PHOENIX – Phoenix Rising FC failed to keep pace with Orange County SC in the race for the top spot in the Western Conference on Saturday night as it settled for a 0-0 draw against Reno 1868 FC at the Phoenix Rising Soccer Complex.

The home side carried the play for much of the contest as it maintained 53.5 percent of possession and attempted 26 shots compared to the visitors’ eight, but only forced four saves out of Reno goalkeeper Matt Bersano, who kept his sixth clean sheet of the season.

"We created a ton of chances,” Phoenix Head Coach Rick Schantz said after the match. “We had two breakaways in the first half. We had a couple of really good opportunities. Their 'keeper was spectacular, he did a really good job. At the end of the day, I think for us this is good, we just have to keep moving forward. Not getting scored on is important."

1868 FC entered the contest having scored 11 goals in its previous four games, but the visitors were held in check by a Rising FC defense that surrendered only two shots on target. Phoenix has now recorded shutouts in the three of its last four contests and boasts a top-five defensive record in the USL, conceding at a goal per game rate this season (32 goals allowed in 32 games).  

“Defensively, we're doing well,” said Rising FC goalkeeper Carl Woszczynski. “Things are clicking at the right time even though we didn't score today, and I think we're going to finish strong and go to the playoffs strong."

Saturday’s result kept Phoenix in second place in the Western Conference standings, three points behind Orange County, but the side can still earn the top seed in the conference with wins against Las Vegas Lights FC and the Portland Timbers 2 over the final week of the regular season if OCSC drops points in its season finale against Reno.

While securing the top seed and home-field advantage throughout the Western Conference playoffs would be a nice bonus, Rising FC still has to figure out how it plans to line up when it begins postseason play in two weeks’ time. The squad is still working to integrate late-season signings on the defensive end as well as attacking options in Didier Drogba and Jason Johnson that missed significant time through injury.

Drogba led the line again this weekend ahead of leading-scorer Chris Cortez but failed to register a shot on target in 90 minutes of action. Drogba did create two chances, including playing a sublime through-pass to Johnson for a breakaway, but Schantz would love to see his star-man firing on all cylinders soon as he tries to figure out how to best set up his squad for postseason success.

"Before tonight's game, I told the guys that this week is going to go a long way into how we decide to handle the playoffs,” Schantz said. “I thought the performance was good. We weren't as clean in the final third as we could've been. Just concentration and focus. Defensively, we've been very sharp. I think we're losing a bit of our focus in the final third.  At this time of the year, that needs to get fixed real quick."

FIGHTING UNTIL THE END: The LA Galaxy II saw its two-game unbeaten run come to an end with a 2-1 home defeat to Sacramento Republic FC on Saturday at StubHub Center.

Keven Aleman recorded a brace in the opening 21 minutes to give the visitors an early two-goal cushion, but Frank Lopez headed home Nate Shultz’s cross from the right wing to give his side a lifeline with over an hour to play. The Galaxy II pushed on for an equalizer and maintained 56.1 percent of possession and outshot third-place Sacramento 14-12 over the 90 minutes but couldn’t find the equalizer that their second-half fightback may have warranted.

"I was really proud of the guys in the second half and the way we responded,” Galaxy II Head Coach Mike Muñoz said after the match. “But, it was too late.”

Although the side has already been mathematically eliminated from postseason contention, Los Dos will still play a part in determining the playoff field as it travels to travels to seventh-place Swope Park Rangers on the final day of the regular season. The Rangers, who have represented the Western Conference in the USL Cup each of the past two seasons, need a victory at Children’s Mercy Park on Sunday (3 p.m. ET | Match Center | ESPN+) to secure a spot in the 2018 USL Cup Playoffs.

Muñoz says his team, which drew 1-1 against Swope Park in their only meeting this season, still has plenty to play for as it tries to move past Saturday’s defeat and conclude the campaign on a positive note.

“It’s crucial that we end the season on a high,” said Muñoz. “I believe the first team is off, so we’ll see if they insert some players into our lineup. It’s a big possibility. We want to finish the season with a win because we want to go into the offseason feeling good about what we accomplished and look forward to next year.”

SEARCHING FOR MORE: San Antonio FC is still in the hunt for a spot in the 2018 USL Cup Playoffs after picking up its second straight victory on Saturday with a 3-1 win over Las Vegas Lights FC at Toyota Field.

Lights FC took the lead inside the first quarter of an hour through Samuel Ochoa, but San Antonio stayed calm and got the result it desperately needed as Ever Guzman scored on either side of halftime and Lance Laing added a third late on to see SAFC back into the Western Conference playoff places.

“Goals certainly change games and the timing of those goals can also have a massive impact on the match,” SAFC Head Coach Darren Powell said. “There was plenty of time left during the match today after their goal and the guys composed themselves and knew they needed to execute during the second half, and that’s what they did.”

Guzman raced behind the Lights FC defense to tap home Laing’s left-wing delivery to level the scoring in the 34th minute and then took matters into his own hands three minutes after the break as he cut back past a defender and slotted home the eventual game-winner.

The Mexican forward’s second goal of the evening was his 10th of the campaign, bringing him level with Billy Forbes (2017) for the club’s single-season record. The 30-year-old, who netted five times last season, has the chance to make the mark his own and potentially help San Antonio reach the postseason with another goal in the team’s regular-season finale against Rio Grande Valley FC on Saturday (8:30 p.m. ET | Match Center | ESPN+).

“Personally I think there’s always room for improvement," Guzman said. "We work hard every day to get better and I think as a group we still have a chance to make it better, and we can do so by making the playoffs, so we’re working hard towards that objective.”