Louisville City FC clinched the first ticket to the 2024 USL Championship Playoffs presented by Terminix and we also got a remarkable comeback in the biggest game of the weekend, a vintage performance in Pittsburgh, and the Switchbacks giving the people what they want.

Here are the three big storylines we took away from Week 27’s action, our picks for who’s up and who’s down coming out of the weekend, and thoughts on everything else we saw around the league.

TOP THREE STORYLINES

1. THE BATTERY WOULDN’T BE DENIED

If there’s one club in the USL Championship you can’t count out this season, it’s the Charleston Battery.

Sacramento Republic FC became the latest team to fall victim to the defending Eastern Conference title holders on Saturday night when Emilio Ycaza’s 87th-minute winner earned the Battery a 2-1 win at Patriots Point that was driven by a superb second-half display.

• COMEBACK KINGS: The Battery have now gained 17 points from losing positions this season, the most in the USL Championship. They got into position for Ycaza’s winner thanks to Nick Markanich (who else?) with his record-equaling 25th goal of the season five minutes after the break.

• CLUTCH PERFORMERS: Ycaza’s winner, meanwhile, was the 18th goal the Battery have scored in the final 15 minutes and stoppage time this season. That’s also the most of any club in the league, one ahead of Louisville City FC.

• FALLING DOWN: For Republic FC, meanwhile, it was the first time the side had lost after holding a halftime lead since last year’s Western Conference Final against Phoenix Rising FC. It was also just the second away defeat Sacramento had suffered this campaign.

“The second half opened up,” said Battery Head Coach Ben Pirmann. “Really nice, early goal, and then we kept pushing on. Glad to see the boys fight through it. It's a very tough, long season, but they just kept fighting and fighting. I’m really happy for Emilio to get the winner there late towards the end of it.”

A regular starter for much of the season, Ycaza has been used off the bench in the past three games as Pirmann tries to find the right midfield combination with Aaron Molloy working his way back from injury.

For some, that might have been a letdown, but Ycaza has embraced the role, even showing his bright sense of humor when asked about scoring the game-winner while using Markanich as a decoy.

“All you have to do is find him with the ball, and usually, he does the scoring,” said Ycaza. “But, since he already got his goal for today, I said, ‘You know what, let me just fake it and let somebody else try to get on the score sheet.’”

That’s a sign of a team that is enjoying the heck out if its success, and rightly so. 

2. HOUNDS PRODUCE LILLEYBALL MASTERCLASS

For years – and, let’s face it, arguably decades – there has been the conceptual idea of how Head Coach Bob Lilley’s teams play.

That’s been a bit unfair of the legendary coach, whose sides have been more attacking than they’ve been credit for as the game and talent at his disposal have evolved. Last year’s Hounds side scored 50 goals, third-most in the Eastern Conference.

But there was something uber-Lilleyball about Saturday night’s 2-0 victory against Rhode Island FC that propelled the Hounds above the playoff line with a stellar all-around display.

• MAKING THE TWEAK: To their credit, Rhode Island opened the game well, but that simply saw Lilley do what he does best and adjust his side’s structure on the fly. By the time reached half-hour mark the game was being played on the Hounds’ terms, and in Rhode Island’s territory.

• WELCOME HOME: The pressure the Hounds were able to apply in RIFC’s half led to the opening goal, which came via returning Pitt standout Bertin Jacquesson, who joined on loan from Real Salt Lake last week and rocketed home a finish from Danny Griffin’s incisive pass.

• SHUT UP SHOP: From there, Rhode Island didn’t get a sniff of an equalizer. The visitors logged a season-low two shots, neither of which was on target, as they got only three touches in the Pittsburgh penalty area in the second half. Only 14.6 percent of the game was played in the Hounds’ defensive third in the second half, too, as good an indicator of the territorial advantage they pressed home.

Pittsburgh’s 10-game undefeated streak includes five wins and five draws, but as other teams in the Eastern Conference have started to falter, the Hounds have come into their own. It’s reminiscent of the club’s surge last year to a Players’ Shield and could make Lilley’s side dangerous come playoff time.

“When we’ve been good, we’re a tough out for anybody,” said Lilley. “The reality is we’re more collective now. There’s less individual play.”

And that collectiveness, above all, is why Lilleyball seems to always find a way.

3. SWITCHBACKS STAY GREAT ENTERTAINERS

Over the past four seasons, the mission for Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC hasn’t been just to win, but to deliver entertainment and excitement.

On Saturday night in a 4-2 victory against the Tampa Bay Rowdies, another near-sellout at Weidner Field got what it was coming for.

• HOUSE ON FIRE: The Switchbacks jumped the Rowdies’ makeshift back line early and got rewarded when Yosuke Hanya’s shot was deflected home by Tampa Bay’s Blake Bodily for what was eventually ruled an own goal. Tyreek Magee added another before halftime before Justin Dhillon and Hanya got their names on the scoresheet within the opening seven minutes of the second half.

• MAKING THEIR MOVE: While the Rowdies rallied late – including Leo Fernandes’ first goal since his ruptured Achilles tendon last year – it was comfortably enough for the Switchbacks’ third consecutive victory.

• FIRE AWAY: The Switchbacks have now racked up 209 goals since the start of the 2021 regular season, fourth-most in the league over that span, while putting themselves in position for a top-two finish after both Sacramento and Oakland suffered defeats.

“We got to keep entertaining the people, they paid their hard-earned money to watch us that’s the reality of it,” said Switchbacks Head Coach James Chambers. “We owe them from New Mexico, we kind of made up for it against Memphis 901, tonight we gave them the value of their money.”

The Switchbacks get another Eastern Conference power next Saturday when the Charleston Battery visit. That should be worth getting your tickets for now.

Three Up

Louisville City’s diverse attack – Aiden McFadden became the eighth player to reach four goals this season for LouCity in the side’s 1-0 win at home to Loudoun United FC to clinch a 10th consecutive postseason berth on Friday night.

Paco Craig – North Carolina FC’s veteran center back had a vintage performance in a 5-0 romp past Oakland Roots SC, scoring once and winning 8 of 13 duels as he bounced back from a tough outing in Week 26.

El Paso Locomotive’s defense – Locomotive recorded its third consecutive shutout on Saturday night against Detroit City. That’s the first time it has done so since 2021 and might be a sign things are turning in the right direction for Head Coach Wilmer Cabrera.

Three Down

Loudoun United’s attack – Loudoun United was held scoreless for a third consecutive game after it failed to register a shot on target against Louisville City FC. That’s the first time that’s happened to United since the 2021 season.

Oakland Roots’ defense – Oakland should still be a playoff team despite Saturday’s drubbing by North Carolina, but that’s the third time this season the club has allowed five goals this season. When it goes wrong, it goes very wrong indeed for Roots.

Albert Dikwa – The reigning Golden Boot winner had a miserable time on the field in his return to Highmark Stadium. No shots, no touches inside the penalty area, not a good night.

THE REST OF THE ACTION

#LOUvLDN: Louisville City had to wait out the storm before sealing its 10th consecutive trip to the postseason with victory against Loudoun United, and the defensive display was as good as they’ve produced this season. Multiple single-season records are still within reach.

#NMvMIA: New Mexico United Head Coach Eric Quill was disappointed with his side’s finishing against Miami despite a 1-0 win. The numbers say United was a little unlucky to not score more – Miami goalkeeper Khadim Ndiaye put up a -2.05 Goals Prevented mark on the night in a seven-save performance.

#PHXvTUL: Rising has consecutive wins for the first time this season and has pulled itself comfortable above the playoff line in the process. The question after this bright attacking display is whether they can produce it again this weekend in Sacramento.

#HFDvIND: There really needed to be more energy from Hartford to try and find a winner against Indy Eleven down the final stretch. One shot in the final 20 minutes and stoppage time just wasn’t good enough.

#NCvOAK: Last week’s defensive debacle overshadowed that North Carolina had it going on in attack. Now they’ve got nine goals over the past two games and just might have a run at the final playoff spot in them.

#ELPvDET: Detroit City keeps edging toward the postseason, but we really want to see a little bit more over the final few weeks of the season in the attacking third. That’s how you’re going to hold onto a top-four finish and get a home playoff game to kick the postseason off.

#MBvSA: San Antonio got a penalty kick that earned it victory, but still had Monterey Bay record a higher Expected Goals mark over the 90 minutes. That’s how lackluster SAFC was otherwise in the attacking third.