There are no prizes for winning the offseason, only the potential for what those decisions will bring when the regular season kicks off, but looking around the USL as we enter the final week of preseason for most of the league’s teams there are some clubs that appear to have made the most of the past four months since Louisville City FC raised the USL Cup. After a weekend that saw numerous head-to-head matchups between USL squads, the picture isn’t completely clear yet, but we’re certainly getting valuable information as to the way the early-season at least might shape up.

1. SHARPENED STEEL: Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC knew what it was getting when it hired Bob Lilley as its new Head Coach, with the veteran having always found a way to put his sides in contention for the USL Cup Playoffs through a combination of excellent organization and hard work that has been a hallmark of Lilley’s teams. Pittsburgh won its seventh consecutive preseason game on Sunday with those traits at the fore as it defeated what had been a high-scoring Bethlehem Steel FC side 2-0 at the Power Training Complex in Chester, Pa., and as the season nears appears to have all the elements of a side that is going to make life hard for opponents in the Eastern Conference this season.

2. FINDING FOCUS: FC Cincinnati is still undefeated this preseason after its 2-2 draw with Nashville SC on Saturday afternoon at Gettler Field, but while conceding a late equalizer from the penalty spot might have been disappointing for Head Coach Alan Koch – who saw his side rally from a first-half deficit to take the lead in the second half – the game appeared to provide exactly the type of battle Koch was looking for as his team looks to come together. “To be completely honest I’m glad we didn’t win because if we would have left the pitch today winning I think some people, some players and some fans would have left today with a full sense of confidence,” said Koch. FCC’s squad is full of recognizable names, but it seems clear Koch doesn’t want that fact to mean his squad slips into a position of complacency when the regular season arrives.

3. UPWARD PATH: Nashville SC, meanwhile, probably felt they got their just reward from Saturday’s game in Cincinnati as the progression of Head Coach Gary Smith’s squad continued apace. “Once we got to grips with the surface I thought we absolutely dominated the first half,” said Smith. “[Michael] Cox had a great chance that he smashed off the crossbar. Tucker [Hume] had some good chances as well after the goal. I thought we controlled the first 45.” Nashville’s mix of personnel seems to be coming together well, with the midfield duo of Matt LaGrassa and Michael Reed drawing praise from Smith after Saturday’s game. After the strong debuts we’ve seen recently in the USL, Nashville looks to be on course to make a serious mark when things kick off for real.