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Down to the final two for Foxes
Winning 11 out of 14 games hasn’t been enough to give the Real Colorado Foxes control of the team’s playoff destiny.
Instead of running away with the division, the Highlands Ranch-based side faces a two-game tie with its closest competitor and the possibility that this weekend could leave the team in first, or sitting out of the playoffs in third.
The Foxes, who advanced to the second round of the U.S. Open Cup this season, boast an 11-1-2 record good for 35 points, but only a one-point lead over the Thunder Bay Chill (11-2-1, 34 points).
The Foxes, who lead the USL’s Premier Development League in scoring with 46 goals this season, are also being pressed by the Des Moines Menace (10-4-0, 30 points).
Des Moines wraps up the 16-game regular season with matches against Kansas City and St. Louis over the weekend. With Des Moines, Thunder Bay and Colorado in action, two wins for any of the three sides could get one of the two playoff spots available.
Scenarios Unfolding: It gets harder for the Foxes, who suffered a 4-1 loss to Thunder Bay at home, as the Colorado squad has to go on the road for Friday and Saturday matches with the Chill. The Foxes would win the division and one of two playoff spots with a win in either match or two draws.
Colorado would sneak in with a single point from the weekend, unless Des Moines wins both games by overwhelming margins. Des Moines would be out of the playoffs if the team loses either of its two games over the weekend.
Shared Scoring: Despite leading the PDL in goal scoring, the Foxes don’t have a single player in the top 20 in points in the league. Thunder Bay, however, is paced by forward Brandon Swartzendruber, who has scored 11 goals and is ranked 10th in points with 24.
I Hear Whistles: In addition to Swartzendruber’s scoring, the Chill have another league leader. Midfielder Anthony Putrus is third in the league in fouls with 31 committed in 13 games.
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