By Simon Fudge/whitecapsfc.com
The NASL and USL Conference titles were settled on the final weekend of the USSF D-2 Pro League regular season.
Rochester Rhinos took advantage of Austin Aztex's slip-up to win the USL Conference and take the top seed for the USSF D-2 playoffs, while Carolina RailHawks secured the NASL Conference title and the number two seed after a pivotal win in their final regular season match.
CLICK HERE
for USSF D-2 playoff standings
The last round of regular season action began on Friday night, with Carolina defeating Austin
3-1
at WakeMed Soccer Park in Cary, North Carolina. A Kieron Bernard own-goal gave the RailHawks the lead before Maxwell Griffin levelled matters for the Texas club. Carolina claimed a dramatic victory with late strikes by Etienne Barbara and Tom Heinemann.
In Florida, two eliminated clubs played out a nine-goal thriller, as FC Tampa Bay defeated Crystal Palace Baltimore
6-3
at George M. Steinbrenner Field. The Rowdies took a four-goal lead inside the first half-hour through Chad Burt, Aaron King, and a pair from Canadian Mozzi Gyorio. Adauto Neto got Palace Baltimore on the scoresheet before Aaron King made it 5-1. Baltimore head coach Jim Cherneski - who played in midfield - scored twice before Ricardo Sanchez's second-half penalty closed out the scoring for Tampa Bay.
There were three matches on Saturday, with Vancouver Whitecaps FC needing a win by three goals or more to win the NASL Conference title. Instead, the 'Caps had to settle for a club-record 15th draw of the season following a 2-2 home draw with Pacific Northwest rivals Portland Timbers. In what was the last-ever regular season match at Swangard Stadium, Terry Dunfield gave Vancouver a halftime lead before Portland struck through Kalif Alhassan and Bright Dike. Whitecaps FC earned a point when Cody Arnoux headed home his first goal for the Canadian club.
Rochester took themselves back to the summit of the USL Conference and USSF D-2 with an important
2-1 victory
over Athletic Club of St. Louis. Though Chris Salvaggione gave St. Louis an early lead, a pair of late second-half strikes by Rhinos striker Isaac Kissi secured a pivotal win for the Upstate New York club. Meanwhile, in South Florida, Miami FC and Puerto Rico Islanders played to a
1-1 draw
. Danilo Martins gave the Blues the lead before David Horst claimed a point for the Caribbean club champions at Lockhart Stadium.
The final regular season game took place on Sunday, with Montreal Impact making it six wins from their last seven matches after a
2-0 victory
over ten-man Austin at Stade Saputo. After Aztex striker Randi Patterson was sent off in the first half, the Impact claimed victory with goals by Anthony Le Gall and Rocco Placentino.
This week's first round of the USSF D-2 playoffs will see Rochester Rhinos (first seed) play Puerto Rico Islanders (eighth seed), Carolina RailHawks (second seed) match up against NSC Minnesota Stars (seventh seed), Austin Aztex (third seed) battle Montreal Impact (sixth seed), and Portland Timbers (fourth seed) take on Vancouver Whitecaps FC (fifth seed).