For a team that limped into the playoffs, the Union appear energized by the prospect of playing a new season. They are also happy that the old one is finished.
For the second time in their seven-year history, the Union will be in the Major League Soccer playoffs, and in their opinion the best thing is that the slate is wiped clean.
The Union (11-14-9) earned the sixth and final Eastern Conference playoff spot and will visit No. 3 seed Toronto FC (14-9-11) in the one-game knockout round Wednesday night.
At one point, the Union were in the position to contend for a first-round bye or at least a home game in the knockout round, but that was before they ended the season on an 0-5-2 slide and dropped their final three games.