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USL Power Rankings – Week 11

By NICHOLAS MURRAY - nicholas.murray@uslsoccer.com, 06/06/16, 4:21PM EDT

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Louisville hangs on to top spot, as the Switchbacks snap at their heels


Photo courtesy Mark Thor / Orlando City B

After not conceding a goal in the league in the month of May, there was a certain inevitability that with the turn of the calendar, Louisville City FC would be due for a bump in the road.

In Sunday night’s 4-3 victory against Orlando City B, however, the side managed being down a man and down ago with impressive aplomb, and as a result remains on top of the USL Power Rankings for a second consecutive week.

Hot on City’s heels, though, are three teams with impressive runs going of their own. There’s Colorado Springs, which moved top of the West with its fourth win in the last five games, and the New York Red Bulls II, who can apparently do no wrong away from Red Bulls Arena. And, while it might have to make up ground in the standings with its games in hand, OKC Energy FC and its eight-game undefeated streak has the club flying high for now.    

Here’s the new Top 10.

1. Louisville City FC (Previous: 1)
Last Week: W 4-3 at Orlando City B
Louisville retains the top spot for a second consecutive week after a gutsy performance that saw it rally from a goal down while down a man to win on the road for a second consecutive week. City will have been pleased to see Chandler Hoffman get back on the scoresheet for his eighth goal of the season, but Andy Lubahn’s play after coming on as a second-half substitute re-energized the team and provided the impetus for a victory at a venue where both Rochester and Charlotte had previously fallen.

2. Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC (Previous: 3)
Last Week: W 2-0 vs. Saint Louis FC
After an unfortunate draw the previous weekend, the Switchbacks looked determined not to allow it to happen again as they first took a quick two-goal lead against a good Saint Louis side, and then throttled the visitors’ attack to the tune of only one shot on goal allowed the rest of the way. Now atop the Western Conference, Colorado Springs is looking like an awfully intimidating place for visitors should the Switchbacks maintain their current form.

3. New York Red Bulls II (Previous: 4)
Last Week: W 1-0 at Bethlehem Steel FC
Three consecutive 1-0 wins might not exactly be exhilarating, but they definitely get the job done when it comes to the Eastern Conference standings. New York’s defense was tested again, particularly in the second half against the Steel, but a 5-0-0 record on the road, and only one goal conceded in the second half this season says the Red Bulls II are going to be tough to beat wherever they play.

4. OKC Energy FC (Previous: 8)
Last Week: W 2-0 vs. Tulsa Roughnecks FC
Eight games undefeated, and now with three wins on the spin, Energy FC appears to have found a solid groove as it moves its way up the Western Conference standings. While it’s a fool’s errand to project games in hand, and Saturday’s game with Rio Grande Valley FC will be no picnic, Energy FC could be sitting in a top-two position sooner rather than later if this continues.

5. Vancouver Whitecaps FC 2 (Previous: 1)
Last Week: L 1-0 vs. Real Monarchs SLC
The final undefeated team slipped from those ranks on Saturday night, as a last-gasp winner by Amass Amankona gave the Monarchs a victory at Thunderbird Stadium. The result might have been a bit harsh on Coach Alan Koch’s side, which definitely produced the better chances before the decisive finish in stoppage time, but there will likely be a valuable lesson the team can take from this as it looks to start another winning streak on Thursday against Seattle.

6. FC Cincinnati (Previous: 5)
Last Week: D 1-1 vs. Richmond Kickers
Cincinnati was on course for another solid win in front of another impressive crowd at Nippert Stadium on Saturday night until Hugh Roberts’ excellent finish spoiled the ending for the fans in a 1-1 draw with the Kickers. Still, the side remains comfortably in third position in the Eastern Conference, and has winnable home games against Montreal and Toronto up next before what should be a massive showdown with Louisville on June 25.

7. LA Galaxy II (Previous: 6)
Last Week: D 2-2 at Sacramento Republic FC
The Galaxy II almost made it three wins in a row at Bonney Field on Saturday night, thanks in part to some sharp play – and thinking – from Jose Villarreal. While they had to settle for a draw in the end, the result keeps the side solidly on course for a top-four position at the end of the season, as the side went very much toe-to-toe with its biggest rival in another classic contest.

8. Rio Grande Valley FC (Previous: 9)
Last Week: W 1-0 vs. San Antonio FC
Kevin Garcia’s late first-half goal on Saturday night ensured the Toros will win the head-to-head series in the South Texas Derby in its inaugural season, and moved RGVFC’s undefeated streak to six games. This week could be a tough one, with a visit to the Swope Park Rangers being followed by a visit from OKC Energy FC, and could tell us a lot about whether this side has the staying power to remain in the top four for the foreseeable future.

9. Sacramento Republic FC (Previous: 8)
Last Week: D 2-2 vs. LA Galaxy II
Another game, another late equalizer required as Sacramento had to rally back in a game it had control over after taking an early second-half lead. Coach Paul Buckle was understandably disappointed with the manner in which his side let the lead slip, and will certainly be in Derek Foran’s ear about the basic principles of not holding the ball too long when you’re the last man. Two games against Real Monarchs SLC will likely put his side to the test this week, as well.

10. Real Monarchs SLC (Previously: NR)
Last Week: W 1-0 at Vancouver Whitecaps FC 2
Four points from two games on the road against the last undefeated team in the league is nothing to sneeze at, and while the victory on Saturday night might have been somewhat fortuitous, it did put the Monarchs right back into the playoff picture in the Western Conference. After last season’s games with Sacramento, there’s bound to be some added energy at both Bonney Field and Greater Nevada Field in the “home-and-home” series between the two sides that kicks off on Wednesday night with the USL Game of the Week on ESPN3.

Best of the Rest: Charleston Battery, Rochester Rhinos, Portland Timbers 2, Orlando City B, Charlotte Independence, Saint Louis FC

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