USL Week 27: Playoff noose tightens, but for whom is the bell tolling?

Oklahoma City Energy vs Sacramento Republic FC (H)

OKC Energy FC is resting just on the conference playoff cut line with 10 wins and 37 points. That puts them 1 win and 1 point ahead of 9th place Orange County SC. OC SC is also behind on the calendar with one less match played.

• Last time out: Sacramento defeated LA Galaxy II last Saturday, 2-1 at home. That extended their current mini-win-streak to 2 matches. But both of those wins have come against teams that have pretty much been eliminated for 2017 for some time now. How will they fare against a club with everything on the line and no margin of error?
• Players to watch for: Republic don’t score much and their keeper does not rank high in the league in saves made. All of that means the club plays great defense that thwarts chances before those can become shots and perhaps goals-against. James Kiffe anchors the defense and also contributes more than his share of shots on goal as well.
• H2W: Click below

What about the east?…