November 8, 2022 – United Soccer League Championship (USL) News Release
TAMPA, Fla. – San Antonio FC’s Mitchell Taintor was on Tuesday named the 2022 USL Championship Defender of the Year. The center back claimed the individual honor after serving as a centerpiece of a back line that equaled the Championship’s single-season shutout record, a key element as San Antonio equaled the league’s regular-season record for wins and advanced to the USL Championship Final for the first time in club history.
Taintor is the second San Antonio FC defender to have claimed the award, following 2022 MLS Cup-winner Sebastien Ibeagha’s award in the 2017 USL Championship season.
The Connecticut native was acquired last offseason by San Antonio from Sacramento Republic FC after spending the second half of the 2021 USL Championship season on loan with the Alamo City club. Taintor impressed in numerous areas, finishing second in the Championship among defenders with 72 interceptions and third with 215 recoveries while also finding the net five times as a set piece threat. He also posted a 61.6 percent duel success rate while ranking fifth among defenders with 157 duels won, and ranked third in aerial duels won with 85 at a 66.4 percent success rate.
Teamed most consistently with fellow center backs Jasser Khmiri and Fabien Garcia in front of 2022 USL Championship Goalkeeper of the Year Jordan Farr, the 28-year-old helped San Antonio record 17 shutouts in the regular season as the club won 24 games to equal two Championship single-season records.
“I think it’s a culmination of hard work and surrounding yourself with people with the same vision,” said Taintor of the award. “Obviously I’m really happy to get the award, there’s a great sense of pride there for me, but it’s a credit to the collective because without the guys next to me this doesn’t happen.”
San Antonio’s defensive prowess was maybe best exemplified in its ability to maintain leads. SAFC only dropped two points from winning positions in the 2022 regular season, fewest in the league. Going into Sunday’s 2022 USL Championship Final against Louisville City FC (8:30 p.m. ET | ESPN2 | ESPN Deportes | SiriusXM FC) the side is undefeated in its last 45 games in which it has scored the opening goal, dating to the opening game of the 2021 regular season.
After reaching the Championship Final for the first time in both his career and SAFC’s history, Taintor believes victory against LouCity would further validate his…