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USL Power Rankings - Week 3

By NICHOLAS MURRAY - nicholas.murray@uslsoccer.com, 04/02/18, 4:30PM EDT

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Top four teams in new rankings set to square off this weekend

For a second consecutive week the top two teams in the USLSoccer.com Power Rankings will square off on Saturday night when No. 2 FC Cincinnati plays host to new, unanimous No. 1 Louisville City FC at Nippert Stadium in FCC’s home opener, the centerpiece to a night of action that will also see No. 3 Phoenix Rising FC host No. 4 Real Monarchs SLC in the Western Conference’s marquee game of the week.

Cincinnati’s victory on the road against Indy Eleven saw it vault past Phoenix, setting up another massive River Cities Cup clash between FCC and Louisville, both of whom will enter Nippert Stadium with 2-0-0 records. Phoenix holds steady at No. 3 after its late win in Reno, and right behind are the Monarchs, who moved into a tie for the No. 4 spot with the Tampa Bay Rowdies to set up a fascinating early-season meeting at the Phoenix Rising Soccer Complex on Saturday.

The four-person USLSoccer.com voting panel tabulates 16 points for first-place team votes, 15 points to the second-place team and so forth to one point for 16th place. The accrued points among the group determines the final ranking.

Rank

 

Team/Record

Change

Summary
1 Louisville City FC
64 pts | (2-0-0)
Week 3: W, 1-0 TBR
Week 4: @CIN
Last Week: 1		 Louisville’s victory against Tampa Bay moved it into top spot in all four ballots this week as it heads to Cincinnati aiming to score a decisive early-season result on the road.
2 FC Cincinnati
54 pts | (2-0-0)
Week 3: W, 1-0 @IND
Week 4: LOU		 2
Last Week: T-4		 FCC has two wins from two games on the road after withstanding a strong test from Indy Eleven this past Saturday. That’ll only raise the heat for the first River Cities Cup contest of 2018.
3 Phoenix Rising FC
53 pts | (2-0-1)
Week 3: W, 1-0 @RNO
Week 4: SLC
Last Week: 3		 Rising FC needed a stoppage-time penalty kick to eke out a road win in Reno, but the goal saw Solomon Asante continue his strong start with three goals in three games.
T-4 Real Monarchs SLC
48 pts | (2-0-0)
Week 3: W, 4-2 POR
Week 4: @PHX
Last Week: T-4		 The Monarchs have taken two victories to start the defense of their regular-season championship and will be hoping their attack stays hot as it heads to Phoenix on Saturday.
T-4 Tampa Bay Rowdies
48 pts | (2-1-0)
Week 3: L, 0-1 @LOU
Week 4: OTT		 2
Last Week: 2		 The Rowdies couldn’t find an answer for Louisville’s defense as they fell for the first time this season, but Head Coach Stuart Campbell’s side didn’t fall too far in the rankings.
6 Charlotte Independence
45 pts | (2-0-1)
Week 3: T, 2-2 ATL
Week 4: @NSH		 4
Last Week: 10		 The Independence are still undefeated thanks to Jorge Herrera’s brace against ATL UTD 2 and the club’s attack continues to click, sitting second in the league in chance-conversion rate at 29 percent.
7 Sacramento Republic FC
35 pts | (2-0-1)
Week 3: T, 2-2 @RGV
Week 4: SEA
Last Week: 7		 Republic FC’s late rally against Rio Grande Valley FC kept it undefeated, but after two consecutive road games the side will be pleased to get back home this Saturday.
8 Las Vegas Lights FC
28 pts | (2-0-1)
Week 3: W, 2-1 SPR
Week 4: --		 4
Last Week: 12		 There was an element of good fortune in Las Vegas’ victory against Swope Park, winning a game 2-1 with one official shot on goal, but Lights FC rolls into a bye week still undefeated.
T-9 San Antonio FC
24 pts | (1-1-1)
Week 3: T, 0-0 @LA
Week 4: SPR		 1
Last Week: 8		 A scoreless draw against the LA Galaxy II, and an absent Mikey Lopez for the Swope Park Rangers’ visit this Saturday after a red card, were not ideal for SAFC as it looked to keep pace at the top.
T-9 New York Red Bulls II
24 pts | (2-1-0)
Week 3: W, 5-2 CHS
Week 4: @RIC
Last Week: NR		 When New York’s attack gets going it’s a concern for every defense in the Eastern Conference. The production line keeps churning for Head Coach John Wolyniec.
11 Indy Eleven
23 pts | (1-1-0)
Week 3: L, 0-1 CIN
Week 4: @NC		 2
Last Week: 9		 Indy didn’t come away with victory against Cincinnati, but it certainly looked impressive in defeat to provide optimism for the 17,535 in attendance for Saturday’s game at Lucas Oil Stadium.
12 Atlanta United 2
22 pts | (1-0-1)
Week 3: T, 2-2 @CLT
Week 4: PEN		 4
Last Week: 16		 A road draw to back up a home win to start the season and there’s plenty to like about the way Atlanta has kicked off its inaugural season. The youngsters have come to ball out.
13 Swope Park Rangers
21 pts | (2-1-0)
Week 3: L, 1-2 @LV
Week 4: COS, @SA		 7
Last Week: 6		 A curiously off night for the Rangers in Las Vegas after their exploits in the opening two weeks, they’ll look to rebound with a two-game week ahead.
14 Orange County SC
20 pts | (2-1-1)
Week 3: W, 1-0 @OKC | W, 5-0 @TUL
Week 4: LA
Last Week: NR		 Given the displays Orange County put in during its trip to Oklahoma, it might not be too long before this side is cracking the Top 10 with the way the pieces are coming together.
15 Fresno FC
17 pts | (2-1-1)
Week 3: W, 1-0 @SEA | W, 2-1 OKC
Week 4: @STL
Last Week: NR		 Two wins in two games? That will do very nicely for the Foxes, who still have plenty of room to grow as they head out on the road this week.
16 Saint Louis FC
9 pts | (1-1-1)
Week 3: W, 1-0 COS
Week 4: FRS
Last Week: NR		 A win’s a win, especially when it’s your first of the season, but you’ll bet there’s plenty of work being done this week by Head Coach Anthony Pulis to iron out some wrinkles in the performance.

Also receiving votes: Reno 1868 FC 5, Nashville SC 3, Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC 1

Dropped from rankings: Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC, Reno 1868 FC

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Tag(s): News  Nashville SC  Power Rankings  San Antonio FC  Orange County SC  Phoenix Rising FC  Real Monarchs SLC  Reno 1868 FC  Sacramento Republic FC  Swope Park Rangers  Charlotte Independence  FC Cincinnati  Louisville City FC  New York Red Bulls II  Pittsburgh Riverhounds  Saint Louis FC  Tampa Bay Rowdies  Fresno FC  Las Vegas Lights FC  Atlanta United 2  Indy Eleven 

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