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USL Championship Power Rankings – Week 3

By NICHOLAS MURRAY - nicholas.murray@uslsoccer.com, 03/25/24, 4:30PM EDT

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LouCity moves into top spot after second consecutive win to start season

Louisville City FC’s second chapter has arrived.

On Saturday afternoon in the club’s home opener against Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC, more than half of LouCity’s lineup wasn’t with the club at the end of last season.

More than half of the 403 appearances among the returning five starters could be attributed to one player – defender Sean Totsch.

And yet, there was something pretty familiar about what played out. The hosts were aggressive, got a halftime lead through their new goalscoring talisman Wilson Harris, and then pushed to the finish line with Ray Serrano notching a late goal and Evan Davila grabbing an assist in his second appearance.

For most of the 90 minutes, the atmosphere drove the players, and vice versa, as the side closed in on its 50th victory at Lynn Family Stadium in the USL Championship since it opened in 2020.

“In the first half our performance helped the atmosphere get louder and louder,” said LouCity Head Coach Danny Cruz. “To be able to get three points in front of our fans at home, making this place a fortress, my hope is Pittsburgh doesn’t want to come back.”

The Hounds will be back, of course, determined as ever. So will other challengers with Birmingham Legion FC and Indy Eleven set to visit over the next two weekends, the latter matchup getting the honor of being the USL Championship’s first game on network television thanks to CBS.

This team, though, has a higher standard to uphold, and that’s to add a third star to its crest.

So far, so good.

Here’s how this week’s rankings look.

Birmingham Legion FC Charleston Battery Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC Detroit City FC El Paso Locomotive FC Hartford Athletic Indy Eleven
Las Vegas Lights Loudoun United FC Louisville City FC Memphis 901 FC The Miami FC Monterey Bay F.C. New Mexico United
North Carolina FC Oakland Roots SC Orange County SC Phoenix Rising FC Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC Rio Grande Valley FC Sacramento Republic FC
San Antonio FC Tampa Bay Rowdies FC Tulsa

Biggest Movers

8 DET 8 BHM

Rank

 

Team

Change

Summary
1 Louisville City FC
(2-0-0)
Week 4: v. BHM		 1
Last Week:
2		 LouCity had a slight slowdown in the second half against Pittsburgh and then stepped right back on the gas. Things are moving as expected here.
2 Sacramento Republic FC
(1-0-2)
Week 4: v. MEM		 1
Last Week:
1		 Sacramento could have stolen victory late against Indy only for Trevor Amann to miss the target after a great move. Still undefeated and looking solid.
3 Charleston Battery
(1-0-2)
Week 4: @ MIA
 1
Last Week:
4		 The Battery showed they could mix it up if they wanted to physically against New Mexico. In their end their technical quality on the ball shone through.
4 Hartford Athletic
(2-0-0)
Week 4: @ NC		 3
Last Week:
7		 Hartford wasn’t made to pay for all its missed chances against Birmingham, but the fact they had that many was eye-opening. Speed and pressure is a lethal combination.
5 San Antonio FC
(1-0-2)
Week 4: v. MB		 1
Last Week:
6		 Even with the missed penalty kick, San Antonio was more than deserving of its victory against Colorado Springs. Monterey Bay should be an interesting test.
6 Tampa Bay Rowdies
(0-0-2)
Week 4: v. RI		 3
Last Week:
3		 The Rowdies couldn’t hold onto a lead for a second consecutive week. It’s not that concerning yet but earning a first win is starting to become more pressing.
7 Detroit City FC
(2-0-0)
Week 4: @ IND		 8
Last Week:
15		 Two wins from two and Le Rouge look like a team transformed in attack. Great early returns for Head Coach Danny Dichio and his boys.
8 Orange County SC
(1-0-2)
Week 4: v. TUL
Last Week:
8		 OCSC is still undefeated, but it will probably think it should have been cleaner defensively against Miami and taken all three points.
9 Indy Eleven
(1-1-1)
Week 4: v. DET		 1
Last Week:
10		 Indy got somewhat outmuscled by Sacramento in midfield but still managed to get a point. Augustine Williams’ first goal for the club was sublime.
10 Monterey Bay F.C.
(1-0-2)
Week 4: @ SA		 2
Last Week:
12		 A couple of goals chalked off by the offside flag against Rhode Island could have delivered a second home victory. The vibes are positive at Cardinale Stadium so far.
11 FC Tulsa
(1-0-0)
Week 4: @ OC		 2
Last Week:
13		 After a week off, Tulsa gets to head to Orange County SC this weekend. Phillip Goodrum should be looking to fire early and often.
12 Phoenix Rising FC
(1-2-0)
Week 4: v. NM		 4
Last Week:
16		 The elements we wanted to see from Phoenix from its home opener were back and finally the defending title holders found the net. Now it’s time to go on a run.
13 Birmingham Legion FC
(1-1-0)
Week 4: @ LOU		 8
Last Week:
5		 Birmingham was lucky not to be buried by halftime in Hartford, but that’s 19 shots on target Legion has faced in two games. Even Matt VanOekel isn’t going to be able to keep up with that.
14 Rhode Island FC
(0-0-2)
Week 4: @ TBR		 3
Last Week:
17		 That’s why you go and get Albert Dikwa. The reigning Golden Boot winner was clinical in front of goal, even if we’ve got a few questions about the defense.
15 Loudoun United FC
(1-1-1)
Week 4: ---		 1
Last Week:
14		 A dent to the record in Detroit, but there are still positives to take away. How Loudoun responds after its week off will be worth watching.
16 New Mexico United
(1-1-1)
Week 4: @ PHX 		7
Last Week:
9		 New Mexico was lucky to get out of Rhode Island with a point, and Charleston was just too good. Time for a gut-check in Phoenix on this road-heavy opening stint.
17 North Carolina FC
(0-1-2)
Week 4: v. HFD		 1
Last Week:
18		 More promising play by North Carolina, even if it didn’t result in a victory. Friday night’s visit from Hartford should be an exciting matchup.
18 Oakland Roots SC
(1-1-1)
Week 4: v. LV		 7
Last Week:
11		 Oakland had its moments, but you’ve got to hit the target to win a prize. Getting the guys back from international duty should help a little.
19 Memphis 901 FC
(1-1-0)
Week 4: @ SAC
Last Week:
19		 901 FC gets the opportunity to head to visit a Sacramento Republic FC side looking to make a statement at home. Will have to be a compact display.
20 Miami FC
(1-1-1)
Week 4: v. CHS		 3
Last Week:
23		 You’ve got to admire Miami’s heart and willingness to battle. Allen Gavilanes is living up to his billing as one of the Championship’s newcomers to watch as well.
21 Las Vegas Lights FC
(1-2-0)
Week 4: @ OAK		 3
Last Week:
24		 Las Vegas has shown growth in its first three games of the season and it turned that into a first win. Oakland could be an opportunity for more.
22 Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC
(0-3-0)
Week 4: ---		 1
Last Week:
21		 Including their postseason defeat last season, this is the first time the Hounds have lost four consecutive USL Championship games under Bob Lilley. We think that’ll change soon.
23 Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC
(0-3-0)
Week 4: ---		 3
Last Week:
20		 Three games, three defeats, this week’s bye is an important chance to regroup before Sacramento comes to town.
24 El Paso Locomotive
(0-3-1)
Week 4: ---		 2
Last Week:
22		 One point and one goal from four games? The Locos are not on the right track currently.

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Tag(s): Power Rankings  San Antonio FC  CO Spring Switchbacks  Orange County SC  Phoenix Rising FC  Sacramento Republic FC  FC Tulsa  Charleston Battery  Louisville City FC  Pittsburgh Riverhounds  Tampa Bay Rowdies  Las Vegas Lights FC  Birmingham Legion FC  North Carolina FC  Indy Eleven  Memphis 901 FC  El Paso Locomotive FC  New Mexico United  Loudoun United FC  Hartford Athletic  Miami FC  Oakland Roots SC  Detroit City FC  Monterey Bay F.C.  Rhode Island FC 

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