USL LEAGUE TWO PLAYOFFS PREVIEW: Play-In games feature quality matchups in Eastern Conference
- Dan Stickradt
- 9 hours ago
- 4 min read
NATIONAL SOCCER NEWS: www.nationalsoccernetwork.com
USL LEAGUE TWO PLAYOFFS PREVIEW: Play-In games feature quality matchups in Eastern Conference
The 35-team 2025 USL League Two Playoffs gets underway on July 15 with three play-in games – all in the Eastern Conference.
Below is a breakdown of the three contests:
LIONSBRIDGE FC VS. CHARLOTTE INDEPENDENCE II
Where: 7 p.m. at Townbank Stadium, Newport News, Va.
FAST FACTS
Team: Lionsbridge FC
Division: Chesapeake Division runner-up
Record: 9-2-3, .643 win pct., 30 points, 2.14 PPM
Stats: Six shutouts, 3.93 goals-per-game, 1.29 GAA, 55-18 scoring edge (+37)
Players to Watch: Denis Krioutchenkov, F (eight goals, two assists); Felix Ewald, F (seven goals; Evan Howard, M/F (seven goals, one assist); Gabriel Rodriguez, M (four goals, one assist); Richard Covis, M (three goals, two assists); Samuel Hall, CB (five goals); Lincoln Ulrich, OB (two goals); Davide Materazzi, CB; Toby Mauer, G; Henry Hampshaw, G
Notables: With 55 goals scored, Lionsbridge FC boasts the USL League Two’s top offense and averages close to four goals a match. The team has occasionally been inconsistent defensively. The side has never been shutout this season, so sides will have to simply outscore Lionsbridge FC(9-2-3) which could be a tall order.
Team: Charlotte Independence II
Division: South Atlantic Division runner-up
Record: 8-3-1, .667 win pct., 25 points, 2.08 PPM
Stats: Five shutouts, 2.09 goals-per-game, 1.34 GAA, 25-16 scoring edge (+9)
Players to Watch: Tim Baerwalde, G; Juan Martinez, G; Emilio Cazares-Herrera, F (six goals); Adian Morrison, M/F (four goals, one assist); Marco Wright, F (three goals, one assist); Jake Roberts, M (two goals); Noah Louzin, M (two assists); Alonzo Clarke, CB; Benjamin, OB; William Burdette, D; Jake Roberts, D.
Notables: Charlotte is a polar opposite of Lionsbridge, usually getting into close matches with multiple one-goal games. The Independence II have been involved with six one-goal games and a pair of two-goal games plus one 0-0 draw. Defense is the name of the game here.
WESTERN MASS PIONEERS VS LONG ISLAND ROUGH RIDERS
Where: 7:30 p.m. at Lusitano Stadium, Ludlow, Massachusetts
FAST FACTS
Team: Western Mass Pioneers
Division: Northeastern Division runner-up
Record: 10-1-3, .715 win pct., 33 points, 2.36 PPM
Stats: Seven shutouts, 3.29 goals-per-game, 0.65 GAA, 46-9 scoring edge (+37)
Players to Watch: Reese Sheppard, G; Oskar Kaufmann, F (five goals); Robert Lyons, F (three goals); Israel Neto, M (three goals, two assists); Augustine Boadi, M (two goals, four assists); Matt Cence, M (three goals, one goal); Aidan Kelly, CB; Juan Hermoso, CB; Gustavo Barbosa, OB; Jaiden Williems, OB
Notables: The Pioneers took second to the Vermont Green FC after posting a 2-2 draw with the Green in a game where they surrendered two goals in stoppage time at the end, which resulted in a 2-2 draw and a second-place finish. If Western Mass would have won, they would have claimed the division title. This side has tasted defeat only once and with a 46-9 scored edge and seven shutouts, is a wild card team that could still do some serious damage in the postseason.
Team: Long Island Rough Riders
Division: Metropolitan Division runner-up
Record: 9-2-1, .750 win pct., 28 points, 2.33 PPM
Stats: Four shutouts, 2.67 goals-per-game, 1.17 GAA, 32-14 scoring edge (+18)
Players to Watch: Dino Cervoni, G; Ethan Wood, G; Nakal Antoine, OB; Dino Feratovic, CB; Justin Jean-Lovis, OB; Jake Stainrod, F (11 goals, second in league); Robert Lovelace, F (four goals); Londell Wheeler, M (five assists); Jacob Woznicki, F (three goals); Justin McLean, M (two goals, three assists)
Notables: Another quality team in a deep division only lost two contests this season and have put up quality numbers across the board. The team’s defense will need to be solid against Western Mass, which scored the second-most goals as a team in the entire USL League Two.
OCEAN CITY NOR’EASTERS VS. HUDSON VALLEY HAMMERS
Where: 7:30 p.m. at Carey Stadium, Ocean City, New Jersey
FAST FACTS
Team: Ocean City Nor-Easters
Division: Mid-Atlantic Division runner-up
Record: 7-2-3, .584 win pct., 24 points, 2.00 PPM
Stats: Four shutouts, two shutouts against, 2.34 goals-per-game, 1.25 GAA, 28-15 (+13)
Players to Watch:
Notables: Another team that has engaged in several close games, hence only two losses but three ties, the Nor’Easters are a team quite capable of an upset or two if they can put it all together. Their defense has four clean sheets but have been blanked twice and the offense is going to need to show up in the playoffs.
Team: Hudson Valley Hammers
Division: Metropolitan Division third-place finisher (10 teams in division)
Record: 7-2-3, .584 win pct., 24 points, 2.00 PPM
Stats: Four shutouts, two shutouts against, 1.75 goals-per-game; 1.17 GAA, 21-14 scoring edge (+7)
Players to Watch: Nicholas Zihonka, F (four goals, three assists); Kyle Evans, M/F (two goals); Joseph Dippeta, OB (two goals); Francis Bonsu, M (two goals); Francesco Diponzio, M (one goal, two assists); Ciaran Daltan, G; Tomas Hut, G; Liam Evans, CB; Robertus Verheul, CB; Alejo Caceres, OB
Notables: With just a 21-14 scoring edge, the Hammers have found ways to win close matches or post ties (three) in one of the League’s deepest divisions. As one of three teams in a 10-team division to have at least 24 points, Hudson Valley is the only team to not finish first or second in its respective division to earn a wild-card spot in the USL League Two.
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