It’s a funny old game, USL eCup: Rocket League.
And in my position as a Rocket League guru, it’s never been more apparent than this week.
I mean, you’ve been watching the matches on ESPN3, and the highlights on YouTube, right?
Sensational goals and saves of the sort that leave you shaking your head and laughing as the players show off their grasp of online physics – or sometimes a lack thereof.
So, it’s all change in the USL eCup Power Rankings as we enter Week 2, which kicks off with a full day of action on Monday afternoon. See you back in the arena then.
For more insightful Rocket League analysis, you can follow me on Twitter (@NJEMurray).
Rank |
Team |
Change |
Summary |
|
1 | FC Tucson Captain: Trent Wieland Charity: Community Food Bank of Southern AZ | Group 7 |
26 Last Week: 27 |
We asked for the spectacular last week, and Trent Wieland delivered in his opening outing. It’s going to be a tough ask to knock this Rocket League guru off his perch. | |
2 | San Antonio FC Captain: Josh Richards Charity: Spurs Give | Group 4 |
12 Last Week: 14 |
Turns out Kelsi Steele’s prediction of success for San Antonio was dead-on nails. They’re rocketing up the chart ahead of next week’s South Texas Derby. | |
3 | Loudoun United FC Captain: Brandon Williamson Charity: Tourism & Hospitality Relief Fund | Group 6 |
5 Last Week: 8 |
The competition might not have been great (sorry Billy), but Brandon Williamson showed off some impressive chops in two double-digit scoring outings. | |
4 | Tacoma Defiance Captain: Josh Atencio Charity: United Way of Pierce County | Group 1 |
2 Last Week: 6 |
That deadline-day signing of Josh Atencio paid off big-time for the Defiance, who knew an 18-year-old hopped up on Mountain Dew Code Red could be that explosive? | |
5 | Rio Grande Valley FC Captain: Anarbol Villareal Charity: RGV Food Bank | Group 4 |
20 Last Week: 25 |
The Toros’ Anarbol Villarreal looked like a Bull in a china shop in his first competitive outing. A repeat performance against Locomotive FC will set up the biggest South Texas Derby in a while in the final game of the group stage on Friday night. | |
6 | FC Tulsa Captain: John Horlander Charity: Tulsa Area United Way | Group 8 |
14 Last Week: 20 |
As if Reilly Maguire’s performance wasn’t great enough, Tulsa’s team-specific deck of playing cards means bonus points in these rankings. Who wants to shuffle up for a game of gin? | |
7 | Union Omaha Captain: Jake Mickleson Charity: Omaha Foundation | Group 6 |
2 Last Week: 9 |
They’re pretty good at this video game thing, those League One newcomers. Los Buhos and their fans were flying high after a solid opening victory. | |
8 | Reno 1868 FC Captain: Kevin Bass Charity: Food Bank of Northern Nevada | Group 1 |
16 Last Week: 24 |
A good captain knows when to delegate, and Kevin Bass sure played his cards right in getting Matt Rafferty into the lineup to get his side on the board against North Carolina. | |
9 | Indy Eleven Captain: Jordan Farr Charity: Agape International Missions | Group 7 |
3 Last Week: 12 |
Captain Jordan Farr will have loved those two donuts in his two victories and is still going to be in good shape to advance even if he can’t find a way past Tucson’s stick king in the Eleven’s next match. | |
10 | Birmingham Legion FC Captain: Patrick Glenn Charity: Birmingham Strong Fund | Group 8 |
19 Last Week: 29 |
Kaylor Hodges hammered down in the end in both games, keeping the virtual blacksmiths busy. Watch out for it in Birmingham’s next game, it’s in the left corner of the arena, next to the opposing goal. | |
11 | Phoenix Rising FC Captain: Joey Farrell Charity: AZ COVID-19 Community Response Fund | Group 3 |
Last Week: 11 |
Farrell was as locked in on taking victory in his opener as a Red Fury member on Dollar Beer night, and it showed. Impressive work. | |
12 | Charleston Battery Captain: Mauro Cichero Charity: MUSC COVID Emergency Fund | Group 2 |
16 Last Week: 28 |
Club newcomer Mauro Cichero made a great first impression in the Battery’s colors. We hear even legendary Head Coach Mike Anhaeuser was glued to his iPad for the entire contest. | |
13 | Louisville City FC Captain: Sean Totsch Charity: One Louisville COVID-19 Emergency Response Fund | Group 1 |
11 Last Week: 2 |
Yes, LouCity’s Sean Totsch didn’t score a goal in either of his games against Tacoma. But I believe in you, Sean, you’ve got this. Let’s go. | |
14 | Saint Louis FC Captain: Keith Mayfield Charity: STL Area Food Bank | Group 5 |
12 Last Week: 26 |
We predicted carnage, and we got it in a very good way from the St. Louligans Keith Mayfield. The club’s incentive of a growler from partner Schafly Brewing for each goal scored could become expensive. | |
15 | Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC Captain: Dillon Wavra Charity: Care and Share Food Bank of Southern Colorado | Group 2 |
Last Week: 15 |
It was a battle at times, but Dilland Wavra came through to take victory in the end of the Switchbacks. Next outing against Charleston could determine who tops the group. | |
16 | San Diego Loyal SC Captain: Andrew Vassiliadis Charity: Feeding San Diego | Group 3 |
15 Last Week: 1 |
There were some fine moments by SD Loyal Chairman Andrew Vassiliadis, but the pressure is going to be on now to rebound after defeat in the opener. I think he’s got what it takes to pull this out. | |
17 | Philadelphia Union II Captain: Evan Slabicki Charity: City Team - Chester | Group 3 |
15 Last Week: 32 |
Evan Slabicki picked up the win, but those games were closer than they looked. A win against San Diego on Tuesday should seal a place in the knockout stage, though, and that’s all that matters now. | |
18 | Richmond Kickers Captain: Nathan Heintschel Charity: Feed More Richmond | Group 5 |
2 Last Week: 16 |
That was a serious grudge match against North Texas SC, and Taylor Bostic did well to come out on top. Going to need to step it up a notch in Week 2 to secure advancement. | |
19 | North Texas SC Captain: Jacob Walraven Charity: FC Dallas Foundation | Group 5 |
16 Last Week: 3 |
That’s the last time I listen to Jon Arnold about anything. ( Nah, seriously, go sign up for his newsletter. It’s awesome.) | |
20 | Austin Bold FC Captain: Andrew Green Charity: Central Texas Food Bank | Group 2 |
13 Last Week: 7 |
Well, that sure didn’t go to plan for Bold FC’s Andrew Green. But, as the Knights of the Round Table said, “adopt, adapt, improve”, you’re far from out of this one yet, my man. | |
21 | El Paso Locomotive FC Captain: Logan Ketterer Charity: El Paso F&B Workers Fund | Group 4 |
11 Last Week: 10 |
You never want to lose your opening game of the tournament, and now the pressure is going to be on for Logan Ketterer to keep himself alive as the Toros await. | |
22 | Greenville Triumph SC Captain: Chris Ashley Charity: United Way of Greenville County | Group 7 |
3 Last Week: 19 |
We’re not going to ding Greenville’s Chris Ashley for getting absolutely lit up by the tournament favorite. How he bounces back this week will determine his fate. Maybe he can borrow Owner Joe Erwin’s sweet ride for good luck? | |
23 | Las Vegas Lights FC Captain: DJ Ocho Charity: Miracle League of Las Vegas | Group 7 |
19 Last Week: 4 |
Kelsi Steele hit the jackpot with her SAFC prediction. Scott Stewart got two lemons and an orange from Vegas. DJ Ocho isn’t going to go out like that, is he? We didn’t think so. | |
24 | Hartford Athletic Captain: Damon Gray Charity: Foodshare | Group 6 |
6 Last Week: 18 |
The Athletic’s Damon Gray is going to have to show a bit more Ever Guzman in his game if he’s going to find a way to advance out of the group. | |
25 | Forward Madison FC Captain: Brandon Eaton Charity: Flock Soccer Fund | Group 8 |
2 Last Week: 23 |
It didn’t go well for the Flamingos and Brandon Eaton against Legion FC, but that pink paint job should be worth a four-goal head-start on its own. Dazzling stuff. | |
26 | Toronto FC II Captain: Kevin Silva Charity: Second Harvest | Group 3 |
5 Last Week: 31 |
You might think it's not a good sign when you fire the coach after one game. I like that decisiveness, though, and think it's going to give TFC II the new coach bounce it needs. | |
27 | Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC Captain: Kenardo Forbes Charity: AHN COVID-19 Assistance Fund | Group 4 |
22 Last Week: 5 |
My sources were correct that Kenardo Forbes had been training day and night for the USL eCup. Unfortunately, he thought we were playing Animal Crossing. | |
28 | Memphis 901 FC Captain: Raul Gonzalez Charity: Mid-South Food Bank | Group 8 |
11 Last Week: 17 |
Boy, that Game 1 performance against Tulsa must have felt like déjà vu from a month ago for Memphis fans, huh? | |
29 | South Georgia Tormenta FC Captain: Daniel Jackson Charity: The Ibis Foundation | Group 2 |
8 Last Week: 21 |
Too many missed chances for Tormenta FC’s Daniel Jackson, who was stymied far too consistently by the Switchbacks. | |
30 | New York Red Bulls II Captain: Preston Kilwien Charity: Wings For Life | Group 5 |
8 Last Week: 22 |
Preston Kilwien showed off his defensive prowess with five saves in two games. Unfortunately, his finishing was that of a center back’s as well. | |
31 | North Carolina FC Captain: Ryan Jernigan Charity: NCFC Youth Financial Aid Fund | Group 1 |
18 Last Week: 13 |
Figuring the locker room felt the same as after that 4-0 loss on the road to Loudoun United last season. Not a happy place to be. | |
32 | OKC Energy FC Captain: Billy Walton Charity: Energy Assist Foundation | Group 6 |
2 Last Week: 30 |
Sorry, Billy. We did try to warn you about PR people’s histories in these things. |