As is the norm we are back again with the weekly Elo ratings for teams. Even with three teams getting a week off to start the month of May, plenty of movement occurred as we saw Reno get their first win of the season, the tides turn in the Orange County vs Los Angeles rivalry and the Switchbacks get revenge over Tulsa. Remember that a team with a rating of 1100 is considered average, and that tiebreaks are first decided by total games played before following standard USL methodology.
Rankings
1 (Last week – 1) San Antonio FC (1143)
It took a second half penalty kick to grind out a 1-0 win against Sacramento, but San Antonio continues to make the case that they are the team to beat in not only the West, but the entire USL.
2 (2) Real Monarchs SLC (1125)
The Monarchs took the week off and stayed stationary in the table as they get geared up to play two California teams this week in Los Angeles and Sacramento
3 (4) Orange County SC (1115)
The momentum in the Orange County and Galaxy II rivalry has slowly been shifting away from Los Dos in the past few seasons, but the tipping point may have just been reached. Orange County ran away with this one and has worked their way up to third in the Elo ranks.
4 (5) Swope Park Rangers (1111)
Swope Park raced out to an early lead against the Whitecaps and held on to take the win and gain one spot in the power rankings. They will be part of the only West game between top five teams this week as they head to South Texas to face RGVFC.
5 (7) Rio Grande Valley Toros (1103)
The Toros gained spots just by being patient and resting up for what should be a fun match against Swope Park. The benefactors of Tulsa and Sacramento slipping this past week RGV is now a top five team.
6 (3) Tulsa Roughnecks (1103)
Tulsa fans can argue until they are blue and orange in the face that their team’s early season 3-0 forfeit loss to Colorado Springs was not reflective of how the game went on the field, but they sure can’t say that about last weekend’s match. The scoreline repeated itself when the Roughnecks were unable to keep pace in the cold and snow.
7 (6) Sacramento Republic (1099)
Sacramento fell under 1100 for the first time in two seasons as a goalless drought continued. The team is still playing solid defense, but they will need to get on the scoreboard soon to stop this skid.
8 (12) Colorado Springs Switchbacks (1095)
The Switchbacks continue to prove that they have arguably the best home field advantage in the league. They looked like an entirely different club than the one that (unofficially) fell 4-1 in Tulsa earlier in the season.
9 (10) Seattle Sounders 2 (1095)
A Parra brace saw Seattle take a win from regional rival Portland early in the week without too much trouble. The Sounders are hanging around as a team to keep an eye on as the season progresses.
10 (8) Vancouver Whitecaps 2 (1095)
Vancouver continues to play very up and down soccer through the early portion of the season. This time they looked as though they had no answer for Swope Park for the first half of last weekend’s match before regaining their footing in the second.
11 (14) Reno 1868 (1087)
Reno’s first USL win ended up being an away game blowout which rocketed them up the power rankings table. If Kelly can continue to play as well as he recently has, Reno may start living up to our preseason expectations.
12 (13) Oklahoma City Energy (1087)
Some stumbles by other teams saw the Energy gain a spot during their bye week. A trip to a Phoenix team who will be looking to quickly put last week behind them is next.
13 (9) Phoenix Rising (1086)
A result no one saw coming leaves Phoenix with plenty of questions moving forward about both offense and defense. An Energy side who has failed to have consistent offense is up next.
14 (11) Los Angeles Galaxy II (1081)
Now winless in five games, things may get worse before it gets better for Los Dos. They play two strong teams in the Monarchs and Red Bulls II this week.
15 (15) Portland Timbers 2 (1069)
An uninspired performance for the Timbers in the middle of the week saw them again drop all three points. This week they will host a Switchbacks side that has yet to be shut out all season.
Week 8 Matches
#15 Portland Timbers 2 (1069) v #8 Colorado Spring Switchbacks (1095)
#14 LA Galaxy II (1081) v #2 Real Monarchs SLC (1125)
#6 Tulsa Roughnecks (1103) v #10 Vancouver Whitecaps 2 (1095)
#6 Tulsa Roughnecks (1103) v #3 Orange County SC (1115)
#5 Rio Grande Valley (1103) v #4 Swope Park Rangers (1111)
#1 San Antonio FC (1143) v #9 Seattle Sounders 2 (1095)
#2 Real Monarchs SLC (1125) v #7 Sacramento Republic (1099)
#13 Phoenix Rising (1086) v #12 Oklahoma City Energy (1087)
#10 Vancouver Whitecaps 2 (1095) v #8 Colorado Springs Switchbacks (1095)
#4 (East) New York Red Bulls 2 (1108) v #14 LA Galaxy II (1081)
Bye Week: #11 Reno 1868 (1087)
Thoughts:
San Antonio continues to dominate the power rankings with another win. The middle of the pack has tightened significantly with six teams within five points of the 1100 average mark. There is a lot is at stake this coming week with a top five clash with Swope Park and Rio Grande Valley locking horns as just part of a ten game slate for the USL West.
Who will make use of this action packed week to jump up in the rakings? Who will take a hit in week eight? Let us know your predictions below!