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USL Playoffs: One player to watch on each of the 16 teams

By Carson A Merk

Jul 21, 2015; Los Angeles, CA, USA; FC Barcelona defender Gerard Pique (3) defends Los Angeles Galaxy midfielder Ariel Lassiter (46) as he heads to the goal in the second half of the game at the Rose Bowl. FC Barcelona won 2-1. Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports
Jul 21, 2015; Los Angeles, CA, USA; FC Barcelona defender Gerard Pique (3) defends Los Angeles Galaxy midfielder Ariel Lassiter (46) as he heads to the goal in the second half of the game at the Rose Bowl. FC Barcelona won 2-1. Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports /
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Aug 23, 2016; Vancouver, British Columbia, CAN; Vancouver Whitecaps forward Masato Kudo (9) passes the ball against Sporting Kansas City FC defender Amer Didic (55) during the first half at BC Place Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Anne-Marie Sorvin-USA TODAY Sports
Aug 23, 2016; Vancouver, British Columbia, CAN; Vancouver Whitecaps forward Masato Kudo (9) passes the ball against Sporting Kansas City FC defender Amer Didic (55) during the first half at BC Place Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Anne-Marie Sorvin-USA TODAY Sports /

Swope Park Rangers’ Amer Didic

Amer Didic has transitioned seamlessly from college to the pros. The Bosnian born, Canadian raised defender made the USL Team of the Week six times, the most of any player in the league. He’s a strong, mobile player on the backline, who rarely gets too far out of position. He also scored his first professional goal this weekend in the club’s regular season finale.

LA Galaxy 2’s Ariel Lassiter

The one they call the Goal Puppy. Other than having one of the best nicknames in soccer, Ariel Lassiter is one heck of a scorer.

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The son of former professional Roy Lassiter, Ariel has a great touch for finding the net, whether it’s a last second tap past a charging keeper, or a rocket from outside the penalty area. Los Dos made a run through the USL Playoffs, all the way to the USL Cup final as a 5 seed, same as this year.

They lost that match to Rochester, but the Goal Puppy did net the game’s first tally. Even after Jack McBean left the club for a loan with Coventry City, Lassiter kept the young Galaxy side pushing towards a return to the playoffs. This is a popular dark horse pick to win it all, and if they do, it will largely be because of the play of their star Ariel Lassiter.

September 30th at 8:30pm EDT from the Swope Soccer Village. Watch it live HERE. 

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