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Two goal scorers from last Saturday’s 5-1 Louisville City FC win over Saint Louis FC were honored Tuesday by the United Soccer League.

Midfielder Magnus Rasmussen, who recorded a brace with a pair of second half goals, made the USL Team of the Week’s top 11. Winger Kadeem Dacres filled out the reserves thanks to an equalizer in the 38th minute.

Rasmussen netted his second and third goals of the season on the road, now a staple in coach James O’Connor’s lineup. LouCity’s top returning scorer from 2015 was slow to return from offseason hip surgery before named a starter on Aug. 27. The club has won all four games since then.

Dacres, another second-year LouCity star, ended his scoring slump when fed off a corner kick against Saint Louis.  It was his first goal since May 14 during another win over Louisville’s Kings’ Cup rival. Dacres also absorbed tackles Saturday that led to Saint Louis yellow and red cards, plus dribbled two shots just wide of the post.

The latest USL Team of the Week also included former LouCity midfielder Charlie Adams, now with Real Monarchs SLC. Adams scored the game-winner and registered an assist in his club’s most-recent win.

Second in the USL’s Eastern Conference standings, LouCity has cemented a No. 2 playoff spot and home postseason game on Oct. 2. First, the club finishes its regular season at 7:30 p.m. Saturday against the Charlotte Independence at Louisville Slugger Field.

USL Team of the Week

GK – Clement Diop, LA Galaxy II: Diop recorded an eight-save shutout to lead Los Dos to a 1-0 win against Rio Grande Valley FC that clinched a place in the playoffs.

D – Amer Didic, Swope Park Rangers: Didic led a strong defensive display for SPR as they earned a 3-0 victory on the road against OKC Energy FC on Sunday.

D – Harrison Delbridge, FC Cincinnati: Delbridge played the full game in both of FCC’s shutouts last week as the side clinched the No. 3 seed in Eastern Conference.

D – Vasilis Apostolopoulos, Rochester Rhinos: Apostolopoulos was solid at the back as the Rhinos took a 1-0 win on the road against the Charlotte Independence.

M – Luke Rooney, Arizona United SC: Rooney had a goal and assist as Arizona rallied to defeat Real Monarchs SLC 3-2 on Saturday night.

M – Charlie Adams, Real Monarchs SLC: Adams scored the game-winner, and also added an assist, as the Monarchs defeated San Antonio FC 2-0 last Wednesday.

M – Maikel Chang, Charleston Battery: Chang scored the game-winner as the Battery took a 2-1 comeback victory on the road against the Richmond Kickers on Saturday.

M – Magnus Rasmussen, Louisville City FC: Rasmussen earned a second consecutive selection as his two goals helped lead City to a 5-1 win against Saint Louis.

F – Brandon Allen, New York Red Bulls II: Allen scored a goal and added two assists as the Red Bulls II took a 4-0 win against FC Montreal on Saturday night.

F – Mark Anthony Gonzalez, Swope Park Rangers: Gonzalez had a goal and assist as SPR clinched a playoff berth with a 3-0 win on the road against OKC Energy FC.

F – Villyan Bijev, Portland Timbers 2: Bijev had one goal and two assists to lead T2 to a pair of wins, and move into a tie for the league lead in assists with nine on the season.

Bench: Alex Tambakis (CHS), Kadeem Dacres (LOU), Florian Valot (NY), Ariel Lassiter (LA), Pedro Baez (SLC), Franck Tayou (SA), Neco Brett (POR).

Louisville City FC last season ran into a Rochester Rhinos club that coneded only 15 goals in 28 regular-season games, earning 61 points in the process. The Rhinos went on to win the USL championship.

This year, the task somehow appears tougher, with the New York Red Bulls II having tallied an astonishing plus-39 goal differential and USL record 66 points. A game remains before the playoffs.

Accordingly, the Red Bulls remained the club to catch in the USL’s Week 26 Power Rankings as the only team ranked ahead of red-hot LouCity, a winner of four straight.

“A guaranteed No. 2 seed, and retaining the Kings’ Cup against Saint Louis, made for a good away day for Louisville, which now enters its home finale with nothing on the line except pride,” wrote the USL’s Nicholas Murray, who assembles the power rankings.

“With the Charlotte Independence still fighting for a home playoff game, though, it would be a surprise if an understrength team awaits them as Louisville looks to maintain its momentum going into the postseason.”

Louisville scored more goals last weekend in a 5-1 win over Saint Louis than it has all season. The Independence, who visit Slugger Field at 7:30 p.m. Saturday, are fourth on the Eastern Conference table, currently holding a home playoff position.

Other than the Red Bulls II and LouCity, top Eastern Conference clubs in the Power Rankings were FC Cincinnati (No. 6), the Rochester Rhinos (No. 7) and Charleston Battery (No. 10). The Independence were listed first in the league’s “Best of the Rest” category.

Should LouCity meet the Red Bulls II in the postseason, the matchup would come only after two postseason wins apiece and in the Eastern Conference final.

On the field in a must-win game over the weekend, Saint Louis FC played a wide-open, attacking style. As it turns out, that strategy suited Louisville City FC well.

But coach James O’Connor said Monday he’s not completely satisfied with a 5-1 victory, one that saw midfielder Magnus Rasmussen register a brace. Three other players — Kadeem Dacres, Cameron Lancaster, Ilija Ilic — also scored.

“I want more,” O’Connor told reporters with a smile at his weekly press conference. “For us, it’s great that we’re scoring goals, but the more people who can step up and score, that’s obviously something we’re going to need.”

• Full video: O’Connor’s press conference

LouCity since turned its attention to Saturday’s regular-season finale, a 7:30 p.m. home date with the Charlotte Independence at Slugger Field. On a run of four straight victories — the longest streak of the season — O’Connor has seen increased success offensively with a consistent group on the attack.

Cameron Lancaster has scored penalty kicks in back-to-back games, earning one himself against Saint Louis. Magnus Rasmussen, on the return from offseason surgery, made the starting lineup in August and has now scored three goals in two games. Winger Kadeem Dacres also ended a scoring drought Saturday that dated back to May.

“Confidence breeds confidence, so I think if you look at how (Rasmussen) and Kadeem have linked in, it’s been very pleasing to see,” O’Connor said. “I think Cameron has made some really strong run and obviously scored the last two games as well. There’s key parts to the team we feel we’re happy with, but equally we don’t stand and pat ourselves on the back.

“You work harder, and we try to improve upon what we’re doing.”

Here’s more from O’Connor’s weekly meeting with the media…

• On what he wants to see Saturday from the squad: “I want to see the same level of performance. I think the last two games, we’ve given really strong perfomances. I think that’s definitely something we definitely need to try and continue. We want to build some momentum going into the playoffs. We’re on a good run at the moment. We obviously want to keep that going.”
   
• On the importance of playoff seeding: “Very. I think it’s something that can be taken for granted. I think it’s important, A, to get into the playoffs. But then equally you want to be at home. For us to have such strong seeding is a testament to the group of guys we have and how well the guys have done. But it’s something you definitely want, for sure.”
   
• On the regular-season home finale: “Well, we want to get as many people as we can into Slugger. That’s the biggest thing for us — trying to make sure it’s an intimidating atmosphere for teams. I think for us, the next couple weeks we want to literally get the whole of Louisville to come out and watch the soccer team play.
  
  “It’s been a great weekend for the city, if you like, with the (University of Louisville) soccer team on Friday night doing so well — obviously the football team doing so well — and hopefully everyone can get behind us and put Louisville on the map for pro soccer.”

FENTON, Mo. — As Louisville City FC locked up a No. 2 USL playoff seed Saturday night with its 5-1 win at Saint Louis FC, Eastern Conference clubs vying closer to the cutoff line seemingly sorted themselves out.

The Rochester Rhinos and Charleston Battery both posted victories, the latter in a meaningful game against the Richmond Kickers. Each of those clubs went into the weekend with 45 points and now, with a game to go in the regular season, the Kickers are still stuck there, in line for the No. 7 seed.

Should the standings hold, LouCity would host Richmond — a club it beat 2-0 last weekend — at 7 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 2, at Louisville Slugger Field in an Eastern Conference quarterfinal. Tickets are now on sale. With a win, Louisville stays at home for a semifinal at 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 8, against the winner of meeting between the 3 and 6 seeds.

River Cities Cup rival FC Cincinnati for now has the No. 3 spot. Last time that club came to town, LouCity set an attendance record of 10,062 as it played Cincinnati to a scoreless draw on June 25.

Louisville closes its regular season at 7:30 p.m. Saturday against the Charlotte Independence, the current No. 4 team clinging to a home playoff spot.

Eight teams from both the Eastern and Western conferences make it into the postseason. The USL’s championship game is set for Sunday, Oct. 23, and will air on ESPNU.

Dacres ends his drought: Midfielder Kadeem Dacres brought high energy to the right wing throughout the summer, often threatening opposing defenses. Until Saturday night, he didn’t have the numbers to show for it.

Dacres, minutes after going down on a tackle that landed Saint Louis FC a straight red card, came back on to score an equalizing goal — his first since May 14, the last time LouCity played Saint Louis.

“Obviously the guys have been pushing me. Coach has been pushing me as well,” Dacres said. “Just seeing the ball hit the back of the net was a huge relief, because I’ve been working so hard these last few weeks — especially on my finishing.”

Dacres also hit the turf Saturday on a Saint Louis FC tackle that resulted in a yellow card, often the target of the game’s most physical plays. The red card was assigned in the 35th minute, and by the 38th, the New York native returned to rocket a left-footed shot by the keeper.

At the time, the goal knotted the score at 1-1 after Saint Louis FC — a team that had to win to keep its playoff hopes alive — opened scoring early.

“Our response was obviously really, really good,” Dacres said. “We have a fantastic group, so we knew our work ethic would definitely come through.”

Lancaster steps up again: Forward Cameron Lancaster netted LouCity’s go-ahead goal for the second consecutive game Saturday, again scoring on a penalty kick. This one — taken in the 41st minute — came because of a simple mindset.

“Just pick your spot and make sure you score, basically,” said Lancaster, who also drilled a penalty versus Richmond a week ago. “I was confident from the last one I scored. I knew I was going to score.”

The native of England attempted five shots against Saint Louis to lead all players, working with midfielder Magnus Rasmussen to sync up opportunities. Rasmussen registered a brace, also scoring for the second straight game.

“We train together every day, so there’s always going to be good chemistry there,” Lancaster said. “Magnus has a good footballing brain. He has an eye for the pass, so that always helps. We both come from good footballing backgrounds, so we know where each other is going to be.”

FENTON, Mo. — A wild six minutes on the road reversed Louisville City FC’s fortunes Saturday night, leading to a win that clinched the club a No. 2 seed in the upcoming USL playoffs.

Near the end of the first half, midfielder Kadeem Dacres ended his goal scoring drought before forward Cameron Lancaster buried a penalty kick for the second consecutive game. The scores jump-started LouCity’s 5-1, comeback victory over Kings’ Cup rival Saint Lous FC.

Both goals quickly followed a straight red card assigned in the 35th minute that left the host club a man down and reeling. From there, LouCity poured it on in front of a record World Wide Technology Soccer Park crowd of 6,004.

“I thought the response was exactly what we want,” said coach James O’Connor, “but I thought our play even before their goal — before the red card — I thought our play was really good, very encouraging.”

Entering Saturday, LouCity had already cemented at least a top-four finish in the USL’s Eastern Conference and a home playoff game set for Oct. 2 at Slugger Field. But with the win, it further ensured a second place and a potential Eastern Conference semifinal. The game would be played at 7:30 p.m. Oct. 8 at Slugger.

Dacres, who works along the right wing, rocketed his share of shots on goal throughout the summer. He finally converted shortly after tackled by Saint Louis’ James Musa, who earned the red card. The goal marked Dacres’ first since LouCity’s May 14 win over Saint Louis.

After Dacres’ heroics, Lancaster stepped up, rocketing a penalty to the goalkeeper’s left. In the second half, midfielder Magnus Rasmussen added a brace on under-manned Saint Louis  before Ilija Ilic, a 72nd-minute sub, rounded out the scoring.

An offensive outburst continued LouCity’s recent hot streak — the club is 5-1-2 since the beginning of August — and more than offset a 17th-minute Saint Louis FC goal by Jordan Roberts that moved the guys in green ahead early.

“There’s a good mood,” Lancaster said of the locker room. “We feel confidence after the last couple games — I think it’s three or four unbeaten. So we’re on a good high right now. It’s a good time to be on a high — going into the playoffs.”

In all, LouCity out-shot Saint Louis 20-8, claiming the two-game Kings’ Cup rivalry series in the process. Louisville won 2-0 in their other meeting this year.

“I thought our attitude tonight was excellent, and I thought our play at times was really, really good,” O’Connor said. “It’s exciting to see the guys play like that.”

Game Summary

Match: Saint Louis FC vs. Louisville City FC

Date: Sept. 17, 2016

Venue: World Wide Technology Soccer Park

Kickoff: 8:30 p.m. ET

Weather: Clear, 78 degrees

Attendance: 6,004

Man of the Match: Magnus Rasmussen

Saint Louis FC (1, 0, 1)

Louisville City FC (2, 3, 5)

Lineups

Louisville City FC: 13-Greg Ranjitsingh, 2-Ben Newnam, 15-Sean Reynolds, 18-Paco Craig, 6-Tarek Morad, 8-Guy Abend, 4-Aodhan Quinn (62′ 36-Paolo DelPiccolo), 7-Kadeem Dacres (67′ 77-Andrew Lubahn), 10-Magnus Rasmussen (72′ 14-Ilija Ilic), 12-Mark-Anthony Kaye (52′ 22-George Davis IV), 9-Cameron Lancaster (62′ 17-Chandler Hoffman).

Subs not used: 28-Tim Dobrowolski, 20-Enrique Montano, .

Head coach: James O’Connor

Saint Louis FC: 1-Mark Pais, 2-Richard Dixon, 4-AJ Cochran, 5-Mitch Lurie (64′ 27-Colin Fernandez), 22-Patrick Doody, 14-James Musa (35′ red card), 8-Chad Bond, 28-Jason Plumhoff, 23-Jordan Roberts (64′ 15-Mike Ambersly), 32-Shilo Tshuma (42′ 3-Sam Fink), 19-Irving Herrera.

Subs not used: 13-Ryan Thompson, 20-Vince Cicciarelli, 12-Tyler Davis, 17-Jacob Bushue.

Head coach: Tim Leonard

Stats – Saint Louis FC / LouCity

Shots: 8 / 20

Saves: 5 / 1

Corner Kicks: 4 / 3

Offside: 5 / 2

Officials

Referee: Andrew Musashe

Assistant Referee 1: Steve Eordogh

Assistant Referee 2: Thomas McCulloh

4th Official: Christopher Slane