USL Week 27: Riverhounds, Kickers Complete Playoff Field

Published on September 21, 2015 under United Soccer League Championship (USL) News Release

Pittsburgh Riverhounds Celebrate
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In the Western Conference, the field is known, but a surprise win by the LA Galaxy II and a resolute draw by Arizona United SC saw one quarterfinal matchup set, and another to be determined on Tuesday night.

FEATURED GAMES

Pittsburgh Riverhounds 2, Harrisburg City Islanders 1

The Riverhounds got two goals in two minutes and then held on against a fierce attacking onslaught from the City Islanders to claim the victory and a place in the USL Playoffs at Skyline Sports Complex on Saturday night. Pittsburgh took the lead as Lebo Moloto scored his second goal in as many games with a precise finish from the left side of the penalty area in the 34th minute, and a minute later Kevin Kerr put home a finish from the right side to send the travelling Steel Army into greater celebration. Harrisburg turned up the pressure in the second half and pulled a goal back with 15 minutes to go through Antoine Hoppenot, but despite some late chances, the City Islanders were unable to find an equalizer as the Riverhounds advanced.

Charleston Battery 3, Charlotte Independence 1

The Battery brought the Independence's playoff hopes to an end and allowed the Richmond Kickers to advance to the postseason for a fifth consecutive season as Dane Kelly became the leading scorer in USL regular season history at MUSC Health Stadium. The Battery took the lead midway through the first half on a beautiful free kick by Justin Portillo, and Kelly doubled the advantage early in the second half with a strong finish from outside the penalty area for his 42nd goal all time in the USL. Charlotte, which needed a victory to jump the Kickers, pulled a goal back through Caleb Calvert with 12 minutes to go, but the Battery quickly hit back through Ricky Garbanzo to restore their two-goal lead and lock up the No. 3 seed in the Eastern Conference.

LA Galaxy II 1, Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC 0

Ariel Lassiter had the only goal, before subsequently getting sent off, as Los Dos took the victory at Sand Creek Stadium and denied the Switchbacks a top-two position in the Western Conference standings. Lassiter's goal arrived in the 10th minute as his shot from 22 yards deflected off a defender and looped into the net for his 11th goal of the season, but the Costa Rica U23 forward was then sent off in first-half stoppage time after a challenge on Switchbacks goalkeeper Devala Gorrick. Despite the man advantage, the Switchbacks were unable to find a reply as Clement Diop recorded six saves to earn his eighth shutout of the season.

Sacramento Republic FC 0, Arizona United SC 0

Arizona goalkeeper Carl Woszczynski had seven saves to hold Sacramento at bay as the teams finished scoreless at Bonney Field on Saturday night, and set up a winner-take-all contest on Tuesday night between Republic FC and Orange County Blues FC for first place in the USL's Western Conference. Sacramento held the upper hand throughout, but couldn't find a way past Woszczynski, who finished the season with a USL record of 130 saves. The result, combined with Colorado Springs' defeat against LA, left idle OKC Energy FC to claim a top-two berth in the West, with Republic FC and the Blues set to decide which side it will face in the conference semifinals on Tuesday at Anteater Stadium.

QUOTABLE

"Dane's goal was just fantastic. He's really started to come into form and at the right time of the season. That's a fantastic accomplishment for Dane, especially because Matthew Delicî centte has been, and still is, a great player in this league. I'm very happy for Dane." - Charleston Battery Coach Mike Anhaeuser on Dane Kelly, who became the USL's all-time leading goal scorer on Saturday night

"He won't be getting a Christmas card from me, that's for sure. He saved everything." - Sacramento Republic FC Coach Paul Buckle on Arizona United SC goalkeeper Carl Woszczynski

"What's the point in spending three hours stressing out over something you can't control - - Richmond Kickers Coach Leigh Cowlishaw, who chose to watch MLS instead of the games that decided his club's playoff fate on Saturday

"The guys worked their tails off to get these last three results. It sets us up for what we have to do next year. You take your last game with you until the next one, so we'll get to hold onto this one for a while." - Saint Louis FC Coach Dale Schilly after his side defeated Louisville for a third consecutive home win to close out its inaugural season

"Obviously we are disappointed with the results tonight. We are frustrated we couldn't get the ball into the back of the net, but we have to give LA credit for a good job defending. Now we have to forget this game and prepare for the playoffs." - Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC midfielder Luke Vercollone following his side's defeat against the LA Galaxy II

BY THE NUMBERS

10,000 - Wilmington Hammerheads FC midfielder Paul Nicholson became the fourth player to record 10,000 minutes in the USL regular season on Saturday against Toronto FC II.

2,520 - Harrisburg City Islanders defender Ken Tribbett appeared in every minute of his side's games in the regular season, the only player in the USL this season to do so.

950 - Kingsley Bryce's game-winner for Saint Louis FC in its 2-1 comeback victory against Louisville City FC was the 950th goal scored in the USL this season.

130 - Arizona United SC goalkeeper Carl Woszczynski recorded 130 saves in the USL regular season to break the previous record held by Matt Williams for Dayton in 2012.

1 - With a win or draw on Thursday against Toronto FC II, Rochester would tie Orlando City SC in 2012 and the Richmond Kickers in 2013 for the fewest defeats in a USL regular season.

0.564 - Rochester Rhinos goalkeeperBrandon Miller has a goals-against average of 0.564 entering his side's final game of the regular season. The current USL single-season record is held by Orlando City SC's Miguel Gallardo - 0.681 in 2011.

STANDINGS

EASTERN CONFERENCE

Team GP W L T GF GA Pts

Rochester Rhinos - c 27 16 1 10 38 15 58

Louisville City FC - p 28 14 8 6 55 34 48

Charleston Battery - p 28 12 6 10 43 28 46

New York Red Bulls II - p 28 12 10 6 46 45 42

Pittsburgh Riverhounds - p 28 11 9 8 53 42 41

Richmond Kickers - p 28 10 7 11 41 35 41

Charlotte Independence - x 28 10 8 10 41 35 40

Harrisburg City Islanders - x 28 11 11 6 49 53 39

Saint Louis FC - x 28 8 11 9 30 40 33

FC Montreal - x 28 8 16 4 32 46 28

Toronto FC II - x 27 6 16 5 26 50 23

Wilmington Hammerheads FC - x 28 3 15 10 22 42 19

WESTERN CONFERENCE

Team GP W L T GF GA Pts

OKC Energy FC - p 28 13 7 8 44 36 47

Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC - p 28 14 10 4 53 35 46

Orange County Blues FC - p 27 14 9 4 38 34 46

Sacramento Republic FC - p 27 13 8 6 43 31 45

LA Galaxy II - p 28 14 11 3 39 31 45

Seattle Sounders FC 2 - p 28 13 12 3 45 42 42

Tulsa Roughnecks FC - x 28 11 11 6 49 46 39

Portland Timbers 2 - x 28 11 15 2 38 45 35

Austin Aztex - x 28 10 15 3 32 41 33

Arizona United SC - x 28 10 16 2 31 55 32

Vancouver Whitecaps FC 2 - x 28 8 14 6 39 53 30

Real Monarchs SLC - x 28 7 13 8 32 42 29

c - Won Regular Season Championship

p - Qualified for playoffs

x - Eliminated from postseason contention

RESULTS

Wednesday, September 16

Harrisburg City Islanders 5, FC Montreal 0

Richmond Kickers 2, Toronto FC II 1

Pittsburgh Riverhounds 1, Rochester Rhinos 0

Portland Timbers 2 1, LA Galaxy II 0

OKC Energy FC 1, Arizona United SC 0

Thursday, September 17

Seattle Sounders FC 2 3, Austin Aztex 2

Saturday, September 19

Wilmington Hammerheads FC 2, Toronto FC II 2

Pittsburgh Riverhounds 2, Harrisburg City Islanders 1

Rochester Rhinos 3, New York Red Bulls II 2

Charleston Battery 3, Charlotte Independence 1

Saint Louis FC 2, Louisville City FC 1

LA Galaxy II 1, Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC 0

Sacramento Republic FC 0, Arizona United SC 0

Sunday, September 20

Austin Aztex 0, Vancouver Whitecaps FC 2 0

SCHEDULE

Tuesday, September 22

Orange County Blues FC vs. Sacramento Republic FC, 10:30 p.m. ET

Thursday, September 24

Rochester Rhinos vs. Toronto FC II

End of 2015 USL Regular Season

2015 USL Playoffs

Conference Quarterfinals

Eastern Conference

Saturday, September 26

No. 4 New York Red Bulls II vs. No. 5 Pittsburgh Riverhounds, 5 p.m. ET, Red Bull Arena

No. 3 Charleston Battery vs. No. 6 Richmond Kickers, 7:30 p.m. ET, MUSC Health Stadium

Western Conference

Friday, September 25

No. 3 Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC vs. No.6 Seattle Sounders FC 2, 9 p.m. ET, Sand Creek Stadium

Saturday, September 26

No. 4 Sacramento Republic FC vs. No. 5 LA Galaxy II, 10:30 p.m. ET, Bonney Field

OR

Sunday, September 27

No. 4 Orange County Blues FC vs. No. 5 LA Galaxy II, 10 p.m. ET, Anteater Stadium

Pittsburgh Riverhounds Celebrate

United Soccer League Championship Stories from September 21, 2015

• Arizona United SC Continues "Student of the Game" Program with Barcelona AZ-Total Futbol Academy Cli - Phoenix Rising FC
• USL Week 27: Riverhounds, Kickers Complete Playoff Field - USL
• Training Boost for Hounds Academy Players as Club Adds Sessions - Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC
• Kickers Qualify for 2015 USL Playoffs - Richmond Kickers
• Match Preview: Sacramento Republic FC vs Orange County Blues FC - Sacramento Republic FC
• Sounders FC 2 to Face Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC in USL Western Conference Quarterfinals Friday - Tacoma Defiance
• Blues Prepared for Regular Season Finale vs Sacramento, with Top Playoff Seed at Stake - Orange County SC
• Matchups Set for 2015 USL Playoffs - USL

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