The USL Eastern Conference's race for eighth went down to the last game of the regular season. There was only one match left to play in the entire league by September 25, but Orlando City B's trip to play Bethlehem Steel was given meaning by Wilmington Hammerheads' surprising win over Richmond Kickers the day before.
Wilmington's win meant OCSC B needed to beat Bethlehem to make the playoffs. Orlando had lost five straight heading into its regular season finale, hadn't won at all since August 6, and hadn't won on the road since July 30.