Though they failed to get all three points, like most of the top teams in our Power Rankings this week, Oklahoma City Energy rose to the top spot in our rankings this week. Despite not having many quality results this season, the Energy have done a great job at beating all the teams they are supposed to.
Near the bubble, the fight between teams such as Swope Park Rangers, San Antonio FC, Orange County Blues, Saint Louis FC and Arizona United continue to stay in high gear.
Remember, 1100 is considered an average club, with tiebreakers going to the club that has played more matches.
Ratings
1 (Last Week - 2) Oklahoma City Energy (1137)
Last Week: Drew Saint Louis FC (0-0)
This Week: vs Sacramento Republic (Tuesday), @Rio Grande Valley (Saturday)
Oklahoma City got a road draw this week and that was enough to take over the top spot in rankings for the first time. This week's pair of games against Sacramento Republic and Rio Grande Valled FC, both likely playoff teams, will be a major test for the Energy, who have yet to turn in an impressive win this season.
2 (1) Los Angeles Galaxy II (1133)
Last Week: Lost to Orange County Blues (0-2)
This Week: vs Portland Timbers 2 (Saturday)
Los Dos lost to regional rivals Orange County for the second time in club history, dropping them out of the top spot in our rankings. A chance to get back on track against a struggling Portland side is up this week.
3 (3) Vancouver Whitecaps 2 (1127)
Last Week: Drew Colorado Springs Switchbacks (1-1)
This Week: @Arizona United (Wednesday), vs Seattle Sounders 2 (Saturday)
Vancouver got a road draw in Colorado Springs to hold steady in the rankings. Two very winnable games this week can either propel Whitecaps 2 further up the table or send them falling to a new low.
4 (4) Colorado Springs Switchbacks (1119)
Last Week: Drew Vancouver Whitecaps 2 (1-1)
This Week: @Portland Timbers 2 (Wednesday)
While it may not have been the ideal result, the Switchbacks have now only lost one of their ten home games this USL season. A trip to a struggling Timbers 2 side this week can help push them on the right track.
5 (5) Rio Grande Valley Toros (1112)
Last Week: Drew Sacramento Republic (0-0)
This Week: vs Oklahoma City Energy (Saturday)
Rio Grande Valley had been hoping to avenge their earlier loss to the Republic, but had to settle for a draw. Next up they host OKC FC, arguably the best second-half team in the USL.
6 (6) Sacramento Republic (1110)
Last Week: Drew Rio Grande Valley Toros (0-0)
This Week: @Oklahoma City Energy (Tuesday), vs San Antonio FC (Saturday)
Sacramento ended a streak of eight consecutive games without having a shutout, but was shut out themselves for only the third time in the past fifteen games. Next up is a visit to the Energy, where Sacramento has never gained a point.
7 (7) San Antonio FC (1103)
Last Week: Lost to Swope Park Rangers (1-2)
This Week: @Sacramento Republic (Saturday)
San Antonio has now lost seven games this season, each by exactly one goal. A trip to a similarly minded Sacramento side this week could prove a very entertaining matchup.
8 (9) Swope Park Rangers (1101)
Last Week: Defeated San Antonio FC (2-1)
This Week: @Saint Louis FC (Wednesday), @Tulsa Roughnecks (Saturday)
Swope Park has now only lost one of their past seven matches and have become one of the hottest teams in the league. Their most recent win pushed them over the 1100 mark for the first time since Week 5. Two matches this week against Saint Louis and Tulsa can help continue to push Swope Park to the correct side of the playoff bubble.
9 (8) Saint Louis FC (1100)
Last Week: Drew Oklahoma City Energy (0-0)
This Week: vs Swope Park Rangers (Wednesday)
Saint Louis was able to hold off one of the hottest teams in the USL for a home draw, but will need to start taking home wins if they want to grab one of the final playoff spots. A game against Swope Park, who they have split a season series with this year, will go far in determining who will be playing in October.
10 (10) Arizona United (1089)
Last Week: Lost to Tulsa Roughnecks (1-2)
This Week: vs Vancouver Whitecaps 2 (Wednesday), @Orange County Blues (Sunday)
A painful loss in stoppage time to Tulsa dealt serious damage to Arizona's chance of making the postseason. United have two chances to bounce back this week as they face off against Vancouver and Orange County in a situation where they must take home at least one win.
11 (12) Orange County Blues (1084)
Last Week: Defeated Los Angeles Galaxy II (2-0)
This Week: @Tulsa Roughnecks (Thursday), vs Arizona United (Sunday)
Orange County got a rare win from their regional rivals Los Dos to get back in the middle of the playoff hunt. This week they play two teams on the outside of the playoff bubble in Tulsa and Arizona. A sweep will put them right back in the thick of things, but a poor week may have them sitting at home come October.
12 (11) Real Monarchs (1076)
Last Week: Bye Week
This Week: @Seattle Sounders 2 (Monday)
An off week saw the Monarchs drop a spot without playing a game. They will need to take all three points in Seattle this week in order to stay in the playoff hunt.
13 (13) Seattle Sounders 2 (1074)
Last Week: Bye Week
This Week: vs Real Monarchs (Monday), @Vancouver Whitecaps 2 (Saturday)
After a three game win streak, Seattle had a week off to prepare for a match against the Monarchs on Monday night and the Whitecaps over the weekend. The Sounders are catching fire at the right time and can keep a dim playoff hope alive with two more strong results this week.
14 (14) Portland Timbers 2 (1067)
Last Week: Bye Week
This Week: vs Colorado Springs Switchbacks (Wednesday), @Los Angeles Galaxy II (Saturday)
Portland is now winless in four consecutive games and may drop to the bottom of the rankings if they do not do something soon. They will play two of the better teams in the West this week in the Switchbacks and Los Dos.
15 (15) Tulsa Roughnecks (1057)
Last Week: Defeated Arizona United (2-1)
This Week: vs Orange County Blues (Thursday), vs Swope Park Rangers (Saturday)
Tulsa continues to look like a team that shouldn't be at the bottom of the West table, as they once again do serious damage to the hopes of a team that was in playoff contention. Two more chances to deal a wound to playoff contention teams this week await as they host both Orange County and Swope Park.
Notable:
Biggest Rise: Oklahoma City Energy, Swope Park Rangers, Orange County Blues (+1)
Biggest Fall: Los Angeles Galaxy II, Saint Louis FC, Real Monarchs (-1)
This week is a big one big week for both OKC Energy and Sacramento Republic. Both have two matches against teams in the playoff hunt . They both can keep rising up the table with good results or can take a major spill in the ratings with poor ones.
A critical bubble match is also in the cards this week as Swope Park and Saint Louis match up for the third time this season after splitting the season series at one win apiece so far.
Lots can happen this week, but how will it affect the following week's ratings? Only time will tell.