FC Cincinnati made the loudest entrance the USL has seen with continual record-breaking attendances that have drawn global recognition, and the fans have been treated to a veteran-savvy club led by a National Soccer Hall of Fame coach. The first task was accomplished, reaching the 2016 USL Cup Playoffs. Now John Harkes’ side looks to keep this buzz going, and the club gets to do so on its home grounds of Nippert Stadium to open the Eastern Conference Quarterfinals. From the front line of attack in Sean Okoli to fan favorite goalkeeper Mitch Hildebrandt as the anchor, The Bailey will be bumping for this expansion franchise’s new chapter.

2016 USL Playoffs: Quarterfinal matchup:
No. 3 FC Cincinnati vs. No. 6 Charleston Battery – Sunday, Oct. 2, 4 p.m. ET, Nippert Stadium

2016 USL regular season:
Records:
Overall: 16-6-8 (56 points) | Home: 9-2-4 (31 points) | Road: 7-4-4 (25 points)

Goals For: 56 | Goals Against: 41

Leaders:
Goals: 1. Sean Okoli 16; 2. Andrew Wiedeman 7; 3. Jimmy McLaughlin 4; 3. (tie) 3 tied with 3
Assists: 1. (tie) Corben Bone, Omar Cummings 5; 3. Andrew Wiedeman 4; 4. (tie) 3 tied with 3
Saves: 1. Mitch Hildebrandt 72; 2. Dallas Jaye 4

Clinched its postseason … Aug. 27; mathematically clinched following Wilmington Hammerheads FC’s 2-2 draw against the Rochester Rhinos and Bethlehem Steel FC’s 1-0 loss to Louisville City FC

Defining moment: One of Cincinnati’s strongest wins of the season was a 2-0 victory against Louisville City FC on July 23 to win the River Cities Cup, the team’s first accolade coming against a Louisville side that was leading the Eastern Conference at the time. Andrew Wiedeman and Sean Okoli provided the goal-scoring, and Cincinnati also handed Louisville its first road loss and ended LouCity’s 17-game unbeaten streak (11-0-6). This match also capped off an incredibly busy stretch that featured three games in a week, including an international exhibition against Crystal Palace that drew more than 35,000, followed by a 2-1 home loss to a tough New York Red Bulls II side. Head Coach John Harkes called the win against Louisville a “demonstration of our growth and maturity,” and Cincinnati didn’t drop another match at Nippert for the remainder of the regular season.

Three keys to a championship run:
1. Go, Ugo, go: Cincinnati’s talented striker Sean “Ugo” Okoli took the league by storm with some highlight reel scoring – particularly his scissor-kick tally against the Charlotte Independence – and an attacking prowess that was one of the USL’s best all season on his way to the USL Golden Boot with 16 goals. No other player in the league has created and taken more shots than Okoli, and that trend is a necessity going into the USL Cup Playoffs. Opposing teams know they need to key on him, and yet Okoli continues to find ways to put his foot on the ball when nearing the 18-yard box. Now that the postseason is here, will Okoli still find those creases? Will Okoli need to play more of a setup role knowing full well that defenses will hound him? How he performs and adapts will set the tone for Cincinnati’s postseason.
2. Mitch says no: Okoli isn’t the only member of the club to grab some ESPN SportsCenter-level attention. Goalkeeper Mitch Hildebrandt established himself early in the campaign, and the “Mitch says no!” chant created a life of its own. Hildebrandt led all USL goalkeepers in minutes this season, easily serving as the name that Coach Harkes could have written in ink for his lineup forms. Cincinnati is the type of club that while it has flashes of good possession and attack, it is also prone to allowing opposing teams to threaten the net for spells. Hildebrandt generally has been up to the standard in such instances, and if the offense doesn’t quite kick into gear, his efforts are the safety net to keep things afloat.
3. Start to finish: It’s such a rudimentary concept, but being a first-year team, the club has had some shortcomings both at the beginning and end of games, despite having strong experience and leadership. FCC’s offense is one of the lowest-scoring in first halves, and the defense has been known to concede some late goals. The latter element has improved in recent games, and overall the back line has gotten stronger than the first third of the season when Cincinnati was unable to post a clean sheet in its first eight matches. This is a key that quite frankly doesn’t need to be mentioned heading into any match, but the numbers don’t lie – this complete-game concept has been a shortcoming at times.

QUOTABLE:
“The club has done a great job bringing the fan base, which has been absolutely incredible. The city has a bit of buzz right now.” – FC Cincinnati Head Coach John Harkes, as told to American Soccer Now