Western Conference Power Rankings: Week 14

Now that San Antonio has made it over the hump, we have eight teams in the West that are above the average mark of 1100 in our Power Rankings for the first time in over a month. At the same time, the struggle continues for Rio Grande Valley as they are quickly falling out of the front of the pack. It now looks we are in for a battle between the Toros, San Antonio and Arizona for 6^th place in our rankings.

Important to note on our 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.

Ratings:

1 (Last Week - 1) Vancouver Whitecaps 2 (1133)

Last Week: Drew Oklahoma City Energy (1-1)

This Week: @Real Monarchs (Saturday)

A hard fought draw against a tough Energy side saw the Whitecaps hang onto their top spot in the West.  A rematch against the Monarchs -- the first team to defeat them this season -- is up next.

2 (5) Los Angeles Galaxy II (1123)

Last Week: Defeated Tulsa Roughnecks (2-0)

This Week: vs Orange County Blues (Saturday)

Los Dos responded to a disappointing draw against Tulsa by handling them 2-0 in a short turnaround rematch.  A game against regional rival Orange County gives LA the chance to start distancing themselves from the pack.

3 (2) Colorado Springs Switchbacks (1123)

Last Week: Lost to Real Monarchs (0-1)

This Week: vs Real Monarchs (Wednesday)

A surprising result, but one that proves the Monarchs are still a dangerous side. Luckily for the Switchbacks they get an immediate chance for revenge on Wednesday.

4 (3) Sacramento Republic (1120)

Last Week: Drew Arizona United (1-1)

This Week: vs Seattle Sounders (Saturday)

It took a keeper mistake and a late goal to take a point from a tough Arizona side, but Sacramento extended their unbeaten streak to span the entirety of May and June.  A third match against Seattle is up next for Sacramento who will look to sweep S2 with win number three.

5 (4) Oklahoma City Energy (1119)

Last Week: Drew Vancouver Whitecaps 2 (1-1)

This Week: vs Rio Grande Valley Toros (Saturday)

Although you always try for three points at home, a draw against the top team in the West is nothing to be disappointed with. Now the Energy need to get ready to match up against a Toros side that has been on a scoring tear but has also been unable to keep anyone out of their net.

6 (7) Saint Louis FC (1114)

Last Week: Defeated Portland Timbers 2 (1-0)

This Week: @Swope Park Rangers (Saturday)

Saint Louis took a hard fought victory from Portland, but now need to look ahead to a very up and down Swope Park team in order to keep pace with the rest of the top teams.

7 (6) Rio Grande Valley Toros (1105)

Last Week: Drew Arizona United (1-1), Lost to Orange County Blues (1-2)

This Week: @Oklahoma City Energy (Saturday)

Rio Grande Valley has quickly dropped from one of the elite teams in the West to one of the bubble teams.  The Toros need to start turning in quality results against good teams and fast, starting with a result in Oklahoma City.

8 (8) San Antonio FC (1101)

Last Week: Defeated Orange County Blues (3-2)

This Week: @Tulsa Roughnecks (Sunday)

San Antonio scrapped their way back over 1100 for the first time in over a month with a back and forth win over Orange County.  They can build on that momentum with a win in Tulsa over a struggling Roughnecks side.

9 (9) Arizona United (1096)

Last Week: Drew Rio Grande Valley (1-1), Drew Sacramento Republic (1-1)

This Week: @Tulsa Roughnecks (Friday)

Some Arizona fans may be disappointed in being unable to take a win last week, but two draws against two above average teams showed that United have the potential to move up in the table and challenge for a playoff spot.  Next, they get to pad their resume with a visit to Tulsa.

10 (10) Orange County Blues (1091)

Last Week: Lost to San Antonio (2-3), Defeated Rio Grande Valley (2-1)

This Week: @Los Angeles Galaxy II (Saturday)

A disappointing loss to San Antonio and a late game winner against Rio Grande Valley made it an interesting week for the Blues, but in the end not much changed for them in our rankings.  A trip to old rivals Los Dos can provide Orange County the chance they need to start moving back towards 1100.

11 (13) Swope Park Rangers (1091)

Last Week: Defeated Seattle Sounders 2 (2-0)

This Week: vs Saint Louis FC (Saturday)

The Rangers continued an up and down run, this time taking down what had looked like a resurgent Sounders 2 team in Seattle.  Next up is a game against Saint Louis, who took a somewhat controversial win against SPR earlier this season.

12 (12) Real Monarchs (1089)

Last Week: Defeated Colorado Springs Switchbacks (1-0)

This Week: @Colorado Springs Switchbacks (Wednesday), vs Vancouver Whitecaps 2 (Saturday)

The Monarchs  proved that they can be a very dangerous team despite their position in the table by shutting out the Switchbacks, something that has only happened three times all season.  Two games in a week against two of the top teams in the West gives the Monarchs get more chances to play spoiler.

13 (11) Portland Timbers 2 (1080)

Last Week: Lost to Saint Louis FC (0-1)

This Week: Bye Week

Portland has now allowed a goal in nine of their last ten games, but has lost only four. If they can shore up their defense just a bit, they can turn into a threat.  A week off may help.

14 (14) Seattle Sounders 2 (1061)

Last Week: Lost to Swope Park Rangers (0-2)

This Week: @Sacramento Republic (Saturday)

Sounders 2 turned back into the S2 we had come to know, dropping a home game 0-2 without putting up too much of a fight.  A trip to Sacramento, where they have never won, will likely extend their skid.

(15) Tulsa Roughnecks (1048)

Last Week: Lost to Los Angeles Galaxy II (0-2)

This Week: vs Arizona United (Friday), vs San Antonio FC (Sunday)

Tulsa dropped yet another game, and now gets two matches against teams that are quickly moving in the correct direction.  They will either continue their free fall after becoming the first team in the West to drop below 1050, or they will get to play spoiler to a up and coming side.

Notable:

Biggest Rise: Los Angeles Galaxy II (+3)

Biggest Fall: Portland Timbers 2 (-2)

This week's biggest story is the gap between the top teams closing now that Rio Grande Valley has dropped off pace. The Toros have gone to being one of the top teams in our rankings to looking at being a week away from dropping out of the top eight.  They 1-2-1 against the top six, with the lone win coming against the Energy, who the Toros visit this week.

While things do not look great for RGVFC, there are some positives for those teams directly below them. San Antonio, who has scored five times in two games after scoring only four times in their previous six, broke through the 1100 barrier again. Arizona has turned in a four game unbeaten streak, one that includes three teams higher than them in the table.  The battle for 6^th place appears to be in full swing.

This week's big matchup out west is #5 Oklahoma City hosting #7 Rio Grande Valley in a rematch of the sole quality win from the Toros this season to date.  It is also always worth watching the Monarchs when they play top teams as well. This week they face both Colorado Springs and Vancouver, top teams that will be looking for revenge.

What are your thoughts on this week's Power Rankings? Let us know in the comments below.