On Oct. 9, 2016, the Swope Park Rangers advanced to the USL Western Conference Final against all odds. The Rangers entered the contest on the back of a statement 3-0 victory over LA Galaxy II in the Western Conference Quarterfinals, and, at No. 4, were the higher seed against eighth-ranked Orange County Blues FC (now Orange County SC).
With the 2017 USL schedule released yesterday, we look back at that extraordinary showdown through the eyes of Oumar Ballo, Christian Duke, Mark Anthony Gonzalez and Tyler Pasher.
DUKE: Once playoff time came around there was only so much you could do in training to be prepared so most guys took it as a way to fine tune but at the same time have fun.