With the second half of the season set to kick off this weekend, here’s some things we’ve learned from the USL Super League so far.

Veterans deliver

Brooks, George, Bruce, Tymrack, Meza bring instrumental veteran leadership to new expansion teams seeking to develop club culture and style of play by providing key skills and leadership. Veteran leadership is the core to on and off-the-field player development.

Expansion league came to play

Several teams started from day one with thoughtful well-structured rosters and personnel that were clearly reflected in results and cohesive play. As the season progressed gaps became more apparent as the top of the table started to pull away from the bottom. Performance was a key factor in the structured defined tactical play the teams produced. DC Power rolled the dice on former player-turned-assistant coach turned head coach and Frederic Brillant was 1st couch to be bounced out of his position. If you are not dialed in and up don’t bother.

Don’t judge the chaos by its cover

Brooklyn had to postpone their team start, quiet almost non-existent pres-season signings, had no coach to start the season, played the whole fall season at Columbia University, and finished the fall schedule as the league leaders. All the signs pointed to being a hot mess express, but they were cold as ice. This is fun chaos that I can embrace, not bury my head in shame.

Goals don’t matter, sorry Lexington

The team that scores the most goals can still be in last place, especially if you let in a lot of game-winning goals in the last 10 minutes. This league requires defense, offense, and goalkeeping to be solid or it will be exploited. Lexington is tied for a league-high 20 goals for, but their goals against is 30. Being able to secure three points whether with 1 goal or 20 is irrelevant if you can’t see a game out

Women aren’t little men

The game plan, training, nutrition, uniforms, and all aspects should be centered around providing players with the best advantages. Designing a team around women and not reproducing soccer elements because it worked for men is not guaranteed to work. The stats already show it.

This league should be viewed separately from all the other leagues, geared at players first. It’s putting women first. I applaud that many females have been on the referee crews, it was refreshing (and some of the best crews). 3 Female coaches: Jess SIlva, Pauline MacDonald, and Denise Schilte-Brown are making their names known for their excellent coaching.

It’s about soccer and not chisme (gossip or scandal in Spanish)

Strong league support is the undergirding with clearly enforced league expectations and high minimum standards and owners who “get” it. It’s great to talk about the soccer and not the drama around a league being able to support itself for the long term. There are no lawsuits to discuss for the league.

Don’t Sleep On FTL

FTL has been the sleeper. They flew under the radar, making very few splashes, until they made the big moves later in the season. They beat top-of-the-table Dallas and Carolina. Addie McCain is the leader in the Golden Boot race. They are playing lovely soccer that is built on team-centric play with some ballers.

- Danielle Gawronski