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Week three in MLS saw parity take full stage. Four teams remained who won their first two games going into the weekend but zero remained coming out of it as Austin FC, New York Red Bulls, DC United, and the LA Galaxy all lost. It was a week where goalkeepers took center stage and Cincinnati saw a lengthy losing streak end as progress is being shown under Pat Noonan.

Welcome to MLS By the Numbers, where we'll go through some key stats to recap the weekend, possible trends around the league, and other things that are fun to talk about. Let's get counting:

1: Penalty save for Dayne St. Clair to lead Minnesota United to victory.

Do we have a changing of the guard coming at keeper for Minnesota United? St. Clair has had to sit on the sidelines for the first two matches of the season watching Tyler Miller fill a spot that he deserved. But upon getting a chance, due to a late scratch for Miller, St. Clair shined in a big way. Saving Patrick Klimala's penalty in the 14th minute was only an appetizer as St. Clair made eight saves during the match. New York Red Bulls were through on goal on almost every chance which was shown by their xG of 2.32 but when he was needed, St. Clair stood tall.

With St. Clair playing like someone who doesn't want to exit the starting XI anytime soon, Adrian Heath will have a tough decision to make on who his starter is for the rest of the season. And while depth is good to have, it would make sense to entertain offers for the keeper who isn't chosen so that the Loons can upgrade elsewhere. This performance was also enough for St. Clair to earn my vote for player of the week.

3: Goals in 12 minutes for Real Salt Lake's epic comeback leading to one all-time rant by Carles Gil on the weather.

This was a weekend heavily impacted by the weather. Sub-zero conditions hit the northeast over the weekend, and at times the New England Revolution's match looked more like a sledding match than a soccer match. The Revolution got ahead early via goals from Ema Boateng and Jozy Altidore, opening his scoring account for his new team. It seemed like they would be cruising to victory.

But Real Salt Lake took advantage of some defensive lapses by a rotated Revolution side with Sergio Cordova scoring in the 78th minute. Justen Glad even got on the scoresheet with a header from a free-kick before Tate Schmitt scored the winner deep into stoppage time with a finish through multiple bodies. It's a loss that the Revolution shouldn't get too hung up on given their Concacaf Champions league victory over Leon earlier in the week, but Gil wasn't having it after playing 30 minutes of the match.

It seems like he may have forgotten what New England weather can be like despite entering his fourth year with the Revolution.

0: Starts for Gyasi Zardes as the Columbus Crew rise to first in the Eastern Conference.

I'm curious how this one will impact the United States men's national team roster that will be released later this week as it seems like Miguel Berry is now the full time starter in Columbus and since Zardes is in the final year of his contract, the team could look into trading him. Berry hasn't set the world on fire with his scoring with one goal scored across 206 minutes but he's completing 81 percent of his passes and creating a few chances per game. His five key passes so far matches his number across 840 minutes last season.

The Crew as a unit are getting and seem more cohesive with Berry out there, so there's no reason for coach Caleb Porter to persist with finding minutes for Zardes. Without him, the team is scoring the second most goals in MLS with nine total. It would be the end of an era if Zardes is to move, but he's 30 years old now, and the time is coming. Similarly despite the USMNT casting around for a striker Zardes has simply not gotten the call, and fallen far enough down the pecking order that it seems unlikely the onetime regular international will be on his way to Mexico next week either.

1: Goals for Charlotte FC with two of the best names in MLS, Ben Bender, and Adam Armour involved.

The result may not have gone how Miguel Angel Ramierez would've liked thanks to Christian Fuchs showing his age and getting beaten for Atlanta United's winner, this will be a season that's about celebrating the little things for the expansion team and Charlotte getting their first MLS goal qualifies. Making his first MLS start, their top Super Draft selection Bender bent in quite a corner delivery to an unmarked Armour.

The 21-year-old Bender feels like he'll need to be a mainstay in Charlotte's lineup given that he had five key passes, completed 85 percent of his passes, the highest on the team, and won six tackles. Such an impressive day for the rookie who played almost every pass forward that he could against Atlanta. Hopefully, the arrival of Kamil Jozwiak will help things as it's a shame that Bender only got one assist on a day that deserved more. Keep this up and his dream of making the United States men's national team will end up as a reality. 

39: Goals scored across the league but only one can be goal of the week. Have a day Alan Velasco!

Breaking ankles and making one of the best defensive units in the league in Nashville SC look silly. Velasco is going to take the league by storm.

11: Ball recoveries for Aaron Long as he gets back to full health

Long also won two tackles and had three clearances as the Red Bulls were under pressure during much of the match. As Miles Robinson hasn't been at the top of his game to start the season, there is a path for Long to return to the national team picture. With an over 60 percent success rate on tackles and aerial duels, Long is rarely getting beaten since recovering from his achilles injury. It wouldn't shock me at all to see Long on Berhalter's roster later this week.

Honorable mentions

  • 100 regular season wins for Philadephia Union head coach Jim Curtin who became the second-youngest coach to reach that mark
  • Three clean sheets in three games for Chicago Fire keeper Gabriel Slonina as he sets his sights on the league record of 16
  • 14 games was the length of FC Cincinnati's MLS record losing streak which ended by defeating Orlando City 2-1 behind a brace from Brandon Vazquez.