The first games of the MLS Cup Playoffs are more than a month away, but why wait for your fix of domestic playoff soccer? USL PRO, the third division of North American professional soccer, is kicking off its eight-team, single-elimination postseason tournament this Saturday (all games are streamed live on YouTube.com). Here’s MLSsoccer.com’s breakdown of the games.
No. 1 Orlando City vs. No. 8 Harrisburg City Islanders
ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex, Lake Buena Vista, Florida, Saturday, 7:30 pm ET
The Lions ran USL PRO in 2014, finishing top of the regular-season standings seven points ahead of second-place Sacramento, scoring the most goals and conceding the fewest. Striker Kevin Molino led the league with 20 goals, scoring once in each of Orlando’s two games against Harrisburg. So, yes, the odds are long for the Islanders.
That said, Harrisburg brought the thunder against the league's top teams this year, beating Sacramento and LA Galaxy II and splitting their series against Orlando (Harrisburg also took the Philadelphia Union to overtime in the Open Cup). Harrisburg will have to shore up their porous defense, but with guys like striker Morgan Langley (6 G, 6 A) they have a puncher’s chance.
MLS Players on Loan (last three games)
Orlando - Brian 'Cobi' Span (FC Dallas)
Harrisburg - Cristhian Hernandez, Antoine Hoppenot, Richie Marquez, Jimmy McLaughlin, Aaron Wheeler (Philadelphia)
No. 2 Sacramento Republic vs. No. 7 Wilmington Hammerheads
Bonney Field, Sacramento, California, Saturday, 10:30 pm ET
Some first season out in Sacramento. The attendance numbers have been unreal, but the performance on the field has been just as good. Striker Thomas Stewart tied for fifth in USL PRO with 11 goals, while midfielder Rodrigo Lopez has 10 of his own and added eight assists.
The Hammerheads were able to keep the Republic off the board in their last game – a scoreless draw on August 30 – and have conceded only three goals in their last five games.
MLS Players on Loan (last three games)
Sacramento - Steven Evans, Jake Gleeson (Portland); Adam Jahn (San Jose)
Wilmington - Manny Aparicio (Toronto FC), Corben Bone (Philadelphia), Brad Stuver (Columbus)
No. 3 LA Galaxy II vs. No. 6 Rochester Rhinos
StubHub Center, Carson, California, Saturday, 10:30 pm ET
The LA Galaxy became the first MLS club to field a team at the USL PRO level this year, and it’s worked out well for them. Turns out that a lot of guys who couldn’t get first-team minutes are still quite good at soccer. Chandler Hoffman converted his first consistent minutes as a professional into 13 goals, and Charlie Rugg added eight of his own.
Los Dos’ defense has been shockingly poor relative to their place in the league standings – they conceded 38 goals, seventh most in the 14-team league – but their opponents, the Rochester Rhinos, scored fewer goals than every team in the league save the last-place Dayton Dutch Lions. Rochester finished their season with a win over Wilmington, but it was the end of a 1-3-3 run, and they haven’t won two USL PRO games in a row since June.
MLS Players on Loan (last three games)
LA Galaxy II - Chandler Hoffman, Bradford Jamieson IV, Jack McBean, Raul Mendiola, Tommy Meyer, Charlie Rugg, Brian Perk, Oscar Sorto, Jose Villarreal, Kenney Walker
Rochester - Jossimar Sanchez, Donnie Smith, Luis Soffner, Alec Sundly (New England)
No. 4 Richmond Kickers vs. No. 5 Charleston Battery
City Stadium, Richmond, Virginia, Saturday, 7 pm ET
Powered by 14 goals from striker Matthew Delicâte, the Richmond Kickers seemed destined for the No. 3 seed in the playoffs. But on the final weekend of the regular season, a loss to Orlando and Sacramento’s first home loss of the year to LA II gave Los Dos the spot. Instead of Rochester, the Kickers will face longtime rivals Charleston in the quarterfinals.
On paper, the Battery look like the surefire underdogs. Both defenses had solid seasons, but the Richmond offense was far more productive. While Charleston was able to muster two draws from three games against the Kickers, they were smoked 4-0 in their trip to Virginia, where this weekend’s game will take place.
Still, playoff games are goofy, and rivalry games are goofier. Stay tuned.
MLS Players on Loan (last three games)
Richmond - Conor Shanosky (D.C. United)
Charleston - Mamadou Diouf (Vancouver)
