The LA Galaxy II are back for their third consecutive USL Cup Playoffs, and they enter in a familiar position as a No. 5 seed once again, needing to go on the road to kick things off. Los Dos were among a number of clubs that at some point was in a position for the top position in the Western Conference standings. Curt Onalfo’s side went through a five-game winless stretch in late July and August that ultimately was a setback in attacking a top-four finish, but the Galaxy II have always stepped up in the postseason.

2016 USL Playoffs: Quarterfinal matchup:
No. 5 LA Galaxy II at No. 4 Swope Park Rangers – Friday, Sept. 30, 8:30 p.m. ET, Children’s Mercy Victory Field at Swope Soccer Village

2016 USL regular season:
Records:
Overall: 12-7-11 (47 points) | Home: 8-2-5 (29 points) | Road: 4-5-6 (18 points)

Goals For: 52 | Goals Against: 42

Leaders:
Goals: 1. Jack McBean 15; 2. Ariel Lassiter 9; 3. Jose Villarreal 6; 4. Adonis Amaya 4; 5. Ryo Fujii 3
Assists: 1. (tie) Adonis Amaya, Jose Villarreal 5; 3. (tie) Josh Turnley, Jaime Villarreal 4
Saves: 1. Clement Diop 62; 2. Bennett Sneddon 12; 3. Dan Kennedy 5; 4. Eric Lopez 2

Clinched its postseason … Sept. 14; clinched with a 1-0 win against Rio Grande Valley FC, combined with San Antonio FC’s 2-0 loss to Real Monarchs SLC

Defining moment: Perhaps a draw might not be the most exemplary moment to showcase for a team, but the Galaxy II’s comeback on the road against Real Monarchs SLC in just the third match of the season was an impressive feat at the time. Opening the year with back-to-back wins, Los Dos headed to Rio Tinto Stadium on April 2 and fell behind 3-0 through the opening half. It stayed that way with 10 minutes remaining, and what appeared to be a sure Monarchs win approaching took a massive turn for the visitors. Bryam Rebellon, Ryo Fujii and Jack McBean tallied within that stretch, with McBean’s penalty kick conversion serving as the equalizer.

Three keys to a championship run:
1. Lassiter’s ship: With Jack McBean on loan to Coventry City, this is Ariel Lassiter’s ship on the offensive end, and he has taken the role on with consistency. Lassiter wrapped up the regular season by scoring four goals in his final five appearances, upping his season goal-scoring total to nine. The team took time to adjust to the absence of McBean and his 15 goals through just 17 matches, but there is more than enough depth in Los Dos’ attack to continue the side’s heavy-possession brand of play moving forward.
2. Diop solidifying the back: Galaxy II goalkeeper Clement Diop truly broke out during the 2015 USL season, also carrying over his strong play in the postseason with a shutout road victory at Sacramento Republic FC in the opening round. Diop was rewarded with an MLS contract and has made a couple of MLS appearances, but the 22-year-old French footballer has continued to regularly man the net for Los Dos this season. His reaction to the ball is superb, and he’s one of the league’s more confident goalkeepers. Occasionally that confidence has put him in unique and worrisome spots outside the box, but those instances have tapered off as his game judgment improves. Diop will no doubt be a major factor in how this year’s team works its way through the playoff stage.
3. Closing games: The hope for LA is that the group learned quite a bit from its Aug. 6 loss to the Portland Timbers 2. Up 3-0 in the early stages of the second half, at home, the Galaxy II conceded four unanswered goals during an unfathomable 4-3 loss. That served as the extreme example of LA’s inability to close out games, but that element continues to linger. The two September draws against Sacramento Republic FC included LA leads and second-half concessions. And anyone who was on the pitch during the 2015 USL Championship certainly remembers the final seconds of regulation when the title was taken away by the eventual champion Rochester Rhinos.

QUOTABLE:
“Last year we went to the finals. Unfortunately we lost. This year we want to win it. We just go anywhere – away game, a home game – it’s the same for us. We just play hard and make sure to come back with the win.” – LA Galaxy II Defender Bradley Diallo