USL League 2 Playoff Watcher: Top 32 (Week 4 / 5)

With USL League Two matches kicking off all week, every week, we’ve done our best to utilize the stats compiled from the league and use them in our very own THE 2HOW Top 32. Everything from points per game to games played and from goal differential to being a respective division leader, have been taken into consideration.

At the end of the road, only 32 teams from the league will enter the playoffs and we’ll be here every week to keep watch over the progress, and regress, of some of USL League Two’s top sides. So, without further ado, here are the Top 32 USL League Two sides according to Protagonist Soccer’s THE 2HOW.

32. Utah Avalanche
31. Redlands FC
30. New Mexico United U23s (Previously Unranked)
29. Albion SC Colorado (Division Leader / up two places)
28. Almaden FC (Previously unranked)
27. Tacoma Stars (Dropped 12 spots)
26. San Francisco Glens (Division Leader / Previously unranked)
25. Dothan United (Dropped 20 spots)
24. Flint City Bucks: (Dropped two spots)
23. St Croix Legends (Previously unranked)
22. Florida Elite Soccer Academy
21. Nona FC: (Division Leader / previously unranked)
20. Miami AC: (Division Leader / previously unranked)
19. Lionsbridge FC: (Up four places) The Newport News boys enjoyed a bye weekend, likely watching their divisional opponents make no headway towards their early table lead as would be contenders Christos and Virginia Beach United split points rather than gain in Lionsbridge.
18. Cleveland Force SC: (Up Twelve places) In an eight goal frenzy, Cleveland managed to score more than Buffalo, and replace them in playoff positioning out of the Valley Division in the process.
17. River Light FC: (Previously unranked) The Aurorans didn’t suffer any hangovers from the 89’ winner over Des Moines on Thursday, dispatching Chicago Dutch Lions in 2-0 workman like, yet easygoing, Sunday afternoon.
16. Peoria City: (Dropped three spots) The league scores are oddly not to date for the Heartland division, but if they were, Peoria would be clearly atop the table. “Fear the Carp” , their supporters enjoin, and fear the carp we should probably all do indeed. Since drawing Des Moines on opening day, Peoria has won 4-0, 6-0 and 6-0. Terrifying.
15. Louisiana Krewe: (Up six places) The Krewe had all they could handle from Hattiesburg this past weekend, with the Thunder riding the wave of enthusiasm in the first ever home match. But the Lafayette lads proved their mettle, needing a late winner to leave southern Mississippi with a very needed three points.
14. Little Rock Rangers: (Division Leader / up six places) The Stags played Mississippi Brilla for the second straight match, and for the second straight match they drilled the Light of the last place state 2-0. The Stags aren’t scoring in droves like they did in 2023, but their defensive work rate may be even better this year. A team that doesn’t give up a goal (yet) this season is a team in a pretty position to win a divisional crown.
13. Ventura County Fusion: (Division Leaders / up three places) One of just four sides remaining in the league that can boast clean sheets in every match played so far this season, Ventura County’s backline has fused together to be impenetrable wall for opponents to fruitlessly attack.
12. Ballard FC: (Division Leader / up two places) The former national champs are running away with the northwest division, already two points clear of Tacoma and showing no signs of slowing down. The inaugural emerald city derby with West Seattle looked to be a real cracker on paper, then the kickoff whistle sounded and the Bridges romped to a 4-0 win.
11. South Carolina United Bantams: (Up six places) The Bantams seem to be enjoying their new digs in the South Atlantic, handling the Charlotte Eagles at home in a 4-2 win over the weekend. They’re tied on the table with NCFCu23 with just the goal differential to separate them.
10. Midwest United FC: (Division Leader / up two places) MWUFC is speed running through their conference slate this season, with seven games already played. If they’re worried about spotting their opponents a lead, they aren’t showing it behind their 6-0-1 record.
09. Ocean City Nor’easters: (Division Leader) As if they never left, the Nor’Easters are back atop the Mid-Atlantic after a win over Lehigh Valley while West Chester had a bye. The 6/11 match between the two looms ever larger.
08. Seacoast United Phantoms: (Dropped five spots) The Phantoms sit behind Western Mass on the Northeast conference table with the difference between them being the Pioneers beat down of Black Rock over the weekend. Seacoast will get their crack at Black Rock Tuesday night, then the two divisional leaders will square up on Friday night.
07. Long Island Rough Riders: (Up four places) An 8-0 shellacking of Ironbound and Long Island is putting the Metropolitan, the Northeast, and the Nation on notice that the early hopes of their demise from a week one performance were very, very premature.
06. Fort Wayne FC: (Division Leader / Previously unranked) Another Valley Division match up, another narrow FWFC victory. The Indiana boys don’t win pretty, but it's the win and not the pretty that posts points on the table and maintains their sizable conference lead.
05. Corpus Christi FC: (Up two places) The Sharks played their sequel dance with Twin City on Tuesday down on the shores of the Gulf of Mexico. The Toucans showed improvement after the midweek loss to Corpus, managing a goal this second outing. Unfortunately, the Sharks also improved, bettering their three goal mark with a four score frenzy. The Lone Star division is starting to look like a race for second place behind CC.ge of.
04. Hudson Valley Hammers: (Division Leader / up two places) The hot breath of the Rough Riders’ steeds may be felt on the Hammers’ necks, but it's hardly been a distraction as Hudson Valley dismantled NJCFC, 3-0.

3. Asheville City SC:

(Division Leader / up two places) It looked like East Atlanta FC had it ‘em to make it an epic upset on Saturday, at least briefly. Then the ever inevitable Blues onslaught began and the Appalachian jewels remained unblemished.

2. Western Mass Pioneers:

(Division Leader) The Pioneers waxed Black Rock on Friday night, 5-0. That’ll keep you in top three, if the four straight clean sheets weren’t enough.

1. North Carolina FC U23:

(Division Leader) Heavy, and tenuous, is the crown on NCFCu23’s head as they maintain their #1 ranking through the weekend. While the ‘First in Flight’ side rested, both conference and national rivals made gains. Still, the second side remains in first, for another week at least.

Written by Ryan Stallings
Edited by Josh Duder