FC	34	3	21	10	36	66	−30	19

Source: USL Championship Standings
Rules for classification: 1) head-to-head points; 2) head-to-head goal differential; 3) points-per game within conference; 4) total wins; 5) total goal differential; 6) total goals scored; 7) points earned against top four Conference finishers; 8) disciplinary points; 9) coin toss or drawing of lots

Match results

On January 9, 2023, the USL Championship released the regular season schedule for all teams.^[3]

All times are in Pacific Standard Time.

March

March 11 1	San Antonio FC	3–1	Oakland Roots	San Antonio, TX
5:30 PM	Hansen 12' Batista 45'+2', 73'	Report	Diaz 58'	Stadium: Toyota Field Attendance: 8,106 Referee: Matthew Thompson

March 19 2	Rio Grande Valley FC Toros	1–1	Oakland Roots	Edinburg, TX
5:00 PM	Ricketts 14'	Report	Rodriguez 82'	Stadium: H-E-B Park Attendance: 3,460 Referee: Malik Badawi

April

April 1 3	Oakland Roots	1–0	New Mexico United	Hayward, CA
5:00 PM	Rodriguez 63'	Report	Portillo 51' 71'	Stadium: Pioneer Stadium Attendance: 4,695 Referee: Elijio Arreguin

April 8 4	Indy Eleven	0–3	Oakland Roots	Indianapolis, IN
4:00 PM		Report	Klimenta 23' 82' Mfeka 43' Formella 71' Rito 78'	Stadium: Michael A. Carroll Stadium Attendance: 9,334 Referee: Matthew Thompson

April 15 5	Oakland Roots	1–2	Hartford Athletic	Hayward, CA
7:00 PM	Formella 73' (pen.)	Report	Saydee 31' Cedeno 35'	Stadium: Pioneer Stadium Attendance: 4,036 Referee: Matthew Corrigan

April 23 6	Loudoun United FC	2–0	Oakland Roots	Leesburg, VA
1:00 PM	Ryan 30' (pen.) Armenakas 58'	Report		Stadium: Segra Field Attendance: 2,061 Referee: Cristian Campo Hernández

April 29 7	Oakland Roots	0–0	Miami FC	Hayward, CA
7:00 PM		Report		Stadium: Pioneer Stadium Attendance: 4,540 Referee: Ricardo Fierro

May

May 6 8	Birmingham Legion FC	1–4	Oakland Roots	Birmingham, AL
4:30 PM	Kavita 35' Martínez 48'	Report	Formella 45'+3' (pen.) Mfeka 64' Reid 71' Rodriguez 88'	Stadium: Protective Stadium Attendance: 4,186 Referee: Sergii Boiko

May 13 9	Oakland Roots	3–0	Orange County SC	Hayward, CA
8:00 PM	Formella 30' Morad 43' Rito 78'	Report		Stadium: Pioneer Stadium Attendance: 5,855 Referee: Corbyn May

May 20 10	Sacramento Republic FC	3–1	Oakland Roots	Sacramento, CA
7:00 PM	Keko 12' Cicerone 51' Herrera 55'	Report	Barbir 62'	Stadium: Heart Health Park Attendance: 10,988 Referee: Elton García

May 27 11	Oakland Roots	2–0	San Diego Loyal SC	Hayward, CA
8:00 PM	Rodriguez 7' Peláez 90'+5'	Report		Stadium: Pioneer Stadium Attendance: 3,584 Referee: Calin Radosav

June

June 2 12	Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC	0–1	Oakland Roots	Colorado Springs, CO
6:00 PM		Report	Rodriguez 12'	Stadium: Weidner Field Attendance: 8,023 Referee: Ricardo Fierro

June 10 13	Phoenix Rising FC	2–2	Oakland Roots	Phoenix, AZ
7:30 PM	Varela 58' Arteaga 89'	Report	Formella 9' Mfeka 66'	Stadium: Phoenix Rising Soccer Stadium Attendance: 5,748 Referee: Malik Badawi

June 17 14	Oakland Roots	0–0	Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC	Hayward, CA
7:00 PM		Report		Stadium: Pioneer Stadium Attendance: 3,446 Referee: Alexis Da Silva

June 24 15	Oakland Roots	1–1	Phoenix Rising FC	Hayward, CA
7:00 PM	Formella 82'	Report	Arteaga 90'+3'	Stadium: Pioneer Stadium Attendance: 3,002 Referee: Abdou Ndiaye

June 28 16	Oakland Roots	0–2	Rio Grande Valley FC Toros	Hayward, CA
7:00 PM	Diaz 90' 90'+2'	Report	Cabrera 72', 80'	Stadium: Pioneer Stadium Attendance: 2,838 Referee: Deshun Beard

July

July 8 17	Tampa Bay Rowdies	3–0	Oakland Roots	St. Petersburg, FL
4:30 PM	Jennings 8', 41', 58'	Report		Stadium: Al Lang Stadium Referee: Natalie Simon

July 12 18	Oakland Roots	1–1	Memphis 901 FC	Hayward, CA
7:00 PM	Cedeno 33' Hackshaw 90'+8'	Report	Kissiedou 61'	Stadium: Pioneer Stadium Attendance: 2,098 Referee: Ricardo Fierro

July 15 19	Monterey Bay FC	1–3	Oakland Roots	Seaside, CA
7:00 PM	Dixon 29'	Report	Rodriguez 15' (pen.), 33' Diaz 78'	Stadium: Cardinale Stadium Attendance: 5,046 Referee: Elijio Arreguin

July 22 20	El Paso Locomotive FC	1–3	Oakland Roots	El Paso, TX
7:00 PM	Petrovic 48'	Report	Mfeka 65' Rodriguez 69' Peláez 85'	Stadium: Southwest University Park Attendance: 6,795 Referee: Eric Tattersall

July 26 21	Oakland Roots	1–0	Las Vegas Lights FC	Hayward, CA
7:00 PM	Peláez 76'	Report		Stadium: Pioneer Stadium Attendance: 2,356 Referee: Adorae Monroy

July 29 22	Oakland Roots	1–1	Detroit City FC	Hayward, CA
7:00 PM	Rodriguez 1'	Report	Carroll 5'	Stadium: Pioneer Stadium Attendance: 2,586 Referee: Brad Jensen

August

August 4 23	Charleston Battery	0–1	Oakland Roots	Mount Pleasant, SC
4:30 PM		Report	Dodson 41' (o.g.)	Stadium: Patriots Point Soccer Complex Attendance: 2,487 Referee: John Griggs

August 19 24	Oakland Roots	2–3	Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC	Hayward, CA
7:00 PM	Diaz 25' Peláez 45'+5' (pen.)	Report	Foster 5' Magee 40', 58'	Stadium: Pioneer Stadium Attendance: 4,017 Referee: Alexis Da Silva

August 23 25	New Mexico United	1–2	Oakland Roots	Albuquerque, NM
6:00 PM	Rivas 90'+2'	Report	Peláez 42' Reid 52'	Stadium: Isotopes Park Attendance: 7,081 Referee: Joshua Encarnación

August 26 26	Louisville City FC	2–1	Oakland Roots	Louisville, KY
4:30 PM	Ownby 71' Jimenez 90'+8'	Report	Rodriguez 45'+6'	Stadium: Lynn Family Stadium Attendance: 10,584 Referee: Abdou Ndiaye

September

September 2 27	Oakland Roots	0–1	Sacramento Republic FC	Hayward, CA
7:00 PM		Report	Herrera 3' (pen.)	Stadium: Pioneer Stadium Attendance: 4,140 Referee: Matthew Thompson

September 9 28	Las Vegas Lights FC	3–1	Oakland Roots	Las Vegas, NV
7:30 PM	Gonzalez 56' Bagley 57', 89'	Report	Rodriguez 12' (pen.)	Stadium: Cashman Field Referee: Danielle Chesky

September 16 29	Oakland Roots	0–1	FC Tulsa	Hayward, CA
7:00 PM	Mfeka 35' 44'	Report	Goodrum 10' Epps 79'	Stadium: Pioneer Stadium Attendance: 3,639 Referee: Melvin Rivas

September 23 30	Oakland Roots	2–2	Monterey Bay FC	Hayward, CA
7:00 PM	Barbir 44' Hackshaw 90'	Report	Dixon 3' Okoli 64'	Stadium: Pioneer Stadium Attendance: 4,099 Referee: John Griggs

September 30 31	Oakland Roots	2–2	San Antonio FC	Hayward, CA
7:00 PM	Rodriguez 9' Peláez 10'	Report	Patino 55' Oluwaseyi 90'+5' Farr 90'+10'	Stadium: Pioneer Stadium Attendance: 5,005 Referee: Brad Jensen

October

October 4 32	Orange County SC	3–1	Oakland Roots	Irvine, CA
7:00 PM	M. Iloski 45'+2' (pen.) Amang 45'+5' B. Iloski 50'	Report	Peláez 11'	Stadium: Championship Soccer Stadium Attendance: 3,378 Referee: Elvis Osmanovic

October 7 33	San Diego Loyal SC	4–2	Oakland Roots	San Diego, CA
7:00 PM	Corona 17' Damus 19', 25' Perez 44'	Report	Tamacas 13' Klimenta 82'	Stadium: Torero Stadium Attendance: 5,671 Referee: Danielle Chesky

October 14 34	Oakland Roots	1–2	El Paso Locomotive FC	Hayward, CA
7:00 PM	Peláez 47' Diaz 65' 90'+2'	Report	Sonupe 7' Dollenmayer 14'	Stadium: Pioneer Stadium Attendance: 6,135 Referee: Abdou Ndiaye

U.S. Open Cup

As a member of the USL Championship, the Oakland Roots entered the U.S. Open Cup in the second round at home against amateur soccer club El Farolito SC.^[4] After winning 3-1,^[5] the Roots eventually lost to fellow Championship club Sacramento Republic FC in the third round.^[6]^[7]

April 4	Oakland Roots SC (USLC)	3–1	El Farolito SC (NPSL)	Hayward, California
7:00 PM PDT	Rodriguez 12' Prentice 19', 24'	Report	Delgado 45' (pen.)	Stadium: Pioneer Stadium Attendance: 875 Referee: Christopher Calderon

April 26	Sacramento Republic FC (USLC)	1–0	Oakland Roots SC (USLC)	Sacramento, California
7:00 PM PDT	Ross 49'	Report		Stadium: Heart Health Park Attendance: 4,379 Referee: Laura Rodriguez

References

^ Comeaux, Jonathan (June 30, 2023). "Where will the Oakland Roots play next year?". The Oaklandside. Retrieved August 29, 2025.
^ "Squad 2023". oaklandrootssc.com. Oakland Roots SC. January 31, 2023. Retrieved February 1, 2023.
^ USL Championship Staff (January 9, 2023). "USL Championship Unveils 2023 Regular Season Schedule". USL Championship. Retrieved August 29, 2025.
^ "First round of 100-Team 2023 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup Kicks off with 14 Games on March 21–23" (Press release). United States Soccer Federation. February 3, 2023. Retrieved February 4, 2023.
^ Koenig, Michael (April 5, 2023). "2023 US Open Cup Round 2: Oakland Roots hot start delivers first USOC win, 3-1 vs. El Farolito". Retrieved August 29, 2025.
^ "Second round Pairings and Host Scenarios Set for 2023 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup" (Press release). United States Soccer Federation. February 16, 2023. Retrieved February 16, 2023.
^ Comeaux, Jonathan (April 27, 2023). "Offensive struggles continue in Oakland Roots' 0-1 loss to Sac Republic in U.S. Open Cup". RootsBlog. Retrieved August 29, 2025.

[1] Comeaux, Jonathan (June 30, 2023). "Where will the Oakland Roots play next year?". The Oaklandside. Retrieved August 29, 2025.

[2] "Squad 2023". oaklandrootssc.com. Oakland Roots SC. January 31, 2023. Retrieved February 1, 2023.

[3] USL Championship Staff (January 9, 2023). "USL Championship Unveils 2023 Regular Season Schedule". USL Championship. Retrieved August 29, 2025.

[First_Round-4] "First round of 100-Team 2023 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup Kicks off with 14 Games on March 21–23" (Press release). United States Soccer Federation. February 3, 2023. Retrieved February 4, 2023.

[5] Koenig, Michael (April 5, 2023). "2023 US Open Cup Round 2: Oakland Roots hot start delivers first USOC win, 3-1 vs. El Farolito". Retrieved August 29, 2025.

[Second_Round-6] "Second round Pairings and Host Scenarios Set for 2023 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup" (Press release). United States Soccer Federation. February 16, 2023. Retrieved February 16, 2023.

[7] Comeaux, Jonathan (April 27, 2023). "Offensive struggles continue in Oakland Roots' 0-1 loss to Sac Republic in U.S. Open Cup". RootsBlog. Retrieved August 29, 2025.

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