Second-year Vancouver Whitecaps FC 2 advanced to its first appearance in the USL Cup Playoffs, turning things around impressively following an eight-win 2015 campaign. Despite that turnaround, there still are some questions about this group heading into the postseason. Which WFC2 will show up – the version that posted a 10-game unbeaten streak to open the 2016 season or the version that managed only one win in a 10-game stretch from late July to mid-September? Vancouver capped off the regular season with a relatively strong 2-1 win against OKC Energy FC on Sept. 21, and that is the type of positive play WFC2 will need for the postseason chapter.

2016 USL Playoffs:
Western Conference Semifinal result:
No. 6 Vancouver Whitecaps FC 2 (3), No. 7 OKC Energy FC (2): WFC's Daniel Haber scored the decisive goal in the 89th minute to help his side turn the tide against OKC and advance to the conference final. Kianz Froese and former OKC striker Kyle Greig also tallied for Vancouver, which had held a 2-0 lead after Greig's early second-half tally. Energy FC fought back to even things with Danni Konig and Timo Pitter netting goals in the 60th and 80th minutes, respectively. Pitter's strike, a 22-yard bending ball into the upper left corner, tied the score at 2-2, but Haber had the final say down the stretch. - RECAP

Western Conference Quarterfinal result:
No. 6 Vancouver Whitecaps FC 2 (2), No. 3 Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC (1): WFC2 rallied from an early deficit to post its first postseason victory on Friday, Sept. 30, at Switchbacks Stadium. Kyle Greig and Kianz Froese tallied back-to-back in the opening half and the defense grew stronger after allowing a seventh-minute goal to Colorado Springs' Luke Vercollone. - RECAP

2016 USL regular season:
Records:
Overall: 12-9-9 (45 points) | Home: 7-4-4, 25 points | Road: 5-5-5, 20 points

Goals For: 44 | Goals Against: 44

Leaders:
Goals: 1. Kyle Greig 11; 2. (tie) Marco Bustos and Daniel Haber 7; 4. (tie) 3 players tied with 4
Assists: 1. Daniel Haber 4; 2. (tie) Kyle Greig and Fatawu Safiu 3; 4. (tie) 6 players tied with 2
Saves: 1. Spencer Richey 49; 2. Sean Melvin 33; 3. Marco Carducci 16

Clinched its postseason … Sept. 17; mathematically clinched a berth following Orange County Blues FC’s and Real Monarchs SLC’s losses to Rio Grande Valley FC and Arizona United SC, respectively

Defining moment: Though the final score line left a little to be desired, Vancouver’s impressive showing during its 4-3 victory against the LA Galaxy II on May 15 had a little bit of everything. The first 21 minutes alone represented one of WFC2’s strongest stretches of a game this season. Kyle Greig recorded a first-half brace as he upped his season total to seven goals at the time. Then, 15-year-old Alphonso Davies became the youngest player to score a goal in a USL regular-season match in the 21st minute, eventually earning USL Team of the Week honors for his efforts. Brett Levis ended up with what proved to be the winning goal in the 81st minute to give Vancouver a 4-1 lead, and the host side would need it as LA’s Daniel Slager and then Jose Villarreal tallied in the final 10 minutes, with Villarreal recording his own brace that day. Nevertheless, it didn’t take away from WFC2’s big effort, extending its unbeaten streak to seven as the club continued to enjoy its strong start to the year.

Three keys to a championship run:
1. Greig’s goal-scoring revival: It wasn’t a coincidence that Vancouver’s 10-game unbeaten streak featured nine goals from team captain Kyle Greig. The former OKC Energy FC forward made a phenomenal entrance with his new club, and WFC2 has benefited from his leadership among an incredibly youthful group. Once the first third of the season was in the books, though, Greig wasn’t able to generate even a sampling of the numbers he enjoyed at the start. He’s certainly been close, and Greig continues to work his way near the net and create chances. Greig isn’t completely defined by his scoring as he can contribute and set up his teammates in a number of ways, but Vancouver is eager to see if he can revive the scoring element that was one of the league’s most successful stories at the start of the year.
2. Solidified defense: The ups and downs can be pinpointed among any line, but in the postseason, Vancouver’s back line will need to showcase some steadiness. WFC2 has gone through some lapses in the back, but it also has shown some incredible promise. Goalkeeper Spencer Richey, who still split some time this season in net, had several impressive showings during the regular season, most notably a nine-save effort for a draw at Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC on July 29. Left back Brett Levis could end up being one of the most important pieces as the 23-year-old – who signed with the Whitecaps’ MLS squad in August – has a strong skillset on both sides of the ball.
3. Healthy Haber: The regular-season finale victory against OKC Energy FC was mostly a positive vibe, but there was a bit of a shadow cast on that match as Daniel Haber – as a rare second-half sub – had to leave the game because of a hip injury. The Canadian international has been a massive influence on the club, adapting to more of a winger role and contributing in a number of ways as the team’s leading assists man (4) and second-leading goal scorer (7). WFC2 has rotated in some good attacking pieces throughout the year, but if Haber isn’t 100 percent or an available option, that no doubt will have an effect on this team in the playoffs. Haber was the only Vancouver player to appear in all 30 regular-season matches this year.

QUOTABLE:
“Anybody can win the entire thing. It doesn’t matter what position you’re in, as long as you’re in the playoffs, anything can happen. That’s something that I’ll reiterate to the guys who haven’t experienced the playoffs yet.” – Vancouver Whitecaps FC 2 Forward Kyle Greig