There has been a lot learned about Loudoun United since they started their season 224 days ago, things come to a penultimate head tonight with Loudoun’s home finale, where the franchise has not seen such stakes so late in the year, against a Pittsburgh Riverhounds team who’s had their number since inception.

Simply put, here are the standings:

Such as they are, the USL tiebreakers are…different! Where MLS uses (in order) total wins, goal differential and goals scored, as its Top 3, the USL’s Top 3 are Head-to-Head points earned, goal differential in Head-to-Head games and points per game vs. Eastern Conference opponents. Loudoun holds the PPG tiebreak over North Carolina and Birmingham (1.3 to 1.14 and 1.0, respectively), however Pittsburgh holds said tiebreak over them all. Loudoun’s early July matchup with Pittsburgh resulted in a 1-1 draw so the points and differential H2H wash out.

I have and will cover this on other media, but Pittsburgh is here due to an insane run of games over the last three months. In 14 games, the team has lost once, with six draws, averaging almost two points per game. They have shut out their opponents in eight games and allowed one goal in three others. At a league fewest 28 goals conceded, their defense is locked in. By comparison, North Carolina FC is 6-5-1 and Loudoun is 4-5-3 (Birmingham is 3-6-2).

For a team that’s scored three goals in their last five games, following a 4-2 win over Birmingham in September, Loudoun faces their biggest test yet. Between the offensive drought, the historical record against the opposition (winning one game in seven at Segra against the Bob Lilley-coached Hounds), Loudoun fans should expect a tense, drama filled affair as they watch the game, and the out of town scoreboard.

Location: Segra Field, Leesburg, VA

Kickoff Time: 6:00 pm

Available Streaming: For more of a local flavor, check out your local Loudoun nerd as part of DC News Now’s streaming and broadcast coverage on DCW 50, or ESPN+ for the national tip.