TAMPA, Fla. – Sacramento Republic FC swept its way back into the race at the top of the Western Conference, while the Eastern Conference got even more jumbled. Here’s what we learned from Week 12 in the USL:

1. SACRAMENTO SWEEP: For most of the early season, the top of the Western Conference has been dominated by Vancouver Whitecaps FC 2, Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC and the LA Galaxy II. With back-to-back wins in the past week, though, Sacramento Republic FC has worked its way into the conversation, with Saturday’s comeback win highlighting the key elements that have made the side one of the best in the league over the past two seasons. Emrah Klimenta provided the service on both, with Cameron Iwasa and Adam Jahn the beneficiaries, as Sacramento moved within four points of the conference lead.

2. TOROS TURNAROUND: Sacramento’s next opponent sits two positions ahead of it in the standings, with Rio Grande Valley FC moving into the top three after a topsy-turvy week that saw the side pummeled by the Swope Park Rangers before earning a big win against OKC Energy FC. When they’re flying, as they were on Saturday night, the Toros can be a serious handful for any side, and it will be fascinating to see how they perform at Bonney Field against a very stingy Republic FC defense.

3. HAMMERED HOME: As tight as things are becoming at the top of the Western Conference, the race for the playoffs is really starting to get underway in the East. One of the teams that currently sits in the middle of a pack of six teams separated by three points is Wilmington Hammerheads FC, which stole a 2-2 draw on the road against Louisville City FC thanks to Peabo Doue’s stoppage-time equalizer at Slugger Field. Doue’s finish marked the second consecutive game the Hammerheads have struck in this fashion, and gave them seven points from their past three games. Their upcoming week is hectic, with a trip to Real Salt Lake in the Lamar Hunt Open Cup on Tuesday before Friday’s game with Bethlehem, but Coach Mark Briggs’ side appears to have re-found the fighting spirit that made the Hammerheads strong in the past.

4. CINCINNATI CONTINUES RISE: While Wilmington’s late equalizer proved a boon for the Hammerheads, the home draw for Louisville opened the door partially for the New York Red Bulls II – whose game in hand could see them move back to the top of the standings with a win – and FC Cincinnati, which took another solid win in front of another spectacular crowd of 14,267 against FC Montreal on Saturday night. Cincinnati now has an eight-game undefeated streak, and sits four points back of Louisville with its own game in hand, which should make for a massive showdown two Saturdays from now when they meet in the USL Game of the Week on ESPN3 at Slugger Field.

• RELATED: FC Cincinnati Surpasses 100K Overall Turnout

5. WFC2 WITHSTANDS WOBBLE: As Rio Grande Valley FC had a wider variance in its up-and-down week, Vancouver Whitecaps FC 2 will have been very happy to bring their first losing streak to an end on Sunday as Marco Bustos took center stage in a 3-2 victory against the Swope Park Rangers. Not that it was all smooth sailing for WFC2, which had to withstand a late two-goal barrage, and then get an outstanding save from Marco Carducci to hold onto all three points. With their place restored at the top of the standings for now, though, the side will definitely learn from both the positives and negatives of the week’s performances.

6. SWITCHBACKS STALEMATE: In a matchup that pitted the highest-scoring attack in the USL against one of its best defenses, things played out almost to form in the 0-0 draw between the LA Galaxy II and Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC on Saturday night. The Galaxy II comfortably outshot their visitors, and even rung the post on a fine effort by USL leading scorer Jack McBean, but weren’t able to find a way past Switchbacks goalkeeper Devala Gorrick. The two teams meet one more time in the regular season in early September, but it’s definitely not too early to think this is a matchup we could see when the playoffs come around, which would definitely be a fascinating contest with the season on the line.

7. SAINT LOUIS SOARS: Saint Louis FC was imperious in its 7-1 victory against Tulsa Roughnecks FC on Saturday night, as it not only produced the most goals in a game by a single side this season – and finished one short of tying the USL record – but also produced goals of remarkable quality. The pick of the bunch was probably Seth Rudolph’s blast five minutes into the second half, but the performance as a whole was a pleasure for almost all on hand at World Wide Technology Soccer Park. As for the visitors, after giving up 12 goals in their last two meetings with Saint Louis FC, Tulsa Roughnecks FC will be disappointed to learn they have to face Irvin Herrera and company one more time this season.

• RELATED: Saint Louis Flirts With Goals Record

8. INDEPENDENCE DROP: The Charlotte Independence are still sitting in the playoff positions in the Eastern Conference, but after Friday night’s defeat to Bethlehem Steel FC it was clear that won’t be the case much longer if the side continues to perform the way it has in recent weeks. A defensive error that Coach Mike Jeffries labeled “brain dead” after the game provided the only goal, as Charlotte’s winless streak stretched to five games. With a visit from the Richmond Kickers coming this weekend, a shakeup could be needed to shake the side out of its recent malaise.

9. TORONTO TURNAROUND: As it went through a four-game losing streak, the message from Toronto FC II Head Coach Jason Bent was for the side to keep its head up and be confident it could get back into the win column. On Saturday night, it finally did, with a 2-1 victory against the Rochester Rhinos that came somewhat against the odds at the Ontario Soccer Centre. Despite being outshot 13-4 by the defending USL champions, TFC II took its chances well when they presented themselves, with Luca Uccello and Malik Johnson finding the net. With a midweek contest up next against rival FC Montreal, the side has the chance to build momentum, and try and chart a course back into the playoff race.

10. RISING UNITED: There haven’t been too many bright spots so far this season for Arizona United SC, with Coach Frank Yallop having to deal with injuries in addition to piecing together a new squad, but Saturday’s night victory was a nice boost for the side as it looks to find its way up the Western Conference. Chris Cortez showed his quality with a good header in his return from injury, while the defense locked down a good Blues attack that had scored five goals a weekend ago. The road doesn’t get easier for United, with Saint Louis, RGVFC and Sacramento up next on the schedule, but with a home-heavy schedule coming up in the next six games, there might be the chance for Arizona to get on a positive track.

11. MILTON’S PARADISE REGAINED: As the time ticked down at Merlo Field, it looked as though it would be another frustrating night for San Antonio FC. Having outshot its hosts over the course of the night, SAFC still trailed going into the final five minutes on an unfortunate own goal by Carlos Alvarez in the first half, and with the side’s scoreless drought having broken the 400-minute mark, and answer didn’t appear to be forthcoming. Then, all 5-foot-7 of Milton Palacios – about as unlikely an attacking threat as you might find from a set piece – popped up to get on the end of a corner kick by Carlos Araujo, and his powerful header crashed into the back of the net. In a season that has been understandably trying on the field, moments like Saturday’s can offer at least some silver lining for the strong contingent of fans that will be back at Toyota Field this Saturday.