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USL Power Rankings – Week 6

By NICHOLAS MURRAY - nicholas.murray@uslsoccer.com, 05/02/16, 5:24PM EDT

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Los Dos regain top spot, while the Independence continue to rise


Photo courtesy Robert Mora / LA Galaxy II

Two teams remain undefeated after six weeks of the 2016 USL regular season, and one of them – the LA Galaxy II – reclaimed its place at the top of the Power Rankings following an impressive road win that also pushed them back to the top of the Western Conference.

Both Los Dos and fellow undefeated Vancouver Whitecaps FC 2 are in action on Wednesday night, with LA’s game against Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC definitely a must-see. Another Top 10 matchup arrives on Friday as Rochester hosts Charleston for the USL Game of the Week on ESPN3, while the Switchbacks will also visit Orange County on Sunday to complete their California swing against another team in good form of late.

Here’s the new Top 10.

1. LA Galaxy II (Previous: 4)
Last Week: W 2-0 at Rio Grande Valley FC
Los Dos return to the top of the power rankings this week after an impressive display to spoil Rio Grande Valley FC’s inaugural home opener. One of only two remaining undefeated teams in the league, the Galaxy II defeated a side coming off seven points in its past three games on the road, and held Jose Escalante and company to three shots on goal, as goalkeeper Clement Diop commanded his penalty area well. A big week lies ahead, with home games against Colorado Springs and Sacramento.

2. Charlotte Independence (Previous: 6)
Last Week: W 2-0 at New York Red Bulls II
If beating the Charleston Battery and Richmond Kickers in back-to-back outings is impressive, going on the road to defeat what was the lone remaining undefeated side in the Eastern Conference simply adds to that. The Independence and Enzo Martinez not only have three consecutive wins for the first time in their history, but have done it against three legitimate playoff contenders. A home game against FC Montreal comes next, with Coach Mike Jeffries sure to caution against overconfidence as the visitors arrive without a point to Ramblewood Stadium.

3. Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC (Previous: 3)
Last Week: Postponed vs. Real Monarchs SLC
The weather got the better of the Switchbacks on Saturday, as snow caused the postponement of their first meeting with Real Monarchs SLC to June 29. However, that may have given the side more time to prepare for a big pair of games this week, as they visit the Galaxy II and Orange County Blues FC.

4. Vancouver Whitecaps FC 2 (Previous: 5)
Last Week: W 2-1 at Swope Park Rangers; Postponed at Saint Louis FC
WFC2 also got hit by the weather on Saturday, as its game with Saint Louis was postponed due to rain and lightning, but not before the side had already taken a very impressive victory against the Swope Park Rangers in its trip to the Midwest. Alan Koch’s team is still undefeated, and has shown solid resiliency ahead of Wednesday’s game with Tulsa.

5. Louisville City FC (Previous: 2)
Last Week: D 2-2 vs. Pittsburgh Riverhounds; D 0-0 at Bethlehem Steel FC
Louisville extended its undefeated streak to five games, but only gained two points in the standings as it twice had to come from behind at home to Pittsburgh, and then was unable to find a decisive finish against Bethlehem. City still sits at the top of the Eastern Conference, but will likely feel it could have created greater separation from the pack as it rounds out its recent string of games against a good Toronto side on Wednesday.

6. New York Red Bulls II (Previous: No. 1)
Last Week: L 2-0 vs. Charlotte Independence
After going six games undefeated to start the season, Sunday’s game with the Independence saw the Red Bulls II see a team come into Red Bull Arena and dictate the game on its terms, rather than New York’s. Yes, the Red Bulls II finished with seven shots on goal as Cody Mizell recorded a shutout, and the attacking spark certainly seemed to be there at times, but the side didn’t appear to react well enough to the Independence’s pressure, and Gideon Baah’s rustiness was in evidence as he came back fron injury, particularly on Charlotte’s second goal. A trip to Pittsburgh for a playoff rematch comes next, so it will be interesting to see how the side bounces back.

7. Orange County Blues FC (Previous: 8)
Last Week: W 1-0 at Sacramento Republic FC
Orange County has made a strong move up the standings since dropping its first two games of the season, and with its victory against Republic FC moved into the top three in the Western Conference standings. The holdover pieces retained by Coach Oliver Wyss this offseason now appear to be meshing well with the club’s newcomers as the club picked up its third consecutive victory. Sunday’s game with Colorado Springs should be a good measure for how far both teams have come so far this season.

8. Rochester Rhinos (Previous: NR)
Last Week: W 2-1 vs. Harrisburg City Islanders
One of the teams that will likely have appreciated both Louisville and New York dropping points in the past week is the Rhinos, who took their second consecutive victory on Saturday, and didn’t need Christian Volesky to score to do so. The second-year forward played his part, to be sure, as he provided the assist on Kenardo Forbes’ opening goal, and the Rhinos now enter Friday night’s USL Game of the Week on ESPN3 against fellow former USL champion the Charleston Battery within striking distance of the conference leaders, and with the chance to continue to gain ground quickly.

9. Charleston Battery (Previous: 7)
Last Week: D 1-1 vs. Pittsburgh Riverhounds
The Battery drop slightly this week after a draw with Pittsburgh, but if they’re able to continue to piece together the sort of attacking play that was on display on Saturday, a move back up the standings could be on the cards soon. Maikel Chang drew a lot of praise for his performance, and if the Cuban playmaker is on song, it could see Romario Williams and the rest of the Battery’s attacking corps will get plenty of opportunities. A big test awaits on Friday night, though, with a trip to Rochester for the USL Game of the Week on ESPN3.

10. Richmond Kickers (Previous: NR)
Last Week: W 1-0 vs. Toronto FC II
After back-to-back losses for the first time since 2012, the Kickers rebounded well against a solid Toronto FC II side as Brian Ownby scored the only goal of the game, as the chemistry between he and Sunny Jane seemed to be coming together very well. The Kickers will want to be more decisive in front of goal, after finishing with only four shots on target out of 11 total, but they can go into their rematch with Wilmington this Saturday with a lot more confidence after a third win of the season.

Best of the Rest – FC Cincinnati, Bethlehem Steel FC, Saint Louis FC, Portland Timbers 2, Wilmington Hammerheads FC