Hartford Athletic Take On Loudoun United As Playoff Race Heats Up
The Latics are looking to run their streak to eight games unbeaten, as they make a late push for the USL Championship playoffs
Hartford Athletic welcomes Loudoun United to Trinity Health Stadium, looking to extend a run of good form that has them on the edge of the USL Championships. The Latics are unbeaten in seven, and have kept four consecutive clean sheets - both club records - heading into Saturday night’s clash. Their home form is perhaps even stronger, as they have also lost only one of their last 10 games at Trinity Health Stadium, winning five and drawing four of those contests.
The Latics have ridden a suddenly solid defense on this run, despite injuries, suspensions, and international call-ups all playing a role in disrupting continuity on the back line. Midseason acquisition Michael DeShields has played a key role and is likely to be called on again with Jordan Scarlett set to miss Saturday’s game due to a red card in Hartford’s last fixture. Another strong defensive effort will be a necessity against a Loudoun team that is among the best in the league at creating chances and ran roughshod over the Latics when the teams met earlier this season.
At the other end of the pitch, despite five goals in the last two games the Latics are one of the worst-scoring teams in the league. The emergence of Mamadou Dieng as a reliable source of goals has helped stabilize the attack, and season-first goals for Marlon Hairston and Kyle Edwards were enough to take down the Oakland Roots but Hartford will need a little more in the closing stretch to get to the playoffs. If Michee Ngalina, who has missed the last three games, is able to return sooner rather than later it will provide a much-needed boost.
Saturday night’s game against Loudoun is a proper playoff six-pointer, with United sitting one point ahead of the Latics in the Eastern Conference standings. With Pittsburgh and North Carolina lurking as well, and a little distance opening up to seventh place, it’s shaping up to be a four-way race for the final playoff spot.
Loudoun have won only one of their last five, including 1-0 losses to both conference leaders and a 1-1 come-from-behind draw against Colorado Springs Switchbacks who currently sit second in the Western Conference. Their lone win in that stretch also showed resilience, as they twice came from behind to defeat Birmingham Legion 4-2. Despite the results not having gone their way, they’re in good form and present a difficult test for a Latics side aiming for a first playoff berth since the pandemic-shortened 2020 season.
Both clubs control their own destiny right now and will be trying to stay in the driver’s seat for the last playoff positions in the Eastern Conference by taking all three points. As Hartford closes out the season with three games on the road, they will be particularly eager to defend their home turf and seize the advantage in the playoff race.