The past weekend’s action in the USL Championship Eastern Conference left us with two weeks of drama ahead with any of five teams in with a viable chance to get into the final two postseason spots, while over in the Western Conference the results continued to defy logic and belief, especially in the case of Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC.

Here are the three big storylines we took away from Week 32’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 EASTERN PLAYOFF PICTURE IS ANYONE’S GAME

Over the past two seasons, the Eastern Conference playoff picture has tended to be pretty clear. Sure, last season came down to the final day of the season as to whether Detroit City FC or Miami FC would get the last chair when the music stopped, but there wasn’t much drama otherwise.

That makes the free-for-all we’re going to get over the final two weeks of this year’s campaign something neutral fans should latch onto, let alone the fans of the five clubs that look poised to scrap it out for the last two spots.

• ON THE RISE: This past weekend was huge for Hartford Athletic and Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC. Hartford emerged – just – with a 4-3 win against North Carolina FC that revived its playoff chances after defeat to Loudoun United last week. With a game to make up over the other four teams in contention, the Athletic can clinch a spot by winning out – a tough ask, but there for the taking.

• HOUNDS STRIKE: The Hounds, meanwhile, used a pair of goals in the first 20 minutes to get victory against the Charleston Battery at Highmark Stadium to sit in seventh at the end of the weekend. That’s given Pittsburgh 15 points from its last eight outings – tied with Hartford for third-most in the league in the form standings – when it was under pressure to deliver.

• HE SAID IT: “We’ve been playing playoff soccer really for what feels like 10 games now, just knowing that there’s been a lot at stake. Obviously, we’ve left points on the table at times and had some disappointing results late in games. I think we tightened that up tonight.” – Hounds midfielder Robbie Mertz

For the other three teams, the weekend was one of missed opportunities. Despite its valiant comeback, North Carolina’s defeat in Hartford dragged it back to the pack, while Loudoun’s draw with Rhode Island FC and Birmingham Legion FC’s loss to Las Vegas Lights FC on Sunday were steps back.

Now there are four teams sitting level on 42 points with two games to play, and Hartford two points back with its game in hand. With Loudoun set to host Pittsburgh on Saturday in another six-pointer, it’s up for grabs as to which teams will make it to November.

That’s got the potential to give us much more drama than we’ve seen in recent campaigns.

2. COLORADO SPRINGS’ SAN ANTONIO HEX CONTINUES

Looked at one way, San Antonio FC’s 2-1 victory against Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC was another crucial result for the 2022 title winners in their bid to make it to the postseason.

“I’m incredibly proud of the guys’ commitment,” said SAFC Head Coach Alen Marcina. “Hopefully, there’s some momentum carrying into our last two home games.”

But we’re not here to talk about San Antonio right now. We’re here to talk about the Switchbacks, and their continued inability to win against San Antonio which at this point defies most reasonable logic.

• IN POSITION: As we noted on Friday, the Switchbacks had most things trending in their favor going into Saturday’s clash at Weidner Field. That tilted further in their favor when Aiden Rocha put them ahead midway through the second half, at which point Colorado Springs had a 16-4 advantage in shots and San Antonio hadn’t registered a shot on target.

• TIDES TURNING: So, what happened then? San Antonio scored with its first shot on target, because of course it did. SAFC struck as Colorado Springs gave away a counterattack that Hugo Mbongue finished off as the hosts appealed for a foul in the build-up by Lucho Solignac.

• ENDS IN TEARS: The Switchbacks pushed for a winner and could have gone ahead in stoppage time only for a mad goalmouth scramble to deliver the ball eventually into the arms of San Antonio goalkeeper Pablo Sisniega. And then, in the ninth minute of stoppage time, the sucker punch arrived. Solignac’s goal gave San Antonio all three points and stretched the side’s undefeated streak in the series to 13 games.

 “Usually, when we go up, especially at home when we have the fans behind us, we're solid, we're rock solid, so it was definitely a punch in the face,” said Rocha. “I think we need to go back and look at how we broke down so easily and conceded those goals.”

Rocha is 100 percent correct when discussing the Switchbacks’ home record. Saturday marked only the third time in four seasons since moving into Weidner Field the side had lost when it held a lead on home turf.

But that’s the power San Antonio appears to have over Colorado Springs, no matter the circumstances. SAFC now has a 10-0-3 record against the Switchbacks since it last suffered defeat in the series in March, 2019. It’s an astonishing level of dominance given how strong both teams have been this decade.

And San Antonio is still alive in the playoff race because of it.

3. RISING’S ROLLER COASTER RIDE

Remember when, seven days ago, Phoenix Rising FC looked like it might be in danger of missing the postseason?

Ha, so much for that. Rising’s 1-0 win against Oakland Roots SC on Saturday night moved the defending title holders within three points of clinching a playoff berth with two games to go as it capped a six-point week that was about as logical as its loss to Monterey Bay the week prior.

• EVENING UP: On the balance of play and chances, Oakland probably should have taken something from Saturday night. It had more shots, more shots on target and narrowly missed out on a late equalizer when Miche-Naider Chéry hit the woodwork. After Tomás Ángel put Phoenix ahead in the 55th minute, Rising didn’t register a shot for the final half-hour.

• BREAKS OF THE GAME: That didn’t matter because this is the way things are going right now for Rising. Dominate a game against Monterey Bay and come away empty-handed? It makes even less sense than going into Oakland, registering five shots and coming away with a win. Somehow, it all evens out in the end.

• HE SAID IT: “We’ve come from playing on Wednesday, we needed the three points in New Mexico, we needed the three points here. … We wanted to show that this team has courage, that this team is going to play for the fans.” – Rising interim Head Coach Diego Gomez

And so there Phoenix sits, in the same No. 6 seed it did when it made its improbably run to a league title. All things considered, a run with this squad might be even more improbable – for one, by contrast to last season, there isn’t one double-digit goalscorer, let alone two as it had last year.

If you want something to believe in, though, it that this side has been potentially better game-in and game-out than its record says. Per American Soccer Analysis’ Expected Points metric, Rising ranks ninth in the league (47.74xP) – third best in the Western Conference, and even ahead of No. 1 seed New Mexico United.

In a Western Conference that’s been anything but predictable this season, who knows?

Three Up

Edward Kizza: We’re not sure anyone had Kizza with double-digit goals before the start of this season, but the Hounds forward has produced some crucial finishes this season for the side in more than doubling his total from the 2023 regular season.

Louisville City’s Resilience: Once again, LouCity didn’t let conceding first get it down. Arturo Ordonez’s dramatic winner against the Tampa Bay Rowdies moved the Players’ Shield winner to 22 points gained from losing positions this season, the most in the league this season.

Danny Barrera: Heck of a moment for the veteran playmaker to notch just his second two-goal game in the USL Championship for his career, leading Hartford Athletic to victory in a must-win against North Carolina FC on Saturday night.

Three Down

Indy Eleven’s Frontline: Yes, there were absences, but we were expecting a bit more from a front line including three senior internationals in Maalique Foster, Augustine Williams and Douglas Martinez Jr., than what was on display in Detroit.

Sacramento Republic FC: When Republic FC is good, it’s very good, but right now it’s not finding the heights we’ve seen at times. One win in the last six games and a dull draw away to Memphis 901 FC isn’t living up to expectations.

New Mexico United: The Western Conference’s No. 1 seed has dropped five points from winning positions in their last two outings. United had only dropped six points when leading in its prior 30 games. Not the trendline we’re looking for as the playoffs approach.

THE REST OF THE ACTION

#DETvIND: Detroit City locked up a third consecutive postseason berth, and Indy continued to move forward securing its spot. Le Rouge were unlucky not to get all three points, though, which made it a missed opportunity to push toward securing a top-four finish.

#LOUvTBR: The Rowdies were vehement in their protest against LouCity’s penalty kick to spark the comeback by the hosts, converted by Sean Totsch, but it looked like the right call. Tough way to end an incredibly difficult week for the visitors.

#MEMvSAC: If this had gone to the scorecards, Memphis 901 FC would probably have shaded a decision in terms of pressure and chances, but this was pretty underwhelming between two teams that are in contention to host a postseason contest.

#TULvNM: New Mexico had already backed into its No. 1 seed in the West by the time it ended all square with Tulsa, but that’s three games without a win for United in league play for the first time this campaign. We’re curious to see the response next weekend.

#RIvLDN: You could tell the level of pressure each of these sides was under by the way second half played out. Loudoun was in it to win it, and Jacob Erlandson was very unlucky not to see his header find the net instead of come back off the post.

#BHMvLV: Lights full back Shawn Smart and Grayson Doody might have been the best players on the field on Sunday night in guiding their side to victory. Neither was credited with a goal or assist, but they were excellent at both ends of the field.