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USL Championship Power Rankings – Week 32

By NICHOLAS MURRAY - nicholas.murray@uslsoccer.com, 10/14/24, 4:30PM EDT

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Las Vegas continues to shine bright in assuming control of No. 2 slot in West

Here’s some perspective on the current streak Las Vegas Lights FC is on, suffering only one defeat in its last 20 games.

That’s something Louisville City FC – two-time USL Championship title winner, four-time Eastern Conference title winner, current Players’ Shield winner – has never done in a regular season in its history.

It’s a strange factoid. LouCity has had numerous long undefeated streaks over the years, but somehow each one has been broken up by consecutive defeats before the side gets back on its horse.

Which leaves Las Vegas’ current run that began with a scoreless draw on June 1 against Phoenix Rising FC and continued with Sunday’s 3-0 victory against Birmingham Legion FC – during which its only loss came against Hartford Athletic on August 17 – as one of the more remarkable in the league’ history.

The way it’s getting there is pretty simple – make sure you’re able to withstand the flurries and make the most of your chances when they arrive. That was almost exactly the recipe for success against Legion, where the Lights had to fight to keep their halftime lead before tacking on late goals to secure the result.

“There was definitely a spell of fifteen minutes or so where we suffered,” said Lights Head Coach Dennis Sanchez of the second half. “But, the guys were fantastic in that moment, and I thought that we defended really well tonight. As they started to push more numbers higher up the field, it started opening up some things in transition, and that’s where you have to be a killer. Luckily, Coleman [Gannon] and Christian [Pinzón] did that.”

Las Vegas’ win set a club record with its 13th of the season and moved the club to 50 points for the first time in a season. It now sits in second place with the chance it could host at least two postseason games with two games to go in the regular season.

Getting to the playoffs was one thing, but the Lights are showing they might be built for more.

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Here’s how the rest of 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

On The Move

Rank

 

Team

Change

Summary

1 Louisville City FC
(23-6-3)
Week 33: @ SA

Last Week:
1
LouCity keeps finding ways to earn results at home, with Arturo Ordóñez’s winner against Tampa Bay keeping the side in with a chance at a single-season record for total wins and at equaling the record for points.
2 Las Vegas Lights FC
(13-8-11)
Week 33: vs. OAK
2
Last Week:
4
The Lights keep pushing forward and now sit in control of their path to the No. 2 seed in the Western Conference after Sunday’s win in Birmingham. Only one defeat in the past 20 outings is a remarkable feat.
3 Charleston Battery
(17-6-9)
Week 33: vs. RI
1
Last Week:
2
The Battery tried something different against Pittsburgh – notably giving Nick Markanich the night off – and it didn’t quite come off. Setting up for the playoffs is all that matters really at this point with two home games to go.
4 Detroit City FC
(13-8-11)
Week 33: vs. MIA
1
Last Week:
5
Le Rouge continued their undefeated streak at home to Indy on Saturday afternoon to lock up their postseason spot. We’re looking for a strong performance at home to Miami this weekend.
5 Indy Eleven
(13-10-9)
Week 33: vs. BHM
6
Last Week:
11
A four-point week carried the Boys in Blue to the brink of a playoff berth, although Saturday’s attacking display was pretty underwhelming given the front line that started the contest.
6 Rhode Island FC
(11-7-14)
Week 33: @ CHS

Last Week:
6
RIFC looked like the team happier to settle for a draw on Sunday night, which was understandable given Loudoun United’s situation. That’s a league-record equaling 14th tie this season for the first-year club.
7 New Mexico United
(18-10-4)
Week 33: @ OC
4
Last Week:
3
New Mexico has sealed the No. 1 seed in the West, but it’s not going to look back too happily on the past week of action. Saturday’s visit to Orange County isn’t going to be easy, either.
8 Sacramento Republic FC
(13-9-8)
Week 33: @ ELP

Last Week:
8
Republic FC let an important win slip away at home to Monterey Bay on Wednesday and then shared the points on the road with Memphis in a tight affair. That’s ceded position to Las Vegas with two games to play.
9 Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC
(10-10-12)
Week 33: @ LDN
4
Last Week:
13
The past week could hardly have gone better for the Hounds. Now they face their biggest game of the season on Saturday night at Loudoun United, which should be must-see.
10 Loudoun United FC
(11-12-9)
Week 33: vs. PIT
1
Last Week:
9
One point from two games isn’t what United was looking for in the past week, putting all the pressure back on after its win against Hartford. It’s make-or-break at home against Pittsburgh on Saturday.
11 Orange County SC
(11-14-6)
Week 33: @ ELP, vs. NM
3
Last Week:
14
Orange County keeps pushing forward after its midweek win against Colorado Springs. Earning victory on Wednesday night at home to El Paso would put a playoff berth within reach on Saturday night.
12 Hartford Athletic
(11-13-7)
Week 33: @ TUL
3
Last Week:
15
Hartford had an outstanding opening hour against North Carolina, and then almost gave it all away. As it stands, Athletic is back in control of its path to the playoffs.
13 Phoenix Rising FC
(11-12-9)
Week 33: vs. MEM
9
Last Week:
22
A six-point week has Rising within a win of clinching its return to the playoffs. Who would have seen that coming a week ago?
14 Memphis 901 FC
(12-11-9)
Week 33: @ PHX
4
Last Week:
10
Memphis is back in the playoffs, but it’s meandering on the way there. One win in the last seven games keeps the side from asserting its claim for a top-four finish.
15 North Carolina FC
(11-12-9)
Week 33: @ TBR
3
Last Week:
12
One step forward, one step back for North Carolina, which almost produced the comeback of the season in Hartford. Now, it’s going to be a fight to the finish.
16 El Paso Locomotive FC
(7-16-8)
Week 33: vs. OC, vs. SAC

Last Week:
16
Locomotive is undefeated in its last four games after its deserved point against San Antonio after a late comeback. They’re mathematically eliminated this season, but the foundation for something better is being built.
17 San Antonio FC
(10-14-8)
Week 33: vs. LOU
2
Last Week:
19
Pablo Sisniega, take a bow. San Antonio’s season is still alive in large part due to its goalkeeper, who made 15 saves across its four-point week against El Paso and Colorado Springs.
18 Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC
(13-12-7)
Week 33: @ MB
11
Last Week:
7
Disaster week for the Switchbacks with their defeats to Orange County and San Antonio. The loss to San Antonio was their first defeat at home after holding a winning position in more than two years.
19 Tampa Bay Rowdies
(13-11-7)
Week 33: vs. NC
1
Last Week:
18
The Rowdies will take positives from their visit to Louisville, but they still need to find a way to get back in the win column. The rest of this weekend’s results meant there’s still a top-four spot available for them if they can.
20 Birmingham Legion FC
(12-14-6)
Week 33: @ IND
3
Last Week:
17
Legion is playing with fire as it seeks to extend its five-season postseason streak. Two road games to finish at Indy and Oakland are not going to be easy, either.
21 Monterey Bay F.C.
(8-14-10)
Week 33: vs. COS
1
Last Week:
20
Monterey Bay is almost certainly not going to the playoffs again, but it can take something from its dramatic late equalizer against Sacramento last Wednesday.
22 FC Tulsa
(8-13-11)
Week 33: vs. HFD
1
Last Week:
21
Cracking finish from Aaron Bibout against New Mexico, but Tulsa’s playoff chances are hanging by a thread and will be done by the end of Wednesday night if Orange County takes victory.
23 Oakland Roots SC
(12-15-5)
Week 33: @ LV

Last Week:
23
Roots are starting to look like they’re in real trouble in the playoff race. They might need San Antonio to implode to get in at this point.
24 Miami FC
(3-27-2)
Week 33:@ DET

Last Week:
24
Miami had the week off before closing out the season on the road against Detroit City and Rhode Island. What has this group got left in the tank?

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