On the positive side, Robert Warzycha’s men won their second consecutive Supporters Shield – a feat only one other club has managed. Their defense is the best in the Eastern Conference, having conceded only 30 goals in league play. Their home record includes nine victories against only two defeats, and their first round playoff opponent have won only twice on the road this year.

Unfortunately, the team also enters their two-leg series against Real Salt Lake having lost three of their last four league games. They have scored only one goal during that span, a fluky free kick from left back Gino Padula. Their first trip to Salt Lake City, in the third week of the season, was also their worst loss, a 4-1 embarrassment that included two goals in the game’s first 10 minutes.

The ultimate outcome of the 2009 season could hinge on the answers to two questions. First, will Chad Marshall, who missed the last five league games with a left knee sprain, be able to resume his defensive partnership with Eric Brunner? Second, will the team’s offensive chemistry – challenged over the last two months as the team was forced to rotate starting assignments due to schedule congestion – be able to recover enough to allow the team to recover its scoring touch?