Conference Semifinals on Tap for 2015 USL Playoffs

October 2, 2015 - United Soccer League Championship (USL) News Release

TAMPA, Fla. - The conferences' top two seeds join the action in the 2015 USL Playoffs this weekend as eight teams will be whittled down to four following this conference semifinal slate. Every game of the 2015 USL Playoffs will be live, free and in HD on YouTube (www.Youtube.com/USL).

2015 USL Playoffs Hub on USLsoccer.com

In the Eastern Conference Semifinals, the top-seeded Rochester Rhinos, who earned the 2015 USL Regular Season crown, host the fourth-seeded New York Red Bulls II on Saturday at Sahlen's Stadium (7:05 p.m. ET). Meanwhile, second-seeded Louisville City FC looks to continue its strong inaugural season when it faces the third-seeded Charleston Battery at Slugger Field (7:30 p.m. ET on Saturday).

In the Western Conference Semifinals, No. 1-seeded Orange County Blues FC prepares for the No. 5-seeded LA Galaxy II on Saturday at StubHub Center, with the game kicking off at 10:30 p.m. ET. Then on Sunday, second-seeded OKC Energy FC hosts third-seeded Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC at Taft Stadium (7 p.m. ET kickoff).

2015 USL PLAYOFFS: CONFERENCE SEMIFINALS

East - No. 1 Rochester Rhinos vs. No. 4 New York Red Bulls II

Saturday, 7:05 p.m. ET, Sahlen's Stadium

The Rhinos and Red Bulls II meet for the right to face either second-seeded Louisville City FC or the third-seeded Charleston Battery in the Eastern Conference Final next weekend. Rochester took the season series with a 2-0-1 record, with the lone draw being both teams' season opener - a scoreless draw on March 28 at Red Bull Arena. The Rhinos then earned a 2-0 win on April 26 and a 3-2 victory on Sept. 19, with both games at Sahlen's Stadium. The Rhinos, who captured the regular-season crown, were the first to qualify for this year's playoffs after a 4-0 win against the Harrisburg City Islanders on Aug. 22. NYRB II is coming off a 4-2 victory in overtime against the Pittsburgh Riverhounds in the Eastern Conference Quarterfinals, needing to rally twice for the win, led by Karl Ouimette's brace. (USL Today: Top-Seed Rhinos Host NYRB II)

East - No. 2 Louisville City FC vs. No. 3 Charleston Battery

Saturday, 7:30 p.m. ET, Louisville Slugger Field

Louisville hosts Charleston, with the winner to face either top-seeded Rochester or fourth-seeded New York in the Eastern Conference Final. The two sides split the season series. City earned a 3-1 victory on Aug. 22 at Slugger Field, led by Matt Fondy's brace and a Magnus Rasmussen rebound. Charleston won the rematch 2-0 on Sept. 12 at MUSC Health Stadium. Louisville was the second East team to qualify for the USL Playoffs, and the club went on to post the USL's best offense with 55 goals. Charleston is coming off a thrilling 2-1 overtime win against the Richmond Kickers in the Eastern Conference Quarterfinals. The Battery overcame an OT deficit, with Dane Kelly tallying the equalizer and center back Forrest Lasso providing the winning header. Charleston will be shorthanded as Navion Boyd and Ricky Garbanzo serve one-game suspensions. (USL Today: Louisville Welcomes Battery to Slugger)

West - No. 1 Orange County Blues FC vs. No. 5 LA Galaxy II

Saturday, 10:30 p.m. ET, StubHub Center

Local rivals Orange County and LA play for the right to face either second-seeded OKC Energy FC or third-seeded Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC in the Western Conference Final the following week. Los Dos held the upper hand in the I-405 Derby this season with a 2-1-1 record. LA earned a 2-1 win on June 6 and a 3-0 victory on June 19 against Orange County. The Blues and Galaxy II played to a 1-1 draw on July 16 and then Orange County found the win column with a 2-1 victory on Sept. 5, the side's first victory against the Galaxy II in its history. Orange County's draw against Sacramento Republic FC in the regular-season finale clinched first place in the Western Conference. The Galaxy II are coming off a 1-0 road win against Sacramento in the Western Conference Quarterfinals. For this weekend, LA welcomes the return of goal-scoring leader Ariel Lassiter, who served a one-game suspension and missed the match against Sacramento. (USL Today: Orange County, LA Set For I-405 Derby)

West - No. 2 OKC Energy FC vs. No. 3 Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC

Sunday, 7 p.m. ET, Taft Stadium

Energy FC hosts the Switchbacks for the right to face either No. 1-seeded Orange County or the No. 5-seeded Galaxy II in the Western Conference Final. OKC held the edge in the season series with a win and a draw. Danni König's brace led Energy FC to a 2-1 victory on April 4 at Sand Creek Stadium. The two sides then played to a wild 3-3 draw on Sept. 12 at Taft Stadium. Colorado Springs second-half sub Chandler Hoffman scored two goals off the bench, including a late penalty-kick equalizer. OKC was the first Western Conference side to advance to the USL Playoffs. The Switchbacks opened the Western Conference Quarterfinals with a 2-0 win against Seattle Sounders FC 2 on Sept. 25, as Miguel Gonzalez and defender JJ Greer each tallied a goal. (USL Today: Energy FC, Switchbacks Square Off)

USL DISCIPLINE REPORT

- The Charleston Battery's Navion Boyd and Ricky Garbanzo were sent off during their Eastern Conference Quarterfinal victory against the Richmond Kickers on Sept. 26. They will be suspended for Saturday's conference semifinal match against Louisville City FC on Friday and fined an undisclosed amount. Boyd picked up two yellow cards in the quarterfinal match and Garbanzo was sent off for abusive language to an official.

- Pittsburgh Riverhounds defender Ben Newnam was fined an undisclosed amount and will be suspended for one game after he was sent off during the Riverhounds' Eastern Conference Quarterfinal loss to the New York Red Bulls II. Newnam will serve the suspension during the first regular-season match of the 2016 USL season.

OTHER NEWS, NOTES AND MILESTONES

- Through the conference quarterfinal round, six of the 11 goals scored (an additional tally was an own goal) have come from defenders. The New York Red Bulls II's Karl Ouimette and Pittsburgh Riverhounds' Willie Hunt lead the way with two goals each, and Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC defender JJ Greer and Charleston Battery defenseman Forrest Lasso have also recorded a goal in the USL Playoffs.

- The LA Galaxy II posted the fewest total shots and shots on goal during the conference quarterfinals - three total and one on goal, which was Bryan Olivera's game-winning penalty kick conversion against Sacramento Republic FC.

- Charleston forward Dane Kelly, the USL's all-time regular-season goal-scoring leader (42), has now scored a goal in three consecutive postseasons for the Battery, all of which have come in the opening round of the 2013, 2014 and 2015 USL Playoffs. Kelly scored the equalizer during Charleston's 2-1 overtime victory against Richmond in this year's conference quarterfinals.

- The LA Galaxy II's Ariel Lassiter returns from a one-game suspension when they face Orange County Blues FC. Los Dos' leading scorer in the regular season with 11 goals, Lassiter was sent off during LA's regular-season finale against Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC and was suspended for the team's Western Conference Quarterfinal game against Sacramento Republic FC.

2015 USL PLAYOFFS RESULTS AND SCHEDULE

Eastern Conference Quarterfinals

Saturday, September 26

Charleston Battery 2, Richmond Kickers 1 (OT)

New York Red Bulls II 4, Pittsburgh Riverhounds 2 (OT)

Western Conference Quarterfinals

Friday, September 25

Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC 2, Seattle Sounders FC 2 0

Saturday, September 26

LA Galaxy II 1, Sacramento Republic FC 0

Eastern Conference Semifinals

Saturday, October 3

Rochester Rhinos vs. New York Red Bulls II, 7:05 p.m. ET

Louisville City FC vs. Charleston Battery, 7:30 p.m. ET

Western Conference Semifinals

Saturday, October 3

Orange County Blues FC vs. LA Galaxy II, 10 p.m. ET

Sunday, October 4

OKC Energy FC vs. Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC, 7 p.m. ET

2015 USL PLAYOFFS LEADERS

Goals

1. Willie Hunt (PGH), 2

1. Karl Ouimette (NY), 2

3. Dan Bedoya (NY), 1

3. Miguel Gonzalez (COS), 1

3. JJ Greer (COS), 1

3. Dane Kelly (CHS), 1

3. Forrest Lasso (CHS), 1

3. Bryan Olivera (LA), 1

3. Manolo Sanchez (NY), 1

Assists

1. Matt Dallman (PGH), 1

1. Danny Earls (PGH), 1

1. Chandler Hoffman (COS), 1

1. Dante Marini (CHS), 1

1. Justin Portillo (CHS), 1

1. Nate Robinson (COS), 1

1. Leo Stolz (NY), 1

Points

1. Willie Hunt (PGH), 4

1. Karl Ouimette, (NY), 4

3. Manolo Sanchez (NY), 2

3. Bryan Olivera (LA), 2

3. JJ Greer (COS), 2

3. Forrest Lasso (CHS), 2

3. Dane Kelly (CHS), 2

3. Dan Bedoya (NY), 2

3. Miguel Gonzalez (COS), 2

10. 7 players tied with 1

Goals-Against Average

1. Clement Diop (LA), 0.00

1. Devala Gorrick (COS), 0.00

3. Odisnel Cooper (CHS), 0.75

4. Dominik Jakubek (SAC), 1.00

5. Santiago Castano (NY), 1.50

5. Ryan Taylor (RIC), 1.50

Saves

1. Ryan Taylor (RIC), 9

2. Odisnel Cooper (CHS), 6

3. Devala Gorrick (COS), 5

3. Santiago Castano (NY), 5

5. Calle Brown (PGH), 4

5. Clement Diop (LA), 4

5. Charlie Lyon (SEA), 4

ALL-TIME RECORDS FOR TEAMS IN 2015 USL PLAYOFFS

(2011-present)

Eastern Conference

Charleston Battery: 5-3

Louisville City FC: 0-0

New York Red Bulls II: 1-0

Pittsburgh Riverhounds: 0-3 (eliminated in conference quarterfinals)

Richmond Kickers: 3-5 (eliminated in conference quarterfinals)

Rochester Rhinos: 1-3

Western Conference

Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC: 1-0

LA Galaxy II: 2-1

OKC Energy FC: 0-0

Orange County Blues FC: 0-2

Sacramento Republic FC: 3-1 (eliminated in conference quarterfinals)

Seattle Sounders FC 2: 0-1 (eliminated in conference quarterfinals)

USL CHAMPIONSHIP RESULTS

2011: Orlando City SC 2, Harrisburg City Islanders 2 (Orlando City wins 3-2 in PK shootout)

2012: Charleston Battery 1, Wilmington Hammerheads FC 0

2013: Orlando City SC 7, Charlotte Eagles 4

2014: Sacramento Republic FC 2, Harrisburg City Islanders 0

HOW TO FOLLOW

Every game of the 2015 USL season can be seen live, free and in HD on YouTube (www.Youtube.com/USL), with updates from throughout the league also available via Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.

New York Red Bulls II vs. Rochester Rhinos

Louisville City FC Celebrates

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United Soccer League Championship Stories from October 2, 2015

• Conference Semifinals on Tap for 2015 USL Playoffs - USL
• Austin Aztex Will Not Participate in 2016 USL Season - USL
• Playoffs Preview: Energy FC vs. Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC - October 4 - OKC Energy FC
• OC Blues FC Begins Playoffs against LA Galaxy II - Orange County SC
• Rochester Hosts Eastern Conference Semifinal Saturday - Rochester Rhinos

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