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11 Things: Playoff Pressure Begins to Show

By NICHOLAS MURRAY - nicholas.murray@uslsoccer.com, 06/27/16, 10:13AM EDT

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Playoff intensity starts to become visible with points at a premium


Photo courtesy James Tinnell / Louisville City FC

TAMPA, Fla. – Louisville and Cincinnati play to a tense draw in front of a record crowd, while playoff intensity is visible elsewhere with points at a premium. Here’s what we learned from Week 14 in the USL:

1. RIVER CITIES RISE: The battle for the River Cities Cup may only be two games old, but if Saturday night’s USL Game of the Week was any indicator it has quickly become one of the fiercest, and at the same time friendliest, rivalries in the USL. After a then-USL regular season record 20,497 fans saw the first edition at Nippert Stadium in April, Saturday’s return fixture in Louisville brought a club record 10,062 fans to Slugger Field, continuing the rise of City’s visibility in Louisville, and the quickly established rivalry between the two clubs.

2. ALL SQUARE AT SLUGGER: On the field, the intensity of the contest matched the atmosphere in the stands, as Louisville and Cincinnati finished scoreless in a game that could easily have been mistaken for a playoff contest. In contrast with the first meeting between the teams, Cincinnati’s defense bent, but didn’t break, thanks to a strong display by Harrison Delbridge and the rest of the team’s back four, which held Louisville marksman Chandler Hoffman to three shots, and Louisville to five on target for the game.

3. FEELING BULLISH: The draw between the teams sitting above and below them in the standings gave the New York Red Bulls II an opening on Sunday to gain ground on top spot, and they took advantage with aplomb in a 4-0 win against Wilmington Hammerheads FC. The Red Bulls II’s attack was in full flight, especially as it pulled away late on, amassing 10 shots on goal to Wilmington’s six total shots as the Hammerheads’ recent run of form came to a crashing halt.

4. OUT OF THE FIRE: In a tight Western Conference race, it definitely appears with five teams separated by six points at the top of the standings that every point is going to matter in the race for the top spot at the end of the season, but also positioning for the playoffs. As such, Mackenzie Pridham’s late equalizer for Sacramento Republic FC against Arizona United SC on Saturday night could become more important down the line than simply something that left the hosts deflated after an engaging contest at the Peoria Soccer Complex.

5. RAISING ARIZONA: On the flipside, with points also at a premium for the teams pursing a place in the playoffs, Arizona’s late letdown will be a disappointing one for Coach Frank Yallop after his side appeared to have slipped three points into its back pocket thanks to Tyler Blackwood’s good second-half goal. Arizona would have been level on points with ninth-placed Real Monarchs SLC ahead of a trip to Tucson this Friday, and will be left hoping Pridham’s goal doesn’t prove key to its playoff hopes down the line.

6. PAYING THE PENALTY: The Western Conference was privy to plenty of late-game drama on Sunday as well, with two stoppage-time penalty kicks at the forefront. For Orange County Blues FC, there was the thrill of victory as Didier Crettenand slotted home his finish against Rio Grande Valley FC to earn his side a big three points on the road. For Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC, there was the agony of defeat as Luke Vercollone’s potential game-tying goal sailed wide of the net, allowing Real Monarchs SLC to claim their first win at Switchbacks Stadium.

7. ROCKY MOUNTAIN REVELRY: The River Cities Cup may have taken the big spotlight this weekend when it came to rivalry games, but the clash between the Switchbacks and Monarchs had everything you could ask for in terms of intensity, and apparent mutual distaste. Real has now taken two wins in a row after the Switchbacks took victory in the first three meetings between them last season. With the two teams set to meet again on Wednesday night, all manner of storylines will carry over into what should be a must-see contest.

8. GOOD HOME COOKING: With the season almost at its midway point – we officially get there at halftime of Wilmington’s game with Toronto FC II this Saturday – the intensity isn’t just ramping up in rivalry contests. Saturday night’s game between Saint Louis FC and the Portland Timbers 2 was a prime example, as the two playoff contenders went toe-to-toe for 90 minutes with Saint Louis emerging a 1-0 winner. In front of another sellout crowd of 5,513 fans at World Wide Technology Soccer Park, STLFC moved its record to 3-0-3 at home this season, and with the majority of its games on home turf in the second half of the season, the chance could present itself for a strong move up the standings.

9. GETING BACK IN GEAR: The LA Galaxy II put themselves firmly toward a record a team probably shouldn’t want to hold in the first half of the regular season, with eight draws in their first 15 games putting them just four short of the Richmond Kickers’ USL regular-season record set in 2013. On Friday night, Los Dos got back on a winning track with a solid 2-0 victory against Tulsa Roughnecks FC. Back in second place in the West, and with a rivalry clash against Orange County coming up this Saturday, the Galaxy II will be hoping the win is a portent of things to come as they pursue conference-leader Vancouver.

10. CAROLINA COMEBACK: Both the Charleston Battery and Charlotte Independence had seen some shaky moments early in June, but over the weekend both teams put themselves back onto firm footing as they each picked up a second consecutive victory. The Battery again left it late to find a way past Toronto FC II, as Romario Williams scored his seventh goal of the season, while the Independence actually fell behind to Harrisburg before mounting a second-half rally. With the teams sitting fourth and fifth respectively, it will be interesting to see if either team can mount a challenge for a top-two position.

11. SWOOP TO CONQUOR: The Swope Park Rangers’ inaugural season has been a somewhat frustrating one as a neutral, simply because of performances of the type we saw on Sunday night as the side took a comprehensive 2-0 victory against Seattle Sounders FC 2. Mostly through injuries, it’s been difficult for the side to put what it expected was going to be its first-choice 11 on the field consistently, but when it has – as it came close to at Starfire Stadium – it has been thrilling to watch. Kris Tyrpak’s goal in particular showed what this side can be capable of, hopefully the second half of the season will bring better health, and more of that brand of exciting, attacking soccer.

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