TAMPA, Fla. - After an intense two months, culminating in a dramatic final weekend, the 2023 USL League Two playoff field has been finalized. Several spots were up for grabs up until the weekend, which saw over a quarter of the playoff field finally locked in across Saturday and Sunday.
The five-round Playoffs will take place over three weekends, and be hosted in nine different locations around the country: Seattle, WA, Ventura, CA, Redlands, CA, Asheville, NC, Little Rock, AR, Fort Wayne, IN, Des Moines, IA, Newport News, VA, and Uniondale, NY.
In each location, four playoff teams will compete for the right to advance to the Conference Finals the next weekend, where two more four-team pods will be created based on the remaining clubs.
USL League Two First Round Schedule:
WESTERN CONFERENCE: INTERBAY STADIUM - SEATTLE, WA
Friday, June 21
5 p.m. ET - Park City Red Wolves vs. Oly Town FC
10:30 p.m. ET - Ballard FC vs. New Mexico United U-23
Sunday, June 23
5 p.m. ET - Winner of Game 1 vs. Winner of Game 2
Click here to purchase tickets to the matches in Seattle
WESTERN CONFERENCE: DODGE STADIUM - REDLANDS, CA AND VENTURA COLLEGE - VENTURA, CA
Friday, June 21
TBD - Redlands FC vs. San Francisco Glens
TBD - Ventura County Fusion vs. Monterey Bay F.C. 2
Sunday, June 23
TBD - Winner of Game 1 vs. Winner of Game 2
SOUTHERN CONFERENCE: GREENWOOD FIELD, ASHEVILLE, NC
Friday, July 21
4 p.m. ET - The Villages SC vs South Carolina United FC
7:30 p.m. ET - Asheville City SC vs Weston FC
Sunday, July 23
7:30 p.m. ET - Winner of Game 1 vs Winner of Game 2
Click here to purchase tickets to the matches in Asheville
SOUTHERN CONFERENCE: WAR MEMORIAL STADIUM - LITTLE ROCK, AR
Friday, July 21
5 p.m. ET - Texas United vs. Nona FC
8:30 p.m. ET - Little Rock Rangers vs AHFC Royals
Sunday, July 23
TBD - Winner of Game 1 vs Winner of Game 2
Click here to purchase tickets to the matches in Little Rock
CENTRAL CONFERENCE: VALLEY STADIUM - DES MOINES, IA
Friday, June 21
5 p.m. ET - Thunder Bay Chill vs. AFC Ann Arbor
8 p.m. ET - Des Moines Menace vs. RKC Third Coast
Sunday, June 23
8 p.m. ET - Winner of Game 1 vs. Winner of Game 2
Click here to purchase tickets to the matches in Des Moines
CENTRAL CONFERENCE: BISHOP JOHN D'ARCY STADIUM - FORT WAYNE, IN
Friday, June 21
4 p.m. ET - Chicago City SC vs. Cleveland Force SC
7 p.m. ET - Fort Wayne FC vs. Flint City Bucks
Sunday, June 23
6 p.m. ET - Winner of Game 1 vs. Winner of Game 2
Click here to purchase tickets to the matches in Fort Wayne
EASTERN CONFERENCE: TOWNEBANK STADIUM - NEWPORT NEWS, VA
Friday, June 21
5 p.m. ET - NC Fusion vs. Western Mass Pioneers
7:30 p.m. ET - Lionsbridge FC vs. Charlotte Eagles
Sunday, June 23
7 p.m. ET - Winner of Game 1 vs. Winner of Game 2
Click here to purchase tickets to the matches in Newport News
EASTERN CONFERENCE: MITCHEL ATHLETIC COMPLEX - UNIONDALE, NY
Friday, June 21
4 p.m. ET - Seacoast United Phantoms vs. Hudson Valley Hammers
7 p.m. ET - Long Island Rough Riders vs. Ocean City Nor'Easters
Sunday, June 23
7 p.m. ET - Winner of Game 1 vs Winner of Game 2
Click here to purchase tickets to the matches in Uniondale
A PHOTO FINISH IN THE REGULAR SEASON
The final weekend of the regular season was loaded with playoff-deciding matches. Clubs secured late goals, undefeated giants were toppled, and the intensity reached a fever pitch in several cities around the country.
In the Western Conference, the last playoff spot to be decided came down to Saturday. Redlands FC, playing divisional leaders Ventura County Fusion, needed a win to stay ahead of the surging FC Tucson to secure their place in the field. Redlands FC scored inside the first minute against the Fusion en route to a 4-1 victory that saw them clinch the top spot in the division, along with a playoff spot.
In the Central Conference, one playoff spot was left to be decided between two clubs going head-to-head. In the Valley Division, the second ticket to the playoffs would be booked by either Cleveland Force SC or Toledo Villa FC. The two sides squared off Saturday, and Cleveland Force SC came out on top after a second-half equalizer gave them the necessary draw to finish second in the division.
In the Eastern Conference, Chesapeake hosts Lionsbridge FC had to get a positive result on the final day to confirm their playoff participation and their place atop the Chesapeake Division. A dominant win over Virginia Marauders secured their spot and gave them another chance at the playoffs.
In the Southern Conference, the South Central divisional title came down to the number of goals the top two teams scored over the final weekend. Asheville City SC and South Carolina United finished with the exact same record, but it was Asheville's 9-0 victory over North Alabama SC that secured their place at the top of the division on goal difference.
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