PHOENIX – With three consecutive victories coming into its first trip to the USL Cup Playoffs, Phoenix Rising FC appears to be the team in the lower half of the seeds that could make the most noise this postseason. Backed by strong performances from a number of players including Jason Johnson, Didier Drogba, and Shaun Wright-Phillips, and a defense that finished the season with nine shutouts, Rising FC has hit its stride at the perfect time and will be a difficult team for any opponent they face in a USL Cup Playoffs run.

2017 USL Cup Playoffs: Quarterfinal matchup:
No. 4 Swope Park Rangers vs. No. 5 Phoenix Rising FC – Saturday, Oct. 21, 8:30 p.m. ET, Children’s Mercy Victory Field

2017 USL regular season:
Records:
Overall: 17-8-7 (58 points) | Home: 11-3-2 (35 points) | Road: 6-5-5 (23 points)

Goals For: 50 | Goals Against: 37

Leaders:
Goals: 1. Jason Johnson 13; 2. Didier Drogba 9; 3. Chris Cortez 5; 4. Alessandro Riggi 4

Assists: 1. Chris Cortez 5; 2. Kody Wakasa 4; 3. (tie) 5 with 3

Saves: 1. Josh Cohen 77; 2. Cal Woszczynski 15

Clinched its postseason … Sept. 27, with a 2-0 victory against the Portland Timbers 2

Clinched the No. 5 seed in the Western Conference … Oct. 14 as it took a 4-1 win against the Portland Timbers 2

Defining moment: May 22, 2017 will be considered a crucial day in the history of Phoenix Rising FC, and not just in the record of the club's season, as on this date Patrice Carteron was selected as the club's new Head Coach. An experienced defender as a player, Carteron strengthened Rising FC's defensive organization and began the process of helping the side building one of the most effective attacking groups in the USL. The end product was a club-record 12-game undefeated streak that saw the side claim a place in the playoffs, the highlight of which was a 2-0 victory on Sept. 16 at the Phoenix Rising Soccer Complex against eventual USL Regular Season champion Real Monarchs SLC. Goals in either half by Sam Hamilton and Jason Johnson provided the goals, but as impressive was the side's defensive display that held the Monarchs to only one shot on goal and six shots total in the contest.

Three keys to a championship run:
1. Jason Johnson Continues to Fire: While Didier Drogba is obviously a name certain to draw attention from opposing defenders it was Jason Johnson that led Rising FC with 13 goals in the regular season. Some of those came with Drogba on the field, allowing the former Ivory Coast international to draw defensive attention, but Johnson really carried Phoenix's attack while Drogba was absent due to injury, scoring six goals in August and September to drive Rising FC into the postseason. It was an impressive return to form from Johnson, who scored only three goals last season while playing with San Antonio FC, with the forward's conversion rate of 25 percent this season among the best of players with double-digit goals. If that continues, Rising FC is capable of a big run.

2. Drogba’s Threat: While playing just 13 matches this season, in a short space of time Drogba has shown himself to remain a big scoring threat with eight goals, some of which have highlighted the world-class ability the former Chelsea forward still possesses. The 39-year-old has averaged a goal every 119.6 minutes in the regular season, and has been highly impressive from distance with a league-leading three goals from free kicks this season. Drogba will get extra attention from opposing defenses in the postseason, but his big frame and outstanding technique will allow him to threaten if given half-a-look at goal.

3. On Form: Rising FC may have to play its USL Western Conference Quarterfinal on the road against the Swope Park Rangers this Saturday night, but Phoenix comes in on a three-game winning streak and only one defeat in its last 15 games. Form can be fickle when it comes to the postseason, but the manner in which Rising FC has handled opposition in recent weeks serves as a major warning to the rest of the teams in the Western Conference. In its first trip to the playoffs, Phoenix is not satisfied with simply being part of the festivities.

QUOTABLE:
“We did some good things but we have also things to do better next week if we want to create something fantastic against Swope Park.” Phoenix Rising Head Coach Patrice Carteron to Sports 360 AZ following the win against the Portland Timbers 2 on October 14th.