Whether it was high-level attacking displays or lockdown defensive performances, the past weekend in the USL Championship’s Eastern Conference had plenty to talk about. Here are five of the key talking points coming out of Week 18.

CICERONE PROVING A CUT ABOVE FOR HOUNDS

The game is coming so nicely to Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC’s Russell Cicerone right now, not even a missed penalty kick early on Sunday night could knock his confidence. Instead, around 80 seconds after Atlanta United 2’s Rocco Rios Novo had made a fine save to keep out the Hounds’ leading scorer from the spot, Cicerone was back to bury a low shot to the left corner that began Pittsburgh’s 4-1 victory at Highmark Stadium and a return – at least for one night – to the top of the Atlantic Division.

Cicerone followed up his early goal with another pair of goals in either half to complete his first professional hat trick, moving into a tie for second place in the Championship with 11 goals this season in the process. This has already been a career year for the 26-year-old Michigan native, who has almost doubled his career goals total with one-third of the regular season still to go, and Cicerone was quick to throw credit for his success to those around him after Sunday’s game.

“It’s amazing,” Cicerone said of his first hat trick. “Of course, I did it the hard way tonight by missing that penalty, too. But when we’ve got passers – that pass that Danny Griffin gave me, the two that [Alex] Dixon gave me, Kenny (Forbes) has given me passes – it’s amazing playing with these guys.”

BATTERY GET BOOST IN NEW YORK WIN

The Charleston Battery did their job in earning a 3-2 victory on Friday night against the New York Red Bulls II – the first for the club in more than five years against the Red Bulls II after 11 meetings without a win – and then got to see both the Charlotte Independence and Hartford Athletic fall back in the following two days to set up an intriguing three-way battle for what right now figures to be the final playoff place in the Atlantic Division. With all three teams on 27 points with identical records and 14 games to go, the stretch run figures to be a fascinating one.

After Josh Penn opened his Championship account for the Battery at MSU Soccer Park after the side welcomed goalkeeper Joe Kuzminsky and defender Leland Archer back to the lineup, Charleston could be getting its squad healthy at just the right time to make a run and preserve its record of reaching the Championship Playoffs in every season of the league’s history.

“We’re always looking to win when we’re on the road or at home, I think we owe it to our fans to do that,” said Battery assistant coach Dusty Hudock on Friday night. “Every game is crucial, so this game and the next game are as important as the first game. What we’re trying to do is get through some typical periods that we’ve gone through, as we get towards the end of the season, I think we’re going to be in good shape.”

TULSA BENDS, DOESN’T BREAK IN BIRMINGHAM

Should FC Tulsa reach the 2021 USL Championship Playoffs in November, it might look back at Sunday evening’s victory against Birmingham Legion FC as one of the key games in booking that place. After notching early goals in either half, Tulsa was put under extreme pressure by the hosts at BBVA Field throughout the remainder of each period, eventually being outshot 20-6 with Legion FC notching 14 shots from inside the penalty area and eight on target. All that pressure only produced Junior Flemmings’ 68th-minute goal for Birmingham, however, as Tulsa held on for a key three points on the road despite Legion FC holding a 2.31xG – 0.69xG advantage from the chances it created.

There are going to be times over the final 14 games of Tulsa’s season where its quality is going to come to the fore and the side will produce attacking displays that create many more chances than on Sunday. The determination the side showed at BBVA Field, though, might end up being a bigger determining factor in how far this season will go for Head Coach Michael Nsien’s side.

ENERGY FC SHUTS UP SHOT TO STIFLE LOUCITY

Louisville City FC has been among the league leaders in goals and chance creation this season, so as much as OKC Energy FC would have liked to take the initiative on Sunday night as the hosts when LouCity visited Taft Stadium the biggest priority for the side was to ensure the big chances LouCity typically creates didn’t arrive consistently. After a 0-0 draw that saw OKC earn its first point in four meetings with Louisville, that plan seemed to play out ideally, even if it meant limited chances for the host to grab all three points as well.

“I thought we defended very well as a team,” said Energy FC goalkeeper CJ Cochran, who finished the night with two saves. “They only had a few chances. It’s easy to look at the back line and some of the midfielders, but it starts with Jaime [Chavez] and Villyan [Bijev] shaping the game. They did a really good job up there to set the tone and make it difficult.”

LouCity was held to its lowest single-game xG of the season of 0.68xG, also the first time the side had been held below 1.00xG all year. Energy FC will have to show more attacking initiative if it’s going to reach the postseason down the stretch, but as tight as the Central Division race remains a point gained against the top team in the division could prove as valuable as a win against the teams surrounding the playoff line.

INDEPENDENCE TAKE HARD LESSON LATE AGAINST SWITCHBACKS

The Charlotte Independence were on the verge of another big three points on Saturday night against Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC at American Legion Memorial Stadium after Irvin Parra’s goal with 19 minutes to go put the hosts ahead, but a late equalizer by the Switchbacks’ Michee Ngalina in the 84th minute capped a thrilling 3-3 draw for the spectators but dropped points in the eyes of Independence Head Coach Mike Jeffries.

“We needed to clamp down, and get behind the ball,” said Jeffries “I think we take that as an important lesson, it’s a hard time in the year to be having those lessons. You like to get those out early in the year. I think we know we are more than capable of dealing with it in that type of game.”

The Independence are still in a good place when it comes to the Atlantic Division’s playoff race, and the goal and assist by Sylvain Marveaux offered a nice boost from the veteran French midfielder as he continues to find his feet in the squad. But next Saturday’s visit to Tampa Bay is going to be another important test of Charlotte’s postseason credentials.