RENO, Nev. – In its inaugural season in the USL, Reno 1868 FC has been a dominant force offensively, setting a new USL record with a remarkable 75 goals in the 2017 regular season. 1868 FC has proven difficult to stop as it marched into the USL Cup Playoffs on the back of USL Golden Boot-winner Dane Kelly and Assists Champion Chris Wehan in its inaugural season, and now will be hoping the team's attacking prowess can allow the side to make a run in the playoffs.

2017 USL Cup Playoffs: Quarterfinal matchup:
No. 3 Reno 1868 FC vs. No. 6 OKC Energy FC – Saturday, Oct. 21, 8:45 p.m. ET, Greater Nevada Field

2017 USL regular season:
Records:
Overall: 17-7-8 (59 points) | Home: 9-2-5 (32 points) | Road: 8-5-3 (27 points)

Goals For: 75 | Goals Against: 39

Leaders:
Goals: 1. Dane Kelly 18; 2. Antoine Hoppenot 12; 3. Christopher Wehan 8; 4. Lindo Mfeka 6

Assists: 1. Christopher Wehan 12; 2.Antoine Hoppenot 6; 3. Brian Brown 5; 4.(tie) 2 with 4

Saves: 1. Matt Bersano 68; 2. Andrew Tarbell 9; 3. Russell Klabough 2

Clinched its postseason … Sept. 20, with a 3-0 win against OKC Energy FC

Clinched the No. 3 seed in the Western Conference … Oct. 14, with a 2-2 draw against Sacramento Republic FC

Defining moment: The penultimate week of September was a crucial week for Reno 1868 FC. After missing a chance to clinch a place in the playoffs a week earlier the side was starting to look like a team that could crack under the pressure. Instead, Reno got it together, broke a USL record and clinched its place in the USL Cup Playoffs. The week kicked off with a Wednesday night clash against OKC Energy FC when Lindo Mfeka came to the fore. The rookie from the University of South Florida became the second player in team history to record a hat trick in a 3-0 victory over OKC Energy FC, not only sealing a place in the postseason but also sending 1868 FC into the USL record book for the most goals in a single season. It would have been easy for Reno to then let off the gas, take the win, take the record, and cruise into the USL Cup Playoffs. But that wasn’t what happened. Reno backed up its midweek win three days later with an emphatic 6-1 victory against the Portland Timbers 2. It was the second time on the season that Reno had put six past a Cascadian team, having earned a 6-0 victory against Seattle Sounders FC 2 on May 20, and one that firmly cemented Reno as a top-three contender in the Western Conference. 

Three keys to a championship run:
1. Chris Wehan Provides: Given Reno set a new USL single-season record for goals with 75, it should come as no surprise that the league's Assists Champion came from the club, with rookie Chris Wehan providing assists on 12 goals, a crucial part of Reno's impressive attack. Wehan has created 66 total chances, putting him third in the USL, but the manner in which Wehan made his delivery gave him a strong success rate as 18 percent of his created chances resulted in goals. It’s easy to focus on the goal-scorers like Dane Kelly and Antoine Hoppenot, but leaving Wehan open, or allowing him the chance to deliver in the final third from set pieces, will open up opportunities for Reno over and over again. Add in his eight goals and Wehan is the kind of player that could have a huge impact on a USL Cup run.

2. Storm The Castle: Reno's single-season USL record of 75 goals was impressive enough, but what might be more impressive was the variety of means by which 1868 FC found the path to goal over the course of the regular season. All-but-seven of the team's goals came from inside the penalty area, but there’s a diversity of scoring within those opportunities with25 coming via left-footed chances, 36 from right-footed chances, and 12 headed tallies. Although Dane Kelly found the net 18 times to claim the USL Golden Boot, 1868 FC had 12 different players score multiple goals in the regular season. While Kelly will have to be watched closely when on the field, there's plenty for opposing defenses to have to deal with otherwise.

3. Location doesn’t matter: With nine wins at Greater Nevada Field, Reno's home record has been strong and offensively lethal as its outstanding home crowd has spurred it on to victory. But that doesn’t mean the Reno can't get it done away from home either. 1868 FC recorded just one fewer win on the road in the regular season, putting it second only to Western Conference rival San Antonio FC in the league. Given Reno is only guaranteed one home match in the USL Cup Playoffs, having a competitive road record is a good sign for 1868 FC fans looking to celebrate the club's inaugural season with some silverware.

QUOTABLE:
"We just have a lot of players that can score goals on this team. Whether it be our defenders, strikers or midfielders. So we just hope to continue scoring like this while also trying to avoid conceding goals." Reno 1868 FC Coach Ian Russell to the Reno Gazette-Journal