UPDATE (Thurs., Sept. 22): After the Swope Park Rangers 3-1 win last night, the club is now guaranteed a top-five finish in the USL's Western Conference. Below are the scenarios for the team's final seeding based on this Saturday's results.
If the Swope Park Rangers win on Saturday, the club will finish…
…in third place with a Rio Grande Valley FC loss
…in fourth place with a Rio Grande Valley FC draw or win
If the Swope Park Rangers draw or lose on Saturday, the club will finish…
…in fourth place with a LA Galaxy II draw or loss
…in fifth place with a LA Galaxy II win
The final week of the United Soccer League regular season is here and when the dust settles on Saturday night, the road to the 2016 USL Cup will be set for the best eight teams in the Western Conference. One point separates the top three. Two points separate the next four. And five teams are fighting for the last remaining playoff berth. SportingKC.com's weekly "USL Playoff Math" series sets the stage for a suspenseful finale.
PLAYOFFS 101
For starters, there are 15 teams in the USL's Western Conference. The top eight make the playoffs and positioning is pivotal for home field advantage. In each round, the higher seed hosts the lower seed in a single-game elimination match. Win and advance.
TABLE AS OF TODAY
<strong>TEAM</strong> |
<strong>GP</strong> |
<strong>W</strong> |
<strong>L</strong> |
<strong>T</strong> |
<strong>PTS</strong> |
<strong>WEEK 25</strong> |
1. Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC* |
29 |
14 |
8 |
7 |
49 |
2-1 W |
2. Sacramento Republic FC* |
29 |
13 |
6 |
10 |
49 |
1-1 T |
3. Rio Grande Valley FC* |
29 |
13 |
7 |
9 |
48 |
1-0 L; 1-0 W |
4. LA Galaxy II* |
29 |
11 |
7 |
11 |
44 |
1-0 W; 1-1 T |
5. Swope Park Rangers* |
28 |
12 |
10 |
6 |
42 |
3-0 W |
6. Vancouver Whitecaps FC 2* |
29 |
11 |
9 |
9 |
42 |
2-0 L |
7. OKC Energy FC* |
28 |
10 |
6 |
12 |
42 |
3-0 L |
8. San Antonio FC |
29 |
10 |
11 |
8 |
38 |
2-0 L; 2-0 W |
9. Portland Timbers 2 |
29 |
11 |
14 |
4 |
37 |
2-1 W; 2-0 W |
10. Orange County Blues FC |
29 |
11 |
14 |
4 |
37 |
1-0 L |
11. Real Monarchs SLC |
29 |
10 |
13 |
6 |
36 |
2-0 W; 3-2 L |
12. Seattle Sounders FC 2 |
29 |
9 |
12 |
8 |
35 |
2-1 L |
13. Arizona United SC** |
29 |
9 |
13 |
7 |
34 |
2-1 L; 3-2 W |
14. Saint Louis FC** |
29 |
8 |
12 |
9 |
33 |
5-1 L |
15. Tulsa Roughnecks FC** |
28 |
5 |
19 |
4 |
19 |
2-0 L |
Playoff berth clinched
*Eliminated from playoff contention
SPR CLINCHES PLAYOFF BERTH
With wins in four of the team's last five games, the Swope Park Rangers have booked their ticket into the USL Cup Playoffs with two games remaining. The Rangers clinched the postseason berth in impressive fashion, going on the road to win 3-0 at OKC Energy FC on Sunday, and now sit in fifth place in the West.
WHAT A WEEK IN THE WILD WEST
The Rangers were one of four teams to secure a playoff spot in Week 25 along with LA Galaxy II, who picked up four points from two games against conference powers Sacramento and Rio Grande Valley. OKC Energy FC and Vancouver Whitecaps FC 2 both lost at home on Sunday, however are now assured of postseason appearances thanks to results elsewhere.
At the other end of the table, Saint Louis FC crashed out of playoff contention with a 5-1 home loss. Arizona United SC also saw their chances of postseason participation end earlier in the week with a home loss to Portland Timbers 2, who have rattled off four straight wins to move within one point of eighth-place San Antonio FC.
MAKE OR BREAK: WEEK 26 MATCHES
Due to the club's rescheduled match in Tulsa from August 6, the Swope Park Rangers play twice in Week 26. If the Rangers win both matches, the club is guaranteed a top-four finish in the West and would host the opening round of the USL Cup Playoffs.
SPR is currently in a three-way tie for fifth place with 42 points alongside OKC Energy FC and Vancouver Whitecaps FC 2. Those two teams meet on Wednesday north of the border in a match of major interest to Swope Park Rangers supporters.
Mathematically, the Rangers could finish as high as third or as low as seventh in the West based on how results play out in the days ahead. Check back here after Wednesday's matches for updated seeding scenarios.
Wednesday, Sept. 21
Swope Park Rangers at Tulsa Roughnecks FC
OKC Energy FC at Vancouver Whitecaps FC 2
Saturday, Sept. 24
Saint Louis FC at OKC Energy FC
Seattle Sounders FC 2 at Swope Park Rangers
San Antonio FC at Rio Grande Valley FC
Sacramento Republic FC at Tulsa Roughnecks FC
Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC at Orange County Blues FC
Arizona United SC at Portland Timbers 2
Real Monarchs at LA Galaxy II
