The LA Galaxy II and Vancouver Whitecaps FC 2 sit as the lone remaining undefeated clubs in the 2016 season, as they sit in the top two slots of the USL’s Western Conference going into games on Wednesday night.

While the league has seen remarkable undefeated streaks to start to the season before, the most notable being Richmond’s 23-game undefeated streak in 2013 and the Rochester Rhinos’ streak of 19 games a year ago, LA and Vancouver are breaking new ground for MLS owned-and-operated teams in this regard.

So, what have the keys to success been for the clubs?

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1. PLAYING FROM THE FRONT
Would you care to take a guess at how many minutes the Galaxy II and WFC2 have trailed for so far this season?

It’s not a big number for each. The Galaxy II have trailed in only one game this season, for 75 minutes, in their 3-3 draw with Real Monarchs SLC on April 2.

WFC2 has trailed twice this season, but only for a combined span of 40 minutes in their games against the Galaxy II – which ended in a 2-2 draw – and their last outing against the Swope Park Rangers.

It’s no secret that getting the opening goal in a game will usually tilt things toward the team that scores it. LA and Vancouver are perfect illustrations of that.

2. CONSISTENCY IN THE LINEUP
In the past two years, it’s been a commonly-held belief that a problem with facing MLS owned-and-operated teams means you never know who’ll be available each game.

Considering that WFC2 has had seven players play at least 300 out of 450 available minutes this season, and 10 players make at least four appearances in five games, that’s probably not quite as true as some people might want to let on.

That’s also true for the Galaxy II, for whom nine outfield players have played at least 416 minutes of a potential 630 so far this season – as with WFC2, about two-thirds of the available minutes.

That consistency in the lineup has led to strong chemistry on the field, and a togetherness that comes from competing alongside the same players game-in and game-out. And, it can be argued, that leads to a successful team.

3. ATTACKING FOCAL POINT
One of the keys to success over the years for USL clubs has been finding a strong attacking focal point. LA and Vancouver went down different paths to find theirs this season, but both players currently sit in the Top 5 goal-scorers in the USL.

For Los Dos, the higher level Jack McBean has raised his game to has been one of the major early stories in the league this season. The 21-year-old has already equaled his season-high with six goals in seven games, but is also doing the hard work pressing opposing defenses to cause turnovers for the team as well.

After struggling for goals a season ago, Vancouver brought in outside help this offseason, and the addition of Kyle Greig has paid dividends so far. With four goals, Greig is tied for third in the league, and with the second prong of Daniel Haber and others backing him, WFC2 has scored 11 goals in five games this season. That pace would put them at 66 goals for the season, a far cry from the 39 goals in 28 games the club managed in 2015.

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The Galaxy II and WFC2 are both in action on Wednesday night, with Los Dos’ clash with Colorado Springs Switchbacks looking like a must-see at the newly-renovated StubHub Center Track and Field Stadium. 

With the blueprints both have laid out so far this season, it will be intriguing to see how far both teams can carry their current runs of form.