The 2024 USL League Two playoffs started with 35 and now have whittled themselves down to the best 8 squads in the league! In this Conference Finals preview, we take a look at the four remaining fixtures, who’s in em, and how they got here.

Let’s get stuck the heck in!

Lionsbridge FC vs Seacoast United

Fri, 07/26 - 11:30am PST / 3:30pm EST at TowneBank Stadium in Newport News, VA

How they got here: Seacoast United avoided the tradition of ‘regular season champs bowing out of the playoffs’, at least through the first two rounds, in dominant fashion. The Phantoms pulled off the not-so-shocking defeat of host side Ocean City on Friday evening before an even-less-shocking dismantling of Vermont Green on Sunday afternoon to punch their ticket to the Eastern Conference final. A season dominant side marching through the postseason without any upset alert drama is a dangerous team.

Lionsbridge didn’t enter the opening weekend, even as a host, with as much expectation of advancement from outsiders. But the Newport News boys haven't needed playoff expectation when they have playoff experience. The terrors of the tidewater sent the in-form Western Mass Pioneers home behind a grinding side that settled in after giving up a first half goal, found an equalizer early in the second, then the match winner just before the final whistle. They followed up that emotional high with a constriction of previously unbeaten Salem City on Sunday, 2-0. A fortunate centrality between southern New Hampshire and southern Texas, and perhaps the weather related concerns in Asheville, sees Lionsbridge hosting this weekend. With it is a chance to continue their grinding style of play en route to a second straight national finals berth.

Prediction: Lionsbridge confuses Seacoast for much of the first half, and even takes an early lead. However, Seacoast solves the hosts’ defensive puzzle early in the second half and pours on the goals from there to advance to the national semifinal, 3-1.
Winner Plays the winner of Asheville City SC vs Corpus Christi FC

Peoria City vs Flint City Bucks

Fri, 07/26 - 2:00pm PST / 5:00pm EST at Shea Stadium in Peoria, IL

How they got here: In Illinois, the fish feast on the bears. The mighty fighting Carp of Peoria City did all the biting Friday night in making Thunder Bay’s visit to Peoria a short one to the tune of a 2-0 beatdown. Then, on Sunday, Peoria outlasted Des Moines in the teams’ third matchup of the year, the Heartland rivals playing to yet another draw, this one a 5-5 scorcher through 120 minutes, before the hosts advanced in penalties. It’s all downstream swimming for PCFC now, earning a second week as hosts of the postseason and playing for a Central Conference title against storied side Flint City.
Those storied Bucks may have a quick final 2024 chapter if they haven’t worked out the kinks they clearly had at home over the past weekend. Their pair of narrow victories over a seemingly weakened Valley division runner-up (1-0 over Cleveland) and winner (2-1 in extra time over Fort Wayne) at home leaves some uncertainty of their abilities on the road. Uncertainty doesn’t equate to doubt, as the Bucks are never to be dismissed in the postseason, especially when chasing a fifth national title.

Prediction: A fish that can eat polar bears is a fish that can eat deer. Peoria City improbably move on against their second storied foe in five days, 2-1. The Carp, and their 309 SG supporters, will keep swimming into Sunday.
Winner plays the winner of Project 51O vs FC Tucson

Asheville City SC vs Corpus Christi FC

Fri, 07/26 - 2:00pm PST / 5:00pm EST at TowneBank Stadium in Newport News, VA

How they got here: The Blues showed they can win the easy way and the hard way over a weekend that was more trying for the home side off the pitch than it was off it. A late home venue changed Friday due to heavy thunderstorms and flooded pitches gave way to Asheville flooding Nona right out of Appalachians in a 4-0 onslaught. A lightning delay on Sunday preceded the Blues making a lightning strike level comeback from trailing Brave SC to winning it, while securing a little vengeance for 2023’s Southern conference semifinal in the process. Arguably the league’s most complete side still standing, Asheville arrives in Newport News brimming with confidence and the the only undefeated team of 2024 still in the contest.

The Sharks of Corpus Christi FC looked vulnerable in their first round game, needing to come back THREE times against a young Tennessee SC squad before putting the match out of reach late in extra time. CCFC then found their defense, behind a peak effort from Goalkeeper Cuba Grant, just as Sunday foe Little Rock seemed to have found an offense. After and 85’ penalty save, then several miraculous misses by the Stags in extra time, Grant got the advantage over the league’s golden glove winner Tomek Wroblewski in penalties, saving the 5th Little Rock attempt to see his side through 5-4 on pks. Corpus will now ride the emotional high of advancing to the Southern Conference final 1600 miles to Newport News.

Prediction: While Asheville is the better side in all stages of the game, on paper, Corpus proved they can hang around late in postseason matches, and five goals scored on Tennessee SC, a common opponent that Asheville struggled with in the South Central season, will give the Sharks some confidence versus the Blues. But, 1600 miles of travel to play a match less than five days after traveling 10 hours back from Little Rock will wear CCFC out in a way that Asheville hasn’t come close to experiencing with a hosted first round and a (relatively short) six hour trip to the tidewater. Asheville puts this one away, 3-1.
Winner Plays the winner of Lionsbridge FC vs Seacoast United

Project 51O vs FC Tucson

Fri, 07/26 - 4:00pm PST / 7:00pm EST at Shea Stadium in Peoria, IL

How they got here: Project 510 pulled off the stunner of the opening round, knocking off host and defending champion Ballard FC. The Oakland youngsters trailed their hosts from the 29th minute until the 84th when Jude Stone equalized. Any thought from the home fans that their team could grind down the bay boys in extra time was nullified six minutes later when Juan Sanchez put P510 ahead in the match’s dying minutes.

The Roots’ roots followed up the Friday night come from behind heroics with more of the same against United PDX, equalizing in both the first and second halves to take the match into extra time. An early lead there evaporated, only for Project 510’s Jacob Heisner to give them a seeming final lead, then Roberto Gonzalez rescuing the victory with a final goal and a 5-4 win to avoid penalties in the 120’.

FC Tucson almost got caught looking ahead to a Sunday match vs Ventura County in their Friday night game vs Flatirons. After going up 3-0, the Arizona side gave up two goals late and held their breath for the final whistle against their Coloradoan visitors.
That Sunday match now assured, Tucson defeated the Southwest Division champions in similar fashion to the way they defeated them in the desert three weeks prior; suffocating the nation’s second highest scoring attack and using opportunistic counters to find a winning goal of their own. FCT needed just the one goal from Lars Walczyk to send the Fusion packing and secure their own date in the Western Conference final.

Prediction: Between two sides comfortably winning tight matches against both offensive minded and defensive prioritized sides, this match will likely be in doubt until the final whistle, whether that be in the 90’ or the 120’. Of the two, Project 510 has proven lasting power on the road through two playoff contests, while FC Tucson has played in the comforts of home until now. The Western Conference title goes to Oakland.
Winner plays the winner of Peoria City vs Flint City Bucks

by Ryan Stallings