The final weekend of the League One regular season gave us a familiar ending in the battle for the No. 2 seed, a stellar season capper from the Golden Boot winner, and changes afoot elsewhere.

Here’s more on the big storyline we took away from Week 25’s action, our picks for who’s up and who’s down coming out of the weekend, and thoughts on everything else we saw around the league.

ONE BIG THING – THE HAILSTORM ARE INEVITABLE

Give Forward Madison FC credit. After goalkeeper Bernd Schipman had made some key stops early against Northern Colorado Hailstorm FC on Saturday night, they regularly gave as good as they got in terms of attacking chances as both sides looked for the breakthrough.

And then, disaster. A slack clearance by Schipman handed possession to Real Gill for the hosts, and as quickly as you like the ball was with Bruno Rendón for a decisive finish that lifted the Hailstorm to a 1-0 victory and the No. 2 seed in the USL League One Playoffs presented by Terminix.

• NOCO CONSISTENCY: On the balance of play, you could argue the Hailstorm probably shaded the contest overall. They had more shots, had more clear-cut chances and defended effectively when the Flamingos threatened.

• UPPER HAND: At the same time, this was the continuation of the hex the Hailstorm had held over Madison over the past two years. Northern Colorado is now 5-0-1 against the Flamingos in league play since the start of the 2023 season and claimed the USL Jägermeister Cup in a penalty shootout in September when the teams squared off for the title.

• TIME TO REGROUP: Madison is going to be favored as it prepares to face the Charlotte Independence to open the postseason in a repeat of the Jägermeister Cup Semifinals last month. If the seeding holds in the Quarterfinals, however, it’s going to have to figure out a way to solve the Hailstorm to get to the League One Final.

The Hailstorm, meanwhile, are on the hunt for a league title. Closing the regular season campaign with five consecutive wins has made an impressive statement of intent. Now Head Coach Éamon Zayed’s side is primed to add to the silverware it has already claimed this season.  

Three Up

Matt Levy Answers the Call: Making only his second appearance in League One after Austin Pack was deemed unable to start, Matt Levy posted a nine-save shutout for the Charlotte Independence to help the side end its winless run with 1-0 victory against the Richmond Kickers. Take a bow, sir.

Lyam MacKinnon’s Final Flourish: The Swiss forward had the upper hand in the Golden Boot race over Charlotte’s J.C. Obregon Jr. going into the night but ensured he’d walk away with the crown with a two-goal performance against South Georgia Tormenta FC to reach 15 goals this season. That set up Greenville Triumph with the No. 4 seed, too.

Lexington Leaves on a High: Lexington SC’s campaign hadn’t gone to plan ahead of its move to the USL Championship in 2025, but a 3-0 victory to end the season away at Chattanooga Red Wolves SC will at least have given some players and the fans something to feel good about.

Three Down

Spokane Velocity’s Attack: Velocity ended its losing streak with a scoreless draw against One Knoxville SC to close the regular season but has been held scoreless in four of its last five going into the playoffs. Not ideal.

Chattanooga Red Wolves SC’s Defense: The Red Wolves conceded three times in the final 20 minutes to end the season with a defeat against Lexington SC. 48 goals against in 22 regular season games is a number that must get better next season.

Tormenta’s Season End: For a team that went into the penultimate weekend of the season with playoff chances, this has been ugly. Tormenta ended its campaign having last won in July and having conceded 17 goals in its final five games.

THE REST OF THE ACTION

#OMAvCVF: A 3-1 victory was a tidy tune-up for Union Omaha as it prepares to try and claim a second League One title against Central Valley Fuego FC, and shout-out to 17-year-old USL Academy signing Mark Bronnick for his first goal in League One in the second half.

#RICvCLT: The Richmond Kickers had enough chances to take something from this game, only for the Charlotte Independence’s Matt Levy to keep them out in a 1-0 win. That’s at least something the Kickers can carry forward with them into the playoffs and tough test against Omaha.

#GVLvTRM: Greenville Triumph SC racked up its second five-goal performance against South Georgia Tormenta FC all-time, and this time it managed to avoid conceding five as well. Positive performance for a side that needed it going into the playoffs.

#SPKvKNX: Collin Fernández’s strike off the woodwork in stoppage time wouldn’t have changed Spokane Velocity FC’s seeding but imagine the boost it would have given the side going into its first postseason. The hosts probably deserved to win overall, but that doesn’t always mean it’s going to happen.