TAMPA, Fla. – The USL regular season playoff race is starting to heat up, with 10 games scheduled for this weekend that see key contests in both the Eastern and Western Conferences alongside some high-profile international exhibitions on Saturday night. In the East, the New York Red Bulls II will try to avenge their only defeat of the season so far, while Saturday night’s clash between Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC and Sacramento Republic FC will be key to both teams as they look to catch Vancouver at the top of the Western Conference.

Every game of the 2016 USL season will be available on the league’s Match Center, with updates from across the league also available via Twitter, Facebook, Vine and Instagram.

GAMES TO WATCH
Saturday, June 16
Charlotte Independence vs. New York Red Bulls II
7 p.m. ET, Ramblewood Stadium
The New York Red Bulls II will try to avenge their only defeat this season when they visit the Charlotte Independence at Ramblewood Stadium, with the hosts looking to boost their playoff standing after sliding to seventh place entering this weekend’s contests.

The Independence (7-5-4, 25pts) fell 2-1 to Wilmington Hammerheads FC last Saturday night at Ramblewood Stadium, which continued a recent downturn in form that has seen the side win just twice in its last nine games. Charlotte took a 2-0 win at Red Bull Arena on May 1, and will be hoping for a similar fast start in Saturday’s game.

New York (10-1-5, 35pts) has gone 10 games undefeated since its loss to the Independence, with its most recent outing bringing a 4-2 victory against FC Montreal that saw Brandon Allen record his first professional hat trick. Allen leads the Red Bulls II with eight goals this season, while the side still boasts the best defensive record in the league with 10 goals against in 16 games.

San Antonio FC vs. Vancouver Whitecaps FC 2
8:30 p.m. ET, Toyota Field
San Antonio will try to continue its good recent run of form when it welcomes Western Conference leader Vancouver Whitecaps FC 2, with WFC2 looking to bounce back from its heaviest loss of the season on Wednesday night in the opening game of its trip to Texas.

San Antonio (5-5-6, 21pts) has gone 3-0-2 over its past five games, including a 0-0 draw last Saturday night with OKC Energy FC. The five-game undefeated streak has moved the side within a point of the top eight in the Western Conference as SAFC looks to earn a place in the playoffs in its inaugural season.

Vancouver (9-3-5, 32pts) fell 4-0 to Rio Grande Valley FC on Wednesday night to break a four-game undefeated streak that had carried the team to the top of the Western Conference. WFC2 still leads the Western Conference by three points entering the weekend’s action, and will aim to at least maintain that lead with a positive performance in the first meeting between these teams.

Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC vs. Sacramento Republic FC
9 p.m. ET, Switchbacks Stadium
Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC and Sacramento Republic FC are separated by two points as they square off in a top-five clash between two sides that saw their recent form take a dip last week.

The Switchbacks (8-5-3, 27pts) took one point from two games in the Pacific Northwest last week, as the side conceded late in a 1-1 draw against the Portland Timbers 2 and a 2-1 defeat to Seattle Sounders FC 2. Back on home turf, Colorado Springs could finish the night in second place should results fall the right way, but a loss would give their rivals the chance to open a wide gap to the top of the standings.

Republic FC (8-4-5, 29pts) has struggled defensively in each of its past two outings, giving up three late goals in a 3-2 defeat to Real Monarchs SLC on July 6, and then playing to a 3-3 draw with Orange County Blues FC last Sunday. Regaining the side’s solidity at the back will be key to earning a result on the road against a Switchbacks side that boasts a wide range of attacking weapons.

Sunday, July 16
Wilmington Hammerheads FC vs. Louisville City FC
6 p.m. ET, Legion Stadium
Louisville City FC visits Wilmington Hammerheads FC on Sunday evening looking to maintain its lead at the top of the Eastern Conference against a Wilmington side that is fighting for a place in the top eight after a tough midweek loss on the road in Pennsylvania.

The Hammerheads (6-6-5, 23pts) dropped out of the playoff positions on Thursday afternoon when they suffered a 3-0 defeat against Bethlehem Steel FC that saw the expansion side jump past them in the Eastern Conference standings. Wilmington took a late 2-2 draw when it visited Louisville earlier this season, but will need to put in a big performance to try and jump back up the standings against the conference leader.

Louisville (11-1-6, 39pts) conceded a late goal in a 1-1 draw with the Charleston Battery last Saturday night, but still leads the Eastern Conference by four points entering the weekend’s action. City is tied for the league-lead in goals this season with 33, and will be hoping that firepower will come to the fore again as it looks for a victory ahead of a massive River Cities Cup clash with FC Cincinnati next weekend.

NUMBER CRUNCHING
126 – The LA Galaxy II recorded their 125th regular-season goal in club history in its 2-1 win against Orange County Blues FC. The team’s 126 regular-season goals since the start of the 2014 USL season is the most by any team in that span.

100 – FC Cincinnati became the first team to top 100 shots on goal this season (103) in its 2-1 win against Saint Louis FC last Saturday, while Tulsa Roughnecks FC goalkeepers Alex Mangels and Jake Feener have now surpassed 100 saves this season with 104 between them.

16 – Sixteen players who have competed in the USL in the past two seasons were named to the 20-man squad for the MLS Chipotle Homegrown Game against the Mexico U20 National Team on July 27 at San Jose’s Avaya Stadium. Leading the group is Jack McBean, who leads the USL with 13 goals this season for the LA Galaxy II.

5 – Sacramento Republic FC’s Danny Barrera has recorded assists in five consecutive games, which has seen him move to the top of the league’s leaders with six this season.

OTHER NEWS AND NOTES

- Three USL clubs will be part of international exhibitions on Saturday, with FC Cincinnati having already sold more than 30,000 tickets to its contest with the Premier League’s Crystal Palace FC. The game will also be streamed live on the USL’s official Facebook page, a first for the league and one of its teams.

- The Richmond Kickers will welcome Premier League opposition to City Stadium for a third consecutive year when they hosts Swansea City A.F.C. on Saturday night. The Swans played fellow USL side the Charlotte Independence in midweek in front of a sellout crowd at Ramblewood Stadium.

- The Charleston Battery will play their second international exhibition of the summer in Atlanta on Saturday night, as they face the Nigeria Olympic Team at Silverbacks Stadium. The game will give the chance for MLS 2017 expansion side Atlanta United FC to see some of the players that have been competing on loan with the Battery this season, as the club’s official USL partner.

- Saint Louis FC (6-7-5, 21pts) and standout forward Irvin Herrera conclude their season series with Tulsa Roughnecks FC (3-11-3, 12pts) on Friday night at ONEOK Field (8:30 p.m. ET | Match Center) with Herrera looking to add to his six goals against Tulsa this season. The El Salvador international currently sits fourth in the USL with nine goals overall this season.

- The LA Galaxy II (7-2-8, 29pts) return to action on Saturday afternoon with a visit to the Portland Timbers 2 (5-9-3, 18pts) at Merlo Field (5 p.m. ET | Match Center). Los Dos have been off since a 2-1 win against Orange County on July 2, but thanks to results elsewhere remain just three points back of top spot in the Western Conference.

- OKC Energy FC (6-2-7, 25pts) will look to build on a dramatic win on Tuesday night when it hosts Orange County Blues FC (6-7-4, 22pts) at Taft Stadium (8:30 p.m. ET | Match Center). FC Dallas loanees Coy Craft and Timo Pitter scored late in a 2-0 win against the Swope Park Rangers on Tuesday night, a win that moved Energy FC up to sixth in the West, and in touch with the five teams above it with games in hand on all.

- The Keystone Derby Cup resumes on Sunday night when the Pittsburgh Riverhounds (2-10-4, 10pts) host the Harrisburg City Islanders (4-13-2, 14pts) at Highmark Stadium (7 p.m. ET | Match Center). With both sides falling out of contention for a place in the playoffs, the battle for the rivalry trophy should take on more meaning, with the two teams having played to a draw in their first meeting this season.