Eastern Conference Power Rankings: Week 15

The second half of the USL 2016 season is upon us. With many clubs starting to position themselves for a playoff run, let's look at how the first half of the season impacted our Power Rankings.

These rankings are accurate as of Tuesday's Louisville City v FC Montreal match.

Rankings

1 (Last Week- 1). Louisville City (1164)

Last Week: Bye Week

This Week: Won 2-0 vs FC Montreal (Monday), vs Charleston (Saturday)

Louisville - who has not lost at home since April - can extend their unbeaten streak to 16 straight against Charleston.

2 (2). New York Red Bulls II (1143)

Last Week: Draw 0-0 vs Rochester on Saturday

This Week: @ FC Montreal (Saturday)

On an unbeaten streak of nine straight matches - six have been shutouts - the Baby Bulls travel to Quebec to take on FC Montreal.

3 (3). FC Cincinnati (1137)

Last Week: Won 1-0 vs Bethlehem on Saturday

This Week: @ Rochester (Wednesday), @ Saint Louis FC (Saturday)

A couple of road matches this week sets up a tough July for the southwestern Ohio club.

4 (4). Charleston (1126)

Last Week: Won 2-0 vs Richmond on Saturday

This Week: @ Louisville City (Saturday)

Louisville ended the Battery's home unbeaten streak a month ago. Charleston will look to do the same to Louisville's current unbeaten run.

5 (4). Charlotte (1121)

Last Week: Drew 1-1 @ Orlando City B on Saturday

This Week: vs Wilmington (Saturday)

The Independence return home with a fixture against in-state rival Wilmington, which saw the previous meeting end in a 1-1 draw.

6 (6). Rochester (1113)

Last Week: Drew 0-0 @ New York Red Bulls II on Saturday

This Week: vs FC Cincinnati (Wednesday), vs Orlando City B (Sunday)

Rochester remains put in sixth place, and start a three-match home stand this week.

7 (8). Wilmington (1103)

Last Week: Won 3-0 vs Toronto FC II on Saturday

This Week: @ Charlotte (Saturday)

With their third shutout of the season, Wilmington move back into the top half of the rankings.

8 (7). Richmond (1097)

Last Week: Lost 2-0 @ Charleston on Saturday

This Week: @ Harrisburg (Friday)

The Kickers fall below 1100 for the first time all season, but can quickly move back up with a positive result against Harrisburg on Friday.

9 (8). Bethlehem (1092)

Last Week: Lost 1-0 @ FC Cincinnati on Saturday

This Week: @ Toronto FC II (Wednesday), vs Pittsburgh (Sunday)

With only two goals in their last five matches, Bethlehem will look for an offensive spark against the struggling Toronto FC II and in-state rival, Pittsburgh.

10 (10). Orlando City B (1091)

Last Week: Drew 1-1 vs Charlotte on Saturday

This Week: @ Rochester (Sunday)

Unbeaten through their last four matches, Orlando City B make their first trip to Rochester, whom they beat 2-1 in the reverse fixture in Florida.

11 (11). Pittsburgh (1068)

Last Week: Bye Week

This Week: Drew 0-0 vs Harrisburg on Monday, @ Bethlehem (Sunday)

After a draw in the Keystone Derby on Monday, Pittsburgh face another in-state rival, Bethlehem, for the first time in club history.

12 (12). Harrisburg (1067)

Last Week: Bye Week

This Week: Drew 0-0 @ Pittsburgh on Monday, vs Richmond (Friday), vs Toronto FC II (Sunday)

With a loaded schedule this week, the City Islanders will be looking for their first win since May 24.

13 (13). Toronto FC II (1048)

Last Week: Lost 3-0 @ Wilmington on Saturday

This Week: vs Bethlehem (Wednesday), @ Harrisburg (Sunday)

Shut out for the fifth time this season on Saturday, Toronto FC II will look to end their four-match losing streak when they face a pair of Pennsylvania clubs this week.

14 (14). FC Montreal (1041)

Last Week: Bye Week

This Week: Lost 2-0 @ Louisville City on Monday, vs New York Red Bulls II (Saturday)

Having already lost to the East's top club on Monday, FC Montreal face another tough match as they welcome New York Red Bulls II on Saturday.

Notable

No movement at the top or bottom of the table this week. With the middle of the pack shifting around, could we start to see the gap between playoff clubs and the rest of the East forming this week?

Wilmington made an appearance back into the top half of the table after a big win over Toronto FC II on Saturday. Richmond fell out of the top half after suffering a defeat at the hands of longtime rival Charleston.

The Canadian sides fall further behind the rest of the East. Could either side recover in the second half of the season?

What are your thoughts on this week's rankings? Which clubs are you watching for a run in the second half of the season? Let us know in the comments below!