Last post before Christmas, if that’s your winter religious holiday of choice! A flurry of things USL happened last week for the first time in a while, which means I don’t have to get exceptionally creative about how to fill the space this week. Here we go:

• Pittsburgh Riverhounds reached an affiliation agreement with Columbus Crew SC from MLS for 2016. The Hounds were unaffiliated in 2015. Fans appear to be non-plussed about the arrangement, but then again, that’s kind of the default emotion for Steel Army supporters anyway.
• The USL’s current all-time leading scorer, Dane Kelly, is leaving his long time home in Charleston to go to Swope Park Rangers next year. Kelly was probably the most dangerous player the Battery had last season, so this is bound to be a big blow to them. Meanwhile, Swope Park is kind of putting together a really good roster. Sorrynotsorry, St. Louis.
• Things are moving closer and closer to San Antonio fielding a USL team in the near future. 2016? Who knows. NYRB II put together a roster in like eight days last spring so it’s not outside the realm of possibility.
• Looks like Rochester will return most of its championship roster for 2016. The club will return ten players from last season, including Duba Dos Santos, Grant Van de Casteele, and Christian Volesky.

Everyone have a great week!