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Race to the 2022 USL League One Playoffs presented by Hisense - Week 29

By ETHAN TRIEBSCH - ethan.triebsch@uslsoccer.com, 10/14/22, 4:15PM EDT

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Final matchday of the season with lots to be decided

With one week and five matches remaining in the regular season, the pressure is rising with seven clubs remaining in contention for the 2022 USL League One Playoffs presented by Hisense. Detailed below are some high-stakes matches to keep an eye on along with current standings with playoff-clinching details.

MATCHES TO WATCH

Richmond Kickers
October 15 | 6:30 p.m. ET
City Stadium
Greenville Triumph SC

The 10th all-time meeting between the Richmond Kickers (14-7-8, 1st) and Greenville Triumph SC (12-8-9, 2nd) will pit the top two teams against each other in a thrilling regular season final with heavy postseason implications. While first place is already locked up for Richmond, a win for Greenville would confirm the two seed, a first-round bye and hosting rights for the Semifinals. Should Richmond complete the season sweep and defeat Greenville to even up the all-time series at 5-5-0, the door would be open for Chattanooga, Omaha or South Georgia to potentially claim the coveted first-round bye.

South Georgia Tormenta FC
October 15 | 7:30 p.m. ET
Optim Sports Medicine Field
Chattanooga Red Wolves SC

A battle of teams with a chance at the two seed and a first-round bye, South Georgia Tormenta FC (11-9-9, 6th) is set to host Chattanooga Red Wolves SC (12-10-7, 3rd) for the second-ever match at Optim Sports Medicine Field at Tormenta Stadium. The all-time series favors Chattanooga with its 4-3-2 record, but both teams have claimed a 2-1 victory over its opponent earlier this season. Both Chattanooga and South Georgia must win in order to have a shot at the two seed, but of the pair, only South Georgia still has a chance at postseason elimination should the Ibises lose on Saturday and Charlotte take down NCFC.

STANDINGS

2. Richmond Kickers
1. Richmond Kickers
Record: 14-7-8, 50 pts
Strength of Schedule: 2nd
Max. Points Available: 53pts
Magic Number: Clinched
Best/Worst Finish: 1st/1st
Up Next: vs. GVL (10/15)
Riding an eight-match unbeaten streak, the Kickers have a chance to finish with the second-most points in League One history if they can take down Greenville on Saturday.
2. Greenville Triumph SC
2. Greenville Triumph SC
Record: 12-8-9, 45 pts
Strength of Schedule: 1st
Max. Points Available: 48pts
Magic Number: Clinched
Best/Worst Finish: 2nd/4th
Up Next: at RIC (10/15)
Greenville finally put an end to a disappointing six-match winless run to wrap up the regular season. Still, though, Triumph SC are a win away from a first-round bye.

SEEDING SCENARIO:
QUARTERFINAL BYE AND SEMIFINAL HOME: Win at RIC (10/15)
2. Chattanooga Red Wolves SC
3. Chattanooga Red Wolves SC
Record: 12-10-7, 43 pts
Strength of Schedule: 5th
Max. Points Available: 46pts
Magic Number: Clinched
Best/Worst Finish: 2nd/5th
Up Next: at TRM (10/15)
Wrapping up the regular season with some positive results, the Red Wolves have a chance to finish second in the league table which would serve as the side’s best-ever finish.

SEEDING SCENARIO:
QUARTERFINAL BYE AND SEMIFINAL HOME: GVL LOSS/DRAW at RIC (10/15) AND WIN at TRM (10/15)
QUARTERFINAL HOME:OMA LOSS vs. CV (10/15) AND LOSS at TRM (10/15)
QUARTERFINAL ROAD:OMA WIN/DRAW vs. CV (10/15) AND LOSS at TRM (10/15)
2. Union Omaha
4. Union Omaha
Record: 10-6-13, 43 pts
Strength of Schedule: 7th
Max. Points Available: 46pts
Magic Number: Clinched
Best/Worst Finish: 2nd/5th
Up Next: vs. CV (10/15)
Omaha has struggled down the stretch but still has a chance to clinch a first-round bye should a few things go its way.

SEEDING SCENARIO:
QUARTERFINAL BYE AND SEMIFINAL HOME:WIN vs. CV (10/15) AND GVL LOSS at RIC (10/15) AND CHA LOSS/DRAW at TRM (10/15)
QUARTERFINAL HOME:WIN vs. CV (10/15) AND GVL WIN/DRAW vs. RIC (10/15) AND CHA WIN at TRM (10/15)
OR DRAW vs. CV (10/15) AND CHA DRAW at TRM (10/15)
QUARTERFINAL ROAD: LOSS/DRAW vs. CV (10/15) AND TRM WIN/DRAW vs. CHA (10/15)
2. Northern Colorado Hailstorm FC
5. Northern Colorado Hailstorm FC
Record: 11-10-9, 42 pts
Strength of Schedule: N/A
Max. Points Available: 42pts
Magic Number: N/A
Best/Worst Finish: 5th/7th
Up Next: N/A
The Hailstorm have already completed their regular season as they now sit out the final week and hope South Georgia and Charlotte are unable to pass them in the table.
SEEDING SCENARIO:
QUARTERFINAL ROAD: CLT LOSS/DRAW vs. NC (10/15)
OR
TRM LOSS vs. CHA (10/15)

ELIMINATION SCENARIO:
TRM WIN/DRAW vs. CHA (10/15) AND CLT WIN vs. NC (10/15)
2. South Georgia Tormenta FC
6. South Georgia Tormenta FC
Record: 11-9-9, 42 pts
Strength of Schedule: 3rd
Max. Points Available: 45pts
Magic Number: 3
Best/Worst Finish: 2nd/7th
Up Next: vs. CHA (10/15)
Despite facing some tough opponents, draws in back-to-back matches has put Tormenta FC’s playoff hopes on hold. Win, and South Georgia is in the playoffs for the first time in club history.
SEEDING SCENARIO:
QUARTERFINAL BYE AND SEMIFINAL HOME:OMA LOSS/DRAW vs. CV (10/15) AND GVL LOSS at RIC (10/15) AND WIN vs. CHA (10/15)*
QUARTERFINAL HOME:OMA WIN vs. CV (10/15) AND WIN vs. CHA (10/15)*
QUARTERFINAL ROAD: WIN/DRAW vs. CHA (10/15)

ELIMINATION SCENARIO:
CLT WIN/DRAW vs. NC (10/15) AND LOSS vs. CHA (10/15)

2. Charlotte Independence
7. Charlotte Independence
Record: 11-12-6, 39 pts
Strength of Schedule: 10th
Max. Points Available: 42pts
Magic Number: N/A
Best/Worst Finish: 5th/8th
Up Next: vs. NC (10/15)
The Independence have a shot to qualify for the postseason in their first League One campaign, but back-to-back losses has put that possibility in jeopardy.
SEEDING SCENARIO:
QUARTERFINAL ROAD: WIN vs. NC (10/15)

ELIMINATION SCENARIO:
LOSS/DRAW vs. NC (10/15)
2. Central Valley Fuego FC
8. Central Valley Fuego FC
Record: 10-12-7, 37 pts
Strength of Schedule: 4th
Max. Points Available: 40pts
Magic Number: Eliminated
Best/Worst Finish: 7th/8th
Up Next: at OMA (10/15)
Despite defeating Tucson in its last match, Central Valley’s recent losses to NCFC and Northern Colorado mean the first-year club will sit out of the postseason.
2. Forward Madison FC
9. Forward Madison FC
Record: 7-11-11, 32 pts
Strength of Schedule: 9th
Max. Points Available: 38pts
Magic Number: Eliminated
Best/Worst Finish: 9th/11th
Up Next: at TUC (10/15)
Five straight losses as a disappointing season nears its conclusion has the ‘Mingos on the verge of finishing dead last in the league.
2. FC Tucson
10. FC Tucson
Record: 8-14-7, 31 pts
Strength of Schedule: 8th
Max. Points Available: 34pts
Magic Number: Eliminated
Best/Worst Finish: 9th/11th
Up Next: vs. MAD (10/15)
Tucson’s special September has been followed up by a tough October as Jon Pearlman’s side has dropped a pair of contests to be eliminated from playoff contention.
2. North Carolina FC
11. North Carolina FC
Record: 8-15-6, 30 pts
Strength of Schedule: 6th
Max. Points Available: 33pts
Magic Number: Eliminated
Best/Worst Finish: 9th/11th
Up Next: at CLT (10/15)
NCFC started the season hot, but a poor run in the second half of its second League One campaign has John Bradford’s side out of the playoffs.

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Tag(s): Union Omaha  Chatt Red Wolves SC  Forward Madison FC  Greenville Triumph SC  Richmond Kickers  So. Georgia Tormenta FC  FC Tucson  News  News  North Carolina FC  Playoffs  Central Valley Fuego FC  Hailstorm FC  Charlotte Independence  News 

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