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Fans' Choice: Goal of the USL Playoffs

By USLSoccer.com Staff, 10/26/16, 2:00PM EDT

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Choose from seven of the best strikes from the 2016 USL Playoffs

The 2016 USL Cup champions have been crowned after New York Red Bulls II surged past a visiting Swope Park Rangers side at Red Bull Arena on Sunday, but there are still a number of titles up for grabs before we close the book on the 2016 campaign.

The playoffs produced a series of thrilling contests and memorable moments, and even though we know you will be looking to fill the offseason void by reliving your favorite moments from a captivating cup run, we have selected seven of the best goals from the tournament to vie for the right to be called the "Goal of the USL Playoffs."

The winner of the Fans' Choice vote will join the six previous Goal of the Month winners as automatic entrants in the upcoming USL Goal of the Year competition.

One candidate, Eric Stevenson of FC Cincinnati, has already assured himself a spot after taking home top honors in June and will be looking to double his odds on the strength of a right-footed rocket that electrified a playoff record crowd of 30,187 at Nippert Stadium.

One-half of the newly-minted USL champions' "French Connection," dynamic New York Red Bulls II midfielder Vincent Bezecourt chose to let his left foot do the work in a tight space during a convincing 4-0 victory over Orlando City B in the Eastern Conference Quarterfinals.

Bezecourt's intervention helped New York earn a rematch with a Rochester Rhinos squad that put an end to NYRBII's inaugural season as part of its own USL Cup run last year. Despite ultimately falling to NYRBII in a shootout, the Rhinos came within three wins of adding another trophy to their storied history, getting past the Charlotte Independence in the quarterfinal round due in part to a wondrous free kick from Wal Fall.

Set pieces played a significant role in the comeback effort for Energy FC against second-seeded Rio Grande Valley FC out west, and OKC nearly powered its way into the conference final behind a deft finish from FC Dallas-loanee Timo Pitter against Vancouver Whitecaps FC 2.

Derrick Etienne Jr.

Photo courtesy Ben Solomon / New York Red Bulls II

Two of the final three nominees came courtesy of USL "20 Under 20" selection Derrick Etienne Jr., whose slick near-post finish on the break beat 2016 Golden Glove recipient Tomas Gomez and helped the hosts offset Fall's contribution in the conference semifinal round.

Perhaps the most impactful moment of Etienne's breakout campaign came in the USL Cup Final as the 19-year-old showed he truly has ice in his veins by tallying the opener in stylish fashion, first eluding his defender before neatly tucking his finish inside the right post.

Etienne's strike helped his side complete the double after New York raced to the regular season crown and denied the Swope Park Rangers a dream finish to the club's first USL season.

One man who has a bevy of USL experience is the league's all-time leading scorer Dane Kelly and the Jamaican's veteran presence and scoring touch were instrumental in bringing SPR to the precipice. Kelly notched the decisive goal in an improbable overtime win over OC Blues FC after his team was reduced to nine men, then helped the expansion side capture the Western Conference title by making a spectacular finish look routine in a 3-0 result against WFC2.

What does it all add up to? Seven goals up for the seventh spot in the Goal of the Year competition.

Who advances? You decide.

Voting will remain open through 9:00 AM EDT on Monday, October 31.

USL Goal of the Month - 2016
April: Sean Okoli, FC Cincinnati
May: Andrew Wiedeman, FC Cincinnati
June: Eric Stevenson, FC Cincinnati
July: Omar Cummings, FC Cincinnati
August: Louis Béland-Goyette, FC Montreal
September: Jimmy Sanon, FC Montreal