USL League 2: Power 20 - Week 7

USL League 2: Power 20 - Week 7

We’ve reached an official twenty-deep in the power rankings in week seven. Some faithfully top level clubs have finally made their way into the designation list, while some new teams with flashy starts to the season have begun to fade out. Here’s where we are ahead of the week eight weekend:

20. Manhattan SC (4-2-1)

The jekyll and hyde show was in full swing for Manhattan SC, as the club followed up a grueling 1-1 stalemate with Long Island with a stunningly poor turn at FC Motown.The New Jersey hosts ran the Manhattanites back across the Hudson on the heels of a 6-1 blowout loss over the weekend. Still, with just the one, albeit notable, blemish on their record, MFC can still play the role of a dark horse too rough to ride in the Metropolitan Division still very much up for grabs.

19. The Villages SC (3-2-0)

The Bison FINALLY make their move to the top of the division after sitting in the middle of the Southeast Division rankings before this past weekend. A 2-0 victory on the road in Tampa finally seated them in lead position and, with five of their final seven matches at home, the herd from the polo grounds may force the division title to a thundering return to the Villages.

18. Park City Red Wolves (4-2-0)

The two-time defending Mountain Division champs eased into the 2023 competition, sloggin through a pair of early, low scoring, draws at the start. Since then, it’s been all wins for the Red Wolves, including a 1-0 besting of their Beehive State derby rival Salt City SC this past weekend. A new challenger may be rising out of New Mexico, but at the moment Park City clearly controls their own destiny ahead of postseason seeding.

17. FC Manitoba (4-2-0)

It’s a weekly round of chutes and ladders in the Deep North division, and this week the Deepest North club finds itself atop the standings after the Manitobans picked up four points on a lovely excursion through southeast Wisconsin. The crown could lay heavy on FC Manitoba’s head though, with four of their next six matches coming on the road.

16. San Francisco Glens (5-1-1)

While Monterey Bay FC2 and Project 510 receive more attention, the Glens have gone about dismantling opponents in recent weeks, including a 4-1 win over Project 510 two weeks ago and a 3-1 victory over Davis this past weekend. With just their one loss to MBFC2 marked against them, the Glens will have this Sunday’s rematch circled as the opportunity to seize the division lead.

15. Little Rock Rangers SC (5-1-1) 4-0 at Brilla

The Stags ended any worries of Clinton Mississippi becoming their “League 2 Tulsa’, breaking their away day curse at Brilla’s home turf with an emphatic 4-0 victory. With the first leg of the Old River Rivalry behind them, the second leg before them, and remaining matches on the schedule being against the Louisiana sides, Little Rock may need every point they can to hold the wild card spot over Corpus Christi.

14. Ventura County Fusion (5-0-1)

VCF had the weekend off, preparing for the two-stop Arizona weekend that has caused other California foes to stumble. Results in the Grand Canyon State could give the defending national champions the breathing room needed to claim the Southwest division title early with several weeks remaining.

13. Hudson Valley Hammers (5-0-1)

That early setback to Long Island long left behind in the Hammers’ rear view as the Hudson Valley side has responded with three straight shutout victories ahead of their bye week this past weekend. With the Rough Riders’ shocking loss on Monday, the Hammers will look to capitalize on their rest to chase and now ever-so-slightly open Metropolitan title race.

12. Des Moines Menace (5-0-1)

If the Menace are used to being the divisional leaders, the Des Moines side seems every bit as comfortable in the role of the divisional lead-hunters, giving close chase to Chicago City since their close loss there a few weeks back. The latest victim of the Menace hunt is Chicago Dutch Lions, who could offer no answer to the hosts onslaught, 6-0 victory.

11. Lionsbridge FC (5-0-1)

That fall in Maryland a week ago almost seems like a distant memory already for Lionsbridge, with the Christos side that overcame them suffering two stunning losses in the Tidewater over the weekend. Still well clear of their divisional rivals in the Chesapeake division, the Newport News side returns to action this week after a restful weekend.

10. Western Mass Pioneers (5-3-0)  1-0 at Vermont

With the shine on Vermont Green and the attention on Seacoast United, the Western Mass Pioneers sent a reminder to the Northeast division that they are a long-time power to be respected. The Pioneers cleared their path to Burlington over the weekend, bringing down the Green 1-0 before a raucous home crowd. The divisional lead there has been a near-weekly rotating seat, and the Pioneers will have to hold off both  stalking Green and menacing Phantom sides to hold onto it.

9. Fort Wayne FC (5-2-0) 4-0 vs Buffalo

Fully reaping the rewards of a departed (to the Great Lakes) South Bend and a diminished Kings Hammer team, Fort Wayne FC seems to have a hold on the Valley division lead with an iron grip. Their 4-0 victory at home vs newcomers FC Buffalo has cemented their lead far ahead of their divisional rivals.

8. Asheville City SC (5-1-0)

The most notable of matchups in the middle of the South Central season played out in Asheville between ACSC and South Carolina United. The visiting Bantams never found their spurs in this one, with the host Blues securing a lopsided 3-0 victory. While a rematch still looms ahead, it’s Asheville in the leaders’ spot of the division now.

7. Ocean City Nor’Easters (5-2-0)

While avoiding a loss and securing points on the road are always positives, the Nor’Easters will feel they missed a major chance to extend their lead against the Mid Atlantic Rivals in a nil-nil draw against hosts Real Central NJ this past weekend. Still, Ocean City very much controls both the divisional lead and their own postseason destiny heading into Week 8 competitions.

6. Long Island Rough Riders (7-1-1)

The Rough Riders may have happened across their kryptonite in playing Monday afternoon matches, suffering their first setback of the season in an upset loss to the visiting Cedar Stars.They’ll now have to fend off emboldened Hudson Valley and Manhattan sides that will see the division crown as much more in-reach then they did Monday morning.

5. Texas United (6-1-0)

With their matches vs a curiously middling MS Brilla side and a challenging Little Rock Rangers team out of the way, the coast seems clear for Texas United to win out the remainder of the Mid South division schedule ahead of them. Before starting their four-game home stand later this week, the Plano, Texas team paid a visit to Baton Rouge and embarrassed host Louisiana Parish, 6-0, in a match that wasn’t nearly as close as the FT score.

4. Flint City Bucks (5-1-0)

In the toughest match they’ve had to date, the Bucks of Flint City hung on late in their away match to hosts AFC Ann Arbor, surviving with a 2-2 draw and maintaining their six-point lead over the Arborists in the Great Lakes Division.

3. Chicago City SC (6-0-0)

If the long shadow of a Menacing pursuit weighs on Chicago City SC, they certainly don’t show it, as the Heartland leaders glided through the Chicago Dutch Lion and Springfield Athletic challenges over the weekend. CCSC posted shutouts in both visiting matches, scoring seven goals in the process.

2. Ballard FC (7-0-0)

Ballard made a weekend jaunt through Oregon this past weekend following their victory of Northwest Division second place side Oly Town. Lane United and PDX FC both provided stiffer opposition than expected, but the Bridge Boys (?), and their perfect regular season so far, survived with 4-2 and 3-2 victories.

1. Monterey Bay FC2 (6-1-0)

MBFC2 had a lengthy mid season hiatus, but there was no sign of rust on their squad once they returned to the pitch this past weekend. The Salinas, CA side emerged victorious in the much ballyhooed (by me at least) match versus Project 510, 1-0, with a quick trip and 6-0 victory over Davis Legacy included on the side.

Just Outside:
21. SC United (4-1-1) 4-0 vs North Alabama
22. Northern Virginia FC (4-1-1)
23. Seacoast United Phantoms (4-1-1) 3-1 vs Black Rock
24. Charlotte Eagles (5-3-1) 
25. Virginia Beach United (4-2-1)

On the Margins:
26. Florida Elite SA (4-3-1)
27. Corpus Christi FC (3-1-1) 2-2 vs AHFC
28. Thunder Bay Chill (3-1-1)
29. Twin City Toucans (3-1-1)
30. Sarasota Paradise (4-0-2)
31. NONA FC (3-2-1) 0-0 vs TBU
32. Redlands FC (3-2-1)
33. West Chester United (3-2-1) 1-1 vs Reading
34. FC Miami City (2-2-1)

Dropped:

  • RKC Third Coast (4-0-2) 1-3 Thunder, 1-3 Manitoba

  • NC Fusion (5-2-2) 1-2 vs WVU

  • Christos FC (3-2-2) 0-4 to VBU, 2-3 to NoVa

  • AFC Ann Arbor (3-1-2) 2-2 vs FCB

  • Philly Lone Star (3-1-2)

  • Capital FC Atletico (3-1-2)

  • Tennessee Sc (3-1-2)

  • Toledo Villa (3-1-2)

  • Oly Town (3-1-2)

  • Saint Croix Legends (4-0-3)

  • Southern Soccer Academy (3-0-4)

by Ryan Stallings