6/28/2010: Hunt For Playoffs (Part 1)- Winning Out May Be Only Strategy For Dutch Lions In Last Five Games

Dutch Lions George Davis IV kicked the Dutch Lions into contention for a Great Lakes Division title with his 89th minute game winner over the Chicago Fire on Saturday. But, where exactly do the Dutch Lions stand down the stretch?

6/28/2010: Hunt For Playoffs (Part 1)- Winning Out May Be Only Strategy For Dutch Lions In Last Five Games
By Ryan Kozlowski



Too many ties.. Have the Dutch Lions under pressure to win out. As the Indiana Invaders, Forest City London, and the Michigan Bucks are all only a point to four points behind the Dutch Lions, while each team have 7 or 8 games left on the table compared to the Dutch Lions 5 games. Luckily, for the Lions they'll have a chance to take points off of the Michigan Bucks and Forest City London in their next two games; As the Dutch Lions play both of those two clubs consecutively on this Saturday and the Friday after. Those two games will be pivotal, in similiarity to the Fire game this previous Saturday, as the games have been do or die every week for the Dutch Lions since then.

The Dutch Lions need wins to keep Forest City London especially at bay. Forest City have 3 more games (9 more points) on the table compared to the Dutch Lions; while Forest City are currently only three points behind the Dutch Lions. If Forest City London were to win out they would have 41 points. In comparison, if the Dutch Lions were to win out the Lions would only have 35 points. However, the Dutch Lions have one head-to-head with Forest City, where if the Dutch Lions were to win, F.C. London could only gain 38 points on the season. Still not enough to pass Forest City London in the final standings without some help.

The Chicago Fire are currently two points ahead of the Dutch Lions and have played the same ammount of games. Therefore, if Chicago were to win out they could gain a total of 37 points. But, the Dutch Lions have a head-to-head matchup left against the Chicago Fire to end the season and the Lions will feel confident going into Toyota Park with a 2-1 victory already under their belts against the Fire. If the Dutch Lions would beat the Chicago Fire in the season finale, the Dutch Lions would have 35 points on the season compared to the Fire's 34 points. The Dutch Lions control their own destiny against the Fire.

The Michigan Bucks are currently one point behind the Dutch Lions with two games in hand. If the Michigan Bucks were to win out they would have 40 points on the season. However, the Dutch Lions once again have a head-to-head against the Michigan Bucks at home and will feel confident with already one, 1-nil win on the road against the Bucks. If the Dutch Lions win the head-to-head, the Bucks could then only gain 37 points on the season. But, this would still best the Dutch Lions 35 points. The Dutch Lions will need some extra help to overcome the Michigan Bucks.

The Indiana Invaders are currently four points behind the Dutch Lions with two games in hand. The Invaders, if they win out, could finish the season with 37 points and the Dutch Lions have no more games to contest against the Invaders this season. But, with one loss in the Invaders last seven games the Dutch Lions would best the Indiana Invaders with 35 points compared to the Invaders 34 points.

Possible Points For Contenders
Forest City London- 41 pts
Michigan Bucks- 40 pts
Indiana Invaders- 37 pts
Chicago Fire- 37 pts
Dayton Dutch Lions- 35 pts

Possible Points For Contenders If They Win Out Except For Dutch Lions Remaining Head-To-Heads
Forest City London- 38 pts
Michigan Bucks- 37 pts
Indiana Invaders- 37 pts
Dayton Dutch Lions- 35 pts
Chicago Fire- 34 pts

Possible Points For Contenders If They Lose Head-To-Head Against Dutch Lions, Lose One More, and Dutch Lions Win Out
Dayton Dutch Lions- 35 pts
Forest City London-35 pts
Michigan Bucks- 34 pts
Indiana Invaders- 34 pts
Chicago Fire- 31 pts

Tomorrow in Part 2 will take a look at each of these team's remaining schedule and figure out, dependent on who each team plays, who has the best chance to win the division and which couple of teams have a shot at making the playoffs.