The last home match of the season didn’t go as hoped, as Energy FC (10th, 11-14-6, 39 pts) put on another solid performance but were unlucky not to take the points against Sacramento Republic FC. On another night, chances from Jose Barril, Marco Bustos and Deshorn Brown probably find the back of the net and the Greens go on to win comfortably. Such is football sometimes.

Up next is a rematch with Las Vegas Lights FC (15th, 7-16-7, 28 pts) on Saturday night. The sides met for the first time on July 11 at Taft Stadium in what is probably going to go down as the most memorable match of the season. That Wednesday night, USL Match of the Week ended 6-4, with the Greens coming out on top. A brace from Alex Dixon and goals from Atiba Harris, Jaime Siaj, Francis Atuahene and Christian Volesky were enough to overcome Raul Mendiola’s hat trick and Carlos Alvarez’s strike.

Still leading the way for the Lights are Mendiola with nine goals, as well as Alvarez and Sammy Ochoa with six each. Ochoa is also the team leader in assists with six, followed closely by Alvarez with four.

While 10 goals probably won’t happen again, there’s no reason why Energy FC can’t go out and put up another big number. Over the last seven games, the Greens have scored 18 times. On the flip side, Vegas has given up 67 goals this year, which is third-worst in the league. They also lead the league in yellow cards (86) and are third in reds (6), so you can pretty much always expect a feisty encounter when they take the pitch.

With a Reno 1868 FC win over Rio Grande Valley FC on Wednesday night, Energy FC are now mathematically eliminated from playoff contention. Obviously, making the playoffs is always a goal for the club, and missing out is a disappointment. Having said that, most supporters were aware that with a new coaching staff and nearly half a new roster, this year was going to be difficult while the team transitioned.

Still, despite the club coming up just a bit short, there’s no reason to believe that this team won’t go from strength to strength heading into 2019.

Since the 1-8 start, the Greens have gone 10-6-6. That type of win percentage is easily good enough to get into the playoffs compared to the other teams, and had it not been for the slow start, Energy FC would comfortably be in the top eight. There also likely wouldn’t be a side that would be fancy meeting them in the playoffs with their current form.

With Coach Cooke significantly upgrading the squad since the home opener, it will be exciting to see what he can do will a full offseason to build. Since the start of the campaign, the gaffer has made ten signings: Christian Volesky, Kalif Alhassan, Drew Beckie, Atiba Harris, Cody Laurendi, Adam Jahn, Monty Patterson, Marco Bustos and Deshorn Brown. Those are some big names, including players that are regulars in the starting XI and have made huge contributions since arriving.

For the last three matches, it’s about finishing the campaign strongly, building for next year and letting the rest of the league know that the Greens will be a force to be reckoned with in 2019.

Saturday’s match kicks off at 10:00 p.m. CST from Cashman Field, and as always, you can watch live on espn+.