USL League 2: Top 10

With just five matches played in week one, I’ve held off on an initial 2023 power rankings until after week two played out. There’s still several clubs yet to kick the ball in the season, so weeks three and four will provide far clearer pictures of the league strongest sides for the year. Until then, here’s the best ten (eleven) teams to have seen league action.

10a & 10b. Christos FC & Philly Lone Star (1-0-0)

Both these clubs have folded their NPSL operations, so 2023 may be the season we’ll witness their full adult mens side resources thrown into one league campaign. So far so good in week one, as each side pulled three points and a +3 goal differential in their respective conference competitions.

9. Little Rock Rangers SC (1-0-0)

For a lower league club nearing 100 matches in their history, you’d think the Stags would have notched a season opener before 2023. And, you’d be wrong. A new year and new staff may be just what Little Rock needed this season, as the Rangers lured Blue Goose FC into the “waterfowl hunting capital of the world”, and hung seven goals on the Shreveport side.

8. San Francisco Glens (2-0-0)

While the new hotness now in Salinas garnered the attention of a two game win streak out the gate, the Glens of San Fran calmly showed another league newcomer, Academica SC, the rounds, and beatdowns, of the Nor Cal conference, twice. After the twinned losses, Academic will be seeing what other standards, beside selective home ground parameters, they need to improve on from their NPSL days, while the Glens stay hot on Monterey’s heels.

7. Fort Wayne FC (1-0-0)

A “can’t miss” pick by yours truly, I stated the winner of this game would command the inside track to the conference title. In a tight match with little scoring opportunity between them, former Michigan Star and NISA Champion Alexandre proved the difference in exhilarating fashion, climbing his bike for the deadlock breaking goal that pedaled FWFC to an early Valley conference lead.

6. AFC Ann Arbor (1-0-0)

The Mighty Oaks clearly read my can’t-miss matches piece focused on Kalamazoo FC and Flint City Bucks, and took it very personally. Last year’s third place finisher in the conference have announced Kalamazoo’s magic has run out in League 2, snuffing out the defending conference champion’s light emphatically, 5-0. I apologize in advance to Flint City if I’ve become an unwitting curse.

5. FC Carolinas (1-0-0)

The new kids aren’t expected to feature here in year one, and certainly not a single match into their maiden voyage, but FC Carolinas begged to differ. A set piece stunner proved all the rookie club needed to make their way onto the first top 10 list of the season, as the club knocked off (now) state rival NC Fusion, handing “big brother” their first regular season loss in almost two years in the process.

4. NONA FC (1-1-0)

It’s becoming apparent that NONA FC, recent UPSL power and Open Cup interloper, might be in league postseason conversations for a long long time to come. The foundling dynasty playing on the shores of East Lake Tohopekaliga (there’s some native Creek linguistics for you) fought newcomer Swan City (Lakeland) SC to a nil-nil draw in an encore effort of their 4-0 demolition of Brevard FC.

3. Monterey Bay FC2 (2-0-0)

If MBFC2 keeps posting impressive wins, at this rate, the club may very well move away from the friendly confines of the bay to the new home fortress of Salinas.The lads of Rabobank Stadium shredded their northside visitors from Marin,5-2 and raced out to a quick six points and a lead over the competition for the North Cal conference title.

2. Louisiana Krewe (2-0-0)

There’s something cookin’ beside boudin down in Lafayette this summer, as LA Krewe are making an early statement to yet-to-compete Mississippi Brilla and Texas United that the black and gold of Lafayette are intent on coming for the Mid South Conference crown. A week after posting 11(!) goals against Shreveport, the Krewe managed ONLY 4 scores against their bayou rival from Baton Rouge in notching a second straight win.

1. Des Moines Menace (2-0-0)

Hard to argue with the Menace at the head of the pack. Des Moines followed up an opening week rude welcome of St Charles FC to the league with an easy victory over a young FC Wichita side.

by Ryan Stallings