League One Power Rankings

League One Power Rankings - Week 14

By ETHAN TRIEBSCH - ethan.triebsch@uslsoccer.com, 06/21/23, 2:45PM EDT

Fourth different team tops Power Rankings this season

Northern Colorado top the Power Rankings for the first time in club history, while Lexington's four-point week bumps the expansion side up to its best-ever position in the Power Rankings.

Can Madison extend its defensive dominance? Can Omaha shake off its dismal start to the Dominic Casciato era? Tell us why your club should rank higher and keep the conversation going on Twitter at @USLLeagueOne.

Biggest Movers

2 LEX

1 CLT, RIC, TRM, OMA

Rank	Team	Change	Summary
1	Northern Colorado Hailstorm FC (5-1-4) Week 15: v. CV	1 Last Week: 2	The Hailstorm were trailing meteorological rival Tormenta FC at halftime before an actual storm came in and forced the pair to abandon the match. If the result held, Northern Colorado likely wouldn’t be in the top position, but for now, the Hailstorm’s club-record and league-leading six-match unbeaten streak remains intact.
2	Charlotte Independence (6-3-4) Week 15: @ CHA	1 Last Week: 1	If not for an unsavable Frank Ross free kick and goal from the penalty spot, the Jacks easily could have walked away from Knoxville with one - or more - points. Instead, an impressive three-match win streak comes to an end as Charlotte aims to rebound against a spiraling Red Wolves side.
3	North Carolina FC (7-4-2) Week 15: ---	Last Week: 3	The third position in the Power Rankings for the team atop the table is admittedly a bit harsh, but NCFC has picked up just four points from its last four contests to allow a slew of clubs to close in on the top spot. The good news, though, is that the offense is clicking; NCFC controls three of the top six spots in the Golden Boot race.
4	Forward Madison FC (5-3-4) Week 15: v. LEX	1 Last Week: 5	I’ve been high on the Kickers early in the season, so a shutout victory in front of a packed City Stadium crowd is a solid result for Madison. Bernd Schipmann has been one of the most impactful additions across the league this season, and a solid defensive unit has seen the ‘Mingos concede the second-fewest goals this season.
5	Richmond Kickers (5-4-5) Week 15: v. KNX	1 Last Week: 4	Winning just six of 12 possible points in June, there’s a real possibility the Kickers can drop to sixth in the table by the time Week 15 wraps up should Richmond lose to Knoxville. The Kickers are still one of the most solid clubs statistically, plus, the clubs the Kickers have faced have graded out as the most efficient group of opponents in terms of goals added, according to American Soccer Analysis.
6	One Knoxville SC (5-4-4) Week 15: @ RIC	Last Week: 6	Yes, Knoxville should’ve moved up a bit in the Power Rankings after its big home victory over Charlotte, but the clubs above them in the rankings are just slightly ahead of them - for now, that is. A four-match gauntlet over the next three weeks consisting of Omaha, Richmond, North Carolina and Northern Colorado will show us if this Knoxville team is for real.
7	Greenville Triumph SC (4-5-4) Week 15: v. CHA	Last Week: 7	Jacob Labovitz’s clutch stoppage-time winner over Central Valley snapped a disheartening five-match winless streak for Triumph SC. Greenville need to capitalize on its upcoming three-match homestand consisting of Chattanooga, Madison and Knoxville.
8	Lexington SC (3-5-5) Week 15: @ MAD	2 Last Week: 10	Lexington has enjoyed a surprising turnaround after a slow start to its inaugural campaign thanks in large part to the hands of Amal Knight and a collection of incredible individual performances. The first-year side has a long way to go to establish themselves above the playoff line, but if they can figure out how to hold onto leads, a postseason push is certainly within the realm of possibility.
9	South Georgia Tormenta FC (4-5-3) Week 15: @ OMA	1 Last Week: 8	As mentioned above, a tough break for Tormenta FC saw a storm roll in and erase a 1-0 goal advantage over the Hailstorm, forcing the match to be replayed from the beginning later in the season. A dominant first half was a good sign for the Ibises, but for now, the defending champs remain near the middle or bottom of most statistical categories.
10	Union Omaha (2-3-6) Week 15: v. TRM	1 Last Week: 9	Despite being one of the most efficient clubs on the ball regarding passing and possession, Omaha has looked like a shell of its former self early. With arguably the most impressive roster on paper, the underperforming Owls now have a pair of challenging Week 15 home contests against Knoxville and South Georgia to focus on.
11	Chattanooga Red Wolves SC (3-7-2) Week 15: v. CLT	Last Week: 11	The Red Wolves have moved on from Head Coach Ziggy Korytoski and the man who led them to their first League One Final a season ago is back at the helm - albeit in an interim role. A solid win against Madison was followed up by a disappointing shutout loss to Lexington, but the arrival of former All-League forward Marios Lomis should be exciting for Red Wolves fans.
12	Central Valley Fuego FC (3-8-1) Week 15: @ NCO	Last Week: 12	Since closing out May with a rough 4-1 loss to Ice and Fire Cup rival Northern Colorado, Fuego FC has looked slightly better in June despite a 1-2-0 record thus far. An impressive win in Madison preceded a pair of difficult, one-goal losses against Richmond and Greenville decided in the 71st minute or later.