TAMPA, Fla. – The 2016 USL Cup Playoffs reach the Eastern and Western Conference Finals this weekend as the four remaining teams look to earn a trip to the 2016 USL Cup Final, Presented by Nike. The top two seeds in the East will square off as the New York Red Bulls II host Louisville City FC on Sunday night, while the Swope Park Rangers and Vancouver Whitecaps FC 2 meet on Saturday in the Western Final.

• 2016 USL Cup Playoffs Home

The 2016 USL Cup will air live on ESPNU, the WatchESPN app and will be simulcast on SiriusXM on Sunday, October 23 at 8 p.m. ET. Every other game of the 2016 USL Cup Playoffs will be available on the league’s Playoff Center, with updates from across the league also available via Twitter, Facebook, Vine and Instagram.

GAMES TO WATCH
Eastern Conference Final
Sunday, October 16
No. 1 New York Red Bulls II vs. No. 2 Louisville City FC
Kickoff – 6:30 p.m. ET | Red Bull Arena | Match Center
The Red Bulls II and Louisville finished 1-2 in the Eastern Conference standings, and now meet for the conference title with New York holding a potential mental edge between the sides. The Red Bulls II have taken victories in all four of the prior meetings between the clubs, including two shutouts wins this season.

New York advanced to the Eastern Conference Final in dramatic fashion, as it defeated the Rochester Rhinos 5-4 in a penalty shootout after the teams had played to a 3-3 draw in regulation and overtime. Brandon Allen scored twice, including a 119th-minute penalty kick to send the game to the shootout, as the Red Bulls II eliminated the defending USL champions.

Louisville continued its strong recent run of form in a 1-0 win against the Charleston Battery to reach its second consecutive Eastern Conference Final. Kadeem Dacres scored the decisive goal early in the second half, while Louisville’s defense recorded its second consecutive shutout in the playoffs to seal the win. City has won seven consecutive games, and has conceded only twice in that span.

Western Conference Final
Saturday, October 15
No. 4 Swope Park Rangers vs. No. 6 Vancouver Whitecaps FC 2
Kickoff – 8:30 p.m. ET | Children’s Mercy Victory Field | Match Center
The Swope Park Rangers and Vancouver Whitecaps FC 2 will take aim at claiming their first Western Conference Championship when they meet on Saturday night, with both sides having taken dramatic victories to advance on home turf last weekend.

The Rangers won their eighth consecutive contest in their Western Conference Semifinal against Orange County Blues FC, but had to do it the hard way as they finished with nine men in a 2-1 overtime victory last Sunday evening. Dane Kelly scored the decisive goal in the 105th minute for Swope Park, as the side continued its remarkable run in its inaugural season.

Vancouver reached its first Western Conference Final with a thrilling 3-2 victory against OKC Energy FC last Saturday afternoon as Daniel Haber’s goal in the 89th minute grabbed a victory for the host after Energy FC had rallied from a two-goal deficit in the second half. Kianz Froese and Kyle Greig also found the net for Vancouver, giving both players goals in each of WFC2’s postseason victories so far.

NUMBER CRUNCHING

14 – The Swope Park Rangers are undefeated in 14 contests when center backs Amer Didic and Oumar Ballo have started together (12-0-2).

12 – The New York Red Bulls II are undefeated in their past 12 games, going 11-0-1 over that span.

7 – The New York Red Bulls II lead all teams with seven goals in two games this postseason, continuing their attacking success from the regular season that saw the side score a USL record 61 times.

3 – Swope Park’s Mark Anthony Gonzalez, New York’s Brandon Allen and Rochester’s Steevan Dos Santos are tied for the playoff lead with three goals apiece.

2 – Kianz Froese’s two goals for Vancouver Whitecaps FC 2 this postseason have matched his total from the past two USL regular seasons.

2 – The New York Red Bulls II’s Vincent Bezecourt is the only player this postseason to have recorded multiple assists, with two.

0 – Louisville City has yet to concede a goal in the USL Cup Playoffs, as goalkeeper Greg Ranjitsingh has recorded nine saves.

OTHER NEWS AND NOTES

- Saint Louis FC appointed Preki as its new Head Coach on Wednesday, as the former MLS and USL Coach of the Year and National Soccer Hall of Fame member became the second coach in club history. Preki led Sacramento Republic FC to the USL Cup in 2014, and will now look to help Saint Louis to its first postseason appearance next year.

- The USL announced its broadcast team for the 2016 USL Cup Final, Presented by Nike. Joining regular USL Game of the Week play-by-play announcer Michael Watts are former U.S. Women’s National Team members Kate Markgraf (analyst) and Heather Mitts (sideline), both of whom bring extensive broadcast experience to the production.

- Tulsa Roughnecks FC announced a new partnership with the Titan Sports & Performance Center, which will give the club a state-of-the-art training facility for the club’s third season in the USL in 2017.