New York Red Bulls II approach the USL Eastern Conference Finals for the third-straight season against a familiar foe in Louisville City FC.
Despite allowing 59 goals in the regular season, the most of any playoff team, NYRB II has been buoyed by a strong defense recording two clean sheets against Charleston Battery and top-seeded FC Cincinnati en route to the conference finals.
Homegrown centerback Kevin Politz has been paired with Hassan Ndam during the playoffs and dating back into the end of the regular season and has found chemistry with one another.
“Chris (Armas) says it a lot with the first team is that defense wins championship,” Politz said.