USL LEAGUE TWO PLAYOFFS WESTERN CONFERENCE PREVIEW
- Dan Stickradt
- Jul 17
- 4 min read
NATIONAL SOCCER NEWS: www.nationalsoccernetwork.com
USL LEAGUE TWO PLAYOFFS WESTERN CONFERENCE PREVIEW
The 35-team 2025 USL League Two Playoffs got underway on July 15 with three play-in games – all in the Eastern Conference – with the Round of 32 and Round of 16 taking place July 18-20 at eight different sites across the U.S. in the Eastern Conference, Central Conference, Southern Conference and Western Conference
Below is a breakdown of each team and contest in the Central Conference, which are held in Seattle, Wash.
VENTURA CALIFORNIA POD
(Stadium Field, Ventura College)
ALMEDEN FC VS. TUCSON FC – JULY 18, 2:00 P.M.
Team: Almeden FC
Division: NorCal Division champion
Record: 9-4-1, .643 win pct., 28 points, 2.00 PPM
Stats: Seven shutouts, 1.93 goals-per-game, 0.86 GAA, 27-12 scoring edge (+15)
Notables: This side is proving that defense can win championships, as the NorCal Division champs allow just 0.85 goals a game with seven shutouts. The side is opportunistic offensively, scoring 27 goals in 14 games (1.93 average) and is winning games in a wide variety of ways.
Team: FC Tucson
Division: Southwest Division runner-up
Record: 7-2-3, .584 win pct., 24 points, 2.00 PPM
Stats: Six shutouts, one shutout against, 4.59 goals-per-game, 0.92 GAA, 55-11 scoring edge (+22)
Notables: Only Lionsbridge FC out in Virginia scored as many goals as FC Tucson, as both sides netted 55 goals in the regular season. The side has a+44 differential and averages 4.95 goals-per-game. And when you allow 0.92 goals per match and record six shutouts in 12 games (50 percent of games), then that proves to be a deadly combination. Can FC Tucson keep up the pace in the postseason remains to be seen. Defenses will be much tougher in the tournament.
VENTURA COUNTY FUSION VS.SAN JUAN SC– JULY 18, 7:00 P.M.
Team: Ventura County Fusion
Division: Southwest Division champion
Record: 9-2-1, .750 win pct., 28 points, 2.34 PPM
Stats: Four shutouts, 2.75 goals-per-game, 0.92 GAA, 33-11 scoring edge (+22)
Notables: The longtime powerhouse VCF is coming off another divisional championship with a well-balanced offense and defense. This team has the capabilities of making a long run but there are some tough teams in its conference that have explosive offenses.
Team: San Juan SC
Division: NorCal Division runner-up
Record: 9-4-1, .667 win pct., 28 points, 2.00 PPM
Stats: Four shutouts, one shutout against, 2.86 goals-per-game, 1.29 GAA, 40-18 scoring edge (+22)
Notables: San Juan has a top 10 offense after scoring 40 goals in 14 matches, a 2.86 goals-per-game average, the team is a little bit inconsistent defensively. The side has conceded 18 goals despite four clean sheets. San Juan is capable of beating just about any team in this tournament with its firepower, but could also get bounced in the first or second rounds.
SEATTLE WASHINGTON POD
(Interby Stadium)
SNOHOMISH UNITED VS. UTAH UNITED – JULY 18, 2:00 P.M.
Team: Snohomish United
Division: Northwest Division runner-up
Record: 8-4-2, .572 win pct., 26 points, 1.86 PPM
Stats: Four shutouts, one shutout against, 1.86 goals-per-game, 1.29 GAA, 26-18 scoring edge
Notables: Snohomish United doesn’t score a ton but is accustomed to winning close contests. Wins don’t have to be pretty, as the side averages 1.86 goals-per-game and giving up 1.29 a match. The team is very methodical and simply is opportunistic with its chances.
Team: Utah United
Division: Mountain Division champs
Record: 8-3-1, .667 win pct., 25 points, 2.08 PPM
Stats: Seven shutouts, 2.34 goals-per-game, 0.75 GAA, 28-9 scoring edge (+19)
Notables: Utah United’s women’s team will play in the USL W LEague title game Saturday night and now Utah United hopes to stay around a while in the USL League Two postseason. The Mountain Division champions have quality numbers across the board, seven shutouts and 0.75 GAA defensively for starters. Offensively, eight wins, a 2.34 goals-per-game and a +19 differential bodes well for a team looking to advance.
BALLARD FC VS. COLORADO STORM – JULY 18, 7:30 P.M.
Team: Ballard FC
Division: Great Plains Division
Record: 7-4-1, 584 win pct., 22 points,1.83 PPM
Stats: Eight shutouts, .643, 2.58 goals-per-game, 0.50 goals-against-average, 36-7 scoring edge (+29)
Notables: Founded in 2021, this side is making its fourth consecutive postseason appearance and actually captured the national title in 2023. With a 36-7 scoring edge and great numbers defensively and offensively, this is another team constructed for a long postseason ride. Ballard FC lost in the Western Conference Quarterfinals last season, so expect this side to come out with more fuel to the fire this time around.
Team: Colorado Storm
Division: Mountain Division runner-up
Record: 8-2-2, .667 win pct., 26 points, 2.17 PPM
Stats: Three shutouts, three shutouts against, 2.42 goals-per-game, 1.17 GAA, 29-14 scoring edge (+15)
Notables: At times this team has been known to finish as its 29 goals this season indicates. But the side has also conceded 14 goals, so it is finding ways to win close games. The runner-up in the MountainDivision is trying to be one of the non-divisional winners to advance out of the first-round, but it will have to post an enormous upset of one of the best well-rounded teams in the field.
USL LEAGUE TWO PLAYOFFS CENTRAL CONFERENCE PREVIEW: https://wix.to/fNfuQKf
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