The Jumbled Playoff Picture

With just two matches left for most of the teams in the Super League, the time to clinch one of the last two playoff spots is now. Carolina Ascent and Tampa Bay Sun have punched their tickets for the postseason and look every bit the teams to beat in the league’s first playoff. Who they will play is still up in the air.

Tuesday’s result for Fort Lauderdale United has to be disappointing. After going down 1-0 in the first half to DC Power, FTL battled back and managed to rescue a single point from a must-win match. Sabrina McNeill’s 83rd minute goal was just enough to keep the team in the playoff conversation, now even with 5th place Brooklyn FC.

While every match is important, the key battle this weekend is Dallas Trinity vs FTL. If Dallas gets the win on the road, it will finalize the playoff teams. The potential win would put Dallas even with Tampa at 43 points. A draw would open a host of possibilities for Brooklyn and FTL and make the final match day insanely important for multiple teams. A loss for Dallas would be catastrophic, as it would catapult FTL over them in the standings and put them (for the moment) out of the playoffs. It would also make Dallas’ last match, against top-seed Carolina Ascent a win-or-go-home match.

Spokane Zephyr, who are off this weekend, will be rooting for Dallas big time, as a win for Dallas would allow Zephyr to clinch, regardless of their last match against FTL next weekend.

Golden Boot

Both of the players tied for the top spot have two matches left to play, so it will be all about who delivers in the final push for the playoffs. Allie Thornton’s final two matches are against FTL and Carolina. The Dallas forward has 12 goals and is currently tied with Carolina Ascent’s Mia Corbin. Corbin has now-eliminated Brooklyn FC and then Dallas on the last day of the regular season.

The crowd at 10 goals still has a chance, though. Tampa’s Cecilie Nelson has her final match against DC Power this weekend and would need a hat-trick to claim the crown. Super Show favorite Emina Ekić also has a single match against FTL left and would need similar results to challenge for the title. And don’t forget FTL’s Addie McCain, while her goalscoring has slowed, she’s also at 10 goals with two matches to play.

- Dan Vaughn