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USL Recap Week 9

A quick recap of everything that happened in the USL last week.

Steve Aibel/LittleOrcaSports.com

With this weekend's matches complete, let's see what went down across the league.

Scoreboard East

HOME AWAY
FC Montreal 0-1 New York Red Bulls II
Pittsburgh Riverhounds 2-1 Toronto FC II
WIlmington Hammerheads FC 0-1 Charleston Battery
Charlotte Independence PP FC CIncinnati
Richmond Kickers 0-0 Louisville City FC
Bethlehem Steel FC 1-3 Harrisburg City Islanders
Orlando City B 2-1 Rochester Rhinos


Scoreboard West

Home Away
Timbers 2 1-3 Whitecaps 2
San Antonio FC 0-1 OKC Energy FC
Tulsa Roughnecks FC 2-5 Saint Louis FC
RGVFC Toros 4-1 Swope Park Rangers
Real Monarchs SLC 3-1 Orange County Blues
Arizona United SC 1-3 Colorado Springs Switchbacks
Sounders 2 1-1 LA Galaxy II


Five Stories

Vancouver Continues Unbeaten Run

Whitecaps 2 started Week 9 with Cascadia rival Timbers 2 on Friday night. Kyle Greig extended his scoring streak to five matches with a goal in the first minute. Vancouver sits atop the Western Conference table, as their unbeaten streak stretches to nine matches.

FC Montreal Lose... again

As we move from an unbeaten streak to a winless streak, FC Montreal suffered another loss by one goal, after the visiting New York Red Bulls II scored in second-half stoppage time. The Quebec side has failed to find the back of the net in more than half of its matches this season. In fact, nine players in the USL have scored more goals than FC Montreal has all season.

Steffens Ousted in Pittsburgh

The Riverhounds posted their first victory of their 2016 campaign on Saturday, but it was not enough to save Mark Steffen's job. Pittsburgh has had a lackluster start. Despite draws against top-of-the-table Louisville and Charleston, losses were piling up, with a second round loss in the US Open Cup at the hands of amateur side Lansdowne Bhoys a low point on the season. Super-successful college coach Dave Brandt was hired to right the ship in Pittsburgh.

Irvin Herrera Goal Fest

Irvin Herrera put on an offensive clinic, scoring four goals in Saint Louis FC's 5-2 win over the Tulsa Roughnecks. Herrera opened the scoring in the 10th, then led the comeback victory for the away side in the second half. After being shut out by Kings' Cup rival Louisville last week, Saint Louis FC seemed to regroup and find their scoring prowess. A top-of-the-table clash with Vancouver Whitecaps 2 looms on Wednesday.

San Antonio FC Woes

San Antonio FC have gone through a cold streak in recent matches, being shut out at home to OKC Energy FC only adds to the dismay. SAFC has just one win in their last five matches - you would have to go back to the opening match of the season to find their other win. With their next two matches being against in-state rival Rio Grande Valley FC, SAFC will be looking to reverse their recent bad fortunes and find their offense.

Standings East

Club GP PTS
Louisville City FC 10 21
New York Red Bulls II 9
18
Charleston Battery
10 18
FC Cincinnati 9 17
Charlotte Independence
9
17
Richmond Kickers 10 15
Rochester Rhinos
8 14
Bethlehem Steel FC
9 12
Orlando City B 10 11
Harrisburg City Islanders 9 10
Wilmington Hammerheads FC 9
9
Toronto FC II 9 8
Pittsburgh Riverhounds 8 6
FC Montreal 8 0

Louisville remain atop the table after their draw against Richmond. NYRBII and Charleston both took advantage of FC Cincinnati v Charlotte being postponed by jumping into 2nd and 3rd place respectively. Orlando City B, after starting the season at the bottom of the table, have found their groove and sit within one point of a playoff spot. Finally, the lowly FC Montreal now sit six points from the rest of the East.

Standings West

Club GP Pts
Whitecaps 2
8 20
COS Switchbacks FC 8 18
LA Galaxy II 11 17
Saint Louis FC
9 14
Rio Grande Valley FC
8 14
Sacramento Republic FC
8 13
Real Monarchs SLC 9 12
Orange County Blues 9 11
Timbers 2 10 10
Swope Park Rangers 8 10
OKC Energy FC 7 10
San Antonio FC 9 9
Arizona United SC 9 9
Tulsa Roughnecks FC 10 7
Sounders 2 10 7

Whitecaps 2 hold their table lead, as the top three clubs remain the same from last week. Saint Louis FC and OKC Energy made the biggest gains this week, as San Antonio FC dropped lower again. Sacramento fell two spots during the bye week, but remain in striking distance of the top three. Despite their draw against Los Dos, Sounders 2 sit at the bottom of the table for another week.

What are your reactions from the recent week of USL action? Which stories did we miss? Let us know in the comments below!