Playoffs begin on Thursday

• by Paul Kennedy  @pkedit, Sep 22, 2009

[USL-1] The two-leg series in the USL First Division quarterfinals will take place Thursday and Sunday. The two Canadian entrants, defending champion Vancouver and Montreal, will be at home in the first leg, while Puerto Rico will travel to Rochester in the third game, two days after the Islanders host Saprissa of Costa Rica in the Concacaf Champions League.

The regular-season champion Portland Timbers have a first-round bye and will face the lowest remaining playoff seed in the semifinals. FSC will air the second leg on Oct. 4 at 7:00 pm ET.

The playoffs will conclude with the championship series Oct. 11 and Oct. 17. Both games will air on Fox Soccer Channel.

Quarterfinal Schedule:
#2 Carolina RailHawks vs #7 Vancouver Whitecaps
Sept. 24 at Vancouver - 10:30 pm ET :: Sept. 27 at Carolina - 5:00 pm ET

#3 Puerto Rico Islanders vs #6 Rochester Rhinos
Sept. 24 at Rochester - 7:05 pm ET :: Sept. 27 at Puerto Rico - 6:00 pm ET

#4 Charleston Battery vs #5 Montreal Impact
Sept. 24 at Montreal - 7:45 pm ET :: Sept. 27 at Charleston - 7:00 pm ET (TV: Fox Soccer Channel, live)