GREENVILLE, S.C. – There was no team in better form to close the League One regular season than Greenville Triumph SC, which ended on a nine-game undefeated streak to grab second place in the standings on the final day of the campaign.

On Saturday night, Triumph SC will be hoping to continue that run as it takes on the side it edged out for a bye to the Semifinals of the 2021 USL League One Playoffs, presented by TwinSpires, as Chattanooga Red Wolves SC visits Legacy Early College looking for its first trip to the League One Final. Kickoff is scheduled for 7 p.m. ET (ESPN+).

Greenville sat in ninth place in the League One standings on September 1 as injuries had hindered the side’s progress since a good start to the campaign. The side then produced its best form of the season, reeling off a 6-0-3 record to close the season to not only clinch a third consecutive trip to the playoffs but the No. 2 seed. At the forefront was the club’s defense, which returned to the stingy form that had seen goalkeeper Dallas Jaye claim the league’s Golden Glove in both 2019 and 2020 and conceded only four goals in its nine games. That run has come, however, with Paul Christensen taking the reins between the sticks as the side recorded five consecutive shutouts to close the season.

Triumph SC’s back line has been led by Brandon Fricke and Abdi Mohamed, who on Wednesday were both voted to the League One All-League Second Team alongside midfielder Aaron Walker. Joining the trio in being honored was forward Marios Lomis, whose 14 goals earned him a place on the All-League First Team. As the calendar turns to the postseason, Triumph SC’s form could carry the side to a second consecutive title.

Standing in the way are the Red Wolves, who had to battle for a 2-1 victory after extra time in the Quarterfinals last Saturday night against North Texas SC at CHI Memorial Stadium. In some ways, the win came the way Chattanooga’s season dictated it would with the side finding the winner in the 113th minute from leading scorer Juan Galindrez as it notched another late game-changing goal. The Red Wolves rallied for a league-high 14 points after trailing in the regular season with the side’s never-say-die spirit carrying for most of the campaign. A late-season dip in form dropped Chattanooga into third place in the final standings, but the side’s first postseason victory could provide a boost in confidence as it heads to face a Greenville side it played to a 0-0 draw in the penultimate weekend of the regular season.

The Red Wolves had a pair of players named to the League One All-League First Team on Wednesday with defender Jason Ramos and midfielder Ricky Ruiz – who tied a league record with 10 assists in the regular season – both being honored. Chattanooga will be without forward Rey Ortiz on Saturday as he serves a one-game suspension following a red card against North Texas, but as the side heads back to Greenville, it will be looking to spring a surprise and reach its first League One Final in club history.

Most Recent Lineups

Greenville Triumph SC (4-4-2) – Paul Christensen; Abdi Mohamed, Brandon Fricke, Evan Lee, Tyler Polak; Jesus Ibarra, Andrew Booth, Max Hemmings, Allen Gavilanes; Lachlan McLean, Marios Lomis

Chattanooga Red Wolves SC (4-3-3) – Tim Trilk; Sebastian Capozucchi, Jason Ramos, Daniel Navarro, Jonathan Ricketts; Jose Carrera-Garcia, Ricky Ruiz, Jimmie Villalobos; Rafael Mentzingen, Juan Galindrez, Rey Ortiz

Discipline

Greenville Triumph SC – None

Chattanooga Red Wolves SC – Suspended: Rey Ortiz