By Simon Fudge/whitecapsfc.com
The USSF D-2 Pro League regular season is in the home stretch, and with the playoffs less than three weeks away, the quest for a postseason berth is well on the minds of the contending clubs.
For Vancouver Whitecaps FC, the aim in their final three regular season contests is to take top spot in the NASL Conference, and with it, a top-two seed in the league playoffs. Teitur Thordarson's side can secure their spot at the summit of the NASL Conference standings this weekend with a victory or a draw at NSC Minnesota Stars, while getting some help from the club they defeated last weekend in Crystal Palace Baltimore, who host Carolina RailHawks on Saturday.
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Carolina are the only NASL Conference club that can catch the 'Caps at this stage. The RailHawks are six points behind Vancouver and with three games left to play. Whitecaps FC will clinch the NASL Conference title, should they win in Minnesota and Carolina drop points (draw or lose) in Baltimore. The 'Caps can also clinch the conference title with a draw versus the Stars and a RailHawks defeat to Palace Baltimore in Maryland.
However, should the 'Caps and Carolina win or draw their respective weekend games, the RailHawks could still mathematically catch Vancouver on goal difference, though they would not be able to overtake the 'Caps on points. With both clubs having drawn their two league contests this season, the next tiebreaker between Vancouver and Carolina becomes goal differential. Whitecaps FC currently have a superior goal differential of +12 to Carolina's goal differential of +7.
In terms of top spot in USSF D-2, the 'Caps remain mathematically alive, though Vancouver's hopes are in the hands of USL Conference high-flyers Austin Aztex and Rochester Rhinos. Rochester lead Austin by a single point, though the Aztex have a game in hand. The Rhinos have a favourable run in, as they face two of the bottom three clubs in the league. They are home and away to Miami FC before wrapping up their regular season at Athletic Club of St. Louis.
A win or two draws short of a top-four seed for next month's playoffs, Austin have four games left in the regular season, with three of those matches being away from the Texas state capital. However, Carolina are the only regular season opponent left for Austin that are above .500.
As for the battle to make the playoffs, Minnesota's midweek victory at home to Carolina ended the hopes of Palace Baltimore. Miami FC remain mathematically alive, though if they draw or lose in Rochester this evening, the South Florida club will miss the postseason for a fourth straight year. As for FC Tampa Bay and AC St. Louis, both clubs are looking to catch either Minnesota, Montreal Impact, or Puerto Rico Islanders for a playoff berth. Currently eight points back of the last playoff place, St. Louis have a game in hand on Montreal and Puerto Rico, and two matches in hand on the Stars. Tampa Bay are five points short of a postseason berth and also have a game in hand on Minnesota.
