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USL Power Rankings – Week 1

By NICHOLAS MURRAY - nicholas.murray@uslsoccer.com, 03/27/17, 5:31PM EDT

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Which club’s performance took top spot after Week 1?

We’re back, baby.

The USLSoccer.com Power Rankings are here for another season, ready to inspire bragging rights as teams vie for the top of the tree that means nothing, and somehow everything, on a weekly basis.

When we left you at the end of last season, the New York Red Bulls II were sitting top of the tree, and their battle with closing No. 2 from last season Louisville City FC bore out their standing after the regular season.

This year, though, we’re starting fresh. No preconceptions, no bonus points for what you did last October, the USLSoccer.com voting panel comprised of league communications and technical staff is looking at the here and now. The individuals in the five-person panel tabulated 10 points for first-place team votes, nine points to the second-place team and so forth to one point for 10th place. The accrued points among the group determines the final ranking.

Here’s your first Top 10 of the season.

1. Swope Park Rangers (50pts)
Last Week: W 3-1 vs. OKC Energy FC
The Swope Park Rangers made the biggest impression of anyone on the opening weekend as they began the defense of their Western Conference crowd with victory against OKC Energy FC. The passing, the movement, the finishing we remembered from their run to the USL Cup Final a year ago was all back as Head Coach Nikola Popovic took the reins, and earned the first top spot of the season.

2. Tampa Bay Rowdies (42pts)
Last Week: W 1-0 vs. Orlando City B
The Rowdies looked on paper to be one of the favorites in the Eastern Conference, and a 1-0 win against Orlando City B gave the side a strong start to its first campaign in the USL. As usual, Georgi Hristov provided the goal, and sent an Al Lang Stadium record crowd of 7,710 fans home happy. With two more home games coming next, Tampa Bay could be in a strong position by the time it heads to face FC Cincinnati in Week 4.

3. Sacramento Republic FC (38pts)
Last Week: W 2-1 at Seattle Sounders FC 2
Sacramento left it late to earn victory against Seattle, but the sheer volume of pressure Republic FC put on the S2 defense – accumulating 29 total shots – made its winning goal seven minutes from fulltime by Emrah Klimenta feel a little bit inevitable. A much bigger test arrives this weekend for the club’s home opener with Orange County SC set to visit Papa Murphy’s Park.

4. Charleston Battery (34pts)
Last Week: W 2-1 vs. FC Cincinnati
The Battery continued to hold the upper hand on FC Cincinnati, taking their third victory in four meetings between the clubs and a second in as many years in their home opener at MUSC Health Stadium. Charleston’s core group – led by midfielder Justin Portillo – rose to the occasion against a squad that has high expectations this season, and showed they’ll be a test for anyone over the coming season.

T-5. Louisville City FC (23pts)
Last Week: D 0-0 vs. Saint Louis FC
Yes, Louisville didn’t get off to a winning start, but the manner in which they played against Kings’ Cup rival was among the most impressive performances of the weekend. With some key absences from their squad – three presumptive starters in Mark-Anthony Kaye, Paco Craig and Sean Reynolds were unavailable – the result and performance as a whole left the side ruing its finishing at the end of the game.

T-5. San Antonio FC (23pts)
Last Week: W 1-0 at Rio Grande Valley FC
San Antonio FC won its second consecutive opening game of the season, and earned its first victory in the South Texas Derby in the process as it downed the Toros in their inaugural home opener at H-E-B Park. The re-tooled side will still need some work, RGV FC had San Antonio pinned back regularly in the second half and could have earned a draw, but three points in the bag ahead of the club’s home opener on Saturday against the LA Galaxy II will be very welcome.

T-7. New York Red Bulls II (19pts)
Last Week: D 3-3 vs. Pittsburgh Riverhounds
The Red Bulls II began the defense of their USL Cup with another impressive attacking display as the French Connection of Vincent Bezecourt and Florian Valot provided all three goals. A concern is the defense, which as we noted in preseason would miss three key center backs from a season ago, but a point on the road against what appeared an improved Pittsburgh Riverhounds side will suffice ahead of the club’s home opener.

T-7. Orange County SC (19pts)
Last Week: W 2-0 at Reno 1868 FC
Orange County got its new era off to a flying start as it spoiled the party for Reno 1868 FC’s fans at Greater Nevada Field’s inaugural USL home opener. Carlos Alvarez set them up, Duke Lacroix knocked them in, and the OC defense looked solid against a Reno attack that had been potent in preseason. Saturday’s visit to Sacramento is now even more of a must-see game in Week 2.

9. Tulsa Roughnecks FC (16pts)
Last Week: W 4-1 vs. Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC
Everyone at ONEOK Field was hoping the new season would open with a bang on Saturday, and new Head Coach David Vaudreuil’s side brought the fireworks in the widest margin of victory of the weekend. Yes, the Switchbacks were somewhat charitable at times with their defending, but the Roughnecks and Juan Caffa showed they’re likely to be a much different proposition this season.

T-10. Richmond Kickers (5pts)
Last Week: W 1-0 vs. Harrisburg City Islanders
The Kickers got their 25th anniversary season off on the right foot thanks to Travis Worra’s first-half penalty save and Conor Shanosky’s second-half goal as the club-record crowd of 8,021 got to celebrate a great day for the organization. The Kickers head to face the New York Red Bulls II on Saturday for what could be a sterner test, but one that Richmond will be prepared to face head-on.

T-10. LA Galaxy II (5pts)
Last Week: W 2-0 vs. Vancouver Whitecaps FC 2
The Galaxy II began their new era under Head Coach Mike Munoz with a victory as the young side meshed well to defeat a WFC2 side that had a lot of familiar faces from its run to the Western Conference Final of the 2016 USL Cup Playoffs. The energy Los Dos brought in attack illustrated the danger young standouts like Ethan Zubak – who had the second goal in the win – and Adonis Amaya will bring to the side this year, and their game against San Antonio FC on Saturday could be a very entertaining one.

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