USL Eastern Conference Power Rankings, Week 9

With week 9 complete, let's return to the power rankings and see how the Eastern Conference looks. The rankings are accurate through Tuesday's Harrisburg v Toronto FC II match.

Important note on the rankings: 1100 is considered an average club, with tiebreakers going to the club that has played more matches.

Read up on our system here, and its slight improvement here.

Rankings

1 (Last Week- 1). Louisville City (1132)

Last Week: Draw 0-0 vs Richmond on Saturday

This Week: @ Charleston (Saturday)

After a nil-nil draw in Richmond, Louisville prepares for a pivotal match against the high-flying Battery.

2 (4). New York Red Bulls II (1122)

Last Week: Won 1-0 vs FC Montreal on Saturday

This Week: vs Pittsburgh (Saturday)

The Baby Bulls reclaim a top-two spot after winning on Saturday.

3 (6). Charleston (1119)

Last Week: Won 1-0 vs Wilmington on Saturday

This Week: vs Louisville City (Saturday)

Charleston is riding a three-match winning streak, and puts their home unbeaten streak on the line as rankings leader Louisville comes to town.

3 (2). FC Cincinnati (1119)

Last Week: Match vs Charlotte Postponed

This Week: vs Harrisburg (Saturday)

FC Cincinnati fall in the rankings after not playing this weekend.

5 (3). Charlotte (1118)

Last Week: Match vs FC Cincinnati Postponed

This Week: @ Orlando City B (Saturday)

The Independence make a trip to the Space Coast, looking to stretch their unbeaten streak to seven matches.

6 (5). Rochester (1110)

Last Week: Lost 2-1 vs Orlando City B on Sunday

This Week: vs Bethlehem (Saturday)

Rochester missed a chance to take a top-four spot after a shocking loss to bottom-half club, Orlando City B.

7 (7). Richmond (1107)

Last Week: Draw 0-0 vs Louisville City on Saturday

This Week: vs FC Montreal (Saturday)

The Kickers posted a fifth shutout on the season in their draw vs Louisville.

8 (10). Harrisburg (1099)

Last Week: Won 3-1 vs Bethlehem on Sunday 

This Week: Won 2-1 vs Toronto FC II on Tuesday, @ FC Cincinnati (Saturday)

Winning two straight matches has the City Islanders making the biggest jump in the rankings this week.

9 (8). Bethlehem (1093)

Last Week: Lost 3-1 vs Harrisburg on Sunday

This Week: @ Rochester (Saturday)

Bethlehem drops a spot, after losing their first match against an in-state rival.

10 (9). Wilmington (1091)

Last Week: Lost 1-0 vs Charleston on Saturday

This Week: @ Toronto FC II (Sunday)

Winless in their last five matches, the Hammerheads will be looking to regroup in their first trip north of the border.

11 (12). Pittsburgh (1085)

Last Week: Won 2-1 vs Toronto FC II on Saturday

This Week: @ New York Red Bulls II (Saturday)

After winning their first match of the season, the Riverhounds eye a turn around with Dave Brandt at the helm.

12 (13). Orlando City B (1080)

Last Week: Won 2-1 vs Rochester on Sunday

This Week: vs Charlotte (Saturday)

Orlando City B make their first jump out of the bottom two clubs with their upset win over Rochester.

13 (11). Toronto FC II (1077)

Last Week: Lost 2-1 vs Pittsburgh on Saturday

This Week: Lost 2-1 vs Harrisburg on Tuesday, vs Wilmington (Sunday)

Having lost three straight matches, Toronto FC II has the biggest fall of this week's rankings.

14 (14). FC Montreal (1060)

Last Week: Lost 1-0 vs New York Red Bulls II on Saturday

This Week: @ Richmond (Saturday)

A seventh one goal loss for the Quebec side, whose rating continues to fall.

Notable

We were unable to see a potentially high profile match, as Charlotte v FC Cincinnati has been postponed to August 30th.

Louisville holds the rankings' top spot for another week, with the rest of the top seven clubs distancing themselves from the bottom of the East, as the gap from seventh to eighth is at eight rating points.

With a win over Rochester, Orlando City B has started their climb out of the cellar, moving to a position outside the bottom two for the first time this season. FC Montreal falls behind even further, earning the last spot in our rankings for another week.

What are your thoughts on this week's rankings? Which bottom-half club has the best chance to catch the other clubs in the top seven? Let us know in the comments below!