LD Update: USL Pro Game Night; NASL signings; PDL/WPSL playoffs

With the Charlotte Eagles charging up the table, Harrisburg and Wilmington added a little space with a pair of two-goal wins Friday evening.

USL PRO

Wilmington Hammerheads 2:0 Dayton Dutch Lions - Two goals in the opening nine minutes were too much for the visitors to rally back from. Corey Hertzog's long throw proved fatal again, connecting with Dylan Riley, who headed in after just three minutes. Cody Arnoux doubled the lead six minutes later with a 40-yard rocket. - MORE

LD Update: NASL & USL Pro Game Nights; WPSL Elite expansion; MLS player moves

In midweek action there were a couple surprising results as the defending NASL champion Minnesota Stars fell at home to the Fort Lauderdale Strikers, who moved squarely into the mix to make a run for the regular season title down the stretch.

Meanwhile in USL, the Dayton Dutch Lions continue to improve and impress, upending the Harrisburg City Islanders after a scoreless draw between the two last week to move third from bottom in the table. League leader Orlando City nabbed a late win against second-place Charleston to increase the gap in the race to repeat as the regular season champions.

LD Update: Special - Amateur League Playoffs

THE ONLY PLACE TO FIND BRACKETS FOR ALL FOUR LEAGUES!

Initial rounds of the postseason for the WPSL, NPSL and USL's PDL and W-League kicked off this past weekend and have continued with midweek contests. They get into high gear this coming weekend as they set the stage for their respective championship events.

Of note, there are seven teams combined in the postseason across the four leagues that are directly affiliated with Major League Soccer clubs. The PDL playoffs boast four with the Reading United AC (Philadelphia Union), Seattle Sounders U23s and Portland Timbers U23s. The W-League features the DC United Women and Seattle Sounders Women while FC Dallas plays in the WPSL. The New York Red Bulls Academy is the lone team in the NPSL playoffs.

LD Update: Loans & Call-ups; Statistical award winners

NASL News: The Fort Lauderdale Strikers are getting former player Paulo Araujo Jr back, returning on loan from Real Salt Lake . Meanwhile the team also announced a contract extention with Walter Restrepo... The young Puerto Rico Islanders duo of defender Cesar Garcia (Dominican Republic) and Joseph Marrero (Puerto Rico) have been called up for their U-20 national teams for the FIFA U-20 World Cup Qualifying tournament.

USL Pro News: The league announced the Team of the Week, honoring Los Angeles Blues midfielder Bryan Burke as the Player of the Week.

LD Update: Honors & amateur league playoff news

NASL News: The league announced Pablo Campos of the San Antonio Scorpions as the Offensive Player of the Week while recognizing Tampa Bay Rowdies goalkeeper Jeff Attinella as the Defensive Player of the Week.

W-League: The Virginia Beach Piranhas advanced to the playoffs Sunday with a 2-0 victory in Fredericksburg... Colorado Rush W-League player Lindsey Horan has reportedly signed a six-figure deal with French club PSG.

PDL News: The Michigan Bucks claimed the league's regular season championship for a third time (2000, 2008) with a 4-0 win Sunday... Ocean City Nor'easters finished as the best team in the Eastern Conference with a 1-0 win Sunday against Brooklyn.

WPSL News: The Spokane Shine have withdrawn from the playoffs and will be replaced by Issaquah SC, who finished second in the Northwest Division.

NPSL News: The league announced New York Red Bulls Academy U23 striker John Gurel as the Player of the Week.

LD Update: NASL Game Night; Amateur league playoffs

FC Edmonton 0:1 Tampa Bay Rowdies - Despite losing Tsuyoshi Yoshitake to a red card 32 minutes in following a collision along the touchline. Despite the disadvantage, the Rowdies held strong and found the winner through Luke Mulholland in the 89th minute, giving Tampa Bay a fifth win in the last six for a surge that has put them in third position two points out of first. - MORE

PDL News: Forest City London advanced to the conference playoffs following news of the withdrawal by expected divisional round opponent River City, who claimed not to have enough available players after receiving two red cards versus Michigan Sunday... The Northwest Division's early playoff start continued with the Portland Timbers U-23s downing the defending champion Kitsap Pumas, 2-1, in the divisional round to reach the Western Conference final four set for Ventura, Calif.

LD Update: NASL & USL Pro Game Night; Amateur league playoffs

The Atlanta Silverbacks climbed out of the cellar with a consecutive win, topping the co-leading Puerto Rico Islanders. The loss allowed the San Antonio Scorpions to move alone atop the table with a draw at Fort Lauderdale.

The LA Blues were the lone side to pick up a win on the road Saturday in USL Pro, keeping themselves in the hunt for the postseason. With a five-game win streak, the Charlotte Eagles find themselves in the playoff picture. Leaders Orlando City blanked Rochester, allowing Charleston to move into second with a win over Wilmington.