KWSN NISA Power Rankings Week 7
10 Los Angeles Force (-1)
How the mighty have fallen! LA offensive woes continue as they struggle to score. Yes, Bay Cities is a club on the rise, but Force should not be having this much trouble finding the net. The match was a close one, but Bay Cities was the visiting team that solved the deadlock and got the winner. It’s hard to not feel that LA isn’t helped by the lack of homefield stability. This match was played Chino, CA. Just another venue on a long list of places the club has played.
9 Flower City Union (-2)
FCU had a rough week and paid the price by dropping two spots on this list. The midweek loss to California United Strikers was expected, given the dominance of west coast club, the weekend’s follow-up 3-1 loss against fellow expansion side, Syracuse Pulse, was more of an even matchup. So as a reward, FCU gets to host Maryland Bobcats this weekend, a club that crushed them 6-1 in their first meeting.
8 AC Syracuse Pulse (+2)
Well well well, apparently if you pay your players and show up to matches, you can be competitive. After their loss to Strikers a week ago, Pulse bounced back to beat Flower City Union 3-1. Syracuse has shown flashes of solid play and isn’t an easy out (unless they forfeit). Let’s hope the club continues to preform at this level. This weekend we’ll see the matchup that was cancelled, as Pulse go on the road to face the Stars.
7 Albion San Diego (+1)
The Knights are fickle and Albion move up a spot even though the club wasn’t in action this week. This Sunday, San Diego will host struggling LA Force - great chance to grab 3 points!
6 Michigan Stars (SAME)
Stars last match was a hard-fought draw against Maryland Bobcats, but the Michigan club was off last weekend, so they remain in 6th spot on the Power Rankings. This weekend we’ll see them host AC Syracuse Pulse in a rematch of the match that didn’t happen (a 3-0 forfeit win for Stars).
5 Bay Cities FC (-1)
In a rude twist of fate, Bay Cities wins and drops a spot. These Knights guys are jerks! BCFC has been on a great run of form lately and their 1-0 win over LA Force is just further proof that the West is not what anyone expected it to be this season. The Orentrain continues to roll on, full steam ahead (we’re taking full credit for that nickname, you’re welcome Bay Cities!)
4 Maryland Bobcats (-1)
Maryland suffered a home loss to visiting Chattanooga FC and drops one slot. Honestly, Bobcats did look a little stale in this matchup between the two preseason favorites and suffered the consequences. Shout out to that banger of a FK goal from Brandon Clegg. Dude has been a menace all season. Maryland faces FCU this week and should bounce back (at least, we think so).
3 Chattanooga FC (+2)
It was a must-win match and Chattanooga got the three points. Mission accomplished, but this team needs to continue to prove it can score goals. You can’t count on Olympicos all season (not saying they are, but the point remains)! This is a fun team to watch, full of vibrant personalities and led by KWSN’s favorite coach in the league, so the big win on the road in Maryland was nice to see. This weekend, CFC is off. Enjoy the rest, boys.
2 Valley United FC (SAME)
The last time Valley United played, they drew against LA Force. Last weekend’s match against Cal United was cancelled due to Strikers playing in USOC this week. Now it’s another week until Valley plays, when they host Albion San Diego on the 21st. Hard to know how this much rest is going to affect this club. Three weeks off is a long time. We shall see (but not this week).
1 California United Strikers FC (SAME)
Strikers went into FCU and got the 2-1 win it had to get. Not pretty, but effective. The weekend matchup with Valley United was scratched, due to the USOC match against LA Galaxy. CUSC is one of three undefeated teams in NISA (Strikers, Valley, and Stars) and seems to have found its form in a real way. One the 14th, we get a super fun matchup when Cal travels to upstart Bay Cities. Hard not circle that one on the calendar!