One Knoxville SC clinches first playoff berth since joining professional ranks

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (WATE) — One Knoxville SC has punched their ticket to the USL League One playoffs for the first time since joining the professional ranks last year.

Knoxville traveled down I-75 on Saturday to take on a Chattanooga Red Wolves SC team fighting to keep their postseason hopes alive. The hosts took the lead just before halftime on a goal by former Nashville SC striker Ropapa Mensah but Knoxville snatched a point thanks to an equalizer by defender Dani Fernandez in the final minutes of the match.

The result officially booked Knoxville’s playoff place with three matches remaining in the regular season. A top-four finish in the standings would mean One Knox would host at least one playoff game. They currently sit sixth in league table with 30 points, just two points out of third place.

It’s Knoxville’s first playoff appearance since joining USL League One, a Division III professional league , in 2023. They began play in 2022 in USL League Two, an amateur league comprised mostly of college players in their offseason, where they won the South Central Division and advanced to league quarterfinals.

One Knox has now recorded three wins, four draws, and one loss in eight matches since Ilija Ilić was named the interim head coach following the departure of Mark McKeever.

While their 11-match unbeaten run came to an end on Sept. 21 at the hands of first-place Union Omaha, Knoxville has now lost just once in 14 matches since June 29 and their league-leading defense hasn’t given up two goals in a game since June 22.

Knoxville will host last-place Central Valley Fuego FC on Tuesday, Oct. 15 in their final regular season home match before hitting the road for the final two weekends of October. The playoffs will begin on the weekend of Nov. 2.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WATE 6 On Your Side.