QUOTE SHEET | Rayo OKC Stands Tall On The Road

Photo credit: Jon van Woerden/Fort Lauderdale Strikers

There was plenty of heartbreak during Week 17 as the postseason race has shrunk to a two-horse race. Rayo OKC is currently in pole position after Minnesota United's loss ceded control of fourth place in the Combined Standings.

Here's how coaches and players reacted to the recent results: 

New York Cosmos coach Giovanni Savarese on the team’s first-half effort

“I’m very proud of this team, especially the way we played the first half. I saw a team that was hungry, not satisfied with the fact that we already won the Fall Season and the Combined Season. The team wanted to show that every game matters.”

New York goalkeeper Brian Holt on the team’s defensive performance

“It was definitely a team effort. I thought we did a good job of defending as a whole unit, and that allowed us good opportunities going forward. It’s always good to come out and get a game.”

Rayo OKC coach Gerard Nus on finishing the job to reach the postseason

“This is not over. We have a hard-next game against Indy Eleven, in my opinion, the most in-form team in the league. We must keep focus.”

Fort Lauderdale Strikers coach Caio Zanardi on building for next year

“We fought hard through adversity [all season] and had a great run in the U.S. Open Cup including a win in Orlando. We will work to build on the momentum from this season as we prepare for next year. We still have a game in Ottawa next week in which we will compete hard.”

Carolina RailHawks coach Colin Clarke on missing the postseason despite a win over the weekend

"[It’s] bittersweet. It was our best performance of the year in a lot of ways against a very good team. We had our best crowd of the year, it was just a great night. I thought the boys were superb from the first whistle and their overall performance was very good."

FC Edmonton coach Colin Miller on pulling out a win

“I thought it was a terrific team performance. I’m very proud we finished the league [schedule] at home in a very positive manner. The crowd was right behind us until the death and [Daryl] Fordyce once again stepped up when we needed him.”

Indy Eleven coach Tim Hankinson on the crowd’s impact on the win

“We were very impressed with the team’s effort tonight. To be able to play in front of that crowd with that energy was the best boost we could have asked for. I thought that we had a tough opening 20 minutes, but the goal helped to open the game up and when they went down to 10 men, we knew we had to push.”

Indy forward Eamon Zayed on finishing the year unbeaten at Carroll Stadium

“The only element we need is that crowd. Playing in front of the Brickyard Battalion, and to go undefeated here the whole year – a lot of people were laughing at me when I said we could do it. But as a group we knew it was possible and we’re thrilled to have executed.”

Ottawa Fury FC coach Paul Dalglish on the team’s spirit in the draw

“I was pleased to see the desire the guys showed to still compete even though it was a tough situation with us being out of the postseason. I’ve got to be happy with the effort level of the players tonight, they fought hard, but unfortunately we didn’t show enough quality in the final third once again.”

Tampa Bay Rowdies coach Stuart Campbell on not finding the needed result

"It was an eventful night and it'll take a while to digest. We were hoping that we were going to sneak a goal and we nearly did late, but there's just a lot of frustration for our season to end in the manner that it did. I give a ton of credit to the guys in the locker room and the crowd that pushed them on, but in the end, we just didn't score enough goals."