League One Power Rankings

League One Power Rankings - Week 1

By ETHAN TRIEBSCH - ethan.triebsch@uslsoccer.com, 04/05/22, 12:00PM EDT

Kickers take top spot for first time since Week 7 of 2020 campaign

The Richmond Kickers sit atop the League One Power Rankings following an emphatic 4-0 thumping of visiting FC Tucson on Saturday. A well-rounded performance from just about every player on the pitch means the Kickers headline the Power Rankings for the first time since their 4-1-1 start to the 2020 campaign.

Individually, midfielder Nil Vinyals starred for the Kickers, converting both of his shots into goals and assisting a score later in the match as well. The Week 1 Player of the Week was accompanied by goalkeeper Akira Fitzgerald, defender Stephen Payne and forward Emiliano Terzaghi on the Team of the Week ballot.

Central Valley Fuego FC also made noise in its first match as the expansion side dethroned Triumph SC in Greenville thanks to a Christian Chaney brace. With both Fuego FC and Northern Colorado Hailstorm FC following a similar blueprint of pairing veteran USL stars and young rising talents, it will be interesting to see how the pair of expansion clubs stack up against the league's usual powers as the season unfolds.

Also included in the top five spots are both Forward Madison FC and Chattanooga Red Wolves SC following a thrilling 1-1 draw at a sold-out CHI Memorial Stadium. Additionally, a strong defensive showing on the road means North Carolina FC secured three points and a spot near the top of the list.

While the 2022 season is still in its infancy, here's how things have shaken out following the first batch of matches.

Rank	Team	Summary
1	Richmond Kickers (1-0-0) Week 2: vs. NCO	Recording your biggest win since joining League One on the launch of your 30th-season celebrations in front of 4,000-plus is enough to start the season on top.
2	Central Valley Fuego FC (1-0-0) Week 2: @ CLT	While not completely controlling the match, Fuego FC capitalized on two big opportunities to earn its first win in club history against a League One powerhouse.
3	Forward Madison FC (0-0-1) Week 2: vs. OMA	Earning a dramatic draw five minutes into a pair of added minutes while conceding just once gives Madison enough momentum to sneak up the rankings.
4	North Carolina FC (1-0-0) Week 2: vs. CHA	Hunkering down on the defensive side after scoring early, NCFC thwarted numerous Tormenta FC attacks to come out on top in Statesboro.
5	Chattanooga Red Wolves SC (0-0-1) Week 2: @ NC	A sell-out crowd for the first time at CHI Memorial Stadium saw a pair of dramatic goals in a 1-1 draw following a last-second Chattanooga concession.
6	South Georgia Tormenta FC (0-1-0) Week 2: BYE	Following a tough NCFC goal early in the match, Tormenta FC was unable to draw level despite maintaining 72% possession, outshooting North Carolina 14 to four and holding a one-man advantage for the final ten minutes of the match.
7	Union Omaha (0-0-0) Week 2: @ MAD	The defending champions will look very different following the offseason departure of numerous contributors. However, expect Jay Mims and a new batch of búhos to defend their title with vigor.
8	Greenville Triumph SC (0-1-0) Week 2: BYE	Greenville had trouble containing Christian Chaney and Victor Falck, and it wasn’t the best outing for Paul Christensen in goal. Holding advantages in nearly every statistical category, though, will likely mean Greenville finds its rhythm soon.
9	Northern Colorado Hailstorm FC (0-0-0) Week 2: @ RIC	If Fuego FC’s victory on Saturday is any indication that a first-time collection of USL and international veterans can find success in League One, the Hailstorm may be content heading into their first league match on Saturday.
10	FC Tucson (0-1-0) Week 2: BYE	It wasn’t the best way to start the new campaign, but it seems that Daniel Bedoya will continue to lead the pack as the Team of the Week selection was a bright spot for the side.
11	Charlotte Independence (0-0-0) Week 2: vs. CV	It’s hard to tell what to make of the reworked side ahead of its League One debut on Friday. A collection of international playmakers and rising talents will look to build chemistry early.